All posts tagged: fragile

Iran blames Trump’s blockade for diplomatic impasse as fragile truce holds | US-Israel war on Iran News

Iran blames Trump’s blockade for diplomatic impasse as fragile truce holds | US-Israel war on Iran News

Published by Sam Flores

Iranian officials have blamed the United States for the impasse in the negotiations and the continued closure of the Strait of Hormuz, stressing that Tehran will not submit to “bullying” by Washington. Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said on Wednesday that there can be no full ceasefire between the two countries if the US naval blockade on Iranian ports persists. Recommended Stories list of 3 itemsend of list In his first comment since President Donald Trump announced he would extend the US-Iran truce, Ghalibaf, one of Iran’s lead negotiators, suggested that Tehran will not capitulate to Washington’s demands because of the siege. “A complete ceasefire only makes sense if it is not violated by the maritime blockade and the hostage-taking of the world’s economy, and if the Zionist warmongering across all fronts is halted,” Ghalibaf wrote on X. “Reopening the Strait of Hormuz is impossible with such a flagrant breach of the ceasefire,” he added, saying that the US and Israel “did not achieve their goals through military aggression, nor will they through bullying”. Iranian …

Lebanese return to devastated south as fragile 10-day truce takes hold | Israel attacks Lebanon News

Lebanese return to devastated south as fragile 10-day truce takes hold | Israel attacks Lebanon News

Published by Sam Flores

Displaced Lebanese have begun cautiously returning to their homes in the south after Lebanon and Israel agreed to a 10-day truce, even as the Lebanese army calls on residents to delay their return and Hezbollah warns it has its “finger on the trigger” in case of Israeli violations. Tens of thousands of people poured into areas of southern Lebanon on Friday morning hours after the truce went into effect, many heading back to homes and villages battered by more than a month of Israeli attacks. Recommended Stories list of 3 itemsend of list “People just couldn’t wait,” reported Al Jazeera’s Zeina Khodr from Nabatieh, one of the hardest hit areas. “Even if it’s 10 days, they want to return to their homes. Some of them are just coming to see what remains of their homes, what remains of their lives. “They want to show that they don’t want to give up their lands,” added Khodr. While the ceasefire largely appeared to hold, Lebanon’s army accused Israel of several early violations on Friday, including intermittent shelling …

Pope Leo’s Cameroon visit rekindles fragile hopes for peace in a nation scarred by conflict

Pope Leo’s Cameroon visit rekindles fragile hopes for peace in a nation scarred by conflict

Published by Sam Flores

YAOUNDÉ, Cameroon (RNS) — Pope Leo XIV arrived in Cameroon on Wednesday afternoon (April 15) to jubilant crowds, stepping into a country where many see his visit as far more than a pastoral journey. For thousands of Cameroonians, especially in the English-speaking northwest, which has seen violent conflict for a decade, the pope’s presence carries the weight of something deeper: the possibility that a nation wounded by years of violence might begin, however cautiously, to imagine peace again. The apostolic visit spanning four days, part of the pontiff’s first major African tour, comes at a rare moment. Ahead of his arrival, separatist groups operating in the northwest and southwest regions announced a three-day ceasefire to allow safe passage for pilgrims and civilians traveling to papal events in Yaoundé, Bamenda and Douala. RELATED: Pope Leo arrives in Africa with message of peace, unity amid global tensions For residents who have lived for nearly 10 years under the sound of gunfire, roadblocks and fear amid the ongoing violent conflict, even a brief silence has become symbolic. Since …

US and Iran delegations in Pakistan for peace talks amid fragile ceasefire – POLITICO

US and Iran delegations in Pakistan for peace talks amid fragile ceasefire – POLITICO

Published by Sam Flores

Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar praised the U.S. for committing “to achieving lasting regional and global peace and stability.” Vice President JD Vance is leading the American delegation, which includes U.S. Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff and Donald Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner. Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi and Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf are representing Tehran. The Iranian delegation met with Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, and afterward the U.S. team met with the Pakistani leader. Tehran has set some preconditions to enter face-to-face talks with the Americans, including the release of Iranian frozen assets and a ceasefire in Lebanon, according to Iranian news agency Tasnim. “Two of the measures mutually agreed upon between the parties have yet to be implemented: a ceasefire in Lebanon and the release of Iran’s blocked assets prior to the commencement of negotiations,” Ghalibaf said in a post on X. “These two matters must be fulfilled before negotiations begin.” There were media reports on Saturday that Washington had agreed to the release of frozen Iranian assets, but they …

Fragile Iran war ceasefire under strain as Americans feel economic impacts

Fragile Iran war ceasefire under strain as Americans feel economic impacts

Published by Sam Flores

Less than three days after settling on a deal, the ceasefire agreement in the U.S and Israel’s war against Iran is already under strain, as Vice President JD Vance prepares for Saturday’s negotiations in Islamabad, Pakistan. Israel’s invasion of Lebanon remains one of the biggest roadblocks in maintaining the ceasefire and fully opening the Strait of Hormuz, a major chokepoint for shipping traffic in the area. Iran has called Israel’s refusal to stop attacks in Lebanon, claiming to target Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah, a violation of the ceasefire. “There is no ceasefire in Lebanon. We continue to strike Hezbollah with full force,” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Thursday. Iranian officials and President Donald Trump have both requested Netanyahu back off the attacks. Israeli strikes killed more than 300 Lebanese people in a single day Thursday, as Amnesty International made an “urgent” call for Israel to “uphold its obligations under international humanitarian law and ensure civilians are protected.” “I just think we have to be sort of a little more low-key,” Trump said to NBC …

