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Trump Slams Dem ‘Sedition’ As GOP Senators Rally To Defend Mark Kelly President Trump is thundering about “SEDITION” and even invoking the death penalty — but two senior Republicans are telling him to calm down, back off, and remember who he’s talking about. A growing GOP bloc is now openly defending Sen. Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.) as the Pentagon investigates a video in which he and five other Democratic lawmakers reminded U.S. service members that they can legally refuse illegal orders. Trump exploded, branding them “traitors” and later escalating to “SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR, punishable by DEATH!” But Utah Sen. John Curtis shot back Tuesday, saying Kelly’s record “has been defined by service,” noting his decades in the Navy and four NASA shuttle missions. Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski followed, calling the accusations “reckless and flat-out wrong” and mocking the probe as a “frivolous” distraction for both the Pentagon and FBI. The video at the center of the firestorm features Kelly, Sen. Elissa Slotkin and Reps. Chris Deluzio, Maggie Goodlander, Chrissy Houlahan and Jason Crow — all with military or intelligence backgrounds — telling active-duty personnel: “Our laws are clear. You can refuse illegal orders.” The lawmakers argue the message is nothing more than a restatement of military law. Trump, however, has seized on the clip to ramp up accusations of sedition, demanding jail time and amplifying the idea that the group gave a subversive directive to the armed forces. The White House later clarified that while Trump wants “consequences,” he does not want them executed. The Pentagon says its review will follow military law and due process — but Kelly himself has pushed back hard, accusing Trump’s allies of weaponizing the investigation for political theater. The clash now sits at the intersection of loyalty, legality, and the military’s obligation to the Constitution rather than the Commander-in-Chief — a fault line Trump appears eager to test. Key Takeaways GOP Sens. Curtis and Murkowski publicly defended Sen. Mark Kelly as Trump amps up sedition claims. Trump insists the lawmakers committed “SEDITION,” while the Pentagon opens a formal review. The disputed video simply states that service members may refuse illegal orders — a core principle of U.S. military law. SOURCE: THE HILL

Trump’s ‘Peace Push’ Hits A Wall As Ukraine Rejects U.S. Red-Line Demands The Trump administration is selling a story of unstoppable momentum — “tremendous progress,” “very positive talks,” and only “minor details” left to hammer out. But behind the triumphant soundbites, Ukraine is quietly signaling something very different: three explosive, deal-breaking red lines that threaten to blow up Trump’s entire peace framework. After a weekend of high-stakes Geneva talks, Secretary of State Marco Rubio radiated optimism. A U.S. military envoy met Russian officials in Abu Dhabi, where it was even claimed the Ukrainians had “agreed to the peace deal.” The message from Washington: history is inches away from being made. But a senior Ukrainian source speaking to CNN from Kyiv cut straight through the fog of triumphalism. Yes, there’s consensus on much of Trump’s leaked 28-point plan — but three unresolved demands remain so fundamental that no Ukrainian government can concede them without risking political collapse, military catastrophe, or both. 1. Trump’s demand that Ukraine surrender key Donbas territories This is Moscow’s crown jewel: a handover of annexed but unconquered territory, including heavily fortified cities that serve as Ukraine’s last defensive shield. Trump’s team wants these areas turned into a Russian-administered “demilitarized zone.” Kyiv says there is “progress” — diplomatic code for: we haven’t agreed to anything and we’re not close. “It would be very wrong to say we have a version accepted by Ukraine,” the source stressed. 2. Limiting Ukraine’s military to 600,000 troops A U.S.-imposed ceiling on Ukrainian manpower — at a time when Russia is mobilizing without limit — remains deeply contentious. Kyiv has floated a higher number but is nowhere near agreeing to Washington’s target. One Ukrainian official reportedly warned privately that accepting such a cap would “invite the next invasion.” 3. Renouncing NATO membership — permanently Trump’s negotiators want Ukraine to formally abandon all ambitions of joining NATO. Kyiv says absolutely not. Doing so, the Ukrainian source argued, would hand Russia a veto over the Western alliance “of which it is not even a member.” The geopolitical precedent would be catastrophic — and Moscow knows it. These three demands are not bargaining chips. They are the exact war aims Vladimir Putin has been pursuing since 2014, now repackaged as “peace terms.” Accepting them would rewrite the European security order and risk turning Ukraine into a carved-up buffer state. And that’s the real story buried beneath the Trump-Rubio choruses of “tremendous progress.” Negotiators aren’t finessing “minor details.” They are staring at the same immovable obstacles that have defined the war for years — territory, sovereignty, and Ukraine’s right to exist as a fully independent state. Trump may be framing this as a diplomatic masterstroke, but Kyiv is warning that Washington’s optimism risks becoming its own destabilizing force. Until these red lines shift — and they likely won’t — talk of a breakthrough is more political theatre than geopolitical reality. Key Takeaways Trump is claiming near-victory in Ukraine peace talks, but Kyiv says three major demands remain totally unacceptable. U.S. proposals include Ukrainian territorial surrender, military caps, and renouncing NATO — all core Russian war aims. Ukrainian officials warn these red lines could “make or break” the entire peace effort, regardless of U.S. spin. SOURCE CNN

Reeves hits Workers With more Tax giving £14b to to jobless families whilst clobbering average workers Rachel Reeves is bracing for a political firestorm as her 2025 Budget delivers a £14,000-a-year benefits windfall to Britain’s biggest jobless families while clobbering average earners with higher taxes to foot the bill. The Chancellor’s flagship move — scrapping the two-child benefit cap — will hand vast payouts to 18,000 families with six or more children, according to DWP figures. Those households will see annual support jump by more than £14,000, part of a £3.5bn-a-year expansion of the welfare state. In total, Reeves is expected to hike taxes by £25bn, blaming the Tories, Brexit and Trump’s tariffs for throttling the economy. But her critics say the Budget is simply redistributing from workers to welfare on an unprecedented scale. Analysis from the Adam Smith Institute shows the average earner will hand over £1,970 this year just to fund welfare — more than any other single area of public spending. Workers on the median salary of £39,039 will contribute more than £1,000 towards the NHS on top of that. The two-child limit currently caps means-tested benefits at the first two children, costing affected households about £3,455 per additional child. Nearly 470,000 families are hit by the policy, including almost 200,000 where no one works. Over 18,000 have six children or more. Reeves insists her Budget is about “fairness,” vowing not to return to austerity while promising relief on the cost of living. She trumpets frozen rail fares, free school breakfast clubs and a higher National Living Wage — but admits voters are “angry at unfairness” across the economy. Yet the backlash is intensifying. Tory policy chief Neil O’Brien accused Reeves of caving to Labour MPs who had “worked out she can be pushed around.” “You’ll see some families receiving very large sums from the taxpayer while she raises taxes on everyone else,” he warned. “It destroys her claim that this is all forced on her by Brexit or the Tories. She’s choosing to raise taxes to spend billions more on benefits.” Critics say removing the cap risks gutting work incentives. A single parent with three children currently receives £20,978 in support; without the cap this would soar to £24,491 — more than the £21,807 take-home pay of someone working full-time on the minimum wage. As Reeves prepares to sell her “fair and necessary choices,” supermarkets warn that her separate U-turn on business rates will push food prices even higher, and tourists face a new £2-a-night levy under Labour plans for an English holiday tax. With backbenchers restless, costs rising, and voters sceptical, Reeves’s first Budget is shaping up as a high-stakes experiment in tax-and-spend politics — and millions of workers are about to pay for it. Key Takeaways Scrapping the two-child cap hands £14k-plus yearly payouts to the largest jobless families. Reeves will raise taxes by £25bn, costing the average earner nearly £2,000 for welfare alone. Critics warn the Budget boosts benefits while eroding work incentives and squeezing households. Source: Daily Mail

