Podcasts about assad

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Latest podcast episodes about assad

Commonwealth Club of California Podcast
John Sullivan: From the Front Lines of Russia's War Against the West

Commonwealth Club of California Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later May 31, 2025 66:39


Three years ago, Russian troops and tanks invaded Ukraine and started the largest land war in Europe since World War II. And like the Second World War, the war in Ukraine has drawn in money, weapons, and even troops from around the world, from the United States to North Korea. The invasion served as a wake-up call to many in the West about the threats posed by Vladimir Putin's revanchist Russia, even while it drained the Kremlin's war chest and depleted its military—including a march on Moscow by disgruntled mercenary forces. John Sullivan served as the U.S. ambassador to Russia from February 2020 to September 2022, and in his book Midnight in Moscow, he related the behind-the-scenes activity in Moscow and the West in the lead-up to the war. It is a war that many have come to see—and that Putin has declared it to be—a struggle against the West itself, not just Ukraine. Has Russia been weakened by the collapse of its Syrian ally Bashar al-Assad? How extensive is Russian involvement in attacks on Western European infrastructure? How has Russia been able to evade harsh sanctions? And how is the West doing—under President Joe Biden and next under President Donald Trump—in meeting the threat? Join us for an in-person talk with John Sullivan. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Apple News Today
The deals pushing the Trump family's wealth to new heights

Apple News Today

Play Episode Listen Later May 28, 2025 14:29


Trump’s family empire is dramatically expanding its wealth during his presidency. Bloomberg News’s Max Abelson joins to discuss the deals that are powering this growth and the questions they spark. The controversial U.S.- and Israeli-backed aid effort got off to a tumultuous start. CBS reports. The Assad regime’s surveillance state relied on civilians to inform on their neighbors and colleagues. Now Syrians are reckoning with who among them quietly contributed to the tyranny. The Washington Post’s Salwan Georges has more. Plus, Robert F. Kennedy Jr announced changes to COVID vaccine guidance, Marco Rubio ordered a halt to student-visa interviews, and why Trump pardoned a reality-TV couple. Today’s episode was hosted by Shumita Basu.

HARDtalk
Surviving Syria's sectarian violence

HARDtalk

Play Episode Listen Later May 25, 2025 22:58


Tim Franks speaks to a British-Syrian Alawite who came under attack, along with her family, during the sectarian violence on Syria's coast in March.The Alawite sect is an offshoot of Shia Islam and its followers make up around 10 per cent of Syria's population, which is majority Sunni.The recent violence came after fighters loyal to the country's overthrown former president, Bashar al-Assad, who is an Alawite himself, led deadly raids on the new government's security forces.Those attacks resurrected deep-seated anger over Assad's repressive dictatorship, with Alawite civilians seen by some as complicit in the crimes of his regime - and as part of the insurgency that followed his fall.The new Sunni Islamist-led government had called for support from various military units and militia groups to respond to the attacks on its security forces – which then escalated into a wave of sectarian anger aimed at Alawite civilians.Human rights groups estimate that around 900 civilians, mainly Alawites, were killed by pro-government forces across Syria's coastal region in early March.The Interview brings you conversations with people shaping our world, from all over the world. The best interviews from the BBC. You can listen on the BBC World Service, Mondays and Wednesdays at 0700 GMT. Or you can listen to The Interview as a podcast, out twice a week on BBC Sounds, Apple, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.Presenter: Tim Franks Producer: Ben Cooper Editor: Richard Fenton-Smith

The Documentary Podcast
The Fifth Floor: The reality of reporting in Syria

The Documentary Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later May 24, 2025 26:32


During the last year of Bashar al-Assad's rule of Syria, Reporters Without Borders ranked the country second to last in the World Press Freedom Index. The country was incredibly dangerous for journalists who had to manage strict government censorship. But in December 2024, Assad's rule was toppled by a swift rebel offensive that took the capital city Damascus within a few days. The country then experienced a level of press freedom it hadn't seen for decades. Dalia Haidar of BBC Arabic worked as a journalist in Syria whilst Assad was in power, she joins us to describe what it was like and what the hopes are for the future. Plus, a tour of Chiclayo, the Peruvian city Pope Leo XIV used to call home, with José Carlos Cueto from BBC Mundo; and how a Ferrari flag became a symbol of protest, with Slobodan Maričić from BBC Serbian. Presented by Faranak Amidi Produced by Caroline Ferguson and Alice Gioia(Photo: Faranak Amidi. Credit: Tricia Yourkevich.)

The Tikvah Podcast
Yossi Melman on Israel's Most Famous Spy: What we learn from the Eli Cohen files

The Tikvah Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later May 23, 2025 33:03


In 2019, Netflix released a six-episode miniseries starring the English comedian and actor Sacha Baron Cohen. Cohen played an Israeli spy, Eli Cohen. The latter Cohen was a Jewish immigrant from Egypt who, once in Israel, was recruited and trained by the Mossad. He then assumed the identity of Kamel Amin Thaabet, a wealthy Arab businessman who, having eventually moved to Damascus, became a backer and confidant of key officials in the Baath party. From his home in Syria, Cohen as Thaabet dispatched vast quantities of military and political intelligence to the Israelis throughout the early 1960s. Viewers of the Netflix show, The Spy, see all of this dramatized, as they also see Cohen's eventual capture, torture, and hanging. The Netflix series, and the story it brings to a new generation of viewers, is true.   Eli Cohen is celebrated as one of Israel's great intelligence agents, one of its great mistaravim, or those who assume the identity of Arabs to carry out their missions. There are streets and institutions and many children and even, in the Golan, a town in Israel named after Eli Cohen. For 60 years the Israeli government has tried to persuade, bribe, cajole, and if necessary steal the Syrian government's Eli Cohen file. During the rule of Hafez and Bashar al-Assad, they could not get them. With the fall of the Assad regime, and with a new regime in Damascus looking to curry favor with the United States and the West, earlier this week the Syrians handed over some 2,500 documents from Syria's Eli Cohen file.   This week, Yossi Melman—a Haaretz reporter, journalist, and author of some eight English-language books on Israeli intelligence—joins Mosaic's editor Jonathan Silver to talk about Eli Cohen, what Israel has reclaimed, and why this story remains so important some six decades on.

The Foreign Affairs Interview
Can Trump Remake the Middle East?

The Foreign Affairs Interview

Play Episode Listen Later May 22, 2025 54:13


Donald Trump just finished his first tour of the Middle East since returning to the White House. The region has changed a lot since he was last there as president. There's been Hamas's attack on Israel, the ensuing Israeli retaliation, the weakening of Iran and its proxies, and the fall of the Assad regime in Syria. Trump used the visit to announce flashy deals with Gulf leaders and to commit to lifting sanctions on Syria. But with big questions remaining about Gaza and about nuclear negotiations with Iran, the future of the region and the U.S. role in it remain unsettled. In a recent essay for Foreign Affairs, Dana Stroul argues that a new regional order could emerge from the recent upheaval—but only if Washington takes the lead in what will undoubtedly be an intricate political process. Stroul is director of research and the Shelly and Michael Kassen senior fellow at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy. During the Biden administration, she served as deputy assistant secretary of defense for the Middle East, witnessing firsthand how quickly new regional power dynamics can take shape—and how quickly they can unravel. Stroul spoke with Dan Kurtz-Phelan on May 20 to discuss the prospect of a new Iranian nuclear deal, the future of Israeli policy in Gaza, and what Trump's recent moves herald for the new Middle East. You can find sources, transcripts, and more episodes of The Foreign Affairs Interview at https://www.foreignaffairs.com/podcasts/foreign-affairs-interview.

