Today's Newsletter

• Several sources report that a third person has been arrested over an attempted arson attack at a synagogue in north London. The 19-year-old man was arrested and taken into custody, joining a 38-year-old man and 46-year-old woman who were also arrested in connection to the fire at Finchley Reform Synagogue last April. The incident is being investigated by the Met's Counter Terrorism unit. Read more.

• A dozen senior Muslim academics, community leaders, businessmen and counterextremism experts have called on fellow Muslims and anti-racist campaigners to do more to condemn antisemitism in the UK, The Times reports. In an open letter, they warned that some people are using a veil of legitimate protest to “normalise slogans, symbols and rhetoric that glorify violence,” describing references to groups like Hamas and antisemitic tropes as " unacceptable and inexcusable — as it would be with any other form of racism or bigotry." They also said the government should address legislative gaps that allow the glorification of terrorism and the incitement of hatred. Read more.

• It is reported that families linked to Daesh could be allowed back into the UK from Syrian detention camps, the independent reviewer of terrorism legislation has suggested. Jonathan Hall KC, the Government's independent reviewer of terrorism legislation, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that British women and children of fighters that are no longer guarded by Syrian authorities have a "right" to return to the UK. Hall's comments came after four Daesh-linked women and nine children were repatriated to Australia, adding that momentum for a similar British scheme has been given a "nudge" by these events. Read more.

• The United States has carried out a series of fresh strikes on Iran, but insisted that the ceasefire has not ended, multiple sources report. In a statement, US Central Command said: "US forces intercepted unprovoked Iranian attacks and responded with self-defence strikes as US navy guided-missile destroyers transited the Strait of Hormuz to the Gulf of Oman, May 7," and "eliminated inbound threats and targeted Iranian military facilities responsible for attacking US forces." Iranian state media claimed the exchange came after the US military attacked an oil tanker, prompting a retaliation. Read more.

• It was widely reported that three women with links to Daesh have been arrested and charged after returning home to Australia from Syria. The group that arrived in Melbourne had been held in al-Roj camp since 2019, and have been at the centre of a political debate in Australia involving citizens who travelled to Daesh-controlled territory and have since been held in life-threatening conditions in camps across Syria. The group of 13 is part of 34 individuals, which includes wives, widows, and children of Daesh fighters who left a camp in February but returned for "technical reasons," while the Australian government has not officially repatriated them. Read more.

• Ceasefire talks between Israel and Hamas have reached a deadlock in negotiations and Gaza risks sliding back into war, BBC News reports. Citing unnamed security sources, Israel's Channel 12 News has reported that Israel might be preparing to resume fighting in the Gaza Strip due to Hamas's refusal to give up its weapons, and another option being considered is an expansion of a so-called "Yellow-Line" marking full Israeli military control. Two Palestinian officials familiar with recent negotiations between Hamas leaders and the US-led Board of Peace in Cairo claimed that Israel was insisting on moving to the second phase of President Trump's 20-point plan before completing the obligations of the first phase. Read more.

Anti-racism campaigners ‘must do more to stop antisemitism’

(£) The Times, 07/05/2026

A prominent group of Muslims has called on fellow Muslims and anti-racist campaigners to do more to condemn the “horrifying” levels of antisemitism in the UK.  In an open letter, a dozen senior Muslim academics, community leaders, businessmen and counterextremism experts warned that the “weak and underwhelming” response to the surge in Jewish hatred since the October 7 attacks “cannot go on”.  They said they felt the need to speak out to urge Muslims and anti-racism campaigners to do more to condemn and combat antisemitism due to the “pattern of sustained menace” against Jewish communal buildings, assets and Jews themselves in recent weeks. The stabbing of two Jewish people in a terror attack last week was one of more than a dozen antisemitic attacks in London last month and follows the murder of two Jews at Heaton Park Synagogue in Manchester in October.

Specialist plain clothes cops drafted in to protect Jewish communities in north Manchester as Chief Constable makes vow

Manchester Evening News, 08/05/2026

Specialist plain clothes detectives have been drafted in as part of an increased police operation to protect Jewish communities in north Manchester. Chief Constable of Greater Manchester Police Sir Stephen Watson revealed the measure during an interview with the Manchester Evening News in which he repeated that his officers would likely arrest anyone chanting 'globalise the intifada' or ' from the river to the sea' at pro-Palestine marches. Higher Broughton, Cheetham Hill and Prestwich are already subject to an increased police presence, including armed cops. Last year Adrian Daulby and Melvin Cravitz were killed during a terror attack at Heaton Park synagogue. Three men were jailed in February over a plot to kill as many Jews as possible in a planned attack on Jewish areas of Manchester in the summer of 2024.

Inside the Met's antisemitism patrols

ITV News, 07/05/2026

The call comes in across the police radio. A panic alarm was set off at a synagogue building in Hendon. Sirens blaring, we weave through traffic as quickly as possible. I'm out with one of the Metropolitan Police's new specialist patrols aimed at dealing with a rising tide of antisemitism. The patrols cover areas with large Jewish populations, like Golders Green, Hendon, Finchley and Edgware, and only respond to reports of terror attacks and hate crimes. It's a significant operation requiring 1,000 extra officer shifts a week, which relies on overtime and the redeployment of police officers from other parts of London. It takes just under two minutes to arrive at the scene. We are quickly joined by three other police cars. In recent weeks, synagogues including Finchley Reform and a former site in Stepney have been targeted in arson attacks.

Greens not viewed as party with biggest antisemitism problem, poll shows

(£) The Independent, 07/05/2026

The Green Party is not viewed as being the party with the biggest problem with antisemitism, a new poll has shown, despite increasing pressure on Zack Polanski over his response to the Golders Green stabbing. When asked which of the main five parties has an antisemitism problem, Labour and Reform were identified most frequently in a new YouGov poll, with both at 33 per cent. A quarter said the same of the Greens, while the Conservatives and Lib Dems registered 16 per cent and 13 per cent respectively. The survey, conducted in the aftermath of the attack, showed almost two-thirds (63 per cent) of Britons believe prejudice against Jews is a major or significant concern, with the views of Green voters broadly in line with supporters of other parties and voters overall.

