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.

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer will visit Canada from June 14 to 15, meeting Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney in Ottawa. Their talks will focus on bilateral relations, security, economic cooperation, and handling the U.S. President. Following this, Starmer will attend the G7 summit in Alberta from June 15 to 17. The visit aims to strengthen UK-Canada economic and security partnerships. Meanwhile, efforts continue to arrange a meeting between Starmer and Bangladesh’s Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus during his London visit.

Following peace talks in Turkey, Russia and Ukraine announced on Tuesday that they had completed a prisoner exchange involving seriously wounded and sick soldiers. This exchange came a day after the two countries carried out a swap of prisoners under the age of 25. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed that this marks the first phase of repatriating Ukraine’s critically injured soldiers, all of whom require immediate medical attention. "We are making every effort to locate and bring back all our prisoners," he said. Russia’s Defense Ministry stated that Russian prisoners were first transported to Belarus, located between the two warring nations, before being returned to Russia for treatment and rehabilitation.

The UK, along with Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and Norway, has imposed sanctions on Israeli ministers Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich for inciting violence against Palestinians in the West Bank. The sanctions include travel bans and asset freezes, targeting them personally. The joint move emphasizes support for a two-state solution and condemns extremist settler violence. Israel’s government has rejected the sanctions, with Netanyahu vowing retaliation. This coordinated action highlights Israel’s growing international isolation over its policies toward Palestinians.

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola expressed deep anguish over the situation in Gaza while accepting an honorary degree from the University of Manchester.
“What’s happening in Gaza is heartbreaking. It hurts my entire body,” said Guardiola. “This is not about ideology or politics. When children aged four or five are killed by bombs, when hospitals cease to function—this is about humanity.”
He added, “Be careful. The next child could be ours. Since the nightmare in Gaza began, I’m scared every morning when I look at my children’s faces.”

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has accused the Trump administration of diverting 20,000 promised anti-drone missiles meant for Ukraine to U.S. forces in the Middle East. These missiles, Zelensky said, were crucial for countering Iranian-designed Shahed drones frequently used by Russian forces. The Biden administration later signed a new deal to address the shortfall. Meanwhile, Russia launched its largest single-night drone and missile attack on Ukraine on Monday, firing 479 drones and 20 missiles in what has been described as the heaviest assault since the war began.

Russia launched a large-scale overnight air assault on Ukraine, firing 14 ballistic missiles and 250 drones, according to Ukraine’s Air Force. Although most of the threats were intercepted—6 missiles and 245 drones—several large explosions still occurred. CNN reports that 13 people were killed: 4 in Donetsk, 5 in Kherson and Odesa, and 4 in Kharkiv. Meanwhile, Russia claimed to have downed 94 Ukrainian drones. Notably, both countries also completed the largest prisoner exchange of the war, swapping over 1,400 detainees in two phases.

UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy informed the Israeli Ambassador that due to the worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza and Israeli obstruction of aid, the UK is suspending all new free trade discussions with Israel. Lammy described the starvation of millions in Gaza as “horrific and heartbreaking” and warned that continued blockades would prompt the UK to take even stronger measures.

The Co-op, one of the UK’s largest retail chains, has voted to boycott all Israeli products in response to ongoing atrocities in Gaza. If implemented, it will become the first major UK retailer to fully sever trade ties with Israel. The proposal passed with 73% support among employees, urging the board to take a morally courageous stand. A company spokesperson stated that Co-op continuously reviews its policies to align with the values and principles of its members.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has dismissed Russian President Vladimir Putin’s proposal for a three-day ceasefire as a "staged show." Russia has not accepted a broader 30-day unconditional ceasefire proposed by Kyiv and Washington. “We are not playing games to help Putin appear less isolated during his May 9 Victory Day celebration,” Zelensky said. Nearly 20 foreign leaders, including China’s Xi Jinping, are expected to attend the Moscow event. Zelensky warned that Russia might orchestrate incidents on that day and blame Ukraine.

Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, has expressed his desire to return to the British royal fold, admitting he is devastated after losing a legal battle to regain full security in the UK. Buckingham Palace stated that courts have reviewed the matter thoroughly multiple times and consistently reached the same conclusion. “I can’t imagine bringing my wife and children back to the UK under these circumstances,” Harry said. “I truly want a reunion with my family. There’s no point in continuing the fight—life is too precious.” He added that the decision to revoke his security rights as a prince still haunts him.

Russian military chief Valery Gerasimov announced during a video conference with President Putin that Russian forces have liberated the last Ukrainian-held village, Gornal, in the Kursk region. Putin declared Ukraine’s counter-offensive “a total failure.” Ukraine’s senior staff, however, dismissed Russia’s claims as mere propaganda, admitting that battlefield conditions in the area have become increasingly difficult. Meanwhile, Russia praised North Korean soldiers, with around 10,000 troops reportedly engaged in combat.

Russia has launched its largest assault on Kyiv this year, using drones and missiles that killed at least 12 and injured 90. Former U.S. President Donald Trump responded by directly appealing to Vladimir Putin, saying, “Vladimir, stop! Five thousand troops are dying every week. Let’s make peace first.” Trump condemned the attack as unnecessary and poorly timed.

Russia resumed military strikes on Ukraine on Monday, ending President Putin’s 30-hour unilateral Easter ceasefire. Three civilians were reportedly killed. Both sides had accused each other of violating the temporary truce. The Ukrainian military noted a reduction in Russian activity but stated that the war had not ceased entirely.