International

Putin must ‘prove he is serious about peace,’ says Starmer

Published

1 year ago

August 15, 2025

Putin must ‘prove he is serious about peace,’ says Starmer

Sir Keir Starmer and Volodymyr Zelensky believe there is a “viable” chance of a ceasefire in Ukraine but Vladimir Putin must “prove he is serious about peace,” Downing Street has said.

The UK prime minister held a breakfast meeting with the Ukrainian President ahead of a summit between US President Donald Trump and Putin in Alaska on Friday to discuss ending the war in Ukraine.

No 10 said Sir Keir and Zelensky agreed there was “a powerful sense of unity and a strong resolve to achieve a just and lasting peace in Ukraine” at their meeting.

Zelensky and other European leaders, who are not attending the meeting in Alaska, held a joint call with Trump on Wednesday to reiterate their position.

A red carpet was rolled out for Zelensky’s arrival at No 10, and he was pictured strolling through the Downing Street rose garden with the PM in a carefully co-ordinated show of support from the UK, scheduled just 24 hours before the summit in Alaska.

Neither leader made any comment themselves to waiting reporters in Downing Street, maintaining a tactical diplomatic silence.

When leaders leave Number 10 they usually walk alone to their car, but today Starmer walked with Zelensky, giving him a hug and a handshake before his departure in an important show of unity.

The prime minister has not said that much to the media over the last few days, leaving commentary on meetings to official scripted handouts, partly in order to avoid saying anything that might appear to be a split with the US.

The main tactic within Downing Street in the past week or so has been to get Trump on board – to make sure the US president has the words of Europe and of Ukraine ringing in his ears when he sits down with Putin on Friday.

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Following his departure, Zelensky posted on social media thanking Sir Keir for his support in a “good, productive meeting”.

“We also discussed in considerable detail the security guarantees that can make peace truly durable if the United States succeeds in pressing Russia to stop the killings and engage in genuine, substantive diplomacy,” he wrote.

Zelensky added the two discussed weapons partnerships, including investment in drone production, and the One Hundred Year Partnership Agreement with the UK, which he said is set to be ratified this month.

In a statement Downing Street said the two men had “looked ahead to tomorrow’s talks between President Trump and President Putin in Alaska, which present a viable chance to make progress as long as Putin takes action to prove he is serious about peace”.

In Russia, Putin told officials he welcomes Donald Trump’s “energetic and sincere” efforts to end the Ukraine war.

He added that the US was seeking to “stop the crisis and reach agreements that are of interest to all the sides involved in the conflict to create long-term conditions for peace between our countries, in Europe and in the world in general, if we at the subsequent stages arrive at agreements in the area of strategic offensive arms control”.

The Kremlin has announced that Putin and Trump will hold a joint press conference after their meeting on Friday evening.

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But Trump, speaking to Fox News on Thursday afternoon, said there would only be a joint press conference if the meeting was a success — adding there’s a “25% chance that this meeting will not be a successful meeting”, and suggesting sanctions on Russia could follow.

Trump said a successful meeting would set up a second meeting, potentially with Zelensky, and repeated the idea there’ll have to be a “give and take” of boundaries between Kyiv and Moscow.

Ukraine has insisted that ceding territory would be unacceptable, while Russia wants to maintain control of land it has seized, including Crimea, and also wants assurances that Ukraine will not join the Nato military alliance.

Addressing a virtual meeting of the European leaders following the call with Trump, Sir Keir said a lasting ceasefire needed security guarantees, adding the coalition had “credible” military plans ready that could be used in the event of a ceasefire.

He said the leaders of the group were also ready to increase economic pressure on Russia if necessary, for example through increasing sanctions, and credited Trump’s efforts for progress on the issue.

Sir Alex Younger, the head of MI6 between 2014 and 2020, told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “It’s true that Donald Trump is the only one who can solve this,” but he warned “Putin is playing him”.

“They’re all talking about the wrong thing,” he said, adding that the US strategy of resetting bilateral relations with Russia was “a total fantasy” that failed to recognise Putin’s aim of the “total subjugation” of Ukraine.

