European nations, including Belgium, the Netherlands, and France, have the capability to carry out mine-clearing operations to secure key shipping lanes through the Strait of Hormuz, French Defence Minister Catherine Vautrin said on Friday, according to French broadcaster TF1. Vautrin told TF1 that European countries could also offer “fully supported escort services” for vessels passing through this strategically important waterway. She added that plans to reopen the Strait of Hormuz would be part of discussions later in Paris on Friday.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron are expected to co-host a virtual meeting of global leaders to address efforts to reopen the strait and protect vital maritime routes, CNN reported. Around 40 countries are likely to participate in the summit, which will focus on maintaining a fragile ceasefire involving Iran and ensuring safe passage through the key shipping corridor.

According to the UK Prime Minister’s Office, the talks will also consider forming an international mission to reopen the strait. The proposed initiative would be defensive in nature and involve a coordinated multinational military effort once conditions allow, CNN reported. The summit is also expected to review support for the International Maritime Organization’s efforts to improve the safety of ships and crews in the region. Starmer, who is due to arrive in Paris to co-host the meeting with Macron, is expected to stress that reopening the strait is a shared global responsibility and essential for restoring energy and trade flows.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz is also expected to attend, with Germany indicating it may contribute to securing safe passage if a clear legal framework is established. This could include mine-clearance vessels or maritime surveillance support, areas in which the German military has expertise.

US Central Command said two of its ships had begun operations related to clearing mines in the Strait of Hormuz as part of efforts to secure the waterway, though Iran rejected the claim. CENTCOM stated that USS Frank E. Peterson and USS Michael Murphy had transited the strait and operated in the Arabian Gulf as part of a broader mission to ensure the route is free of sea mines allegedly placed by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. CENTCOM commander Admiral Brad Cooper said a new safe passage route was being established and would soon be shared with the maritime industry to support the free flow of commerce.
Disclaimer: This image is taken from X/@CaVautrin.

Israel Defense Forces has escalated its actions against Hezbollah in southern Lebanon, expanding ground operations in the Bint Jbeil area. In a Telegram statement, the military said troops from the 98th Division, including units from the Paratroopers, Commando, and Givati Brigades, have encircled Hezbollah military positions and begun focused ground missions aimed at strengthening Israel’s defensive posture along the border.

The IDF stated that over the past week its forces conducted multiple operations against Hezbollah targets, claiming more than 100 operatives were killed through close combat and airstrikes, and that dozens of infrastructure sites were destroyed. It also reported the recovery of hundreds of weapons allegedly stored near civilian areas.

According to the statement, troops also located and dismantled an underground tunnel used by Hezbollah for planning and attacks against Israeli forces, saying it was neutralized after inspections and searches. The IDF reaffirmed that it will continue operations to protect Israeli civilians and prevent further attacks amid rising cross-border tensions.

Hezbollah’s Islamic Resistance said it carried out 43 attacks on Israeli positions, according to Iranian state media Press TV, claiming strikes on military sites along the border and deeper inside Israeli-controlled areas, including the Golan Heights and northern Israel. It reported drone attacks on a communications site at Al-Alika barracks, a Merkava tank near Mays al-Jabal, and coordinated strikes on Israeli troop gatherings in areas such as Al-Bayyada, Yaroun, and Kfar Yuval, along with rocket fire toward Kiryat Shmona, Nahariya, and the 146th Division headquarters.
Disclaimer: This image is taken from IDF.

Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, currently on a three-day visit to Washington, held a “productive” meeting with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who is expected to visit India next month. US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor also attended the meeting, where discussions focused on strengthening bilateral ties.

In a post on X, Sergio Gor welcomed Misri and highlighted that the talks covered key areas such as trade, critical minerals, defence, and the Quad, while noting Rubio’s upcoming India visit. Earlier, Misri participated in several high-level meetings with senior US officials, addressing ongoing developments in West Asia and the Indo-Pacific, along with reviewing strategic defence and trade cooperation. His schedule included important discussions at the Pentagon with Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Elbridge Colby, following their recent interaction in New Delhi during the India-US Defence Policy Group meeting.

