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Water quality in embattled Palestinian enclave already poor; flooding will exacerbate threat to health, says UN agency.

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JD Vance seeks to reassure Jewish Republicans after questioning Israeli tactics Submitted by MEE staff on Tue, 09/01/2026 - 17:50 The Republican Party is grappling with increasing criticism of the previously untouchable US-Israel relationship US Vice President JD Vance speaks at a Maga Inc super Pac rally in Sterling Heights, Michigan on 31 August 2026 (Supplied by pool to Getty Images via AFP) Off US Vice President JD Vance has sought to reassure members of the Republican Jewish Coalition (RJC) that the Trump administration still has Israel top of mind, as he gave a closed-door speech at the group's Las Vegas convention on Monday. Politico, which obtained audio of the remarks, said Vance was met with “raucous applause” from what was a sceptical crowd, given the vice president's willingness to question the pro-Israeli lobby's influence on US politics, and to remain close to figures such as former Fox News personality Tucker Carlson, who has become a leading critic of Israel among Republicans. The RJC, which is staunchly pro-Israel, finds itself in an uphill battle as criticism of Israel skyrockets among young Republicans in particular. In addition to Israel's conduct in Gaza, which has been classified as a genocide by the United Nations and leading holocaust scholars, many young conservatives are asking why billions of dollars in US foreign aid are given to a nuclear-armed state every year. “There is a growing suspicion among, I would call it, under-40s, of the US-Israel relationship,” Vance said in the audio obtained by Politico. “I think my view is, what we have to do is articulate why this is in the best interest of the United States of America, and actually get out there and talk about the ways in which it is in the best interest of the United States of America. ” Addressing the backlash to his appearance on the provocative Joe Rogan podcast last month, Vance indicated he was trying to reach as many influential people as possible. JD Vance says Epstein had connections to CIA and Mossad Read More » “I think the best approach is to actually go in there and talk to him and make the argument as best as you can. ” The vice president also condemned antisemitism and “blood libel”, saying it is anti-Christian to hold such beliefs. Israeli officials often label strong criticism, such as accusations of genocide in Gaza, as “blood libel”. During that podcast, Vance told Rogan that “there are some people within [the Israeli] system, we know beyond a shadow of a doubt, who are manipulating and trying to change American public opinion to keep the [Iran] war going on indefinitely”. But on Monday, the CEO of the RJC, Matt Brooks, told Politico that the Republican Jewish community has “a great ‘bullshit detector,’ to understand when they’re being pandered to... And I don’t believe that anybody will come away from this [convention] thinking that they were pandered to”. 'Your only ally' Vance has been willing to entertain questions that his predecessors and their bosses would not. Middle East Eye's editor-in-chief David Hearst even pondered if Trump will go down as the US's last Zionist president. Vance is, so far, seen as his likely successor. In June, Vance warned Israel that Trump was its only friend left in the world as he batted away criticism of the Iran deal. The vice president had led the US delegation in talks with Iran, both in Islamabad and in Lucerne, and even said that Trump was turning over “a new leaf” in US ties with the Iranian people. Vance tells Israel Trump is ‘your only ally’ left as Iran talks postponed Read More » Speaking at a White House press briefing about the reported $300bn reconstruction fund included in the memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed with Iran, Vance said Israeli government ministers needed to think twice before attacking the deal. “My message to them would be twofold. ​Number one: Donald J Trump is the only head of state in the entire world ‌who is sympathetic to the nation of Israel at this ‌moment in time,” Vance told reporters on Thursday. “If I was in the cabinet of the Israeli government, I might not be attacking the only powerful ally that I have anywhere left ‌in the entire world. ” The MoU agreed between the US and Iran provoked outrage in Israel, where it was widely seen as handing an effective victory to Tehran. It has since largely crumbled, and on Tuesday, the US struck multiple sites in Iran as the standoff continues over control of the Strait of Hormuz. US-Israel relations News Post Date Override 0 Update Date Mon, 05/04/2020 - 21:19 Update Date Override 0

