The Epstein files dump has led to days of intense media coverage, revealing how powerful elites around the world engaged in either illegal or morally reprehensible behaviour. But even as journalists sift through millions of documents, one of the most significant stories remains largely missing from the mainstream narrative.

Contributor:
Murtaza Hussain – National security and foreign affairs reporter, Drop Site News

The farce of the ‘ceasefire’ coverage in Gaza

More than 500 Palestinians have been killed since a US-brokered “ceasefire” was signed, which begs the question: Should journalists, in contextualising the story, really be calling this a “ceasefire”? As Israel signals it’s preparing to resume full-scale war, we examine how media silence, selective framing and restricted access help keep Gaza off the world’s screens.

Featuring:

Shaiel Ben-Ephraim – Senior analyst, Atlas Global Strategies
Diana Buttu – Palestinian lawyer
Muhammad Shehada – Visiting fellow, European Council on Foreign Relations
Daniel Levy – President, U.S./Middle East Project

The Israeli PM wants US-Iran talks to address Tehran’s ballistic missiles – a red line for Tehran.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will head to the United States to meet Donald Trump as the US president confirmed plans to hold follow-on discussions with Iran after the weekend talks in Oman between the two foes, according to Netanyahu’s office.

The talks will address the US’s ongoing negotiations with Iran, said the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) on Monday, as Netanyahu believes Tehran should be pushed for “limitations on ballistic missiles” and ending its support for regional groups, such as Hamas and Hezbollah.

The planned meeting will be the seventh between Trump and Netanyahu since the US president returned to office last year. Analysts say Netanyahu will likely urge Trump to push Tehran on its ballistic missile programme, seen as a red line by Tehran.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has maintained talks will remain focused on the nuclear issue and not its missile programme, which he deemed “non-negotiable”.

On Sunday, President Masoud Pezeshkian described the indirect talks held in Oman on Friday as a “step forward” and said his administration favours dialogue.

“Our reasoning on the nuclear issue is based on rights stipulated in the Non-Proliferation Treaty,” Pezeshkian wrote in a post on X on Sunday. “The Iranian nation has always responded to respect with respect, but cannot withstand the language of force.”

Iranian officials have signalled eagerness for nuclear-only negotiations, while rejecting a massive US military build-up in the region.

Though both Israel and the US are antagonistic towards Iran, Israel has taken an even harder-line stance on the negotiations, which Trump has said will resume this week.

The US president said the last round of talks that ended in Oman on Friday was “very good” and that Iran “looks like it wants to make a deal very badly”.

“If they don’t make a deal, the consequences are very steep,” Trump added.

‘A long way to build trust’

The US-Iran talks come after weeks of Trump threatening military action if Iran did not strike a deal. He escalated pressure by deploying an aircraft carrier and accompanying warships to the Middle East.

World powers and regional states fear a breakdown in the negotiations could lead to conflict spilling over to the rest of the oil-producing region.

Iranian Minister Araghchi said the talks with the US are “a good start”, but that “there is a long way to go to build trust”.

Trita Parsi, cofounder of the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft, a foreign policy think tank, said the outcome of the US’s talks with Iran could hinge on whether Washington focuses on its nuclear demands, which are “absolutely achievable”, or adopts Israel’s maximalist position.

“If we see a continuation of the pursuit of Israeli red lines, I presume that those talks will collapse very shortly,” Parsi told Al Jazeera.

Goals by Kylian Mbappe and Alvaro Carreras allowed Real Madrid to peg back Barcelona in the La Liga standings.

Real Madrid stayed within one point of La Liga leaders Barcelona with a 2-0 win at Valencia on Sunday as second-half goals by Alvaro Carreras and Kylian Mbappe settled a largely uneventful contest.

Real dominated possession but found chances hard to come by, with Valencia keeper Stole Dimitrievski rarely called into action as the visitors struggled to turn control into threat.

It took them until the 65th minute ⁠to break the deadlock through Carreras before Mbappe wrapped up the points in stoppage time.

Barcelona lead the table on 58 points, with Real second on 57. Valencia are 17th, a point above the relegation zone.

Mbappe offered the main outlet with sporadic runs down the left, but clear openings were limited.

Real coach Alvaro Arbeloa was forced to improvise, missing suspended winger Vinicius Jr and the injured trio – Jude Bellingham, Rodrygo and Eder Militao.

The absences opened the door for ⁠academy players Raul Asensio, David Jimenez and Gonzalo Garcia to start, with Mbappe providing the lone spark for an uninspiring Real side.

The deadlock was broken through fullback Carreras in a fortunate turn of events.

Making an ambitious run into the box, Carreras was dispossessed by Valencia’s defenders, but the attempted clearance ricocheted back off him and fortuitously fell at his feet.

The 22-year-old was quickest to react, sweeping a low shot into the bottom-left corner.

Valencia offered little in response, and Real sealed the points in added time. Substitute Brahim Diaz launched a counterattack down ‌the left and slid a low cross into the area for Mbappe, who finished first time from close range.

It was the France forward’s 23rd league goal, leaving him eight goals clear at the top of the scoring charts.

“Playing at Valencia is always like ‌going to the dentist,” Arbeloa told reporters.

“We knew how difficult the match would be, how demanding they would be. It was a very serious and ‌committed match. I’m happy.

“We can certainly raise our game in terms ⁠of brilliance. We have a lot of room for improvement. But a team is built on solidity and commitment. [Thibaut] Courtois didn’t make a single save today. Dedication, commitment, sacrifice. Madrid demonstrated those values once again today.”

Elsewhere on Sunday, Atletico Madrid slipped further adrift in ‌the title race after a 1-0 home loss to Real Betis.

Antony struck in the 28th minute with a fierce effort from the edge of the box, earning Manuel Pellegrini’s side a valuable victory as they bolstered their push for European qualification.

Atletico are a distant third in the table on 45 points, three points ahead of fourth-placed Villarreal, who have two games in hand. Betis sit fifth on 38 points.