The 2 words I've been thinking about after brutal antisemitic Golders Green stabbings

Daily Express, 07/05/2026

Richard Madeley writes: “Are we doing enough in light of surging antisemitism?”

This is comment or editorial reporting.

US unleashes midnight strikes on crucial Iran oil port in retaliation to attack on Navy as Trump insists ceasefire remains in place

Daily Mail, 08/05/2026

Explosions have rocked Qeshm Island in the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz on Thursday, with Iranian state television confirming the blasts erupted amid an active 'exchange of fire' as Trump describes the conflict as a 'love tap'. 'The explosions at the Bahman pier on Qeshm Island occurred during an exchange of fire between Iranian armed forces and the enemy,' an anchor with state TV reported in Farsi. Fox News is reporting that airstrikes are also happening in port city Bandar Abbas in Iran. US officials tell the network that they don't believe this is a 'restarting of the war' or an 'end to the ceasefire.' But Iran's top joint military command says that the United States carried out air attacks on 'civilian areas' with the 'cooperation of some regional countries.'

Also: Associated Press, Daily Express, (£) Daily Telegraph, GB News, The Guardian, ITV News, PA Media, (£) Reuters, The Sun, (£) The Times 

Iran’s hardliners resort to dirty tricks to scupper peace deal

(£) Daily Telegraph, 07/05/2026

Iranian hardliners have accused the country’s foreign minister of helping to assassinate the supreme leader. The allegation is seen as a last-minute effort to disrupt peace talks with the US just as they have shown signs of progress. It is one of several apparently desperate tactics used by opponents of any deal, with threats being issued to “destroy” Iran’s government should talks succeed. Mohammad Bagher Kharrazi, secretary general of Hizballah in Iran – different from the Tehran-backed Lebanese group – suggested Abbas Araghchi deliberately exposed Ali Khamenei’s position before he was killed in US-Israeli air strikes on Feb 28.

US and Iran close to temporary truce, Pakistani officials claim

The Guardian, 07/05/2026

The US and Iran are close to a temporary agreement to halt the war in the Middle East, officials in Pakistan claimed on Thursday, as diplomatic activity gathered fresh momentum after a near breakdown of the current ceasefire earlier this week. Officials on Islamabad said a very basic “interim” deal could be reached as early as this weekend and that Tehran was reviewing a US proposal. However, Trump and Pakistan have consistently suggested a breakthrough was imminent, and weeks of previous efforts to negotiate a permanent end to hostilities have made little real progress. Recent days have seen wild swings from hope to despair as the US and Iran test each other’s resilience and will, seeking leverage in any talks through belligerent rhetoric, defiance and sporadic violence.

Trump shelved ‘Project Freedom’ after Saudis refused use of bases and airspace

The Guardian, 07/05/2026

A refusal by Saudi Arabia to allow the US to use its bases and airspace to provide a military escort for oil tankers passing through the strait of Hormuz lay behind Donald Trump’s decision to shelve the plan days after it had been launched. Riyadh told the White House it would not allow its Prince Sultan airbase to be used to mount the operation billed as Project Freedom, which the US presented as the successor to the bombing campaign called Operation Epic Fury. Saudi Arabia refused to drop its objections despite a personal call between the crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman, and Trump, NBC reported. The confrontation – not denied by Riyadh – underlines Saudi Arabia’s desire for a permanent end to the damaging US-Israel war on Iran on almost any terms, in contrast to its more assertive Gulf neighbour, the United Arab Emirates.

Iran’s president says he has met supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei

(£) The Times, 07/05/2026

Iran’s president has said he had a “direct, frank” meeting with Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, the country’s supreme leader, who is believed to have been gravely wounded in US-Israeli strikes at the end of February. Masoud Pezeshkian held talks with Khamenei, son of the late supreme leader, for nearly two and half hours, state media reported. He is most high-profile visitor reported to have seen the new absolute ruler, who has not been appeared in public since the start of the war. Pezeshkian, an elected politician who is subordinate to Khamenei, said in a video broadcast by state television that the supreme leader had “attended this meeting with a spirit based on simplicity, humility, warmth and mutual respect, which made the atmosphere of the conversation completely direct, frank and filled with a sense of closeness and trust”.

The three issues Trump and Iran need to solve for a peace deal to be agreed

(£) The Independent, 07/05/2026

Iran and the United States are closer than ever to agreeing a peace deal to bring an end to the war, sources have claimed, with Donald Trump declaring there have been “good talks over the last 24 hours”. The White House is currently awaiting Tehran’s response to a one-page memorandum of understanding (MOU) aimed at ending the war and setting a framework for future nuclear negotiations, Axios reported. Some officials in the US, who expect a response before the weekend, told the outlet that the two sides are “not far, but there is no deal yet”. Trump himself is confident: "They [Iran] want to make a deal. We've had very good talks over the last 24 hours and it's very possible that we'll make a deal up there," he said, adding: "I think we won." Iranian foreign ministry spokesperson Ismail Baghaei said the proposal is being reviewed by Iran who will inform Pakistani mediators of its opinion, according to ISNA news agency.

Five fatal flaws in Trump’s latest plan to end the war

(£) iNews, 07/05/2026

Donald Trump believes he is closing in on a framework to end nearly 10 weeks of war with Iran. The President said the US had held “very good talks” with Iran over the past 24 hours and that it was “very possible that we’ll make a deal”, to end his increasingly problematic conflict. “We’re in good shape,” he told reporters in the Oval Office on Wednesday, warning that if an agreement was not reached, “we’ll have to go a big step further” while insisting that Iran’s leaders “want to make a deal”. The White House is hopeful that its 14-point memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Iranians will set a framework for more detailed talks on issues including Tehran’s nuclear programme, according to the US news outlet Axios. The US expects Iran‘s response to the document over the next 48 hours. This is the closest the parties have been to an agreement since the war began on 28 February, the outlet reported, citing two US officials and two other sources briefed on the issue.

