Will Sectarian Groups Get Along in a New Syria?

Dr. Mehmet Oz, President Donald Trump's nominee to lead Medicare and Medicaid, avoided questions about supporting a House budget resolution that could result in significant Medicaid cuts. Oz, a former surgeon and TV personality, emphasized fighting waste in the health care system but did not commit to protecting Medicaid funding. During his Senate confirmation hearing, Oz discussed using artificial intelligence to improve prior authorization processes and expressed concerns about Medicare Advantage insurers potentially engaging in...

The Russian captain of the container ship Solong, Vladimir Motin, has been charged with gross negligence manslaughter following a collision with a US oil tanker in the North Sea that resulted in the death of a Filipino sailor and another crew member missing. Thirty-six people were rescued from both vessels. The Crown Prosecution Service has authorized the charges, emphasizing the defendant's right to a fair trial. Full Article

Paris, Rome, and London have ordered new air defense missiles in response to a US policy shift in ties with Europe, where President Trump questioned the US role in NATO. The joint statement by France, Italy, and the United Kingdom confirms the order of 218 additional Aster missiles and accelerated delivery of previously ordered missiles, demonstrating their commitment to bolstering air defense capabilities. This move comes amid pressure for European governments to enhance defense measures...

The Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on Iran's final report alleged ongoing serious rights violations by Iranian authorities following protests triggered by the death of Mahsa Amini in police custody, with violations including crimes against humanity and targeting of ethnic and religious minorities, women, and children. The State increased prosecutions against women defying the mandatory hijab, using online surveillance and State-sponsored vigilantism, resulting in executions and unfair trials. The report will be presented to the Human...

Three kidnappers were sentenced to eight years and one month in prison for attempting to abduct Israeli record producer Itay Kashti in a botched kidnap plot motivated by political, religious, and financial reasons. The trio, Mohammad Comrie, Faiz Shah, and Elijah Ogunnubi-Sime, targeted Kashti by posing as representatives of Polydor Records and assaulting him at an isolated cottage in Wales. Despite suffering injuries, Kashti managed to escape and alert the police, leading to the arrest...

On Friday, U.S. President Donald Trump expressed optimism about the possibility of Russia and Ukraine agreeing to a 30-day ceasefire led by Washington, following discussions with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Putin endorsed the ceasefire idea with some reservations, citing concerns about enforcement and potential military advantages for Ukraine. Trump mentioned ongoing negotiations with Kyiv, including discussions on territorial concessions, the fate of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear facility, and Ukraine's NATO membership, and expressed hope for further...