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The Middle East remains embroiled in a cycle of violence, with Iranian barrages targeting Israel, Gulf Arab states, and northern Iraq on Tuesday. This escalation comes a day after US President Donald Trump claimed that the US was in 'very good' talks with Iran to end the war in the region soon.Despite Trump's optimistic remarks, multiple official sources in Tehran have denied any talks are underway. Iranian parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf stated, 'No negotiations have been held with the US … fake news is used to manipulate the financial and oil markets.' The Iranian government remains wary of US offers of negotiation, citing past experiences where talks were followed by attacks, such as the surprise attack that killed the supreme leader Ali Khamenei and dozens of senior officials.Potential intermediaries, including Pakistan, Oman, Egypt, and others, have confirmed tentative efforts to establish channels of communication between Washington and Tehran. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has been engaging in discussions with his counterparts in several countries, including Azerbaijan, Egypt, Oman, Pakistan, Russia, South Korea, Turkey, and Turkmenistan.The diplomatic activity follows a significant escalation of threats between the US and Iran over the weekend, with both sides trading warnings of potential strikes. On Monday, Trump delayed a deadline for Iran to open the Strait of Hormuz for shipping or face targeted airstrikes on its power stations. This brief reprieve drove down oil prices and boosted stocks, with the deadline now set to expire on Friday.Benjamin Netanyahu has stated that Israel will continue to strike Iran and Lebanon, targeting Hezbollah, the Iran-backed Islamist militant movement. The Israeli prime minister warned, 'There's more to come.'The conflict has already had significant economic impacts, with oil prices rising to $104 (£77) a barrel, up more than 40% since Israel and the US started the war on 28 February. Analysts warn of durable and deep disruption to the supply of oil and gas from the region, even if hostilities end rapidly, with severe economic consequences worldwide.

The ongoing conflict in the Middle East has taken a significant turn as foreign ministers from Arab and Muslim countries gathered in Riyadh for urgent discussions. The meeting, which included representatives from 12 countries, aimed to muster a common response to Iran's increasing retaliation against US assets and infrastructure in the region.The talks were held as Iran targeted several energy facilities across Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar in retaliation against Israel's strike on the South Pars gasfield, Iran's biggest source of energy. This escalation comes after a series of Israeli assassinations of top Iranian security officials.The joint statement issued on Thursday confirmed that the countries present at the meeting, including Qatar, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Turkiye, and the United Arab Emirates, asserted the right of states to defend themselves, citing Article 51 of the United Nations Charter on defensive action.The foreign ministers condemned deliberate Iranian attacks with ballistic missiles and drones that have struck various targets, including residential areas, water desalination plants, oil facilities, airports, and diplomatic positions. They called on Iran to:Halt its attacks.Stop "provocative actions or threats" aimed at its neighbours.Cease supporting, financing, and arming pro-Iran proxy groups based in Arab states.Refrain from actions or threats aimed at blocking the Strait of Hormuz or threatening maritime security in the Bab al-Mandeb strait.The meeting yielded a unified response to Iran's increasingly unpredictable behaviour, but the joint statement was vague about how countries would follow this up. Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud emphasized his country's right to defend itself and hinted that Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states would act if necessary, adding that they have "very significant capacities and capabilities that they could bring to bear should they choose to do so".The Iranian leadership's response to these developments remains unclear, with New Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei having not been seen in public since his appointment. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) issued a statement saying that Iranian forces had responded to the "deceiving and lying enemy" that had targeted energy facilities in the country, and that they had "entered a new phase of warfare" to defend Iran's infrastructure.

Cuba has extended an invitation to Cuban Americans and other exiles living abroad to invest in and own businesses on the island, effectively opening its doors to a community that has traditionally agitated for harsh economic sanctions against the Communist government. The move is part of a broader effort to revive Cuba's collapsed economy, which has been exacerbated by a US-imposed oil blockade and sanctions leading to extended blackouts and shortages of fuel, food, and medicine. Cuban Deputy Prime Minister Oscar Perez-Oliva Fraga stated that there are no limitations for Cubans living abroad to participate in the country's development, including investing in larger projects, particularly in agriculture. This policy shift comes as Cuba has begun talks with the US, and US officials have indicated a desire for an economic opening as part of any bilateral agreement. The issue of allowing emigrants to invest in island businesses is sensitive, given the often-hostile stance of some exile communities towards the Cuban government. Economist Paolo Spadoni described the policy shift as 'pragmatic' but noted that Cuba should have initiated it years ago. He added that this change could be a catalyst for deeper US-Cuba economic ties, creating significant opportunities for US companies. With over 1 million Cubans having emigrated since 2021, this move represents a potential source of investment still largely untapped. The policy change occurs against the backdrop of strained US-Cuba relations, with US President Donald Trump having cut off Venezuelan oil shipments to Cuba and threatening tariffs on countries selling oil to Cuba.

