Syrian officials and military officers told The Atlantic that communications adviser Luna al-Shibl served as the ousted dictator Bashar al-Assad’s mistress and was responsible for procuring women for him, including the wives of senior Syrian officers. The report also described missed opportunities Assad squandered and cited claims by a former Israeli official who said he had proposed organizing a palace coup.

There is a significant gap between statements in Iran claiming that only the nuclear issue is on the table in talks with the Americans. Diplomatic sources familiar with the discussions who say that talk of a “positive atmosphere” is merely diplomatic wording for the absence of any real agreements.

Twenty-five defectors from the dictatorial state revealed that people face severe punishments, including death, for watching international content, particularly South Korean media.

The acclaimed composer and producer recently announced the cancellation of his performances due to advanced cancer. Caspi, who became one of the most prolific and influential figures in Israeli music, leaves behind a rich legacy of dozens of albums and collaborations with the leading artists. His funeral will take place on Monday in Kfar Saba.

The strategy is built on stretching the rope to its absolute limit. No one knows where the breaking point lies. When war threats are used as a bargaining tactic, the risk of error is enormous.