Podcasts about assad

The latest on talks between the US and Iran happening this week, how the post-Assad leadership regime is faring in Syria, and the latest from Gaza. 

In this episode of the International Risk Podcast, Dominic Bowen speaks with Dr Ola Rifai about the evolution of Syrian identity and how competing narratives of nationalism, sectarianism, and statehood have shaped the country's political trajectory before and after 2011.Find out more about how identity was managed under the Assad regime, how sectarianisation unfolded differently in cities such as Homs and Damascus, and why collective memory, displacement, and institutional weakness continue to influence Syria's fragile post-conflict landscape.The conversation also examines citizenship, state formation, and the structural challenges of rebuilding trust between communities after prolonged violence. Dr Rifai explores whether a unified Syrian national identity can be reconstructed, and what role education, transitional justice, and institutional reform will play in that process.Finally, they discuss the regional and geopolitical dimensions of Syria's transformation, the risks posed by unresolved identity fractures, and the indicators policymakers and risk professionals should monitor as Syria navigates its next phase.Tell us what you liked!

Cette conférence abondamment commentée ce matin par la presse européenne. « À Munich, Emmanuel Macron répond à J.D. Vance en appelant à la fierté européenne », titre La Croix. Le quotidien français parle « d'un discours en forme de réponse point par point au vice-président américain, qui avait agoni le Vieux Continent de reproches un an plus tôt dans le même cénacle ».  « Un an après l'attaque de J.D. Vance, Macron appelle à prendre l'Europe en "exemple", plutôt que la "critiquer" », annonce de son côté Libération, citant le président français : « Je pense que l'Europe est intrinsèquement forte et qu'elle peut être encore renforcée pour être un meilleur ami pour nos alliés, notamment les États-Unis », a déclaré Emmanuel Macron.   À Londres, le Guardian, lui, a retenu cette déclaration du chancelier allemand Friedrich Merz : « Les États-Unis ne sont pas assez puissants pour agir seuls. Ils ont atteint les limites de leur pouvoir et ont peut-être déjà perdu leur rôle de leader mondial ». Enfin le quotidien allemand Die Welt reprend les propos du gouverneur démocrate de Californie. Gavin Newsom, lui aussi présent à Munich, qui « a prôné la patience. » « Donald Trump n'est qu'un homme de passage », a-t-il dit, « dans trois ans, il ne sera plus là ». Noms, adresses électroniques et numéros de téléphone Aux États-Unis, l'ICE, la police de l'immigration, est une nouvelle fois au cœur des débats. « Le Département de la sécurité intérieure, explique le New York Times, a envoyé à plusieurs sociétés, notamment Google et Meta, des assignations à comparaître pour obtenir des informations sur les comptes qui suivent ou commentent les activités de l'ICE ». Autrement dit, précise le quotidien américain : « le département de la Sécurité intérieure intensifie ses efforts pour identifier les Américains qui s'opposent à l'ICE, en adressant aux entreprises technologiques des demandes exigeant les noms, adresses électroniques, numéros de téléphone et autres données d'identification associés aux comptes de médias sociaux, qui suivent ou critiquent l'ICE ». Selon le New York Times, « Google, Reddit, Discord et Meta (propriétaire de Facebook et Instagram), ont ainsi reçu des centaines de citations à comparaître » et « ont accédé à certaines demandes », c'est en tout cas ce qu'affirment les autorités américaines. Commentaire de Steve Loney, avocat principal de l'Union américaine pour les libertés civiles de Pennsylvanie : « le gouvernement s'arroge davantage de libertés qu'auparavant ». « La fréquence et l'impunité (de ses demandes) est sans précédent ».  « La page est tournée » L'Orient-Le Jour s'est rendu au Salon du livre de Damas. « Avec 500 éditeurs de 236 pays », annonce le quotidien libanais, « la première édition post-Assad est un succès pour le gouvernement de transition, tout autant qu'une vitrine de son projet national ». « Pendant des décennies, rappelle L'Orient-Le Jour, sous le régime Assad, le Salon International du Livre de Damas était la vitrine d'une propagande politique omniprésente ». Qu'en est-il aujourd'hui ? « La page est bel et bien tournée », explique L'Orient-le Jour, qui cite un libraire selon lequel « on peut vendre ce qu'on veut, il n'y a aucun contrôle des livres ». Mais ce n'est peut-être pas aussi simple, selon le quotidien libanais, qui a certes pu consulter « une petite sélection d'Harry Potter, Georges Orwell ou encore des mangas », mais qui a aussi constaté « certaines limites », « les titres considérés comme portant atteinte à la paix civile et aux valeurs syriennes, ou louant l'ancien dictateur sont prohibés ».   Mais surtout « l'offre islamique domine clairement », allant jusqu'aux « penseurs ayant inspiré al-Qaïda ou encore les Frères musulmans ». Toutefois, L'Orient-Le Jour ne boude pas son plaisir, et parle d'un « succès indéniable », « pour cette foire qui n'a rien à envier aux grands salons internationaux ». Une foire dans laquelle, nous dit-on, « se croisent familles avec poussettes, bandes de copines hilares et barbus rigoristes ». 

There are some days in the calendar that people will never forget. 8 December 2024 is a day Syrians will certainlt remember: Liberation Day. Now a national holiday, it marks the fall of the Assad family regime—a dictatorship that had ruled Syria for half a century.Fourteen months on, where is Syria today? Internationally, the country has secured a number of diplomatic victories. At home, however, the road to rebuilding and ensuring safety and stability remains long. Much of the country still lies in ruins, sectarian tensions have flared up periodically, and there are ongoing threats to Syria's territorial integrity, including incursions by Turkey and Israel.What, then, are the main priorities for Syria and al-Sharaa's government—and what key challenges does the country face as it rebuilds?And today, to unpack this further, we are joined by a familiar voice, Dominic Bowen, the host you are used to listening to on the International Risk Podcast. Yes, today he is back in the interviewee spot, joining us live from Damascus, and I, Anna Kummelstedt, one of the producers of the show, take on the interview hat once again. Many of you may be used to hearing Dominic's voice,but what you may not know is that this is not Dominic's first time in Syria. In fact, he was working with MSF (Doctors without Borders) as a field coordinator in northern Syria in 2014; he then became the Head of the NGO Forum for northern Syria, where Dominic provided leadership and coordination of humanitarian activities. He also authored the report in 2025, “Failing Syria: Assessing the impact of UNSC Resolutions in protecting civilians, and in 2018-19, he supported Save the Children's operations in Syria. The International Risk Podcast brings you conversations with global experts, frontline practitioners, and senior decision-makers who are shaping how we understand and respond to international risk. From geopolitical volatility and organized crime, to cybersecurity threats and hybrid warfare, each episode explores the forces transforming our world and what smart leaders must do to navigate them. Whether you're a board member, policymaker, or risk professional, The International Risk Podcast delivers actionable insights, sharp analysis, and real-world stories that matter.The International Risk Podcast is sponsored by Conducttr, a realistic crisis exercise platform. Conducttr offers crisis exercising software for corporates, consultants, humanitarian, and defence & security clients. Visit Conducttr to learn more.Dominic Bowen is the host of The International Risk Podcast and Europe's leading expert on international risk and crisis management. As Head of Strategic Advisory and Partner at one of Europe's leading risk management consulting firms, Dominic advises CEOs, boards, and senior executives across the continent on how to prepare for uncertainty and act with intent. He has spent decades working in war zones, advising multinational companies, and supporting Europe's business leaders. Dominic is the go-to business advisor for leaders navigating risk, crisis, and strategy; trusted for his clarity, calmness under pressure, and ability to turn volatility into competitive advantage. Dominic equips today's business leaders with the insight and confidence to lead through disruption and deliver sustained strategic advantage.Tell us what you liked!

Syria's Jewish community fled the country's repressive Assad regime. Now, a new government is encouraging their return by giving back ownership of synagogues and other property. Jane Arraf is there as one Jewish group turns the key on a synagogue's door in the northern city of Aleppo.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

In this episode of The Burn Bag, A'ndre Gonawela is joined by Dr. Iulia Joja, Senior Fellow at the Middle East Institute, to examine Russia's strategy in the Middle East in 2026 following major setbacks in Syria and Iran. The conversation breaks down how Moscow is adapting after the collapse of Bashar al-Assad's regime, Iran's military losses and internal unrest, and growing U.S. pressure across the region.Dr. Joja explains how Russia is pursuing a long-term strategy focused on maintaining relevance rather than dominance, using selective military presence, economic engagement, energy diplomacy, and partnerships with regional actors including Iran, Gulf states, and eastern Libya. The episode also explores Russia's coordination with Iran short of a formal alliance, its ties to regional proxies, and how footholds in Libya and the Red Sea expand Moscow's leverage over Europe, NATO, and global trade routes.This discussion offers a clear-eyed assessment of what Russia can realistically achieve in the Middle East, where its limits are, and what Moscow's evolving approach means for U.S. foreign policy, regional stability, and great-power competition going forward.

In Syria, last week's agreement between Kurdish forces and Damascus includes a humanitarian component, ultimately aimed at allowing refugees to return home. These families fled the fighting that followed the fall of Bashar al-Assad. There are now more than 100,000 internally displaced people in the Qamishli region, in Syria's far northeast. Report by Marie Charlotte Roupie, Abdulrahman Daoud and Josh Vardey.

Die internationale Buchmesse in Damaskus ist das erste kulturelle Großereignis nach dem Sturz von Diktator Assad. Es ist eine Verkaufsmesse ohne Zensur, mit vielen Büchern auch zu umstrittenen Themen, sagt der Islamwissenschaftler Stefan Weidner. Weidner, Stefan www.deutschlandfunkkultur.de, Fazit

Lancées le 4 décembre dernier par le gouvernement, les consultations nationales sur la réforme électorale s'inscrivent dans les engagements du programme gouvernemental 2025–2029. À cette occasion, le Prime Minister's Office (PMO) avait convié l'ensemble des parties prenantes à soumettre leurs propositions. Plusieurs partis extra-parlementaires, syndicats et mouvements citoyens ont répondu favorablement à cet appel. Me Assad Peeroo estime qu'il ne s'agit pas de s'opposer à la réforme en soi, mais plutôt de proposer un système plus performant que celui actuellement en vigueur. Me Peeroo souligne par ailleurs la nécessité d'ouvrir un véritable débat national sur la question, afin de permettre à la population d'être pleinement informée et sensibilisée aux enjeux de cette réforme.

