Is the populist right about to take over Australia?
Recent opinion polls make clear that the populist One Nation Party has experienced a dramatic surge in popularity amongst Australian voters in the past few months. Last week, Newspoll – Australia’s most respected and accurate political opinion poll – disclosed that One Nation was the most popular p»»»
Syrian authorities arrest leading trafficker in latest anti-drug operation
RIYADH: Syrian anti-narcotics forces have arrested one of the country’s most prominent drug traffickers in the southern province of Daraa, seizing thousands of narcotic pills and a cache of weapons as authorities press ahead with an intensified crackdown on the illicit drug trade. Syria’s Drug Enfo»»»
Mourners in Damascus bury cafe blast victims as officials promise justice
DAMASCUS: Mourners filed through Damascus on Friday, a day after an explosive device set off in a cafe in the Syrian capital killed nine people. The funeral procession in the normally bustling Midan neighborhood carried the coffins of three of the blast victims. Another 20 were wounded in the explo»»»
Mourners in Damascus bury cafe blast victims as officials promise justice
Mourners filed through Damascus on Friday, a day after an explosive device set off in a cafe in the Syrian capital killed nine people. The funeral procession in the normally bustling Midan neighborhood carried the coffins of three of the blast victims. Another 20 were wounded in the explosion at a »»»
Syria rules out military intervention in Lebanon, to focus on rebuilding ties – Ya Libnan
Share: Lebanese President Joseph Aoun, right, welcomes Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shibani, to the presidential palace in Baabda, east of Beirut, Lebanon, 2 July 2026. © Lebanese Presidency press office via AP Syria has ruled out military intervention in Lebanon despite US pressure to act agai»»»
Blast in cafe in central Damascus kills 5, wounds 16
A bomb went off at a cafe in central Damascus on Thursday, killing at least five people and wounding 16, Syrian authorities said. The blast took place near the capital's Palace of Justice, a key government building, sparking scenes of panic in the busy area. An AFP correspondent saw ambulances weav»»»
Syria rules out military intervention in Lebanon despite US pressure
Syria has ruled out military intervention in Lebanon despite US pressure to act against Hezbollah, saying it seeks to avoid escalation and focus on rebuilding ties with Beirut. Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani told Lebanon's president on Thursday that Damascus had no intention of interveni»»»
Rescuers dig out Venezuelan man 8 days after quakes
Hundreds of rescuers in Venezuela cheered and embraced Thursday after pulling a 43-year-old man alive from the ruins of a collapsed building eight days after deadly twin earthquakes, AFP journalists witnessed. With the official death toll nearing 2,300 and huge numbers of people still missing, the »»»
Can foreign energy investment help power Syria’s recovery after years of war?
INNUMBERS: *240 bcm Syria’s estimated natural gas reserves in 2015. *8.7 bcm Annual gas output at the start of the civil war in 2011. *3 bcm Annual production by late 2024. Source: BP ANAN TELLO LONDON: Syria’s battered energy sector faces a daunting challenge after nearly 14 years of war, sanction»»»
Syrian military officials take part in CENTCOM-led conference in Bahrain
LONDON: A military delegation from the Syrian Arab Republic on Thursday took part in a conference in Bahrain led by US Central Command alongside 10 countries from the Middle East. Col. Ahmad Saeed Issa, director of the Department of International Cooperation within the Ministry of Defense, led the »»»
Syria’s parliament takes shape under Al-Sharaa’s managed inclusivity, analysts say
LONDON: Recent appointments to Syria’s parliament by interim President Ahmad Al-Sharaa appear designed to project a broader, more inclusive political tent, bringing in prominent figures such as Kurdish politician Abdul Hakim Bashar and Druze leader Laith Al-Balous. On Wednesday, Al-Sharaa named the»»»
Five killed in Damascus cafe bombing (EXCLUSIVE VIDEO)
An explosion ripped through a cafe in the Syrian capital of Damascus on Thursday, killing at least five people and injuring 16, according to the Syrian Ministry of Health. Authorities believe that the blast was caused by a bomb. The explosion took place shortly after 3 PM local time at a cafe in th»»»
Israeli envoy claims Lebanese Army sidelining Shiite troops who won't confront Hezbollah
Israel’s ambassador to Washington, Yechiel Leiter, claimed Thursday that the Lebanese Army is sidelining Shiite troops and officers who are unwilling to confront Hezbollah, saying the move reflects a growing readiness in Beirut to act against the group under the new framework agreement with Israel.»»»
