December 2024
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.
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Have you been paying attention this week? Test your knowledge across politics, business and world news.
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.
How Assad secretly sent 21 planeloads of Syria’s cash to Moscow
The near-broke central bank sent almost $400 million in bulk shipments between 2018 and 2019 to Russia when the dictator was indebted to the Kremlin.
Trump should present Iran with a choice – and a dare
The end of Bashar al-Assad’s wretched regime in Syria unlocks many doors for the United States across Syria, Lebanon, Gaza and Iran.
Assad says Russia forced him to flee Syria
Former president Bashar al-Assad said he wanted to stay and fight the rebels, but he was trapped on a Russian military base in Syria that was under attack.
How will the rebels rule Syria? Their past offers clues
The Islamist rebels who ousted Syria’s dictator ran a pragmatic and disciplined administration in the territory they controlled. They also jailed their critics.
Trump wins $24m defamation claim against ABC America
The settlement related to his felony conviction; Britain joins CPTPP; Jim Chalmers says Coalition nuclear plan willcut growth by $4 trillion. How the day unfolded.
US in direct contact with Islamist rebels in Syria
Western and regional officials are seeking to deal with Hayat Tahrir al-Sham that overthrew the Assad regime despite its designation as a terrorist group.
The first new foreign policy challenge for Trump just became clear
Opportunities in foreign policy can come totally out of the blue – and the great presidents are the ones who seize them, even if it means eating a little crow.
Do you know this week’s news? Answer these 10 questions
Have you been paying attention this week? Test your knowledge across politics, business and world news.
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.
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.
Syria hails global hero executed as Assad fled
Crowds in Damascus have celebrated the legacy of Mazen al-Hamada, the face of the country’s uprising, whose tortured body was found this week.
‘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.
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.
Israel ‘destroyed the chemical weapons no one else would touch’
Israel said it had destroyed Syria’s naval fleet in a mass bombardment that sparked concern among some in the international community.
Rebels vow reforms in race to stabilise Syria
The government is trying to get the state functioning again, while Russia frets over its bases and Israel and Turkey look to increase their leverage.