How Trump’s ‘one page memo’ could take us back to square one in Iran - after thousands of lives lost and economic ruin

(£) The Independent, 07/05/2026

Donald Trump once more believes he is closing in on a deal to end the two-month conflict with Iran, despite both sides appearing unwilling to budge on key issues. Thousands of people have died in strikes across the Middle East since the war began on 28 February. Global trade has been decimated, inflicting massive economic damage and driving millions into poverty and hunger. Violence has spread across the region, notably between Israel and Hizballah in southern Lebanon. But the latest proposal to end the war could see the US exit with key questions still unanswered. The latest offer is based on a one-page memorandum of understanding, which in turn is expected to lay out a wider framework for another month of more detailed negotiations on the lingering nuclear issue.

Gaza war can be called a genocide, press watchdog rules

(£) Daily Telegraph, 07/05/2026

The Press watchdog has ruled that publications are entitled to describe Israel’s actions in Gaza as genocide. The Independent Press Standards Organisation (Ipso) rejected a complaint from a member of the public about the term being used as a statement of fact in a newspaper article. Ipso said it was “not in a position to adjudicate on the actions of Israel”, even though the UK Government had been clear that genocide was not being committed. The Campaign Against Antisemitism described the Ipso ruling as “laughable”. Jewish groups have repeatedly complained about the use of the word “genocide” in connection with the war in Gaza, saying it is not only inaccurate and offensive but also fuels antisemitism and insults the memory of those who died in the Holocaust.

Why Britain is uniquely exposed to the Strait of Hormuz blockade

(£) The Times, 07/05/2026

The editorial board writes: "Structural defects and political antics mean the country is paying higher interest despite a proportionally lower national debt than most G7 nations."

This is comment or editorial reporting.

Trump has no easy solutions left to end war

(£) The Times, 07/05/2026

Gerard Baker writes: "The president fears losing a US warship if he goes back to hostilities — and all of his other options come with problems."

This is comment or editorial reporting.

Bombing of Hezbollah's elite commander puts a crack in US-Israel relations

Daily Mirror, 07/05/2026

Chris Hughes writes: ‘There's a ruthless reason Iran will use Beirut bombing of its 'Radwan' commander to its advantage, exploiting a growing crack in the US-Israeli alliance and making gains in peace talks’.

This is comment or editorial reporting.

Iran mocks Trump’s ‘Project Freedom’ as adversaries wrestle over talks to end war

The Guardian, 07/05/2026

Julian Borger writes in his analysis: "To the surprise of nobody who has been following the US’s recent adventures in geopolitics, Trump’s spin concealed a lot of the underlying reality."

This is comment or editorial reporting.

Trump is not getting what he initially wanted from the Iran war

CNN, 08/05/2026

Aaron Blake writes in his analysis: "It remains to be seen what, if anything, comes from the latest Iran war peace talks as the countries exchanged fire Thursday."

This is comment or editorial reporting.

Third arrest over attempted arson at synagogue

BBC News, 07/05/2026

A third person has been arrested over an attempted arson attack at Finchley Reform Synagogue in north London. The 19-year-old man was arrested at an address in Portsmouth on Thursday morning and has been taken into custody, the Met Police said. The latest arrest comes after officers were called to the synagogue on Fallow Court Avenue, Finchley, during the early hours of 15 April. No damage was caused to the building and no-one was injured. A 38‑year‑old woman and a 46‑year‑old man were arrested in Watford on the day of the attack on suspicion of arson with intent to endanger life. Both have since been released on bail until July. The incident is being investigated by the Met's Counter Terrorism unit.

Also: (£) Daily Telegraph, GB News, PA Media, (£) Reuters,  Sky News

Keir Starmer arson suspect tells of ‘easy money’ to put up posters

(£) The Times, 07/05/2026

A Ukrainian construction worker accused of setting fire to the prime minister’s constituency home has told a court how he was hired online by a mystery man who began by asking him to put up posters to make “easy money”. Roman Lavrynovych, 22, from Sydenham, south London, appeared in the witness box at the Old Bailey dressed in a green bomber jacket, red woollen trousers and white trainers. He is accused of setting fire to a car formerly owned by Sir Keir Starmer as well as arson attacks on the prime minister’s former flat in Islington, north London, and his constituency home in Kentish Town between May 8 and May 12 last year, assisted by two other Ukrainian men.

Also: Daily Mail

Iranian dissident fears Britain faces deadly ‘revenge’ if his country’s evil leadership is not completely wiped out

GB News, 07/05/2026

An Iranian dissident trapped in limbo in Iran has warned that Britain faces deadly ‘revenge’ if his country’s evil leadership is not completely wiped out. The hardline Islamic regime has used the ceasefire to hunt down and kill opponents to the regime. The dissident, who is putting his life on the line simply by sending a video diary to GB News, fears being abandoned by the USA if a deal is done with the Iranian government. And he has told GB News that Britain and the rest of the western world will face the fierce wrath of Iran’s cruel leaders if they are left standing.

Man who 'threatened to cut throats of Jews' arrested

BBC News, 07/05/2026

A man has been arrested on suspicion of a racially aggravated public order offence after reports of antisemitic threats being made to Jewish people. Footage of an incident in Salford - shared on social media - showed a man being challenged by men wearing Orthodox Jewish clothing who tell him the police are on their way. Greater Manchester Police (GMP) said officers were called to Northumberland Street in Higher Broughton, in the heart of the city's Jewish community, at 22:37 BST on Wednesday. Marc Levy, chief executive of the Jewish Representative Council for Greater Manchester, said it was "indicative of the surge in hate crime targeting Jewish people merely seeking to lead their lives".

Jewish bus passengers are left terrified after being told to 'go to the gas chambers' as man 'threatened to kill children' during anti-Semitic attack

Daily Mail, 07/05/2026

Jewish passengers were left terrified after a man claiming to have a knife shouted 'you should all go to the gas chambers' during an unprovoked antisemitic attack on a bus. Witnesses revealed the stranger also told them, 'shame Hitler didn't kill you' while making threats to kill Jewish children. The incident took place on a 254 bus as it made its way along Upper Clapton Road in Hackney, north London, on Thursday afternoon. Some of the passengers on board were travelling to or from Stamford Hill, which is home to a large ultra-Orthodox Jewish community in the capital.  Following his outburst, the bus driver stopped the vehicle and activated an alarm before volunteers from Shomrim, a Jewish neighbourhood watch group, helped detain the man.