Melania Trump saucy Photo Real, But taken on Epstein Plane Claim Is False A viral rumour circulating in November 2025 falsely claimed that a partially nude modelling photo of Melania Trump — then Melania Knauss — was taken aboard Jeffrey Epstein’s private jet. The picture is authentic, but the claim is false: the shoot took place on Donald Trump’s customised Boeing 727, as originally published by GQ in its January 2000 issue. Snopes and other fact-checking outlets confirmed the photo was not AI-generated or altered. The miscaption spread across social media with posts declaring, “This famous picture of first lady Melania Trump was taken on Jeffrey Epstein’s plane.” No evidence supports the claim. GQ credited photographer Antoine Verglas, who documented the shoot on Trump’s aircraft, featuring Melania posing with diamonds, handcuffs, and a chrome pistol — typical of early-2000s “lads-mag” styling. The magazine republished the images in 2016, noting Trump himself requested framed prints. The rumour resurfaced amid renewed scrutiny of Epstein-linked material and heightened political tensions around the 2025 U.S. election cycle. A spokesperson for Melania Trump has not commented, but past statements show she has defended her nude modelling work as artistic expression. WorthPoint archives of the original print edition also confirm the location of the shoot as Trump’s Boeing 727. Key Takeaways False claim: The Melania photo is real, but not taken on Epstein’s plane — it was shot on Trump’s Boeing 727 for GQ in 2000. Verified by archives: Photographer credits, GQ records, and print captions all confirm the aircraft belonged to Donald Trump. Rumour surge: The miscaption spread during renewed political attention on Epstein-related files and Melania’s past modelling work. Source Yahoo

Zelensky Backs Slimmed-Down Peace Plan Russia Rejects Plan Concessions Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has welcomed major amendments to the controversial 28-point peace plan drafted in October by U.S. and Russian officials — a proposal that Kyiv and several European governments previously rejected as overly aligned with Moscow’s demands. Zelensky said the revised version now contains “many correct elements” and creates a framework that could become “doable,” signaling the first meaningful opening in weeks of diplomatic deadlock. The shift comes after European allies — led by the UK, France, and Germany — produced their own counter-proposal, stripping out the most politically explosive points, including territorial concessions to Russia. According to Ukrainian officials, the new plan has been reduced to 19 points, with unresolved issues left to negotiations between Zelensky and President Donald Trump directly. The developments follow emergency talks in Geneva between U.S. and Ukrainian officials, prompted by Trump’s warning that Ukraine risked losing U.S. backing if it rejected a deal by 27 November. Moscow did not attend the session and immediately dismissed the amended European-aligned plan as “completely unconstructive.” Complicating diplomacy, Russia launched a major overnight barrage of missiles and drones against Kyiv, striking residential buildings and disrupting power and water networks. Ukraine’s Energy Ministry confirmed a “massive, combined enemy attack” on energy sites, with damage assessments underway once conditions allow. The White House insisted it is not favoring Moscow, calling claims of a pro-Russia tilt “a complete and total fallacy.” Trump meanwhile hinted that “something good just may be happening” in negotiations, but cautioned supporters not to assume progress until agreements are confirmed. European leaders will hold a virtual “coalition of the willing” meeting to coordinate their position, which keeps the door open to NATO membership for Ukraine and increases the proposed size of its military — directly contradicting Russia’s longstanding conditions. Zelensky said the biggest obstacle remains Vladimir Putin’s demand for legal recognition of Russia-held territory — a non-starter for Kyiv. After nearly four years of war, tens of thousands of lives lost, and millions displaced, the gap between the sides remains vast. Key Takeaways Zelensky welcomes a reduced 19-point plan, calling it more realistic after Europe removed pro-Russia concessions. Russia rejects the amended proposal outright, even as it escalates attacks on Kyiv. Europe forms a “coalition of the willing” to back Ukraine and push for a deal that preserves Kyiv’s territorial stance. Source: BBC

BBC Chiefs face MP scrutiny over credibility scandal The BBC’s leadership crisis explodes into full public view Monday as senior figures are hauled before MPs to explain how a botched Panorama edit of a Donald Trump speech spiralled into one of the broadcaster’s worst credibility meltdowns in years. Michael Prescott — the former editorial adviser whose leaked memo triggered the resignations of Director General Tim Davie and News boss Deborah Turness — will give evidence publicly for the first time. His memo flagged not only the Trump edit but “systemic problems” of bias in BBC Arabic coverage of the Israel–Gaza war and deeply skewed reporting on trans issues. Also facing the Culture, Media and Sport Committee are BBC chairman Samir Shah, now fighting for survival after a wave of internal backlash, and fellow board members Sir Robbie Gibb and Caroline Thomson. Gibb, a former adviser to Conservative PM Theresa May, is under particular scrutiny over allegations of political interference. The stakes escalated Friday when board member Shumeet Banerji quit over “governance issues,” a move widely viewed as a direct rebuke of Shah. With Trump threatening a $1bn–$5bn lawsuit over the Panorama edit, MPs are preparing a bruising session examining the board’s editorial guidelines committee (EGSC) — the body meant to safeguard impartiality. Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy has already warned that the perception of political appointments contaminating BBC independence is “a real concern.” The BBC is now considering expanding the EGSC and even creating a deputy director general role, in a bid to restore trust after months of reputational damage. The committee chair, Caroline Dinenage, said Davie’s exit was “regrettable” but unavoidable given the scale of the crisis: “Rebuilding trust must come first.” Monday’s hearing will test whether the BBC can contain the fallout — or whether a deeper structural purge is inevitable. Key Takeaways BBC leadership crisis intensifies as MPs grill senior figures over the Trump Panorama edit and wider claims of systemic bias. Multiple resignations and governance turmoil have placed chairman Samir Shah and board members under heavy scrutiny. Political influence fears grow, with ministers warning the BBC must overhaul its governance to restore public trust. SOURCE: BBC

Europe’s proposal to invite Putin back in to the G8 sparks fury European leaders have floated a proposal to invite Vladimir Putin back into the G8 as part of a sweeping counter-offer aimed at ending the Ukraine war — a move that detonated outrage across the continent and sent a shudder through NATO capitals. The offer emerged in Geneva, where European negotiators presented a counter-proposal to the U.S.–Russia framework leaked last week. The plan, drafted with support from British officials, promises Russia “progressive re-integration into the global economy” — a concession unthinkable just months ago. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio hailed the meeting as the “best day” yet in the grinding peace process, signalling Washington’s growing impatience with Kyiv and its desire to nail down a deal before the war metastasises further. The European pitch also proposes capping Ukraine’s forces at 800,000 troops — higher than Trump’s 600,000 limit but still a hard ceiling on a country fighting for survival. For comparison, Moscow once demanded a microscopic 85,000-soldier Ukrainian army during the Istanbul talks in 2022, a proposal instantly rejected. Tensions escalated after President Trump blasted Kyiv for showing “zero gratitude,” prompting Volodymyr Zelensky to issue a public note of thanks that strained to soothe Washington’s temper. Trump also accused Europe of hypocrisy for buying Russian oil while relying on U.S. weapons to arm Ukraine. But inside Europe, the backlash has been ferocious. A coalition of 47 lawmakers from Ireland to North Macedonia issued a stark warning to Trump, condemning any deal that bends toward Moscow as “morally reprehensible” and a betrayal of the free world. Their letter invoked Reagan’s Cold War maxim — “We win, they lose” — while warning that appeasement would greenlight aggression far beyond Ukraine’s borders. The broader fear now gripping Europe is simple: a deal that brings Putin in from the cold may leave Ukraine — and Europe’s security order — out in the frost. Key Takeaways Europe’s counter-proposal includes a dramatic offer to readmit Putin to the G8. Plan caps Ukraine’s army at 800,000 while promising Russia economic reintegration. European lawmakers warn Trump that appeasement risks global destabilisation. Source: Express

