Vance’s Israel Visit and EU Sanctions Pause Highlight Strains in Gaza Peace Effort
US Vice President JD Vance’s visit to Israel highlighted the fragility of the recently negotiated Gaza ceasefire and the intense international oversight surrounding it. Arriving just a week after President Trump, Vance sought to reinforce Washington’s supervision of the agreement, which has already been tested by renewed violence and disputes over hostages’ remains. Despite Israeli airstrikes killing dozens in Gaza, Vance described the situation as “better than expected” and urged patience as the US-led plan enters its next phase.
The Trump administration has promoted the deal as a “historic dawn of a new Middle East”, aiming to end the long-running conflict between Israel and Hamas. Plans for an international peacekeeping force and Gaza’s reconstruction are underway, but Washington faces tensions with both sides. Israel is pressing the US to ensure Hamas’s disarmament before rebuilding begins, while Arab mediators – especially Egypt – are urging Hamas to comply with ceasefire terms and locate remaining Israeli hostages.
A controversial aspect of the US plan involves rebuilding “Hamas-free” areas of Gaza, potentially under Israeli control, to demonstrate the benefits of disarmament. Analysts have compared the idea to a “West Berlin” model for Gaza, showing an alternative path for Palestinians outside Hamas’s influence.
Meanwhile, in Brussels, the European Union has been criticised for pausing sanctions against Israel amid efforts to stabilise the ceasefire. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas announced that sanctions and trade suspensions were “on hold” but not abandoned, citing a need to support peace efforts. Critics argue this move undermines accountability for alleged violations of international law and human rights.
Former EU diplomats and advisers including Sven Kuhn von Burgsdorff, former EU representative to the Palestinian territories, warned that easing pressure on Israel sends the wrong signal and risks returning to “old patterns” of inaction. They called for the EU to play a stronger diplomatic role – potentially within Trump’s “board of peace” – and to push for a credible path toward a two-state solution.
The EU, divided between pro-Palestinian and pro-Israeli member states, remains the largest donor to Gaza’s reconstruction. Its next steps – alongside US and Egyptian efforts – will determine whether the fragile ceasefire can evolve into lasting peace or slip back into conflict.
US and Australia Sign $8.5bn Critical Minerals Deal to Counter China
The United States and Australia have signed a major agreement to boost the supply of critical minerals, aiming to reduce dependence on China. The deal was formalized during a meeting between US President Donald Trump and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, marking their first White House summit. The agreement includes joint investments of $1 billion each over the next six months into mining and processing projects, as well as a minimum price floor for key minerals. These efforts target deposits worth $53 billion and focus on rare earths, lithium, nickel and gallium, essential for defense systems, aerospace, communications and industrial technologies.
Trump highlighted the scale of the agreement, stating that the US and Australia would soon have “so much critical mineral and rare earths that you won’t know what to do with them”. The deal also includes measures to cut the time needed to authorize operations, enhance geological mapping, promote mineral recycling and restrict sales of critical mineral assets on national security grounds, reflecting concerns over China’s global acquisitions of mining operations.
The US Export-Import Bank announced letters of interest totaling over $2.2 billion to support Australian projects, while the Pentagon plans to build a gallium refinery in Western Australia following China’s recent export restrictions. The agreement comes amid rising trade tensions with China, which controls about 70% of rare earth mining and 90% of processing globally.
In addition to the minerals deal, Trump expressed support for Australia’s $239 billion AUKUS submarine program with the US and UK, reassuring that construction of nuclear-powered submarines would proceed despite earlier policy reviews. Australia is contributing to US submarine production and maintenance, aiming to reinforce security in the Indo-Pacific.
The agreement reflects a wider initiative by both countries to secure critical supply chains, support high-tech manufacturing and reduce reliance on China, while strenghtening regional security and strategic partnerships in the Indo-Pacific.
