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The Failed Dealmaker: Trump's Iran Dilemma For weeks, Donald Trump has tried to find a way to end the war he started with Iran – a deal that would allow him to declare victory and move past the conflict before it causes severe damage to the global economy and sinks Republican chances in the US midterm elections. But the self-proclaimed master dealmaker can't seem to stop sabotaging his own negotiations or to acknowledge that Iran is now in a better position to demand concessions than it was before the war. Strategic Missteps: From Military Action to Negotiation Deadlock Over the Memorial Day holiday, Trump skipped his eldest son's wedding in the Bahamas and canceled plans to spend the weekend at his New Jersey golf club. The last-minute changes heightened speculation that Trump was ready to unveil a deal to end the war. Trump then announced that he would hold a cabinet meeting at Camp David, the presidential compound in Maryland that has been the site of historic diplomatic summits. But that meeting was moved back to the White House, as it became clear that Trump had not been able to close a deal he could announce with great fanfare. The Art of the Deal: Trump's Negotiation Paradox Why has an agreement eluded the business titan who wrote the bestselling 1987 book The Art of the Deal? Trump admires strongman leaders and is loth to project any sign of weakness – and he's afraid of reaching a deal with Iran that makes him look weak. The president is also sensitive to criticism that any agreement he negotiates will be worse for the US than the 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and six world powers, which was brokered by Barack Obama's administration. Leverage Reversed: How Iran Gained the Upper Hand Trump's main problem is that Iran has more leverage than he does – and Iranian leaders are well aware of that advantage. On 28 February, Trump launched a joint US-Israeli war against Iran, killing the supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and other top military and political officials. But Iran retaliated with missile and drone strikes against US military bases across the Middle East, and it targeted the energy infrastructure of its Gulf neighbors. Iran also deployed its most effective economic weapon: it closed the strait of Hormuz, through which more than a fifth of the world's oil supply passed each day. Economic Fallout: Global Disruption and Rising Oil Prices The closure of the Strait of Hormuz – along with Iranian attacks on pipelines and gas fields in Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates – disrupted the global economy and increased oil prices. In the US, average gas prices have jumped by 50%, up to nearly $4.50 per gallon, since Trump launched the war. Trump and his ally, the Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, could not topple the Islamic regime that rose to power after Iran's 1979 revolution. Instead, they ended up strengthening it – by allowing Tehran to deploy its geographic control of the strait of Hormuz into a weapon that could instigate a global energy crisis and a worldwide recession. The Emerging Deal: Limited Concessions and Unresolved Issues The emerging deal is focused on solving a problem that didn't exist before Trump started this war: fully reopening the strait of Hormuz to commercial shipping so that oil prices can stabilize. Under a draft agreement being circulated to US allies, Washington would also lift its blockade of Iranian ports and allow Tehran to access about $12bn in frozen assets. Once again, Trump seems to be aiming for a limited deal with Iran that defers the most difficult questions to future talks, which could drag out for months or even years. Iran's Resilience: Military Strength Preserved In some ways, Iran has emerged stronger after a war intended to decimate its military capabilities. A CIA report sent to Trump earlier this month found that Tehran had managed to retain a significant part of its missile capabilities. The analysis said Iran preserved about 70% of its prewar stockpile of missiles and about 75% of its mobile launchers. The report also concluded that Iran was more resilient than US officials had claimed, and it could survive a naval blockade for months. Political Calculations: Midterm Elections and Trump's Dilemma At his cabinet meeting, Trump said he didn't care about the midterm elections and wasn't in a rush to reach a deal. "It's got to be perfect," Trump told reporters, adding: "I didn't do this to get a crummy agreement." Despite his weak position, Trump insists that he will strike a better deal with Iran than the one negotiated by the Obama administration in 2015. That agreement provided Tehran with relief from international sanctions in exchange for limits on its nuclear enrichment. The Unintended Consequences: Strengthening the Adversary Trump could have avoided starting a regime-change war that failed, leaving the world to deal with its consequences. Instead, the master negotiator handed Iran a new economic weapon – and more leverage to extract a favorable deal. The worst thing you can possibly do in a deal is seem desperate to make it. That makes the other guy smell blood, and then you're dead. Trump wrote in his famous book. The best thing you can do is deal from strength, and leverage is the biggest strength you can have.