After more than a decade of war, a surge of violence in northern Syria is forcing thousands of people to flee – even as others return to a fractured country under a fragile interim government. With two-thirds of the population in need of urgent assistance and the UN humanitarian response underfunded, the Danish Refugee Council's Charlotte Slente tells RFI why aid groups fear catastrophic consequences as cold weather and economic collapse push millions to the brink. Clashes in and around Aleppo have displaced around 170,000 people since mid-January, as the Syrian army seeks to extend its control over previously Kurdish-controlled areas. Ongoing hostilities between government forces and armed groups continue to trigger displacement in several parts of the country, according to the UN. While political transition is underway after the fall of Bashar al-Assad at the end of 2024, reconstruction and recovery efforts are hindered by instability and lack of funding.  Access to healthcare remains unreliable, and basic services are severely disrupted. A harsh winter and long-term drought are exacerbating the crisis. More than 16 million Syrians are expected to need humanitarian assistance in 2026 – yet the UN's response plan is only 33.5 percent funded, leaving a $3.2 billion gap. "It is an incredibly fragile moment for Syria," said Slente, secretary-general of the Danish Refugee Council (DRC), speaking to RFI on a visit to the Syria, including areas in and around Damascus.  "This is a country where two out of every three Syrians need humanitarian assistance, and 90 percent of the population lives below the poverty line." A year after Assad's fall, Syrian hopes for transitional justice are fading Returning to ruins, landmines Around 3 million Syrian refugees and internally displaced people have returned home since the fall of the Assad regime, over 1 million from other countries and nearly 2 million from within Syria. "Syria has had a new government in place for the last year," Slente said, "and it's time to sort of recap on our programming here and adapt our programming to the new realities on the ground. A vast percentage of the population here are in dire need of humanitarian assistance on the ground." Many people are returning to their homes to find almost nothing after more than 13 years of civil war, she added. One of the DRC's priorities now is to work on getting rid of the landmines that still litter areas where fighting took place, and pose a deadly threat to returnees. The organisation recently finished training local teams to help clear mines, Slente said. "We are helping build the capacity here of the National Mine Action Centre in the Ministry of Emergencies that needs to coordinate that very big endeavour of clearing Syria of unexploded ordinance and landmines. It means that now we can get more jobs done on the ground with the clearing of mines, getting them out of fields and villages, so that people can actually be safe when they move around the territory." As Syrian workers return home from Turkey, local businesses feel the loss Upheaval in Kurdish north In north-eastern Syria, near the border with Turkey, civilians say they are still fearful. After months of tension, Kurdish-led forces have ceded swathes of territory to advancing government troops. Under a deal agreed last week, Kurdish forces and administrative institutions are to be integrated into the state. It is a blow to the Kurds, who had sought to preserve the de facto autonomy they exercised after seizing swathes of territory in battles against the Islamic State jihadist group during the civil war. "We are afraid that they will attack our regions and that massacres and genocide will occur," one woman told RFI's reporter in the Kurdish-majority city of Qamishli, where government forces entered on Tuesday. Another resident said he was hoping for "a positive resolution to the conflict, so that no more bloodshed occurs". This episode was mixed by Nicolas Doreau.

In this Conflicted Conversation, Thomas speaks to veteran Singaporean diplomat Prof. Kishore Mahbubani about his thesis that the 21st century will be remembered as ‘the Asian Century', and how the West can prepare peacefully and optimistically for China's return as the fulcrum of world history. Drawing on his books Living the Asian Century, Has China Won?, and Can Asians Think?, Prof. Mahbubani explains: Why the 21st century will be the Asian century and why this need not require Western decline How colonialism shaped Asian self-perception, and the need for intellectual decolonisation How other countries can adopt Singapore's model for success His meeting with Fidel Castro, Hafez al-Assad, and Yasser Arafat The hypocrisy of Western power and diplomacy How the United States keeps the UN weak on purpose Why Pres. Trump's China realism has been a good thing The threat of war in Asia Follow Prof. Mahbubani on X: https://x.com/mahbubani_k Join the Conflicted Community here: https://conflicted.supportingcast.fm Find us on X: https://x.com/MHconflicted And Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MHconflicted And Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/conflictedpod Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Conflicted is a Message Heard production. Executive Producers: Jake Warren & Max Warren. This episode was produced and edited by Thomas Small. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

New research which has just been published in the British Medical Journal, suggests that testing menstrual blood for signs of cervical cancer could be an accurate way of screening for the disease. The BBC's Health Correspondent, Sophie Hutchinson, and Fiona Osgun, Head of Health information at Cancer Research UK join Anita Rani to talk about this new area of research and discuss the options currently open to women. English actor Imogen Poots is back on our screens taking on a challenging role in Kristen Stewart's first feature film, The Chronology of Water. It's a creative adaptation of an acclaimed memoir by American writer Lidia Yuknavitch which centres on her coming to terms with being abused as a child, battling pain and loss, and her ongoing healing journey. Imogen Poots joins Anita in the studio.The Kurdish-led self-administration in the north east of Syria is a territory where for years women have sat at the centre of political life, security and decision-making. But many are worried that the system is now under pressure following a new agreement between Kurdish authorities and the Syrian government, which will integrate the region into the Syrian state being rebuilt after the toppling of Bashar al-Assad in 2024. Anita is joined by Lina Shaikhouni, journalist at the BBC World Service and Dilar Dirik, Kurdish writer and author of The Kurdish Women's Movement: History, Theory, Practice.Paula Varjack talks to Anita about her show Nine Sixteenths. It examines the fallout from the infamous Janet Jackson and Justin Timberlake ‘wardrobe malfunction' incident at the 2004 Superbowl and the backlash that almost ruined Jackson's career. The play questions what this says about the demographics of who controls the media, the scrutinising of black women in the public eye and asks if anything has changed?Presenter: Anita Rani Producer : Corinna Jones

The Director of National Intelligence showed up to an FBI raid on a Georgia elections office. Then she put the President on speakerphone with the agents. Then we found out she's been sitting on a whistleblower complaint about herself for eight months. This week, we're talking about Tulsi Gabbard, the woman who went from Bernie Sanders endorser to Democratic presidential candidate to Fox News guest host to Trump's spy chief in one of the most cynical political transformations in modern American history. We're talking about the Fulton County raid, the classified complaint locked in a safe, her documented history of consuming Russian state media, her secret meeting with Assad, and why Russian state TV calls her "Russia's girlfriend." I'm not going to dance around it: I think Tulsi Gabbard is a Russian asset. And I'm going to tell you exactly why.  Buckle up.KEY POINTSOn January 28, 2026, FBI agents seized 700 boxes of 2020 election materials from Fulton County, Georgia. DNI Tulsi Gabbard was physically present, at Trump's specific direction.The day after the raid, Gabbard visited the FBI's Atlanta field office and put Trump on speakerphone with the agents. He gave them a "pep talk" for investigating the election he lost.Former FBI officials called this "unprecedented" and said there is "unanimous disgust" across current and former agents.A whistleblower complaint about Gabbard has been locked in a safe for eight months. Federal law requires transmission to Congress within three weeks.Three former aides told ABC News that Gabbard regularly read and shared articles from RT, the Kremlin's principal propaganda outlet.In 2017, Gabbard took a secret trip to Damascus and met with Assad for nearly three hours. Congressional staffers later worried she might leak information about a Syrian defector.A former U.S. ambassador to NATO called Gabbard's 2017 foreign policy memo "basically the Russian playbook."At her confirmation hearing, Gabbard refused to call Edward Snowden a traitor. Senator Bennet responded: "Apparently, you don't understand how critical our national security is."Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/we-saw-the-devil-crime-political-analysis--4433638/support.Website: http://www.wesawthedevil.comPatreon: http://www.patreon.com/wesawthedevilDiscord: https://discord.gg/X2qYXdB4Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/WeSawtheDevilInstagram: http://www.instagram.com/wesawthedevilpodcast.

"Il primo giorno mi sono chiesta 'perché non ci sono più donne?'", racconta Hind Kabawat.È la ministra siriana per gli Affari sociali e il Lavoro, l'unica donna nel governo di transizione che dovrebbe guidare il difficile cammino del paese dalla guerra alla pace.https://www.radiobullets.com/notiziari/3-febbraio-2026-notizie-donne-mondo-podcast/

Syria is entering a new and terrifying phase. In this episode Breht is joined by a panel of scholars and activists (Angie Bittar, Adam, Joma, Nur and Jalyssa) to take a clear-eyed look at what's unfolded over the last year and how it fits into the longer arc of the Syrian civil war, including the rapid collapse of the Assad-era order and the emergence of a new regime centered around HTS and Ahmad al-Sharaa (Jolani). Together, they break down the latest waves of mass violence and displacement across the coast, Suwayda, Aleppo, and Rojava, and ask what these events reveal about the new Syria. From there, they turn to the Kurdish question. They discuss the SDF, the long history of US imperial instrumentalization of Kurdish forces, the recurring pattern of abandonment, and the growing pressure now facing Rojava amid shifting regional and international priorities. They also examine ongoing kidnappings and sect-based killings, the breakdown of accountability, and what the allegations surrounding Syrian security institutions tell us about the direction of the new order. Finally, they zoom out to the information war. They map the propaganda narratives being pushed in Western and Zionist media, and offer practical "tells" for separating genuine reporting from information operations. Then, they close by asking what Syria teaches us about the current political moment: imperial strategy, proxy warfare, sectarian fragmentation, and what real solidarity demands. Access a full list of all the sources used for this episode HERE Donate to Jalyssa on Cash App: $JalyssaDugrot Or donate at: BuyMeACoffee/Jalyssa Check out Joma's great podcast: JDPOD Previous Episodes on Syria and Rojava:  "The Situation in Syria" Episode w/ Angie last year "On Syria: Civil War and US Imperialism" with Rania Khalek from 2018  "The Kurds and Revolutionary Rojava" with Dr. Redcrow from 2017 Interview with Murray Bookchin's Daughter on his Life and Legacy ---------------------------------------------------- Support Rev Left and get access to bonus episodes: www.patreon.com/revleftradio Make a one-time donation to Rev Left at BuyMeACoffee.com/revleftradio Follow, Subscribe, & Learn more about Rev Left Radio https://revleftradio.com/    

It's hard to be the only woman , I feel lonely sometimes because I'd like to have another woman colleague to talk too.'The BBC's Chief international correspondent, Lyse Doucet speaks to Hind Kabawat, Syria's Minister for Social Affairs and Labour. and the only female minister in the transitional government.She was born in India and grew up across the Middle East and Europe. Her life has been shaped by movement, exile and conflict. She studied economics in Damascus, law in Beirut, and later continued her education in the United States.During Syria's war, she worked abroad on diplomacy and legal reform, advising on negotiations and pushing for greater representation of women in public life. After the fall of the Assad regime and the creation of a transitional authority, she returned home to take up public office. In this conversation, she talks about power, responsibility, and what leadership means in a country still reckoning with more than a decade of conflict.The Interview brings you conversations with people shaping our world, from all over the world. The best interviews from the BBC, including episodes with the Colombian president Gustavo Petro, the Palestinian-American human rights lawyer Noura Erekat and Mexican actor Diego Calva. You can listen on the BBC World Service on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 0800 GMT. Or you can listen to The Interview as a podcast, out three times a week on BBC Sounds or wherever you get your podcasts. Presenter: Lyse Doucet Producers: Lina Shaikhouni, Farhana Haider Editor: Justine LangGet in touch with us on email TheInterview@bbc.co.uk and use the hashtag #TheInterviewBBC on social media.(Image: Hind Kabavat Credit: Beyza Comert/Anadolu via Getty Images)