Putin must ‘prove he is serious about peace,’ says Starmer

BBC

International

Israeli Forces Reportedly Destroy School, Burn Homes in Southern Lebanon

Published

49 seconds ago

October 5, 2026

Trends Admin

Israeli Forces Reportedly Destroy School, Burn Homes in Southern Lebanon

Israeli forces reportedly destroyed a school and set fire to several homes in southern Lebanon as military operations, including airstrikes, artillery fire and demolitions, continued across the region.

The reported incident occurred in Houla, in the Marjayoun district, where Lebanese media said Israeli troops placed explosives inside the Jabal Amel Intermediate School before detonating them.

Local reports said the school was destroyed in an early-morning blast, while further demolitions were reportedly followed by fires in residential buildings in the town.

The reports could not be independently verified, and the Israeli military had not immediately provided a specific response to the allegations concerning the school and homes.

The reported destruction in Houla came amid wider Israeli military operations in southern Lebanon.

Lebanon’s National News Agency reported artillery fire around Khiam, while Tallouseh and Bani Hayyan were also reportedly targeted. Airstrikes were reported in Bani Hayyan and Kfar Tibnit, while artillery fire affected areas around Mayfadoun and Zawtar al-Sharqiyah.

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Further demolitions and explosions were also reported in parts of southern Lebanon, including Beit Yahoun, Qantara and Mansouri.

The latest developments have renewed concerns over damage to civilian infrastructure in southern Lebanon, particularly schools and residential buildings.

The reported destruction of the Houla school comes against a wider backdrop of disruption to education in the region. Previous reporting has indicated that dozens of schools in Lebanon have been damaged or destroyed during the conflict, while thousands of students have been displaced from their communities.

The latest military activity is also occurring amid continuing tensions along the Israel-Lebanon border, despite diplomatic efforts aimed at reducing hostilities.

Israel has previously said its military operations in southern Lebanon are intended to counter Hezbollah infrastructure and security threats near the border. Lebanese authorities and Hezbollah have disputed aspects of Israel’s military activities and their justification.

The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) continues to monitor developments and maintain contact with the parties as part of efforts to prevent further escalation.

The renewed violence has added to concerns over the safety of civilians in southern Lebanon, where communities have already experienced displacement and extensive damage to homes and public infrastructure.

As tensions persist, the situation remains volatile, with further military activity potentially threatening efforts to maintain calm along the border.

Israeli Forces Reportedly Destroy School, Burn Homes in Southern Lebanon

International

Over 70 Killed as Fighting Intensifies Around Yemen’s Taiz

Published

20 minutes ago

October 5, 2026

Trends Admin

Over 70 Killed as Fighting Intensifies Around Yemen’s Taiz

More than 70 people have been killed in fighting in and around Yemen’s southwestern Taiz province over the past 24 hours, as clashes between Houthi fighters and forces aligned with the internationally recognised government intensify.

Sources from both sides cited by AFP reported that 34 government troops were killed, including 20 in neighbouring Lahj province, while Houthi military sources said 39 of their fighters were killed in clashes across Taiz and areas bordering Lahj. The figures could not be independently verified.

The escalation comes after Houthi forces reportedly cut a key supply route linking Taiz with Aden, the interim seat of Yemen’s internationally recognised government. Security and military sources said the Houthis took control of the Al-Safiya area and a police station there, bringing traffic along the route to a halt and effectively tightening their encirclement of Taiz city.

Taiz city itself remains under the control of government-aligned forces, but the city has been surrounded from several directions by Houthi forces for years. The latest advances have increased pressure on the city’s remaining supply lines and raised concerns about access to food, medicine and other essential goods.

The renewed fighting has also focused attention on the strategic importance of Taiz. The city sits between Yemen’s northern and southern regions and provides important links to the Red Sea coast, making control of the area significant for military movements and supply routes.

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The escalation comes as Yemen’s internationally recognised government launches a broader military offensive against the Houthis.

President of the Presidential Leadership Council Rashad al-Alimi announced the start of military operations aimed at retaking territory held by the Houthis and extending government authority across the country.

The announcement followed recent Houthi gains along Yemen’s Red Sea coast and around the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a strategically important maritime passage connecting the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden.