Conversations
The miserable lives and golden guns of tyrants, dictators and despots

Conversations

Play Episode Listen Later May 22, 2025 51:30


Marcel Dirsus is fascinated by the treadmill of tyranny: how dictators gain power, how they stay there and how they fall. This is his blueprint for bringing an end to authoritarianism.With democracies seemingly faltering worldwide, political scientist and writer Marcel Dirsus is putting tyrants under the microscope to better understand how they rise and how they fall.Years ago, Marcel took a break from his university studies and travelled to central Africa, where he took a job in a brewery.One day, while walking to work, he heard shots fired and an explosion in the distance as the military was launching a coup.The experience terrified him, and drew him into a study of tyrants — the dictators and despots who make life miserable for so many people on the planet.While they project an image of strength, guarded on all sides, and surrounded by people who do their bidding, Marcel says they live in fear.For the road to power is often flanked by the road to revolution.These men know a mass uprising, an assassination, a mutiny or a foreign invasion could end their reign at any moment, and who, or what will take their place?In investigating the long history of tyrannical leaders, however, Marcel has found a renewed optimism for Western Democracy.How Tyrants Fall: And How Nations Survive is published by Hachette Australia.Marcel is appearing at the Sydney Writers' Festival on Friday 23 May.This episode of Conversations explores Putin, Xi Jinping, China, CCP, Russia, Trump, global politics, dictatorships, democracy, voting rights, election results, the new world order, Stalin, Hitler, famous leaders, Churchill, politics, books, writing, history, war, civil war, Africa, USSR, Elon Musk, Gaddafi, golden gun, torture, Libya, Syria, control, Machiavelli, monarchs, Al-Ghazali, East Germany, Congo, academia, what to study at university, coup, the elite, power systems, Cold War, Bashar al-Assad, Ukraine, surveillance, Roman Empire.

La ContraCrónica
Oportunidad para Irán

La ContraCrónica

Play Episode Listen Later May 21, 2025 41:53


La semana pasada Donald Trump realizó la primera gira internacional de su segundo mandato. Visitó Arabia Saudí, Qatar y los Emiratos Árabes Unidos. Este viaje, centrado en acuerdos comerciales y asuntos geopolíticos de primer nivel como la cuestión de Siria, supone un punto de inflexión en tanto que Trump se mostró dispuesto a dialogar. Algo llamativo ya que, al menos en este ámbito, su postura es realista y libre de los maximalismos de su primer trimestre en el cargo. De forma un tanto sorprendente dejó a Israel en un segundo plano. Lo que no fue sorprendente en absoluto fue su silencio por el respeto a los derechos humanos en aquella región, pero eso ya estaba previsto y es coherente con lo que ya hizo en su primer mandato. El periplo comenzó en Riad, donde Trump fue recibido por el príncipe heredero Mohammed bin Salman. Arabia Saudí comprometió 600.000 millones de dólares en inversiones en EEUU enfocadas en defensa, tecnología y energía. Un foro de inversión reunió a líderes empresariales como Larry Fink de BlackRock y Jane Fraser de Citigroup, subrayando la importancia que el presidente dio al apartado económico de la gira. En Riad se reunió con el presidente interino sirio, Ahmed al-Sharaa, en un encuentro histórico. Anunció el levantamiento de sanciones a Siria para impulsar su estabilización tras la caída de Bashar al-Assad. Esta decisión, respaldada por Arabia Saudí y Qatar, fue elogiada por las cancillerías europeas, pero criticada por Israel, que considera a al-Sharaa un exyihadista. En Doha Trump fue agasajado por el emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani. Qatar firmó acuerdos por 243.000 millones de dólares que incluyen la adquisición de más de 200 aviones Boeing. Desde la base aérea Al Udeid, la mayor instalación militar estadounidense en Oriente Medio, Trump reiteró su prioridad de “terminar conflictos, no iniciarlos”, aunque advirtió que no dudaría en usar el poder militar si fuera necesario. Propuso una “zona de libertad” en Gaza, un concepto vago que ha generado infinidad de especulaciones, pero evitó hablar de la guerra aún en curso en la franja. La gira culminó en Abu Dabi, donde el Gobierno de los Emiratos anunció una inversión de 440.000 millones de dólares en el sector energético estadounidense a lo largo de la próxima década. Trump visitó la Gran Mezquita y la Casa de la Familia Abrahámica tratando de proyectar una imagen de cooperación cultural. Poco antes, en su discurso en Riad, condenó el intervencionismo estadounidense del pasado, y eso fue bien recibido entre los líderes políticos del golfo Pérsico, pero alarmó a defensores de los derechos humanos. Un aspecto notable fue la exclusión de Israel del itinerario, lo que revela que hay tensiones latentes con su primer ministro, Benjamin Netanyahu. Trump ignoró las objeciones israelíes para levantar las sanciones a Siria y negociar con Hamás con el objetivo de liberar al rehén estadounidense Edan Alexander. Todo de forma directa y dejando a un lado a los israelíes. Además, avanzó que quiere reiniciar las conversaciones nucleares con Irán mediadas por Omán, lo que ha provocado nuevas fricciones con Israel, que teme un acuerdo favorable a Teherán. La gira, salteada por una serie de aciertos, supone el regreso al pragmatismo que caracterizó a su primer mandato, más centrado en la estabilidad económica que en decisiones rupturistas y problemáticas como la guerra comercial contra todo el mundo. En La ContraRéplica: 0:00 Introducción 3:57 Oportunidad para Irán 28:58 Uranio en España 35:10 Inteligencia artificial en China · Canal de Telegram: https://t.me/lacontracronica · “Contra la Revolución Francesa”… https://amzn.to/4aF0LpZ · “Hispanos. Breve historia de los pueblos de habla hispana”… https://amzn.to/428js1G · “La ContraHistoria de España. Auge, caída y vuelta a empezar de un país en 28 episodios”… https://amzn.to/3kXcZ6i · “Lutero, Calvino y Trento, la Reforma que no fue”… https://amzn.to/3shKOlK · “La ContraHistoria del comunismo”… https://amzn.to/39QP2KE Apoya La Contra en: · Patreon... https://www.patreon.com/diazvillanueva · iVoox... https://www.ivoox.com/podcast-contracronica_sq_f1267769_1.html · Paypal... https://www.paypal.me/diazvillanueva Sígueme en: · Web... https://diazvillanueva.com · Twitter... https://twitter.com/diazvillanueva · Facebook... https://www.facebook.com/fernandodiazvillanueva1/ · Instagram... https://www.instagram.com/diazvillanueva · Linkedin… https://www.linkedin.com/in/fernando-d%C3%ADaz-villanueva-7303865/ · Flickr... https://www.flickr.com/photos/147276463@N05/?/ · Pinterest... https://www.pinterest.com/fernandodiazvillanueva Encuentra mis libros en: · Amazon... https://www.amazon.es/Fernando-Diaz-Villanueva/e/B00J2ASBXM #FernandoDiazVillanueva #iran #trump Escucha el episodio completo en la app de iVoox, o descubre todo el catálogo de iVoox Originals

Jacobin Radio
Jacobin Radio: Trump's Middle East Pivot w/ Juan Cole

Jacobin Radio

Play Episode Listen Later May 20, 2025 57:14


Juan Cole joins Suzi to break down Donald Trump's dramatic pivot in the Middle East: sidelining Israel, cozying up to Gulf monarchies, cutting billion-dollar deals, promising to lift sanctions on Syria, and exploring a new nuclear agreement with Iran. Trump vowed quick peace in Gaza and Ukraine, but neither materialized because the aggressors don't want peace. Putin wants Ukraine without Ukrainians. Netanyahu wants Gaza without Palestinians. Now he's zigzagging between billion-dollar deals and back-channel diplomacy. Is this strategic realignment, opportunism, or just more chaos? We unpack the U.S.-brokered hostage deal with Hamas that bypassed Netanyahu, the collapse of the Assad regime, and the regional powers now vying for influence over Syria's new government — amid Trump's promise to lift sanctions. Is a coherent Trump doctrine beginning to emerge? Juan Cole gives us the big-picture view. Jacobin Radio with Suzi Weissman features conversations with leading thinkers and activists, with a focus on labor, the economy, and protest movements.

