Starmer is leaving Burnham with a massive bill for defence. But why the war fever? Submitted by Joe Gill on Thu, 07/02/2026 - 10:28 There is a concerted campaign to prepare the public for war with Russia.
How Iran won the World Cup (or didn't lose it anyway) Iran was knocked out of the World Cup on Saturday, yet the government’s now calling it a victory. Whether or not it’s the moral victory they say it is, a tidal wave of international support points to a plausible PR victory. Iran’s football fate was sealed by two last-minute plot twists, earning them the BBC title of "Unluckiest team in World Cup history".
Birmingham University weakens restrictions on investing in arms companies Submitted by Imran Mulla on Thu, 07/02/2026 - 12:28 Birmingham is the first British university to weaken rather than strengthen restrictions on arms investments amid Gaza genocide The University of Birmingham photographed in September 2018 (Wikimedia Commons) Off The University of Birmingham has significantly weakend its restrictions on investing in weapons companies, Middle East Eye has learnt. The British university has replaced a policy committing to "minimise" investments in arms, tobacco and alcohol companies with weaker "investment principles" that require the consideration of "financially material" environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors. This makes Birmingham the first British university to weaken rather than strengthen restrictions on arms investments amid Israel's genocide in Gaza.
A local’s guide to Ankara ahead of the Nato summit Submitted by Ragip Soylu on Thu, 07/02/2026 - 11:02 Often overshadowed by Istanbul, Turkey’s capital offers a wide variety of delicious food, lively venues and sightseeing opportunities A view of Ankara's well-known Atakule from the gardens of the Turkish Grand National Assembly in June 2025 (MEE/Ragip Soylu) Off The Turkish capital of Ankara doesn’t have a great reputation, even inside the country. Many Istanbulians look down on this so-called “grey, soulless desert” in the middle of Anatolia. Yet the city, famous internationally mostly for hosting Mustafa Kemal Ataturk’s mausoleum, is about to host a Nato summit on 7-8 July.
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Iran’s Khatam al-Anbia Central Headquarters warned that any US violation in the Strait of Hormuz will be considered a threat to Iran’s national sovereignty and will be met with the country’s decisive response.
Reacting to the decision by Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger to deposit formal notifications of withdrawal from the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, Marceau Sivieude, Amnesty International’s Regional Director for West and Central Africa, said: “This decision by the governments of Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger threatens to deny thousands of victims the possibility of truth, justice and reparations. For more than a decade, Amnesty International has documented crimes under international law committed against civilians during conflicts in each of these countries. Many of these crimes could fall within the jurisdiction of the […] The post Burkina Faso/Mali/Niger: Withdrawal from the Rome Statute consecrates impunity and threatens to deny victims of war crimes justice and reparations appeared first on Amnesty International .
New Delhi [India], July 2 (ANI): Senior Congress leader Salman Khurshid on Thursday said that he will attend the state funeral ceremony of Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, representing the Congress party. Speaking to ANI, Khurshid said, 'I am representing the party and will attend the state funeral ceremony of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei.
'His death has killed a part of me': The Ethiopians awaiting execution in Saudi Arabia Submitted by MEE correspondent on Thu, 07/02/2026 - 12:49 Ethiopians on death row in Saudi Arabia's Khamis Mushait detention centre speak to MEE about their plight Letekristos Gebretsadkan mourns the death of her son Tsigabu, who was executed in Saudi Arabia, in Tigray, Ethiopia (MEE) Off In Saudi Arabia ’s Khamis Mushait detention facility, hundreds of Ethiopian prisoners are held on death row in harrowing conditions, waiting in fear of their eventual execution. On 21 April, the shouts of the guards echoed through the overcrowded prison in Aseer province as they came to read out the names of those scheduled to be executed. Three Ethiopians were taken away to their fate.
