News 08/12/25

Defence chiefs have outlined multimillion pound plans for new technology to protect the UK’s undersea cables and pipelines.

The Atlantic Bastion programme, announced in the Strategic Defence Review, will bring together autonomous vehicles, artificial intelligence, warships and aircraft to identify and counter threats to underwater infrastructure. The Ministry of Defence says the move responds directly to a rise in Russian submarine and underwater activity, including the spy ship Yantar, which was tracked around UK waters last month.

President Volodymyr Zelensky will meet key European leaders in London on Monday as allies consider how to respond to sustained US pressure for Kyiv to accept concessions in peace talks.

The leaders of France and Germany will join Zelensky and Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer at No 10 as they aim to ensure any agreement deters a future Russian attack. The gathering follows three days of talks in Florida, where Ukraine pressed for changes to a White House proposal viewed by many as leaning toward Kremlin demands. The US and Ukraine reported progress, although President Donald Trump suggested Zelensky had not read the draft.

Thailand has carried out airstrikes and says it has hit military targets along its border with Cambodia, after both countries accused each other of firing first.

Thai army spokesperson Major General Winthai Suvaree said one Thai soldier was killed and eight were wounded, claiming Cambodian forces opened fire into Thai territory. He said Thai aircraft struck several military locations to suppress what he called Cambodian supporting fire.

A water leak at the Louvre in Paris has damaged between three hundred and four hundred works, mainly books, in the museum’s Egyptian department.

Deputy administrator Francis Steinbock said no precious volumes were affected, and repairs to the long known issue are scheduled for next year.