PRI's The World
As displaced Syrians return, one photographer rediscovers his country

PRI's The World

Play Episode Listen Later May 19, 2025 48:42


Displaced Syrians are returning to their homes following years of civil war. One photographer, Alaa Hassan, who was 25 years old when the uprisings against former President Bashar al-Assad began, hopes to now document the loss and rebirth of his country. Also, US President Donald Trump holds separate phone calls with the leaders of Ukraine and Russia as fighting continues. And, hunger and starvation are on the rise in Gaza as Israel's government approves a plan to distribute limited aid and lift its blockade of the territory, while the Israeli military conducts a new offensive with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu saying the goal is to control the Gaza Strip. Plus, a look at the "like" button that was introduced to internet users 20 years ago. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

Habari za UN
19 MEI 2025

Habari za UN

Play Episode Listen Later May 19, 2025 11:08


Hii leo jaridani tunaangazia masuala ya afya, na wakimbizi wa Syria wanaorejea nchini mwao. Makala tukwenda nchini Kenya kumulika ufukaji wa nyuki, na mashinani tunakuletea ujumbe wa Katibu Mkuu wa IMO kuhusu Siku ya Kimataifa ya wanawake mabaharia.Wajumbe kutoka kote duniani wamekusanyika mjini Geneva, Uswisi, kwa ajili ya Mkutano wa 78 wa Baraza la Afya Duniani (WHA78) unaofanyika kuanzia leo Mei 19 hadi 27 Mei mwaka huu.Tangu kuangushwa kwa utawala wa aliyekuwa Rais wa Syria Bashar al Assad aliyekuwa madarakani kwa zaidi ya muongo mmoja, wananchi wa Syria wamekuwa wakimiminika kurejea nchini mwao ambapo takwimu za sasa zinaonesha zaidi ya Wasyria 500,000 wamerejea kutoka nchi jirani. Mmoja wa waliorejea ni Babu Jassim na Leah Mushi anatuletea simulizi yake.Katika makala tunaelekea Kajiado nchini Kenya, ambako juhudi za utunzaji mazingira kupitia mradi wa ufugaji wa nyuki unaofadhiliwa na shirika la misaada la Marekani USAID kwa kushirikiana na idara ya misitu ya Kenya KFS hazichangii tu katika kukuza uchumi wa jamii, bali pia kulinda mazingira. Kupitia Makala hii iliyoandaliwa na Sharon Jebichii, Bwana Mureithi mmoja wa wanufaika wa mradi huo anaanza kwa kueleza mafanikio yao.Nakatika mashinani, fursa ni yake Arsenio Dominguez, Katibu Mkuu wa Shirika la Umoja wa Mataifa la Usafirishaji Majini, IMO akitoa ujumbe wa ujumuishaji na usawa wa kijinsia wakati wa maadhimisho ya Siku ya Kimataifa ya wanawake mabaharia ambayo huadhimishwa tarehe 18 mwezi Mei kila mwaka.Mwenyeji wako ni Assumpta Massoi, karibu!

Habari za UN
Simulizi ya Babu Jassim anayerejea nchini Syria kutoka Lebanon

Habari za UN

Play Episode Listen Later May 19, 2025 2:18


Tangu kuangushwa kwa utawala wa aliyekuwa Rais wa Syria Bashar al Assad aliyekuwa madarakani kwa zaidi ya muongo mmoja, wananchi wa Syria wamekuwa wakimiminika kurejea nchini mwao ambapo takwimu za sasa zinaonesha zaidi ya Wasyria 500,000 wamerejea kutoka nchi jirani. Mmoja wa waliorejea ni Babu Jassim na Leah Mushi anatuletea simulizi yake.

Les interviews d'Inter
Avenir de la Syrie, "nettoyage ethnique" à Gaza : décryptage de Rym Momtaz et Christophe Boltanski

Les interviews d'Inter

Play Episode Listen Later May 18, 2025 23:47


durée : 00:23:47 - L'invité de 8h20 - Christophe Boltanski, journaliste, écrivain et Rym Momtaz, journaliste, géopolitologue, analysent la situation au Moyen-Orient, entre l'intensification de l'offensive israélienne à Gaza et la Syrie libérée du régime de Bachar al-Assad.

Blessors of Israel
Blessors of Israel Podcast Episode 85: A Missed Opportunity for Trump in the Middle East

Blessors of Israel

Play Episode Listen Later May 17, 2025 14:22


Wednesday, May 14 marked the 77th anniversary of Israel becoming a nation. This significant historical and biblical event was overshadowed this week when President Donald Trump traveled to the Middle East but did not visit Israel. During this episode of the Blessors of Israel Podcast, Dr. Matthew Dodd discusses the opportunity that Trump missed this week along with other alarming developments and how they are setting the stage for the fulfillment of another Bible prophecy concerning Israel.Visit the Blessors of Israel Website: https://www.blessors.org/ Thank you for supporting Blessors of Israel. Donate Online: https://blessors.org/donate/Please Subscribe and Like our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUfbl_rf8O_uwKrfzCh04jgSubscribe to our ⁠Spotify Channel⁠: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/blessorsofisrael Subscribe to our Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/blessors-of-israedl/id1699662615Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BlessorsofIsrael/Twitter: https://twitter.com/BlessorsIGettr: https://gettr.com/i/blessorsofisrael Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/c-1670015Thank you for watching. Please like and share this video.We would love to hear your comments.Those who bless Israel will be blessed (Genesis 12:3).Pastor Rich JonesPastor Matthew DoddDr. Matthew DoddRich Jones Blessors of IsraelMatthew Dodd Blessors of IsraelBlessors of IsraelBlessers of IsraelTags:Pastor Rich JonesPastor Matthew DoddRich JonesDr. Matthew DoddRich Jones, Blessors of Israel, Rich Jones, Blessers of Israel, Matthew Dodd, Blessors of Israel, Matthew Dodd, Blessers of Israel, Blessers of Israel, Blessors of Israel, Two-State Solution, Palestine, Modern Palestinian Problem, Israel, Jesus Christ, Anti-Semitism, Prophecy Update, End Times Prophecy, Latter Days, Bible Prophecy, The Great Tribulation, Hamas, Gaza Strip, Terrorism, Hezbollah, Iran, Russia, Persia, Gog and Magog, BRICS, China, CCP, Persia, Iran, Turkey, Russia, South Africa, Saudi Arabia, India, Yahya Sinwar, Nasrallah, Ismail Haniyeh, Deif, United Nations, Terrorism, Antisemitism, Syria, Bashar al Assad, HTS, Damascus, Mount Hermon, Erdogan, Netanyahu, Trump, Putin, Ceasefire, Hostages, al Jolani, al Sharaa, Holocaust Day of Remembrance, China, Egypt, Iran Nuclear Deal, Trump, Qatar, UAE

System Update with Glenn Greenwald
Rebrand of Syria's al-Jolani: Does the Term "Terrorist" Mean Anything?; "Free Market" Governors Ban Lab-Grown Meats to Protect Meat Industry: With Reason Journalist Emma Camp

System Update with Glenn Greenwald

Play Episode Listen Later May 16, 2025 69:28


Western leaders embrace ex-wanted terrorist Abu Mohammad al-Jolani now that he is leading Syria after the fall of the Assad regime. Plus: Red states push to ban lab-grown meats in an effort to protect the meat industry. Reason's Emma Camp explains why these laws violate free market principles.  -------------------------------------------------- Watch full episodes on Rumble, streamed LIVE 7pm ET. Become part of our Locals community Follow System Update:  Twitter Instagram TikTok Facebook LinkedIn  

