Iran says it will only sign a peace deal with the US if $24 billion in frozen Iranian assets are released. Tehran wants $12 billion paid immediately when a deal is announced, with the remaining amount transferred within 60 days.

The money comes from oil and gas revenues blocked under US sanctions and held in countries including South Korea, Qatar, Iraq and Germany.

The demand has become the main obstacle in negotiations to end the Iran-US conflict.

Trump allies oppose the move, arguing it would reward Iran.

Source: The Telegraph

Norway said it will join France’s nuclear umbrella as Europe worries about long-term U.S. security support.

Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre signed a new defense deal with Macron in Paris.

Norway stressed that no nuclear weapons will be stationed there in peacetime.

The UK and Poland signed a new defense and migration pact, the Northolt Treaty, aimed at boosting security cooperation amid growing concerns over Russia and NATO’s future.

The deal includes joint development of medium-range air defense missiles, more military exercises, defense procurement cooperation, and coordination against Russian hybrid threats.

The agreement also covers energy, economic security, and migration, including plans to strengthen border security and fight organized crime linked to irregular migration.

Tony Blair:

And on Gaza — look, we put together a plan that ended the war. Now at the moment you’ve still got some fighting going on. You’ve still got a dire situation for the people.

Actually this next week we will have further negotiations with Hamas because we need to move this new government into Gaza, and we need Hamas to agree that this government should be in control of Gaza.

So it’s a very tricky, difficult situation. But if the plan is allowed to work it will give people a fresh start with a new Palestinian government and a large amount of funding behind it.

A rare albino buffalo in Bangladesh nicknamed “Donald Trump” for its blond tuft was spared from Eid al-Adha sacrifice after going viral online.

The 700-kg buffalo had already been sold, but the government intervened over security concerns as crowds flocked to see it.

Authorities refunded the buyer and moved the animal to the Dhaka zoo.

Source: Reuters

A new analysis says the U.S. may need 3–5 years to rebuild key missile stockpiles heavily used in the Iran war, raising concerns about readiness for a possible conflict with China.

The report says supplies of Tomahawk cruise missiles, Patriot interceptors, and THAAD systems were heavily depleted. Even with increased defense spending under Trump, rebuilding inventories will take years because production capacity is limited.

Estimated recovery timelines:

Tomahawk missiles: until 2030
THAAD interceptors: until late 2029
Patriot missiles: until mid-2029

Source: AP

Former US Attorney General Pam Bondi says she has thyroid cancer and is undergoing treatment after surgery.

Doctors say most thyroid cancers are highly treatable, with survival rates above 98%.

Bondi is also expected to testify Friday about the Epstein files controversy.

Israel’s Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar:

It would be very hard to find a Muslim who, if given the choice, would choose another Arab Muslim country over staying in Israel.

Israel’s Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar:

We still haven’t achieved peace — but not because of us...

They introduced brainwashing in mosques and in schoolbooks.

Israel bombs a building in Gaza in an apparent assassination.

Israeli airstrike on a home in central Gaza City leaves 4 dead and 15 injured.

Israeli soldier Staff Sergeant Rotem Yanai was killed today in northern Israel.

Jill Biden said she feared Joe Biden was “having a stroke” during his widely criticised 2024 debate against Trump.

In an interview with CBS News, she said she had “never seen Joe like that before or since” and was “frightened” by his performance.

Trump endorses Pashinyan for re-election in Armenia.

The Trump administration told federal prosecutors in Miami to pause scrutiny of Venezuela’s acting president, Delcy Rodríguez.

Rodríguez had long been on the DEA’s radar over allegations including money laundering and drug trafficking, though she was never charged.

Source: AP

The White House continues to be funny.

Senator Graham:

They should change the Nobel Prize to the Trump Prize if Trump achieves normalization between Israel and Saudi Arabia.

The U.S. has sanctioned Iran’s Persian Gulf Strait Authority, which oversees vessel transit requests through the Strait of Hormuz.

The Treasury warned that companies or individuals working with the authority could also face sanctions for indirectly supporting Iran’s Revolutionary Guard.

US and Iranian forces exchanged new strikes after the US shot down Iranian drones near the Strait of Hormuz and hit a launch site in Bandar Abbas.

Iran then targeted a US airbase in Kuwait, while also firing at ships near the strait.