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US army secretary resigns amid signs of Pentagon unease with Iran war The US Army's top civilian leader, Dan Driscoll, has submitted his resignation, the White House confirmed on Monday, following reports of tensions with Secretary of War Pete Hegseth. "Driscoll has been highly effective in advancing President Trump's agenda to Make America Strong Again at the Department of the Army," Anna Kelly, the White House deputy press secretary, said in a statement on Monday. "The United States Army is more powerful than ever thanks to his work alongside the Commander-in-Chief and Secretary of War,” she added. Driscoll’s departure comes at a time of signs there is unease in the Pentagon over how the Trump administration is prosecuting the war on Iran. The heads of the army, navy and air force, and the four-star commanders overseeing US operations throughout Europe, Asia and Latin America, warned Hegseth that any prolonging of major operations would weaken the US’s ability to confront other foes, the Washington Post reported on Monday. The Associated Press reported earlier this month that the war on Iran has caused a "beyond critical" shortage of advanced missile interceptors, especially Patriots, which have been used to shoot down Russian ballistic missiles in the Ukraine war. The US has also exhausted its stockpile of sophisticated long-range missiles and has “virtually" used up its supply of surface-to-surface weapons, including ATACMS and Precision Strike Missiles (PrSM), Reuters reported. Read more: US army secretary resigns amid signs of Pentagon unease with Iran war US Secretary of the Army Dan Driscoll testifies during a House budget hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington on 16 April 2026 (Saul Loeb/AFP)

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IAEA reports progress in Syria investigation, none in Iran The UN nuclear watchdog has resolved its outstanding questions in its investigation into past, secret nuclear activities in Syria under the Assad family's rule, a confidential report by the agency seen by Reuters said on Tuesday. A separate, quarterly International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) report on Iran also sent to member states and seen by Reuters showed there had again been no progress in Iran, where its lack of access to verify uranium stocks since US and Israeli attacks in June 2025 remained a "proliferation concern". Reporting by Reuters

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Trump warns of 'much harder' action if Iran retaliates after strikes US President Donald Trump has warned that Iran will face "much harder and higher" attacks if it hits back against what he called "very justified" US strikes on the country. "If the failed Nation of Iran retaliates for this very justified attack, they will be hit again at a much harder and higher level, but it will not be the biggest attack of them all, that is waiting in the wings and, when it is over, there will be very little left of the Islamic Republic of Iran! " Trump said on his Truth Social network. He added that the strikes were in response to Iran laying mines and shooting missiles at an American base in Jordan.

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Interior minister Alexander Dobrindt says his country is ‘not at war, but a daily target of hybrid warfare’

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Escalation pushes oil prices higher and sends Treasury yields to day’s highs as investors fret over new bout of inflation

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Germany will close the Russian Consulate General in Bonn and Russian House in Berlin, tighten border controls and pursue new sanctions in response to the Leipzig drone attack.

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The US launched strikes against Iranian targets around the Strait of Hormuz, following Iran's attacks on commercial shipping and American forces in the region. Oil prices are spiking on the news. Tyler Kendall reports. (Source: Bloomberg)

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US says it is attacking Revolutionary Guards targets following 'attempted attacks' on ships in Strait of Hormuz.

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Russia attacked Ukraine with 99 strike UAVs during the day on 1 September, including 72 jet-powered drones. Ukrainian air defence neutralised 82 targets.

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The EU top diplomat reiterated that countries with limited remaining stocks of Patriot missiles nearing their expiration dates should send them to Ukraine

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Explosions heard east of Bandar Abbas as US announces new strikes on Iran Several explosions have been heard east of Bandar Abbas, according to reports from Iran’s IRIB news. US Central Command wrote in a post to X that US forces began striking Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) targets in Iran," adding that the strikes were in response to "recent attempted attacks by the IRGC against commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz and against American service members deployed to the region. m. ET, U. S. " Today at 12 p. forces began striking Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) targets in Iran. — U. S. The strikes follow recent attempted attacks by the IRGC against commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz and against American service members deployed to the region. Central Command (@CENTCOM) September 1, 2026

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Oil rose for a second session as fresh hostilities between the US and Iran raised concerns about prolonged disruptions to energy flows through the Strait of Hormuz, where crude carriers were hit by projectiles. Leslie Palti-Guzman, Founder at Energy Vista, discusses the outlook for global energy as conflict in the Middle East continues to disrupt flow. (Source: Bloomberg)

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The Grey Wolf achieved initial operational capability Aug. 10, and will replace the Vietnam-era UH-1N to protect the Air Force’s nuclear missile fields.

