24 Jun 2026
22m

Missing peace: will Israel imperil Iran deal?

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Economist Podcasts

Middle East peace prospects remain fragile as Israel and Hezbollah continue to clash despite ongoing US-Iran negotiations. Israeli intelligence reports indicate that Hezbollah maintains significant military infrastructure in southern Lebanon, including sophisticated drone assembly facilities, which complicates ceasefire efforts. Simultaneously, the planet faces a severe El Niño climate event, which threatens to exacerbate global food insecurity by disrupting weather patterns and agricultural output, particularly in regions already strained by conflict and fertilizer shortages. In Japan, the imperial family faces an existential succession crisis; while Princess Aiko enjoys immense public popularity, archaic laws restrict the throne to male heirs. Despite widespread support for reform, conservative political resistance persists, leaving the future of the world's oldest hereditary dynasty uncertain as the country grapples with an aging population and evolving social norms.

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