Amidst protests and aggressive tactics by federal immigration agents, Christians in Minnesota are caring for their immigrant neighbors. CT's Emily Belz joins us to talk about her reporting from the Twin Cities, with an eye to how churches are responding to those living in fear and at risk of deportation. Then, Harvest Prude stops by to give us an update on the annual March for Life, the largest gathering of pro-life supporters in the US, and how the pro-life movement is faring under the current administration. Finally, is Trump leaving behind pro-democracy Syrians? Hadeel Oueis joins Russell Moore, Mike Cosper, and Clarissa Moll to discuss the dynamics in the post-Asaad regime. REFERENCED IN THE EPISODE: In a Tense Minnesota, Christians Help Immigrant Neighbors - Emily Belz First Year of Trump 2.0 Leaves Pro-lifers with Misgivings - Harvest Prude ABOUT THE GUESTS: Emily Belz is a staff writer with Christianity Today. She is a former senior reporter for World magazine. She is a World Journalism Institute graduate and also previously reported for the New York Daily News, The Indianapolis Star, and Philanthropy magazine. Harvest Prude is Christianity Today's national political correspondent and a congressional reporter based in Washington, DC. She is a former reporter for The Dispatch and World, having served there as political reporter for their Washington bureau. Hadeel Oueis is a political writer with a focus on US foreign policy in the Middle East. She is a news analyst for BBC, France 24, DW Arabic, and other international news channels. In 2011, at the age of 18, she was arrested by the Assad regime for playing a key role in the early days of Syrian protests. In 2012, the US delegation in Geneva helped her relocate to the United States. GO DEEPER WITH THE BULLETIN: Join the conversation at our Substack. Find us on YouTube. Rate and review the show in your podcast app of choice. ABOUT THE BULLETIN: The Bulletin is a twice-weekly politics and current events show from Christianity Today moderated by Clarissa Moll, with senior commentary from Russell Moore (Christianity Today's editor-at-large and columnist) and Mike Cosper (senior contributor). Each week, the show explores current events and breaking news and shares a Christian perspective on issues that are shaping our world. We also offer special one-on-one conversations with writers, artists, and thought leaders whose impact on the world brings important significance to a Christian worldview, like Bono, Sharon McMahon, Harrison Scott Key, Frank Bruni, and more. The Bulletin listeners get 25% off CT. Go to https://orderct.com/THEBULLETIN to learn more. “The Bulletin” is a production of Christianity Today Producer: Clarissa Moll Associate Producer: Alexa Burke Editing and Mix: Kevin Morris Graphic Design: Rick Szuecs Music: Dan Phelps Executive Producer: Erik Petrik Senior Producer: Matt Stevens Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this special podcast we go deep into the darkness that has descended upon the Kurdish ethnic minority in northern Syria. The massacre of civilians and brutality is reminiscent of ISIS. In fact, the Syrian state army is comprised of many former jihadists - some still openly wearing ISIS patches on their uniforms. The Kurds, of course, led the military force that led the assault on ISIS and its eventual retreat and defeat. But with the anointment of former al Qaeda man, Ahmed al Sharaa, as President of Syria…..violent Islamism has enjoyed something of a resurgence.Absolute hell has been visited upon the Syrian Kurds while the west and the world are distracted by chaos in the Islamic Republic of Iran. But the massacre of Syrian Kurds has barely been noticed. We feature interviews with four experts on the Syrian Kurds. (Their photos and bios are set out below in the Podcast Notes.) Each one brings a very deep understanding of the complexity of this situation. In order to assist as you work your way through this we have provided time stamps so that you may skip to particular bits that interest you more.In addition to the experts featured here we spoke to many others. I am grateful to all for their time and generosity in sharing their expertise and insight. I would like to draw particular attention to Noor Dahri, a devout Muslim living in the UK and originally from Pakistan. I learned so much from Noor and hope to share part of our interview in the near future. Editing such rich material is not easy. So thanks, Noor, for helping me to better understand the forces that are driving fanatical Islamism in the Middle East and the west.And to our loyal listeners, this episode is being made available to all subscribers in full. Consider it our contribution to doing whatever is possible to amplify awareness of the Kurdish plight.There are some graphic videos included in this podcast. If you prefer not to view them we provide advance notice so that you may skip over them.Timestamps:Introduction with video clips: 00:00Interview with Dr. Qanta A. Ahmed: 05:53Al Jazeera report on the release of ISIS prisoners in Al Hol Detention Camp in northern Syria: 36:41Interview with Ateret Shmuel: 39:22Interview with Dr. Jan Ilhan Kizilhan: 51:54Interview with Ahmad Sharawi: 01:02:15Conclusion: 1:19:08Show your support for STLV at buymeacoffee.com/stateoftelavivPodcast Notes:* Maps referred to and shown in the podcast introduction:* X post of U.S. Ambassador to Turkey, Tom Barrack, on January 20, 2026:Full text of this post: The greatest opportunity for the Kurds in Syria right now lies in the post-Assad transition under the new government led by President Ahmed al-Sharaa. This moment offers a pathway to full integration into a unified Syrian state with citizenship rights, cultural protections, and political participation— long denied under Bashar al-Assad's regime, where many Kurds faced statelessness, language restrictions, and systemic discrimination.Historically, the US military presence in northeastern Syria was justified primarily as a counter-ISIS partnership. The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), led by Kurds, proved the most effective ground partner in defeating ISIS's territorial caliphate by 2019, detaining thousands of ISIS fighters and family members in prisons and camps like al-Hol and al-Shaddadi. At that time, there was no functioning central Syrian state to partner with—the Assad regime was weakened, contested, and not a viable partner against ISIS due to its alliances with Iran and Russia.Today, the situation has fundamentally changed. Syria now has an acknowledged central government that has joined the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS (as its 90th member in late 2025), signaling a westward pivot and cooperation with the US on counterterrorism. This shifts the rationale for the US-SDF partnership: the original purpose of the SDF as the primary anti-ISIS force on the ground has largely expired, as Damascus is now both willing and positioned to take over security responsibilities, including control of ISIS detention facilities and camps.Recent developments show the US actively facilitating this transition, rather than prolonging a separate SDF role:• We have engaged extensively with the Syrian Government and SDF leadership to secure an integration agreement, signed on January 18, and to set a clear pathway for timely and peaceful implementation.• The deal integrates SDF fighters into the national military (as individuals, which remains among the most contentious issues), hand over key infrastructure (oil fields, dams, border crossings), and cede control of ISIS prisons and camps to Damascus.• The US has no interest in long-term military presence; it prioritizes defeating ISIS remnants, supporting reconciliation, and advancing national unity without endorsing separatism or federalism.This creates a unique window for the Kurds: integration into the new Syrian state offers full citizenship rights (including for those previously stateless), recognition as an integral part of Syria, constitutional protections for Kurdish language and culture (e.g., teaching in Kurdish, celebrating Nawruz as a national holiday), and participation in governance—far beyond the semi-autonomy the SDF held amid civil war chaos.While risks remain (e.g., fragile ceasefires, occasional clashes, concerns over hardliners, or the desire of some actors to relitigate past grievances), the United States is pushing for safeguards on Kurdish rights and counter-ISIS cooperation. The alternative—prolonged separation—could invite instability or ISIS resurgence. This integration, backed by US diplomacy, represents the strongest chance yet for Kurds to secure enduring rights and security within a recognized Syrian nation-state.In Syria, the United States is focused on: 1) ensuring the security of prison facilities holding ISIS prisoners, currently guarded by the SDF; and 2) facilitating talks between the SDF and the Syrian Government to allow for the peaceful integration of the SDF and the political inclusion of Syria's Kurdish population into a historic full Syrian citizenship.* Dr. Qanta A. AhmedDr. Ahmed is a physician, non-fiction author and broadcast media commentator. Her first book, In the Land of Invisible Women (Sourcebooks 2008) details her experience of living and working in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and has been published internationally in 14 countries. She is also a prolific opinion journalist and contributor to the American, British, Australian, Pakistani and Israeli media. Dr.Ahmad has been recognized for her work as a physician, researcher, journalist and advocate. She lives and works in New York City.* Ateret Shmuel Ateret Shmuel lives with her two children in Jerusalem and is the founder of the not-for profit organization Indigenous Bridges and has worked with Kurdish communities and organizations in the Middle East for more than 20 years. https://www.indigenousbridges.com/* Jan Ilhan KizilhanDr. Jan Ilhan Kizilhan is a psychologist, psychotherapist, trauma expert, orientalist, author and publisher. He is also the Director of the Institute for Health Science the State University in Baden-Württemberg, Germany and the chief psychologist of the Special-Quota Project, a programme funded by the State Government of Baden Württemberg. The project brought 1,100 women and children who were in IS captivity to Germany for medical treatment. He is the Founding Dean of the Institute for Psychotherapy and Psychotraumatology at the University of Duhok/Northern Iraq.* Ahmad SharawiAhmad Sharawi is a senior research analyst at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, focusing on Middle East affairs, specifically the Levant, Iraq, and Iranian intervention in Arab affairs, as well as U.S. foreign policy toward the region. Previously, Sharawi worked at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, where he focused mainly on Hezbollah. He created a map visualizing the border clashes on the Israeli-Lebanese frontier and authored articles on Jordan and Morocco. Ahmad previously worked at the International Finance Corporation and S&P Global. He holds a B.A. in international relations from King's College London and an M.A. from Georgetown University's School of Foreign Service.State of Tel Aviv is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.stateoftelaviv.com/subscribe