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Israel warns UK of retaliation if it imposes sanctions Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar warned on Tuesday that Israel would retaliate against the UK if any sanctions are announced by British Prime Minister Andy Burnham, after reports emerged that Burnham is expected to soon approve a ban on Israeli goods produced in illegal West Bank settlements. "If Britain acts against the State of Israel, the State of Israel will act against Britain," Saar told a podcast.

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The US treasury secretary said that Washington is going "to economically asphyxiate" Tehran

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Israel kills children in intensifying attacks on Gaza over past day Israeli attacks on Gaza have escalated in the last 24 hours, with five Palestinians killed, the Palestinian health ministry is reporting. On Tuesday morning, at least seven air strikes hit an area west of Gaza City within a 10-minute period, killing a child, while Israeli soldiers opened fire in Deir el-Balah, killing another child. Al Jazeera described chaotic scenes in Gaza City following "intense" Israeli attacks, reporting that 10 blasts were heard in al-Kateeba - one of the city's most densely populated areas. Palestinian journalist Abdulrahman Ismail reported in a post on X that the attacks in Gaza City targeted an area "near a field hospital and thousands of tents sheltering displaced Palestinians". "Quadcopter drones then surrounded the area, opening fire and dropping explosives at anyone moving, as the sound of clashes echoed nearby. Israeli drones simultaneously spread across Gaza City, while smoke bombs were reported over Al-Shati," Ismail said. He added that the scenes bore "a disturbing resemblance to previous incidents involving Israeli special forces operating on the ground, but what exactly unfolded remains unclear". Read more: Israel kills children in intensifying attacks on Gaza over past day A man sits near a destroyed vehicle following an Israeli strike in the Rimal neighbourhood of Gaza City on 1 September 2026 (Omar al-Qattaa/AFP)

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Qatar accuses Israel of exploiting regional conflicts to impose new realities in Palestine, Lebanon, and Syria.

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Diesel rose to the highest in more than four months after fresh attacks on refineries further tightened a market already dealing with a drop in supply due to wars in the Middle East and Ukraine.