Trump Boasts GOP ‘Has Never Been So United’ Despite Party Turmoil President Donald Trump declared on Sunday that the Republican Party “has never been so united,” brushing off a week of infighting, public fallouts, and his own escalating attacks on several GOP lawmakers. Posting on Truth Social, Trump insisted the party is “UNITED AS IT IS RIGHT NOW,” while taking fresh shots at Sen. Rand Paul, Rep. Thomas Massie, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, and unnamed “lowlifes” he claims are undermining Republican momentum. He also renewed his warnings about keeping the Senate filibuster intact, calling it an “Election threatening” risk if Democrats regain power. Trump’s unity pitch comes despite his increasingly personal feud with Greene, who shocked Washington by announcing she will leave Congress early next year. Trump called her departure “great news for the country,” a remark she later described as “hurtful,” adding she refused to remain a “battered wife” within the GOP. Massie hasn’t fared better. After clashing with Trump on releasing the Epstein files, Massie was promptly slapped with a blistering Truth Social broadside, with Trump urging Kentucky voters to “throw him out” and endorsing his primary challenger, Ed Gallrein. The defiant Sunday message also arrives as Trump navigates a rough political stretch: Democratic wins in key elections, a national approval rating hovering at 41.5 percent, and renewed controversy around his ties to Jeffrey Epstein. Still, Trump insisted Republicans are riding high, touting what he called the “Strongest Border EVER,” record-breaking markets, and “the best economy” before promising: “THE BEST IS YET TO COME! VOTE REPUBLICAN!!!” Whether that message reflects reality — or simply Trump’s preferred version of it — the GOP’s internal fractures remain very much on display. Key Takeaways Trump insists the GOP is “more united than ever” despite open rifts with Greene, Massie, and Paul. Greene’s early exit and Massie’s Epstein-files rebellion highlight widening splits. Trump leans into triumphal messaging as polls and controversies mount. Source: The Hill

Germany Launches Shock Draft To Build Europe’s Strongest Army Germany is tearing up three decades of military pacifism as Chancellor Friedrich Merz races to deliver on his explosive vow to build “Europe’s strongest army” — a promise that once sounded far-fetched, but now has real legislative teeth. A sweeping new conscription bill, agreed last week, would supercharge the Bundeswehr’s ranks in the face of a hardening Russia, a jittery Europe, and a Trump administration openly warning the continent to “sort out its own defence.” Berlin now aims to boost its force from 180,000 to 260,000 soldiers, plus 200,000 reservists, by 2035 — a staggering expansion for a military hollowed out by decades of underfunding. The drive begins with a charm offensive: higher pay, financial incentives, and a €2,600 monthly starting salary. But if voluntary enlistment stalls, the government has a blunt backup plan — mandatory call-ups, a historic reversal of the 2011 decision to scrap conscription. Starting next year, every 18-year-old will receive a service questionnaire. Men must answer. By 2027, they face compulsory medical exams. The message from Berlin could not be clearer: the era of assuming peace is over. The urgency is grounded in grim assessments. Germany’s own defense chief, Gen. Carsten Breuer, has warned NATO to prepare for a possible Russian strike by 2029. European allies whisper similar fears: if Ukraine falls, a NATO state could be next. Chancellor Merz’s coalition wrestled for weeks over how tough to make the system — with ideas like “lottery conscription” floated then scrapped. Defense Minister Boris Pistorius instead pushed a modernized model centred on incentives, but with a conscription safety valve if quotas fail. The proposal is polarising. The German left loathes it. Many young Germans fear education and career plans derailed. And conscientious-objector applications have surged to their highest levels since 2011. Critics warn that forcing sceptical youth into uniform could fuel radicalisation on both extremes. Yet supporters insist Europe needs Germany — a nation of 84 million — to finally pull its military weight. For decades after the Cold War, Berlin coasted on pacifism, kept defence spending under NATO’s 2% target, and allowed the Bundeswehr to crumble. Putin’s 2022 invasion shattered those illusions, triggering a “Zeitenwende” and a €100bn rearmament fund. Now, under Merz, the shift has accelerated dramatically. Germany has revived Veteran’s Day for the first time since WWII, pledged to double defence spending, and embraced the tough rhetoric it once avoided. “Putin only understands the language of power,” Merz declared — and this bill is Berlin’s loudest statement yet. With Parliament expected to vote by year’s end and implementation set for January 2026, Germany is racing toward a historic military transformation. The question haunting Europe is whether it will be fast enough. Key Takeaways Germany’s new conscription bill aims to expand the Bundeswehr to 260,000 soldiers + 200,000 reservists by 2035. Mandatory call-ups could return if voluntary recruitment fails — a seismic break from post-WWII pacifism. Berlin is accelerating rearmament amid fears Russia could threaten a NATO state by 2029. Source: CNN

Marco Rubio is hailing tremendous progress as Trump Ukraine Deal Enters Endgame The Trump administration is hailing “tremendous progress” in Geneva after a frantic weekend of negotiations to lock down its controversial 28-point Ukraine peace plan — a blueprint critics say hands Vladimir Putin the geopolitical jackpot he’s been chasing since 2014. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, emerging from talks with Ukrainian and European envoys, said negotiators had successfully narrowed the “open items” in the US-draft deal and produced an “updated and refined peace framework” jointly endorsed by Washington and Kyiv. But he admitted “there’s still some work to be done” before the plan can go to Presidents Trump and Zelensky — and finally be transmitted to Moscow. For weeks, the leaked proposal has rattled Ukraine and its European allies. The draft would freeze battle lines, recognise Russia’s de facto control of Donetsk, Luhansk and Crimea, cap Ukraine’s military at 600,000 troops, and bar Kyiv from ever joining NATO. In return, Russia would face no major concessions beyond allowing $100bn in frozen assets to be redirected to Ukraine’s reconstruction — and would be rewarded with eventual reintegration into the global economy and a restored seat at a revived G8. Zelensky, walking a political tightrope, said he now sees “signals that President Trump’s team is hearing us,” but warned Ukraine still faces a “very difficult choice: either losing dignity, or risk losing a key partner.” Trump responded by accusing Kyiv of showing “zero gratitude,” while blasting Europe for “lecturing the US” even as it continues buying Russian oil. Behind the scenes, European heavyweights — the UK, France and Germany — are reportedly circulating an alternative proposal, though Rubio denied any knowledge of it. Trump has publicly imposed a Thursday deadline for Ukraine to accept the package, though he later softened the timeline, while Rubio insisted he is “very optimistic” a deal can be reached within days. The Geneva round also forced Rubio and the State Department to publicly reject claims from US senators that the peace plan was “received” from Russia. Rubio branded the accusation “blatantly false,” saying the plan was authored in Washington with input from both sides — a clarification that did little to calm fears the US is strong-arming Ukraine into a settlement tilted decisively toward Moscow. With Russia controlling around 20% of Ukraine and slowly advancing along the front, the clock is ticking — and Trump’s plan is now in its most volatile and decisive phase. Key Takeaways The US and Ukraine have agreed on a “refined” peace framework, though key issues remain unresolved. Trump’s plan freezes battle lines, limits Ukraine’s military, blocks NATO membership, and eases Russia back into the global economy. Ukraine faces intense pressure as the White House pushes for a deal by Thursday. Source: BBC

