The latest international news stories and analysis from Asia, Africa, Europe, the Middle East and the Americas. Updated daily.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken was set to visit Jordan and Turkey, while U.S. national security adviser Jake Sullivan planned stops in Israel, Qatar and Egypt in coming days, U.S. officials said. Read more
The successful test underscores the Pentagon’s commitment to bolstering Guam’s defenses against evolving missile threats. Read more
Israeli officials said they were destroying weapons and military facilities to keep them out of the hands of Islamist extremists. Read more
In a brief address on state television, Mohammed al-Bashir, a figure little known across most of Syria who previously ran an administration in a pocket of the northwest controlled by rebels, said he would lead the interim authority until March 1. Read more
While the U.S. has long held close defense ties with northern Pacific islands near its military base on Guam, Biden had sought to catch up to China’s influence-building in the South Pacific. Read more
The United Nations Security Council met behind closed doors late on Monday, and diplomats said they were still in shock at how quickly Assad’s overthrow unfolded over 12 days, after a 13-year civil war. Read more
“A red line has been crossed,” the office said in a statement, adding it would “mobilize all forces to track down and annihilate” those responsible, including Wharf Jeremie gang leader Monel “Mikano” Felix, whom it accused of planning the attack. Read more
A senior Taiwan security official said China had nearly 90 navy and coast guard ships near Taiwan, the southern Japanese islands and the East and South China Seas, of which around two-thirds were naval. Read more
Media reported the resignation in parliament shortly before midday, which came ahead of a motion for a vote of no confidence expected to be put to the assembly. Read more
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All across Syria, families wept as they were reunited with children, siblings, spouses and parents who vanished years ago into the impregnable gulag of the Assad dynasty’s five-decade reign. Read more
Trump, who takes office on Jan. 20, added that Russia and Iran, Assad’s other main backer, “are in a weakened state right now.” Read more
Macron is a strong supporter of the NATO alliance and Ukraine’s fight, while Trump feels European nations need to pay more for their common defense. Read more
The failed vote was a reversion to political deadlock in the deeply divided country, despite large-scale protests calling for the president’s removal. Read more
Iran’s embassy was stormed by Syrian rebels following their capture of Damascus. Read more
Rebel sources said the military agreed to make an orderly withdrawal from Daraa under a deal giving army officials safe passage to the capital Damascus, about 60 miles north. Read more
South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol said he would not seek to avoid legal and political responsibility for his decision, which he said was born of desperation. Read more
China, which claims democratically governed Taiwan as its own territory, is expected to launch another round of exercises in response to Lai’s trip to the Pacific, which has included stopovers in Hawaii and the U.S. territory of Guam, according to security sources. Read more
One official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said planning had been underway for a trip in the near term but it was determined now was not the appropriate time. Read more
Meanwhile, platforms including Bluesky, Reddit and X sprouted hundreds of posts from amateur gumshoes poring over video and photos. “Dude had a suppressor, which is an extremely difficult thing to acquire, especially in a state like New York,” wrote one Reddit user. Read more
The commander of U.S. Forces-Korea, Gen. Paul LaCamera, warned American troops to stay vigilant and avoid areas with protest. Read more
The political turmoil further weakens a European Union already reeling from the implosion of Germany’s coalition government, and comes weeks before U.S. President-elect Donald Trump returns to the White House. Read more
