Why the US wants to protect Iran’s oil and gas – Vox

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  1. Why the US wants to protect Iran’s oil and gas  Vox
  2. Iran war latest: Iranian ballistic missiles fired at Diego Garcia joint UK-US military base, say reports  Sky News
  3. As the war – and gas prices – escalate, Trump uses Israel to deflect domestic and allied pressure  CNN
  4. Exclusive: Qatar's energy boss says he had warned of dangers of provoking Iran  Reuters
  5. QatarEnergy CEO says warned US, industry officials against attack on energy  Al Jazeera
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‘Cowards’: Trump slams NATO over lack of support in US–Israel war on Iran – Al Jazeera

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  1. ‘Cowards’: Trump slams NATO over lack of support in US–Israel war on Iran  Al Jazeera
  2. Live updates: Iran war; Trump calls NATO allies ‘cowards’ for failing to help open Strait of Hormuz  CNN
  3. Seven U.S. allies back potential Strait of Hormuz coalition  Axios
  4. Trump Urges NATO, Asian Countries to Help Open Strait of Hormuz  WSJ
  5. Trump calls NATO "cowards" over lack of support in Iran war  Reuters
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Home Office investigates firm linked to religious sect over immigration visas

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Officials understood to be investigating use of visas by company linked to Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light

The Home Office is investigating a company linked to a religious sect based in Cheshire over its use of immigration visas.

The company under investigation is linked to the Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light (AROPL), a sect that blends tenets of Islam with conspiracy theories about the Illuminati and aliens controlling US presidents. Followers believe the sect’s leader, Abdullah Hashem, can cure the sick and make the moon disappear. About 100 of his followers live in a former orphanage in Crewe, in the north-west of England.

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‘It makes me feel more British’: Muslims say religious diversity in the UK part of identity

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Eid al-Fitr celebrated amid political furore over claims public Ramadan prayers an ‘act of domination’

On Friday morning, little space remained in Baitul Futuh mosque as thousands of people poured in to mark the end of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan.

The south London mosque, one of the largest in Europe, offered a glimpse of the Eid al-Fitr festivities being celebrated by millions of Muslims across the UK. This year, however, a political furore around one of the most important holidays in the Islamic calendar has divided UK party leaders, drawn warnings of bigotry and left members of the community feeling disturbed and disappointed.

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Is it time for the UK to acknowledge the ‘rhetoric to reality gap’ on its military power?

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Forces have been stripped back since the cold war but political stasis is dangerous in the face of growing global threats

• Middle East crisis – live updates

It will have been more than three weeks since the US and Israel first attacked Iran when the first British warship finally arrives off the coast of Cyprus, a belated defensive deployment that has highlighted the lack of military capacity available to the UK.

Nominally, HMS Dragon was one of three destroyers available out of six. In reality the warship has had to be hauled out of dry dock, prepared and then, after launch, tested for several days in the Channel. Its arrival date is still unconfirmed.

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