Move like your future depends on it — because it does Your 30s are when your aerobic capacity, muscle mass, flexibility, and joint mobility peak. The higher your peak, the slower your decline later. Scientists studying master athletes (over 35s who compete into their 60s and 70s) find they keep mobility and independence far longer because they built a much higher reserve in midlife. Key habits that work: Strengthen your legs. Lower-limb strength and balance prevent falls — the No.1 risk for over-70s. Play sport. Racquet sports (tennis, badminton) are strongly linked to longer lifespan; cycling reduces the need for long-term care in old age. Run, but not to extremes. Over 75 minutes per week slows ageing markers; ultramarathons may backfire biologically. Even minimal exercise helps. Just five minutes of moderate-to-vigorous activity slows brain ageing. A brisk 15-minute walk after meals meaningfully improves metabolic health. Build a brain that ages slowly Your 30s are prime time to protect your brain: Take dental health seriously. Gum disease drives systemic inflammation and is linked to cognitive decline decades later. Limit alcohol. It accelerates ageing through gene expression changes and disrupts sleep. Protect sleep like a ritual. Keep regular sleep/wake times — it preserves brain structure and lowers dementia risk. Even one night of poor sleep weakens metabolism and ruins healthy decision-making next day. Sleep experts now use bedtime alarms to enforce consistency. Eat in a way your 70-year-old self will thank you for Intermittent fasting — but the easy version. A simple 12:12 schedule (12 hours eating, 12 hours fasting) is enough to trigger cellular repair. “When you’re eating, you’re building. When you’re fasting, you’re repairing,” says Dr Eric Verdin. Prioritise whole foods, reduce sugar, and maintain a steady weight — these habits compound enormously over the decades. The bottom line Your 30s are not the time ageing “starts.” They’re the decade when you can massively slow it down. Muscle, metabolism, brain resilience, sleep consistency, inflammation control — the sooner you build them, the longer you’ll stay strong, sharp and independent. People who invest in healthy habits in their 30s don’t just live longer — they live better. Key Takeaways Your 30s are the crucial decade to build physical and cognitive reserve that protects you into your 70s. Strength training, sport, regular sleep, reducing alcohol, dental care, and even short daily walks significantly slow ageing. A simple 12:12 fasting routine and consistent sleep patterns improve long-term brain and metabolic health. Source: BBC

Starmer’s Economic Catastrophe Laid Bare As Brits Deliver Brutal ZERO-Percent Verdict Britain has delivered a political punch straight to Sir Keir Starmer’s already-bruised leadership, with a devastating new YouGov poll revealing ZERO percent of the public believe the UK economy is in a “very good state.” Not low. Not tiny. Zero. A number so bad it barely exists — much like Labour’s economic competence. The figures — a nuclear-grade embarrassment for Starmer and Chancellor Rachel Reeves — show only 4% of Brits think the economy is even “fairly good,” a number roughly equal to the remaining fan club of Prince Andrew. Everyone else? Furious, fed up, and convinced the country is sliding backwards at breakneck speed. A combined 79% of the public think the economy is in bad shape — with 35% calling it “very bad,” a collapse in confidence that makes a mockery of Labour’s central election promise: stability, growth, and competence. Instead, voters are staring at falling living standards, stagnant wages, and a tax burden not seen since ration books were still a thing. Even worse for Labour’s top duo, only 1% of the country thinks Starmer and Reeves are handling the economy “very well.” That’s not support — that’s statistical background noise. A further 13% say they’re doing “fairly well.” Add it together, and barely one in seven Brits think the government even knows what it’s doing. Meanwhile, a colossal 77% say Labour is doing badly. Not “could do better.” Not “slightly off course.” Badly. A damning indictment for a government that was supposed to restore competence after years of chaos. And the humiliation doesn’t stop there: even among Labour’s own 2024 voters, more than twice as many now believe the party is botching the economy than think it’s getting anything right. The base is wobbling. The public is restless. And the honeymoon is long, long over. What was meant to be the Starmer–Reeves era of “serious grown-ups running the economy” has curdled into a national verdict of zero confidence — literally. Key Takeaways ZERO percent of Brits believe the UK economy is “very good” under Starmer. Reeves and Starmer score just 1% for doing “very well” on economic management. 77% of the public say Labour is running the economy badly — including many of their own voters. Source: Express

Bolton Torches Trump Peace Plan as ‘A Total Sellout to Moscow’ Former national security adviser John Bolton has unleashed one of the fiercest Republican critiques yet of President Trump’s 28-point Ukraine peace plan, declaring the proposal “written from the Russian point of view” and warning it would hand Vladimir Putin a victory he failed to win outright on the battlefield. Speaking on NewsNation, Bolton said Moscow “couldn’t have written a better treaty themselves,” arguing the deal represents a wholesale capitulation that would “sell out Ukraine.” The plan — quietly negotiated between Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff and Kremlin-linked financier Kirill Dmitriev — would see the U.S. recognise de facto Russian control over Crimea, Donetsk and Luhansk, with Ukraine relinquishing its remaining footholds in those territories. In return, Russia would make no significant concessions beyond redirecting $100 billion in frozen assets toward Ukrainian reconstruction. Bolton blasted the structure as a “Neville Chamberlain moment,” comparing it to the 1938 Munich capitulation that emboldened authoritarian expansionism. Trump has insisted Ukraine must reach a deal by Thanksgiving, telling reporters that President Zelensky will “have to like” whatever final framework emerges or “keep fighting.” Bolton said such pressure signals to both Russia and China that “unprovoked aggression can succeed.” The plan has drawn opposition not only from Bolton but from senior Republican defence figures including Senate leaders Mitch McConnell and Roger Wicker, who argue it rewards Putin almost four years after his full-scale invasion. Meanwhile, U.S. Army Secretary Daniel Driscoll travelled to Kyiv this week to brief Zelensky ahead of a new round of talks in Switzerland involving U.S. and European officials. Bolton — a longstanding Trump critic who was recently indicted on charges related to classified information — urged negotiators to scrap the proposal entirely rather than attempt minor edits, warning the current draft would have catastrophic geopolitical consequences. KEY TAKEAWAYS Bolton says Trump’s peace plan “couldn’t be better for Russia” and would sell out Ukraine. Proposal recognises Russian control of Crimea, Luhansk and Donetsk with minimal concessions from Moscow. Trump pressuring Kyiv to accept a deal by Thanksgiving, prompting fierce pushback from Republican defence hawks. SOURCE: The Hill

