Going beyond the ordinary news headlines
Good morning! Grab a coffee and let’s dive into today’s headlines.
In a significant development, the UK, France, and Canada have jointly warned Israel of “concrete actions” if it continues its military operations in Gaza and restricts humanitarian aid.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Keir Starmer has secured a landmark “Brexit reset” deal with the EU, aiming to revitalise UK-EU relations. The agreement includes easing trade barriers, reintroducing the UK into the Erasmus programme, and establishing a new defence partnership. While the deal promises economic benefits, it has faced criticism over concessions like extended EU fishing access to UK waters.
On the trade front, the UK is actively pursuing a free trade agreement with the Gulf Cooperation Council, comprising six Gulf nations. Recent discussions between UK officials and Gulf leaders indicate progress towards strengthening economic ties in the region.
Internationally, tensions remain high as global leaders respond to the escalating situation in Gaza, with calls for ceasefires and increased humanitarian assistance.
Donald Trump has said Russia and Ukraine will “immediately” start negotiating towards a ceasefire and an end to the war – after a two-hour phone call with Putin.
The UK, France, and Canada have warned Israel they may take “concrete actions” if it continues to escalate military operations in Gaza. Prime Minister Keir Starmer, alongside French President Emmanuel Macron and Canadian PM Mark Carney, issued a joint statement urging Israel to halt its offensive and allow immediate humanitarian aid into the territory.
No food, fuel, or medicine has entered Gaza since 2 March, prompting severe warnings from the UN over a growing humanitarian crisis. Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu responded by agreeing to allow a “basic amount of food” in but also restated his intention to take “control of all of Gaza” — a stance the three Western leaders criticised as “wholly inadequate” and potentially in breach of international law. They also condemned inflammatory rhetoric from Israeli officials and warned against any moves towards forced displacement of civilians.
The leaders reaffirmed their support for Israel’s right to self-defence but called the current level of military escalation “wholly disproportionate.” They also urged Hamas to release the remaining 58 hostages still believed to be held in Gaza following the 7 October attacks.
The UK, France, and Canada are pushing for a ceasefire and renewed diplomatic focus on a two-state solution. Their joint statement signals growing frustration with Israel’s handling of the war, increasing pressure on Netanyahu to scale back the offensive and allow aid in.
Netanyahu rejected the criticism, accusing the leaders of offering a “huge prize” to Hamas and undermining Israel’s right to self-defence. He called on European allies to support US President Donald Trump’s vision for ending the conflict.
With the humanitarian situation in Gaza worsening and international criticism intensifying, further diplomatic clashes appear likely if the blockade and strikes continue.
CNN says Israel launched a new devastating ground offensive in Gaza over the weekend just as US President Donald Trump departed the region without sealing a ceasefire and hostage deal. The Israeli military said its forces moved into northern and southern Gaza over the past day as part of the “Gideon’s Chariots” operation.
BBC says Israel launched a war backed by U.S. weapons and broad international sympathy over the October 7 massacre – but that goodwill appears to have eroded, with France, the UK, and Canada now delivering their strongest criticism yet of Israel’s conduct in Gaza.
Business Standard reports that Israeli PM Netanyahu has slammed the UK, France and Canada after their statement. On X he reaffirmed Israel’s commitment to achieving “total victory” against Hamas, aligning with US President Donald Trump’s vision for resolving the conflict.
Israel has permitted five UN lorries carrying food, including baby supplies, into Gaza — the first aid delivery in 11 weeks. Prime Minister Netanyahu said the decision followed pressure from US senators concerned about a looming famine. He stressed the aid was minimal and temporary until Israel could set up new distribution hubs under a US-backed plan, which the UN has rejected.
UN officials called the move “a drop in the ocean” given the severe shortages facing Gaza’s 2.1 million residents. Aid agencies have warned of imminent famine and criticised Israel’s plan as unworkable and politically motivated. Meanwhile, Israeli airstrikes have continued, with reports of at least 40 deaths on Monday, including five people sheltering at a school in central Gaza.
Israel says the offensive is aimed at defeating Hamas and rescuing hostages. Over 3,000 Palestinians have reportedly been killed since fighting resumed in March, with 400,000 displaced. The blockade, halted briefly during a ceasefire, has now caused widespread shortages of food, medicine and fuel.
Israel says more aid trucks will be allowed in “in the coming days” but only via the new controlled hubs. Humanitarian groups say this model is flawed and risks excluding the most vulnerable. The UN insists aid must be delivered under established systems that uphold neutrality and independence.
International pressure is growing. UK, France and Canada have criticised the limited aid as “wholly inadequate” and warned they may take action if military operations continue without humanitarian access.
Negotiations over a ceasefire and hostage deal remain stalled. Meanwhile, Israel says it plans to “take control of all areas” of Gaza. Aid workers on the ground report desperate conditions, with many families surviving on one meal a day.
Al Jazeera reports the UN called it a “welcome development” but “a drop in the ocean” when so much more aid is needed to address the humanitarian crisis. It is far short of the more than five hundred trucks per day that entered Gaza before the Hamas-led attack on Oct 7, 2023. Food security experts last week warned of famine.
DW says Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu says it’s necessary to resume Gaza aid as famine images prove unpopular with allies. Meanwhile, the Israeli military has ordered the evacuation of the territory’s second city.
The UK and European Union have announced a comprehensive agreement aimed at resetting relations post-Brexit. Key elements include a commitment to work towards a common sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) area, and aligning UK rules with EU standards on plant and animal health. This alignment is expected to ease trade barriers, particularly benefiting the agri-food sector.
The deal also outlines plans for cooperation on energy and climate policies, including discussions on linking carbon trading systems. Additionally, both parties have agreed to enhance collaboration on migration and policing, aiming to streamline processes and improve security.
While the agreement sets the stage for improved UK-EU relations, many details remain to be negotiated. The commitment to align on SPS standards will require the UK to maintain consistency with evolving EU regulations, potentially impacting domestic policy decisions.
Further discussions are anticipated to solidify cooperation on energy, climate, migration, and policing. The success of these initiatives will depend on the ability of both parties to navigate complex regulatory landscapes and political considerations.
Overall, the agreement marks a significant step towards rebuilding trust and facilitating smoother trade and cooperation between the UK and EU.
The Independent says regardless of how beneficial the new deal is for the UK (and our economy) the “Brexit reset” is likely to spark “a fresh round of criticism for the PM”. The paper says Reform and the Tories have already accused Starmer of “unpicking Brexit.”
AOL reports that European journalists have accused Starmer of shutting them out of the summit – and instead letting smaller independent journalists in. “Either they have no understanding of who the key players in European media are, or they simply don’t care,” one journalist said.
ITV calls the deal a “win-win” saying the reset will “cut red tape for travellers and businesses while boosting the UK economy by £9 billion by 2040.
Chancellor Rachel Reeves said the government is next hoping to secure a trade deal with the six Gulf nations, including Qatar and Saudi Arabia, according to The Independent.
Dominating the front pages is the news that two homes connected to the prime minister in North London were set on fire yesterday – as was a car on the street of one of the houses on fire.
For a second day, there’s a lot of coverage of yesterday’s announcement from the prime minister regarding a planned crackdown on legal migration to the United Kingdom.
The £9bn GDP boost from the UK-EU trade agreement announced by Sir Keir Starmer translates to only 0.2% of GDP by 2040, far less than the estimated 4% negative impact of Brexit.
Copyright WTX News 2025
