Trump lashes out at allies over lack of support

US President Donald Trump expressed frustration overnight with allies who have been unwilling to do more to support the US war effort, telling them to “go get your own oil” as the conflict with Iran and its closure of the Strait of Hormuz sent average US gas prices past US$4 a gallon. The social media … Read more

The real risk in Trump’s threat to destroy Iran’s desalination plants

US President Donald Trump today threatened to target Iran’s energy infrastructure, including the country’s desalination plants. Such a move — and Iran’s possible targeting of the plants of its Gulf Arab neighbours — could have devastating impacts across the water-starved Middle East. In a post on Truth Social, Trump said if a deal to end … Read more

Starmer and Trump discuss military cooperation

British Prime Keir Starmer has spoken to US President Donald Trump about the military cooperation between the two countries in the Middle East. Trump has rebuked Starmer on several occasions since they last spoke over a week ago over the prime minister’s initial decision not to permit the US military to use British bases in … Read more

Intense Israeli strikes hit Iran and Lebanon, US warns of ‘dramatic surge’

Intense Israeli airstrikes have pounded the capitals of Iran and Lebanon as the US apparently struck an Iranian drone carrier at sea in its unrelenting campaign against the Islamic Republic’s fleet of warships. Iran launched new retaliatory attacks in the Middle East at the end of a full week of bombardment, which US Defence Secretary … Read more

Trump facing mounting criticism about his Iran war battle plan

President Donald Trump on Monday (local time) pushed back against mounting criticism that he hasn’t done enough to explain why it was necessary to start a war with Iran now or to articulate his vision for an endgame to the escalating conflict. The frustration is coming not just from the political left but also from … Read more

Trump stand-off with high-flying AI firm escalates dramatically

A high-stakes dispute over military use of artificial intelligence erupted into public view this week as Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth brusquely terminated the Pentagon’s work with Anthropic and other government agencies, using a law designed to counter foreign supply chain threats to slap a scarlet letter on a US company. President Donald Trump and Hegseth … Read more