The myth of Gulf exceptionalism and US protection is over Growing up in Doha, Qatar , during the 1990s and 2000s, I recall how the presence of US troops in public spaces would puncture the rhythm of normality. While the country has always been diverse, with people passing through and blending into the background, American soldiers never quite could. Their visibility was hard to ignore.
Iran’s president rejects ‘colonialism’, calls for respectful ties Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has said Tehran will continue to pursue “friendly relations” with other countries based on mutual respect, while rejecting what he described as colonial practices. In remarks addressing Iran’s foreign policy direction, Pezeshkian said cooperation must be grounded in shared interests. “The policy of colonialism and exploitation will have no place in the future world,” he said.
US presses allies to act as Rome balances ties with domestic pressure US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has questioned why allies, including Italy, are not backing Washington’s war on Iran. Speaking after talks in Rome with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Rubio said stronger support from partners is needed. "I don't understand why anybody would not be supportive," he told reporters, adding that countries required "something more than just strongly worded statements" if they opposed Iran’s actions.
Iran foreign minister says ‘Iranians never bow to pressure’ Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has pushed back against US actions, saying Tehran will not yield under pressure as tensions continue to mount. Posting on X, Araghchi said “Iranians never bow to pressure” and questioned whether recent US moves were deliberate pressure tactics or the work of “a spoiler once again duping POTUS into another quagmire”. He added: “Every time a diplomatic solution is on the table, the US opts for a reckless military adventure,”.
Iran still reviewing US proposal for negotiations The spokesperson of the Iranian Foreign Ministry, Esmaeil Baghaei, announced that Iran is still considering its response to the most recent US proposal for negotiations, Al Jazeera reported. According to local media, the spokesperson also accused the US of violating ceasefire agreements and international law.
India mends ties with Turkey after year of tension over Pakistan Submitted by Ragip Soylu on Fri, 05/08/2026 - 12:19 As regional trade routes shift and the IMEC project faces uncertainty, India and Turkey are exploring a cautious diplomatic reset Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (left) and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi (right) pictured after the first session of the G20 Leaders' Summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on 18 November 2024 (Ludovic Marin/AFP) Off When an Ankara-based Turkish think tank hosted an India - Turkey conference for the first time last year, bringing together experts and officials of the two countries, the mood was optimistic. Both Turkish and Indian officials invoked history, recalling Indian support for the Turkish War of Independence and pointing to shared words in both languages, such as hava (air) and kısmet (fate). The conference aimed to kick-start stronger Turkish-Indian relations.
Hondurasgate: Leaked recordings allege US-Israeli destabilisation plot in Latin America Submitted by Shraddha Joshi on Fri, 05/08/2026 - 12:56 Voice messages from former Honduran president say Israeli financial and diplomatic support helped secure presidential pardon from Trump A protester in Tegucigalpa holds a banner reading 'The pardon for Juan Orlando Hernandez (JOH) does not erase the truth, does not erase the narco-state', 4 December 2025 (Orlando Sierra/AFP) Off A series of recordings leaked by investigative site Hondurasgate and Spanish news platform Canal Red have revealed US and Israeli initiatives aimed at advancing interests in Honduras and destabilising left-leaning governments in Latin America. The investigation , led by anonymous Honduran journalists, includes three instalments of 37 leaked WhatsApp, Signal and Telegram voice notes that Hondurasgate says were authenticated through forensic analysis. The recordings allege that Israeli interests were key in securing US President Donald Trump’s pardon of former Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernandez.
US Secretary Rubio: Iran expected to respond regarding negotiations today US Secretary of State Marco Rubio told journalists in Rome that the US expecting a response from Iran today. "We’ll see what the response entails. The hope is it’s something that can put us into a serious process of negotiation.
Head of Jewish National Fund UK loses council seat in UK local elections Submitted by MEE staff on Fri, 05/08/2026 - 12:59 Alan Mendoza, whose charity donated £1m to 'Israel's largest militia', fails to be re-elected as Reform UK councillor Alan Mendoza is the executive director of the right-wing think tank the Henry Jackson Society and head of the Jewish National Fund UK (Screengrab) Off The president of the UK branch of the Jewish National Fund (JNF), an organisation involved in the displacement of Palestinians , has failed to be re-elected as a councillor for the right-wing Reform UK party. Alan Mendoza was a Conservative councillor in Westminster before defecting to Reform UK last year. He is reportedly a chief adviser to the party on global affairs.
Project Get Zack: How the media used antisemitism against the Greens’ Jewish leader Submitted by Joe Gill on Fri, 05/08/2026 - 10:45 The establishment media and major parties are waging a campaign to bring down Zack Polanski using personalised and antisemitic attacks Green Party leader Zack Polanski takes part in a march against the far right in central London on 28 March 2026 (AFP) On As I write, local election results across England have seen massive gains for Reform, the right-wing anti-immigration party, while Keir Starmer's Labour suffered huge losses . The Liberal Democrats and the Greens were making significant gains. These elections show that the two-party system is dead, but the country is heading toward a government of the far right.
