Thousands of Israelis rally in Tel Aviv to demand return of hostages – Middle East Monitor

Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei announced that Tehran will not abandon its uranium enrichment, directly rejecting a key US demand in ongoing nuclear negotiations mediated by Oman. Despite five rounds of talks, significant issues remain, particularly Iran's insistence on maintaining its enrichment capabilities and its refusal to export its stockpile of highly enriched uranium. Khamenei emphasized that uranium enrichment is essential to Iran's nuclear program and criticized US demands as contradictory to Iran's principles...

Top secret intelligence files obtained by the BBC confirm that missing American journalist Austin Tice was imprisoned by the regime of former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad after his abduction near Damascus in August 2012. The files reveal he was held in a detention facility and treated better than other detainees, with reports of his health issues while in captivity. Despite US government beliefs about his survival, his whereabouts remain unknown following the regime's ousting in...

The hajj pilgrimage began on Wednesday, with over 1.4 million worshippers facing extreme heat in Mecca, where temperatures could exceed 40°C (104°F). Authorities have implemented enhanced anti-heat measures, including increased shaded areas and a larger medical presence, to prevent a recurrence of last year's heat-related deaths, which totaled 1,301. Pilgrims, dressed in ihram, will perform rituals such as tawaf around the Kaaba and proceed to Mina, while authorities intensify efforts against unregistered pilgrims using drones...

Syrian singer Ishtar has resumed performances in Damascus after a hiatus due to fears of restrictions following the Islamist-led takeover that ousted Bashar al-Assad. While some bars and restaurants face closures and licensing issues, the nightlife scene is slowly reviving, with discussions on personal freedoms becoming more common despite recent violent incidents at nightclubs. The new authorities have been criticized for not fully protecting personal freedoms, yet there remains a cautious optimism among locals about...

The Israeli military conducted shelling in Syria in response to projectile launches, with Defence Minister Israel Katz holding Syria's leader responsible. Syria's foreign affairs ministry denied the allegations, asserting it poses no threat to the region and condemning the Israeli strikes as a violation of sovereignty. The Israeli military confirmed two projectiles crossed into its territory, prompting air raid sirens, while reports indicated Israeli bombardments targeted areas in southern Syria, specifically the Yarmuk Basin and...

SummaryThe Trump administration is proposing an interim plan allowing Iran to enrich uranium at low levels while negotiating a comprehensive deal to prevent nuclear weapon development, as reported by the New York Times. The plan includes building nuclear reactors in Iran and managing enrichment facilities with regional partners, but Iranian officials insist on maintaining their right to enrich uranium, a point of contention as President Trump opposes any enrichment. The deal remains vague on key...