Damascus International Airport resumed full international operations on January 7th, with the arrival of a Qatar Airways flight, marking the first such flight in nearly 13 years. A Syrian Airlines flight to the UAE also departed, signifying a return to international commercial travel after a month-long closure following the ouster of Bashar al-Assad. This event coincides with renewed diplomatic efforts by Syria’s new authorities to re-engage with the international community and rebuild the war-torn nation. The airport’s reopening, following damage and theft, is seen as a symbol of hope and a new beginning.
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Kamel Saqr, a former top aide to Bashar al-Assad, alleges that Vladimir Putin may have deliberately misled Assad before the fall of Damascus. Saqr claims Assad sought Russian support for Iranian military aid transport, a request seemingly approved by Putin but ultimately unfulfilled by the Russians. This lack of support, coupled with warnings from the US to Iran, contributed to Assad’s hasty escape from Damascus to Moscow. Saqr suggests this inaction constituted a betrayal, leaving Assad vulnerable to the advancing rebel forces.
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Following Donald Trump’s refusal to rule out military action to acquire Greenland, a Danish territory, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot warned against attacks on EU sovereign borders. Trump’s comments, including suggestions of using force to obtain the Panama Canal and economic pressure on Canada, prompted this strong response. Greenland’s leaders have firmly rejected any sale or relinquishing of control, emphasizing the island’s self-determination. Barrot also called for EU action against similar threats from Elon Musk toward European leaders.
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Federal prosecutors allege the discovery of additional criminal conduct by New York Mayor Eric Adams, expanding upon the initial September indictment of five criminal counts including bribery and conspiracy. The prosecutors’ assertion, made in response to Adams’ request for more details on the charges, cites an ongoing investigation uncovering further involvement by additional individuals. Adams and his attorney, Alex Spiro, vehemently deny any wrongdoing, with Spiro criticizing the prosecution’s actions as a headline grab. The government’s refusal to provide more specifics is justified by concerns of witness tampering.
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Following a contested North Carolina Supreme Court election, Republicans on the court temporarily blocked the certification of Democratic Justice Allison Riggs’s victory. This action, stemming from a GOP challenger’s attempt to invalidate over 60,000 votes, despite Riggs winning by 734 votes after recounts, is seen by Democrats as a blatant attempt to seize power. The move has drawn widespread criticism, with accusations of voter disenfranchisement and undermining democratic processes. The court’s actions raise concerns about the future of fair elections and the potential overturning of the election results.
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The U.K. government will criminalize the creation and sharing of sexually explicit deepfake images, addressing the alarming rise of this form of online abuse, particularly against women and girls. This new offense, part of the Crime and Policing Bill, expands existing child protection laws to include adults and will carry a potential two-year prison sentence. Further legal updates will increase penalties for taking intimate images without consent and installing equipment to facilitate such acts, also punishable by up to two years in prison. These measures aim to provide law enforcement with stronger tools to combat non-consensual intimate image abuse and hold perpetrators accountable.
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Meta’s decision to end third-party fact-checking, announced by its new chief global affairs officer, sparked internal employee criticism. The policy shift, coupled with recent board appointments including UFC CEO Dana White, and a $1 million donation to Trump’s inauguration, fueled concerns about prioritizing political appeasement over accuracy. Employees expressed fears of increased misinformation and a platform less committed to combating harmful content, particularly regarding sensitive topics. While some employees supported the change, citing alternative platforms’ success, others highlighted the potential for negative consequences and the lack of accountability for past failures.
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Meta updated its content moderation policies, notably allowing accusations of mental illness against LGBTQ individuals based on their identity, citing political and religious discourse. These changes, part of a broader shift towards community-based content moderation similar to X’s Community Notes, also removed prohibitions against insults based on various protected characteristics and eliminated its fact-checking program. This decision has drawn criticism from LGBTQ advocacy groups like GLAAD, who argue it normalizes hate speech and jeopardizes user safety. The timing coincides with Meta’s increased engagement with President-elect Trump, including a significant donation to his inaugural fund.
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In a recent video announcement, Mark Zuckerberg outlined sweeping policy changes for Facebook and Instagram, prioritizing free speech and pledging to collaborate with Donald Trump against censorship. These changes include eliminating third-party fact-checkers and relaxing restrictions on topics like immigration and gender. Zuckerberg, now the world’s third-richest person, made the announcement while wearing a nearly $900,000 Greubel Forsey watch, highlighting a recent shift in his personal style towards luxury goods. Meta did not comment on the announcement.
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John Q. Hosedrinker