Jason Burke

Countries across Asia, Europe and the Middle East are expanding diplomatic contacts with Taliban authorities despite their systematic repression of women, minorities, activists and journalists. The engagement is driven by regional security concerns, migration pressures, economic interests and recognition that the Taliban are unlikely to lose power soon. Human-rights campaigners warn that fragmented bilateral contacts undermine a coherent international demand for reforms and allow the Taliban to portray themselves as internationally accepted. Russia has formally recognized the regime and pursued military cooperation, while the EU has held talks on asylum returns and India has advocated reconsidering sanctions. Analysts expect the Taliban’s conservative leadership to resist meaningful concessions, despite its efforts to secure trade, infrastructure and mining partnerships.

A megafire in France’s Gironde region burned about 42,000 hectares, destroyed homes and forced roughly 200,000 people to evacuate. Firefighters, soldiers, foresters, volunteers and local residents continue battling smouldering peat and recurring flare-ups, while officials say the worst has temporarily passed. Residents and unions blame inadequate preparation and ageing firefighting aircraft, whereas local authorities describe the fire’s scale and weather conditions as unprecedented. The disaster has intensified concerns that climate change is making French and European wildfire seasons earlier, hotter and more destructive, prompting calls for stronger resources and long-term adaptation.

Gaza’s national conservatory has reopened in tents after its facilities, instruments and archives were destroyed during the Israeli offensive between 2023 and 2025. Teachers and students, most of whom have been displaced, continue music instruction with minimal resources, using salvaged or homemade instruments while traveling long distances across rubble-filled areas. Music now serves as a vital source of psychological relief for traumatised children and adults. Efforts to rebuild are hampered by Israeli restrictions on reconstruction materials and the stalled second phase of the ceasefire. Despite loss, displacement and scarcity, young musicians and teachers maintain Gaza’s musical traditions through choirs, improvised lessons and repaired instruments.

Escalating strikes between the US and Iran, including new Iranian attacks on Bahrain and Kuwait following US strikes in southern Iran, threaten the fragile interim peace agreement and negotiations to reopen the strait of Hormuz. Both sides briefly agreed to halt hostilities and resume technical talks, though tensions remain high as Iran asserts control over shipping lanes and the US promotes an alternate route. Attacks on commercial vessels, rising regional instability including renewed clashes in Lebanon, and intensified rhetoric from leaders and military factions further undermine prospects for a durable agreement. The IRGC’s growing influence and disputes over sanctions, nuclear issues and regional security frameworks continue to challenge diplomatic progress.

Proxy warfare by Iran, Israel and the US is intensifying instability across the Middle East, as regional powers continue to arm and influence militia groups despite efforts to restore state authority. Iran is expected to expand support for Hezbollah, Houthis and Iraqi Shia militias, while Israel and the US have also backed irregular forces, including Kurdish and Druze groups, with limited success. Kurdish mobilisation plans faltered due to lack of preparation, political hesitancy and Turkish opposition. Israeli-backed Palestinian militias in Gaza have had minimal impact and lack public support. Across multiple conflict zones, analysts warn that reliance on proxies persists despite their strategic risks, contributing to ongoing instability.

US and Iran exchanged new military strikes as each accused the other of violating a recently agreed interim ceasefire. The US targeted multiple Iranian military sites in response to attacks on commercial shipping, while Iran’s Revolutionary Guard launched missiles and drones at US facilities in Kuwait and Bahrain. The escalation threatens an ongoing Pakistan-brokered peace process and a memorandum under negotiation aimed at ending a widely unpopular war that has disrupted global oil markets. Despite mediated talks and limited sanctions relief, hostilities have intensified, and both sides warn that further aggression could derail all diplomatic efforts.

Iran announced the closure of the strait of Hormuz in response to Israeli strikes in Lebanon, raising uncertainty over talks with the US intended to turn a new interim agreement into a broader nuclear deal. The US denied the strait had been closed and said maritime traffic continued. JD Vance traveled to Switzerland for negotiations as Pakistan confirmed the talks would proceed. Intensified Israeli strikes in southern Lebanon killed at least 16 people amid unclear ceasefire conditions, while Hezbollah insisted on its right to respond to attacks. Continuing clashes and diplomatic tensions threaten the fragile interim US-Iran agreement, which seeks a halt to hostilities and the reopening of the strait. Israeli leadership has vowed to maintain military presence in Lebanon, while Iran demands US compliance with the deal before further progress. Observers warn that achieving a comprehensive nuclear agreement within the 60-day window will be difficult.

Israel and Hezbollah renewed a fragile ceasefire after a surge of violence that killed dozens and disrupted the planned opening of US‑Iran talks in Switzerland. The clashes halted discussions intended to implement a new memorandum of understanding between Washington and Tehran covering Iran’s nuclear programme and regional de‑escalation. Israeli airstrikes across southern Lebanon left significant casualties, while Hezbollah attacks that killed four Israeli soldiers provoked political backlash in Israel. Uncertainty over Iran’s participation and shifting US diplomatic roles added to tensions as regional instability continued to threaten energy markets and global economic conditions.