Man, 36, charged over threatening phone calls to elected representatives

BBC News, 07/05/2026

A man has been charged with making threatening phone calls to elected representatives. The 36-year-old man is charged with three counts of threatening communications under the Online Safety Act 2023 towards two local councillors. Detectives from Newry, Mourne and Down CID were investigating the phones calls that were made in December 2025 and in February of this year. He is due to appear at Newry Magistrates' Court on 3 June.

Polanski: No country has right to exist – including Israel

(£) Daily Telegraph, 07/05/2026

Zack Polanski has claimed that neither Israel nor any other country has a right to exist. The Green Party leader appeared to dismiss the belief that the Jewish state had a right to exist as “semantics”. He also suggested that Britain did not have any inherent claim to exist, saying: “I don’t believe any country has a right to exist. People have a right to exist, the Israelis have a right to exist, the Palestinians have a right to exist.” Mr Polanski is facing growing scrutiny over the handling of antisemitism in his party after local election candidates were arrested last week on suspicion of stirring up racial hatred. Some activists also used the Greens’ spring conference to claim that Zionism, the belief in the right of Jews to self-determination, should be classified as a “racist ideology”.

Also: Daily Mail, (£) The Independent, (£) The Times

Right-wing US commentator blocked from entering UK

(£) Daily Telegraph, 07/05/2026

A Right-wing US political commentator has been blocked from entering the UK for a Stephen Yaxley-Lennon rally. Joey Mannarino, an internet personality, was barred by Shabana Mahmood, the Home Secretary, from entering the UK on the grounds that his presence was “not conducive to the public good”. Mr Mannarino, who says he has visited the UK four or five times since obtaining his Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) permitting entry last May, had been planning to attend a Unite the Kingdom rally, organised by Yaxley-Lennon, on May 16. But he has now received an email from the Home Office, which he published on his X account, saying his ETA had been cancelled from May 6.

Zack Polanski is a 'hard-left Donald Trump' whose courting of the anti-Israel vote is dragging British politics into a 'dark place', Guy Adams warns the Daily Mail's Deep Dive podcast

Daily Mail, 07/05/2026

While reshaping the Green Party into an anti-Israel protest group has grown their membership numbers dramatically, Zack Polanski has unleashed 'dark forces' into British politics, Senior Features Writer Guy Adams has warned the Daily Mail's Deep Dive podcast. Ahead of today's local elections, Foreign Correspondent Chris Pleasance spoke to Adams, whose recent exposé of Green Party leader Polanski and the antisemitism allegations engulfing his candidates has raised serious questions over the party's ability to govern. A Daily Mail investigation revealed yesterday that 30 Green Party candidates are under investigation for alleged antisemitism, with two already arrested on suspicion of stirring up racial hatred towards Jews.

Man charged with attempted murder over Lurgan police station car bomb

PA Media, 07/05/2026

A 48-year-old man has been charged with a number of offences, including attempted murder, in relation to an attempted car bomb attack on Lurgan PSNI station. The dissident republican group the New IRA claimed responsibility for the incident in March that saw a food delivery driver hijacked in Kilwilkie and forced to drive a “crude but viable” device to the station. The device failed to explode. Three people were arrested on Wednesday by police investigating the incident. On Thursday evening, the PSNI said they had charged a man with attempted murder, attempting to cause an explosion, hijacking and possession of explosives with intent to endanger life or damage property.

Also: ITV News, (£) Reuters

French prosecutors seek charges against Elon Musk and X over child sexual abuse images

Associated Press, 07/05/2026

French prosecutors are seeking charges against Elon Musk and his social platform X for child sexual abuse images on the platform, deepfakes, disinformation and complicity in denying crimes against humanity by the platform’s artificial intelligence system, Grok. The Paris public prosecutor’s office said Wednesday it has opened an investigation into X on charges including complicity in possessing and distributing child sexual abuse images and unlawfully collecting personal data. It’s also investigating charges of disseminating non-consensual images or other content and denial of crimes against humanity. X and its parent company SpaceX did not immediately respond to messages seeking comment Thursday.

Two Islamic-State linked Australian women charged with crimes against humanity

BBC News, 08/05/2026

Three Australian women with links to Daesh have been formally charged after returning home from Syria. Kawsar Abbas, 53 and her daughter Zeinab Ahmed, 31 will appear at Melbourne Magistrates Court on Friday, less than 24 hours after they were arrested at Melbourne airport. Abbas faces four charges of crimes against humanity with police alleging she went to Syria in 2014 and kept a female slave in her home. Ahmed faces two similar charges. In Sydney, Janai Safar, 32, is also due in court on Friday, charged with allegedly entering and remaining in a declared conflict zone and joining Daesh. She was arrested and charged on Thursday after landing in Sydney with her son.

Also: AFP, Associated Press, Daily Mail, (£) Daily Telegraph, The Guardian, (£) Reuters, (£) The Times

Islamic State-linked British families currently being held in Syria could come back to the UK after four ISIS brides in same detention camp as Shamima Begum returned to Australia

Daily Mail, 07/05/2026

British families linked to Daesh could be allowed back into the UK from Syrian detention camps, the independent reviewer of terrorism legislation has said. Jonathan Hall KC, the Government's independent reviewer of terrorism legislation, said the fall of Syria's former regime and the arrival of a new government had opened up 'further possibilities' for British nationals still being held in camps in the country's north-east. Speaking to BBC Radio 4's Today programme, he warned that if the new Syrian authorities no longer wished to guard thousands of women and children linked to Daesh, British nationals could end up returning to the UK because 'that's their right'.