State Dept Slaps Down Claims Trump Peace Plan ‘Written in Moscow’ The State Department moved sharply on Saturday to shut down growing claims from U.S. senators that President Trump’s controversial 28-point Ukraine peace plan originated in Russia rather than Washington. The pushback came after PBS NewsHour’s Nick Schifrin reported comments from Sens. Mike Rounds and Angus King suggesting Secretary of State Marco Rubio had told them the plan was “received” from an intermediary and amounted to “the Russian wish list.” Rubio swiftly denied that interpretation, saying on X that the proposal “was authored by the U.S.,” though he acknowledged it includes input from both Kyiv and Moscow. State Department Principal Deputy Spokesperson Tommy Pigott blasted the allegation that the plan wasn’t the administration’s own as “blatantly false,” insisting the framework reflects U.S. policy and ongoing diplomatic engagement with both parties. The proposal itself was assembled by U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff and Russian sovereign-wealth boss Kirill Dmitriev, a close Putin ally — a detail that has fuelled suspicion among lawmakers and Ukraine’s supporters. According to Axios, only a handful of senior Ukrainian officials were briefed prior to the leak, leaving many in Congress blindsided. Republican hawks have condemned the draft as dangerously pro-Kremlin. Sen. Mitch McConnell and Sen. Roger Wicker argue it would “reward Putin” by recognising de facto Russian control of Crimea, Luhansk and Donetsk — with no major concessions required from Moscow beyond funnelling $100 billion in frozen Russian assets toward Ukraine’s reconstruction. Former national security adviser John Bolton said Russia “couldn’t have written a better treaty themselves,” calling it a sellout of Ukraine. Vice President Vance, however, is defending the plan, accusing critics of living in a “fantasy land” and misrepresenting the framework. Officials from Ukraine, the U.S. and European partners meet in Switzerland on Sunday for deeper negotiations on the proposal, even as political backlash in Washington intensifies. KEY TAKEAWAYS State Department insists the Trump peace plan was authored by the U.S., not Moscow. Lawmakers across parties accuse the draft of mirroring Russian demands and undermining Ukraine. High-level talks in Switzerland aim to salvage the plan amid heavy domestic and allied criticism. SOURCE: THE HILL

Mail Empire Expands as DMGT Seals £500m Takeover of Telegraph Group The parent company of the Daily Mail, DMGT, has struck a £500 million ($650m) deal to acquire The Telegraph and create one of the most formidable right-leaning media power blocs in Britain. The agreement, confirmed Saturday, follows the dramatic collapse of RedBird Capital Partners’ long-running bid after months of political scrutiny and internal newsroom resistance. RedBird, partnered with Abu Dhabi–linked IMI, had bought The Telegraph Media Group and The Spectator in 2023 — only for ministers to intervene over foreign state involvement in UK journalism. A revised structure would have capped IMI’s stake at 15%, but the regulatory process dragged on, sowing doubts about approval and timing. Senior Telegraph figures also fiercely opposed the deal, prompting RedBird to retreat last week. The FT reports the DMGT price roughly matches the cash RedBird’s consortium had already sunk into the assets. DMGT says both sides have now entered an exclusivity period to finalise terms and prepare regulatory filings. Crucially, the company stresses the transaction will fully comply with the UK’s Foreign State Influence regime, with no foreign state capital in the funding structure — a sharp contrast with the IMI dispute. DMGT already controls The Mail on Sunday, Metro, The i, and New Scientist. The acquisition would dramatically expand its reach, but the group insists the Daily Telegraph will remain editorially independent. Previous reports indicated DMGT had considered a smaller stake earlier this year, but the withdrawal of RedBird opened the door to a full takeover. A RedBird IMI spokesperson said both parties “worked swiftly” to reach today’s agreement and that the deal will soon be submitted to the Secretary of State for approval. The Telegraph declined to comment. The merger, if approved, will reshape Britain’s conservative-leaning media landscape — consolidating enormous influence under a single corporate umbrella at a politically sensitive moment. KEY TAKEAWAYS DMGT strikes £500m deal to buy The Telegraph, forming a major right-leaning media bloc. RedBird’s bid collapsed due to slow regulatory review and internal Telegraph resistance. Deal avoids foreign-state funding and now heads to government approval. SOURCE: CNN Business

Russia Digital mobile Stranglehold blackouts Ignite Public Fury Russia’s long-simmering frustration over mobile internet chaos has boiled into nationwide anger, as months of rolling cellphone data shutdowns cripple daily life and tighten the Kremlin’s grip on the digital space. Officials insist the disruptions are “anti-drone” measures to block Ukrainian UAVs from using mobile networks for navigation, but the reality for ordinary Russians is far more intrusive — and far more political. Throughout 2025, more than 50 regions on an average day have faced mobile blackouts, according to Na Svyazi, a monitoring group. While home broadband and public Wi-Fi stay online, the loss of mobile data has become deeply disruptive. Transport payments fail. ATMs stall. Messaging apps die. Travellers returning from abroad find their SIM cards frozen. Even medical apps used by parents to track diabetic children’s glucose levels stop working, leaving families terrified. Authorities have layered on “white lists” of government-approved sites — allowing only state-sanctioned services while everything else is shut off. Critics call it a creeping digital iron curtain, and the rollout of MAX, a state-controlled messaging platform lacking end-to-end encryption, has heightened fears of surveillance as WhatsApp and Telegram face throttling and outright restrictions. A new “cooling period” rule now blocks data and texts for any SIM card used abroad or left inactive for 72 hours, creating chaos for millions of devices that rely on SIM-based connectivity — from cars to electricity meters. Yet despite public fury, many Russians simply shrug, treating the restrictions as inevitable. VPN use surges, but constant blocking forces users to cycle through new ones every few months. Analysts say the Kremlin’s strategy is clear: make alternative information so inconvenient that most people give up trying to access it. Experts warn the clampdown will only intensify, with broader bans, deeper surveillance, and full blocking of major Western messaging apps increasingly likely. KEY TAKEAWAYS Russia’s mobile internet shutdowns now affect dozens of regions daily, crippling payments, messaging, and medical monitoring. Authorities push state-controlled apps and “white-listed” websites, tightening censorship and surveillance. Analysts expect even harsher restrictions ahead, including potential full bans on WhatsApp and Telegram. SOURCE: AP

Trump Turns Gaza Into A ‘Peace’ Protectorate Under US Control Donald Trump’s new Gaza “peace plan” isn’t a peace plan at all — it’s a colonial protection racket draped in diplomatic language, rubber-stamped by a UN Security Council too timid to object and too compromised to pretend otherwise. After two years of devastation in Gaza, Washington has now handed Trump what amounts to a proconsul’s mandate: the power to declare Gaza’s fate with a flick of the imperial thumb. The arrangement is grotesquely simple. The US and Israel will jointly govern the ruins for at least two years — and likely much longer — through a hand-picked “Board of Peace” populated by “respected leaders” (translation: compliant Western statesmen and Washington’s favourite ex-PMs). Tony Blair, ever eager to reprise his Iraq-era role as moral alibi, is already being floated as Trump’s willing sidekick. On the ground, the deal locks in Israel’s effective partition of Gaza. Over half the territory becomes a depopulated “Green Zone” under Israeli occupation, while Palestinians trapped in the “Red Zone” remain exposed to bombardment, famine, and the elements. Humanitarian supplies are choked off. Reconstruction isn’t a priority — it’s leverage. International law? Buried. The ICJ, ICC and UN experts who dared to protest have been sidelined, smeared, even sanctioned by the US. Germany and France — once champions of rules-based order — now openly flout it, backing a system that renders their recent “recognition” of Palestine meaningless. The so-called International Stabilisation Force is a fiction. No Western state will risk troops in Gaza. No Arab state wants to be seen disarming Hamas on Israel’s behalf. And Israel itself gets to decide when — or if — it ever leaves. This isn’t peace. It’s occupation with better branding — and Trump is selling it as salvation while Gaza’s future is carved up behind closed doors. KEY TAKEAWAYS • Trump’s Gaza “peace” mandate creates a US-Israeli protectorate in all but name. • Gaza remains effectively partitioned, bombarded, and starved under the deal. • The plan buries international law and turns the UN into a rubber stamp. adapted from an opinion piece by Jonathan Cook Source MIDDLE EAST EYE