Many Israelis feel betrayed and endangered following a US–Iran ceasefire deal that they believe weakens Israel and empowers Iran and Hezbollah. Anger spans communities from Rehovot to the northern border town of Metulla, with criticism directed at the US government and Donald Trump for marginalizing Israel and imposing limits on its military freedom in Lebanon. Benjamin Netanyahu faces eroding public confidence due to unmet war aims and longstanding grievances, though he retains support among some voters who see him as best positioned to confront Iran. Analysts note deepening political and social divisions, yet argue that Jewish Israelis still share core beliefs on security and the nature of the state. Renewed conflict in Lebanon, ongoing fallout from the Gaza war, and looming elections heighten the sense of crisis and uncertainty about Israel’s future direction.

A fragile US‑Iran interim agreement offers a temporary halt to hostilities and the prospect of restored oil flows, but analysts argue it fails to address deeper regional tensions. The 60‑day cessation of hostilities aims to create space for negotiations on uranium enrichment, sanctions relief, and frozen Iranian assets, though experts doubt a lasting settlement is possible. Israel objects to the deal’s limited scope, especially its omission of Iran’s missile program and support for regional militant groups. Gulf states face significant reconstruction needs after Iranian strikes and are increasingly skeptical of US reliability. Despite expectations that the agreement may hold long enough to stabilize energy markets, analysts warn that unresolved grievances and shifting power dynamics leave the region vulnerable to renewed conflict.

The Guardian’s live US politics blog reports Gavin Newsom’s accusation that Donald Trump directed the Department of Justice to investigate him, his wife Jennifer Siebel Newsom, and associates, allegedly because he is considering a 2028 presidential run. Newsom says agents sought records from family members, friends and former employees, while the DOJ had not responded. The coverage also details continuing clashes between Trump and California, including disputes over immigration, climate policy, transgender rights and redistricting. Other major developments include a preliminary US-Iran memorandum of understanding intended to halt hostilities for 60 days, uncertainty over the agreement’s terms and the future status of the Strait of Hormuz, and diplomatic efforts by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to secure talks with Vladimir Putin at the G7 summit in France.

Benjamin Netanyahu declared a strategic victory over Iran and insisted Israeli forces would remain in Lebanese territory despite a new US-Iran interim agreement that has sparked criticism across Israel. The deal, which appears to include a ceasefire in Lebanon, is viewed by Israeli officials and commentators as a setback that may strengthen Hezbollah, though Washington has reassured Israel that withdrawal is not required. Sporadic clashes continued in southern Lebanon as political opponents of Netanyahu accused him of failing to achieve his wartime goals. With elections approaching, leading Israeli politicians and analysts warned that the agreement could damage Netanyahu politically, though many of his supporters may see the developments as a temporary challenge within his broader record.

Donald Trump announced that a US-Iran memorandum of understanding to reopen the strait of Hormuz is signed, but G7 leaders are already confronting unresolved issues involving Israeli ceasefire breaches in Lebanon and disputes over Iran’s claimed right to charge maritime fees. The agreement, set for formal signing in Geneva, aims to restore shipping, initiate sanctions relief and freeze-force postures while addressing Iran’s nuclear program. European leaders expressed concern over Israeli actions, regional instability and uncertainty surrounding a proposed Franco-British naval taskforce. Israel’s government faced internal criticism as Benjamin Netanyahu distanced himself from the deal. Economic impacts from the conflict continue to ripple through Europe. Western diplomats questioned the effectiveness of US unilateral decisions while US officials argued that Iran has been significantly weakened and could rejoin the global economy under strict verification measures.

A framework peace deal between the United States and Iran has been reached, ending a 15‑week conflict and paving the way for reopening the Strait of Hormuz and lifting the US naval blockade. The agreement initiates a 60‑day period of technical negotiations focused on Iran’s nuclear programme and potential sanctions relief. Pakistan mediated the discussions, and European governments have signaled readiness to lift sanctions if Iran takes verifiable steps to limit nuclear activities. Tensions remain high following recent Israeli airstrikes in Beirut and opposition from hardline factions in both the US and Iran. Negotiators face significant challenges over issues including enriched uranium stockpiles, shipping tolls and frozen Iranian assets, raising doubts about whether a comprehensive deal can be completed within the proposed timeframe.