En Syrie, après l'annonce du cessez-le-feu entre les Forces démocratiques syriennes (FDS) et les autorités de Damas, des centres de réconciliation ont été ouverts pour les anciens membres des FDS qui souhaitent se rendre. En creux, s'y raconte le système de conscription obligatoire des populations arabes et kurdes sur le territoire. La défection rapide d'une partie d'entre eux a précipité la chute des FDS. De notre correspondante à Raqqa, Sourire timide, Suleyman, 26 ans, s'avance au milieu d'une rangée d'hommes en armes. Il est kurde et est un ancien membre des Forces démocratiques syriennes. Il est venu aujourd'hui se rendre et participer au processus de réconciliation en Syrie : « Au début, quand l'armée gouvernementale est arrivée, nous avons eu peur. Nous ne savions pas ce qui allait arriver. Mais jusqu'à présent, nous n'avons pas eu de problème. Je voulais surtout participer au processus de réconciliation pour apaiser la situation avec mes voisins arabes. Ils m'accusent d'être toujours affilié aux FDS. »  « J'étais soldat de garde » pour les Forces démocratiques syriennes Dans les rangs de ceux venus se rendre, figurent d'anciens membres de la sécurité intérieure, d'anciens combattants. « J'étais soldat de garde pour les FDS, dans la 17ème base, au nord de Raqqa », explique Yazan, 19 ans. Lui est arabe. Et il raconte, comme beaucoup d'autres, avoir été obligé de s'enrôler au sein des forces à dominante kurdes. « Il y avait le service obligatoire à partir de 18 ans. Si tu n'y allais pas, ils t'arrêtaient sur les points de contrôle. Ils avaient des listes de personnes recherchées », développe-t-il. Ses amis, qui avaient fait le choix de déserter, « restaient cachés à l'intérieur de chez eux, ils ne sortaient plus ». Au micro, Yazan raconte la différence de traitement, au sein des FDS. « Ils disaient ''moi je suis Kurde, donc je suis supérieur à toi, parce que tu es arabe''. Les valeurs de fraternité dont ils faisaient la promotion n'étaient pas appliquées. Le pouvoir était entre les mains des Kurdes. » Un chef l'obligeait chaque matin à faire des pompes pour obtenir un café. « Je n'étais vraiment pas à l'aise, je n'aime pas être humilié », poursuit-il. Puis, sa désertion, qui lui a valu deux mois de prison : « Il y avait beaucoup de corruption au sein des FDS. Cela marchait aussi quand tu étais en prison. Il suffisait de connaître un Kurde bien placé pour se faire libérer. Moi, j'ai payé un pot-de-vin, et j'ai été réintégré au centre de commandement militaire des FDS. » À lire aussiSyrie: «Nous étions 33 dans 20 mètres carrés», un jeune ex-détenu de la prison d'Al-Aqtan témoigne Un document en guise de « réconciliation » Escorté, Yazan déambule patiemment dans les différentes salles du bâtiment. Il passe un entretien, se fait prendre en photo, avant de récupérer un document. « Voilà, ça c'est une garantie quand tu passeras sur les points de contrôle, comme quoi tu as été "réconcilié". C'est un retour à la vie normale, une nouvelle page qui s'ouvre, où tous les liens avec les FDS ont été coupés », lui explique un soldat. La procédure est la même que celle qui avait été imposée aux anciens membres de l'armée de Bachar el-Assad, explique le responsable du centre de réconciliation à Raqqa, qui a souhaité rester anonyme. « Nous avons un fichier complet avec les informations de tous les combattants FDS. Le service de renseignement de l'État syrien a pu se les procurer et les rassembler dans une base de données. Ceux qui se rendent seront "réconciliés" avec l'État. Ils pourront encore être jugés s'il y a une plainte personnelle contre eux. » « Nous laisserons ces portes ouvertes le temps qu'il faut, ajoute-t-il. Nous attendons l'ensemble des FDS jusqu'au dernier. » À lire aussiSyrie: le gouvernement et les Kurdes parviennent à un accord, sur fond de tensions

Syria er et land hvor ting stadig vekk skjer, både positivt og negativt. VI tar en prat med tidligere landdirektør for Kirkens nødhjelp i Syria og Libanon, Benedicte Næss Hafskjold, og forteller om hvordan ståa er i dag, og et Syria både før og etter Assad.Vil du høre de to landepisodene om Syria? Pell deg over til podimo.no/198landProdusert av Marie Nyrud, PLAN-BBooking og manus av Martin Oftedal, PLAN-B Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Een jaar na de val van dictator Bashar al-Assad is het in Syrië nog steeds onrustig. Na zware gevechten heeft het Syrische leger twee Koerdische provincies in Noordoost-Syrië ingenomen. Er geldt nu een staakt-het-vuren, maar is daarmee ook echt een einde gekomen aan de strijd? Luister naar Midden-Oosten-correspondent Jenne Jan Holtland, die nu in Syrië is, en zijn voorganger Ana van Es. Lees ook de reportage: Koerden voelen zich verraden: ‘Wij hebben de wereld van IS verlost, nu keert de wereld zich van ons af’ Studenten opgelet! De Volkskrant biedt een gratis studentenabonnement aan, af te sluiten via volkskrant.nl/studenten Presentatie: Esma LinnemannRedactie: Corinne van Duin, Lotte Grimbergen, Julia van Alem, Jasper Veenstra Montage: Rinkie BartelsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Trotz aktueller Verhandlungen in Abu-Dhabi greift Russland mit Drohnen und anderem Kriegsgerät gezielt die Energieinfrastruktur der Ukraine an, es gibt kein Strom, kein Wasser, keine Heizung. Eisige Kälte, seit Wochen. Tausende Hochhäuser sind ohne Strom, die Menschen leiden bei Temperaturen von bis zu minus 20 Grad enorm, dieser Winter gilt als härtester seit Kriegsbeginn. Und das in einer Zeit, in der US-Präsident Donald Trump die bisherige Weltordnung stark verändern will. In der dritten Folge unsere Podcast Sonderreihe „Trumps neue Welt“ schauen wir in die Ukraine und Russland. Mit ARD-Korrespondentin Rebecca Barth aus dem Studio Kiew besprechen wir, was Trumps neue Weltordnung für die Menschen in der Ukraine konkret bedeutet. Wir blicken auch auf die aktuellen Gespräche zwischen Vertretern der Ukraine, Russlands und den USA. Wie steht der russische Präsident Putin im Moment da? Profitiert Putin von Trumps Kurs? Antworten gibt ARD-Korrespondent Björn Blaschke, Korrespondent für Russland. Und was hat der Wegfall und die Schwächung der Verbündeten Russlands, wie etwa von Assad in Syrien oder auch dem iranischen Regime, für Moskau zur Folge. Moderation: Janina Werner Redaktion: Heribert Roth Mitarbeit: Nils Neubert, Caroline Mennerich Redaktionsschluss: 27.01.2026  -----  Alle Folgen des Weltspiegel Podcasts findet ihr hier: https://www.ardaudiothek.de/sendung/weltspiegel-podcast/61593768/ -----  Podcast-Tipp: Amerika verstehen: https://www.deutschlandradio.de/neuer-podcast-amerika-verstehen-100.html -----  Feedback, Themenvorschläge & Lob an: weltspiegel.podcast@ard.de

Trotz aktueller Verhandlungen in Abu-Dhabi greift Russland mit Drohnen und anderem Kriegsgerät gezielt die Energieinfrastruktur der Ukraine an, es gibt kein Strom, kein Wasser, keine Heizung. Eisige Kälte, seit Wochen. Tausende Hochhäuser sind ohne Strom, die Menschen leiden bei Temperaturen von bis zu minus 20 Grad enorm, dieser Winter gilt als härtester seit Kriegsbeginn. Und das in einer Zeit, in der US-Präsident Donald Trump die bisherige Weltordnung stark verändern will. In der dritten Folge unsere Podcast Sonderreihe „Trumps neue Welt“ schauen wir in die Ukraine und Russland. Mit ARD-Korrespondentin Rebecca Barth aus dem Studio Kiew besprechen wir, was Trumps neue Weltordnung für die Menschen in der Ukraine konkret bedeutet. Wir blicken auch auf die aktuellen Gespräche zwischen Vertretern der Ukraine, Russlands und den USA. Wie steht der russische Präsident Putin im Moment da? Profitiert Putin von Trumps Kurs? Antworten gibt ARD-Korrespondent Björn Blaschke, Korrespondent für Russland. Und was hat der Wegfall und die Schwächung der Verbündeten Russlands, wie etwa von Assad in Syrien oder auch dem iranischen Regime, für Moskau zur Folge. Moderation: Janina Werner Redaktion: Heribert Roth Mitarbeit: Nils Neubert, Caroline Mennerich Redaktionsschluss: 27.01.2026  -----  Alle Folgen des Weltspiegel Podcasts findet ihr hier: https://www.ardaudiothek.de/sendung/weltspiegel-podcast/61593768/ -----  Podcast-Tipp: Amerika verstehen: https://www.deutschlandradio.de/neuer-podcast-amerika-verstehen-100.html -----  Feedback, Themenvorschläge & Lob an: weltspiegel.podcast@ard.de

After more than a decade of war, Syria is witnessing significant refugee and internal displacement returns – even as renewed hostilities in parts of the country force others to flee once again.Nearly 1.4 million refugees have returned from neighbouring countries since the fall of the Assad regime in December 2024. Almost two million internally displaced Syrians have also headed home to their places of origin.But fresh fighting in Aleppo and the northeast in recent weeks has triggered new displacement, while harsh winter conditions are compounding humanitarian needs.To explain what's driving these movements and how UN agencies are responding on the ground, UN News's Nancy Sarkis has been speaking to Céline Schmitt, spokesperson for the UN refugee agency in Syria:

The brutal crackdown on protesters killing tens of thousands has been a "sledgehammer" to Iranians everywhere, said Dr. Meir Javedanfar, an Israeli-Iranian expert on the government led by Ayatollah Ali Khameini. "The people of Iran have just gone through their own Babi Yar massacre," Javedanfar said on the Haaretz Podcast, referring to the largest single mass-killing during the Holocaust. "The Nazis killed 30,000 people in the space of two days. The Iranian regime – if we accept the 30,000 number – has done the same in less than a month. … The level of cruelty is unlike anything Iranians have seen before. The people of Iran are being massacred in unprecedented and historic numbers." The killings in the decade-long Syrian civil war was a laboratory for Iranian techniques of repression, he said, noting that Iranian leaders were often "disappointed when Bashar al-Assad was not violent enough against the people of Syria when they rose up." In Syria, he said, the Iranians "honed their skills" of deadly repression and are now using them "against their own people on the streets of Iran." On the question of whether a U.S. attack on Iran could be averted by a change of heart by the regime, bringing them to the negotiating table, Javedanfar said he sees no chance of concessions unless Khamenei believes that "the Americans could kill him and his family." If the U.S. attacks and Iran retaliates against Israel, he noted, the Israeli military will quickly join in the attack. "If the Iranian regime makes a mistake of attacking us, we have very genuine targets in Iran to attack, especially Iran's missile program," Javedanfar said, adding "I also hope Israel targets regime officials who are taking part in the oppression and suppression of the people of Iran in such a violent manner, I think that would hold Israel in very good stead in future history books of Iran." Read more: Some 30,000 Iranian Protesters May Have Been Killed in Two Days, Officials Reportedly Say U.S. Central Command Head to Coordinate With Israeli Defense Chiefs Ahead of Possible Iran Strike Trump Says 'Armada' Heading Toward Iran: 'Maybe We Won't Have to Use It'; Officials Confirm Warships en Route to Mideast UN Probe Condemns Iran Protest Deaths as Regime Provides Conflicting Casualty Reports Iran Will Treat Any Attack as 'All-out War Against Us,' Says Senior Iran Official Why the pro-Israel Right Is Suddenly Committed to Human Rights – for Iranians, Not PalestiniansSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.ryandawson.orgThe preview doesn't get into the discussion, it addresses another issue about the protests and women's rights. The US could easily have Iran Russia and Venezuela on the dollar by simply not putting sanctions on any of them (Iraq too). They de-dollarized themselves by their foreign policy. Russia was allied with Assad in Syria. Iran supports Hezbollah an…

