Syria’s new leader, Ahmed al-Sharaa, hosted high-level talks on Monday with Arab diplomats, including Jordan and Qatar, focusing on reconstruction and future cooperation. The meetings marked a significant shift in regional ties after Bashar al-Assad’s overthrow earlier this month. Source link
Israeli airstrikes on the Gaza Strip overnight killed at least 20 people, Palestinian medics said on December 23. Source link
France’s leaders held a minute of silence to pay respect to those lost on the archipelago of Mayotte. Source link
Washington: US President-elect Donald Trump said he will exclude transgender people from the US military once he takes office. Trump said there are only two genders in America. “I will sign executive orders to end child sexual abuse, and keep transgender people out of the military and our elementary, middle, and high schools,” he said … Read more
France’s new government will not be announced before Monday evening, the presidency said in a statement, prolonging the political uncertainty in a major European power. Why does it take so long? France 24’s Antonia Kerrigan tells us more. Source link
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated in an interview with The Wall Street Journal on December 20 that Jerusalem remains committed to its objective of ousting Hamas from power. France 24’s Noga Tarnopolsky tells us more. Source link
Monday marked the second court appearance in New York for Luigi M. since his arrest at a McDonald’s restaurant in Pennsylvania five days after the killing of UnitedHealth Group CEO Brian Thompson outside a hotel in Manhattan. M. pleaded not guilty to New York state murder charges. The 26-year-old faces an 11-count indictment, including three … Read more
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022 marked the return of high-intensity warfare in Europe. Now, almost three years later and with the conflict showing no signs of abating, France is gearing itself up to fight. FRANCE 24 reports from a military camp in northeastern France where soldiers train for combat in trenches. Source link
Luigi Mangione, accused of fatally shooting UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, pleaded not guilty to state murder charges on Monday, including murder as an act of terrorism. Source link
In his first term as US president, Donald Trump tightened economic sanctions against North Korea to try to force Pyongyang to abandon its nuclear weapons program. VOA’s Young Gyo Kim looks at what Trump should expect from North Korea during his second term. Scott Stearns explains. Source link