A group of 59 Labour MPs in the UK has sent a letter to the Foreign Secretary demanding recognition of Palestine as a sovereign state and an immediate end to the genocide in Gaza. Organized by “Labour Friends of Palestine,” the letter denounces Israeli plans to build a tent city in Rafah under the guise of humanitarian aid as a form of forced displacement and ethnic cleansing. The MPs called for the reinstatement of UNRWA funding, the release of hostages, and a trade embargo on Israeli goods from the West Bank, arguing that failure to recognize Palestine undermines the UK's two-state policy.

Scientists from University College London and the University of Cambridge have developed a new type of electric skin that enables robots to feel touch, temperature changes, and even pain. Made from a soft gelatin-based material, this artificial skin uses a single multi-modal sensor to detect various external stimuli. Although not yet as perfect as human skin, researchers say it's more advanced than any existing technology. The innovation could lead to more sensitive and interactive robots in the future.

The UK government has designated the pro-Palestinian activist group ‘Palestine Action’ as a terrorist organization following symbolic protests at a military base involving red paint splashed on two planes at RAF Brize Norton. In the House of Commons, 385 MPs voted in favor of the motion, while 26 opposed it. Among those supporting the measure were MPs Tulip Siddiq, daughter of Sheikh Rehana, and Rushanara Ali. Opposition votes included Apsana Begum. The United Nations and human rights organizations have expressed concern over the decision.

Ukraine has announced its decision to withdraw from the Ottawa Convention banning anti-personnel landmines, citing national security needs and the ongoing Russian invasion. The move requires parliamentary approval and UN notification. Other Eastern European nations — including Finland, Poland, and the Baltics — are also stepping away from the treaty, citing modern warfare realities. Analysts suggest these countries may begin producing and stockpiling landmines by 2025, further intensifying militarization along NATO’s eastern front.

Leonid Pasechnik, the Russian-appointed official in Ukraine's Luhansk region, has claimed that Russian forces now fully control the territory. If confirmed, Luhansk would be the first Ukrainian region entirely under Russian control since the full-scale invasion began over three years ago. The area was one of four regions Russia claimed to annex in September 2022. Earlier on June 20, President Putin reiterated his ambition to absorb all of Ukraine into Russia.

The Russia-Ukraine conflict, now over 1,220 days long, has seen Russia escalate its military actions, aiming to fully annex Ukraine. Ukrainian forces face nearly 700,000 Russian troops, especially around strategic areas like Pokrovsk. The US has paused military aid, but Europe and Canada pledged $35 billion in support for early 2025. The UK and Norway are providing technical assistance, while Ukraine develops its own missile technology. Ukraine’s ambitions to join NATO and the EU continue, despite Russia’s concerns and EU’s sanction disagreements.

Russian forces claim to have seized control of a village near lithium deposits in eastern Ukraine, despite fierce Ukrainian resistance. The Russian Defense Ministry said on Thursday that they have taken control of Novoselivka and Shevchenko in Donetsk. Meanwhile, both Russia and Ukraine have conducted another prisoner exchange, with soldiers returning to their respective countries. However, there has been no progress on peace talks.

The UK government, led by Prime Minister Keir Starmer, has announced the purchase of 12 American F-35 fighter jets capable of carrying nuclear weapons. This move marks the biggest upgrade to the UK’s nuclear forces in a generation. The announcement was made during the NATO summit in the Netherlands and was praised by NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg. The decision aligns with NATO members’ commitment to increase security spending to 5% of GDP by 2035, enhancing defense and resilience efforts.

At least 10 people have died following a large-scale Russian drone and missile strike on Kyiv and surrounding areas, according to Ukrainian officials. Tymur Tkachenko, head of Kyiv’s military administration, described it as another major assault directly targeting residential zones. Ukraine’s Air Force reported that Russia deployed 352 drones, 11 ballistic missiles, and 5 cruise missiles during the attack.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the U.S. strikes on Iran have “diminished the threat posed by Tehran’s nuclear program.”

He added, “Iran must never be allowed to acquire nuclear weapons. While the Middle East remains unstable, our priority is peace and stability in the region.” Starmer urged Iran to return to diplomatic talks and resolve the crisis peacefully.

Palestine Action has launched an attack on a Royal Air Force (RAF) base located in the Midlands region of the United Kingdom, protesting the UK’s support of Israeli actions in Gaza.

The group reported that two of its members entered the RAF base in Brize Norton, where they spray-painted the engines of a military aircraft named Voyager and damaged them using metal rods.

Palestine Action accused the UK government of publicly criticizing Israel while continuing to send military cargo. The organization claimed that the UK is actively involved by flying surveillance drones over Gaza’s skies and supplying fuel to American and Israeli warplanes.

“Britain is not just a bystander but an active participant in the genocide in Gaza and war crimes across the Middle East,” the group stated.

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has urged Donald Trump to avoid military action against Iran, warning that it could dangerously escalate tensions in the region. He emphasized the need for diplomatic solutions and noted ongoing discussions between the UK and the US. The remarks come ahead of UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy’s visit to Washington, where he will meet with Trump’s top diplomat Marco Rubio to discuss ways to ease tensions in the Middle East.

As tensions between Iran and Israel escalate, the UK Foreign Office has advised its citizens to avoid travel to Israel for the time being. British nationals already in Israel or occupied Palestinian territories are urged to follow local guidance and take precautions for their safety. The advisory was issued with the safety and security of British citizens as the top priority.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, en route to the G7 summit in Canada, announced the deployment of additional Royal Air Force (RAF) jets to the Middle East. He said the move is intended to bolster emergency support efforts in the region amidst escalating hostilities between Israel and Iran. The deployment will include Typhoon fighter jets and air-to-air refueling aircraft, as part of the UK’s commitment to stabilizing the situation in the region.

UK Labour leader Keir Starmer has declined to meet Bangladesh’s interim Prime Minister Muhammad Yunus, who is visiting London to gather support for efforts to recover billions allegedly stolen by the ousted Sheikh Hasina regime. Yunus claims the UK has a moral and legal obligation to help trace the funds, much of which is believed to be in Britain. The investigations have embarrassed the UK Labour Party, with MP Tulip Siddiq resigning earlier over links to the Awami League’s alleged corruption.