The United Kingdom unit of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) held a representative assembly in Birmingham on Monday evening, bringing together leaders and grassroots activists from 19 zonal committees under Zone-2. The event, chaired by UK BNP convener Azad Abul Kalam and conducted by member secretary Khosruzzaman Khosru, aimed to make the party’s organizational activities more dynamic and effective. Senior leaders, zonal representatives, and local activists attended the meeting, which focused on strengthening the party’s base across the UK.

In his opening remarks, Azad Abul Kalam emphasized that those who had worked tirelessly during the party’s difficult times would lead the UK BNP and its affiliated bodies in the future. He announced that the convening committee had already begun organizational tours across all zones and that new committees would be restructured based on grassroots input, combining experienced and new leadership. Speakers highlighted the importance of unity, discipline, and ideological commitment, while pledging to exclude anyone linked to anti-party activities.

Participants expressed optimism that the assembly marked a new phase in the UK BNP’s organizational renewal and reaffirmed their respect for late party chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia and deceased UK BNP leaders.

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has told his supporters that he is ready to fight to retain his leadership of the Labour Party. He confirmed that he would take part in any leadership contest if one were to occur, according to a BBC report on Sunday. Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy also stated that Starmer would join any such contest, noting that it would require signatures from 81 MPs to proceed.

The leadership question has intensified after Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham expressed interest in joining a potential leadership race. Starmer and his allies argue that a contest would create instability within both the party and the country. They emphasize that Starmer must fulfill the strong mandate he received two years ago.

Following poor results in recent local elections, calls for Starmer’s resignation have grown within the Labour Party. The outcome of the upcoming June 18 by-election in Makerfield is expected to influence his leadership position, with Burnham’s success seen as crucial for strengthening his standing within the party.

Hundreds of people gathered in Manchester, United Kingdom, on June 7, 2026, to demonstrate in support of Palestine. Carrying Palestinian flags, the protesters called on the British government to stop supporting Israel. The rally was part of a broader show of solidarity with Palestinians amid ongoing violence in the region.

A video released by Greater Manchester’s Friends of Palestine showed demonstrators marching through the city streets, waving flags and chanting in support of the Palestinian people. They carried a large banner reading “End Israeli occupation.” The protest reflected growing public concern over the situation in Gaza and the West Bank.

According to Al Jazeera, Israeli forces have continued operations in the West Bank and Gaza despite a ceasefire that took effect on October 11. Since then, 951 people have been killed and 2,984 injured in Gaza, with 782 bodies recovered from the rubble.

The British government has stated that Jordan’s historical custodianship over Jerusalem’s holy sites must be respected. In a statement to Middle East Eye, a Foreign Office spokesperson said the UK values Jordan’s important role as custodian and emphasized that the existing historical status quo at these sites must be maintained. This marks the first official reaffirmation of support for Jordan’s role following reports of a joint US-Israel plan to alter the arrangement.

According to Middle East Eye, the alleged plan aims to remove the Jordanian royal family’s long-standing custodianship over Al-Aqsa Mosque, replacing it with an Israeli-established body that would designate the site as a multi-faith center. The report named Jared Kushner and US Ambassador Mike Huckabee as key backers. Independent MP Shaukat Adam wrote to Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper expressing constituents’ anger and concern over the reports and asking whether the UK had raised the issue with Israel and the US.

The UK’s official policy recognizes Jordan’s custodianship of Jerusalem’s Muslim and Christian holy sites. The government has also recently toughened its criticism of Israeli settlement expansion in the occupied West Bank and is considering restrictions on imports from those settlements.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has proposed a face-to-face meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin as part of a renewed effort to end the ongoing war. In an open letter addressed to Putin, Zelensky stated that peace can only be achieved through direct dialogue between Ukraine and Russia. According to the Ukrainian president’s office, copies of the letter were also sent to the United States and several other countries.

Zelensky emphasized that with U.S. attention currently focused on the Iran crisis, Europe should not wait for the war in Ukraine to regain prominence in global discussions. He called for a full ceasefire to be implemented during any talks, describing it as a normal and internationally accepted practice. The Ukrainian leader also suggested setting a specific date for the meeting and noted that countries such as Switzerland, Turkey, and those in the Arab world have extensive experience in hosting peace discussions.

