Two Iranian diplomats stationed in Europe defected this past week – Farzad Farhangian in Brussels and Hossein Alizadeh in Finland – in protest to last year’s contested presidential election. Meanwhile, the US has imposed new sanctions on Iran, and Green Movement members have continued to demonstrate against the government. Learn more about these and other issues in this episode of The Week in Green, an ongoing series from Iran comprised largely of footage shot on cell phones and small cameras and smuggled out of the country.

Ever wonder what it’s like to be caught in the middle of the Afghan war? Bob Shepherd can tell you. He spent time there as a security adviser and wrote about his experiences in The Circuit.

Now in his new novel The Infidel he tells the story of two British soldiers caught up in deadly political intrigues. A modern-day retelling of Rudyard Kipling’s The Man Who Would Be King, it takes place, like its 19th-century predecessor, in Afghanistan’s remote Nuristan province where Shepherd spent time.

In this interview, Shepherd discusses The Infidel as well as the realities of the war in Afghanistan in 2010.

The Democratic Republic of Congo has seen its share of problems, and they’re not over yet. Despite the presence of the largest UN mission in the world, the shaky Congolese government has been unable to quell the activities of the various paramilitary and militia groups in the countryside. Correspondent Rajneesh Bandari reports from North Kivu Province.

Despite calls from the Obama administration and other members of the international community, Israeli settlers continue to occupy parts of the West Bank, in violation of the Geneva Convention and Israeli law. For the Palestinians, this means continual harassment, pressure, and intimidation as settlers attempt to force them from their homes. And the ongoing power struggle within the Palestinian government isn’t helping things, either.

To the apparent consternation of the Israeli government, the issue of the settlements has been brought front and center, and it’s not something that will be settled soon, nor easily. Episode 4 of “Political Graffiti” examines the problem from the ground level.

Israeli actor and IDF reserve army engineer Ohad Knoller speaks on the state of Israel today with regard to the Arab-Israeli conflict, Israeli settlement building, and Israel’s place in the world.

Israeli actor and IDF reserve army engineer Ohad Knoller speaks on the state of Israel today with regard to the Arab-Israeli conflict, Israeli settlement building, and Israel’s place in the world.

Israeli actor and IDF reserve army engineer Ohad Knoller speaks on the state of Israel today with regard to the Arab-Israeli conflict, Israeli settlement building, and Israel’s place in the world.

Israeli actor and IDF reserve army engineer Ohad Knoller speaks on the state of Israel today with regard to the Arab-Israeli conflict, Israeli settlement building, and Israel’s place in the world.

Israeli actor and IDF reserve army engineer Ohad Knoller speaks on the state of Israel today with regard to the Arab-Israeli conflict, Israeli settlement building, and Israel’s place in the world.