Israeli press alarmed as criticism of Israel becomes winning recipe in US politics Submitted by Elis Gjevori on Thu, 07/02/2026 - 12:37 Primary defeats for pro-Israel Democrats have deepened fears about the state's declining popularity in the US Congressional candidate Brad Lander (left) with New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani after declaring victory in Brooklyn on 23 June 2026 (AFP/Spencer Platt) Off A string of primary victories by left-wing Democratic candidates has triggered alarm across Israeli media and pro-Israel circles, with commentators warning that support for Israel no longer guarantees "political success". The victory of democratic socialist Melat Kiros over 15-term pro-Israel US Representative Diana DeGette in Colorado’s primary election on Tuesday added to a series of wins by candidates who have challenged Israel’s influence over US politics, opposed the genocide in Gaza and described Israel as an apartheid state. Kiros's win followed wins by three Democratic Socialist candidates backed by New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani, as well as another in a Philadelphia congressional primary and one in the Democratic primary for mayor of Washington DC.
IRGC say they killed Kurdish fighters in northwest Iran Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said they had killed five members of the banned Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan (PDKI) in the country’s northwest, state media reported on Thursday. The IRGC said the group was ambushed after entering Iranian territory in mountainous border areas near Piranshahr in West Azerbaijan province, without specifying when the operation took place. According to the Norway-based Kurdish rights group Hengaw, the fighting took place on Wednesday evening.
Dozens of messages sent to Iran International say Iranian authorities and state-linked institutions are pressuring workers, businesses and charities to take part in funeral ceremonies for slain Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.
Responding to the caning of an unmarried couple in the Indonesian province of Aceh for kissing and livestreaming it on social media, Amnesty International’s Co-Regional Director Montse Ferrer said: “Today’s public caning of a young man and woman simply for kissing is a horrifying act of discrimination, and a grim reminder of the enduring human […] The post Indonesia: Caning of unmarried couple for kissing on TikTok violates prohibition of torture appeared first on Amnesty International .
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman said high-ranking officials and political figures from around 100 countries will participate in the farewell ceremony of martyred Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei on Friday.
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman said high-ranking officials and political figures from around 100 countries will participate in the farewell ceremony of martyred Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei on Friday.
Lebanese president says will not yield 'a single inch' of territory to Israel Lebanese President Joseph Aoun defended on Thursday negotiations with Israel, saying they were not a betrayal and he would not surrender "a single inch of Lebanon's territory", according to the presidency. Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz said on Wednesday that the Israeli army would remain "until further notice" in what Israel described as "security zones" in Lebanon, Syria and the Gaza Strip.
The 15-member Security Council is convening an emergency meeting on Thursday morning to address the escalating situation between Iran and Bahrain. Stay tuned for live updates.
Trump's Board of Peace says Unrwa has 'no place' in Gaza Submitted by MEE staff on Thu, 07/02/2026 - 09:19 US ambassador Jeff Bartos called on nations to stop funding Unrwa and instead direct their financial support at the annual UN pledging conference on Tuesday A displaced Palestinian woman uses a piece of cardboard to fan her sleeping daughter as they shelter at a school on a hot day, in Khan Younis, in the southern Gaza Strip, 1 July 2026 (Reuters) Off US President Donald Trump's Board of Peace has said that the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (Unrwa) "has no place in new Gaza". In a post on X , the Board said that: "We are turning a page on the complex of perpetual aid dependency and conflict. The people of Gaza deserve better.
India will send a minister and state governor to Ali Khamenei funeral India will send its deputy foreign minister and a state governor to represent the country at the state funeral of Iran's former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Governor of Bihar, Syed Ata Hasnain, and deputy foreign minister Pabitra Margherita will visit Iran on 3 July, the Indian foreign ministry said in a statement. "The high-level representation in the ceremony underscores the importance of civilisational ties, including people-to-people connection, between the two countries, providing a robust foundation to political and economic engagements," it said.
Team Melli arrived home unbeaten after a campaign overshadowed by US travel restrictions Iran's national football team has returned home to a hero's welcome after being knocked out of the World Cup without losing a single match despite immense political pressure and logistical challenges fueled by US visa restrictions.
Team Melli arrived home unbeaten after a campaign overshadowed by US travel restrictions Iran's national football team has returned home to a hero's welcome after being knocked out of the World Cup without losing a single match despite immense political pressure and logistical challenges fueled by U
