Ahmed Al Sharaa is Syria's new President and we're getting hints of what his government might look like. He's promised a temporary legislative council will pass laws for the time being - and that it will be inclusive of Syria's various groups and factions. The international community is applying pressure to make sure he keeps his promises. But can president Sharaa bring his country together? And will his government be able to improve the lives of the Syrian people - who've been battered by more than a decade of war?

Despite the rhetoric, US President Donald Trump will not be able to ethnically cleanse Gaza nor resolve the Ukraine war, argues University of Chicago political scientist John Mearsheimer. Mearsheimer tells host Steve Clemons that Arab governments fear “the risk of being overthrown by their populations” should they bend to Trump’s desire to “clean out” the Palestinian people in Gaza. On Ukraine, Mearsheimer predicts a “frozen conflict” without a peace treaty, and warns that Trump should stop “slapping around” US allies if he wants their cooperation in Europe, Latin America and Asia.

A new AI rival from China is shaking up Silicon Valley. DeepSeek matches ChatGPT’s power but says it was built faster and for a fraction of the cost. How did they do it, and what comes next?

As Donald Trump returns to the White House, many are raising concerns about the possible decline of liberal democracy. What then would a second Trump term mean for the next four years for the United States? And what impact will the president's foreign policy have on the Middle East?

Al Jazeera’s senior political analyst Marwan Bishara highlights how Israeli prisons have served as both places of education and sites of immense suffering for Palestinians. He emphasizes that while many detainees pursued higher education and even learned Hebrew through distance learning, they also endured torture, which profoundly affected their lives and their families. Bishara suggests that these prisons are not just physical confinement spaces but part of a broader metaphorical prison that has encompassed Palestine for the past 75 years. Whether locked inside Gaza and the West Bank or locked out as refugees forbidden from returning home, Palestinians live in a state of perpetual confinement. He underscores that, for all Palestinians—whether imprisoned or under occupation—their ultimate aspiration remains freedom.

Hamas has released three Israeli and five Thai captives in Gaza and Israel began releasing 110 Palestinian prisoners after delaying the process after crowds swarmed one of the captive handover points. Agam Berger, a 20-year-old Israeli soldier, was the first to be released on Thursday as she emerged from under rubble at the Jabalia refugee camp in Gaza, which has repeatedly been targeted by Israeli forces throughout more than 15 months of war.

senior political analyst Marwan Bishara highlights the intense emotional and psychological dimensions surrounding the ongoing conflict. He emphasizes the stark contrast between public emotions—ranging from joy and relief to anger and despair—amid the release of captives on both sides. Bishara also suggests that beyond the emotional outpouring, there is a calculated strategic element at play, with both Israel and Hamas engaging in psychological warfare. Hamas seeks to project an image of resilience and defiance, while Israel underscores the necessity of its actions despite the broader implications. He further notes that such displays of power risk escalating tensions, potentially provoking further responses. Ultimately, Bishara reflects on the remarkable endurance of Hamas, as it continues to operate despite relentless Israeli military pressure.

Syria's President Ahmed al-Sharaa will work on forming an inclusive transitional government, he said on Thursday in his first speech after being declared president. "A preparatory committee for the national dialogue conference will be announced in the coming days," Sharaa added.

Since re-emerging just over three years ago, the Rwanda-backed rebels have advanced steadily through the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, seizing towns and villages, and forcing people from their homes. M23 is just one of hundreds of rebel groups in the country and has been fighting the army for years. But the latest escalation could mark a major shift, with serious implications for regional stability. So, does diplomacy stand a chance to defuse the escalating tensions?

Bodies are lining the streets of Goma, and hospitals are overwhelmed after an escalation in the long-simmering conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). The Rwandan-backed M23 group claims it took control of the city, and the DRC has called it a declaration of war by Rwanda. But why is Rwanda involved and what are its interests?