US-Backed Kurdish coalition faces uncertainty in Syria

President Joe Biden signed a bill into law to avert a government shutdown by funding the government through March 14 with $100 billion in disaster aid and $10 billion in agricultural assistance. House Speaker Mike Johnson faced challenges passing the bill due to President-elect Donald Trump's debt limit demands but ultimately secured approval in the House and Senate. The deal reflects ongoing tensions between Republicans and Democrats over government funding and debt issues, highlighting the...

House Speaker Mike Johnson spoke with Elon Musk as the Senate debated the spending bill passed by the House just before the government shutdown deadline. Musk criticized the bill, leading to its scrapping and causing a bipartisan bill to fail, sparking questions about Johnson's leadership. Speculation now surrounds potential replacements for Johnson, including Musk, as the Senate approved a stopgap measure to avert a shutdown. Full Article

President-elect Donald Trump is considering raising tariffs on imported goods, potentially increasing car prices. He has proposed a 10% tariff on Chinese goods and 25% tariffs on products from Mexico, Canada, and the European Union. These tariffs could add $600 to $2,500 per vehicle on parts from these countries, leading to higher prices for consumers and impacting automakers and dealers as well. Full Article

The Pakistani Taliban claimed responsibility for a deadly attack on a military checkpoint in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, killing 35 soldiers and injuring 15 others. The militants seized equipment and have been escalating their offensive since ending a ceasefire in November 2022. In a separate incident, Pakistan's army sentenced 25 people for involvement in riots following the arrest of former premier Imran Khan, serving prison terms ranging from two to 10 years. Full Article

Protesters in Bangladesh ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in August after mass anti-government campaigns sparked by student mobilization against unfair job quotas. While people power movements have a mixed record of producing lasting democratic change, recent examples in Asia and the Middle East have struggled to maintain democracy. The ouster of Hasina in Bangladesh offers a glimmer of hope for democratic consolidation, but challenges remain as the country navigates its political future. Full Article

On Friday, a man drove a car into a Christmas market in Magdeburg, killing five and injuring over 200, including a nine-year-old child. The suspect, Taleb A, a refugee from Saudi Arabia with Islamophobic views, has been arrested and is being questioned. German officials have expressed horror at the attack, with the market now closed and tributes left at the scene. Full Article