Liz Webster: “America is no longer an ally.”…
“America is no longer an ally.” Says NATO’s former Deputy Supreme Allied Commander, General Sir Richard Shirreff He says Trump’s actions mean Europe can no longer rely on US firepower and must urgently double down on its own defence. This is the brutal reality check facing Starmer’s Atlanticist strategy, the Mandelson appointment and the US 🇺🇸 trade deals - bad for NHS, farming, food security and sovereignty. #BreJoin #RejoinEU
Sue Diamond: Trump accused Black South Africans…
Trump accused Black South Africans of killing white citizens, an allegation that South African leaders & communities rejected. At the same time, South Africa has faced recurring episodes of violence from black South Africans directed at foreign nationals from other African countries. These events make it difficult for anyone to believe that there is no targeted genocide against white South Africans & foreign Africans!
Anthony Costello: Trump has to cancel Pakistan…
Trump has to cancel Pakistan envoy trip as Iran refuses to meet. Yet again. Trump is losing, the East Asian economy is in deep trouble, and the global economy will soon be too. Trump has unleashed a catastrophe because he didn’t listen to military advice.
Howard Beckett: In the last two days alone 17 Palestinians…
In the last two days alone 17 Palestinians 🇵🇸 have been murdered by Israel 🇮🇱 in Gaza 🇵🇸 Palestinians in Gaza 🇵🇸 are: Living amongst rubble Denied essential supplies Targeted & murdered There is no Gaza 🇵🇸 ‘ceasefire’ It’s a genocide.
Pouria Zeraati: Important/ It was predictable…
Important/ It was predictable; Trump has for now backed off from negotiations: 'I just canceled my representatives' trip to Islamabad to meet with the Iranians. Too much time would be spent on travel, there's a lot of work to do! On top of that, there's severe infighting and confusion within their "leadership." No one knows who's in charge, not even themselves. The winning cards are in our hands, they've got nothing! If they want to talk, the only thing they need to do is pick up the phone!'
Andrew Bridgen: I have believed that Europe is planning and pushing…
I have believed that Europe is planning and pushing for a war with Russia for the last 3 years. Below is the Russian assessment of the current situation. I think it’s accurate. ❗️ Lavrov: Europe Prepares for War, Uses Ukraine as the "Spearhead" In an annual "reality check" with Russian NGO leaders in Moscow (April 24, 2026), Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov delivered his most sobering assessment yet. The era of "proxy hybridity" is over—the masks are off. Key Takeaways from the Briefing: ⚔️ ated bluntly that the EU is mobilizing for a direct military confrontation with Russia. In this strategy, Ukraine is being used as a "battering ram" to bleed Russia dry and buy Europe the time it needs to fully rearm its industrial base over the next few years. 🛰 Direct Warfare: The Minister emphasized that without NATO satellite intelligence and Western officers on the ground, Kiev would be paralyzed. This is no longer a "proxy" conflict; it is an open war against Russia. 🛡 NGOs as the "Counter-Offensive": As the world undergoes a "geopolitical break," Russian civil society is being tasked as a primary "soft power" force. MFA promises to support projects in Asia and Africa. Lavrov's Quote: "An open war has been declared against us. The Kiev regime is merely the 'spearhead' being used to buy them time. They couldn't be any more obvious." The Bottom Line: The Russian diplomatic corps has shifted from a "negotiation" posture to a "mobilization" one. Moscow is signaling that it is preparing for a long-term, high-stakes endurance match with a militarized Europe. @AussieCossack
Liz Webster: Tetchy Trump snaps at yet another female journalist…
Tetchy Trump snaps at yet another female journalist asking a straightforward question about how long Iran talks will take. “Don’t rush me… You’re such a disgrace!” Lists Vietnam, Iraq & WWII while admitting he’s only been working on it for six weeks.
Diane Abbott: When a reliable ally turns out to be neither…
When a reliable ally turns out to be neither, it is time for a major reorientation of British foregn policy. Carrying on in the same way is too costly. Trump says he will probably put a big tariff on the UK if it doesn't drop the digital services tax
Ayesha Ijaz Khan: Let’s see. Trump is unpredictable…
Let’s see. Trump is unpredictable. As is Netanyahu. Difficult to say anything with certainty. The cost to the American taxpayer of all this military build up in the region is substantial. I doubt it’s for GCC. Trump made no effort to protect GCC in the last round - doubt he cares about that.Liz Webster: Trump has now chosen to threaten the Falkland Islands…
Trump has now chosen to threaten the Falkland Islands and use them as a political football, threatening to review US support for UK sovereignty amid tensions over Iran. Falklands Radio News Editor Traighana Smith: “It’s ‘not new’… the islands have been used like this before.” Islanders deserve better than becoming bargaining chips in great power games. #TrumpHoward Beckett: Pedro Sanchez, Spain’s 🇪🇸 Prime Minister…
Pedro Sanchez, Spain’s 🇪🇸 Prime Minister:: ‘People displaced in Iran 🇮🇷 & Lebanon 🇱🇧’ ‘An emboldened Netanyahu 🇮🇱determined to destroy Lebanon 🇱🇧 as he destroyed Gaza 🇵🇸’ ‘An absolute disaster’ ‘From an illegal war’ Other ‘leaders’ choose not to see.