Trump Cheers Greene’s Exit After Brutal Rift Boils Over Donald Trump didn’t bother pretending to be gracious. Hours after Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene stunned Washington by announcing she will resign from Congress in early January, the president reacted with trademark bluntness: “Great news for the country.” Not exactly a warm farewell to a former MAGA super-loyalist who once styled herself as Trump’s fiercest foot soldier. Speaking to ABC News reporter Rachel Scott, Trump said he learned of Greene’s decision only when everyone else did. He didn’t ask why, didn’t offer sympathy, and didn’t mince words. “I think she should be happy,” he said when asked whether he planned to contact her. Translation: Don’t call me — I won’t call you. Greene, in her fiery resignation statement, made clear the split wasn’t an accident. She said Trump’s recent public remarks about her were “hurtful,” and she blasted the one-way loyalty dynamic that has defined their relationship. “I refuse to be a ‘battered wife’ hoping it all goes away,” she wrote, framing her departure not as defeat but as escape. The final rupture appears to have erupted over the Jeffrey Epstein files. Greene has loudly pushed for full release, while Trump has recently softened and reversed his position — a move she openly challenged. Trump then clipped his support, sending a clear signal that the MAGA brand was no longer hers to wield. Once inseparable on the far-right flank, the two now stand publicly estranged: Trump dismissive, Greene wounded and defiant. Her resignation leaves a shockwave inside the GOP caucus, where Greene’s antics, alliances and feuds have long shaped the hard-right ecosystem. Trump wished her well — but only after making it clear he won’t miss her. KEY TAKEAWAYS • Trump called Greene’s resignation “great news,” deepening their public split. • Greene says Trump’s attacks were “hurtful” and accused him of one-way loyalty. • Epstein-file tensions helped ignite the final rupture between the former allies. SOURCE: THE HILL

Kyiv Warns Of Doom As Trump Peace Plan Hands Putin Major Wins Ukraine has been pushed into its most perilous diplomatic corner yet. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned in a national address that Kyiv may soon face a brutal choice: protect its sovereignty or preserve the American support keeping the country alive. The trigger is Washington’s new peace plan — a Trump-backed blueprint that hands Moscow key concessions and has been met with visible enthusiasm in the Kremlin. Russian President Vladimir Putin praised the proposal as a “modernized” version of earlier U.S. discussions, saying it “could form the basis of a final peace settlement.” That enthusiasm is precisely what alarms Ukraine. The plan reportedly demands that Kyiv surrender territory, shrink its army, and abandon its NATO ambitions — red lines Zelenskyy has long rejected. Zelenskyy did not outright refuse the plan but bluntly stated that Ukraine was not seriously consulted. He said he held calls with U.S. Vice President JD Vance and Army Secretary Dan Driscoll, while stressing the proposal’s text “has not been discussed with us in any substantive way.” Trump, meanwhile, is applying pressure. The former president said he expects Zelenskyy’s answer by Thursday, adding a characteristic warning: “You don’t have the cards.” Europe, blindsided by Washington’s rapid maneuvering, scrambled to reaffirm its backing for Kyiv. Germany’s Friedrich Merz, France’s Emmanuel Macron, and Britain’s Keir Starmer all reassured Zelenskyy of “unchanged and full support,” even as they cautiously welcomed American “efforts.” EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas called the war an “existential threat,” insisting that “Russia has no legal right whatsoever to any concessions.” Skepticism is rising in Washington, too. Senators from both parties questioned whether the plan simply mirrors a Russian wish list. Yet Trump insists it will stop Putin, not embolden him. For now, Ukraine is studying the proposal — knowing that rejecting it could mean losing the superpower it relies on most. KEY TAKEAWAYS • Zelenskyy says Ukraine may have to choose between sovereignty and continued U.S. backing. • Trump’s plan includes major concessions to Russia, drawing praise from Putin and alarm in Europe. • U.S. senators from both parties warn the proposal risks rewarding Russian aggression. SOURCE: Associated Press

Returning to London after a peaceful year in the countryside, the writer steps off the train and straight into a city that looks and feels like it’s given up. At 7am—a time once reserved for delivery vans and commuters clutching coffees—she instead witnesses a string of scenes that read like a police incident log. A woman in a belted coat is not arguing with her partner, but violently shaking down an elderly client for cash. On the next corner, another woman—heels, mascara, the look of office-hour normality—waits not for a bus but for a drug drop on an L-plated moped. This is Hyde Park estate: hotels, money, prestige. Yet the pavements tell another story. Commuters weave around crack smokers, hooded e-bike riders tearing through red lights, and homeless sleepers pressed into church doorways and “self-storage” depots that double as makeshift shelters. American tourists, jet-lagged and paying £200 a night, stagger into an urban reality they never saw in the brochure: a migrant hotel here, a prostitution corner there, and the unmistakable sense that nobody is in charge. Once, the writer’s Marylebone–Kensington walk was a cherished ritual, a gentle glide through multicultural bustle, historic mansion blocks, and royal gardens. Now it’s a daily gauntlet of roadworks, shuttered pubs, stinking cannabis clouds, and the grim carnival of American Candy stores and vape shops—symbols of a city hollowed out. Back home in Oxfordshire, neighbours greet her by name and remind her about bin day. In London, she finds only anonymity, chaos, decay, and the feeling that social order has not just frayed but snapped. She knows she’s lucky: she can leave. Millions cannot. And with the Mayor still insisting “London is open,” she wonders who on earth wants to walk through that open door now. KEY TAKEAWAYS • A single morning walk exposes shocking levels of visible disorder—drugs, prostitution, homelessness—now routine in central London. • Once glamorous routes around Hyde Park and Kensington are described as degraded, chaotic and unsafe. • The writer concludes that London is collapsing socially while rural life offers the community and safety the city no longer can. SOURCE: Daily Mail