Also: GB News

ISIS Beatle Ringo who was part of terror beheading gang has bid to move from grim US supermax prison to comfortable British jail refused

Daily Mail, 07/05/2026

A Daesh extremist who was part of a beheading gang dubbed The Beatles has had his bid to move to a comfortable British jail refused.  El Shafee Elsheikh is currently serving life in a high-security US prison after he was convicted of hostage-taking and conspiring to murder in 2022. The 38-year-old had applied to move back to his 'home country' Britain so he could be closer to family and friends - despite his citizenship being revoked in 2018. Elsheikh's gang videoed the beheadings of captives in territory held by the Daesh in Iraq and Syria in 2014. This included aid worker David Haines, whose daughter Bethany, has said it is a 'huge relief' that Elsheikh will not step foot on British soil.

Defiant ISIS bride who fled Sydney and vowed to never return home from Syria reveals why she finally came crawling back

Daily Mail, 07/05/2026

A recently returned Daesh supporter has admitted she felt 'vulnerable and alone' in Syria, despite once vowing never to return to Australia to shield her young son from 'naked women on the street'.  Janai Safar, 32, was among four women linked to Daesh fighters who touched down in Australia on Thursday night, almost two weeks after leaving the Al-Roj detention camp in northeastern Syria. Safar and her nine-year-old son were escorted off the plane by Australian Federal Police (AFP) officers shortly after landing in Sydney.  She appeared stony-faced in footage of her in the backseat of an AFP vehicle arriving at nearby Mascot Police Station about 7pm. The 32-year-old was later charged with entering or remaining in declared areas, and being a member of a terrorist organisation.

Muslim leader defends ISIS brides' return to Australia

Daily Mail, 08/05/2026

A prominent Sydney lawyer has defended the return of female Daesh supporters to Australia, arguing the public should not 'condemn' innocent children, or their mothers, because of the atrocities committed by Daesh in Syria.  Lebanese Muslim Association secretary Gamel Kheir, a 56-year-old conveyancer for Bankstown firm Kheir Lawyers, said the women are entitled to return because they are Australian citizens. He said that because the women are Australian citizens, they are entitled to return and face the law, adding: 'everything else is irrelevant.'  'I am no defender of these individuals. I am no defender of ISIS. If they are guilty of breaking Australian law, charge them,' he said. 'But I value that there is an independent and trusted legal process. I don't care what the government does or doesn't do, I care even less what the Opposition thinks.

Spare us the sob stories: This is why I have ZERO sympathy for Australia's ISIS brides

Daily Mail, 08/05/2026

Peter Van Onselen writes: "Adults who chose to travel into the orbit of Islamic State don’t get to rebrand themselves as passive victims the moment the caliphate collapses and the consequences finally catch up with them."

This is comment or editorial reporting.

Iran conducting near-daily prisoner executions in secrecy, say rights groups

The Guardian, 07/05/2026

Iran is carrying out near-daily executions of prisoners in secrecy and, in some cases, refusing to hand the bodies of the dead to their families, according to rights groups and sources close to the relatives of the dead. Many families only learn of executions after they have been carried out, with some facing harassment and pressure not to speak publicly on the personal impact of the state killings, the sources say. In the latest reported surge, Iran has executed at least 24 people since March, with six executions carried out over two days, according to the Norway-based monitoring group Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO). The killings have raised fears for hundreds believed to be facing the death penalty over mass anti-government protests in January, as well as those held on espionage accusations during the war with the US and Israel.

One year after India-Pakistan conflict, ceasefire holds - but little else does

BBC News, 08/05/2026

A year after the four-day India-Pakistan conflict brought South Asia to the edge of a dangerous escalation, the region has drifted into a brittle and deeply uneasy equilibrium. The crisis - triggered after a deadly militant attack on tourists in Indian-administered Kashmir, and culminating in military strikes by India and retaliatory action from Pakistan - lasted barely 90 hours. But the conflict hardened political and diplomatic estrangement, leaving little space even for limited normalisation. Formal diplomacy is almost non-existent now. The border is shut, trade is suspended, cricket ties remain severed and the Indus Waters Treaty remains in abeyance.

Fears of renewed Gaza war as Hamas disarmament talks stall

BBC News, 07/05/2026

Ceasefire talks between Israel and Hamas have stalled, and Gaza risks sliding back into war. This week an Israeli air strike killed the son of Hamas's leader and chief negotiator Khalil al-Hayya, and Palestinian sources confirmed to the BBC that the two sides had reached a deadlock in negotiations. Israeli media reports suggest Israel is preparing to resume fighting in the Gaza Strip because of the impasse and Hamas's refusal to give up its weapons. "We understood, everyone understood that Hamas would not disarm, and they have followed through on their intentions," Michael Eisenberg, an adviser to the Israeli prime minister, told the BBC, describing Hamas as "an unrepentant terrorist group". "Nobody in Israel wants to go back to war," he said, but added "all options are on the table right now."

Israeli settler to go on trial over attack on French nun in Jerusalem

AFP, 07/05/2026

An Israeli settler suspected of kicking and wounding a French Catholic nun in Jerusalem will go on trial for assault motivated by hostility towards a religious group, Israel’s justice ministry has said. The attack on the nun, a 48-year-old researcher at Jerusalem’s French School of Biblical and Archaeological Research, occurred on Mount Zion, just outside the Old City. The suspect, Yona Simcha Schreiber, 36, is from a settlement in the occupied West Bank named Peduel. He has been under arrest since 29 April and the prosecution has asked that he remain in detention until the trial, the ministry said in a statement. Schreiber faces a charge of assault resulting in injuries, motivated by hostility towards a religious group.

Weapon-maker investments stoke warnings for Future Fund

Australian Associated Press, 07/05/2026

Australia has been warned it could be in breach of international law after it was revealed the Future Fund has invested millions in weapons companies involved in Israel's bombardment of Gaza. The nation's sovereign wealth fund has invested $8.6 million in Israeli weapons company Elbit Systems and $13.6 million in Lockheed Martin, which supplies military war planes to the Israeli Air Force, according to a recent Future Fund investment report. It has also injected $165.3 million into Palantir, which has supplied AI-driven technologies to Israel for its offensive in Gaza. Another $72.2 million has been devoted to Bank Hapoalim, Bank Leumi and Israel Discount Bank, which were named on a United Nations database as furthering Israel's illegal settlement activity in the West Bank, East Jerusalem and the Golan Heights.

