… As a congresswoman, Gabbard had in particular expressed opposition to going to war against Iran.She faced questions over her 2017 meeting with now-deposed Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad and her peddling of Kremlin propaganda, particularly false conspiracy theories about the Ukrain …
… Subscribe to our newsletterThe biggest improvement in press freedom had been in Syria following the ouster of Bashar al-Assad in late 2024.While it climbed 36 places in the rankings to 141 in the rankings, RSF warned that the press freedom situation there remained "very serious". …
Syria's President Ahmed al-Sharaa welcomed the United States' removal of his country from the state sponsors of terror list, saying it would allow Syria to embark on development and reconstruction. The decision came with sanctions relief and also revoked the US terrorist designation of Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham, the group Sharaa led that ousted longtime ruler Bashar al-Assad in 2024.
Syria's President Ahmed al-Sharaa welcomed the United States' removal of his country from the state sponsors of terror list, saying it would allow Syria to embark on development and reconstruction. The decision came with sanctions relief and also revoked the US terrorist designation of Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham, the group Sharaa led that ousted longtime ruler Bashar al-Assad in 2024.
Israel's Defence Minister Israel Katz visited southern Lebanon on Wednesday, vowing to destroy infrastructure and keep troops in a so-called "security zone" in Lebanon as well as in Syria and Gaza. The comments came nearly two months after Israel and Lebanon agreed to a US-sponsored framework deal involving Hezbollah's disarmament and a gradual Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon's south.
A Syrian court convicted former ruler Bashar al-Assad of crimes against humanity and war crimes including murder, torture, and killing of children during the country's nearly 14-year civil war, and sentenced him to death in absentia. The ruling is the first under Syria's transitional leaders who ousted Assad in December 2024.
U.S. President Donald Trump said he would remove Syria from the United States' list of designated state sponsors of terrorism, following a meeting with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa in Turkey. Trump previously signed an executive order terminating U.S. sanctions on Syria, and Saudi firms are planning billion-dollar investments to support the country's post-civil war recovery.
French President Emmanuel Macron announced during a visit to Damascus that France will return more than 50 million euros confiscated from Rifaat al-Assad, the family of the former ruler, to finance development and reconstruction projects in Syria.
An Austrian court sentenced a Syrian ex-general and former police officer to eight years in jail for torturing opponents of ousted leader Bashar al-Assad. The trial used universal jurisdiction, allowing European courts to rule on serious crimes committed abroad.
A Viennese court on Monday sentenced a Syrian ex-general and former police officer each to eight years in jail for torturing opponents of Bashar al-Assad. The trial used universal jurisdiction, a legal tool enabling European courts to prosecute serious crimes alleged to have been committed abroad.
Syria's health ministry said the death toll from a bomb attack at a Damascus cafe rose to 10, with 21 people wounded. The bombing, described as the deadliest since a suicide attack on a church last year, occurred near the Palace of Justice and was caused by a homemade explosive device packed with metal fragments.
Syria's Interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa has appointed the final 70 members of the country's new 210-seat parliament, with 15 women and 13 former political detainees included to address imbalances from regional electoral college selections.
Israel's defence minister said Israeli forces would remain in security zones established in Lebanon, Syria and Gaza "until further notice" to protect Israel's residents from jihadist terrorists. Israeli officials have repeatedly ruled out withdrawing troops from southern Lebanon, where forces continue to clash with Hezbollah fighters.
Tulsi Gabbard announced her resignation as Director of National Intelligence, effective June 30, citing her husband Abraham's recent diagnosis with a rare form of bone cancer. Trump praised her work and said deputy Aaron Lukas would serve as acting Director.
Reporters Without Borders warned that press freedom has declined to its lowest point in a quarter-century, with more than half the world's countries now in "difficult" or "very serious" categories. The United States has dropped to 64th place, cited for Trump's "systematic" attacks on journalists, among other press freedom concerns.