The Castle Report
Why Neo-Cons Hate Trump

The Castle Report

Play Episode Listen Later May 16, 2025 11:53


Darrell Castle talks about Present Trump's trip to the Middle East and how it reflects Trump's vision of the world --- how it can be more peaceful and prosperous for everyone. Transcription / Notes WHY NEO-CONS HATE TRUMP Hello, this is Darrell Castle with today's Castle Report. This is Friday the 16th day of May in the year of our Lord 2025. I will be talking about President Trump's trip to the Middle East which should be finishing just about as I record this report. The trip reflects Trump's vision of the world and how it can be more peaceful, and prosperous for everyone, in other words the anti-neo-con view of the world. President Trump is currently on a Presidential trip to several Middle East countries including Saudi Arabia, his first stop, and then several of the Gulf Arab States including Qatar, the second stop. While he was in Riyadh, he spoke to the new leader of Syria which is interesting because until the fall of Assad that man was listed as a wanted international terrorist. Apparently Mr. Erdogan of Turkey joined in the conversation by phone and lobbied Trump to lift the sanctions on Syria which Trump agreed to do. His reception by the Middle East countries has been phenomenal and met with similar joy as his election was met with joy by his supporters. That joy is in reality hope for what could be and hopefully will be with the Trump Presidency. When Air Force One entered Saudi air space six Saudi jet fighters came out and flew escort for the descent into Riyadh. The Crown Prince, Bin Salman came out to personally greet his arrival something he publicly did not do when President Biden visited. A long purple carpet stretched from the airplane steps to the waiting limousines while American music played from loudspeakers. The Saudis even rigged up a mobile McDonalds restaurant on the trailer of a large truck in reference to the President's legendary fondness for McDonalds cheeseburgers. Trump seems to have an affinity for Middle East people and especially their leaders because he shares a few things in common with them. He doesn't drink and he does not condemn their culture and way of life. Let me pause here for a moment and give a little history to illustrate my point. First we have George H.W. Bush's war to oust Saddam Hussein from Kuwait with its “this aggression will not stand rhetoric.” Then we have 8 years of Bill Clinton's no fly zone over Iraq with its starvation of hundreds of thousands, allegedly. We then follow that with 8 years of George W. Bush's Global War on Terror with its invasion of Iraq and Afghanistan. We follow that with 8 years of Barack Obama's Afghanistan the good war as opposed to Iraq the bad war. Donald Trump comes in and tries to extricate himself from Afghanistan but Joe Biden finally does it, albeit with an extreme cost. Joe Biden almost immediately becomes embroiled in a European war between Ukraine and Afghanistan so it's basically been a 25-year struggle of war which means killing, dying, and total destruction. The leaders of the Middle East apparently see this man Trump with his prosperity instead of war rhetoric and they like it and are hopeful. His statements before the trip reflected the new attitude and purpose of the trip. He said he wanted to make new deals for peace and profit and that went over especially well in the Saudi Kingdom. Quote from the President, “a land of peace, safety, harmony, opportunity, innovation, and achievement right here in the Middle East is within our grasp.” That was apparently music to the ears of Bin Salman and when you think about it's hard for me to find fault with that ambition. Perhaps Trump's joyous reception is because his approach to foreign policy in general and the Middle East in particular, in contrast to all those presidents I just mentioned, is not ideological. To illustrate here's a quote from the President that was apparently well received in Saudi ears, “too many American presidents have been afflicted wi...

C dans l'air
Christophe Boltanski - Syrie: pourquoi Trump lève les sanctions?

C dans l'air

Play Episode Listen Later May 15, 2025 11:14


C dans l'air l'invité du 14 mai 2025 avec Christophe Boltanski, journaliste et écrivain, qui rentre de Homs, en Syrie, où il a réalisé un reportage auprès de la population pour l'hebdomadaire Le 1.Hier, Donald Trump a annoncé la levée des sanctions américaines contre la Syrie, libérée du dictateur Bachar al-Assad, provoquant des scènes de liesse dans le pays. Un geste fort, suivi par la rencontre ce matin entre le président américain et le nouveau président syrien Ahmad al-Chara à Ryad, en Arabie saoudite. Notre invité, Christophe Boltanski, journaliste et écrivain, nous décrira la situation dans ce pays en pleine reconstruction. En mars dernier, environ 1.700 personnes, majoritairement alaouites avaient été tuées dans des massacres. Le nouveau président syrien, en visite à Paris la semaine dernière, s'est engagé à protéger "tous les Syriens sans exception".

The Current
What will Trump's pledge to lift sanctions mean for Syria?

The Current

Play Episode Listen Later May 15, 2025 22:26


U.S. President Donald Trump surprised the world by pledging to lift crippling sanctions on Syria this week. We dig into what this means for rebuilding the country after the fall of Assad, both for Syrians who have grown up in the brutality of the civil war, and those who fled and are longing to return home.

Voices of The Walrus
The Day Assad Fled: Joy, Fear, and the Weight of History

Voices of The Walrus

Play Episode Listen Later May 15, 2025 9:13


After years of silence, Samia Madwar can finally write about Syria again. About AMIAMI is a not-for-profit media company that entertains, informs and empowers Canadians who are blind or partially sighted. Operating three broadcast services, AMI-tv and AMI-audio in English and AMI-télé in French, AMI's vision is to establish and support a voice for Canadians with disabilities, representing their interests, concerns and values through inclusion, representation, accessible media, reflection, representation and portrayal.Find more great AMI Original Content on AMI+Learn more at AMI.caConnect with Accessible Media Inc. online:X /Twitter @AccessibleMediaInstagram @AccessibleMediaInc / @AMI-audioFacebook at @AccessibleMediaIncTikTok @AccessibleMediaIncEmail feedback@ami.ca

The Newsmax Daily with Rob Carson
Iran's Nuclear Threat & Global Power Shifts

The Newsmax Daily with Rob Carson

Play Episode Listen Later May 14, 2025 40:58


-Emphasis on Donald Trump's strong stance against Iran developing nuclear weapons, his economic pressure tactics, and his successful negotiations with China on tariffs, contrasted with past administration failures. -Colonel John Mills, a retired military official and senior fellow at the Center for Security Policy, joined via the Newsmax hotline to discuss Trump's Middle East reception, Iran's economic vulnerabilities, and Syria's post-Assad future. Today's podcast is sponsored by : BIRCH GOLD - Protect and grow your retirement savings with gold. Text ROB to 98 98 98 for your FREE information kit!   To call in and speak with Rob Carson live on the show, dial 1-800-922-6680 between the hours of 12 Noon and 3:00 pm Eastern Time Monday through Friday…E-mail Rob Carson at : RobCarsonShow@gmail.com Musical parodies provided by Jim Gossett (www.patreon.com/JimGossettComedy) Listen to Newsmax LIVE and see our entire podcast lineup at http://Newsmax.com/Listen Make the switch to NEWSMAX today! Get your 15 day free trial of NEWSMAX+ at http://NewsmaxPlus.com Looking for NEWSMAX caps, tees, mugs & more? Check out the Newsmax merchandise shop at : http://nws.mx/shop Follow NEWSMAX on Social Media:  -Facebook: http://nws.mx/FB  -X/Twitter: http://nws.mx/twitter -Instagram: http://nws.mx/IG -YouTube: https://youtube.com/NewsmaxTV -Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/NewsmaxTV -TRUTH Social: https://truthsocial.com/@NEWSMAX -GETTR: https://gettr.com/user/newsmax -Threads: http://threads.net/@NEWSMAX  -Telegram: http://t.me/newsmax  -BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/newsmax.com -Parler: http://app.parler.com/newsmax Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The FOX News Rundown
Evening Edition: New Hope, Old Fears Over Syria

The FOX News Rundown

Play Episode Listen Later May 14, 2025 19:50


During his trip to the Middle East, President Trump met with the new Syrian President, Ahmed Al-Sharaa, who took over after the fall of the Assad regime this past January. This came a day after he pledged to lift sanctions on the war-torn nation. Some, including former President Obama and members of Congress, praised Trump's decision and hoped Americans could build a possible relationship with the new government. However, some have raised concerns about the interim Syrian President's involvement with extremist groups. Indiana Republican Congressman Marlin Stutzman met with Al-Sharaa and members of the Syrian regime last month. He joins the Rundown to explain why he's optimistic about Syria's future yet understands why America must be vigilant and ensure that it operates in the best interests of our country. Photo Credit: AP Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

PBS NewsHour - Segments
How Trump’s meeting with Syria’s new leader is a turning point for the war-torn nation

PBS NewsHour - Segments

Play Episode Listen Later May 14, 2025 10:27


Day two of President Trump's tour of the Mideast brought with it the prospect of a new future for Syria. The president announced plans to lift sanctions on Syria following the fall of the Assad regime. Trump also met with Syria's interim president, a former jihadist who until recently had a $10 million U.S. bounty. Geoff Bennett discussed more with Mouaz Mustafa of the Syrian Emergency Task Force. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

