Trump: Netanyahu will not be arrested while in US Trump said in a social media post on Monday that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu “will not be arrested, in any way, shape, or form, while in the United States of America”. This comes after New York City mayor Zohran Mamdani said that he was consulting with city authorities over the possibility of arresting Netanyahu if he visits the city for the United Nations General Assembly in September.
New UK PM Burnham assures Trump on UK’s commitment to securing shipping in Hormuz New British Prime Minister Andy Burnham told Trump that the UK’s commitment to securing the movement of shipping in the Strait of Hormuz was “at the top of his agenda”, according to the Prime Minister’s office after Burnham entered the role on Monday. “The Prime Minister…underlined his commitment to defence and security and said ensuring the security of the UK and its allies was at the top of his agenda,” a Downing Street spokesperson said in a readout of the call which took place shortly after Burnham became leader.
Khalil al-Hayya: Who is the political veteran chosen to steer Hamas forward Hamas has elected Khalil al-Hayya as the new head of its political bureau, placing one of the movement’s most experienced negotiators at the centre of its leadership during a period where Gaza is still facing Israeli genocide and the region faces a renewed war. The movement announced the result on Monday after an internal ballot of the leadership in which Hayya secured 35 votes, narrowly defeating Khaled Meshaal, the head of Hamas abroad and a former political bureau chief, who received 34, according to Al Jazeera Arabic Palestine bureau chief, Walid Al Omari. The vote completed a leadership process that began in May after Hamas failed to settle the contest in its first round.
France warns of consequences after Iranian security services detain embassy staff French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said on Monday that there would be consequences after two of its embassy officials in Tehran were detained for several hours by Iranian security services. Barrot said that the French officials were detained without reason, interrogated and in one case, assaulted, before being able to return to the embassy. “I let Iran’s foreign minister know that these extremely serious and unacceptable violations of the integrity of our agents could not go without consequences,” he wrote in a post to X.
Khalil Al Hayya: Who is the political veteran chosen to steer Hamas forward Submitted by Elis Gjevori on Mon, 07/20/2026 - 14:11 The Gaza-born leader takes charge after decades in Hamas’s political, parliamentary and negotiating ranks Khalil Al Hayya, senior leader and top Hamas legislative candidate, smiles during an interview with AFP at his office in Gaza City on 21 April 2021 (Emmanuel Dunand/AFP) Off Hamas has elected Khalil Al Hayya as the new head of its political bureau, placing one of the movement’s most experienced negotiators at the centre of its leadership during a period where Gaza is still facing Israeli genocide and the region faces a renewed war. The movement announced the result on Monday after an internal ballot of the leadership in which Hayya secured 35 votes, narrowly defeating Khaled Meshaal, the head of Hamas abroad and a former political bureau chief, who received 34, according to Al Jazeera Arabic Palestine bureau chief, Walid Al Omari. The vote completed a leadership process that began in May after Hamas failed to settle the contest in its first round.
World Cup 2026: Israel loves Argentina but do Argentinians actually love them back? Submitted by MEE staff on Mon, 07/20/2026 - 12:32 President Javier Milei has tied his country closely to Israel, but polling shows most people in the country reject the relationship Argentina's President Javier Milei (centre) visits the Western Wall in the old city of Jerusalem, 19 April 2026 (Ilia Yefimovich/AFP) Off Hours before Argentina faced Spain in the World Cup final, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu sent a message to President Javier Milei. "Javier [Milei], you are a real friend, a great friend.
Andy Burnham promises 'new economic and political model' as UK prime minister Submitted by Oscar Rickett on Mon, 07/20/2026 - 12:34 Burnham appears to herald break from neoliberalism as he takes over from Keir Starmer Britain's King Charles III poses with incoming Prime Minister Andy Burnham, during an audience at Buckingham Palace, London, on 20 July 2026 (Aaron Chown/AFP) Off Andy Burnham has taken over from Keir Starmer as prime minister of the UK , promising to deliver a “new political model and a new economic model” for the country. Speaking to the nation in front of 10 Downing Street on Monday, the former mayor of Manchester said he was “acutely conscious” of the fact that he is the UK’s seventh prime minister since 2016. “It requires my generation of politicians to raise our game and rise to the new challenge,” Burnham, a minister during the New Labour era of Tony Blair and Gordon Brown, said.
Iran says it is aware of American tricks Iran's parliament spokesperson Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said that the US claims it seeks an end to the war while bringing new military equipment to the region, "betting on our intelligence being as limited as their IQ. " "We've reached master-level proficiency in recognising these American games ... Actions must confirm claims, not contradict them," Ghalibaf said in a post on X.
Mediators proposed a 10-day cessation of strikes to revive the Iran-US deal, Reuters reports Senior Iranian sources have told Reuters that mediators have proposed a 10-day cessation of strikes to find ways to revive the Iran-US interim deal.