In his message to Putin, Zelensky urged him not to fear choosing a path out of the war, calling it the most important decision before him.

At least 12 people were killed and more than 30 injured in Russian attacks across Ukraine, according to Ukrainian police reports released on Thursday. The strikes hit multiple regions, including Donetsk, Kharkiv, Dnipropetrovsk, Kherson, and Sumy. In Donetsk, bomb and drone attacks killed five and injured 11, damaging 16 residential buildings and 42 civilian facilities. Additional casualties were reported in Kharkiv, Dnipropetrovsk, Kherson, and the Shostka district of Sumy.

The Ukrainian police press service stated that the attacks caused extensive damage to civilian infrastructure, including apartment buildings and vehicles. The violence comes as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky observed a day of mourning for at least 707 children killed since the war began more than four years ago.

The continued strikes highlight the persistent intensity of the conflict, which has led to widespread civilian suffering and destruction across multiple Ukrainian regions.

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte arrived in Kyiv on Wednesday for an unannounced visit following Russia’s recent deadly attacks on Ukraine. NATO and Ukrainian officials confirmed the trip, during which Rutte is expected to meet President Volodymyr Zelensky. The visit comes as Ukraine continues to seek greater assistance from NATO member states to defend against Russian ballistic missile strikes.

A NATO spokesperson said Rutte was accompanied by ambassadors from allied countries. Earlier, Ukraine’s state railway operator Ukrzaliznytsia shared images of his arrival on social media, describing the visit as a significant message of solidarity and support from NATO, though the post was later deleted.

The trip coincides with reports of Ukrainian drone attacks damaging fuel and military facilities in Russia’s northern city of Saint Petersburg, while Russian missile and drone strikes on Kyiv and Dnipro killed at least 23 people. Ukraine has reiterated its call for more advanced air defense systems, particularly U.S.-made Patriot missiles and ammunition, to counter ongoing Russian assaults.

At least 23 people were killed in widespread Russian missile and drone attacks across several regions of Ukraine late on Tuesday, June 2, according to local authorities. The overnight strikes damaged numerous residential and commercial buildings. Ukrainian officials had earlier warned that Russia was preparing for larger-scale assaults amid the ongoing war.

Ukraine’s Air Force reported that Russia launched a total of 73 missiles and 656 drones targeting different areas. While most were intercepted by Ukrainian air defenses, 54 drones and 33 missiles penetrated the defenses and struck various targets. The southeastern city of Dnipro suffered the highest casualties, with 16 people killed, including two children, after a four-story residential building collapsed. Another 42 people were injured. In Kyiv, Mayor Vitali Klitschko confirmed seven deaths and about 50 injuries.

The attacks have further intensified the Ukraine-Russia conflict, raising new concerns about the future of potential peace efforts.

UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper is on a three-day visit to Beijing as part of Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s effort to revive relations with China after what he earlier described as an “ice age” in ties. The trip follows Starmer’s January visit to meet President Xi Jinping, which laid the groundwork for deeper economic cooperation, including a $15 billion AstraZeneca investment and visa-free travel for Britons. Cooper met Chinese Vice President Han Zheng at the Great Hall of the People, calling for collaboration on global challenges such as conflicts in Iran and Ukraine and the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

The visit reflects a broader Western trend of re-engagement with Beijing amid global instability and supply chain disruptions. Analysts cited the UK’s growing economic dependence on China for advanced goods and critical resources, and the need for pragmatic diplomacy given shifting US-China relations under President Donald Trump. Cooper emphasized candid dialogue to manage disagreements over security, human rights, and the Ukraine war while pursuing mutual economic benefits.

Observers noted that both nations seek a pragmatic thaw: the UK for economic growth and China to strengthen ties with Europe amid strained US relations.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Tuesday that strengthening air defense capabilities for both Ukraine and Europe is essential following Russia’s latest deadly drone and missile strikes. He urged the United States to provide additional assistance, according to AFP.

In a message shared on social media, Zelensky emphasized that Europe needs its own anti-ballistic air defense system to help end the ongoing war. He also described U.S. support in supplying missiles for the Patriot air defense system as critically important.

The appeal comes amid continuing Russian attacks, highlighting Ukraine’s dependence on Western defense aid to protect its skies and maintain security across the region.