Opening the Pig & Swill: A Community‑Driven Taphouse in CardiffOn a hot Thursday evening in Canton, Cardiff, locals streamed between the bar and garden of the newly launched Pig & Swill. Co‑founders Lewis Dwyer and Andy Aston reported an immediate surge of customers, crediting the neighbourhood’s appetite for a quality night‑cap spot.Numbers Behind the National Pub Decline and Welsh Counter‑Trend161 pubs closed in the UK during Q1 2026 – roughly two per day.Closures were 26% higher than the same period in 2025.The shutdowns represent the loss of about 2,400 jobs, according to the British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA).In contrast, Wales saw three new pubs open, including the Pig & Swill, Vicino (Cardiff) and The Nelson (Rhyl).The Pig & Swill’s Kickstarter campaign raised £29,000 for the refit.Why Wales Is Holding Its Own Amid Economic HeadwindsIndustry observers note that Welsh hospitality still faces pressure, with more restaurant and hotel closures than openings. However, strong local patronage, the proximity to the popular Michelin‑listed restaurant Hiraeth, and a cultural love for the “sesh” are helping new venues thrive. David Chapman, executive director of UK Hospitality Cymru, stresses that supportive policies – such as reforming business rates – are crucial for sustaining this momentum.Looking Ahead: Policy, Community Support, and the Future of Welsh PubsWith the new Welsh government signalling a commitment to hospitality in its manifesto, the next steps will determine whether the current optimism can scale. Continued community funding, eased cost pressures, and targeted government action could turn Wales into a blueprint for reversing the broader UK pub‑closure trend.

Louisiana lawmakers approved a new congressional map on May 30, 2026 that eliminates one of the state’s two majority‑Black districts and is designed to give Republicans a fifth House seat.The Senate Passes a GOP‑Targeted Congressional MapVote: 28‑to‑10 in the state Senate.Current delegation: Republicans hold four of six seats.Goal: Secure a fifth seat by reshaping district boundaries.Numbers Behind the New District PlanMap removes one majority‑Black district represented by a Democrat.District 2 is re‑drawn to concentrate more Democrats, improving Republican performance elsewhere.Governor Jeff Landry is expected to sign the map.Implications for Voting Rights and State PoliticsThe plan follows the U.S. Supreme Court’s April 30, 2026 ruling in Louisiana v. Callais, which struck down the previous map as an illegal racial gerrymander, weakening the 1965 Voting Rights Act. Democrats warn the new map could trigger further legal challenges and describe it as a “vicious race to the bottom.”What Comes Next: Litigation and Election TimingACLU of Louisiana signals intent to sue.Primary election moved from May 16 to November 3 and opened to all parties.Additional lawsuits are expected as the map is implemented.National Redistricting Battle ContextSouthern states are using the weakened Voting Rights Act to redraw lines, with Republicans aiming to gain up to 15 seats nationwide, while Democrats project gains of six seats in other states.

