March
Pressure on Hegseth grows as strike texts revealed
The revelation that sensitive attack plans were shared on a commercial messaging app, possibly on personal mobile phones, has triggered outrage in Washington.
The secret history of Syria’s new leader, Ahmed al-Sharaa
Is the man once known as Abu Mohammad al-Jolani intent on moderating or a brutal strongman?
‘Hell will rain down’: Trump orders strikes on Iran-backed Houthis
US president warned Tehran against supporting the militant group which has disrupted global shipping in the Red Sea.
January
The shadow of Islamic State will loom over the Trump presidency
Whatever ISIS’s operational capacity, it has influenced a wave of radicalised ‘lone wolf’ attackers on both sides of the Atlantic.
Who is Tommy Robinson, and why does Elon Musk want him freed?
The X CEO has called for the release of the jailed British far-right extremist, while asserting that UK PM Keir Starmer had failed to prosecute child rapists.
December 2024
ASX slips; Gold miners’ silver lining; China’s new stealth aircraft
Read everything that’s happened in the news so far today.
Syria’s Islamist rulers appoint first woman to head central bank
The appointment fills a key economic role and comes as the United States and Europe look for a commitment to women’s rights in Syria.
Assad’s wife given ‘50/50 chance’ of survival as leukaemia returns
Asma al-Assad is thought to have flown to Moscow for treatment some time before the Kremlin persuaded her husband to flee in the face of lightning rebel advances.
Bassel was right about the Assads. It couldn’t save him
The 27-year-old had a Fulbright Scholarship and the future was bright. This is the story of one man’s pursuit of freedom for Syria.
Softbank woos Trump; Mother of all bubbles; 3 infuriating charts
Read everything that’s happened in the news so far today.
The complex task for the rebels looking to rebuild Syria
The new rulers are taking control of institutions hollowed out by corruption and a devastated economy – amid a desire for revenge from some victims of Bashar al-Assad.
After Assad: everything you need to know about what’s next for Syria
Rebels have asserted control in Damascus, but Israel, Turkey and the United States are also involved in the action.
Dutton coy on nuke details; Qantas farewells Goyder; UK schooner row
Read everything that’s happened in the news so far today.
The vexed conundrum facing Syria’s new regime
Preferencing Islamist rule in a multi-faith state cannot be done without consigning some to subordinate status – and there are some early signs of that disconnect.
Have Syrians fought just to replace Assad with an extremist?
The man behind the ouster of Bashar al-Assad has changed his name, his clothes and his brand from global jihadist to nationalist Islamist, but many remain sceptical.
‘We need time’: Syrians in Europe resist calls to return home
Those who fled the 13-year civil war pointed to the political uncertainty after a rebel offensive swept into Damascus over the weekend.
‘I’ve always been a fighter’: Pesutto vows to stay on as opposition leader
Victoria’s opposition leader has vowed to continue leading the Liberals amid growing unrest in the party; PNG is set to have its own NRL team in 2028. Here’s how the day unfolded.
How Assad hoodwinked a naive West
Bashar al-Assad, Putin, Gaddafi – the free world too often gets its hopes up about despots.
What now for Assad’s wife? The star banker turned global pariah
Asma al-Assad once worked for JPMorgan in the UK before embracing her new life as Syria’s first lady. Now she’s in exile in Russia.
Netanyahu set to take the stand in long-running corruption trial
The Israeli prime minister is accused of accepting tens of thousands of dollars’ worth of cigars and champagne from a billionaire Hollywood producer.