Daily News

Syria's new president Ahmed al-Sharaa has addressed a national dialogue conference which has kicked off and reiterated his call for a united Syria. The conference intends to chart a path forward politically and lay the groundwork for a new constitution. The meeting also aims to address economic, social and political issues. The new government, which took power in December, has promised an inclusive political transition, and this conference was one of its pledges.

Ukrainian soil contains around five percent of the world's rare earth mineral deposits. To US President Donald Trump, that looks like a cash payment, in return for the billions Washington has sent to Ukraine to support its war against Russia. Trump is demanding Kyiv sign over the rights to about $500bn worth of that mineral wealth. President Zelenskyy has rejected the first draft of that deal - saying he can't quote, "sell the state". But at what point does selling the state start to look like saving the state? And how practical is it to extract resources from war-battered Ukraine?

With a new president and new prime minister, a new chapter is being written for Lebanon. A new story many hope will signal real change. There are few places on Earth where politics and geography collide more catastrophically than they have in Lebanon. As various countries have vied for influence, the Lebanese people have repeatedly faced the consequences. Pinch Point delves into how the past continues to affect the country's present and future.

On the third anniversary of the Russia-Ukraine war, defence editor Alex Gatapolous reflects on how the conflict has changed over the years.

The trial for six-year-old Palestinian Wadea al-Fayoume’s murder begins in Chicago. Joseph Czuba faces hate crime charges, but his killing reflects a growing wave of anti-Palestinian hate in the US. As Islamophobia rises post-October 7, will this trial deliver justice?

Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is warning the army is on standby to restart its war on Gaza. It comes a day after Israel suspended the latest release of Palestinian prisoners as part of January's ceasefire deal. Basem Naim, a member of Hamas’s political bureau, has said the Palestinian group will not engage in further ceasefire discussions until Israel frees the 620 Palestinians who were supposed to be released on Saturday under the deal that took effect on January.

Do the the claims made by Elon Musk and the Department of Government Efficiency hold up?

Exit polls show Germany’s opposition Christian Democratic Union (CDU) leading in the national election, positioning its leader, Friedrich Merz, to become the next chancellor. The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) secured second place, achieving its best-ever result. Germany’s election authority reports that 52 percent of eligible voters had cast their ballots four hours before polling stations closed. Chancellor Olaf Scholz has conceded defeat after opposition leader Friedrich Merz declared victory. The early election was called after Scholz's coalition collapsed in November.

Israel has postponed the release of 620 Palestinian prisoners despite Hamas setting free six Israeli captives on Saturday. The group says Israel's far-right government is 'playing dirty games and sabotaging' the agreement. The Israeli Prime Minister called the captive handover ceremonies in Gaza, 'humiliating' and is accusing Hamas of using the captives for 'propaganda'. But aid groups are questioning Israel's unkept promises under the first phase. It has yet to allow delivery of 60,000 mobile homes and 200,000 tents, desperately needed by millions of displaced Palestinians. And Israeli negotiators have not joined discussions for the second phase of the deal. So, what's behind Netanyahu's dramatic turnaround? And how will it affect the hard-fought ceasefire agreement?

United States President Donald Trump's administration flipped the script on US-Europe relations in February. European officials were berated for being antidemocratic and were told their involvement was not needed in ending the Ukraine war.