Over-optimizing your life is making you fragile, not better

Over-optimizing your life is making you fragile, not better

Published by Jenni Sidey

BRAD STULBERG: I’m Brad Stulberg. I’m author of The Way of Excellence, and I’m on faculty at the University of Michigan. Today on Big Think, we’re going to tackle three big ideas on excellence. The first is what excellence actually is and how excellence is different from so many of the common imposters to excellence. The second are barriers and pitfalls that are very common on the path toward excellence. And then the third are going to be essential factors to help in the pursuit of genuine heartfelt excellence. There can be this thought that what excellence is, is waking up at 4 a.m., having a 47-step routine, taking three cold plunges, having nine supplements, tracking your sleep and your heart rate variability, and telling all your friends about how great you are. But that’s not real excellence. That is elaborate kabuki that is masquerading as the real thing. Simply put, excellence is involved engagement in something worthwhile that aligns with your values. That simple. Involved engagement with something worthwhile that aligns with your values. We …

Merz rejects immediate role in securing Strait of Hormuz amid fragile ceasefire – POLITICO

Merz rejects immediate role in securing Strait of Hormuz amid fragile ceasefire – POLITICO

Published by Sam Flores

European leaders have repeatedly said they would help open the contested waterway once the fighting stops, but it hasn’t been clear what that would look like in practice. U.S. President Donald Trump has displayed increasing frustration over the lack of help from America’s European allies in NATO, openly entertaining a U.S. withdrawal from the alliance. The chancellor stressed the need for calm, telling reporters that “we do not want — I do not want — NATO to split. NATO is a guarantor of our security, including and especially in Europe. We must continue to keep a cool head here.” Merz told reporters in Berlin on Thursday that he had explained to Trump by phone that Germany would only participate in securing safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz once the war ends and if two conditions are met. Trump announced Tuesday evening that the U.S. had reached a two-week ceasefire agreement with Iran, subject to the opening of the Strait of Hormuz, a global energy chokepoint. The German leader called the ceasefire a “ray of hope,” …

Trump hails fragile Iran ceasefire as a win. Can it last?

Trump hails fragile Iran ceasefire as a win. Can it last?

Published by Sam Flores

The United States and Iran reached a tentative deal for a two-week ceasefire on Tuesday evening. The deal, which would also re-open the Strait of Hormuz, was confirmed less than two hours before Donald Trump’s proposed Tuesday night deadline. The president had threatened to destroy Iranian “civilization” if ceasefire terms weren’t agreed upon in time. Trump called the 10-point plan floated by Iran “a workable basis on which to negotiate,” in a Tuesday evening post announcing the deal. Vice President JD Vance called the ceasefire deal a “fragile truce” while speaking in Hungary. Trump later boosted his assessment of the ceasefire, calling it a “total and complete victory” in an interview with the French outlet AFP. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth was equally optimistic about the deal in a Pentagon briefing Wednesday. “Operation Epic Fury was a historic and overwhelming victory on the battlefield, a capital-V military victory by any measure,” he said. “Epic Fury decimated Iran’s military and rendered it combat-ineffective for years to come.” Hegseth also repeated the Trump administration’s threats to Iran’s civilian …

Our Fragile Space exhibition highlights dangers of space debris

Our Fragile Space exhibition highlights dangers of space debris

Published by skeptic

A groundbreaking photographic exhibition is set to highlight the grave and deepening issue of space debris. Our Fragile Space shines a spotlight on the critical importance of space sustainability and the protection of the night sky through a powerful blend of reportage and artistic photography. Created and led by photographer Max Alexander and supported by the Royal Astronomical Society, Our Fragile Space will be open to the public in the Burlington House courtyard in London from 19 March to 10 May 2026. Credit: Max Alexander Space debris poses significant threats to our way of life Our Fragile Space will exhibit the growing threat space debris poses to our environment and way of life. These concerns are shared by the RAS, particularly in the wake of plans by SpaceX, Reflect Orbital and China to launch a combined 1.25 million satellites into an already crowded and increasingly perilous low-Earth orbit. “Max Alexander’s brilliant exhibition is a powerful and timely reminder of the growing threat of space junk,” stated RAS President Professor Mike Lockwood. “Thought-provoking and instructive in …

Of Logic and Lawyers: AI’s Fragile Competence

Of Logic and Lawyers: AI’s Fragile Competence

Published by Jenni Sidey

In his op-ed, “AI-Lawyers Will Have Fools for Clients”, economist and AI-critic Gary Smith takes issue with Microsoft AI CEO Mustafa Suleyman’s hyper-optimistic claim that “professional-grade AGI” will achieve “human-level performance on most, if not all professional tasks”, including law, “within the next 12 to 18 months.” Smith argues that full automation of the legal profession faces significant roadblocks along many fronts. These include persistent overextrapolation (“hallucination”) in generative large language models (LLMs), leading them to cite fictitious case law, and their difficulty handling probability estimation tasks, as shown in Pournemat et al.’s recent work. Overall, he presents a compelling case. A reader subsequently presented his article to GPT-5.2 and asked it for a detailed analysis via an unspecified prompt. This reader shared the resulting analysis with Smith who then shared it with his mailing list (to which I’m subscribed). Here is the analysis from ChatGPT, relayed by Smith: This is a classic Gary Smith piece: sharp, rhetorically effective, and grounded in a long-standing skepticism about statistical overreach. A few structured thoughts, especially given your …