The Lead Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has denounced the US decision to designate two Brazilian criminal networks as 'terrorists', warning that the label could hinder local law enforcement efforts. Pushback against 'terrorist' label The condemnation came in a message posted to Lula's social media platforms on Friday, in response to an announcement by the administration of US President Donald Trump. On Thursday, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio revealed that he had designated Brazil's two largest criminal groups — the Primeiro Comando da Capital (PCC) and the Comando Vermelho (CV) — 'specially designated global terrorists'. He also outlined plans to add the two groups to the list of 'foreign terrorist organisations', effective June 5. The Data Analysis The 'terrorist' designations freeze all US-based assets connected to the targeted groups, but they can also be used to penalise anyone who offers 'material support or resources' to them. Experts warn that such restrictions could potentially affect financial institutions and even the victims of such groups, including businesses and individuals who might be forced to pay extortion. The Impact Analysis Lula has also expressed concern that the 'terrorist' label could pave the way for US military intervention, a fear he reiterated in Friday's statement. 'We remain fully prepared to develop joint solutions that yield mutual benefits for all nations involved,' Lula wrote. 'However, we will not tolerate the imposition of arbitrary measures from abroad, nor will we accept their use as a pretext to undermine our sovereignty or our economy. Unilateral, non-negotiated measures can undermine the fight against criminals and trigger actions that endanger the lives of people who have absolutely no connection to crime.' The Prediction Security is expected to be a dominant issue in October's presidential race, and this week's 'terrorist' designations are likely to put Lula in an awkward position, forcing him to condemn the label without downplaying the extent of the violence. Lula has attempted to brush off right-wing criticism that he has been lax on crime, pointing to his government's recent $11bn investment in the 'Brazil Against Organized Crime' programme.

The UN's Controversial Blacklist AdditionThe United Nations has confirmed placing Israel on a blacklist of countries suspected of committing sexual violence against civilians, with Russia also added to the list. The decision, part of a "conflict-related sexual violence" report released on Friday, has prompted Israel's foreign ministry to announce it will sever all ties with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.The UN cited "credible information" regarding sexual violence committed by Israeli security forces against Palestinian detainees in prisons and other detention centers, noting that UN inspectors had been denied access to these facilities. Israel's UN Ambassador Danny Danon countered that the UN had been invited to check the allegations but chose not to come.Detailed Allegations Against Israeli ForcesThis year's UN report stated that in 2025, "the United Nations verified multiple incidents of conflict-related sexual violence, including as a form of torture, inflicted against 14 men, seven women, nine boys and one girl from the Gaza Strip and the [occupied] West Bank."The report detailed that 13 of these attacks occurred in 2024, with 18 more recorded in 2023 and 2024. The violations included "rape, including with objects, gang rape, attempted rape, physical violence to the genitals, instances of targeted shooting of the genitals, touching of breasts and genitals, strip and cavity searches conducted without apparent security justification, forced nudity and threats of rape."Rape and gang rape were perpetrated against nine victims, primarily Palestinians from Gaza, according to the report. The assaults occurred mainly during detention and interrogation at military camps, checkpoints, and during Israeli military operations in the Occupied Palestinian Territory. Survivors included journalists and human rights defenders, with some violations being filmed or photographed.Russia's Addition to the BlacklistThe latest UN report also contains harrowing descriptions of abuses attributed to Russia's military, following "findings of continued patterns of sexual violence documented." The UN human rights monitoring mission in Ukraine had verified 310 cases of conflict-related sexual violence perpetrated by Russian armed and security forces.These cases included rape, gang rape, genital mutilation, electric shocks and beatings to the genitals, injuring 280 men, 26 women and four girls. The report's annex lists 77 parties deemed responsible for patterns of conflict-related sexual violence, including 62 non-state actors, with new additions including three non-state armed groups operating in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.Global Surge in Conflict-Related Sexual ViolenceThe report reveals that nearly 10,000 cases of conflict-related sexual violence were recorded worldwide last year – more than double the previous year's figure. Pramila Patten, the UN official who authored the report, stated that this increase marks a "very disturbing trend" that represents only the "very tip of the iceberg.""This number can be attributed to the fact that we are going through a time when we have a record number of extremely violent conflicts, and the fact that perpetrators are feeling emboldened by a context of impunity, where this crime is almost cost-free," Patten explained.Diplomatic Fallout and Future ImplicationsBeing added to the UN blacklist does not automatically carry specific punitive measures such as sanctions, although public naming and shaming can cause significant reputational damage for the states involved. Those repeatedly listed are barred from UN peacekeeping operations.The UN official noted that she had made several requests for information on preventive measures implemented by Israel but "did not get any response on the substantive aspect." While Israel had extended an invitation for a visit, disagreements about the scope and related issues of access and cooperation ultimately led to its suspension due to Israel's war on Gaza.The addition of Israel and Russia to the blacklist comes at a time of heightened tensions between these nations and the United Nations, with the report likely to further strain diplomatic relations and potentially influence international policy decisions regarding these conflicts.