Syrian top diplomat reassures Lebanese leaders on Beirut visit
Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani told Lebanon's president on Thursday that Damascus had no intention of intervening militarily in his country, despite U.S. pressure to do so, according to the Lebanese presidency. Shaibani, who also invited President Joseph Aoun to Syria, is visiting Beirut»»»
Syria, Lebanon form joint ministerial committee on security, economy
LONDON: Syria and Lebanon agreed on Thursday to establish a joint ministerial committee aimed at strengthening security coordination, expanding economic cooperation and advancing bilateral ties. The agreement was signed in the Lebanese capital Beirut by Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Al-Shaibani and»»»
Geagea: Framework agreement has shattered Hezbollah's narrative
Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea stressed Thursday that the framework agreement signed between Lebanon and Israel "opens the door to restoring a functioning state and ending the chronic conflict that has drained Lebanon for decades." "It also establishes a clear equation based on a complete Isra»»»
Syrian foreign minister visits Beirut after Trump comments about taking on Hezbollah
BEIRUT: Syria’s foreign minister traveled to Beirut on Thursday to meet Lebanese government leaders, in his first visit there since US President Donald Trump raised the possibility of Syrian forces combating Iran-backed Hezbollah in Lebanon. Syrian President Ahmed Al-Sharaa, however, has previous»»»
Kuwait Airways resumes flights to Damascus for first time in 14 years
LONDON: Kuwait Airways will resume direct flights between Damascus, capital of the Syrian Arab Republic, and Kuwait City on July 15, the first time in 14 years it has offered the route. The Syrian Civil Aviation Authority said on Wednesday the move was part of efforts to enhance air connectivity be»»»
Venezuela death toll rises to 2,295, seven days of national mourning declared
The death toll from Venezuela's twin earthquakes rose to 2,295 an official said on Wednesday as interim president Delcy Rodriguez declared seven days of mourning for the victims. Hope of finding more survivors faded Wednesday as Venezuela marked a week since twin earthquakes killed almost 2,30»»»
Syria foils attempt to smuggle more than 800,000 captagon tablets from Lebanon
LONDON: Syrian authorities said on Wednesday that they thwarted an attempt to smuggle a large shipment of the illicit amphetamine captagon from Lebanon into the Al-Nabek district. The Drug Enforcement Administration, working with the Internal Security Command in Rif Dimashq governorate, seized 832,»»»
Lebanon and Syria join US-led Middle East military talks
LONDON: Military leaders from Syria and Lebanon joined for the first time commanders from across the Middle East at a United States defense conference on Wednesday. The regional security dialogue was held in the Bahraini capital, Manama, and led by US Central Command, which coordinates military ope»»»
Business leaders gather in Damascus for Syrian-British conference on economic diversification
DAMASCUS: Business leaders and officials from Syria, the UK and other nations gathered in Damascus on Wednesday for an economic conference to discuss investment opportunities and development in Syria, as postwar recovery efforts in the country continue. The one-day event, organized by the Syrian-Br»»»
Pakistan community holds funerals for 14 children killed in roof collapse
Lahore, Pakistan: Pakistani mourners shouldered bedframes in a procession through the narrow streets of Lahore's Kahna area on Wednesday as they carried the bodies of 14 children killed when the roof of their tutoring centre collapsed the night before. Residents and families gathered by freshly dug»»»
US and Iran enter indirect technical talks to secure peace deal, shipping restart – Ya Libnan
Share: Steve Witkoff (R) and Jared Kushner are in Doha for indirect talks with the Iranian delegation DOHA – The U.S. and Iran held technical talks in Doha on Wednesday as they seek to agree on the flow of shipping through the Strait of Hormuz and secure a lasting ceasefire, a source with direct k»»»
Syria’s Sharaa appoints lawmakers, paving way for new parliament to convene
Syrian authorities announced the names of 70 lawmakers on Wednesday appointed to a transitional parliament by President Ahmed Al-Sharaa, paving the way to convene the body next week more than eight months after the process of forming it began. The 210-member chamber, two-thirds of which was chosen»»»
Syria’s Sharaa appoints lawmakers, paving way for new parliament to convene
