'Wicked' soars with $114 million domestic opening, 'Gladiator' snares $55.5 million

UN investigators have compiled secret lists of 4,000 perpetrators of serious crimes in Syria, aiming for accountability up to the highest level post Bashar al-Assad's fall. With 11,000 testimonies and evidence from remote investigations, they seek justice for war crimes and crimes against humanity, emphasizing the need to preserve files found in detention facilities to secure justice and hold perpetrators accountable through a national or international legal process. Full Article

A new global risk map for 2025 identifies the most dangerous cities and countries for travelers, ranking them based on factors like armed conflict, political instability, violent crime, and climate-related risks. Locations such as Bangui, Beirut, and Gaza City face challenges like social unrest and limited access to services, while conflict zones like Burkina Faso and the Central African Republic pose heightened risks. The map also shows worsening safety conditions in 77 countries, with nations...

Wholesale prices rose more than expected in November, indicating a slowdown in inflation progress, with the producer price index increasing 0.4% month-over-month and 3% annually, the largest advance since February 2023. Despite the rise, core PPI met forecasts at 0.2%, with the exclusion of trade services showing a 0.1% increase. The Federal Reserve is expected to lower its key overnight borrowing rate next week, as markets react to mixed inflation data and concerns over a...

The European Central Bank has cut rates by a quarter percentage point in response to weakening growth and political uncertainty in France and potential U.S. import tariffs. Despite progress in returning inflation to target levels, the bank foresees a slower economic recovery. The move aims to support growth in the eurozone, where concerns about political instability and job cuts at major firms have dampened investor confidence. Full Article

Mohammad Chaeeb found his brother's blackened body in a Syrian hospital morgue, one of many discovered in detention centres since Assad's government fell. Forensic workers rushed to identify bodies, some showing signs of torture, as families desperately searched for loved ones lost to the brutal regime. Among them was Mazen al-Hamada, an activist found dead in Sednaya prison, highlighting the tragic toll of dissent in Syria. Full Article

Nazan Rashidi, executive director of the Syria Campaign in Berlin, celebrates the downfall of the Assad regime, marking a personal liberation after using a pseudonym for 17 years. With many Syrian refugees in Berlin, thoughts of returning home arise following the rebels' seizure of power in Damascus, ending more than 50 years of Assad family rule. Samer Hafez, owner of Aleppo Supper Club, reflects on his journey from refugee to business owner in Germany, feeling...