3 Things
The Catch Up: 14 May

3 Things

Play Episode Listen Later May 14, 2025 3:37


This is the Catchup on 3 Things by The Indian Express and I'm Flora Swain.Today is the 14th of May and here are the headlines.BSF jawan Poornam Kumar Shaw, who accidentally crossed into Pakistan during a patrol on April 23 near Punjab's Ferozepur sector, was handed back to India on Wednesday morning via the Attari Joint Check Post. A resident of West Bengal, Shaw was in Pakistani custody for 21 days, during a time of heightened border tensions following the Pahalgam terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir. The 73rd battalion of the BSF is deployed in the area. His return marks a resolution to the cross-border incident that had drawn national concern.Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and NCP leader Ajit Pawar clarified on Tuesday night that no merger discussions have taken place between his faction and the Sharad Pawar-led NCP. Speaking at a weekly party meeting in Mumbai, Ajit Pawar addressed his legislators directly, urging them not to believe merger rumors. He emphasized transparency and assured them there was no confusion on his stance. The clarification comes amid growing speculation about reunification, which has sparked political buzz ahead of upcoming elections in Maharashtra.India's Operation Sindoor precision strikes destroyed nearly 20% of Pakistan Air Force infrastructure and multiple fighter jets, official sources said Tuesday. The strikes targeted key bases like Sargodha and Bholari, which housed F-16s and JF-17s, in retaliation to Pakistani drone and missile attacks. Over 50 people, including Squadron Leader Usman Yusuf, were killed in Bholari. India also hit ammunition depots and several other airbases across Pakistan. Satellite imagery confirmed major damage. The strikes mark a significant strategic and psychological blow to Pakistan's military capabilities.US President Donald Trump met Syria's interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa in Riyadh after unexpectedly lifting all sanctions on Syria's Islamist-led government. The move, revealed Wednesday, represents a sharp turn in US foreign policy. Sharaa, a former al Qaeda commander who ousted Assad and later renounced extremism, has led Syria since December. The meeting occurred during Trump's Gulf tour, which also included $600 billion in Saudi investment pledges and $142 billion in arms deals. The shift has drawn criticism from Israel and US officials concerned about Sharaa's militant past.At least 48 people, including 22 children, were killed in Israeli airstrikes on Jabaliya in northern Gaza between Tuesday night and early Wednesday. Hospitals, including the Indonesian Hospital, reported high casualties from strikes that hit residential zones. The attacks followed the release of an Israeli-American hostage by Hamas, briefly raising hopes of de-escalation. Israel had issued evacuation warnings, citing Hamas military targets in the area. However, many civilians remained. The Israeli military declined to comment. The strikes have intensified international concerns about rising civilian casualties in Gaza.That's all for today. This was the Catchup on 3 Things by The Indian Express.

PBS NewsHour - World
How Trump’s meeting with Syria’s new leader is a turning point for the war-torn nation

PBS NewsHour - World

Play Episode Listen Later May 14, 2025 10:27


Day two of President Trump's tour of the Mideast brought with it the prospect of a new future for Syria. The president announced plans to lift sanctions on Syria following the fall of the Assad regime. Trump also met with Syria's interim president, a former jihadist who until recently had a $10 million U.S. bounty. Geoff Bennett discussed more with Mouaz Mustafa of the Syrian Emergency Task Force. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

From Washington – FOX News Radio
Evening Edition: New Hope, Old Fears Over Syria

From Washington – FOX News Radio

Play Episode Listen Later May 14, 2025 19:50


During his trip to the Middle East, President Trump met with the new Syrian President, Ahmed Al-Sharaa, who took over after the fall of the Assad regime this past January. This came a day after he pledged to lift sanctions on the war-torn nation. Some, including former President Obama and members of Congress, praised Trump's decision and hoped Americans could build a possible relationship with the new government. However, some have raised concerns about the interim Syrian President's involvement with extremist groups. Indiana Republican Congressman Marlin Stutzman met with Al-Sharaa and members of the Syrian regime last month. He joins the Rundown to explain why he's optimistic about Syria's future yet understands why America must be vigilant and ensure that it operates in the best interests of our country. Photo Credit: AP Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Un jour dans le monde
Syrie : vers la normalisation du régime d'Al-Charaa ?

Un jour dans le monde

Play Episode Listen Later May 14, 2025 38:17


durée : 00:38:17 - Le 18/20 · Un jour dans le monde - par : Fabienne Sintes - En tournée au Proche-Orient, Donald Trump a annoncé la levée des sanctions américaines contre la Syrie, après avoir rencontré son président par intérim Ahmed al-Charaa. Une consécration pour l'ancien djihadiste, qui cherche à consolider son pouvoir, cinq mois après la chute de Bachar al-Assad. - réalisé par : Thomas Lenglain

InterNational
Syrie : vers la normalisation du régime d'Al-Charaa ?

InterNational

Play Episode Listen Later May 14, 2025 38:17


durée : 00:38:17 - Le 18/20 · Un jour dans le monde - par : Fabienne Sintes - En tournée au Proche-Orient, Donald Trump a annoncé la levée des sanctions américaines contre la Syrie, après avoir rencontré son président par intérim Ahmed al-Charaa. Une consécration pour l'ancien djihadiste, qui cherche à consolider son pouvoir, cinq mois après la chute de Bachar al-Assad. - réalisé par : Thomas Lenglain

Fox News Rundown Evening Edition
Evening Edition: New Hope, Old Fears Over Syria

Fox News Rundown Evening Edition

Play Episode Listen Later May 14, 2025 19:50


During his trip to the Middle East, President Trump met with the new Syrian President, Ahmed Al-Sharaa, who took over after the fall of the Assad regime this past January. This came a day after he pledged to lift sanctions on the war-torn nation. Some, including former President Obama and members of Congress, praised Trump's decision and hoped Americans could build a possible relationship with the new government. However, some have raised concerns about the interim Syrian President's involvement with extremist groups. Indiana Republican Congressman Marlin Stutzman met with Al-Sharaa and members of the Syrian regime last month. He joins the Rundown to explain why he's optimistic about Syria's future yet understands why America must be vigilant and ensure that it operates in the best interests of our country. Photo Credit: AP Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

THIS IS REVOLUTION >podcast
EP. 741: NEOLIBERALISM WITH SALAFI CHARACTERISTICS ft. DJENE BAJALAN

THIS IS REVOLUTION >podcast

Play Episode Listen Later May 12, 2025 62:05


Read Djene's piece in Compact Magazine here: https://www.compactmag.com/.../neoliberalism-with.../...   For many Syrians, the events of December 2024 had a surreal quality. After nearly a decade and a half of brutal civil war, it had seemed that the regime of Bashar al-Assad had fended off any serious challenges to its authority. Assad and his supporters may not have been able to deliver a killing blow to the various opposition forces in the country, but they had managed to confine them to the country's periphery. That all changed in late November, when Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), a Sunni Islamist group led by former al-Qaeda militant, Ahmad al-Sharaa, launched a lightning offensive from its stronghold on the Turkish-Syrian border, which brought an end to more than half a century of Assad family rule within a matter of weeks.   Check out our new bi-weekly series, "The Crisis Papers" here: https://www.patreon.com/bitterlakepresents/shop   Thank you guys again for taking the time to check this out. We appreciate each and everyone of you. If you have the means, and you feel so inclined, BECOME A PATRON! We're creating patron only programing, you'll get bonus content from many of the episodes, and you get MERCH!   Become a patron now https://www.patreon.com/join/BitterLakePresents?   Please also like, subscribe, and follow us on these platforms as well, (specially YouTube!)   THANKS Y'ALL   YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCG9WtLyoP9QU8sxuIfxk3eg Twitter: @TIRShowOakland Instagram: @thisisrevolutionoakland   Read Jason Myles in Sublation Magazine https://www.sublationmag.com/writers/jason-myles   Read Jason Myles in Damage Magazine https://damagemag.com/2023/11/07/the-man-who-sold-the-world/   Read Jason in Unaligned Here: https://substack.com/home/post/p-161586946...

The Fire These Times
Introducing "Syria: The Inconvenient Revolution"

The Fire These Times

Play Episode Listen Later May 12, 2025 11:44


We got a new podcast! We're happy to announce that Syria: The Inconvenient Revolution (STIR) is now out on Patreon and wherever you listen to podcasts. In this episode,⁠ ⁠Leila Al-Shami⁠⁠ (⁠⁠Burning Country⁠⁠) and Elia Ayoub (⁠⁠The Fire These Times⁠⁠,⁠ ⁠Hauntologies⁠⁠) introduce themselves and the podcast.What is STIR about? From the Assad regime to the Arab Spring and beyond, we will dive into questions of reconstruction, prisoners, the forcibly disappeared, transitional justice, minority rights, women's rights, LGBTQ+ rights, environmental politics, culture and more.STIR is part of the From The Periphery Media Collective. To support all of our projects please head out to⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Patreon.com/fromtheperiphery⁠⁠STIR is also on⁠ ⁠Bluesky⁠⁠!Credits and More:Leila Al Shami (Host, Lead Researcher). More:⁠ ⁠Bluesky⁠⁠,⁠ ⁠Mastodon⁠⁠ and her⁠ ⁠Blog⁠⁠Elia Ayoub (Host, Producer). More:⁠ ⁠Bluesky⁠⁠,⁠ ⁠Mastodon⁠⁠,⁠ ⁠Instagram⁠⁠ and his⁠ ⁠Newsletter⁠⁠Hisham Rifai (Illustration)Omar Offendum and Sami Matar (Music)