Syrian authorities announced the names of 70 lawmakers on Wednesday appointed to a transitional parliament by President Ahmed Al-Sharaa, paving the way to convene the body next week more than eight months after the process of forming it began. The 210-member chamber, two-thirds of which was chosen»»»
Syria president names last members to finalize first post-Assad parliament
Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa finalized on Wednesday the formation of the country's first parliament in the post-Assad era, which authorities said will hold its first session on July 6. Of the last 70 lawmakers appointed, 15 are women and 13 were previously held in prison under toppled president»»»
COMMENT: Steadily but surely, Erdogan has broken with Putin
Steadily but surely, almost imperceptibly, Recep Tayyip Erdogan has in the past two years broken from his accommodation with Vladimir Putin. At least that’s the contention of a good many Turkey analysts as the country’s president prepares to host the July 7-8 Nato leaders’ summit that should at lon»»»
COMMENT: Steadily but surely, Erdogan has broken with Putin
Steadily but surely, almost imperceptibly, Recep Tayyip Erdogan has in the past two years broken from his accommodation with Vladimir Putin. At least that’s the contention of a good many Turkey analysts as the country’s president prepares to host the July 7-8 Nato leaders’ summit that should at lon»»»
Israel defense minister says troops to stay ‘indefinitely’ in Lebanon, Syria, Gaza
JERUSALEM: Israel’s defense minister said Wednesday that Israeli forces would remain in self-proclaimed “security zones” established in Lebanon, Syria and Gaza, without any timeline for withdrawal. “The IDF will remain in the security zones in Lebanon, Syria and Gaza indefinitely in order to protec»»»
Firebomb attacks in northern Greek city target residences of governing party members
THESSALONIKI: Three pre-dawn firebomb attacks apparently targeting the residences of members of Greece’s governing conservative New Democracy party have left five people hospitalized, authorities said Wednesday. The attacks between 4 a.m. and 4:45 a.m. outside apartment buildings in the northern Gr»»»
Three-year-old boy pulled living from the rubble as Venezuela quake toll nears 2,000
The confirmed death toll from the twin earthquakes that rocked Venezuela has reached nearly 2,000, National Assembly president Jorge Rodriguez said Tuesday. While some 50,000 people remain unaccounted for, Jordanian rescue teams pulled a three-year-old boy from the rubble, where he'd managed to sur»»»
Restoration work begins on main Damascus Jewish cemetery
DAMASCUS: An organization has begun restoring Damascus’s main Jewish cemetery, the group’s founder told AFP on Tuesday, as members of Syria’s dwindling community seek to revive their heritage after ex-ruler Bashar Assad’s ouster. At the cemetery located along the airport road near the capital, an A»»»
Journalists find love amid chaos of conflict
LONDON: Journalist Janay Boulos first connected with Syrian cameraman Abd Alkader Habak in 2016, when the London-based BBC reporter sought footage from him during the final months of the battle for Aleppo. What began as a professional relationship soon evolved into something more personal, sustai»»»
Monaco bombing suspect flees to France as police probe attempted murder
Police in Monaco and France launched a manhunt for a suspected bomber on Tuesday after three people were wounded by an explosion in the wealthy principality, including Ukrainian-born oligarch Vadym Yermolaiev. The attack was being investigated as attempted murder, but not being considered terr»»»
Iran attacks Bahrain and Kuwait following US strikes and threatens to halt talks
Iran again launched drone and missile attacks targeting Bahrain and Kuwait on Sunday following new U.S. airstrikes against the Islamic Republic, and threatened a "complete halt" in negotiations to end the war if Washington continues its attacks. Efforts to reopen the Strait of Hormuz without Iran's»»»
Israeli troops face resistance from residents as they push into Syria town
As Israeli troops and vehicles entered the town of Abdin in southern Syria, residents blocked the roads with rocks, and some young men and boys threw stones to push back the military patrol. Tensions in this part of the country created by a buffer zone occupied by Israeli forces have flared into vi»»»
France bring perfect group form into Sweden clash