The Masterpiece of John Woo The title of this 1990 John Woo extravaganza might lead the uninitiated to expect a chillingly focused, targeted assassination. Actually, there are innumerable bullets and innumerable heads in this over-the-top gonzo spectacle. It is a crime thriller, a wartime action film set in Vietnam, but it offers something other than the usual Hollywood perspective; it is a parable of greed comparable to The Treasure of the Sierra Madre, and even a kind of romantic melodrama. The Symbolic Bullet There is, however, one key bullet in a head, a literal bullet lodged in the skull of someone who achieves a macabre zombie-like semi-survival, the bullet being symbolic of the way violence takes root in the brain, dehumanising its victim. The final “boardroom” scene disclosing this image is toweringly mad and strange. Yet in this movie, as in so many other Woo films, we can see how the director counterintuitively uses sad music – harmonica, woodwind – over grisly, brutal action sequences, as if what he wants us to register is not the violence or the shock but just how poignantly futile and pathetic it all is. The Plot Unfolds The setting is – initially – late 60s Hong Kong; Tony Leung plays Ben, a young guy getting married to his sweetheart Jane (Fennie Yuen), and on hand are his buddies Frank (Jacky Cheung) and Paul (Waise Lee). This trio are involved in a gang war with a rival mob who corner Frank when he has gone to get cash from the local moneylender to pay for the wedding. The confrontation ends in violence and, simply to get away and avoid the heat – Woo has a cameo as a police inspector – the three guys accept a crooked job from a local gang boss smuggling contraband pharmaceuticals in Vietnam. The Climax In Saigon, all their plans explode in pure anarchy; they are at first arrested under suspicion of working for the Vietcong, then upgrade their strategy to cynical arms smuggling for the North Vietnamese, and stealing the gold belonging to the local wiseguy who was supposed to be distributing their drugs. They make contact with a worldly fixer called Luke (Simon Yam), who has a Catherine Deneuve poster in his apartment, and also gallantly undertake to rescue a Hong Kong singer Sally (Yolinda Yam), who has been trafficked to Vietnam to sell sex. They end up on the spectacular field of battle itself (with helicopters, explosions, burning villages), where Paul, increasingly obsessed with the gold, finds himself at a key moment at mortal risk of detection if he cannot keep the wounded Frank quiet, whose cries of pain might alert the enemy to their position. The Legacy It’s an extraordinary, uninhibited barnstormer from Woo, who takes us from regular, domestic crime to military chaos with confidence and sweep. One moment, in which someone stands in front of a tank, even appears to echo the Tiananmen Square protests. No one else could have made it. The Release Bullet in the Head is in UK cinemas from 1 June, and on 4K UHD and Blu-ray from 22 June.