From Our Own Correspondent Podcast
Fear and mistrust in Syria

From Our Own Correspondent Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later May 10, 2025 28:31


Kate Adie presents stories from Syria, the US-Mexico border, Poland and Germany.As Syria tries to rebuild after the fall of Assad, a wave of sectarian violence is fuelling suspicion between communities, and long-held grievances are proving a thorny issue for the country's new leadership. Lucy Williamson travelled to Syria's coastal region, where minority Alawite communities recently came under attack.In Texas, many Hispanic voters came out in support for Donald Trump in last year's election. Now he is back in the White House, his hard-line approach to immigration is leading some voters to have second thoughts, says Nomia Iqbal. who travelled to the Rio Grande river along the US-Mexico border.Sitting on the border of Ukraine and Russia, Poland has pledged to up its military spending this year, and is also rolling out military training for civilians. Will Vernon visited a military training camp - but found not everyone is keen to enrol.And in Germany, Amie Liebowitz has been to a reunion of pensioners born at the Bergen-Belsen camp, around the time allied forces liberated Nazi concentration camps. While there, she also traced her own family's history, and story of survival.

The John Batchelor Show
Preview: Colleague Gregg Roman of Middle East Forum reports that the technicians of the Assad WMD are at large; and that the jihadists at Damascus have easy access to machinery, product and manufacture of chemical weapons. More

The John Batchelor Show

Play Episode Listen Later May 9, 2025 2:01


Preview: Colleague Gregg Roman of Middle East Forum reports that the technicians of the Assad WMD are at large; and that the jihadists at Damascus have easy access to machinery, product and manufacture of chemical weapons. More 1890 DAMASCUS

CONFLICTED
The Syrian Civil War Pt.6: The Siege Ends, The Regime Falls

CONFLICTED

Play Episode Listen Later May 7, 2025 73:48


This week on Conflicted we are drawing our narrative arc on Syria to a close with our second episode with filmmaker and political activist, Matar Ismaeel. Last time Matar told us about his experiences filming protests in 2011 as the Syrian revolution began, being tortured in Assad's prisons, and witnessing firsthand the brutal siege of Southern Damascus. This episode Matar finishes his remarkable story with us - from recounting how Friends of his were radicalised by a ISIS to the battles he witnessed between opposition forces, Assad's forces and Islamist forces—especially ISIS.  Finally, Matar recounts the decision to evacuate Southern Damascus and gives his reflections on the future of Syria now the Assad regime has been toppled. He even invites Conflicted to join them in their celebrations - well deserved after all this time. New Conflicted Season 5 episodes will be coming every two weeks, but if you want to have your Conflicted fix every single week, then you'll have to join our Conflicted Community. Subscribers will get bonus episodes every other week, and can also join our Conflicted Community chatroom, where you can interact with fellow dearest listeners, discuss episodes past and future, get exclusive messages from Thomas and Aimen, ask future Q&A questions and so much more. All the information you need to sign up to the Conflicted Community is on this link: https://conflicted.supportingcast.fm/  Conflicted is proudly made by Message Heard, a full-stack podcast production agency which uses its extensive expertise to make its own shows such as Conflicted, shows for commissioners such as the BBC, Spotify and Al Jazeera, and powerfully effective podcasts for other companies too. If you'd like to find out how we can help get your organisation's message heard, visit messageheard.com or drop an email to hello@messageheard.com! Find us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/MHconflicted  And Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MHconflicted Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Debate
A welcome guest? France first Western nation to host Syria's new leader

The Debate

Play Episode Listen Later May 7, 2025 44:51


Is this the right moment to roll out the red carpet for Syria's new leader?  France is the first Western country to welcome Ahmed al-Sharaa, who with the toppling of Bashar al-Assad last December, shed his fatigues and his Islamist militia leader name Abu Mohammed al-Joulani. The right moment? Yes, if it is time to fully scrap sanctions and help Syria's economy a chance to recover from more than a decade of civil war. The new masters of Damascus say they need money and time, time to make good on their pledge of an inclusive country that protects its myriad of minorities.Already, there have been missteps and bloodbaths, the most recent involving sectarian killing between Sunni militiamen and the Druze community – a community present across the borders of Lebanon and Israel, Israel, which has carried out bombing raids in Syria in the name of protecting the Druzes. On that score, what message does Emmanuel Macron send to the Israelis when he welcomes Sharaa?And with Paris, there is a history: Syria was a protectorate of France until independence in 1946, and in the not-so distant past: the last Syrian leader welcomed to Paris was Bashar al-Assad as guest of honor on Bastille Day in 2008. With hindsight, not a good look despite Assad's popularity with French conservative and far-right MPs. What's the right approach this time?

Newshour
Newshour in Syria: The man who collected bodies for the Assad regime

Newshour

Play Episode Listen Later May 6, 2025 47:28


Newshour reports from Syria again, as the country tries to emerge from the ruin of civil war and dictatorship. Tim Franks has met a man whose job under Bashar al-Assad was to collect bodies from a military hospital: "the hardest part to see was how they were tortured". Also in the programme: Canadians elected Mark Carney to see off Donald Trump's ambition to annex Canada - today they met at the White House; and Germany has a new Chancellor, after a rocky start. (Photo: Fighters inspect the site of a mass grave from the rule of Syria's Bashar al-Assad, according to residents, after the ousting of al-Assad, in Najha, Syria, December 17, 2024. Reuters/Ammar Awad)

The World Tonight
Five months after Assad, where is Syria heading?

The World Tonight

Play Episode Listen Later May 6, 2025 37:40


Syria sits at a figurative crossroads - five months after an Islamist-led rebellion brought an unexpectedly swift end to the long, dynastic dictatorship of the Assad family. The former rebel leader who now rules Syria - Ahmed Al Sharaa – has been trying to convince the world of his efforts to pursue a path of peace and reconciliation. But a recent upsurge of sectarian violence, which has seen the deaths of hundreds of civilians, mainly from the Alawite minority, has called that into question. All this week we hear from our correspondent who has been in the country's capital, Damascus. Also on the programme: 80 years since the end of World War Two in Europe; and US President Donald Trump says he wants to reopen Alcatraz prison after more than 60 years.

The World Tonight
UK and India agree landmark trade deal

The World Tonight

Play Episode Listen Later May 6, 2025 37:38


The UK and India have finalised a major trade agreement, reducing tariffs on UK exports including gin, whisky and cars. The government says the agreement will eventually add £4.8bn per year to the UK economy, but the Conservatives say a National Insurance exemption for temporary workers from India is ‘two tier' taxation. Also on the programme: India carries out air strikes on what it called ‘terrorist targets' in Pakistan and Pakistani administered Kashmir; and we hear from Syria where families are trying to find the remains of their loved ones killed by the Assad regime.

Newshour
Five months after Assad, where is Syria heading?

Newshour

Play Episode Listen Later May 5, 2025 47:34


Five months after the fall of Bashar al-Assad, we ask can Syria overcome its immense problems under its new Islamist rulers? Also in the programme: Europe commemorates the 80th anniversary of the Nazi surrender in 1945; and the end of the road for Skype.Photo: A torn poster of Bashar al-Assad in Damascus suburb. Credit: Reuters.

Newshour
Newshour in Syria: Can Islamist rulers govern for all?

