Editorial Snapshot: 23-June-2025

Man of war: On why Donald Trump is no peacemaker

Donald Trump, once a vocal critic of America’s foreign wars, has now led the U.S. into a major conflict. Despite his claims that he would have prevented the Ukraine war and pursued peace, Trump has become entangled in a war between Israel and Iran. The conflict began when Israel attacked Iran on June 13, 2025, during ongoing U.S.-Iran talks. Initially distancing itself, the U.S. later launched direct strikes on Iranian nuclear sites, making it unmistakably Trump’s war. This shift contradicts his promises and aligns him with the globalist militarism he once opposed.The situation mirrors past U.S. foreign policy failures—Afghanistan, Iraq, and Libya—where invasions were justified under false pretenses or unfulfilled goals. Intelligence reports show Iran has no active nuclear weapons programme, and it was Trump who previously dismantled a working nuclear deal. With diplomacy undermined by both Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu, the war risks further destabilising West Asia. It may push other nations to arm themselves, diminish trust in U.S. diplomacy, and lead to a broader, more dangerous conflict.

​Theft and compensation: On news publishers and AI models  

Large language AI models rely heavily on internet content, much of which originates from professional news organisations. As creative industries confront the unchecked use of their work by AI systems, the news industry faces an existential threat. Earlier digital disruptions and Big Tech platforms already eroded their audience and revenue. Now, AI poses a deeper challenge by using vast amounts of news content without consent or compensation. This exploitation undermines fragile business models and professional journalism.The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade’s committee on copyright and AI is a positive step toward addressing these concerns. The demand is not anti-innovation but a call for fairness. Past experiences with tech platforms profiting off news content without equitable returns must not repeat in the AI era. As social media becomes more enclosed and monetisation avenues shrink, news publishers deserve compensation when their content is used for AI training. Claims of “fair use” by AI firms ignore the moral and legal need for consent. Publishers and policymakers must assert their rights and ensure the news industry benefits from AI’s rise.

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