President Donald Trump met Monday at the White House with Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa, marking the first visit by a Syrian leader to Washington. The meeting focused on Syria joining the U.S.-led coalition against ISIS, reopening the Syrian embassy in Washington, and expanding economic cooperation, including potential American investment and plans to lift Caesar Act sanctions. Al-Sharaa and Trump also discussed integrating the Kurdish Syrian … Continue reading Trump holds first-ever White House meeting with Syrian leader

Iraq held a parliamentary election on Tuesday under tight security, with 8,703 polling stations open nationwide, though turnout was low in the early hours. Only 21.4 million of 32 million eligible voters registered, down from 24 million in 2021, and the influential Sadrist Movement boycotted the vote, keeping many supporters home, particularly in Sadr City. Prime Minister Mohammad Shia al-Sudani, running for a second term, … Continue reading Iraqis vote in parliamentary election marked by tight security

Colombian President Gustavo Petro has repeatedly floated the idea of recreating Gran Colombia, the early 19th-century republic that included present-day Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, and Panama, as a response to U.S. military actions targeting drug traffickers in the Caribbean and Pacific. Speaking in Santa Marta, Petro suggested that a regional union, akin to the European Union, with a common parliament and shared leadership, could help Latin … Continue reading Colombia President Petro floats union with Venezuela amid pentagon military buildup

A growing number of House Democrats and progressive groups are demanding that Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer step down after several Senate Democrats broke ranks to vote for the bipartisan deal reopening the government. Critics argue that Schumer has failed to unite his caucus and is out of touch with the party’s base, with lawmakers such as Reps. Rashida Tlaib, Seth Moulton, Ro Khanna, and … Continue reading Schumer faces mounting Dem calls to resign as leader

The Senate ended its 41-day government shutdown stalemate late Monday night by advancing a bipartisan funding package to reopen the government. Eight Senate Democrats broke with their party to join Republicans, providing the crucial votes to send the bill—a continuing resolution paired with three spending measures—to the House. The deal includes back pay and protections for furloughed federal workers, as well as a promise to … Continue reading Senate ends 41-day government shutdown stalemate, sends bipartisan deal to House

Ahmad al-Sharaa, formerly known as jihadist leader Abu Mohammad al-Jolani, will make history as the first Syrian president to visit the White House, meeting President Donald Trump on Monday. Over the past year, al-Sharaa has worked to transform his global image and address domestic divisions in Syria following the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime. Trump praised al-Sharaa’s leadership and noted progress in Syria, while U.S. … Continue reading Syria’s president caps unlikely rise with Trump meeting

President Donald Trump has issued “full, complete and unconditional” pardons to multiple allies accused of trying to overturn the 2020 election, U.S. Pardon Attorney Ed Martin announced. The pardons cover dozens of individuals, including Rudy Giuliani, Mark Meadows, and Sidney Powell, for actions related to advocating, organizing, or participating in disputed slates of presidential electors and efforts to challenge the election results. Trump’s proclamation states … Continue reading Trump pardons Rudy Giuliani, Mark Meadows, Sidney Powell, others involved in 2020 election interference saga