Former U.S. President Donald Trump landed in Britain on Tuesday night for what is being described as an unprecedented second state visit. The trip is expected to see the signing of multiple investment agreements between Washington and London.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said he would use Trump’s visit to highlight the strengthening of the “special relationship” between the two nations. Ahead of the visit, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and UK Chancellor Rachel Reeves jointly announced the creation of a “Transatlantic Taskforce.”

King Charles will formally welcome Trump on Wednesday, while Starmer is set to host him at the prime minister’s countryside residence, Chequers, on Thursday. Starmer is also arranging meetings with leading business groups to promote Britain as an attractive destination for U.S. investment.

Ukraine will require at least $120 billion next year to continue resisting Russian aggression, and the same amount will be necessary even if the war ends, said Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal.

Currently, Ukraine spends nearly one-third of its GDP on defense and relies heavily on tens of billions in Western aid to sustain its economy. Shmyhal warned:
“If we fall behind in defense spending, Ukraine risks losing more territory to Russia.”

He urged that frozen Russian assets in the West be confiscated to fund Ukraine’s defense needs. Moscow responded sharply, calling any such move “outright theft” with “serious consequences.”

Meanwhile, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen suggested using frozen Russian assets as collateral for a “reparations loan” to Ukraine, though clarified that the EU’s 27 member states would not directly seize the funds.

Shabana Mahmood, a British-born politician of Pakistani heritage, has made history by becoming the UK’s first Muslim woman to serve as Home Secretary. Prime Minister Keir Starmer appointed her after a cabinet reshuffle following Deputy PM Angela Rayner’s resignation. Mahmood, previously Justice Secretary, pledged to prioritize citizens’ safety. Born in Birmingham in 1980, she studied law at Oxford and worked as a barrister before entering politics. Elected MP for Birmingham Ladywood in 2024, she has been rising steadily within Labour ranks.

Russia launched a cruise missile attack on Ukraine’s Cabinet of Ministers building in Kyiv early Sunday, marking the first time the building has been hit since Moscow’s 2022 military invasion. Ukraine’s Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko confirmed the damage to the roof and upper floors. The Ukrainian Air Force reported over 800 drones and missiles were deployed overnight, hitting 37 locations while 8 intercepted missiles and drones fell elsewhere. The attack continues to spread fear among civilians.

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky has turned down Russian President Vladimir Putin’s invitation to meet in Moscow, citing ongoing missile strikes and shelling in his country. Instead, he has invited Putin to Kyiv. The Kremlin insists Zelensky was invited for “talks, not surrender.” Recent days have seen intensified Russian attacks on Ukraine, including over 1,300 drones, 900 guided bombs, and around 50 missile strikes across 14 regions. Zelensky emphasizes Kyiv as the only safe venue for discussions.

Thousands took to the streets of London demanding the lifting of the ban on Palestine Action Group. The protest, organized by “Defend Our Juries,” drew around 1,500 demonstrators.

Clashes erupted when police moved in, with more than 425 protesters arrested. Eyewitnesses reported baton charges, protesters thrown to the ground, and arbitrary arrests for holding placards saying “I oppose genocide. I support Palestine Action.”

Press Association reports noted police brutality, including one protester bleeding from the face after arrest. Police later claimed officers were subjected to “unprecedented violence, including punches, kicks, spitting, and stone-throwing.”

UK Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner has resigned following a tax investigation into her recent £800,000 apartment purchase in Hove, which revealed an unpaid stamp duty of around £40,000. Though she acted in good faith, the independent inquiry confirmed she breached ministerial ethical standards. Rayner cited personal challenges, including divorce and childcare, in her resignation. Her departure creates a leadership gap in both government and the Labour Party, drawing criticism from opponents and posing challenges for party leader Keir Starmer.