Trump’s Full Ukraine Plan Revealed — A Deal Built On Concessions Donald Trump’s 28-point Ukraine–Russia peace plan — obtained by Axios and verified by U.S. and Ukrainian officials — would force Kyiv into sweeping concessions on territory, military strength, and future alliances. The plan, drafted by Trump envoy Steve Witkoff with input from Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Jared Kushner, was coordinated in part with Kremlin negotiator Kirill Dmitriev, who praised it for finally “hearing the Russian position.” Under the proposal, Ukraine would withdraw from additional areas of Donetsk and Luhansk not currently occupied by Russian forces, formally concede that it will never join NATO, and accept strict caps on the size and armament of its military. Ukraine would also be blocked from hosting foreign troops or deploying certain long-range missiles, effectively limiting future defence options. In return, the U.S. would issue “security guarantees,” though the text does not specify how America would respond in the event of renewed Russian aggression. The plan’s geopolitical scope goes far beyond a ceasefire. It envisions lifting U.S. sanctions on Russia, using portions of frozen Russian assets for reconstruction, reinstating Moscow in the G8, and establishing long-term U.S.–Russia partnerships in AI, mining, and energy. All parties — including Russian soldiers and officials — would receive full wartime amnesty, shielding Moscow from war-crimes prosecutions. Ukraine would also be required to hold elections within 100 days of the deal. Zelensky, who met U.S. Army Secretary Dan Driscoll when the proposal was delivered in writing, has not rejected the plan outright. He called it the American “vision,” describing it as negotiable and insisting Kyiv will push amendments to protect its red lines. The White House frames the proposal as a “serious effort” to end the war on an accelerated timetable, arguing that if fighting continues, Ukraine risks losing more territory. Critics warn the plan resembles earlier Russian demands and may entrench Moscow’s battlefield gains. KEY TAKEAWAYS Trump plan forces Ukraine to give up more land, shrink its military, and renounce NATO. Includes sanctions relief for Russia, G8 return, and wartime amnesty. Zelensky calls it a negotiable U.S. “vision” but insists Kyiv will seek major changes. The full plan 1. Ukraine's sovereignty will be confirmed. 2. A comprehensive non-aggression agreement will be concluded between Russia, Ukraine and Europe. All ambiguities of the last 30 years will be considered settled. 3. It is expected that Russia will not invade neighboring countries and NATO will not expand further. 4. A dialogue will be held between Russia and NATO, mediated by the United States, to resolve all security issues and create conditions for de-escalation in order to ensure global security and increase opportunities for cooperation and future economic development. 5. Ukraine will receive reliable security guarantees. A U.S. official told Axios this would be an explicit security guarantee for Ukraine from the U.S., the first time that has officially been on the table during these talks, though the proposal does not offer further details on what it entails. 6. The size of the Ukrainian Armed Forces will be limited to 600,000 personnel. Note: Ukraine's army currently has 800,000-850,000 personnel, and had around 250,000 beforethe war, according to a Ukrainian official. 7. Ukraine agrees to enshrine in its constitution that it will not join NATO, and NATO agrees to include in its statutes a provision that Ukraine will not be admitted in the future. 8. NATO agrees not to station troops in Ukraine. Note: NATO countries including France and the U.K. have been working on separate proposals that would include small numbers of European troops on Ukrainian soil after the war. This plan appears to disregard that possibility. 9. European fighter jets will be stationed in Poland. 10. The U.S. guarantee: The U.S. will receive compensation for the guarantee; If Ukraine invades Russia, it will lose the guarantee; If Russia invades Ukraine, in addition to a decisive coordinated military response, all global sanctions will be reinstated, recognition of the new territory and all other benefits of this deal will be revoked; If Ukraine launches a missile at Moscow or St. Petersburg without cause, the security guarantee will be deemed invalid. 11. Ukraine is eligible for EU membership and will receive short-term preferential access to the European market while this issue is being considered. 12. A powerful global package of measures to rebuild Ukraine, including but not limited to: The creation of a Ukraine Development Fund to invest in fast-growing industries, including technology, data centers, and artificial intelligence. The United States will cooperate with Ukraine to jointly rebuild, develop, modernize, and operate Ukraine's gas infrastructure, including pipelines and storage facilities. Joint efforts to rehabilitate war-affected areas for the restoration, reconstruction and modernization of cities and residential areas. Infrastructure development. Extraction of minerals and natural resources. The World Bank will develop a special financing package to accelerate these efforts. 13. Russia will be reintegrated into the global economy: The lifting of sanctions will be discussed and agreed upon in stages and on a case-by-case basis. The United States will enter into a long-term economic cooperation agreement for mutual development in the areas of energy, natural resources, infrastructure, artificial intelligence, data centers, rare earth metal extraction projects in the Arctic, and other mutually beneficial corporate opportunities. Russia will be invited to rejoin the G8. 14. Frozen funds will be used as follows: $100 billion in frozen Russian assets will be invested in US-led efforts to rebuild and invest in Ukraine; The US will receive 50% of the profits from this venture. Europe will add $100 billion to increase the amount of investment available for Ukraine's reconstruction. Frozen European funds will be unfrozen. The remainder of the frozen Russian funds will be invested in a separate US-Russian investment vehicle that will implement joint projects in specific areas. This fund will be aimed at strengthening relations and increasing common interests to create a strong incentive not to return to conflict. 15. A joint American-Russian working group on security issues will be established to promote and ensure compliance with all provisions of this agreement. 16. Russia will enshrine in law its policy of non-aggression towards Europe and Ukraine. 17. The United States and Russia will agree to extend the validity of treaties on the non-proliferation and control of nuclear weapons, including the START I Treaty. Note: New START, the last major U.S.-Russia arms control treaty, is due to expire in February. 18. Ukraine agrees to be a non-nuclear state in accordance with the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons. 19. The Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant will be launched under the supervision of the IAEA, and the electricity produced will be distributed equally between Russia and Ukraine — 50:50. 20. Both countries undertake to implement educational programs in schools and society aimed at promoting understanding and tolerance of different cultures and eliminating racism and prejudice: Ukraine will adopt EU rules on religious tolerance and the protection of linguistic minorities. Both countries will agree to abolish all discriminatory measures and guarantee the rights of Ukrainian and Russian media and education. (Note: Similar ideas were incorporated into Trump's 2020 Israel-Palestine peace plan). All Nazi ideology and activities must be rejected and prohibited. 21. Territories: Crimea, Luhansk and Donetsk will be recognized as de facto Russian, including by the United States. Kherson and Zaporizhzhia will be frozen along the line of contact, which will mean de facto recognition along the line of contact. Russia will relinquish other agreed territories it controls outside the five regions. Ukrainian forces will withdraw from the part of Donetsk Oblast that they currently control, and this withdrawal zone will be considered a neutral demilitarized buffer zone, internationally recognized as territory belonging to the Russian Federation. Russian forces will not enter this demilitarized zone. 22. After agreeing on future territorial arrangements, both the Russian Federation and Ukraine undertake not to change these arrangements by force. Any security guarantees will not apply in the event of a breach of this commitment. 23. Russia will not prevent Ukraine from using the Dnieper River for commercial activities, and agreements will be reached on the free transport of grain across the Black Sea. 24. A humanitarian committee will be established to resolve outstanding issues: All remaining prisoners and bodies will be exchanged on an 'all for all' basis. All civilian detainees and hostages will be returned, including children. A family reunification program will be implemented. Measures will be taken to alleviate the suffering of the victims of the conflict. 25. Ukraine will hold elections in 100 days. 26. All parties involved in this conflict will receive full amnesty for their actions during the war and agree not to make any claims or consider any complaints in the future. 27. This agreement will be legally binding. Its implementation will be monitored and guaranteed by the Peace Council, headed by President Donald J. Trump. Sanctions will be imposed for violations. Note: This is the same general structure Trump proposed to govern the Gaza peace agreement. 28. Once all parties agree to this memorandum, the ceasefire will take effect immediately after both sides retreat to agreed points to begin implementation of the agreement. SOURCE: Axios

