World greets 2025 after sweltering year of Olympics, turmoil, and Trump

Syria's main international airport in Damascus will reopen next week under the new government led by Ahmad al-Shara, who is working to restore order after the uprising against Bashar al-Assad. Tensions along the Syrian-Lebanese border continue, with Syrian militants firing at Lebanese soldiers, prompting discussions between Prime Minister Najib Mikati and Mr. al-Shara to prevent further violence and chaos in the region. Meanwhile, in eastern Syria, Turkish-backed fighters clash with Kurdish forces while the new...

On the slopes of Mount Qasyun overlooking Damascus, a network of tunnels connects a military complex defending the Syrian capital to the presidential palace, recently exposed after rebels toppled President Bashar al-Assad on December 8. The tunnels, discovered by an AFP correspondent, were used by the Republican Guard during Assad's rule to access the palace and were equipped with telecommunications gear, electricity, and weapons supplies. The Guard complex, now occupied by former rebel fighters, still...

Hamas’s military wing released a video of Liri Albag, a hostage taken during the group’s attack on Israel, as talks for a cease-fire continued. Roughly 100 hostages remain captive in Gaza, with negotiations ongoing since a truce in November 2023. President-elect Trump has set a deadline for the release of hostages, while both sides engage in diplomatic efforts to reach an agreement. Full Article

Syria announced that international flights to and from Damascus International Airport would resume starting next week, following the ousting of President Bashar al-Assad. The General Authority of Civil Aviation and Air Transport confirmed the rehabilitation of Aleppo and Damascus airports to welcome flights from around the world, with Syrian Airlines set to resume flights to Dubai and Qatar Airways announcing plans to resume flights to the Syrian capital. The first flight since Assad's removal took...

Nooh al-Shaghnobi, a rescue worker in Gaza, is haunted by the cries of those he couldn't save, with memories of collapsed buildings and lack of equipment flooding back when he sleeps. Gaza's rescue workers face dangerous conditions without proper resources, digging out survivors with rudimentary tools amid intense Israeli airstrikes. The trauma has taken a heavy toll, with at least 118 rescuers killed and many suffering from stress and anxiety, despite limited mental health support....

Lebanon's interior minister stated that efforts are being made to resolve the issue of Lebanese citizens being denied entry into Syria, with the General Security agency working with Syrian authorities on the matter. This development marks the first sign of tension between the two countries since the fall of Bashar al-Assad, with new border restrictions implemented by Syria causing clashes between Lebanese soldiers and armed Syrians, resulting in several injuries. Despite this, Syria's new leader...