Bahrain expels three MPs after they voted against royal decree on citizenship oversight Submitted by Rayhan Uddin on Fri, 05/08/2026 - 09:50 Lawmakers' membership revoked just days after dozens had their nationalities stripped in connection with the Iran war Manama, the capital of Bahrain (AFP) Off Bahrain ’s parliament has expelled three lawmakers after they voted against a royal decree removing judicial oversight in matters of citizenship, just days after dozens had their nationalities stripped in connection with the Iran war. On Thursday morning, the Council of Representatives voted unanimously to revoke the memberships of Abdulnabi Salman, Mamdooh al-Saleh and Mahdi al-Shuwaik. They were singled out due to their dissenting votes in a parliamentary session held on 28 April.
UAE sends Trump's Board of Peace '$100m' for training of new Gaza police force Submitted by Bilge Kotan on Fri, 05/08/2026 - 06:40 Emirati security firm to build force of around 27,000 Jordanian and Egyptian trained police officers, report claims A boy looks on as he sits on rubble at the site of an Israeli strike on a police station in Gaza City on 5 May, 2026. (Omar Al-Qattaa/ AFP) Off The United Arab Emirates has disbursed $100m to the US-backed " Board of Peace " to finance the training of a Palestinian police unit destined for the Gaza Strip, The Times of Israel reported, citing diplomatic sources. The transfer marks the largest donation the Board of Peace has received, after nine members of the board initially pledged a total of $7bn, and the US invested a further $10bn during a donor conference in February.
Iran defends measures in Hormuz Strait at UN Iran defended its actions in the Strait of Hormuz, saying its measures are in line with international law while accusing the United States of destabilising the region. Iran defended its actions in the Strait of Hormuz, saying its measures are in line with international law while accusing the United States of destabilising the region pic. twitter.
Report: US hosting third round of Israel-Lebanon talks on 14 May The US will be hosting the third round of talks between Israel and Lebanon on 14 and 15 May, a State Department official and an Israeli official told The Times of Israel. According to the Israeli official, delegations will include - for the first - military representatives from each side.
Mandelson: How decades of influence secured role as Starmer's man in Washington Submitted by Fleur Hargreaves on Fri, 05/08/2026 - 07:00 The 'almost hypnotic' Mandelson cast a spell over the Labour Party, becoming US ambassador despite failed vetting Keir Starmer (R) talks with Peter Mandelson, then UK ambassador to the US, during a welcome reception at the ambassador's residence on 26 February 2025 in Washington, DC (Carl Court/AFP) Off UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has been mired in scandal over the political appointment of Peter Mandelson as US ambassador, after the Epstein files revealed his close and enduring friendship with the late paedophile financier. Mandelson was forced to resign in February and was later arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office over allegations he passed on market-sensitive government information to Jeffrey Epstein. Then, senior civil servant Olly Robbins was fired from his post in the foreign office after being blamed for not informing the prime minister that Mandelson had failed security vetting.
Trump says US is negotiating with Iran, despite fire exchange US President Donald Trump on Thursday told reporters that Washington is negotiating with Iran, following a fresh exchange of fire between the two countries.
US congressman says pro-Israel groups behind 95 percent of funding against him Kentucky Congressman Thomas Massie told The Tucker Carlson Show that "at least" 95 percent of the funding backing his main opponent in the Republican primary taking place later this month comes from pro-Israel lobbying groups. Massie, who has been in office since 2012, has emerged as a vocal anti-war and anti-foreign aid voice on the right, as well as an Israel sceptic and an aggressive proponent of the release of all of the Epstein files. He has also frequently been a target of President Donald Trump and his Make America Great Again movement.
US congressman says pro-Israel groups behind 95 percent of funding against him Submitted by MEE staff on Thu, 05/07/2026 - 20:36 The Republican primary in Kentucky later this month will be one of the most expensive of all time Republican Congressman Thomas Massie, left, speaks to Tucker Carlson, on The Tucker Carlson Show, published on YouTube on 6 May 2026 (Screengrab) Off Kentucky Congressman Thomas Massie told The Tucker Carlson Show that "at least" 95 percent of the funding backing his main opponent in the Republican primary taking place later this month comes from pro-Israel lobbying groups. Massie, who has been in office since 2012, has emerged as a vocal anti-war and anti-foreign aid voice on the right, as well as an Israel sceptic and an aggressive proponent of the release of all of the Epstein files. He has also frequently been a target of President Donald Trump and his Make America Great Again movement.
Iran says supreme leader overseeing decisions, says Iranian foreign ministry Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson says the country’s supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, is directing key national decisions and that no action proceeds without his approval. The spokesperson said Khamenei is “wisely” managing matters of national interest, as questions persist over his absence from public view since the early stages of the war. Khamenei, the son of the late leader Ali Khamenei, has not appeared publicly since US and Israeli attacks at the outset of the conflict.
Qatar envoy backs UN resolution to keep Hormuz open Qatar’s ambassador to the United Nations, Alya Ahmed Saif al-Thani, has backed a draft Security Council resolution aimed at safeguarding navigation through the Strait of Hormuz. Speaking at the UN, she described the proposal as being of “great importance” at both regional and global levels. She warned that the current situation “not only jeopardises global economic stability and energy security but also worsens humanitarian crises and undermines regional stability”.
