Author: Andrew Rogers

Several senior U.S. diplomats focused on Syria have been suddenly removed from their posts, according to multiple sources. The shake-up comes as Washington seeks closer ties between Syrian Kurdish forces and the central government in Damascus. The diplomats were part of the Syria Regional Platform (SRP), a U.S. mission operating remotely from Istanbul. They all reported to Tom Barrack, the U.S. special envoy for Syria and a longtime adviser to former President Donald Trump. Barrack, appointed in May, has led a policy shift supporting a unified Syrian state under President Ahmed al-Sharaa, who rose quickly to power last year. A…

France is preparing for one of its largest strike days in years as trade unions unite to challenge new Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu over budget cuts, wages, pensions, and public services. Authorities expect around 800,000 people to join marches on Thursday, with up to 80,000 police deployed to maintain order. Early reports show bus depots blocked in Paris and northern regions, and several high schools in the east of the capital and Amiens have staged walkouts. Rail and air transport are facing widespread disruptions. Trade unions have planned roughly 250 marches across France. This is likely the biggest demonstration since…

Former President Barack Obama said the United States is at “an inflection point” following the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. He criticized President Donald Trump for further dividing the nation instead of uniting it. “There are no ifs, ands, or buts: democracy depends on being able to disagree without turning to violence,” Obama said during an event in Erie, Pennsylvania. “Even if someone is on the opposite side of an argument, threats and violence affect all of us. We must condemn them clearly and openly.” Obama has maintained a low profile since leaving office. On Tuesday, he addressed Trump’s…

The Boris Files are a collection of leaked documents from Boris Johnson’s private office. They shed light on the former prime minister’s commercial activities after leaving Downing Street in September 2022. The files suggest Johnson is leveraging connections made while in office to advance personal financial interests. The leak raises serious questions about whether Johnson broke rules restricting post-ministerial work, breached the ministerial code, or misused public funds for private gain. Some documents date back to his time in office, revealing undisclosed meetings and possible Covid lockdown rule breaches. The data was first reviewed by a major UK media outlet,…

The United States has warned that it may take steps to cripple Russia’s economy if Moscow continues its war in Ukraine. Military efforts through Ukraine have not succeeded in defeating Russia. Now, Washington is focusing on economic measures to pressure President Vladimir Putin. U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has called for joint action with Europe to hit Russia’s financial system. Russia carried out its largest airstrike in Ukraine since the war began. On Saturday night, Russian forces attacked the Cabinet of Ministers building in Kyiv. Cruise missiles struck the building, where Ukraine’s Prime Minister, Deputy Prime Minister, and other ministers…

Hundreds are expected to protest as Israeli arms makers attend a major London defence trade fair this week. The biennial DSEI event, opening Tuesday in Docklands, will host 51 Israeli defence companies alongside 1,600 global exhibitors. The focus is on Israel’s top defence firms, including Elbit Systems, Rafael, and Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), and the US company Lockheed Martin, which makes F-35 fighter jets used in Gaza. Their presence has drawn criticism from campaigners and human rights groups. Campaign Against Arms Trade (Caat) condemned the UK government for allowing Israeli firms to exhibit. Emily Apple, Caat’s media coordinator, said the…

Norway heads to the polls on Monday in a closely contested and highly polarised election. Voters are focused on rising living costs, wealth taxes, oil fund investments in Israel, and relations with Donald Trump. This election has been described as the “Maga-fication” of Norwegian politics, with the populist right-wing Progress Party gaining unusual support. The Progress Party, led by Sylvi Listhaug, could win and make Listhaug Norway’s next prime minister. Polls, however, suggest a narrow lead for the centre-left, indicating a likely continuation of the minority Labour government under Jonas Gahr Støre, who has served as prime minister since 2021.…

Tom Phillips, a fugitive father who had been hiding in New Zealand’s remote wilderness with his three children for almost four years, was shot dead by police following an alleged burglary, authorities confirmed. Phillips disappeared into the dense Waikato wilderness just before Christmas 2021 after a dispute with the children’s mother. Since then, he and his children had remained off the grid, prompting a long-running search by authorities. Police were called to investigate a reported burglary in a rural area of Waikato. During the response, officers encountered Phillips, who allegedly resisted arrest. The situation escalated, resulting in Phillips being fatally…

Samoa’s first female prime minister, Fiame Naomi Mata’afa, has lost re-election after months of political conflict, ending her historic term in office. Official results released by the electoral commission on Friday show the opposition Fast party winning 30 of the 50 parliamentary seats. This gives Fast party leader La’aulialemalietoa Leuatea Polataivao Schmidt a clear path to become Samoa’s next prime minister. Fiame, widely known as the “Iron Lady of the Pacific,” led the newly formed Samoa United Party (SUP), which captured only three seats in the vote. Her loss marks a dramatic shift after her landmark election in 2021 as…

Keir Starmer has unveiled a new cabinet, emphasizing trusted ministers known for action and results. The reshuffle follows Angela Rayner’s resignation and signals a shift towards efficiency over politics. A large electronic whiteboard in the No 10 study guided the reshuffle, allowing names to move seamlessly across departments. Starmer and his advisers crafted a cabinet aimed at addressing Britain’s pressing issues, including immigration, welfare, and business relations. Veterans of past governments noted the high-tech approach as a stark contrast to the old Post-it note methods of arranging ministers. The departure of Rayner marked a personal and political setback for Starmer.…