Episode Notes This week on Live Like the World is Dying, we have a new episode with Virginia from the After the Fall podcast who talks about life in Rojava after the fall of Assad. We also talk about what's been going on more since this episode was recorded as Rojava was preparing to defend itself. For more on internationalism check out a previous episode Martyr Culture or our book Orso Links https://afterthefallpod.libsyn.com/ https://kolektiva.social/@afterthefallpod Free syrian women's foundation https://wjas.org/en/the-foundation/ Kongra Star https://kongra-star.org/eng/ Fajawat https://interstices-fajawat.org/ Leila Al Shami podcasts[ https://fromtheperiphery.com/2025/12/09/syria-one-year-on-after-the-fall-of-assad/ and https://fromtheperiphery.com/syria-the-inconvenient-revolution-pod/]( This podcast is powered by Pinecast. Try Pinecast for free, forever, no credit card required. If you decide to upgrade, use coupon code r-69f62d for 40% off for 4 months, and support Live Like the World is Dying.

During the conflict, the Damascus suburb became a killing field. But some of Assad's henchmen are still around – and even working with the new government By Melvyn Ingleby. Read by Selva Rasalingam. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

In this episode, Aaron Zelin returns to Conflicted to unpack the extraordinary collapse of the Syrian Democratic Forces' position in northeast Syria over the past week — and what the fallout could mean for Syria's fragile post-Assad order. Aaron explains: Why the March 2025 framework agreement ultimately failed Why Sunni Arab tribes abandoned the SDF — and how Damascus prepared the ground How and why fighting erupted in Kurdish neighbourhoods of Aleppo The rapid fall of SDF-held areas in Raqqa, Deir ez-Zor, and Hasakah What happened at ISIS prisons and detention camps during the collapse Why claims of ‘Kurdish abandonment' by the United States are misleading The PKK factor — and the risk of a new insurgency or terrorism campaign What Syria's consolidation means for ISIS, regional stability, and the country's future Follow Aaron on X: https://x.com/azelin This episode includes BONUS MATERIAL after the credits ONLY for subscribers to the Conflicted Community. Join the Conflicted Community here: https://conflicted.supportingcast.fm  Find us on X: https://x.com/MHconflicted And Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MHconflicted And Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/conflictedpod Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Conflicted is a Message Heard production. Executive Producers: Jake Warren & Max Warren. This episode was produced and edited by Thomas Small. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It was hoped the fall of Syria's former dictator Bashar al-Assad would usher in a period of stability, unity and perhaps - eventually - democracy.But now the country enters a new and unpredictable phase as President Ahmed Al-Sharaa tightens his grip on power.In the north-east of the country the Kurds were the West's key ally against Islamic State.Now their control in the region is collapsing after days of fierce battles with government forces. A tentative ceasefire is in place but the fallout is far from clear, including the fate of thousands of ISIS prisoners and their families who were in Kurdish-controlled camps.Regional powers like Turkey and Iran, as well as China, Russia and the West are also jostling for influence.Could these developments finally bring a period of calm and stability in Syria or just open the door to new dangers?In this episode of The Fourcast, Jackie Long was joined by Channel 4 News International Editor Lindsey Hilsum and Lina Khatib, Principal Analyst at geopolitical foresight company ExTrac.

durée : 00:11:52 - Les Enjeux internationaux - par : Guillaume Erner - Depuis le 6 janvier 2026, la Syrie replonge dans une crise avec la minorité kurde, pilier de la lutte contre Daech et longtemps maîtresse du nord-est du pays. Comment expliquer l'échec du Rojava ? - réalisation : Félicie Faugère - invités : Adel Bakawan Directeur du European Institute for Studies on the Middle East and North Africa (EISMENA), chargé d'enseignement à Sciences Po Lyon 2, chercheur associé au Programme Turquie/Moyen-Orient de l'Institut Français des Relations Internationales (IFRI).

From Trump's proposed 20-Point Peace Plan, to Israel's resistance to his invitation for Turkey and Qatar to join a Gaza “Board of Peace,” to his pledge to free the Iranian people from a tyrannical regime, Trump, Israel, and Iran have dominated the global news cycle. In this episode of the Blessors of Israel Podcast, Dr. Matthew Dodd and Pastor Rich Jones unpack these volatile developments and offer a biblical lens for understanding how current events may be setting the stage for the rise of the Antichrist.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, War, WWIII, Hamas, Anti-Semitism, October 7, 2023, Trump's 20-Point Peace Plan, Qatar, Egypt, Palestinian Authority, Mahmoud Abbas, Erdogan, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Board of Peace, Iranian Riots, Iranian Revolution, Davos,

This week we talk about war, inflation, and currency devaluation.We also discuss tyrants, police violence, and social media threats.Recommended Book: Post-Growth Living by Kate SoperTranscriptBack in mid-June of 2025, a shooting war erupted between Iran and Israel, with Israeli military forces launching attacks against multiple Iranian military sites, alongside sites associated with its nuclear program and against individual Iranian military leaders.Iran responded to these strikes, which left a lot of infrastructural damage and several military leaders assassinated, with large waves of missiles and drones against both Israeli and allied military targets, and soon after, later the same month, both sides agreed on a ceasefire and that was that.Following that blip of a war, though, Iran's economy suffered greatly. It already wasn't doing well, in part due to the crippling sanctions enforced by the US government for years, but also because of persistent mismanagement by Iran's ruling regime, and the resultant deterioration of local infrastructure, both physical and bureaucratic.Millions of people fled Iranian urban centers during the war with Israel, and while most of them returned when the ceasefire was brokered, the pace of life and other fundaments of these cities never got back up to where they were, before, as there have been fairly consistent blackouts that have kept people from being able to function as normal, and these outages have also kept businesses from getting back on their feet. That, in turn, has resulted in closures and firings and an overall reduction in economic activity.The general hamhandedness of the government has amplified these issues, and the countless other issues of trying to exist within a country that is being so persistently targeted—both in the sense of those crushing sanctions from the US, but also in the sense of being periodically struck by Israel—has dramatically increased uncertainty throughout Iran these past several years.Even before that brief war, Iran was already on the backfoot, having suffered the loss of their local proxies, including the Assad regime in Syria, Hezbollah in Lebanon, the Houthis in Yemen, and Hamas in the Gaza Strip—all of which have been either severely weakened by Israel in recent years, or functionally wiped out—and that in turn has more directly exposed them to meddling and attacks from their key opposition, which includes the US, Israel, and Saudi Arabia.That new vulnerability has put the Iranian government on high-alert, and the compounding effects of all that infrastructural damage, mismanagement, and the need to reallocate more resources to defense has left the country suffering very high levels of inflation, a severely devalued currency, regular blackouts, mass unemployment, a water shortage, and long-time repression from a government that is in many ways more paranoid and flailing than in any time in recent memory.What I'd like to talk about today is a recent wave of protests across Iran and why the US government is apparently considering taking action to support protestors against the Iranian government.—Iran has long suffered all sorts of issues, including regular efforts by ethnic secessionists to pull it apart into pieces they periodically occupy and want to govern, themselves, and concerns from citizens that the government spends a whole lot of their time and the nation's resources enriching themselves, oppressing the citizenry, funding what seems to be a pointless nuclear program, and prioritizing their offensive efforts against Israel and their other regional enemies, often by arming and funding those aforementioned, now somewhat defunct proxy militias and militaries.On top of all that, as of October 2025, inflation in Iran had surged to 48.6% and the Iranian currency, the rial, dropped in value to 1.45 million per dollar. The government tried to artificially boost the value of the rial to 1.38 million per dollar in early January of 2026, but it dropped further, to 1.5 million per dollar a few days later, hitting a record low. This combined with that wild inflation rate, made the basic fundamentals of life, food, electricity, and so on, unaffordable, even for those who still had jobs, which was an ever-shrinking portion of the population.For context, the drop of the rial to a value of 1.38 million per dollar, the boosted value, represented a loss of about 40% of the rial's value since June of 2025, just before that war with Israel, which is a staggering loss, as that means folk's life savings lost that much in about half a year.When currency values and inflation hit that level of volatility, doing business becomes difficult. It often makes more sense to close up shop than to try to keep the doors open, because you don't know if the price you charge for your product or service will make you a profit or not: there's a chance you'll sell things at a loss, because the value of the money you receive and the cost of goods you require, both to survive and to keep your business functioning, will change before the day ends, or before the sale can be completed.Iran's economic crisis has further exploded in the past few weeks, then, because all those issues have compounded and spiraled to the point that simply selling things and buying things have become too risky for many people and entities, and that means folks are having even more trouble getting food and keeping the lights on than before; which becomes a real survival issue, on top of the regular crackdowns and abuses by the government that they've suffered in various ways for decades.In 2022, those abuses and limits on personal rights led to large protests that were catalyzed by the death of a 22-year-old woman named Mahsa Amini, who was in police custody for allegedly wearing her hijab improperly. Those 2022 protests were historically large—the biggest in the country, by some estimates at least, since the 1979 Islamic Revolution.On December 28 2025, a group of shopkeepers in Iran's capital city, Tehran, went on strike, closing their shops in protest against what's been happening with Iran's economy; again, it's basically impossible to safely do business in a country with that much inflation and currency devaluation happening.Other shopkeepers followed suit, and large protests formed around these closed shops. Those protests flooded social media platforms in short order, protestors shouting slogans that indicated they were pissed off about all the economic mismanagement in the country, and then eventually that led to anti-government slogans being shouted, as well.Things remained peaceful at these protests, at first, and they expanded across the country within the next few days, shops closing and people filling the streets.By the fourth day, police had started to use live ammunition and tear gas against protestors, some of the protestors were killed, and things spiraled from there.By December 31, the government ordered a total, nationwide business shutdown, to try to get ahead of these protests, which again tended to revolve around the shutdown of businesses in protest—the government said they were making this call because of cold weather, but the writing was kind of on the wall at this point that they were scrambling to make it look like businesses were shutting down because they said so, not in protest of the government.The government also announced that they would start cracking down on protestors, hard, and on the first day of 2026, things escalated further, police using even more force against those who gathered, which of course led to more protests in more places, more angry slogans being shouted, and more protestor deaths at the hands of government forces.Protests had spread to all 31 Iranian provinces by early January of 2026, and at this point there were only 17 confirmed deaths.US President Donald Trump got involved around this time, maybe feeling confident following the successful nighttime grab of Venezuelan President Maduro; whatever the case, he warned the Iranian government not to shoot protestors, or the US government might have to get involved, coming to the protestors' rescue.Iran's government responded by saying the rioters must be put in their place, suppressing the funerals of protestors, and muffling local internet service, slowing down access speeds and increasing the number of outages by about a third. They threatened to execute hundreds of protestors by hanging, then said they wouldn't. Trump declared this to be a personal victory, though the Iranian government has used his insinuation of himself into the matter to position the fight as Iran against the US, the protestors backed by their great enemy, which has shown itself to be responsible for these protests.The government then started forcing captured protestors to make confessions on video, which only seemed to further anger the non-arrested protestors, and some protestors began to fight back, in one case setting a police officer on fire, and in other cases local militia groups defended protestors against police, leading to several deaths.Iran's government shut down more communication services in an attempt to regain control, in some cities taking down the internet completely, though some information, photos and videos of police abuses of protestors still made it out into the wider world using satellite services like Starlink, and by the 9th of January, protests reached a scale that rivaled and maybe surpassed those seen during the 1979 Islamic Revolution, and protestors began to set fire to buildings associated with the Islamic Republic, the government, and directly clashing with security forces in some cases.Hundreds of people were reportedly killed per day from that point forward, and thousands were rushed to hospitals, overwhelming local doctors.Thousands of people were also violently killed by police, under cover of the now complete internet blackout, and on January 10th, it was estimated that around 2,000 protestors had been killed in the past two days, alone, while other estimates from inside and outside Iran range from 12,000 to 20,000 protestors killed by the government. The most reliable source I could find, as of last weekend, indicated that the true number of dead is something like 3,300 people, at minimum.In the past week or so, the Iranian government has apparently figured out how to jam Starlink internet signals, making it even more difficult for protestors to share what's happening in the country, and President Trump posted on his social network, Truth Social, telling Iranian citizens that they should overthrow the government and that help is on the way.The Iranian government has arrested tens of thousands of people, has tanks patrolling their towns and cities, and seems to have successfully quashed protests for the time being; no protests at all were reported across the country as of mid-January, and so many people were killed and injured that hospitals and other institutions are still overwhelmed, trying to work through their backlog; much of the country is in mourning.Government forces are reportedly going door to door to arrest people who were spotted in CCTV and social media footage participating in protests, and they've set up checkpoints to stop people, look through their phones, and arrest them if any photos or videos are found that indicate they were at protests, deleting that digital evidence in the process.This remains a fast-moving story and there's a chance something significant, like the US striking Iranian government targets, or renewed, more focused protests will arise in the coming days and weeks.Some analysts have argued that it's kind of a no-brainer for the Trump administration to hit the Iranian government while it's strained in this way, because it's a long-time enemy of the US and its allies that's currently weak, and doing so would reinforce the narrative, sparked with the capture of Maduro, that Trump's administration is anti-tyrant; which is questionable by most measures, but again, this is a narrative, not necessarily reality. And narratives are powerful, especially going into an election year.It's also possible that, because economic conditions in Iran haven't changed, that this is just the beginning of something bigger; protestors and militias taking a moment to regain their footing and consider what they might do to have more of an impact when they start back up again.Show Noteshttps://www.iranintl.com/en/202601130145https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/dec/31/we-want-the-mullahs-gone-economic-crisis-sparks-biggest-protests-in-iran-since-2022https://www.nytimes.com/article/iran-protests-inflation-currency.htmlhttps://www.fdd.org/analysis/2025/06/25/mapping-the-protests-in-iran-2/https://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/10/us/politics/trump-iran-strikes.htmlhttps://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/10/world/middleeast/iran-protests-death-toll.htmlhttps://www.reuters.com/world/china/iranian-mp-warns-greater-unrest-urging-government-address-grievances-2026-01-13/https://www.wsj.com/world/middle-east/iran-is-hunting-down-starlink-users-to-stop-protest-videos-from-going-global-d8b49602https://archive.is/20260114175227/https://www.wsj.com/world/middle-east/bank-collapse-iran-protests-83f6b681https://www.cbsnews.com/news/iran-protest-death-toll-over-12000-feared-higher-video-bodies-at-morgue/https://sundayguardianlive.com/world/did-irans-currency-collapse-rial-plummets-to-000-against-euro-while-inflation-protests-escalate-across-the-country-164403/https://archive.is/20260116034429/https://www.ft.com/content/5d848323-84a9-4512-abd2-dd09e0a786a3https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cm2jek15m8nohttps://theconversation.com/the-use-of-military-force-in-iran-could-backfire-for-washington-273264https://archive.is/20260114182636/https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2026/01/14/iran-regime-protest-trump-strike/https://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/16/world/middleeast/iran-protests-deadly-crackdown.htmlhttps://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/17/world/middleeast/iran-ayatollah-khamenei.htmlhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2025%E2%80%932026_Iranian_protestshttps://www.en-hrana.org/day-thirteen-of-the-protests-nighttime-demonstrations-continue-amid-internet-shutdown/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2025_Iran_internal_crisishttps://apnews.com/article/iran-protests-trump-khamenei-fc11b1082fb75fca02205f668c822751 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

