Assad

On One Knee: HTS Looks to Riyadh

The Syrian Foreign Minister's visit to Riyadh represents a strategic effort by Syria's transitional government, under Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham, to strengthen diplomatic and economic ties with the Kingdom as shuttle diplomacy takes hold.

Al-Sharaa Seeks Support in Meeting with Christian Clerics

Syria's new leader, Ahmed al-Sharaa, met with Christian clerics in Damascus to reassure the country's dwindling Christian community, amid growing concerns over religious tolerance and the influence of radical militias following his rise to power.

The Fall of Assad: A New Era for Syria’s Drug Trade

The fall of Bashar al-Assad in December 2024 marked the end of Syria's Captagon trade, a major source of regime revenue, creating both challenges for the country's economic recovery and opportunities for regional stability.

TĂĽrkiye Warns Kurdish Fighters in Syria

Turkish President Erdogan has warned the Syrian Peshmerga of military action unless they disarm, citing their links to the PKK, while emphasising TĂĽrkiye's commitment to securing its borders and expanding its influence in Syria amidst growing regional tensions.

Protests in Syria Over the Burning of a Christmas Tree

Protests erupted across Syria after a Christmas tree was burned in Suqaylabiyah, raising doubts about the ability of the Islamist-led Hayat Tahrir al-Sham to protect minorities as they transition from a Islamist group to the halls of power in post-Assad Syria.

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Can Libya’s Energy Promise Outdrill Its Divisions?

Drone strikes on Libya's biggest refinery and a bomb that killed a senior general days apart leave Libya's peace looking thin beneath Europe's gas hopes.

Thailand Halves Visa-Free Stays to Reclaim Migration Control

Thailand is discovering that the line between a tourist and a resident cannot be managed with the same visa exemption for everyone.

Berlin’s Drone Accusation Against the Kremlin

Germany's accusation against Moscow lands beside a French warning, a Chinese pledge on nuclear weapons and a new EU push to close defence gaps.

Nordic Compass Weighs Merging Stock Exchanges

Nordic Compass believes four national stock exchanges might attract more capital as a single regional market than as four separate systems.

Why America Sent Its Spy Chief to Moscow?

America's spy chief flew secretly to Moscow this week, and mounting evidence points to one worry shaping his agenda, an atomic Iran built with Russian help.