Ukraine has declined Russian President Vladimir Putin’s offer for peace talks in Moscow. Putin suggested Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky could attend if he wished, but Ukraine noted at least seven other countries—including Hungary, Switzerland, and Turkey—have offered to host negotiations. Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba emphasized Zelensky is ready for talks anytime but accused Putin of making deliberately unacceptable proposals. Putin, meanwhile, questioned Zelensky’s legitimacy as president, citing the end of his five-year term and lack of elections due to martial law.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has dismissed a proposal for a 40-kilometer buffer zone between Ukrainian and Russian forces, saying it does not reflect modern warfare. He argued that today’s conflict, driven by drones, already creates a de facto buffer zone near the front lines. His remarks came after reports that European leaders were exploring the idea to halt fighting or reach a long-term deal. Zelensky stressed that only those unaware of current military realities would suggest such a measure.

The UK has banned Israeli government representatives from attending DSEI UK 2025, one of the world’s largest arms fairs, citing Israel’s escalating military actions in Gaza. The exhibition will run from September 9–12 in London. While Israeli defense firms may still join privately, the absence of official representation sparked outrage from Israel’s defense ministry, which called the move discriminatory and withdrew entirely. Britain signaled the ban could be lifted if Israel pledges to follow international law in occupied Palestinian territories.

Russia has unleashed one of its most devastating drone strikes on Ukraine, causing widespread damage to energy infrastructure and leaving more than 100,000 households without electricity, President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed.

According to Zelensky, Russia deployed nearly 100 drones overnight, targeting power plants and other key energy facilities. A school in Kharkiv and a high-rise building in Kherson were also hit.

Ukraine’s Energy Ministry condemned the strikes as part of Moscow’s ongoing strategy to cripple civilian infrastructure ahead of winter. Meanwhile, a Ukrainian military official admitted that Russian troops briefly entered the Dnipropetrovsk region for the first time, though their advance was halted.

A Reuters journalist has resigned in protest following the killing of media workers in Israeli strikes on Gaza.

Valerie Zink, a contract journalist with Reuters for eight years, snapped her company ID card and posted its photo on Facebook, announcing her resignation. She accused the news agency of siding with Israel despite the brutal deaths of her colleagues.

Zink pointed out that slain journalist Anas al-Sharif, who once won Reuters a Pulitzer Prize, was falsely labeled as a Hamas member and terrorist in reports instead of being honored. Her resignation has sparked debate over media n

Turkey’s First Lady Emine Erdoğan has written to former US First Lady Melania Trump, urging her to raise her voice for the children of Gaza.
Recalling their meeting at the White House six years ago, Erdoğan praised Melania’s compassion for children affected by the Ukraine war and called for the same empathy toward Gaza.
“Thousands of children are being buried unidentified, with their coffins marked ‘unknown child.’ UNICEF has described Gaza as ‘hell on earth above and a graveyard for children below,’” she wrote.
“As a mother and a woman, I share your emotions. I hope you will extend the same message of hope to Gaza’s children,” Erdoğan added.

Several Reuters journalists have accused the agency’s editors and management of pro-Israel bias in coverage of the Gaza conflict.

The controversy escalated after Palestinian journalist Anas al-Sharif—formerly with Reuters and a Pulitzer Prize winner—was killed in an Israeli strike. Reuters’ headline described him as “an Al Jazeera journalist who Israel says was a Hamas commander,” sparking outrage among staff.

An internal review of 499 “Israel-Palestine” tagged stories revealed that Israeli perspectives were disproportionately highlighted, while Palestinian voices were marginalized. Journalists also said Reuters policies prohibited using the word “Palestine” except in pre-1948 historical contexts.

Criticism also centered on limited coverage of “genocide” accusations against Israel, while similar claims against Russia in Ukraine received prominent reporting.

Following backlash, Reuters issued new guidance allowing the term “genocide” if attributed to a source—but the restriction on “Palestine” largely remains. Journalists argue the revised policy still reflects pro-Israel bias.

The United Kingdom has summoned Israeli Ambassador Tzipi Hotovely to protest Israel’s approval of the contentious E1 settlement project in the occupied West Bank. Alongside 21 international partners, Britain strongly condemned the move, warning it would constitute a “clear violation of international law” and threaten the viability of a future Palestinian state by splitting it into two.
Israel’s Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich recently authorized the construction of 3,401 settlement units in Ma’ale Adumim, east of Jerusalem, along with 3,515 more in surrounding areas. Critics say the project is designed to fragment the West Bank and isolate East Jerusalem, undermining prospects for a two-state solution.