La guerra civile in Siria, finita poco più di un anno fa, non è stata una guerra di religione, e nemmeno una guerra etnica. Ma le divisioni etnico-religiose hanno avuto un ruolo importante, così come lo avevano avuto nei decenni precedenti, durante la lunga dittatura della famiglia Assad. Il vecchio regime aveva garantito una serie di privilegi alla sua comunità di riferimento, gli alauiti, che controllavano le forze di sicurezza, i servizi segreti, l'apparato statale. La repressione prima e durante la guerra civile era quindi decisa e attuata da esponenti della minoranza aluita, nella maggior parte dei casi nei confronti di esponenti della maggioranza sunnita. Non per la loro identità etnico-religiosa ma in quanto membri di quella parte di società discriminata e a un certo punto costretta a ribellarsi. Con la fine della guerra i rapporti si sono ribaltati e il potere è stato preso da esponenti della comunità sunnita. Il nuovo governo ha sempre detto che governerà per tutti, che proteggerà tutte le comunità, a prescindere dalla loro identità etnico-religiosa: sunniti, alauiti, curdi, cristiani, drusi. Nell'ultimo anno però ci sono state violenze e scontri che hanno mostrato molto chiaramente come la convivenza tra i diversi gruppi che compongono la società siriana non sia per nulla scontata. Anzi. Il fatto più grave è stato il massacro degli alauiti nel marzo del 2025. Questo audio documentario, prodotto in Siria nelle scorse settimane, parte proprio da lì.