The Lead Meena Kandasamy's novel "Fieldwork As a Sex Object" tackles the terrifying reality of deepfake technology and its use in online harassment, particularly targeting women in India's complex digital landscape. Through protagonist Amy Chaturvedi, the novel explores how fabricated content can destroy lives and how internet trolls exploit such content for misogynistic and political purposes. The Digital Hell of Indian Internet Culture The novel portrays India's internet as a particularly toxic environment, far exceeding the toxicity of Western platforms like X and Facebook. Kandasamy captures a world where caste, religion, and political extremism intersect with misogyny to create a dangerous space for women. The author describes how algorithms, far-right government influence, and societal tensions combine to create a digital hellscape where women are systematically targeted and harassed. The Deepfake Crisis and Its Victims The central plot revolves around Amy Chaturvedi, a privileged student activist living in London, who becomes the victim of a deepfake sex tape. Despite her sexual liberation and experimentation, Amy must confront a world that immediately judges and shames her based on the fabricated content. The novel explores how such digital violations can be used as weapons, not just for humiliation but also for political and social control. The Anatomy of Online Trolls Kandasamy provides a sharp, humorous, yet critical examination of the Indian internet troll, exposing their motivations, insecurities, and political alliances. The author portrays trolls as a "disparate bunch of Nazi-loving, Islamophobic vegetarian dicks" who use anonymity to spread hate, promote extremist ideologies, and attack those who challenge their worldview. The novel reveals how these trolls operate in coordinated campaigns to silence dissenting voices, particularly women and minorities. Literary Merits and Political Commentary As one of India's most outspoken writers, Kandasamy blends personal narrative with political commentary, creating a work that is both entertaining and thought-provoking. While the reviewer notes some stylistic choices that could be refined—particularly the Marxist theoretical framework and excessive internet jargon—the novel's power lies in its unflinching portrayal of online misogyny and its intersection with political extremism. The author's willingness to "not pull any punches" makes her a vital voice in contemporary Indian literature. The Future of Digital Rights and Literature "Fieldwork As a Sex Object" arrives at a critical moment when deepfake technology is becoming increasingly sophisticated and accessible. The novel serves as both a warning and a call to action, highlighting the urgent need for better legal protections and digital literacy. As internet culture continues to evolve, works like Kandasamy's will play an essential role in shaping public discourse about technology, power, and gender in the digital age.

The Escalating Cost of Russia's War in UkraineEvidence of Russia's poor performance in its war in Ukraine, both militarily and economically, has been mounting over the past week. The US Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA) has confirmed earlier assessments that Russia has lost territory it previously occupied in Ukraine, while Ukraine has managed to reclaim approximately 400 square kilometers in and around Dnipropetrovsk – more territory than at any time since late 2022.Russia's Military Setbacks and Economic StrainRussia has still made a net territorial gain in 2026, but its advance is slowing down dramatically. According to the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), a Washington-based think tank, Russia advanced by a net 104 sq km between January 1 and May 26, 2026, compared to its seizure of 1,619 sq km during the same period last year.Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reported that Russian casualties had increased to 145,000 this year, of which 86,000 were killed and 59,000 troops seriously wounded. Ukraine's Defence Minister, Mykhailo Fedorov, highlighted that this meant 179 Russian losses per square kilometre of advance, compared to 67 last year – a rate higher than what Russia is currently able to replace through recruitment.Russia's war is also becoming increasingly difficult to finance. Having exceeded its entire 2026 budget deficit allowance by April, and depleted its foreign exchange reserves, Russia has been drawing down gold reserves at an unprecedented pace. According to its Central Bank, Russia has sold 27.9 tonnes of its gold reserves this year, worth more than $4bn, leaving reserves at their lowest since the beginning of the full-scale invasion in February 2022.Shifting Battlefield Dynamics and StrategiesThe DIA attributed Ukraine's territorial gains to Russia losing access to Starlink satellite services used for targeting and counter-battery fire. Ukraine attributes its success to its strategy of interdicting Russian logistics through mid-range drone and artillery strikes, which Fedorov described as a programme called "Logistical Lockdown" designed "to scale up middle-strike and systematically destroy Russian capabilities at the operational depth."This Ukrainian tactic has prevented reinforcements of men and equipment from reaching the frontlines, diminishing Russia's superiority in depth of resources and mass. The effectiveness of this strategy was demonstrated when Kherson occupation governor Vladimir Saldo restricted movement along the M-14 highway connecting Mariupol, Berdyansk and Melitopol, due to the number of vehicles being struck there.On the defensive front, Ukraine received a significant boost when Sweden announced it would donate 16 Gripen warplanes to Ukraine, which would also purchase an additional 20 through the EU's Ukraine Support Loan in a deal worth $2.9bn. Zelenskyy noted that "Gripen fighters with appropriate weapons, in particular Meteor missiles, which destroy targets at a distance of more than 200 kilometres, will help us push back Russian aircraft" against the approximately 3,000 Russian glide bombs dropped weekly.Simultaneously, Ukraine continued its long-range strikes on the Russian oil economy, which funds the war. On May 23-24, Ukraine struck oil depots and terminals at Novorossiysk and Tamanneftegaz on the Black Sea, as well as military and industrial sites including the Metafrax Chemicals plant in Perm and the Taganrog Airbase in Rostov.Russia's Response and Escalation TacticsIn response to Ukrainian advances, Russia pursued its own aerial tactic of striking Kyiv through massive combined attacks of drones and missiles. On May 24, Russia launched 600 long-range drones and 90 missiles against Kyiv and surrounding areas, including 36 ballistic missiles. Ukraine managed to shoot down 91 percent of the drones and 81 percent of the cruise missiles, though those that hit damaged government buildings, museums, and a market, injuring at least 87 people and killing two.Russia framed these attacks as retaliation for what it described as a terror attack on a college in occupied Luhansk, which it claimed killed six students and injured 39. Ukraine's General Staff countered that it was a strike on a centre for Advanced Unmanned Technologies run by Rubikon, Russia's unmanned systems force.Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov informed his US counterpart, Marco Rubio, that Russia would begin striking "military sites" in Kyiv in retaliation, warning foreign citizens, including diplomats, to leave. Moscow specifically mentioned using its newest Oreshnik intermediate range missile in the attacks, which it has also forward-positioned in Belarus.Future Outlook of the ConflictThe current trajectory suggests that Ukraine's strategy of targeted strikes on Russian logistics and supply lines, combined with enhanced air defense capabilities from international partners, will continue to challenge Russia's military advances. However, Russia's demonstrated willingness to escalate attacks on urban centers and its deployment of advanced weaponry indicate that the conflict may enter a more intense phase.As Russia depletes its financial resources and struggles to replace casualties, its ability to sustain current operations may diminish. Conversely, Ukraine's increasing success in securing international military support and refining its asymmetric tactics could shift the balance further in its favor, though the long-term outcome remains uncertain as both sides adapt their strategies.

The LeadIsraeli fighter jets conducted strikes on a village in southern Lebanon, escalating tensions in the already volatile region. The attack comes amid ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestinian groups in Gaza, raising concerns about potential wider regional conflict.South Lebanon Village Targeted in AirstrikesThe Israeli military operation targeted a specific location in southern Lebanon, though details about the exact nature of the target remain unclear. Local reports indicate damage to infrastructure in the village, though there has been no immediate confirmation of casualties from official sources. The strikes represent a significant escalation in cross-border tensions between Israel and Lebanon.Regional Implications of Escalating ViolenceThe attack in south Lebanon occurs against a backdrop of heightened military activity along the Israel-Lebanon border. Hezbollah, the Lebanese militant group with close ties to Iran, has expressed solidarity with Palestinian groups in Gaza. This latest development could potentially draw Lebanon more directly into the ongoing conflict, threatening to expand beyond the current Gaza theater. Regional powers including the United States, Iran, and Turkey are closely monitoring the situation.Path to Escalation or De-escalation?Looking ahead, the situation remains highly fluid. If Israel perceives increased threat from Lebanon, it may conduct further military operations. Conversely, diplomatic channels involving international mediators could be activated to prevent full-scale conflict. The coming days will be critical in determining whether this incident represents a temporary escalation or the beginning of a wider regional confrontation.