Cameron Hudson: To clarify my commentary…
To clarify my commentary, my opposition is not to lifting sanctions on Eritrea, per se. There is a logic to it. Isaias is an important and powerful actor in a region of growing strategic importance. My issue is the manner in which such decisions get made. Yes there are upsides But there are also many potential downsides. A decision to lift sanctions cannot be considered in a vacuum as they might have been a few years ago. This is not simply a bilateral matter any more. Beyond that, I question the Administration’s own logic. Engagement without a strategy can be self-defeating. And I don’t believe we have a well articulated Horn or Red Sea strategy. And also, if Trump’s diplomacy is transactional then what do we get for lifting these sanctions? I understand what Isaias and Sisi get, but it’s not clear what the US gets. Isaias is not going to reform internally, he isn’t going to give the US a base. And even if he promised those things, why on earth would we trust him? He has survived through alliance building and then abandonment. Why would now be any different? My commentary was intended to create public debate around all these questions because discussions make for better policies and better outcomes for everyone. Secret talks suggest the US and Boulos are not interested in public debates. We can do better. ✌️Ayesha Ijaz Khan: I think Iran made a mistake by not showing up…
I think Iran made a mistake by not showing up to the second round of talks in Islamabad. But I don’t think Iran owed it to Pakistan to show up. And don’t consider it an affront if it didn’t. Also don’t think the answer to this is to actively jump into an anti-Iran alliance. Pakistan’s interest is served by remaining neutral and remaining a peacemaker. The negative propaganda notwithstanding.
Wolfgang Munchau: Now that Viktor Orbán is out of the picture…
Now that Viktor Orbán is out of the picture, and the €90bn loan to Ukraine agreed, the really difficult part still lies ahead. The EU unity over Ukraine is fractious. Hungary, Czech Republic and Slovakia will not be part of the loan. Further down the line, we will see whether Poland, for example, is ready to become a net contributor to the EU budget, or whether France and Germany are ready to increase their net contributions further. Zelensky is right to reject the membership-light option as a symbolic scam. But real membership is outside any foreseeable time horizon. http://eurointelligence.com
Andrew Bridgen: The Swedish Government to consider ‘energy rationing’…
The Swedish Government to consider ‘energy rationing’ if Iran conflict continues. We’re only weeks away from major disruption and shortages. Its in President Trump’s hands and the US is self-sufficient in oil and gas as could the UK be without Net Zero.Pouria Zeraati: One point…
One point: Iraqchi's negotiations with Witkoff/Kushner are unlikely to lead anywhere. In Tehran, the decision-making system is locked up, and I heard from sources in Israel that Mojtaba either doesn't respond to messages or sends vague replies. Contacting him has become significantly harder than in previous days, which means the IRGC has control in hand. The fact that the IRGC's mouthpieces are saying Iraqchi isn't going to meet with the Americans in Pakistan is also indicative of this same state of uncertainty. These conditions will likely lead to the resumption of the next round of attacks aimed at [primarily] neutralizing countermeasures. The military transfers in recent days and the arrival of the USS George Bush in the CENTCOM command area show that the threat of attack isn't just a bluff...
Timothy Ash: With the EU, and Germany insulting...
With the EU, and Germany insulting Türkiye, via VDL comments, the U.K. should take advantage of this to deepen defence and security ties. So many synergies - combining the UK’s defence tech expertise, with Türkiye’s strong manufacturing base.
Bushra Shaikh: There are currently no Iranian...
There are currently no Iranian women inside of Iran, in a queue to be executed. Three women are on bail, waiting for due process and two were released without charge. The rest are AI generated images. Donald Trump is an insane liar and a spreader of disinformation.Pouria Zeraati: Important/ Trump, by posting a Washington Post...
Important/ Trump, by posting a Washington Post columnist and Fox News analyst, has signaled that in the next round of attacks, those who oppose the agreement will be obliterated: "If there are two factions in the I.R. [Islamic Republic], one that wants the agreement and the other that doesn't, let's kill those who don't want the agreement."Timothy Ash: The war in Iran presents a huge ...
The war in Iran presents a huge ST macro risks to Türkiye, via inflation/current account, but long term it presents huge strategic opportunities in defence, energy, trade routes, tourism. Türkiye should be anchor for strategic partnerships with middle powers.
abdelmoneim Mahmoud: The dismissal of U.S. Navy Secretary...
The dismissal of U.S. Navy Secretary John Vellam was not merely an administrative change, but a clear political message from the Trump administration: within the Pentagon, efficiency alone is no longer sufficient, and political loyalty has become an essential condition for survival, especially amid escalating conflicts over the military shipbuilding industry and the management of national security files
Robin Monotti: BALFOUR DECLARATION PREDICTED TO FUEL GLOBAL...
BALFOUR DECLARATION PREDICTED TO FUEL GLOBAL ANTISEMITISM BY CONTEMPORARY JEWISH MP: Edwin Montagu, the only Jewish Cabinet member at the time, denounced the Balfour Declaration as "anti-Semitic in result," arguing it reinforced tropes of Jewish disloyalty and outsider status. Montagu feared it would fuel global anti-Semitism by implying Jews belonged elsewhere. Balfour's duality—restricting Jewish immigration while promoting Zionism—highlights how elite interests manipulated narratives for geopolitical gain, not humanitarian concern.
Pouria Zeraati: Trump has written that he...
Trump has written that he has ordered the U.S. Navy to target and destroy any boat that lays mines in the waters of the Strait of Hormuz. Trump has also said that American minesweeper vessels are currently engaged in clearing the strait and that their activities are set to increase even further.Read more