According to the Indian Embassy in the US, the talks aimed at maintaining momentum in defence collaboration. The embassy added that Misri and Colby held extensive discussions on regional developments in the Indo-Pacific and West Asia. Continuing his engagements on security cooperation, Misri also met Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment Mike Duffey. Their discussions focused on strengthening defence industrial partnerships, enhancing technology sharing, and improving supply chain integration under the Major Defence Partnership framework.

The embassy described this meeting as a productive exchange at the Pentagon. Misri met Under Secretaries Jeffrey Kessler and William Kimmitt at the Department of Commerce. These discussions aimed to expand cooperation in commercial sectors and critical technologies, as well as to build secure and resilient supply chains, which are seen as vital for advancing the India-US partnership in the 21st century.
Disclaimer: This image is taken from X/@USAmbIndia.

The European Union’s foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas, has urged that the current US-Iran ceasefire be broadened to include Lebanon. Speaking on the escalating Middle East crisis, Kallas emphasized the need for de-escalation and called for the disarmament of the Iran-backed Lebanese group Hezbollah. She criticized the ongoing hostilities, noting that while Hezbollah involved Lebanon in the conflict, Israel’s right to self-defense does not justify extensive destruction.

Kallas warned that Israeli actions are straining the US-Iran ceasefire and stressed that extending the truce to Lebanon is essential for regional stability. Her comments came amid reports of intensifying military operations, with Israeli strikes reportedly killing hundreds, which she said undermines the argument of self-defense. Israel’s continued operations in Lebanon have put the fragile ceasefire at risk, prompting Iran to accuse the US and Israel of violating the agreement.

Tehran has threatened to pull out of high-level talks scheduled in Islamabad this weekend, led by Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf. Ghalibaf accused Israel of breaching three major clauses of the 10-point ceasefire agreement, including the call for a full ceasefire in Lebanon, airspace violations such as a drone incident over Lar in Fars Province, and denying Iran’s right to uranium enrichment. He argued that negotiations are unreasonable given these pre-existing violations.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has maintained that Lebanon was never part of the ceasefire deal. He stressed Israel’s continued military campaign against Hezbollah, describing recent strikes as the group’s “greatest blow” since the pager incidents, targeting 100 sites in just ten minutes. Netanyahu reiterated Israel’s key goal of preventing Iran from enriching uranium for potential nuclear use, stating that the country is prepared to achieve this either through negotiations or renewed combat. Despite the tensions, direct talks between the US and Iran are still planned in Islamabad, following a two-week ceasefire agreement. The US delegation will be led by Vice President JD Vance, while Ghalibaf will head the Iranian team.
Disclaimer: This image is taken from Reuters.

Donald Trump has reportedly ordered a large-scale naval operation in the Strait of Hormuz following unsuccessful peace talks held in Pakistan. The operation is said to target ships moving through Iranian ports in the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman. In a related discussion, analysts including Stephen Zunes provided insights on the latest developments, as presenters Andrea Heng and Hairianto Diman examined the situation.

Disclaimer: This podcast is taken from CNA.

As thousands of U.S. troops and marines deploy to the Middle East, Iran accuses Washington of secretly planning a ground attack while publicly promoting ceasefire negotiations. Donald Trump has threatened to “destroy” Iran’s energy infrastructure, stated that he would “prefer to take the oil,” and suggested that U.S. forces could capture the country’s export hub on Kharg Island, all while claiming to be negotiating with a new “reasonable regime.” At the same time, Yemen’s Houthi forces have joined the conflict, raising the risk of further disruptions to the global economy.
Disclaimer: This podcast is taken from The Guardian.

Journalist and author of The Lasting Harm, Lucia Osborne-Crowley, discusses the grooming strategies used by Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell. Speaking to Annie Kelly, Lucia emphasizes that Epstein isn’t unique or mysterious. “Viewing him as special distracts from the reality,” she says. “There are many others like him. These abuses occur in communities and institutions worldwide, following the same patterns repeatedly.”

Disclaimer: This podcast is taken from The Guardian.

The Prime Minister assures that the UK will not be pulled into a broader Middle East conflict and promises help for households struggling with heating oil costs. Pippa Crerar and Kiran Stacey discuss the government’s measures to support people amid the cost-of-living crisis and the impact of the war. Additionally, there’s a focus on Brussels, where the government is working on another EU reset to strengthen ties.

Disclaimer: This podcast is taken from The Guardian.