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UK's Burnham urged to address alleged UAE plot against British academic Submitted by MEE staff on Tue, 09/01/2026 - 13:51 UAE allegedly funded an operation to surveil British-Muslim activist Anas Altikriti, with a mercenary reportedly discussing killing him Britain's Prime Minister Andy Burnham leaves from 10 Downing Street in central London on 1 September 2026 (AFP) Off A British academic has written to Prime Minister Andy Burnham asking for his response to a report alleging that the United Arab Emirates ordered a covert surveillance operation aiming to kill him in London. An ITV News investigation last month reported that the UAE paid millions of dollars to a mercenary to target Anas Altikriti, the chief executive of the London-based Cordoba Foundation think tank. Abraham Golan, a dual Hungarian-Israeli citizen who ran the private security company Spear Operations Group, allegedly travelled to Britain in December 2016 to target Altikriti. Altikriti sent a letter to the prime minister on 21 August saying: "I ask you to explain how it is that a foreign government was apparently able to fund a plan to threaten my life and monitor my family, on British streets, without consequence to that government, and what protection people in my position can expect from their own state when this happens. " He urged the government to disclose "what UK authorities knew of this operation in 2016". UAE-funded mercenary targeted British activist in London, report says Read More » Emirati financial records seen by ITV showed that Golan, who lived in the US, was being paid by the UAE while carrying out the operation. He was receiving a six-figure annual retainer, as well as substantial bonuses, including a $1m payment weeks before his trip to London for an operation in Yemen. ITV's investigation, based on witness testimony, emails, WhatsApp messages and financial records, found that Golan worked with a former US special forces operative to locate and monitor Altikriti. Altikriti told Burnham in his letter: "Your government has spoken of deepening ties with the UAE. I ask you to explain how that ambition is compatible with credible evidence that the UAE funded an operation to kill me in London, and what conditions, on trust, transparency, and accountability, will now attach to that relationship. " He added that he would be "willing to meet with [Burnham] or with the relevant minister to discuss this matter directly". Mercenary discussed physically eliminating Altrikriti According to ITV, Golan told a British strategist assisting him that he was working for the UAE and that Abu Dhabi considered Altikriti and the Cordoba Foundation to be aligned with groups it regarded as terrorist organisations. Golan contacted the British strategist, identified by ITV as "Victor", in November 2016, asking whether he had any "channels" to Altikriti and the Cordoba Foundation. Anas Altikriti case raises crucial questions about Britain's alliance with the UAE Read More » According to the report, Golan later travelled to London, where he offered Victor £50,000 ($68,000) to help locate Altikriti, increasing the offer to £100,000 ($136,000). Golan shared photographs of Altikriti's home and car, maps and satellite images, and details of his movements between home and work. At one meeting, Golan allegedly discussed the possibility of physically eliminating Altikriti. His associate, a former US Navy Seal, reportedly made a gesture across his throat when asked what could happen to the activist. "I became increasingly worried about what this operation entailed," Victor told ITV. Victor eventually withdrew from the operation after concluding it could involve an assassination. Altikriti was later visited twice at his London home by police officers who warned him that his life could be at risk. The officers did not tell him the source or nature of the threat. Altikriti asked the prime minister to explain "why, if the threat was known, I was not given fuller information at the time it could have mattered most? " UK Politics News Post Date Override 0 Update Date Mon, 05/04/2020 - 21:19 Update Date Override 0

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Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf believes the United States is currently focusing more on the psychological aspect of its economic war against Iran

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Russian air attacks killed 12 people and injured many more in Kyiv and the surrounding region early on September 1, authorities said, marking the sixth straight day of intense strikes on the Ukrainian capital. Those injured three children, just as Ukrainian pupils return to school. In a new tactic, Moscow has sent swarms of new jet-powered drones to ⁠plague Kyiv and nearby areas day and night, killing residents and damaging homes and warehouses.

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Ukraine’s Defence Intelligence confirmed a strike on the Novatek-Ust-Luga complex in Russia’s Leningrad Oblast, damaging key equipment and causing a large fire.

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Long lines at fuel stations are spreading across Iran as war damage, import constraints and new US sanctions squeeze supplies.

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Iran’s Pezeshkian praises Russia’s support during US-Israeli war Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has thanked his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, for supporting Tehran during the US-Israeli war and amid years of sanctions imposed by Washington. The two leaders met on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit in Kyrgyzstan, their first meeting since the US and Israel launched their unprovoked attack on Iran in February. “We appreciate and thank you for your positions at every stage, both during the period when the fighting and acts of aggression were taking place and under normal circumstances, when the United States was imposing sanctions on us, both at the United Nations and in international forums,” Pezeshkian told Putin. Putin had earlier pledged to maintain Russia’s support for Iran despite US threats against countries that continue economic ties with Tehran.

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Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Esmail Baghaei stressed that the United States must be held accountable "for numerous violations of the memorandum of understanding"

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The SCO started in 1996 and accounts for 43 percent of the world’s population and 23 percent of the global economy.

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EU defence ministers grapple with bolstering Ukraine's air defences, as worries grow over Russia's campaign to destabilise Kyiv's European backers. This comes as Moscow is taking advantage of Kyiv running low on US-built air defence missiles to intensify its attacks on the country. EU ministers are also expected to discuss Russia's hybrid war against Ukraine's European allies. FRANCE 24's Angela Diffley tells us more.

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Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei highlighted that IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi is aware of this position