CONFLICTED

Breaking air strikes and widespread counterattacks ignite a new Iran-centered war. An on-the-ground account describes missile interceptions over the UAE. They explore strategic aims like targeting the IRGC, strike scope and revealed Iranian capabilities. Discussion covers regional spillover, naval and cyber operations, potential blockades on Hormuz, and how Gulf states are aligning amid escalating asymmetric threats.

Martin Plaut, veteran BBC journalist and historian of African affairs, and author of Unbroken Chains. He traces slavery’s roots to ancient Nile civilizations and maps vast trans-Saharan, Indian Ocean, Omani/Zanzibari and internal African systems. He discusses how religion, race, regional powers and modern institutions shaped and often obscured both historical and present-day chattel slavery.

A deep dive into Saudi Arabia's early foundations and the shifting imperial ties from Britain to the United States. Stories about oil concessions, Aramco's cultural footprint, and American influence in the Eastern Province. Exploration of Cold War spycraft and regional espionage networks. A detailed recounting of Jamal Khashoggi's break with power and the violent consulate incident.

Yossef Rapoport, a medieval Islamic historian at Queen Mary University of London and author of Becoming Arab, explores how Arab identity emerged in rural Egypt and the Levant between the 11th and 15th centuries. He discusses how clan genealogies, taxation, land tenure, epic storytelling, the 1245 Fayyum survey, and debates like Ibn Taymiyyah’s shaped villages into Arab identities over time.

A tense breakdown of recent U.S.-Iran indirect talks and Tehran’s shifting offers. Discussion of the IRGC’s unified rejectionist stance and its economic power. Analysis of Netanyahu’s Washington visit and how Israel may shape U.S. messaging. Exploration of U.S. pressure tactics, potential military preparations, and strategies aimed at degrading IRGC capabilities.

Shawn VanDiver, a U.S. Navy veteran who founded AfghanEvac to help Afghan partners navigate U.S. immigration, recounts the breakdown of evacuation and resettlement pathways. He discusses the failures of the Special Immigrant Visa program, the chaotic 2021 withdrawal, policy rollbacks that halted relocations, and how grassroots activism turned into government partnership.

They trace a Washington, D.C. shooting back to CIA-backed Afghan Zero Units and their clandestine kill-or-capture missions. They explore the units' origins, regional roles, and why they sparked controversy. They unpack Afghanistan's counterterrorism geography, the psychological toll of black ops, vetting in German halfway houses, and how broken promises affect future alliances.

Kishore Mahbubani, veteran Singaporean diplomat and former UN ambassador, reflects on Asia reclaiming center stage in the 21st century. He discusses decolonising minds, Singapore’s pragmatic development model, Western double standards, the UN’s limits, and the risks and responsibilities of rising Asian powers. Short, sharp, and provocative takes on geopolitics and global order.

A rapid unpacking of eight months of US–Iran escalation, from covert strikes to regional military buildup. They trace how Israel’s Doha attack and Saudi–Pakistan dealings reshaped Gulf diplomacy. Discussion covers Iran’s brutal protest crackdown, shifting alliances after the Abraham Accords, and why a promised American strike did not happen. The conversation ends on what this standoff signals to China.

Paul Kenyon, seasoned BBC correspondent and investigative journalist with decades in conflict zones. He recounts being detained in Iran, entering Libya during the Arab Spring, witnessing Russia’s moves in Crimea and Ukraine, and reporting on ISIS recruits in the UK. Short, vivid stories of frontline moments and improbable personal threads across global crises.