As regional security dynamics shift with Iran launching missile and drone attacks on Gulf neighbors, the head of Qatar’s General Authority of Customs has moved to quell concerns regarding potential supply chain bottlenecks. Ahmed bin Abdullah Al Jamal stated unequivocally that there are no indicators suggesting shortages or disturbances to trade flows within the State of Qatar.The assurance comes as Qatar’s armed forces intercepted recent attacks, highlighting the volatile security environment. However, Al Jamal emphasized that Qatar’s economic stability is underpinned by a robust defense strategy that extends beyond military interception to include diversified import sources, efficient logistics infrastructure, and sufficient strategic stocks of essential goods.A cornerstone of this resilience is the modernization of customs procedures. The implementation of the Al Nadeeb platform, an electronic single-window system, has streamlined import and export transactions. By integrating the electronic TIR system in May 2025, authorities can now exchange data in advance and conduct risk analyses, significantly reducing release times and enhancing transparency for businesses.Qatar’s logistical network is designed for redundancy, offering multiple avenues for trade movement. Hamad Port serves as a critical maritime hub, while Hamad International Airport provides essential air freight capacity. On the land front, the Abu Samra border crossing with Saudi Arabia has been upgraded with advanced scanning and security systems, ensuring that road transport remains a viable and efficient alternative for moving goods across the region.Furthermore, coordination with the Gulf Customs Union has yielded practical benefits, including the recognition of freight forwarder guarantees and simplified customs codes. These measures, combined with a comprehensive emergency framework involving multiple ministries, ensure that Qatar’s markets remain stable and that the flow of goods continues uninterrupted despite external pressures.

Iran has strongly denied allegations of launching a missile attack on a joint US-UK military base on the Indian Ocean island of Diego Garcia. The Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs described the claim as an 'Israeli false flag' attack, accusing Israel of spreading disinformation. The denial comes after NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte stated that the alliance could not confirm Israel's claim that the projectiles used were Iranian intercontinental ballistic missiles. This development has raised questions about the credibility of Israel's allegations and the potential motives behind them. Iran's Foreign Affairs spokesman, Esmaeil Baghaei, wrote on X that the accusations reflected a pattern of 'disinformation' and criticized NATO's support for the US and Israel. He emphasized that the world has grown tired of 'false flag' storylines, suggesting that such claims are becoming increasingly discredited. Earlier, US media outlets reported that missiles were launched between Thursday night and Friday morning but failed to hit the Diego Garcia base. If Iran were confirmed to be behind the attacks, it would imply that it possesses ballistic missiles with a range of over 4,000km, capable of reaching as far as London. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi had previously stated that Iran had intentionally limited its missile range to below 2,000km to avoid being perceived as a threat by other countries. UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper condemned what she called 'reckless Iranian threats' but emphasized that London would not be drawn into a wider conflict in the Middle East. The UK-US military airbase on Diego Garcia is home to nearly 2,500 mostly American personnel and has supported various US military operations over the years. Israel's military chief, Eyal Zamir, claimed that Iran used a two-stage intercontinental ballistic missile with a range of 4,000km to target the base. Israel has long considered Iran's missile and nuclear programs a threat and has lobbied the US for military intervention.

Iran has reportedly claimed to have downed a US F-35 fighter jet during a combat mission, a development that could challenge the aircraft's reputation as 'unkillable'. According to sources familiar with the matter, the incident occurred last week when the F-35 made an emergency landing at an airbase in the Middle East. The Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps issued a statement saying it had targeted a US aircraft, and Iran's semiofficial Tasnim news agency released military footage purporting to show Tehran's air defence systems hitting a US F-35 stealth fighter. The F-35, manufactured by Lockheed Martin, is considered the cornerstone of Washington's aerial firepower, boasting advanced stealth technology, sensors, and high-speed computing. Its ability to gather and share data from a 360-degree camera suite and other sensors makes it a formidable asset in modern warfare. If confirmed, this would be the first time an F-35 has been struck by Iran during the ongoing conflict. Defence experts emphasize that even if the claims are true, it does not necessarily mean stealth technology is becoming obsolete, but rather that even advanced aircraft like the F-35 are not invulnerable in a dense, adaptive air-defence environment. The incident is under investigation, with the US military's Central Command stating that the pilot was in stable condition after the emergency landing. The US has not yet confirmed that the F-35 was hit by Iranian fire, with President Donald Trump stating, “We’re flying wherever we want. Nobody is even shooting at us.” This development comes amid heightened tensions between the US and Iran, with at least 13 US service members killed and roughly 200 wounded during combat operations against Iran. In Iran, at least 1,444 people have been killed and 18,551 injured since the start of the conflict.