Zionism, antisemitism and the weaponisation of words and meaning

(£) The Independent, 08/05/2026

As one of thousands of Jews to sign a letter imploring the Israeli president, Isaac Herzog, to intervene and stop horrendous settler attacks on Palestinian people, Nicole Lampert says that Israelis have a chance to choose a different path. But there is a deeper history to the word “Zionism” that many are ignoring today.

This is comment or editorial reporting.

Man jailed for life over Colorado anti-Semitic firebomb attack

(£) Daily Telegraph, 08/05/2026

An Egyptian man who admitted to carrying out an antisemitic attack in Colorado that left one person dead and dozens injured has been sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. Speaking to the court through an interpreter, Mohamed Sabry Soliman, 46, apologised for last summer’s attack in Boulder, in which he threw two Molotov cocktails at demonstrators who were marching in support of Israeli hostages in Gaza. “If I went back, I would not have done this, as this is not according to the teaching of Islam. What I did came out of myself and only myself,” he said. Despite Soliman’s claim that he did not hate Jewish people, Judge Nancy Salomone ruled antisemitism was clearly the motive behind the June attack.

Also: AFP, Associated Press,  BBC News, (£) The Independent

No evidence Austin mass shooting suspect was associated with a foreign terrorist organization, FBI concludes

ABC News, 08/05/2026

The FBI has released new information about the mass shooting outside an Austin, Texas, bar in March that left three people dead, concluding the suspected shooter was a lone actor, who was not associated with a Foreign Terrorist Organization. "There is no evidence of outside direction or radicalization; rather, the investigation indicates an escalation in violent behaviour in part tied to specific personal triggers and grievances related to U.S. and Israeli military actions involving Iran, culminating in a violent, impulsive attack," according to a press release from the FBI. Ndiaga Diagne, a 53-year-old naturalized U.S. citizen who was born in Senegal, circled the bar on the popular 6th Street in Austin, Texas, in the early morning hours on March 1 and then opened fire on people outside the bar, according to authorities.

Pro-Palestine protester may avoid jail time for death of Jewish man who suffered fatal injury at post-October 7 rally

Daily Mail, 07/05/2026

A pro-Palestine protestor may avoid having to spend time in jail after pleading guilty to killing an elderly Jewish man at a rally. Loay Abdel Fattah Alnaji, 53, changed his plea regarding the death of Paul Kessler, 69, on Tuesday - more than three years after the pro-Israel demonstrator died following a violent protest in Thousand Oaks, California after the October 7 attacks. Kessler was seen on video waving a large Israeli flag before he was hit on the head with a megaphone, causing him to fall over and knock his head on the pavement on November 5, 2023. He died the following day. Alnaji, a Southern California college professor, had joined the rally that day in support of Palestine, while Kessler supported Israel in a counter-protest.

Tensions over pro-Israel lobbying group highlight rifts in Democratic primaries

(£) Reuters, 07/05/2026

A growing number of Democratic primary challengers are making opposition to the American Israel Public Affairs Committee a campaign issue as they seek to unseat party incumbents backed by the influential pro-Israel advocacy group. The trend reflects divisions over U.S. policy toward Israel as the wars in Gaza and Iran deepen intraparty tensions ahead of November’s midterm election. It could also complicate Democrats’ efforts to capitalize on vulnerabilities ​among Republicans, the party of President Donald Trump, over high prices and a backlash against the U.S.-Israeli‑launched Iran war.

Also: Associated Press

Attorney for SPLC expecting a superseding indictment in fraud case

CNN, 07/052026

During the initial hearing in the Justice Department’s fraud case against the Southern Poverty Law Center, an attorney for the civil rights group said he believes a second indictment might be coming in the case. The attorney, Abbe Lowell, told a federal judge in Alabama that a superseding indictment in the case could mean a trial date — currently expected to be in the fall — would need to be pushed back. The SPLC has been charged with using fictious companies to secretly pay informants inside of extremist and racist groups over the span of a decade. The group, however, says the informants passed along valuable information about the extremist groups that the Justice Department itself has relied on in certain cases.

Explosion hits Netherlands' largest political party's headquarters, police say

(£) Reuters, 07/05/2026

An explosion damaged the headquarters of the largest party in ​the Dutch parliament, D66, on Thursday ‌evening, local police said, adding there were no injuries. Police said a suspect had been ​arrested following the explosion, which ​happened at the party office in the ⁠centre of The Hague shortly ​after 9 p.m. local time (1900 GMT). Dutch Prime ​Minister Rob Jetten, who is also the leader of D66, said a bomb made of ​fireworks had been thrown through the ​letterbox in the frontdoor of the building in ‌what ⁠he described as "a cowardly act of intimidation."

Belgian PM in anti-Semitism row over illegal circumcisions

(£) Daily Telegraph, 07/05/2026

Belgium’s prime minister has insisted his country is not antisemitic after the US and Israel criticised an investigation into illegal circumcisions in Antwerp. Prosecutors recommended two Jewish men face charges after allegedly carrying out ritual circumcisions illegally. In Belgium, the procedure can only be carried out by licensed doctors. The decision was criticised by Bill White, the US ambassador to Belgium, and Gideon Sa’ar, Israel’s foreign minister. “Belgium is not an antisemitic state, that is nonsense,” Bart De Wever said in response to Washington and Israel’s comments on Wednesday. “Circumcision is essential to the Jewish faith and Islam, but so are the quality standards of our legislation. You have to reconcile the two,” the centre-Right prime minister told the VRT broadcaster.

Russia seizes ‘extremist’ British children’s books

(£) Daily Telegraph, 07/05/2026

Russia has seized a shipment of “extremist” British children’s literature including a book called The Dinosaurs Who Met Santa Claus. The St Petersburg branch of the federal customs service said it had been forced to confiscate a 12.7-ton package of imported children’s books in English and German because it contained “extremist content”. Images and video footage released by the service show a uniformed official inspecting colourful titles such as See Inside A Museum, My First Story Writing Book, and The Dinosaurs Who Met Santa Claus, a short story about baby dinosaurs visiting Father Christmas, who is also a dinosaur. The boxes also contained copies of Eggs and Chicks, a book about bird parenting, and Baby’s Very First Big Play Book, an interactive book containing textured patches, hidden flaps and a sound panel to engage children aged two to four.

