Donald Trump

Change in Syria Jeopardizes Presidential Election Session on Jan. 9

On December 8, 2024, a historic shift reshaped Syria as Bashar al-Assad's regime fell to the opposition in just ten days. This seismic event reverberated through Damascus and the wider region, drawing attention to the Middle East’s uncertain future at a particularly delicate time, with Israel’s war on Hamas and the conflict with Hezbollah in ...

What Political Governance for Post-Assad Syria? (2/2)

Now that Bashar al-Assad's dictatorial regime has been overthrown, imagining what the “day after” might look like remains a challenge. Even more uncertain is the model of governance that could take shape in a post-Assad Syria. The rebel factions, collectively referred to as the “opposition forces,” form a disparate, profoundly ...

Global Reactions to Assad's Fall: World Powers Call for Stability

World powers vowed to work for stability in Syria and the surrounding region after Islamist-led rebels on Sunday toppled its longtime ruler Bashar al-Assad. Here is a round-up of key reactions: High alert: Russia Assad's ally Moscow said Russian troops in Syria were on high alert but that the rebels had "guaranteed" the security ...

The Assad Dynasty in Syria: Autocratic Legacy, Repression and Challenges

Syria has been under the rule of the Assad dynasty for more than half a century. Hafez al-Assad, the founder, seized power in 1970, followed by his son Bashar, who took control in 2000 after his father's death. Belonging to the Alawite minority, the Assads established an autocratic regime over a predominantly Sunni population, portraying ...

Trump Says US Should ‘Not Get Involved’ in Syria War

US President-elect Donald Trump said Saturday that the United States should "not get involved" in the situation in Syria, where fast-moving rebel forces say they have begun to encircle the capital Damascus. "Syria is a mess, but is not our friend, & THE UNITED STATES SHOULD HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH IT. THIS IS NOT OUR FIGHT. LET IT PLAY OUT. DO ...

Doha to Resume Its Role as Mediator in Israel-Hamas Talks

President-elect Donald Trump's new Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, recently visited Qatar and Israel to relaunch efforts to reach a ceasefire in Gaza and an agreement on the release of hostages from Hamas, two Israeli media outlets, Haaretz and Times of Israel, reported on Thursday, citing sources close to the negotiators. This effort is being ...

Bitcoin Surges past $100,000 Valuation for First Time

Bitcoin burst past $100,000 for the first time Thursday, while Seoul stocks slipped as South Korea's president faced impeachment after his brief imposition of martial law this week. After hovering around the mid-$90,000 mark in recent weeks, the popular cryptocurrency finally shattered the historic level in Asia after incoming US president Donald ...

Trump Nominates Private Astronaut Jared Isaacman to Lead NASA

US President-elect Donald Trump on Wednesday nominated Jared Isaacman, the online payments billionaire and the first private astronaut to ever perform a spacewalk, as the next head of NASA. The nod could spark questions about potential conflicts of interest, given Isaacman's extensive financial ties to Elon Musk, who is set to co-chair a ...

Trump Names Adam Boehler Special Envoy for Hostage Affairs

President-elect Donald Trump has announced the appointment of Adam Boehler as his Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs. In a post on Truth Social Wednesday. Trump expressed confidence in Boehler's abilities, stating that the newly appointed envoy will hold the personal rank of Ambassador. The announcement comes as Trump prepares for his ...

NATO Chief Says Russia Supporting North Korea in Exchange for Soldiers

NATO chief Mark Rutte said Wednesday that Russia was giving support to North Korea's missile and nuclear programmes in exchange for Pyongyang sending troops to fight in the war with Ukraine. He urged NATO members to send enough arms to Ukraine to change the course of the conflict as Russian forces make gains along the frontline. "In return for ...

UN Warns "World on Fire", As it Seeks $47bn for Aid

The UN appealed Wednesday for more than $47 billion to deliver vital aid next year, warning surging conflicts and the climate crisis will leave hundreds of millions of people in need. "The world is on fire," the United Nations' new humanitarian chief Tom Fletcher told reporters in Geneva, acknowledging he was looking ahead to 2025 with ...

Netanyahu Asserts Ceasefire with Hezbollah Is Not the End of the War

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu emphasized on Tuesday that while a ceasefire with Hezbollah is currently in place along the Lebanese border, it does not mark the conclusion of hostilities. Speaking during a press briefing, Netanyahu stressed that Israel remains vigilant and prepared to act against any breach of the truce. “We are ...