Newshour

Play Episode Listen Later May 5, 2025 47:28


Five months after the fall of Bashar al-Assad, can Syria overcome immense problems under its new Islamist rulers? Also in the programme: an army reservist speaks about the plan by Israel's government to send more troops into Gaza; and Donald Trump says he could hit movies made in foreign countries with a 100% tariff - but how?(File photo: A drone view shows people waving flags adopted by the new Syrian rulers during celebrations in Umayyad Square, after the ousting of Syria's Bashar al-Assad, in Damascus, Syria, December 20, 2024. Reuters/Amr Alfiky/File Photo)

The Ricochet Audio Network Superfeed
Daily Signal Podcast: Victor Davis Hanson: The Trump-Iran Deal, Explained

The Ricochet Audio Network Superfeed

Play Episode Listen Later May 5, 2025


President Donald Trump is right to believe that Iran is in a historically vulnerable position right now. The Assad regime is kaput. Hezbollah's effectiveness has been dramatically reduced since Oct. 7. Hama is living underground among the rubble of Gaza. However, even with a maximum pressure campaign, oil embargoes, domestic instability, two things will never […]

The Ricochet Audio Network Superfeed
Daily Signal Podcast: Victor Davis Hanson: The Trump-Iran Deal, Explained

The Ricochet Audio Network Superfeed

Play Episode Listen Later May 5, 2025


President Donald Trump is right to believe that Iran is in a historically vulnerable position right now. The Assad regime is kaput. Hezbollah's effectiveness has been dramatically reduced since Oct. 7. Hama is living underground among the rubble of Gaza. However, even with a maximum pressure campaign, oil embargoes, domestic instability, two things will never […]

The Ricochet Audio Network Superfeed
Daily Signal Podcast: Victor Davis Hanson: The Trump-Iran Deal, Explained

The Ricochet Audio Network Superfeed

Play Episode Listen Later May 5, 2025


President Donald Trump is right to believe that Iran is in a historically vulnerable position right now. The Assad regime is kaput. Hezbollah's effectiveness has been dramatically reduced since Oct. 7. Hama is living underground among the rubble of Gaza. However, even with a maximum pressure campaign, oil embargoes, domestic instability, two things will never […]

Up First
Syria's Missing Children

Up First

Play Episode Listen Later May 4, 2025 29:50


In Syria during the 14-year civil war, many children were detained with their mothers. Then, security forces separated them. Thousands of these children have never been found.Since the fall of the Assad regime, parents of disappeared children have continued to search for answers. In this episode of The Sunday Story, NPR correspondent Diaa Hadid investigates: what happened to the disappeared children of Syria?This episode includes mentions of rape and torture.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Newshour
Romania reruns annulled Presidential election

Newshour

Play Episode Listen Later May 4, 2025 41:53


Romanians vote for a new president after suspected Russian interference in 2024 poll. The nationalist presidential candidate, George Simion, a self described MAGA candidate, has said his only objective is “to put the Romanian people first”. Also in the programme: We explore the ongoing impact of President Bashar al-Assad's brutal repression tactics on ordinary Syrians; and we hear from International Booker prize nominee Solvaj Balle, alongside the translator who brought her work 'On The Calculation Of Volume' into the English literary canon. (Photo: Banners showing U.S. President Donald Trump and Marian Cucsa, candidate of Republican Party of Romania, on the day of Romanian presidential election, in Bucharest, Romania, May 4, 2025. Credit: REUTERS/Louisa Gouliamaki)

Reuters World News
Syria after Assad

Reuters World News

Play Episode Listen Later May 3, 2025 21:13


It's been five months since the fall of the Assad regime. Syria is no longer at war but the challenges in rebuilding a fractured country persist. In this episode of the Reuters World News podcast, Timour Azhari travels to a country caught between chaos and reinvention. Sign up for the Reuters Econ World newsletter here. Listen to the Reuters Econ World podcast here. Visit the Thomson Reuters Privacy Statement for information on our privacy and data protection practices. You may also visit megaphone.fm/adchoices to opt out of targeted advertising. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Learn French with daily podcasts
Le blé de la discorde (Contested Grain Shipment)

Learn French with daily podcasts

Play Episode Listen Later May 1, 2025 3:35


La Syrie reçoit sa première cargaison de blé depuis la chute d'Assad, ravivant les tensions géopolitiques dans la région.Traduction:Syria receives its first wheat shipment since Assad's fall, reigniting geopolitical tensions in the region. Hébergé par Acast. Visitez acast.com/privacy pour plus d'informations.

