COVID coming back?

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Global Recap
May 27, 2025 • Read in: 8 minutes

Hi Global Recap readers,

As I was writing today’s newsletter, I caught myself thinking, “Kind of a slow news day…” But then again, this usually means the world isn’t on fire—so that’s a win.

  • Then it hit me: our first story today, about a fast-spreading new COVID variant, would’ve been huge back in the pandemic days. Today? I almost didn’t include it.

  • It just shows how wild those times were—and how fast the news, the narrative, and our focus can shift.

🖋️ Quick Anecdote: I spotted someone on the train today rocking a full-on, high-tech-looking gas mask.

Maybe he was testing out some kind of product—who knows. But if it was a COVID thing, I’d be surprised. Didn’t think people were still that worried.

It looked similar to this.👇️ 

🌐 WORLD
Fast Scroll News

🇺🇸 New COVID Variant Spreads. A highly infectious strain that caused a recent surge in hospitalizations in China has now hit the US. The NB.1.81 variant was first detected in March and is popping up in New York, California, Ohio, and Hawaii. While health officials say it’s not necessarily more severe, it spreads faster and has led to spikes in ER visits across Asia. Experts warn it may be better at dodging vaccines, but for now, the Trump admin plans to limit booster shots to seniors and high-risk groups.

This undated photo is said by Iranian media to show Ehsum Bagheri

🇮🇷 Iranian Judge Stabbed. Ehsum Bagheri, a 38-year-old judge, was stabbed to death on his way to work in Shiraz. Iran’s state media is calling it a “terrorist act,” but the two attackers are still on the run. Bagheri was formerly a prosecutor in the revolutionary court, handling national security and drug smuggling cases. His killing comes just four months after two hardline judges were shot dead in Tehran. Connected?

🇩🇪 Germany Lifts Weapon Limits. Chancellor Friedrich Merz just scrapped all range restrictions on weapons sent to Ukraine, meaning Kyiv can now strike military targets inside Russia. Merz says the decision applies to all Western allies, including the US, UK, and France. The Kremlin is furious, warning that lifting restrictions could make Germany a direct target for Russian retaliation, possibly even triggering a nuclear response. The move follows Moscow’s massive missile attack on Ukraine, which hit Kyiv with over 300 drones and rockets.

🇪🇺 EU Approves Massive Arms Fund. The European Union just greenlit a €150 billion defense fund, aimed at boosting military projects across Europe amid fears of a future Russian attack. The plan, called SAFE, uses joint EU borrowing to finance defense initiatives, with a strong “buy European” requirement to ensure the money flows to local industries. Hungary abstained from the vote, but the other 26 EU nations backed it, citing concerns over US security commitments under Trump. Moscow, unsurprisingly, called the move an “incitement to war,” though EU leaders aren’t buying it.

🇸🇾 SYRIA & 🇮🇱 ISRAEL
Unexpected Direct Talks Begin

Syria’s interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa (left) and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (right)

For the first time in years, Israel and Syria have reportedly held direct, face-to-face meetings aimed at reducing tensions and preventing conflict along their border.

This is an unusual move for these two longtime adversaries, and potentially a dangerous one.

✍️ Context: The reason I say this move could be dangerous is that many believe Hamas’s October 7, 2023 attack on Israel was partly a response to the ongoing Israel-Arab normalization efforts.

• The current theory is this: as the Middle East began shifting toward cooperation with Israel—especially with Saudi Arabia—Iran and Hamas saw a need to disrupt that momentum. Their goal was to reignite tensions, drive a wedge between Arab states and Israel, and recast Israel as the regional aggressor.

• If that was the plan, it worked spectacularly. The fallout spread far beyond the region, activating a wave of young activists, many of whom hadn’t even heard of Gaza before October 7.

Unusual Negotiations

So why now? The new Islamist leaders in Syria seem willing to talk—with the US pressuring them to make peace with Israel, and Israel easing up on its bombardments in recent weeks.

  • Five sources confirm recent meetings between Israeli and Syrian officials.

  • Talks have moved beyond intermediaries, happening directly in border territory.

  • Syria’s security head Ahmad al-Dalati is reportedly leading the talks.

    • However, he is denying involvement, saying that Syria is “defending its sovereignty” through lawful means.”

    • Israel’s participants remain unidentified, but sources suggest security officials are involved.

Trump’s Role

Syria’s interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa (left) and US President Trump (right)

A recent meeting between President Trump and Syria’s interim President, Ahmed al-Sharaa, seemed to have played a big role.

  • The two met in Riyadh on May 14.

  • At the time, seeing Syria’s leader alongside the US President caught many off guard. The meeting marked a shift in American policy and pushed Israel to reconsider its strategy.

  • After meeting al-Sharaa, Trump hinted that Syria might eventually normalize ties with Israel.

  • Still, Sharaa hasn’t committed to full normalization—only to restoring the 1974 ceasefire deal that set up a UN buffer zone in the Golan Heights.

Path to Peace?

For now, the talks focus on security, but they could set the stage for broader political agreements.

  • Meetings have covered reducing Israeli incursions into Syria’s border villages.

  • Syria has signaled goodwill, even approving the return of Israeli spy Eli Cohen’s belongings.

  • That being said, Syria's foreign ministry sent a letter to the US, declaring that Syria won’t be a “source of threat to any party, including Israel.”