Rubio Meets Saudi Crown Prince for Talks on Gaza and Ukraine

As the minutes ticked closer to sundown, a crowd grew impatient at a Syrian bakery, clamoring for marook sweet bread during Ramadan. The traditional bread, filled with various flavors like chocolate and pistachio, reflects Syria's evolving culinary traditions. Despite the high demand and limited supply, customers eagerly await their favorite flavors, showcasing the significance of marook in Syrian heritage and modernization efforts. Full Article

Syria condemned Israeli attacks as a "flagrant violation" of its sovereignty after a deadly bombardment in the country's south, leading to the death of six civilians. The Israeli military responded to incoming fire in the region near the UN-patrolled buffer zone on the Golan Heights, sparking condemnation from Syria, Jordan, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia. Israel has launched hundreds of strikes on military sites in Syria since Assad's fall, aiming to prevent weapons from reaching jihadist...

On Tuesday, Palestinians in Gaza protested against Hamas, criticizing the group's control over the territory following a year of war with Israel, with some calling for Hamas to leave. The protest was triggered by Israel resuming its bombardment of Gaza after a two-month cease-fire, aiming to pressure Hamas to release remaining hostages. Despite Hamas' harsh crackdown on dissent, some Gazans publicly expressed frustration with the group, fearing that without their departure, another war is inevitable....

President Trump and US intelligence officials responded to a security breach involving a journalist being added to a group chat about air strikes on Yemen's Huthi rebels. Trump dismissed it as a "glitch," while officials claimed no classified information was shared. Democrats called for resignations, while the White House defended the incident as a distraction from Trump's achievements, sparking concerns over the use of commercial apps for government communications. Full Article

The Israeli police questioned Palestinian director Hamdan Ballal, a filmmaker of the Oscar-winning documentary "No Other Land," after Israeli settlers reportedly attacked him in the West Bank, leading to his arrest and that of two other Palestinians on suspicion of stone-throwing. Rising settler violence in the region has been documented, with over 1,000 incidents recorded in 2024. President Trump's softer stance on settler violence, canceling sanctions imposed by the Biden administration, has drawn criticism. The...

The United Nations announced a reduction of one-third of its international workers in Gaza following repeated Israeli strikes on its facilities, with Secretary General António Guterres stating the decision was difficult amid escalating humanitarian needs and Israeli attacks killing hundreds of Palestinians. Despite the drawdown, the U.N. remains committed to providing essential aid in Gaza, where at least 280 staff members have been killed during the conflict, and is calling for an independent investigation into...