The latest escalation marks a major deterioration after several years of relative calm. Yemen’s conflict began in its current form after the Houthis seized the capital, Sanaa, in 2014, prompting a Saudi-led military intervention the following year.

The renewed fighting has already worsened the country’s humanitarian crisis. More than 145,000 people have reportedly been displaced amid the latest escalation, while food insecurity and limited access to healthcare remain major concerns. The World Food Programme has also warned of severe food needs in Taiz, with a large proportion of households in accessible areas struggling to meet basic food requirements.

The conflict has also taken on a wider regional dimension, with Saudi Arabia backing Yemen’s internationally recognised government and the Houthis aligned with Iran.

The latest battlefield developments around Taiz could therefore have wider implications for Yemen’s civil war, humanitarian access and security around the Bab el-Mandeb shipping corridor.

For now, Taiz remains a major flashpoint as government forces seek to reopen supply routes and push back the Houthi advance, while the Houthis attempt to consolidate their positions around the strategically important city.

Over 70 Killed as Fighting Intensifies Around Yemen’s Taiz

International

Trump launches ‘Super Intelligence Force’ to keep US ahead in AI race

Published

17 hours ago

October 4, 2026

Trends Admin

US President Donald Trump

Trump launches ‘Super Intelligence Force’ to keep US ahead in AI race

US President Donald Trump has announced the creation of a new Super Intelligence Force (SIF) to coordinate the federal government’s efforts to strengthen the country’s position in the global artificial intelligence (AI) race.

Trump appointed Director of National Intelligence Jay Clayton to lead the new force, making him the administration’s central figure for coordinating its AI strategy and efforts to maintain US technological leadership.

The announcement followed a meeting between Trump and executives from some of the world’s leading technology companies as his administration seeks to accelerate the development of advanced AI while addressing growing concerns about its potential risks.

The Super Intelligence Force will bring together senior government officials and engage AI companies, consumers, public-interest groups, religious organisations and critical-infrastructure providers as the United States develops its approach to increasingly powerful AI systems.

Other senior officials named in connection with the initiative include Federal Trade Commission Chairman Andrew Ferguson, Pentagon Chief Technology Officer Emil Michael and Office of Personnel Management Director Scott Kupor.

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The force will report to President Trump and White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles.

One of its immediate tasks will be to assess the risks and opportunities associated with advanced AI, including the role the federal government should play in the sector. The group is expected to submit a comprehensive report to the president within 120 days.

The review is also expected to examine the US government’s ability to respond to potential AI security breaches and other threats linked to rapidly advancing technology, as well as identify areas where federal capabilities may need to be strengthened.

Trump’s latest initiative comes shortly after he signed an executive order directing federal agencies, where legally permissible, to use “Super Intelligence” and “SI” instead of “Artificial Intelligence” and “AI” in official communications, websites, reports and policy documents.

The September 29 executive order also directed the administration to develop a proposed federal definition of Super Intelligence within 60 days and consider changes that could establish the terminology in federal law.

The administration has increasingly presented advanced AI as a strategic issue involving national security, economic competitiveness and technological leadership, particularly as the US competes with China for dominance in the sector.

Trump has repeatedly warned against excessive regulation of AI, arguing that burdensome rules could slow American innovation and give rival countries an advantage.

At the same time, concerns about the technology’s potential impact have intensified, including risks involving cybersecurity, privacy, employment, misinformation, misuse and AI safety.

The White House has therefore sought greater cooperation with the technology industry. Major AI companies recently agreed to voluntary safety measures following discussions with the administration, reflecting Trump’s preference for industry-led safeguards alongside government coordination.

The new Super Intelligence Force is a federal task force and does not represent the creation of a new military branch. It also differs from an earlier proposal by Trump for an “AI Force” modelled on the US Space Force.

With Clayton at its helm, the initiative places AI development, national security and US technological competitiveness at the centre of Trump’s latest technology policy push.

Its 120-day review could provide the administration with a framework for determining how Washington will manage the opportunities and risks created by increasingly advanced AI while seeking to keep the United States ahead in the global technology race.