The US conflict in Iran, with its wide-reaching consequences for the Middle East and global economy, is being portrayed by the Trump administration in a strikingly detached and simplistic manner. The war is being likened to a video game, a spectator sport, and a social media event, complete with memes and AI-generated content.A week into the conflict, the White House uploaded a series of social media clips featuring montages of popular movies like Top Gun, Braveheart, and Breaking Bad, with captions like 'Justice the American way.' Another clip, titled Touchdown, showed NFL players tackling each other, culminating in an explosion labeled 'unclassified.' Even SpongeBob SquarePants made an appearance, asking, 'Wanna see me do it again?' followed by an explosion.A senior White House official described their approach as 'grinding away on banger memes, dude,' highlighting an 'entertainment factor' in their strategy. This approach reflects Donald Trump's and his MAGA base's tendency to view politics as a competition, where scoring, winning, and humiliating the opponent are paramount. The conflict is thus framed not in terms of death, destruction, or economic fallout but as a game of scoring points.The use of AI in the conflict has been unprecedented, with Adm Brad Cooper, Centcom commander for Operation Epic Fury, noting that AI played a crucial role in the over 5,500 strikes on Iran. AI tools can accelerate processes that used to take hours or days into mere seconds, streamlining the 'kill chain' and reducing human involvement in target selection.This detachment is further exacerbated by the remote nature of the conflict and the current information ecosystem, where events are flattened into social media feeds, making it difficult to discern reality from fiction. The glut of information, including fake footage and AI-generated content, has dulled our sensitivity to the true stakes of the conflict.The article concludes with a call to retain empathy and humanity in the face of political leaders who benefit from dehumanizing conflict and platform owners who profit from it. The challenge is to understand the human cost of the war and exercise pressure on those responsible for the suffering.

Alan Ritchson, the star of the hit Amazon Prime Video series Reacher, has been accused of assaulting his neighbor in a suburban neighborhood in Tennessee. A video obtained by TMZ appears to show Ritchson striking the man, identified as Ronnie Taylor, multiple times while his children watch.The alleged incident began on Saturday when Ritchson was reportedly riding his motorbike through the neighborhood at high speeds, revving the engine. Taylor claimed he responded with an obscene gesture, which Ritchson allegedly returned. On Sunday, Ritchson returned to the neighborhood with his two children on their own motorbikes. Taylor said he asked Ritchson to stop, and the situation escalated into a physical altercation.Taylor alleged that Ritchson struck him at least four times, resulting in visible bruising and swelling on his face, as shown in photos obtained by TMZ. However, other sources cited by TMZ countered that Taylor approached Ritchson in an aggressive manner and attempted to interfere with his motorbike, causing the actor to fall and sustain minor injuries.Ritchson is widely recognized for portraying Jack Reacher, a fictional former US army military police officer, in the Amazon Prime Video series. The character is known for his extensive combat experience and intense fights. The show, based on author Lee Child's bestselling crime novels, has been praised for Ritchson's physical performance and closer resemblance to the protagonist's original depiction.The Guardian has contacted Ritchson's representatives for comment.

The Orange Tree theatre in London is currently hosting a captivating production of Nicholas Wright's 2002 play, Vincent in Brixton. This poignant piece imagines a lesser-known chapter in the life of Vincent van Gogh, who spent a year in south London pursuing a career as an art dealer and possibly had a romantic relationship with his landlady or her daughter.In Georgia Green's tender production, the play blossoms into more than just a footnote in art history. The story revolves around Vincent, portrayed by Jeroen Frank Kales, and his landlady Ursula, played by Niamh Cusack. Their characters share a deep mental perturbation, uncovering a kinship in misery that eventually blossoms into romance.The setting, designed by Charlotte Henery, is a cozy kitchen on the Orange Tree stage, perfect for quiet confidences. The sound design by Donato Wharton adds a sensory layer with birdsong, the sound of pans on the stove, and the rush of Vincent's blood during his first kiss. The chemistry between the leads is palpable, with Cusack's rich-layered voice conveying Ursula's distraught emotions.The play is remarkable for its non-judgmental writing, allowing the characters to express their feelings in personal and poetic ways. The cast delivers full-hearted performances, including Rawaed Asde as the other lodger and Ayesha Ostler as Ursula's vigilant daughter. The relationship between Vincent and Ursula is portrayed as a brief, radiant interlude, offering a glimpse into Van Gogh's life before he found his vocation as an artist.This production of Vincent in Brixton runs at the Orange Tree theatre, London, until 18 April, offering audiences a chance to experience a unique and emotional exploration of restless souls.