Nightlife rocks Raqqa as Syria’s Islamist leaders navigate power

Donald Trump publicly supported Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth after reports surfaced that Hegseth shared details about U.S. missile strikes in Yemen in a Signal group chat that included family and Pentagon aides. Trump dismissed concerns about the leaks, attributing them to disgruntled former staff, and encouraged his team to defend Hegseth, who felt the story was a "hit piece." Pressure for Hegseth's resignation grew following critical comments from former aides and Republican congressman Don Bacon,...

Ali Shamkhani, political adviser to Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, outlined nine principles guiding Tehran's approach to a potential deal with the US, reflecting Khamenei's skepticism towards negotiations after the 2015 agreement's collapse. These principles emphasize seriousness in talks, assurances regarding Iran's nuclear program, a balanced agreement, removal of sanctions, cessation of threats, expedited negotiations, containment of Israeli influence, facilitation of investment, and a firm rejection of the "Libyan model" of nuclear dismantlement. The principles...

A senior Palestinian official has informed the BBC that Qatari and Egyptian mediators proposed a ceasefire plan for Gaza, which includes a truce lasting five to seven years, the release of all Israeli hostages for Palestinian prisoners, and a complete Israeli withdrawal from Gaza. Hamas, represented by leaders Mohammed Darwish and Khalil al-Hayya, has shown unprecedented flexibility but rejected a previous Israeli proposal that required disarmament for a short truce. Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu insists...

The UN's humanitarian agency, PRCS, and Gaza's civil defense rejected an Israeli military investigation that attributed the killings of 15 medics and rescue workers in Rafah to "professional failures." The IDF initially claimed the medics’ vehicles lacked emergency signals and later admitted to several failures after video evidence contradicted their account. Both PRCS and the civil defense accused Israel of lying to justify targeting rescue convoys, while the UN's humanitarian chief stressed the need for...

Members of Gaza's Christian community expressed deep sorrow over the death of Pope Francis, who consistently advocated for peace in the region and maintained nightly communications with them during the war. His efforts were recognized by Christians across the Middle East, who found comfort in his engagement amid conflict and hardship. Despite his health challenges, Francis continued to work until his death at 88, making a final public appearance on Easter Sunday and urging for...

The director of Israel's internal intelligence agency, Shin Bet, Ronen Bar, alleges he was fired by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for refusing to pledge loyalty and for not surveilling anti-government protesters. Bar's affidavit to the supreme court details Netanyahu's demands for loyalty over judicial authority and an effort to coerce him regarding a corruption case. The dispute has escalated into a constitutional crisis, with accusations of politicization of the agency and intensifying tensions following the...