Kneecap back calls for Ireland to boycott Israel match

(£) Daily Telegraph, 07/05/2026

Kneecap, the rap trio accused of supporting Hamas and Hizballah, have signed an open letter calling for the Republic of Ireland to boycott their Nations League game against Israel. The Irish language act, a member of which escaped a terror trial in March after the Crown Prosecution Service sought to charge him over the alleged display of a Hizballah flag, lent their backing to a letter sent to the Football Association of Ireland (FAI). The group were joined by other celebrities and leading Irish footballers in supporting a call made in a letter entitled “Stop the Game”. Written by campaign group Irish Sport for Palestine, the letter accuses Israel of “genocide” over its response to the October 7, 2023 terrorist attack on the country and of breaching Fifa and Uefa statutes by allowing teams to play on occupied Palestinian land.

Deadly double attack hits 2 central Mali villages as violence spreads

Associated Press, 07/05/2026

Double attacks by an armed group have left several people in two villages dead in central Mali, authorities said in a statement Thursday. The attacks, which have been claimed by Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM), followed last month’s heavy assaults on the government by the group and a Tuareg separatist group, the Azawad Liberation Front, or FLA. The FLA has been seeking to secede from the northern region of the West African nation. Mali has been ruled by a military junta that took power in a 2020 coup, promising to restore security amid a surge of extremist attacks. Since seizing the country, the junta turned to Russia as its new security partner, forcing traditional allies like France and a U.N. peacekeeping mission to leave.

Also: (£) Reuters

Antisemitism has become ‘almost fashionable’ among Australians, Jillian Segal tells royal commission

The Guardian, 07/05/2026

Jewish Australians have been told to use “less obviously Jewish” names, felt pressure to resign and been verbally abused by colleagues in the wake of 7 October 2023. On its fourth day of public hearings, the antisemitism royal commission also heard evidence from Australia’s antisemitism envoy, who said hatred towards Jews had become “almost fashionable”, while a Sydney nurse said New South Wales Health was “not safe for Jewish people”. The nurse manager and dual Australian-Israeli citizen, under the pseudonym AAV, said her fellow nurses had called her “Zionist scum” and she blamed NSW Health for failing to act.

Jewish man feared for life during Mardi Gras parade

Australian Associated Press, 08/05/2026

A gay Jewish man says his experiences with antisemitism have been more horrific than those with homophobia, and he feared for his life while marching in Sydney's Mardi Gras parade. The Royal Commission on antisemitism and Social Cohesion continued to hear the lived experiences of Australia's Jewish community on Friday. Speaking under a pseudonym, Benjamin, who converted to Judaism in 2022, said while marching with Jewish LGBTQ+ group Dayenu in the 2026 Mardi Gras he genuinely feared for his life, contacting loved ones to tell them where he was. ''The level of hatred I felt towards myself and those around me has been profound," Benjamin told the commission through sobs. ''I've been subjected to slurs. I've been called a genocide supporter.

Trump-ally Roger Stone condemned for providing lobbying services to Myanmar’s military junta

The Guardian, 08/05/2026

US lobbyist Roger Stone, a longtime friend and ally of Donald Trump, has been condemned for accepting $50,000 a month to “rebuild” relations between Washington and Myanmar’s military-backed government. Myanmar’s leaders have been internationally isolated since seizing power in a coup in 2021, and have repeatedly been accused of atrocities that may amount to war crimes. Activists say the military rulers, which recently held widely condemned “sham” elections, are now trying to reassert themselves abroad. According to documents filed under the US Foreign Agents Registration Act, Stone is described as providing “public affairs services” to Myanmar’s ministry of information.

This summary is not a statement of Home Office policy or opinion. Note that these outlets have a local or regional UK focus and/or a daily reach of less than 100k, and a minority may be funded by foreign governments.

Four arrests for 'neo-Nazi-linked protest' targeting John Swinney

(£) The National, 07/05/2026

Four men have been arrested after protesters put up a “neo-Nazi” flag at a demonstration which tried and failed to target John Swinney.

Also: (£) The Herald

Green Party not widely linked with antisemitism, survey shows

(£) The National, 07/05/2026

Zack Polanski's Green Party of England and Wales are not deemed to have a big problem with antisemitism, a poll has shown.

How the UK just became complicit in Israel's killing of journalists

(£) The National, 07/05/2026

The UK has marked “World Press Freedom Day” by erasing the majority of the journalists murdered in 2025 from existence, Xander Elliards writes.

This is comment or editorial reporting.

Iranian media says air defences down drones as military reports strikes

Middle East Eye, 07/05/2026

Explosions have been reported in the southern Iranian port of Bandar Abbas and on Qeshm Island, according to Iranian state media.

Israeli army disables rocket-tracking system over Iran intelligence fears

Middle East Eye, 07/05/2026

The Israeli army Home Front Command is denying access to a security alarm system for fear of Iranian infiltration, causing distress among northern Israeli communities, Ynet reported on Thursday.

The myth of Gulf exceptionalism and US protection is over

Middle East Eye, 07/05/2026

Hind Al Ansari writes: ‘The Iran war has reduced these nations to collateral damage in a war they hoped their alliances would keep at bay’

This is comment or editorial reporting.

Google AI workers vote to unionise amid concerns over US military ties

(£) The National, 07/05/2026

Workers at Google’s artificial intelligence lab have voted to unionise in response to the tech giant’s partnership with the US military.

From Kabul to Tehran: How US diplomacy turned transactional

Middle East Eye, 07/05/2026

US President Donald Trump has repeatedly criticised Nato allies for failing to support the US-Israeli attack on Iran on 28 February, an escalation that led to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz - the world’s most critical energy artery - bringing misery to millions across the globe.