Let's Know Things
India-Pakistan Tensions

Let's Know Things

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 29, 2025 17:00


This week we talk about British India, Kashmir, and water treaties.We also discuss the global order, sovereignty, and tit-for-tat escalation.Recommended Book: Power Metal by Vince BeiserTranscriptWhen then British India was partitioned by the British in 1947, the country carved up by its colonialist rulers into two new countries, one Hindu majority, the Union of India, and one Muslim majority, the Dominion of Pakistan, the intention was to separate two religious groups that were increasingly at violent odds with each other, within a historical context in which Muslims were worried they would be elbowed out of power by the Hindu-majority, at a moment in which carving up countries into new nations was considered to be a solution to many such problems.The partition didn't go terribly well by most measures, as the geographic divisions weren't super well thought out, tens of millions of people had to scramble to upend their entire lives to move to their new, faith-designated homelands, and things like infrastructure and wealth were far from evenly distributed between the two new regions.Pakistan was also a nation literally divided by India, part of its landmass on the other side of what was now another country, and its smaller landmass eventually separated into yet another country following Bangladesh's violent but successful secession from Pakistan in 1971.There was a lot more to that process, of course, and the reverberations of that decision are still being felt today, in politics, in the distribution of land and assets, and in regional and global conflict.But one affected region, Kashmir, has been more of a flashpoint for problems than most of the rest of formerly British India, in part because of where it's located, and in part because of happenings not long after the partition.Formerly Jammu and Kashmir, the Kashmir region, today, is carved up between India, Pakistan, and China. India controls a little over half of its total area, which houses 70% of the region's population, while Pakistan controls a little less than a third of its land mass, and China controls about 15%.What was then Jammu and Kashmir dragged its feet in deciding which side of the partition to join when the countries were being separated, the leader Hindu, though ruling over a Muslim state, but an invasion from the Pakistan side saw it cast its lot in with India. India's counter-invasion led to the beginning of what became known as both the Indo-Pakistani war of 1947-1948, the first of four such wars, but is also sometimes called the first Kashmir war, the first of three, though there have been several other not-officially-a-war conflicts in and over the region, as well.Things only got more complicated over the next several decades; China seized the eastern part of the region in the 1950s, and while some Kashmiris have demanded independence, both India and Pakistan claim the region as totally their own, and point at historical markers that support their claim—some such markers based on fact, some on speculation or self-serving interpretations of history.What I'd like to talk about today is what looks to be a new, potentially serious buildup around Kashmir, following an attack at a popular tourist hotspot in the territory, and why some analysts are especially concerned about what India's government will decide to do, next.—Early in the afternoon of April 22, 2025, a group of tourists sightseeing in a town in the southern part of Kashmir called Pahalgam were open-fired on by militants. 26 people were killed and another 17 were injured, marking one of the worst attacks on mostly Indian civilians in decades.In 2019, Kashmir's semiautonomous governance was revoked by the Indian government, which in practice meant the Indian government took more complete control over the region, clamping down on certain freedoms and enabling more immigration of Indians into otherwise fairly Muslim-heavy Kashmir.It's also become more of a tourist destination since then, as India has moved more soldiers in to patrol Indian Kashmir's border with Pakistan Kashmir, and the nature of the landmass makes it a bit of a retreat from climate extremes; at times it's 30 or 40 degrees cooler, in Fahrenheit, than in New Delhi, so spendy people from the city bring their money to Kashmir to cool off, while also enjoying the natural settings of this less-developed, less-industrialized area.Reports from survivors indicate that the attackers took their time and seemed very confident, and that no Indian security forces were anywhere nearby; they walked person to person, asking them if they were Muslim and executing those who were not. Around 7,000 people were visiting the area as tourists before the attack, but most of them have now left, and it's unclear what kind of financial hit this will have on the region, but in the short-term it's expected to be pretty bad.In the wake of this attack, the Indian government claimed that it has identified two of the three suspected militants as Pakistani, but Pakistan has denied any involvement, and has called for a neutral probe into the matter, saying that it's willing to fully cooperate, seeks only peace and stability, and wants to see justice served.A previously unknown group calling itself the Kashmir Resistance has claimed responsibility for the attack, and Indian security forces have demolished the homes of at least five suspected militants in Kashmir in response, including one who they believe participated in this specific attack.The two governments have launched oppositional measures against each other, including Pakistan closing its airspace to Indian airlines and shutting down trade with its neighbor, and India shutting down a vital land crossing, revoking Pakistani visas, and suspending a 1960 treaty that regulates water-sharing along the Indus River and its tributaries—something that it's threatened to do, previously, and which could devastate Pakistan's agricultural sector and economy, as it basically regulates water that the country relies on for both human consumption and most of its crop irrigation; and for context, Pakistan's agricultural sector accounts for about a forth of its economy.So if India blocks this water source, Pakistan would be in a very bad situation, and the Pakistani government has said that any blockage of water by India would be considered an act of war. Over the past week, a Pakistani official accused the Indian government of suddenly releasing a large volume of water from a dam into a vital river, which made flooding in parts of Pakistan-held Kashmir a real possibility, but as of the day I'm recording this they haven't closed the taps, as Pakistan has worried.For its part, India wouldn't really suffer from walking away from this treaty, as it mostly favors Pakistan. It serves to help keep the peace along an at times chaotic border, but beyond that, it does very little for India, directly.So historically, the main purpose of maintaining this treaty, for India, has been related to its reputation: if it walked away from it, it would probably suffer a reputational hit with the international community, as it would be a pretty flagrantly self-serving move that only really served to harm Pakistan, its weaker arch-nemesis.Right now, though, geopolitics are scrambled to such a degree that there are concerns India might not only be wanting to make such moves, whatever the consequences, but it may also be hankering for a larger conflict—looking to sort out long-term issues during a period in which such sorting, such conflict, may cause less reputational damage than might otherwise be the case.Consider that the US government has spoken openly about wanting to take, by whatever means, Greenland, from the Danish, a long-time ally, and that it's maybe jokingly, but still alarmingly, said that Canada should join the US as the 51st state.These statements are almost certainly just braggadocio, but that the highest-rung people in the most powerful government on the planet would say such things publicly speaks volumes about the Wild West nature of today's global order.Many leaders seem to be acting like this is a moment in which the prior paradigm, and the post-WWII rules that moderated global behavior within that paradigm, are fraying or disappearing, the global police force represented by the US and its allies pulling inward, not caring, and in some cases even becoming something like bandits, grabbing what they can.Under such circumstances, if you're in a position of relative power that you couldn't fully leverage previously, for fear of upsetting that global police force and tarnishing your reputation within that system they maintained, might you leverage it while you can, taking whatever you can grab and weakening your worst perceived enemy, at a moment in which it seems like the getting is good?It's been argued that Russia's violation of Ukraine's sovereignty may have helped kick-off this new paradigm, but Israel's behavior in Gaza, the West Bank, and increasingly Syria, as well, are arguably even better examples of this changing dynamic.While the Democrats and Joe Biden were in the White House, Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu seemed to be mostly playing ball, at least superficially, even when he very clearly wasn't—he did what he could to seem to be toeing rules-based-order lines, even when regularly stepping over them, especially in Gaza.But now, post-Trump's return to office, that line-toeing has almost entirely disappeared, and the Israeli government seems to be grabbing whatever they can, including large chunks of southwestern Syria, which was exposed by the fall of the Assad regime. The Israeli military launched a full aerial campaign against the Syrian army's infrastructure, declared a 1974 disengagement agreement with Syria to be void, and though it initially said it would hold the territory it has taken temporarily, it has more recently said it would hold it indefinitely—possibly permanently expanding its country's land mass at the expense of its neighbor, another sovereign nation, at a moment in which it felt it could get away with doing so.It's not clear that India has any ambitions on Pakistani territory, beyond what it holds in Kashmir, at least, but there's a chance it sees this moment the same way the Israeli government does: as a perhaps finite moment during which the previous state of things, the global rules-based-order, no longer applies, or doesn't apply as much, which suggests it could do some serious damage to its long-time rival and not suffer the consequences it would have, reputationally or otherwise, even half a year ago.And India's leader, Narendra Modi, is in some ways even better positioned than Israel's Netanyahu to launch such a campaign, in part because India is in such a favorable geopolitical position right now. As the US changes stance, largely away from Europe and opposing Russia and its allies, toward more fully sidling up to China in the Pacific, India represents a potential counterweight against Chinese influence in the region, where it has successfully made many of its neighbors reliant on its trade, markets, and other resources.Modi has reliably struck stances midway between US and Chinese spheres of influences, allowing it to do business with Russia, buying up a lot of cheap fuel that many other nations won't touch for fear of violating sanctions, while also doing business with the US, benefitting from a slew of manufacturers who are leaving China to try to avoid increasingly hefty US tariffs.If India were to spark a more concentrated conflict with Pakistan, then, perhaps aiming to hobble its economy, its military, and its capacity to sponsor proxies along its border with India, which periodically launch attacks, including in Kashmir—that might be something that's not just tolerated, but maybe even celebrated by entities like China and the US, because both want to continue doing their own destabilizing of their own perceived rivals, but also because both would prefer to have India on their side in future great power disagreements, and in any potential future large-scale future conflict.India is richer and more powerful than Pakistan in pretty much every way, but in addition to Pakistan's decently well-developed military apparatus, like India, it has nukes. So while there's a chance this could become a more conventional tit-for-tat, leading to limited scuffles and some artillery strikes on mostly military installations across their respective borders, there's always the potential for misunderstandings, missteps, and tit-for-tat escalations that could push the region into a nuclear conflict, which would be absolutely devastating in terms of human life, as this is one of the most densely populated parts of the world, but could also pull in neighbors and allies, while also making the use of nuclear weapons thinkable by others once more, after a long period of that fortunately not being the case.Show Noteshttps://www.france24.com/en/asia-pacific/20250427-indian-pakistani-troops-exchange-fire-for-third-night-in-disputed-kashmirhttps://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20250422-at-least-24-killed-in-kashmir-attack-on-tourists-indian-police-sourcehttps://www.france24.com/en/asia-pacific/20250424-india-will-identify-track-and-punish-kashmir-attack-perpetrators-modi-sayshttps://www.nytimes.com/2025/04/27/world/asia/india-pakistan-kashmir.htmlhttps://archive.is/20250426143222/https://www.reuters.com/world/india/india-pakistan-exchange-gunfire-2nd-day-ties-plummet-after-attack-2025-04-26/https://www.nytimes.com/2025/04/24/world/asia/india-pakistan-indus-waters-treaty.htmlhttps://www.nytimes.com/2025/04/23/world/asia/kashmir-pahalgam-attack-victims.htmlhttps://apnews.com/article/india-pakistan-kashmir-attack-829911d3eae7cfe6738eda5c0c84d6aehttps://www.bbc.com/news/world-south-asia-11693674https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Partition_of_Indiahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kashmirhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kashmir_conflicthttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indo-Pakistani_war_of_1947%E2%80%931948 This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit letsknowthings.substack.com/subscribe

The Journal.
A Syrian Father's Journey to Find His Son

The Journal.

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 28, 2025 21:26


Suleiman al-Youssef's son, Shadi, has been missing since the beginning of the Syrian civil war. After the Assad regime was overthrown, Suleiman found new hope when he discovered a video of a man who looked like his son outside the country's most notorious prison. WSJ's Ben C. Solomon on Suleiman's search for his son and Syria's thousands of other missing loved ones like him. Kate Linebaugh hosts. Further Listening: - Assad's Regime Falls. What's Next For Syria?  - Ten Days That Shifted Power in Syria  Sign up for WSJ's free What's News newsletter . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

From Our Own Correspondent Podcast
Pope Francis' Latin American Legacy

From Our Own Correspondent Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 26, 2025 29:16


Kate Adie introduces stories from Mexico, Canada, Kenya, the USA and Syria.As the first pope to come from Latin America, Pope Francis was hugely popular in the region, standing in solidarity with local priests who often have to walk a delicate line in communities under the control of drug cartels. Will Grant reflects on the late pope's legacy in Mexico.Canada goes to the polls on Monday, in a race that has become increasingly tight over the past few months. Reporting from Vancouver Island, Neal Razzell says it's the name that's not on the ballot that has proved to be the game changer.The Kenyan port town of Lamu is undergoing a radical transformation, as part of a Chinese-funded multi-billion dollar development project. While it promises to bring jobs and trade to the region, Beth Timmins finds some locals are less sure of the signs of progress.Once a seasonal threat, wild fires in California are now a year-round problem. So much so, that some homeowners are being told by insurers that they are no longer willing to honor their policies. Amy Steadman has been speaking to Californians who say they can no longer afford to live in the state.And finally to Syria - home to several UNESCO world heritage sites. After 14 years of civil war came to an end, and President Assad was driven from power. tour guides living in towns close to the country's famous ancient sites are hopeful that travellers will soon return.Series producer: Serena Tarling Production coordinators: Sophie Hill & Katie Morrison Editor: Richard Fenton-Smith