Diplomacy and war are instruments for achieving national interest, Iran's foreign ministry spokesperson says Iran's foreign ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei said that Iran pursues war and diplomacy based on its national intersets, Reuters reported. In response to a question about whether talks with the US are still possible, "Diplomacy is a tool through which we pursue our national interests, just like war," he said.
Rubio says US 'open to a diplomatic solution with Iran' US Secretary of State Marco Rubio indicated that the US is "open to a diplomatic solution with Iran". Meanwhile, speaking on the meeting with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun, Rubio expressed that it was "very positive".
Rubio accuses Iran of using Hormuz Strait as 'leverage against the world' US Secretary of State Marco Rubio accused Iran of using the Strait of Hormuz as leverage amid the ongoing conflict in the region, calling on other countries to "step up" to protect global shipping. "It's clear that Iran, at least some people in Iran, want to control the straits and hold that as leverage against the world," Rubio told reporters. "The United States will do and continue to do what it needs to, to protect global shipping, but other countries need to begin to step up and provide, whether it's hardware or finances, to help carry that burden," he added.
Iraqi PM to visit Tehran this week, Iraqi state news agency says Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi will visit Tehran within the coming week, the Iraqi state news agency reported on Sunday, adding that during the visit the prime minister will sign memoranda of understanding in Tehran in areas of cooperation.
Jordan summons Iranian diplomat over 'unjustified' attacks, ministry says Jordan has summoned Iran's charge d'affaires in Amman over what it called "unjustified and blatant Iranian attacks" and "provocative and inflammatory statements targeting the Kingdom's territory," Jordan's ministry of foreign affairs said in a statement on Sunday.
Trump says he ‘couldn’t care less’ about Iran leaving nuclear agreement US President Donald Trump said he “couldn’t care less” after Iran announced it would no longer abide by the US-Iran memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed last month. Speaking in a brief phone interview with US cable network NewsNation, Trump reiterated that the US’s main objective remains “never allowing Iran to have a nuclear weapon”. Washington and Tehran signed the MoU in mid-June in an effort to end the war launched by the US and Israel in February.
Aragchi says ‘personal remarks’ should not affect Iran-Iraq relations Iran’s foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, told his Iraqi counterpart that the "valuable" relationship between Tehran and Baghdad should not be affected by "certain personal and unofficial remarks", according to Iran's state news agency IRNA. During a phone call, Araghchi and Iraqi foreign minister Fuad Hussein discussed regional developments in the wake of US military attacks on Iran and Washington's “repeated violations” of the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding, the report said. Araghchi described relations between Iran and Iraq as "deep-rooted and strategic", founded on historical, cultural and religious ties as well as shared interests.
Lebanese president hopes to generate pressure on Israel during US trip Lebanese President Joseph Aoun will make his first trip to the White House this week to present a plan to US president Donald Trump on how to disarm Hezbollah and secure Israel's withdrawal from Lebanon. Aoun is the first Lebanese head of state in nearly 20 years to visit the White House, where he will meet Trump face-to-face for the first time. Tuesday's meeting comes at a crucial moment for Lebanon: Israeli troops are occupying a swathe of the country's south, hundreds of thousands of Lebanese remain displaced following Israeli strikes and Hezbollah has firmly rejected the government's direct talks with Israel -- and efforts by the state to strip it of its arms.
Report: Aipac stops taking donations for Democrats who backed Israel aid cut The American Israel Public Affairs Committee (Aipac), a leading pro-Israel lobbying group in the United States, has stopped accepting campaign contributions for 15 House Democrats it had previously endorsed, after they voted this week for an amendment to cut off all US military aid to Israel, media reports said. The amendment, introduced by Kentucky Republican Thomas Massie as part of a State Department spending bill, was defeated 314 to 104, but drew support from 103 House Democrats, nearly half the caucus. Massie was the only Republican backer.
Iran’s Khamenei says US president’s signature ‘worthless and invalid’ Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei condemned the US attacks on Iran, said the repeated breaches of agreements with Iran show that the US president’s signature is “worthless and invalid. ” The statement was released by Iran’s IRIB broadcaster.
US and Israel used Karim Khan misconduct claims to 'defang' ICC, says former EU top diplomat Submitted by Sondos Asem on Sat, 07/18/2026 - 16:32 Josep Borrell denounces ICC bureau’s disregard for judicial panel findings and says the removal vote is part of reactions to Khan’s decsion to seek arrest warrants for Israeli leaders Former EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell speaks to reporters before a meeting of EU defence ministers in Brussels, 19 November 2024 (Nicolas Tucat/AFP) Off Josep Borrell, the former EU high representative for foreign affairs, has accused the United States and Israel of exploiting sexual misconduct allegations against International Criminal Court chief prosecutor Karim Khan to achieve what he called their long-sought goal of neutralising the court from within. In an article published by Project Syndicate on Friday, Borrell urged ICC member states to uphold due process in their vote on the fate of Khan next week. “Some institutional failures unfold not through scandal but procedure, with acts of sabotage dressed up in the language of good-faith inquiry and accountability,” he wrote.
