Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is scheduled to speak with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun on Thursday, marking the first direct communication between the two leaders in more than three decades. The call follows a Tuesday meeting in Washington where senior officials from both countries held their first direct negotiations since 1993.
President Donald Trump announced the upcoming discussion on Truth Social late Wednesday, stating he is trying to secure “a little breathing room” between the two rivals. Israeli Intelligence Minister Gila Gamliel confirmed the call, expressing hope that the diplomatic shift will eventually lead to prosperity for Lebanon.
Netanyahu and President Aoun will hold first direct talks in 34 years
These negotiations attempt to stabilize a region where Israeli ground forces still occupy southern Lebanon. The last time senior officials from these two nations sat across a table was in 1993, a period defined by a different set of regional borders and proxy alignments.
A senior Trump administration official noted that while Washington welcomes an end to hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah, those specific issues aren’t part of the broader talks between the U.S. and Tehran.
Tehran disagrees with that separation. Iranian officials claim Israel’s ongoing strikes in Lebanon violate a two-week ceasefire currently in place between Washington and Tehran. The ceasefire has largely held, though only after Israel reduced its attacks on Lebanon’s capital and other northern regions.
For more on this story, see Donald Trump announces first Israel-Lebanon leader talks in 34 years.
Why the UK is planning for CO2 shortages
British government officials are quietly preparing for food shortages if the Strait of Hormuz remains disrupted. A secret analysis, codenamed “Exercise Turnstone,” warns that a scarcity of carbon dioxide could cripple key sectors of the food industry.
CO2 is essential for slaughtering pigs and chickens and for extending the shelf life of packaged meats, salads, and baked goods. Breweries would also face disruptions to the carbonation process for fizzy drinks.
The UK’s “worst-case scenario” focuses on June, assuming no permanent peace deal is reached and traffic through the strait remains limited. Officials don’t expect these shortages to become critical, but the contingency plans highlight how a regional choke point can threaten global food chains.
From Brazil to Cameroon, global leaders are rejecting US rhetoric
Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has condemned President Trump’s recent warnings that a “whole civilization will die” in Iran if the Strait of Hormuz isn’t opened. Speaking to the Spanish daily El Pais, Lula argued that the U.S. president has “no right” to threaten other nations.
Lula pointed to the U.S. Constitution, reminding the world that authority over foreign policy and war is divided between the president and Congress. He urged powerful leaders to take more responsibility for maintaining global peace.
Pope Leo echoed this sentiment during a visit to Cameroon. In unusually sharp remarks, the first U.S.-born pope blasted leaders who spend billions on wars while the world is “ravaged by a handful of tyrants.”
The pontiff specifically criticized the use of religious language to justify military aggression. He noted that while it takes only a moment to destroy, a lifetime is often insufficient to rebuild.
What is “Exercise Turnstone”?
It is a secret UK government contingency plan designed to manage “reasonable worst-case scenarios” regarding food shortages. The plan specifically addresses the risk of CO2 shortages caused by disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz, which would impact the production of meat, baked goods, and beer.
How is the U.S.-Iran ceasefire performing?
The ceasefire has held for two weeks, though it is under strain. Iran claims that Israel’s continued attacks in Lebanon constitute a violation of the agreement, while Israel has scaled back strikes in the Lebanese capital but continues to occupy ground in the south.