Experts Warn Trump Plan ‘Invites’ New Russian Invasion Of Ukraine Military analysts have issued an extraordinary warning that Donald Trump’s reported Ukraine peace plan could catastrophically weaken Kyiv and pave the way for a fresh Russian offensive. The proposal — a confidential 28-point framework said to be crafted by US envoy Steve Witkoff and Russian negotiator Kirill Dmitriev — would require Ukraine to withdraw from strategically vital, non-occupied areas of Donetsk and Luhansk, slash its armed forces by 50%, and surrender multiple categories of advanced weaponry. According to a new assessment from the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), the plan would effectively dismantle Ukraine’s hard-won defensive architecture. Most alarming, it would compel Kyiv to abandon the “Donbas fortress belt” — the chain of cities including Sloviansk, Kramatorsk, Kostiantynivka, and Druzhkivka that has anchored Ukraine’s defence since 2014. Russia has spent more than a decade trying, and failing, to breach these lines. Handing them over in a political deal, ISW warns, would give Moscow for free what it could not seize through force. Experts fear the proposed ceasefire lines would simply freeze the conflict in Russia’s favour. Ukraine would be barred from hosting foreign troops, denied long-range weapons, and pressured to accept Russian as an official state language — all while Moscow keeps the initiative. ISW notes that Russian officials have repeatedly signalled that any Ukrainian withdrawal from Donbas would be merely a “starting point,” not a guarantee of peace. In other words: major concessions first, renewed aggression later. Freezing the southern front would also give Russia breathing room to rebuild for future pushes toward Kherson and Zaporizhzhia, long-stated Kremlin objectives. Analysts point out that the plan resembles Russia’s 2022 Istanbul demands, made at a time when Moscow enjoyed battlefield momentum — demands now wildly out of step with Ukraine’s later successes, including the liberation of much of Kharkiv and Kherson oblasts. ISW argues the only credible path to durable stability is the opposite of the alleged plan: accelerated Western weapons deliveries, tougher sanctions, and sustained pressure to break Putin’s “theory of victory.” KEY TAKEAWAYS Analysts say reported Trump–Russia plan would gut Ukraine’s defences. Forced withdrawal from Donbas “fortress belt” would hand Russia key terrain. ISW warns plan mirrors Moscow’s 2022 demands and risks enabling a new invasion. Source EXPRESS

Top US Generals Land In Kyiv As Secret Peace Plan Rumours Swirl Dan P. Driscoll 26th Secretary of the Army Senior Pentagon leaders have arrived in Kyiv for what the US military describes as a “fact-finding mission” aimed at discussing potential paths to end the war with Russia. The delegation is led by US Army Secretary Dan Driscoll, accompanied by Army Chief of Staff Gen Randy George, top US commander in Europe Gen Chris Donahue, and Sergeant Major of the Army Michael Weimer — the most senior US military officials to visit Ukraine since President Donald Trump took office. The team is expected to meet President Volodymyr Zelensky on Thursday when he returns from Turkey. The visit comes amid an intense wave of speculation that Washington and Moscow have quietly drafted a new 28-point peace framework involving major Ukrainian concessions — claims neither capital has publicly confirmed. Media reports from Axios, the Financial Times, and Reuters suggest proposals include Kyiv ceding territory, surrendering certain weapons, and dramatically reducing its armed forces. Trump envoy Steve Witkoff and Kremlin envoy Kirill Dmitriev are believed to have been involved. Kyiv insists no territorial concessions are on the table. A Ukrainian official speaking to CBS said Zelensky and Trump had already agreed in principle to halt fighting along existing front lines, with discussions now centred on ceasefire logistics and security guarantees. Ukrainian Defence Minister Denys Shmyhal met Driscoll on Wednesday, thanking the US for approving a $105m support package for the Patriot air-defence system. The diplomatic manoeuvring unfolds as Russia continues its assault: at least 26 people were killed in a missile-and-drone strike on Ternopil earlier in the day. Moscow has repeatedly rejected ceasefire calls unless Kyiv accepts sweeping conditions that amount to capitulation — including neutrality, demilitarisation, and territorial losses. The Kremlin dismissed reports of a new peace plan, pointing back to the opaque “spirit of Anchorage” summit between Trump and Putin in August. Meanwhile, the White House confirmed that Ukraine envoy Keith Kellogg will step down in January after reaching the end of his appointment window, removing a key pro-Ukraine voice from Trump’s inner circle at a sensitive moment. KEY TAKEAWAYS Top US military officials meet Kyiv leaders as secret peace plan claims rise. Reports suggest Washington–Moscow draft includes major Ukrainian concessions. Zelensky insists no territorial surrender; Russia demands sweeping pre-conditions. SOURCE: BBC

Melania Warns AI Will ‘Rewrite Warfare’ In Stark Marine Corps Speech First Lady Melania Trump issued a stark warning about the rise of artificial intelligence in modern conflict, declaring that AI is poised to transform warfare more profoundly than any technology since the advent of nuclear weapons. Speaking at Camp Lejeune, the largest Marine Corps base on the U.S. East Coast, Trump told service members and families that the world is nearing a military tipping point defined by speed, automation, and machine-driven decision-making. “Technology is changing the art of war,” she said, stressing that AI is accelerating every part of conflict—from detection to targeting to defensive response. She argued that future combat will hinge on reaction time, with AI systems operating faster than any human commander could. In her words, “We are moving from human operators to human overseers fast,” signalling a shift in which machines execute more battlefield tasks traditionally performed by soldiers. Melania emphasised that Marines will remain indispensable, even as automation expands its footprint. But she underscored that the shift from soldiers to machines is “already underway,” highlighting AI’s growing presence in military logistics, surveillance, and combat support roles. The appearance marked Trump’s first joint trip with Second Lady Usha Vance. The pair visited service members, military families, and classrooms at DeLalio Elementary School—part of the Camp Lejeune community—as a gesture of support going into the holiday season. Students received Be Best activity packets including puzzles, pens, and stickers, and Trump was seen warmly interacting with the children, even sharing hugs. The warning arrives amid escalating global conflicts, AI-driven weapons development, and heightened concerns about unmanned systems shaping future battlefields. Her remarks align with ongoing Pentagon debates about how rapidly autonomous weapons should be deployed—and who, or what, should control them. KEY TAKEAWAYS Melania Trump warns AI will reshape warfare faster than any tech since nukes. Says militaries are shifting “from human operators to human overseers.” Visit to Camp Lejeune included outreach to Marines, families, and schoolchildren. SOURCE: Express US

Russian Laser Strike On RAF aircraft NATO Alert In UK Waters A Russian spy ship has triggered a fresh security scare after allegedly firing disruptive lasers at RAF pilots shadowing it off the Scottish coast — the first incident of its kind, according to Defence Secretary John Healey. The vessel, the Yantar, part of Russia’s secretive GUGI deep-sea directorate, reportedly used laser systems to interfere with RAF Poseidon P-8 surveillance aircraft and a Royal Navy frigate tracking its movements in recent weeks. Healey blasted the move as “deeply dangerous” and confirmed he has tightened the Royal Navy’s rules of engagement, enabling British forces to monitor the vessel at closer range whenever it enters “wider UK waters.” The Yantar has already entered UK waters twice this year and is suspected of mapping or probing critical undersea cables — infrastructure Western governments increasingly fear Russia may target in any hybrid confrontation. Speaking from Downing Street, Healey warned Moscow directly: “We see you. We know what you’re doing. And if the Yantar travels south this week, we are ready.” He hinted at unspecified military options should the ship alter course. Russia denies any wrongdoing, calling British concerns “Russophobic” and accusing London of fueling “militaristic hysteria.” But UK officials remain unmoved. Labour MP Matt Western, chair of the Joint Committee on the National Security Strategy, said the episode proves Russia poses a “genuine and immediate threat” to UK security — and called for “more assertive retaliation.” The ship stopped broadcasting its location on 2 November, with its last confirmed position in the Baltic Sea, while Dutch forces previously escorted it out of the North Sea. With RAF aircraft again circling off Scotland, its current whereabouts remain unclear. Healey also used the moment to urge faster UK defence investment, even as a parliamentary committee warned Britain is overly reliant on US support and must prepare for a future where Washington may step back. Ongoing negotiations with the EU over access to a new €150bn defence scheme remain unresolved. KEY TAKEAWAYS UK says Russian ship used lasers on RAF pilots in a dangerous first. Healey warns Moscow: “We see you… we are ready” as tracking tightens. Incident intensifies fears over Russian probing of undersea cables. SOURCE: BBC