DOHA: Two-time champions France bring flawless group-stage form into the World Cup knockouts as they take on Sweden at New York New Jersey Stadium in the Round of 32. Didier Deschamps’ side entered the last-32 phase as one of the most dominant teams of the tournament, carrying a perfect record and »»»
Monaco explosion wounds Ukrainian oligarch as authorities probe 'deliberate' attack
Three people were wounded in an explosion at a residential building in Monaco on Monday in what authorities said was a deliberate attack. The blast occurred around 9pm (1900 GMT) on a street near the French border. A parcel bomb blast wounded a Ukrainian oligarch and two others in Monaco on M»»»
Israeli troops face resistance from residents as they push into a town in Syria
ABDIN: As Israeli troops and vehicles entered the town of Abdin in southern Syria, residents blocked the roads with rocks, and some young men and boys threw stones to push back the military patrol. Tensions in this part of the country created by a buffer zone occupied by Israeli forces have flared »»»
Condemnations as Israeli Occupation Attacks Southern Syria Anew
Israeli occupation attacked southern Syria late Sunday in a new attack that sparked condemnations among some Arab countries and Hamas Palestinian resistance movement. Israeli forces opened fire toward Syrian civilians late Sunday while withdrawing from the village of Abidin in the southern Daraa co»»»
Syria slams new Israeli incursion in southern Daraa province
The Syrian foreign ministry on Monday condemned Israeli incursions and bombardment in the country's south a day after Israeli forces advanced into the village of Abidin, where angry residents tried to block the road with stones to stop the patrol. The Israeli military has conducted at least 70»»»
Iran attacks Bahrain and Kuwait, threatens to halt talks after fresh US strikes
Iran launched fresh drone and missile attacks on Bahrain and Kuwait on Sunday after new US airstrikes, while warning it would completely halt negotiations and close the Strait of Hormuz if Washington continues its attacks. Iran again launched drone and missile attacks targeting Bahrain and Kuwait o»»»
Beijing plane crash: Pilot killed, 13 injured after aircraft hits tallest skyscraper
On Friday, the images raised more questions than answers: a light aircraft crashed into the glass façade of Beijing's tallest building, emergency crews below and police sealing off much of the surrounding business district. Now some of those questions have been answered. Chinese authorities said Sa»»»
When the histroic heatwave will finally break in Hungary
A nationwide third-level heat alert came into force on Saturday, as Hungary remains gripped by an extraordinary heatwave. The chief medical officer warned that the prolonged extreme temperatures pose serious health risks, particularly to the elderly, young children, pregnant women, those with chron»»»
Plane crashes into Beijing’s tallest building (VIDEO)
A light aircraft has crashed into the 109-storey CITIC Tower in Beijing, forcing the evacuation of the city's tallest skyscraper, according to media reports. The 528-meter (1,732-foot) tower, also known as China Zun, dominates the skyline of the Chinese capital’s central business district. Videos c»»»
Why Syrian action against Hezbollah is unlikely
When Hezbollah began attacking Israel on 2 March shortly after Israeli and American bombers killed Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, Israel hit back. Their sparring, which has continued ever since, is nothing new—the pair are sworn enemies who have fought several wars in recent decades. What was »»»
Small plane crashes into Beijing's tallest skyscraper, triggering security lockdown
Dubai: A small aircraft crashed into Beijing's tallest skyscraper on Friday, damaging the upper floors of one of China's most recognisable landmarks and prompting a major security response in the heart of the capital. The aircraft, described by witnesses as roughly the size of a car, slammed into t»»»
Analysis: Trump’s push for Sharaa to curb Hezbollah revives fears in Lebanon, Syria - UPI.com
U.S. President Donald Trump’s repeated suggestions that Syria’s new leader, Ahmad Sharaa, can better curb Iran-backed Hezbollah than Israel have alarmed Lebanon and Syria. Photo by Aaron Schwartz/UPI | License Photo BEIRUT, Lebanon, June 26 (UPI) -- U.S. President Donald Trump's repeated suggestion»»»
Deadly heatwave sweeps Europe
A scorching heatwave has killed hundreds of people across Europe this week, with Spain reporting the highest death toll as temperatures surged past 40C (104F) and records were shattered across the continent. Spanish authorities have linked more than 200 deaths to the extreme heat, according to the »»»