Under rubble and rain, Gaza women try to save rare books in centuries-old library

Middle East Eye, 07/05/2026

Raneem Mousa lifts a heavy volume from a shattered shelf inside the centuries-old library of Gaza’s Great Omari Mosque.

Can Israel's war economy survive its growing global isolation?

Middle East Eye, 07/05/2026

Antony Loewenstein writes: ‘Dependent on US aid, European trade and Zionist lobbying, Israel faces growing strain as public opinion shifts and pressure mounts in the US and Europe to cut support’.

This is comment or editorial reporting.

Spain's leader Sanchez awards UN's Francesca Albanese Order of Civil Merit

Middle East Eye, 07/05/2026

Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez on Thursday awarded the Order of Civil Merit to the United Nations special rapporteur on Palestine Francesca Albanese, in an apparent show of solidarity with the expert sanctioned by the US for her work.

New York Park East Synagogue land sales slammed by Zohran Mamdani

(£) The National, 07/05/2026

The New York City mayor has hit out at sales of Palestinian land at a synagogue in the city.

US congressman says pro-Israel groups behind 95 percent of funding against him

Middle East Eye, 07/05/2026

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.

This summary is not a statement of Home Office policy or opinion. Note that some of these outlets have lower reach with UK audiences and/or may be state/government funded. Please also note that foreign media outlets may not have equivalent editorial standards to UK-based outlets.

Iran says it attacked US Navy ships after they targeted Iranian tanker

Al Jazeera, 07/05/2026

The Iranian military has said it retaliated against United States Navy ships after US forces targeted an oil tanker in Iran’s territorial waters, a major escalation that puts further strain on the fragile truce between Washington and Tehran.

Third round of Lebanon-Israel talks to be held next week: US official

Al Arabiya, 07/05/2026

Lebanon and Israel will participate in their third round of direct talks in Washington next week, a State Department official said on Thursday.

Seafarers trapped in limbo as US and Iran clash in Strait of Hormuz

Al Jazeera, 08/05/2026

Stranded at an Iranian port for nearly 10 weeks, Indian seafarer Anish has unintentionally become a firsthand witness to the Iran war.

Israel’s attacks and pressure sowing seeds for division in tense Lebanon

Al Jazeera, 07/05/2026

Israel’s attacks on Lebanon and pressure on the Lebanese government to disarm the pro-Iran Shia movement Hizballah by force are stoking internal tensions, analysts have told Al Jazeera.

US hits Iraqi oil official and Iran-backed militias with sanctions

National Newspaper, 07/05/2026

The US on Thursday announced sanctions on Iraq's deputy oil minister as well as the leaders of two Iran-backed militias.

Also: Al Arabiya

Senators press US military on Israel’s displacement campaign in Lebanon

Al Jazeera, 07/05/2026

Democrats in the United States Senate have raised questions about the US military’s potential role in establishing vast “evacuation zones” in Lebanon, Gaza and Iran.

What are US proposals to end war, and will Iran agree to them?

Al Jazeera, 07/05/2026

Iran said on Wednesday that it was reviewing a United States peace proposal that sources said would formally end the war, while leaving unresolved the key US demands that Iran suspend its nuclear programme and reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

Sara Shamma brings Syria’s cultural renewal to Venice Biennale

National Newspaper, 07/05/2026

Sara Shamma moved back to Damascus in late 2024, unaware that within weeks, the country around her would change – and her life with it.

Palestinians expose torture and sexual violence in Israeli detention

Al Jazeera, 07/05/2026

Palestinians who were detained in Israeli prisons have revealed how they suffered dehumanising treatment by guards and soldiers, including torture and sexual violence.

Man who threw petrol bombs during pro-Israel rally in Colorado sentenced to life in jail

National Newspaper, 07/05/2026

A ​man who threw petrol bombs during a ⁠pro-Israel rally last year in ⁠Boulder, Colorado, killing one person and ​injuring at least a dozen, pleaded guilty on Thursday to all ⁠charges he faced in state court and was sentenced to life in prison.

Charges against ultra-orthodox rabbis in Belgium escalate anti-Semitism row with US and Israel

National Newspaper, 07/05/2026

An antisemitism row between Belgium and Israel has escalated after authorities charged ultra-orthodox rabbis with conducting unsafe circumcisions on toddlers in the city of Antwerp.

Armed fighters kill at least 30 people in attacks in central Mali

Al Jazeera, 07/05/2026

Dozens of people have been killed in attacks reportedly carried out by al-Qa’ida-affiliated fighters in central Mali, the deadliest assault since armed groups launched a widespread coordinated assault late last month.

Bahrain sentences 14 people for crimes connected to Iran attacks

National Newspaper, 07/05/2026

Bahraini authorities issued sentences of up to three years and fines for 14 people in seven cases linked to Iranian attacks on the Gulf state.

Turkiye unveils its first intercontinental ballistic missile: What we know

Al Jazeera, 07/05/2026

Turkiye has unveiled a prototype of an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) as part of a push to become self-reliant and to gain a foothold as a key defence player in the Middle East and among its NATO allies.

Al Jazeera (Middle East, Arabic Language)

• Seafarers trapped in limbo as US and Iran clash in Strait of Hormuz; Senators press US military on Israel’s displacement campaign in Lebanon; Oil prices jump as US, Iran trade fire in Strait of Hormuz; Iran says it attacked US Navy ships after they targeted Iranian tanker

Al Arabiya (Middle East, Arabic Language)

• US sanctions Iraq’s deputy oil minister for helping Iran and its proxies: Treasury; Third round of Lebanon-Israel talks to be held next week: US official; Sounds of explosions heard in Iran’s Qeshm and near Bandar Abbas city; Trump sees swift end to war as Iran reviews US peace proposal; Iran’s response to US proposal possible today: Pakistani source

Geo TV (Pakistan, Urdu and English)

• US-IRAN WAR: TRUCE AND TALKS; Oil prices jump on renewed US-Iran hostilities; US and Iran exchange fire in Hormuz despite ongoing ceasefire; Pakistan win toss, opt to bowl first in first Bangladesh Test