De oorlog in Oekraïne duurt nu even lang als de oorlog die in juni 1941 begon met operatie-Barbarossa. Toen had Stalin na vier jaar de Wehrmacht verslagen en zelfs Berlijn veroverd. Daarentegen is Vladimir Poetins Blitzkrieg mislukt en uitgelopen op een loopgravenoorlog als in de Eerste Wereldoorlog bij Verdun en de IJzer. 2025 was rampzalig voor het Kremlin. Geen enkel offensief slaagde, ook met Donald Trump nu als halve bondgenoot erbij werd Kyiv niet op de knieën gedwongen. Economisch staart Rusland in een afgrond en een reeks essentiële bondgenoten en vazalstaten ging ten onder. De gevolgen voor Europa - en dus voor Nederland - zijn groot. Jaap Jansen en PG Kroeger verkennen hoe een nieuw Nederlands kabinet direct voor de meest ingrijpende beslissingen van geopolitieke en strategische aard geplaatst zal zijn. Zeker als in Brussel, Berlijn, Parijs en andere hoofdsteden uitzonderlijke noodscenario's aan de orde van de dag zijn. *** Deze aflevering is mede mogelijk gemaakt met donaties van luisteraars die we hiervoor hartelijk danken. Word ook vriend van de show! Heb je belangstelling om in onze podcast te adverteren of ons te sponsoren? Zend ons een mailtje en wij zoeken contact. *** De wereldwijde neergang van Poetins bewind is te meten aan het verlies van greep op een hele reeks landen die door het Kremlin als loyaal werden beschouwd. Grootste klap was hoe eind 2024 in Syrië het regime van Bashar al-Assad instortte. Veelzeggend is dat dezer dagen het EU-duo Antonio Costa en Ursula von der Leyen officieel Damascus bezocht en strategische samenwerking en steun bij wederopbouw besproken werd. Rusland moet ook toezien hoe het contract voor zijn belangrijkste militaire knooppunt aldaar - de haven Tartous – nietig werd verklaard. Door de val van Assad zijn ook bondgenoten als Iran, Hezbollah en Hamas zwaar onder druk geraakt. Helder is dat geen van hen hoeft te rekenen op bijstand uit Moskou. Dat is ook de buurlanden in de Kaukasus, Midden-Azië en Venezuela duidelijk geworden. Poetin is een bondgenoot die je ijskoud aan je lot overlaat. Dat angstvisioen beheerst nu zelfs AleksandrLoekasjenko in Belarus. Zelfs hij probeert ineens weer aan te pappen met zijn EU-buren en Amerika en laat vele politieke gevangenen vrij. Partner Xi Jinping komt het Kremlin niet te hulp. Integendeel. Een langjarige overeenkomst om Russische elektriciteit af te tappen is zonder pardon opgezegd. China kan zelf – en duurzaam – veel minder kostbaar stroom produceren. Het verdienmodel van Rusland is daarmee hopeloos verouderd. De oude droom van Stalin en zijn opvolgers vervliegt. Het Kremlin kan zich niet als gelijkwaardige wereldmacht profileren naast Amerika. Barack Obama’s cynische conclusie is bewaarheid: Rusland is ‘een regionale macht die in Oekraïne zwakheid toont in plaats van kracht’. Dat wordt bevestigd door een serie opvallende signalen. Het Russische leger meldt aan het Kremlin en de bevolking allerlei militaire triomfen die vervolgens niet blijken te kloppen. Ook beweringen over technologische hoogstandjes van de militaire industrie blijken fata morgana's. De westerse sancties leiden ertoe dat allerlei geavanceerde middelen en apparatuur niet meer gerepareerd kan worden. Civiel vliegverkeer en spoorwegen staan op instorten. Europa doet intussen nadrukkelijke pogingen haar positie in komende onderhandelingen te optimaliseren, om zo Kyiv bij te staan. Niet alleen zou één onderhandelaar namens alle partners worden aangewezen - de Finse president Alexander Stubb - ook wordt EU-lidmaatschap voor Oekraïne - als 'veiligheidsgarantie' - in hoog tempo concreet voorbereid. In 2027 zouden liefst vier nieuwe lidstaten kunnen toetreden, uiteraard met maatwerk-afspraken voor de verdere uitwerking. Dit zijn Montenegro, IJsland, Moldavië en Oekraïne. Vooral dit laatste land zou een majeure uitbreiding betekenen en dat op zo'n korte termijn. Voor het komende kabinet onder leiding van Rob Jetten betekent dit dat het lijkt op Lubbers III. Dit trad aan terwijl de Berlijnse Muur viel en moest onmiddellijk rekening houden met revolutionaire omwentelingen bij de oosterburen en daarmee in heel Europa en in de NAVO. Al bij de regeringsverklaring zal Jetten klare wijn moeten schenken en de toekomst van Europa, de nieuwe militaire en geopolitieke uitdagingen en een actieve rol voor Nederland hoogste prioriteit geven. PG weet wel wie de formateur moet uitnodigen om minister van Buitenlandse Zaken te worden. *** Verder luisteren Poetins neergang 19 - Anne Applebaum: Poetin en de destabilisering van het Westen https://art19.com/shows/betrouwbare-bronnen/episodes/857f1bf5-899c-430b-aef1-e4bdb01e6e01 510 - Brezjnev, Poetin en hun rampzalige oorlog. Lessen voor nu uit 1980 https://art19.com/shows/betrouwbare-bronnen/episodes/1c5da2a5-4328-455d-ac31-e4d699afa73b 354 - Eenzaamheid, machtsstrijd en repressie in het Russische rijk van Poetin, Stalin en tsaar Nicolaas II https://art19.com/shows/betrouwbare-bronnen/episodes/411a9106-9da2-40f5-9f06-9f19aff37246 257 - Het machtige Rusland als mythe: hoe 'speciale militaire operaties' een fiasco werden https://art19.com/shows/betrouwbare-bronnen/episodes/c9bf723e-2e02-4471-99c6-c5410883ce27 548 – Poetins dictaat voor Oekraïne https://omny.fm/shows/betrouwbare-bronnen/548-poetins-dictaat-voor-oekra-ne Rusland en geopolitiek 413 - "Eensgezind kunnen we elke tegenstander aan." Oana Lungescu over Poetin, Trump, Rutte en 75 jaar NAVO https://art19.com/shows/betrouwbare-bronnen/episodes/c2b2b09b-bba3-45b6-999c-3f844dcfa76a 244 - Frans Timmermans over onder meer Rusland en Oekraïne https://art19.com/shows/betrouwbare-bronnen/episodes/d1961e80-ac0d-4f56-8004-786246ca811483ce27 256 - Na de inval in Oekraïne: 'Nu serieus werk maken van Europese defensiesamenwerking' https://art19.com/shows/betrouwbare-bronnen/episodes/28bd6509-1c65-4bcf-b55f-78d857980689 258 - De kille vriendschap tussen Rusland en China https://art19.com/shows/betrouwbare-bronnen/episodes/ad5bd584-a93d-4a0a-9d1d-4d1eb6ca3819 Oekraïne, Europa en Nederland 327 - Poetin, Zelensky en wij. Een jaar na de inval https://art19.com/shows/betrouwbare-bronnen/episodes/b4e93b54-7979-4cf2-9909-9a14c06514e0 336 - Timothy Garton Ash: Hoe Europa zichzelf voor de derde keer opnieuw uitvindt https://art19.com/shows/betrouwbare-bronnen/episodes/8e07445e-ee8e-4a8a-9559-02f6a918909e 447 - Als Trump wint staat Europa er alleen voor https://art19.com/shows/betrouwbare-bronnen/episodes/eee9ebfb-042b-4753-b70d-a48e915b5beb 486 - ‘Welkom in onze hel’ Een jonge verslaggever aan het front in Oekraïne https://art19.com/shows/betrouwbare-bronnen/episodes/0552f0eb-998a-4af2-8960-05429aa1f510 553 - Cyprus EU-voorzitter, Uitbreiding EU op komst https://omny.fm/shows/betrouwbare-bronnen/553-cyprus-eu-voorzitter-juist-nu-europa-er-alleen-voor-staat *** Tijdlijn 00:00:00 – Deel 1 00:35:52 – Deel 2 01:04:18 – Deel 3 01:18:08 – EindeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When a joke could get you killed, should you say it anyway? A group of Syrian comedians test the limits of their newfound freedom, a year after the fall of the brutal Assad regime. Visit thisamericanlife.org/lifepartners to sign up for our premium subscription.Prologue: Under the dictatorship of Bashar al-Assad, comedian Sharief Homsi knew which jokes were too dangerous to say on stage. Now that Syria is under the control of a new government, Sharief and the other comedians of “Styria” set out on a national tour to see how far their comedy can go in this new Syria. (6 minutes)Act One: The comedians test out risky material and get big laughs on early tour dates. It's going smoothly until they find out that their show scheduled in the conservative city of Hama is in danger of being cancelled. (13 minutes)Act Two: The comedians go to battle with local officials. (18 minutes)Act Three: The comedians try everything they can think of to keep their shows from being cancelled. (20 minutes)Transcripts are available at thisamericanlife.orgThis American Life privacy policy.Learn more about sponsor message choices.

"Those who remember the disappeared would also disappear." Under dictator Bashar al-Assad, grieving publicly in Syria was punishable. Now the silenced stories of lost loved ones are emerging and there are public spaces to grieve. Syrian architect Ammar Azzouz's friend and colleague Tahir Sabai was killed on his street in 2011. After 14 years in exile, Azzouz returned home and says it's not just a right but "a duty to remember." IDEAS hears about Azzouz's classmate from architecture school, the lives of a father, a brother, and a singer who became the voice of the revolution.Guests in this podcast:Jaber Baker is a novelist, researcher, former political prisoner, human rights activist, and filmmaker. He is the author of Syrian Gulag: Assad's Prisons, 1970-2020, the first-ever comprehensive study of Syrian political prisons.Ammar Azzouz is a British Academy Research Fellow at the University of Oxford. He studied architecture in Homs, Syria and is the author of Domicide: Architecture, War and the Destruction of Home in Syria.Noura Aljizawi is a senior researcher at the Citizen Lab at the University of Toronto's Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy. She was a prominent figure in the Syrian uprising and a survivor of abduction, detention, and torture.When civil war broke out in his home country in 2011, Hassan Al Kontar was a young Syrian living and working in the UAE. A conscientious objector, he refused to return to Syria for compulsory military service and lived illegally before being deported to Malaysia in 2018. He became trapped in the arrivals zone at Kuala Lumpur Airport. Exiled by war and trapped by geopolitics, Al Kontar used social media and humour to tell his story to the world, becoming an international celebrity and ultimately finding refuge in Canada.Khabat Abbas is an independent journalist and video producer based in northeastern Syria. Since 2011, she has extensively covered the developments that have shaken her country starting with the popular demonstrations, to the fight against the so-called Islamic State and its aftermath.

Kevork Almassian, an Armenian-Syrian, discusses with Firas Israel's role in Syria, how Assad fell, and the ongoing threats to minorities.

Les journalistes et experts de RFI répondent également à vos questions sur la réunion des 12 ministres de la Défense de la région des Grands Lacs, l'interdiction de Pékin sur l'exportation vers le Japon de biens dits à « double usage » et la visite d'Ursula von der Leyen en Syrie.  Sénégal : comment faire face au poids colossal de la dette ?   Alors que le Sénégal fait face à une dette publique vertigineuse évaluée à 132% du PIB par le FMI, le Premier ministre Ousmane Sonko exclu de restructurer la dette, estimant que le pays peut honorer ses engagements sans renégociation. Comment justifie-t-il ce refus catégorique malgré les recommandations du FMI ? En prenant cette décision, le Sénégal ne risque-t-il pas d'être sanctionné par l'institution de Bretton Woods ?  Avec Léa-Lisa Westerhoff, correspondante permanente de RFI à Dakar.     RDC : à quoi a servi la réunion de la région des Grands Lacs ?  Un mois après l'accord de paix paraphé à Washington par les présidents Felix Tsishekedi et Paul Kagame, les affrontements se poursuivent dans le Nord-Kivu. À la demande de la RDC, une réunion extraordinaire des 12 ministres de la Défense et des chefs d'Etat major des forces de défense de la région des Grands Lacs s'est tenue ces derniers jours en Zambie. Que retenir de cette rencontre ? Le dispositif de contrôle du cessez-le-feu a-t-il été renforcé ?    Avec Patient Ligodi, journaliste au service Afrique de RFI.      Japon : quel avenir pour l'économie après les mesures chinoises ?   C'est une décision qui pénalise l'industrie nippone, d'où la colère de Tokyo. La Chine a décidé d'interdire l'exportation vers le Japon de biens dits à « double usage », civils et militaires. De quels produits parle-t-on ? Pourquoi Pékin décide de bloquer maintenant ces exportations ? Pourquoi ces produits sont-ils importants pour le Japon ?    Avec Clea Broadhurst, correspondante permanente de RFI à Pékin.     Syrie : vers une nouvelle coopération européenne    Pour la première fois depuis la chute de Bachar el-Assad, Ursula von der Leyen , la présidente de la Commission de l'UE, s'est rendue à Damas ce vendredi 9 janvier 2026. Au printemps 2025, les 27 ont levé toutes les sanctions économiques mises en place sous le régime d'Assad. Quel est le poids des Européens dans la transition politique du pays face aux États-Unis ?   Avec Hasni Abidi, directeur du Centre d'études et de recherche sur le monde arabe et méditerranéen et chargé de cours à l'Université de Genève.    

Protests have spread across Iran, and the fallout is rapidly evolving. In this episode, Hamid Dabashi, Iranian-American author and professor of Iranian studies and comparative literature at Columbia University, explains the wider historic context and evolution of these protests. He helps host Tammam Aloudat think through the nuance of opposing an abusive government while also rejecting imperialism – whether that be in Venezuela, Iran, or the al-Assad regime in Syria. And Dabashi discusses what humanitarians might pay attention to as events unfold.   Guests:    Hamid Dabashi, Iranian-American author and professor of Iranian studies and comparative literature at Columbia University   Got a question or feedback? Email podcast@thenewhumanitarian.org or post on social media using the hashtag #RethinkingHumanitarianism.