The United States and Iran have reached a tentative peace agreement after months of war, with Pakistan’s prime minister Shehbaz Sharif acting as mediator and Donald Trump confirming the deal. The framework includes ending hostilities, lifting the US naval blockade and reopening the Strait of Hormuz, although the timing and practical arrangements remain unclear. Iran’s nuclear program, sanctions relief, frozen Iranian assets and the durability of the agreement remain unresolved. European governments have offered to lift sanctions in response to verifiable nuclear commitments, while leaders in Asia, Australia and the UN welcomed the breakthrough. Markets responded with sharply higher Asian share prices and lower oil prices, but experts warned that energy costs and shipping disruptions may take months to normalize. Israel, which was not party to the deal, had not immediately responded, and its strike on Lebanon drew criticism from both Iran and Trump.

The US and Iran indicated progress toward a potential peace agreement aimed at ending the three-month conflict in the Middle East, with Donald Trump claiming the deal could be signed imminently and would reopen the strait of Hormuz to global shipping. Statements from Iran and Pakistan suggested optimism but offered differing timelines, while recent clashes between Iran, Israel and the US underscored tensions. Both sides framed the proposed agreement as a strategic victory, though their versions of its terms diverged sharply, particularly regarding nuclear commitments, sanctions relief and regional militancy. Israeli leadership expressed alarm as ongoing military operations in Lebanon continued alongside US efforts to secure the deal.

Conflicting statements from US and Iranian officials have left the prospects of a US‑Iran peace deal uncertain, with Donald Trump backing away from earlier suggestions of an imminent agreement and Iranian state media denying that terms were finalised. A mix of contradictory claims, including assertions from Pakistan’s prime minister and leaks from Iranian outlets, highlighted persistent gaps over sanctions relief, Iran’s nuclear programme, and control of the strait of Hormuz. Military tensions escalated as US forces intercepted Iranian drones targeting commercial ships. Both governments face domestic pressure to end the conflict, while Israel and Hezbollah remain deeply involved in regional fighting that complicates negotiations.

Israel and Iran paused mutual attacks after appeals from Donald Trump, though both governments warned they would respond forcefully to new aggression. Israeli strikes in Lebanon triggered Iran’s missile barrages, while Hezbollah and Houthi attacks added regional pressure. Trump pushed for a broader ceasefire as part of negotiations to end the wider conflict launched after the killing of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Rising violence disrupted global markets and complicated ongoing diplomatic efforts, with Iran demanding concessions such as a Lebanese ceasefire, asset release, and control over the Strait of Hormuz. Continued clashes in Lebanon caused further casualties, and internal political pressures in both Israel and Iran challenged the prospects for a final agreement.

Daniela Klette, who lived in Berlin for decades under the name Claudia Ivone, has been sentenced to 13 years in prison after her arrest for crimes linked to the Red Army Faction, West Germany’s notorious far-left militant group. The podcast examines Klette’s concealed ordinary life as a dancer and dog owner, the RAF’s history, and whether contemporary conditions could support a resurgence of armed militant groups.

Mohammad Baqer Saad Dawood al-Saadi, an Iraqi Shia militia operative with alleged links to Iran's Revolutionary Guard, has been charged in the US over a campaign of 18 attacks against Jewish schools, synagogues and community sites across Belgium, the Netherlands and the UK. Investigators say he operated from Baghdad, used the fictitious group HAYI to claim responsibility, recruited vulnerable young people through social media and coordinated with militia networks. The attacks caused fear but no deaths, and al-Saadi was arrested in Turkey before being extradited to the US, where he pleaded not guilty. Experts believe the operation reflects Iran's use of deniable proxy warfare, while the arrest has exposed the vulnerability of minors and petty criminals recruited for disposable roles.

Israeli forces launched extensive airstrikes across southern Lebanon despite a new ceasefire initiative promoted by Donald Trump, who claimed both Israel and Hezbollah had agreed to halt attacks. Dozens of strikes were reported, including deadly attacks near Sidon, while Israel issued new evacuation orders in Nabatiyeh and accused Hezbollah of violating the truce. Hezbollah stated it had targeted Israeli troops inside Lebanon but had not launched recent strikes into Israel. Escalation followed months of intensified conflict that began after Hezbollah retaliated for the killing of Iran’s supreme leader. Disputes emerged over Trump's reported call with Netanyahu regarding strikes on Beirut’s suburbs. Iran suspended negotiations with the US, insisting on a ceasefire in Lebanon before further talks. Both sides continued military operations as Lebanese and Israeli delegations met in Washington for another round of negotiations.

Germany’s long struggle against the Red Army Faction ended through adherence to democratic principles, legal processes, and public rejection of violence. A refusal to concede to terrorist coercion, the creation of specialized police capabilities, and consistent reliance on the criminal justice system helped undermine the group. Popular disillusionment and internal fragmentation accelerated its decline as broader social reforms reduced support for radical action. Daniela Klette’s recent conviction marks the final chapter, illustrating how democratic systems can absorb pressure, address grievances and ultimately neutralize extremist movements without resorting to excessive repression.