Ukraine’s Air Force reported on Tuesday that Russia launched 656 drones and 73 missiles across Ukraine overnight, resulting in at least nine deaths. The attack included ballistic missiles, which are more difficult to intercept, according to the report cited by AFP.

The Ukrainian Air Force stated that its defense systems successfully destroyed 602 of the drones and 40 of the missiles. The large-scale overnight assault marks one of the most intense barrages reported recently, underscoring the ongoing escalation in aerial warfare between the two countries.

The report did not specify which regions were targeted or provide further details on the extent of the damage beyond the reported casualties.

Russia launched extensive drone and missile attacks early Tuesday on Kyiv, Dnipro, and several other Ukrainian cities, killing at least 10 people and injuring around 100, according to Ukrainian authorities. The strikes caused major explosions near residential buildings in Kyiv, where Mayor Vitali Klitschko reported four deaths and 58 injuries, including children. A 24‑story apartment building partially collapsed after being hit, and debris ignited fires in multiple locations, including near a kindergarten.

The attacks follow Moscow’s warning of continued strikes after a drone attack last week on a student dormitory in Russian‑controlled Luhansk killed 21 people, an incident Ukraine denied involvement in. Both sides have repeatedly denied targeting civilians, though Russia has continued to hit Ukraine’s energy infrastructure and key facilities, while Ukraine has intensified counterattacks on Russian oil and military sites.

Thousands of Kyiv residents took shelter overnight in metro stations as air defense systems attempted to intercept incoming missiles. Rescue teams continued searching damaged buildings for survivors as explosions were still heard in parts of the capital after dawn.

Russia’s Ministry of Defense announced that approximately 1,320 Ukrainian soldiers were killed within the past 24 hours during ongoing military operations. According to a report by the Russian news agency TASS, the losses occurred across multiple battle zones, including the North, West, South, Center, East, and Dnipro sectors, where Russian forces conducted coordinated offensives.

The ministry further stated that its air defense systems destroyed ten guided aerial bombs, one U.S.-made HIMARS multiple-launch rocket projectile, and 352 fixed-wing unmanned aerial vehicles during the same period. It also claimed that since the start of the special military operation, Russian forces have destroyed a large number of Ukrainian aircraft, helicopters, drones, tanks, rocket launchers, artillery, and other military vehicles.

The report, citing official Russian sources, did not include independent verification or Ukrainian responses to these claims.

Ukraine has introduced a new phase of warfare in its eastern front, using unmanned robots, drones, and remote-controlled tanks to strike Russian positions without direct human presence. In recent operations, Ukrainian forces conducted six explosions against three Russian frontline targets entirely through remote systems. President Volodymyr Zelensky earlier claimed that a Russian base was captured solely with robotic and drone assistance, marking a milestone in automated combat.

The shift toward automation stems from Ukraine’s manpower shortages after four years of war and uncertain U.S. support. Units like the Third Assault Brigade’s “NC 13” have found that robotic attacks can replace thousands of soldiers while saving lives. Russian prisoners reportedly call these silent machines “Silent Death.” The technology has evolved rapidly, with robots now handling supply runs, evacuations, and even heavy weaponry. British intelligence agency GCHQ recently estimated Russian fatalities at 500,000.

Ukrainian commanders acknowledge that this new form of warfare lacks the traditional valor of past battles but recognize that adaptation to remote and automated combat is now essential for survival and strategic advantage.

Members of the UK Parliament are set to debate the influence of the Israeli lobby in British politics following a public petition that gathered more than 116,000 signatures, surpassing the threshold required for parliamentary consideration. The debate is scheduled for June 22 and will focus on the role of Israel-related and pro-Israel lobbying in shaping political decision-making in the United Kingdom.

According to the petition, the devastation in Gaza, ongoing repression of Palestinians in the West Bank, and the UK’s political response highlight the urgent need to examine how pro-Israel organizations, networks, and lobbying efforts may affect government decisions, party policies, and public discourse. The discussion comes amid heightened scrutiny of political donations linked to pro-Israel advocacy groups and individuals.

The debate is expected to provide a parliamentary platform to address public concerns about transparency and influence in UK political processes, as reported by Middle East Eye.