HEADLINE: Iran and Hezbollah Lose Strategic Foothold as Maduro Regime Collapses. Jonathan Schanzer discusses the collapse of the Maduro regime, describing it as a "gut punch" to Iran and Hezbollah, who utilized Venezuela for training and illicit finance. Following the earlier fall of Syria's Assad regime, Schanzer observes that Iran is losing key allies like "rapid fire dominoes".1845 CARACAS

SHOW 1-5-26 THE SHOW BEGINS IN DOUBTS ABOUT VENEZUELA, NIGERIA, SYRIA, RUSSIA, CHINA 1936 KENYA 1. NIGERIA AIRSTRIKE AND THE JIHADIST SHIFT Guest: Edmund Fitton-Brown Edmund Fitton-Brown analyzes a US airstrike against ISIS in Nigeria, discussing the growing jihadist threat in West Africa's "ungoverned spaces." He highlights a strategic shift where African juntas reject Western support for Russian mercenaries, who offer security without governance conditions, inadvertently boosting local support for Al-Qaeda coalitions like JNIM,,. 2. EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN ALLIANCE VS. TURKEY Guest: Edmund Fitton-Brown Fitton-Brown examines the cooperation between Greece, Cyprus, and Israel as a necessary pushback against Turkish President Erdogan's neo-Ottoman expansionism. He argues Erdogan's aggressive rhetoric regarding Jerusalem and maritime claims threatens regional stability, necessitating a unified defense from these democracies to counter Turkish overreach in the Mediterranean,. 3. CHINA'S OIL LOSS IN VENEZUELA Guest: Gordon Chang and Charles Burton The guests discuss how the US removal of Maduro disrupts China's oil supply, leaving Beijing with billions in unpaid debt. They note that Chinese military equipment failed to detect the US operation, embarrassing Beijing. Burton suggests Canada faces a difficult choice between aligning with US hemispheric security or appeasing China,,. 4. 2026: A HOLLOW SUPERPOWER Guest: Gordon Chang and Charles Burton Chang and Burton speculate that the US operation in Venezuela exposes China's inability to protect its allies, making Beijing appear "hollow." Chang argues this weakens China's threat against Taiwan, while Burton suggests that with China's economy failing and its allies collapsing, the regime faces internal instability and a loss of global prestige,. 5. SECTARIAN WARFARE IN SYRIA Guest: Akmed Sharawari Akmed Sharawari reports on escalating violence between Syria's Alawite minority and the central government led by former jihadist Al-Shara. He explains that regime remnants and Russian influence are fueling Alawite defiance, while Druze and Kurdish factions also resist integration, complicating US hopes for a stable, unified post-Assad state,,. 6. WESTERN AIRSTRIKES ON ISIS Guest: Akmed Sharawari Sharawari discusses recent British and French airstrikes against ISIS weapons caches in Syria. He notes that despite opposing the central government, ISIS remains a universal threat. The chaos following the Assad regime's fall has allowed ISIS cells to regroup in urban areas, necessitating Western intervention to destroy their stolen arsenals,. 7. HEZBOLLAH'S LATIN AMERICAN FINANCING Guest: David Daoud David Daoud details Hezbollah's deep entrenchment in Venezuela, used to challenge US hegemony. He explains how the group exploits Latin American networks, illicit trade, and legitimate business fronts within expatriate communities to generate essential funding, compensating for losses in Lebanon and serving Iran's broader strategy in the Western Hemisphere,. 8. LEBANESE ARMY COLLUSION Guest: David Daoud Daoud highlights the compromised nature of the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF), citing a recent incident where an LAF soldier killed alongside Hezbollah members received a joint funeral. He argues this collusion makes the LAF an untrustworthy partner for Israel, as sectarian loyalties often supersede national duty, leading to dangerous intelligence leaks,. 9. THE FALL OF MADURO Guest: Alejandro Peña Esclusa and Ernesto Araújo Alejandro Peña Esclusa celebrates the swift US capture of Maduro as Venezuela's liberation. He argues Vice President Delcy Rodriguez must now dismantle the "Cartel of the Suns" to avoid Maduro's fate. Ernesto Araújo frames this as a decisive victory for freedom, forcing a choice between democracy and criminal syndicates,,. 10. US DEMANDS: TERRORISTS OUT Guest: Alejandro Peña Esclusa Peña Esclusa supports US demands for Iran, Hezbollah, and the ELN to be expelled from Venezuela, asserting the population shares these desires. He characterizes Maduro as a drug lord and a threat to Western security, criticizing European leftists who condemn the operation for failing to recognize the regime's criminal nature. 11. PANIC AMONG THE LATIN LEFT Guest: Alejandro Peña Esclusa and Ernesto Araújo Ernesto Araújo explains that leftist leaders like Lula and Petro fear the US action against Maduro because their power structures share similar corruption. Peña Esclusa adds that Colombian President Petro is terrified because his campaign was funded by Venezuelan drug money, making him vulnerable to the exposure of these secrets,. 12. THE RIGHTWARD SHIFT IN ELECTIONS Guest: Alejandro Peña Esclusa and Ernesto Araújo Araújo predicts the US action in Venezuela will energize the Latin American right, specifically boosting the Bolsonaro movement in Brazil. Peña Esclusa forecasts electoral defeats for the left in Costa Rica, Peru, and Colombia, arguing the region is turning away from narco-socialism toward US-aligned conservative leadership,. 13. RUSSIA'S MAXIMALIST DEMANDS Guest: John Hardie John Hardie outlines Russia's unyielding demands for peace, including territorial concessions and barring Ukraine from NATO. He notes that while Zelensky is nearing agreement with the West on security guarantees, the gap with Russia remains wide. Hardie urges the Trump administration to increase pressure to force Putin to compromise,. 14. THE IMPOSSIBLE DMZ Guest: John Hardie Hardie discusses the complexities of implementing a demilitarized zone (DMZ) in Ukraine, citing disagreements over sovereignty and administration. Regarding the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant, he notes Russia is unlikely to return control to Ukraine. He concludes that peace deals requiring Ukraine to cede territory are "poison pills" likely to fail,. 15. HAMAS AND THE IMPOSSIBLE RECONSTRUCTION Guest: Peter Berkowitz Peter Berkowitz argues that Hamas, as a Muslim Brotherhood offshoot, remains committed to Israel's destruction, making peace impossible. He criticizes the "Project Sunrise" reconstruction plan, noting that US-led development is futile without first disarming and deradicalizing Gaza, a task only the IDF can currently achieve given Hamas's refusal to surrender,. 16. IRAN ON THE BRINK Guest: Jonathan Sia Jonathan Sia reports on unprecedented Iranian protests and rumors that Ayatollah Khamenei plans to flee to Moscow. He attributes the regime's panic to the recent fall of allies like Maduro. Sia notes a shift in protester sentiment toward pro-monarchy chants, suggesting a coordinated opposition now exists to replace the theocracy,.

SECTARIAN WARFARE IN SYRIA Colleague Akmed Sharawari. Akmed Sharawari reports on escalating violence between Syria's Alawite minority and the central government led by former jihadist Al-Shara. He explains that regime remnants and Russian influence are fueling Alawite defiance, while Druze and Kurdish factions also resist integration, complicating US hopes for a stable, unified post-Assad state. NUMBER 5 1921 ALEPPO

Guest: Jonathan Schanzer. The fall of the Maduro regime disrupts a critical transit hub for Hezbollah's illicit finance and drug trade in Latin America. Meanwhile, Iran faces its most significant threat since 2009 due to widespread protests, economic collapse, and the recent loss of key allies like Assad and Maduro.1914 MT ZION

WESTERN AIRSTRIKES ON ISIS Colleague Akmed Sharawari. Sharawari discusses recent British and Frenchairstrikes against ISIS weapons caches in Syria. He notes that despite opposing the central government, ISIS remains a universal threat. The chaos following the Assad regime's fall has allowed ISIS cells to regroup in urban areas, necessitating Western intervention to destroy their stolen arsenals. NUMBER 6 1924 ALEPPO

Kate Adie introduces stories from Syria, China, the USA, Greece and Brazil.In the devastated Syrian district of Ghouta, a man calls out from the ruins to our correspondent Lyse Doucet and tells the story of how he is rebuilding his home - and his life - after the fall of the Assad regime.Chinese ambition continues to strive for pole position in the global pecking order as it makes advances in green energy, artificial intelligence, and military might – but what could be its Achilles heel? Laura Bicker looks at the challenges facing Beijing in the year ahead.It's nearly a year since Donald Trump was inaugurated as the 47th President of the United States – a victory built around unquestioning loyalty among his MAGA base. But some Republican voters are now beginning to question the effectiveness of some of his policies. Tom Bateman reports from New Orleans.An outbreak of sheep pox in Greece, which began in the Summer of 2024, has seen a surge in cases over recent months with mass culling affecting farmers across the country - more than 400,000 sheep and goats have been killed so far. Hester Underhill travelled to the agricultural heartland of Thessaly.In Brazil, a group of industrial agriculture companies are trying to overturn a landmark moratorium on trading soybeans grown on newly deforested Amazon land - a policy said to have said thousands of hectares from the chainsaws. Justin Rowlatt gets a bird's eye view on the issue.Series Producer: Serena Tarling Editor: Richard Fenton-Smith Production coordinators: Sophie Hill & Katie Morrison

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Police investigate a mass shooting at Brown University. Meanwhile, a shooting at a Hanukkah event in Australia stokes security concerns worldwide. And Americans are killed in combat in Syria for the first time since the fall of Bashar al-Assad.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Best and Last Year of Radio are the last shows Opie did at SiriusXM4/13 Henry Zebrowski Carl Ruiz Vic HenleyHenry Zebrowski is a wildly energetic American comedian, actor, and podcast host best known for co-hosting the hit horror-comedy series The Last Podcast on the Left, where he dives into serial killers, cults, and cryptids with unhinged hilarity. Relive the unfiltered chaos of Opie's final SiriusXM era as he kicks off the show with Henry Zebrowski, Carl Ruiz, and Vic Henley ripping into the fresh "Mother of All Bombs" strike on ISIS, Assad's outrageous claims, and the viral United Airlines passenger fiasco that shocked the world.  This tight first-hour slice delivers raw rants, redneck yacht vibes, surprise chocolate chaos, and savage political roasts of Trump, Obama, and Caitlyn Jenner—pure irreverent gold that'll hook you with gut-busting laughs and zero filler. Catch the legendary radio rebellion at its peak before the guests pile on, proving why this crew owned 2017's wildest headlines.

Washington Wednesday on the Obamacare subsidies, affordability, and federal health policy, World Tour on updates from Syria, Southeast Asia, Benin, and Germany; and Lee Strobel contemplates the supernatural. Plus, Janie B. Cheaney on when God is silent, a foiled contraband Christmas, and the Wednesday morning newsSupport The World and Everything in It today at wng.org/donateAdditional support comes from Ridge Haven Camp in North Carolina and Iowa. Winter Camp starts December 29th. Registration open at ridgehaven.orgFrom His Words Abiding in You, a Podcast where listeners memorize Bible verses in each episode. His Words Abiding in You, on all podcast apps.And from I Witness: The Long Shore: A faith-based audio drama that brings history to life. iwitnesspod.com