Power Outages, Missile Barrages and Stalled Diplomacy Mark Ukraine-Russia Conflict
Ukraine faces ongoing humanitarian, military and diplomatic challenges as Russia intensifies attacks on its territory. A recent barrage of missiles and drones targeted energy infrastructure and industrial facilities, leaving hundreds of thousands of people without electricity and heating, particularly in the Chernihiv region. Emergency crews struggled to restore power due to continuing drone threats. President Volodymyr Zelensky described the strikes as a tactic of “killing people and terror through cold” and called for stronger international support, including long-range defensive capabilities.
In response, Ukraine launched precision strikes on Russian facilities, including the Bryansk chemical plant, using UK-made Storm Shadow missiles. Kyiv said the plant produces materials for ammunition and missiles used against Ukrainian territory. Russian counter-attacks killed six people, including two children, and caused widespread infrastructure damage, highlighting the persistent threat to civilians, especially as winter approaches.
These military developments unfold amid complex diplomatic negotiations. Zelensky met US President Donald Trump in Washington to request long-range Tomahawk missiles, which Trump declined, citing risks of escalation. Trump had also spoken with Russian President Vladimir Putin, who opposed supplying such weapons. A planned Trump-Putin summit in Budapest was postponed after Moscow rejected an immediate ceasefire, demanding territorial concessions in the Donbas region. European leaders, backing Ukraine, insisted that negotiations should begin by freezing current front lines, while Russia continues to insist on maximalist terms.
The conflict, now in its fourth year, has caused tens of thousands of civilian and military casualties, with Russia occupying roughly a fifth of Ukraine’s territory. Despite repeated attacks and counter-strikes, Ukraine maintains its position on territorial integrity, supported by European allies and NATO. Recent strikes demonstrate Kyiv’s focus on disrupting Russian military capabilities, while diplomatic efforts continue to seek a resolution to a war that shows no immediate end.
Global Lessons from Festival-Related Air Pollution: From Delhi to Beijing
On October 21, 2025, air quality in New Delhi deteriorated to hazardous levels following Diwali celebrations. PM2.5 (particulate matter, tiny airborne particles that can penetrate the lungs and bloodstream and harm health) concentrations exceeded 1,800 micrograms per cubic meter in areas like Nehru Nagar, far surpassing the World Health Organization’s recommended limit. Despite a Supreme Court mandate allowing only limited use of “green crackers” for three hours, widespread violations contributed to the severe pollution.
Across the border, Lahore, Pakistan, experienced a parallel surge in pollution on October 21, 2025, as smoke and fine particles drifted from India. Lahore’s AQI (Air Quality Index) reached 318, classifying the air as “hazardous”, with a 53% increase in pollution levels compared to the day before. Punjab authorities deployed emergency measures, including anti-smog guns, water sprinkling and enforcement against polluting activities, highlighting the regional impact of Diwali fireworks.
These events underscore the transboundary nature of air pollution, where local festivities can have regional environmental consequences. Fireworks release fine particulate matter (PM2.5) containing hazardous elements such as potassium, barium and other metals, posing severe health risks and contributing to long-term environmental damage.
Similar patterns have been observed elsewhere. In Beijing, severe smog during the Lunar New Year in 2021 resulted in PM2.5 concentrations exceeding 239 micrograms per cubic meter, limiting visibility and affecting public health. In Taiwan, winter festivals in 2023 caused comparable spikes, while Mexico City routinely sees elevated particulate levels during Christmas and New Year celebrations due to fireworks. These cases illustrate the broader global challenge of managing air quality during traditional celebrations, demonstrating the intersection of cultural practices, atmospheric conditions and public health risks.
The recent India-Pakistan episode, alongside historical cases in Beijing, Taiwan and Mexico, draws the attention to the persistent and cross-border nature of air pollution crises. Seasonal, cultural and festive emissions can have profound health and environmental consequences, especially in densely populated regions. Coordinated measures – from local regulation to regional cooperation – remain essential to protect public health and mitigate the recurring spikes in PM2.5 concentrations that threaten millions worldwide.
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