In the news today: Russia has granted political asylum to Syria’s ousted leader; Trump calls for an immediate ceasefire in Ukraine; and political chaos in France and Germany spell trouble for Europe’s economy. Also, a look at AP’s 100 Photos of 2024.
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Syrians celebrate the fall of Bashar Assad's government in the town of Bar Elias, Lebanon, near the border with Syria, Sunday. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar)
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Assad is granted political asylum in Russia after the fall of Damascus
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Ousted Syrian leader Bashar Assad fled to Moscow and received asylum from his longtime ally, Russian media said Sunday, hours after a stunning rebel advance seized control of Damascus and ended his family’s 50 years of iron rule. The Kremlin confirmed Assad’s political asylum Monday. Read more. |
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Russian President Vladimir Putin personally made the decision to offer asylum to Assad, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told reporters. Peskov wouldn’t comment on Assad’s specific whereabouts. He said that Putin wasn’t planning to meet with Assad.
The rebels face the daunting task of healing bitter divisions in a country ravaged by war and split among armed factions. The swiftly moving events also raise questions about the future of the country and the wider region. President Joe Biden called the fall of Assad a “fundamental act of justice” but also a “moment of risk and uncertainty,” and said rebel groups are “saying the right things now” but the U.S. would assess their actions.
- Israel has struck suspected chemical weapons sites and long-range rockets in Syria in order to prevent them from falling into the hands of hostile actors, the foreign minister said Monday. Israelis have welcomed the fall of Assad, who was a key ally of Iran and Lebanon’s Hezbollah militant group, while expressing concern over what comes next.
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Trump calls for an immediate ceasefire in Ukraine
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Donald Trump on Sunday pushed Russian leader Vladimir Putin to act to reach an immediate ceasefire with Ukraine, describing it as part of his active efforts as president-elect to end the war despite being weeks from taking office. Read more.
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Trump’s call went beyond the public policy stands taken by the Biden administration and drew a cautious response from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who described discussions Saturday with Trump as “constructive” and gave no further details. It also marks Trump wading deeply into efforts before his Jan. 20 inauguration to resolve one of the major global crises facing the lame-duck Biden administration.
The Biden administration and other supporters of Ukraine have made a point of not being seen to press Ukraine for an immediate truce. Ukraine’s allies fear a quick deal would be largely on the terms of its more powerful neighbor, potentially forcing damaging concessions on Ukraine and allowing Russia to resume the war again once it has built back its military strength.
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Trump renewed his warning to NATO allies that he did not see continued U.S. participation in the Western military alliance as a given during his second term. Trump has long complained that European and Canadian governments in the mutual-defense bloc are freeloading on military spending by the U.S., by far the most powerful partner in NATO. NATO and its member governments say a majority of countries in the bloc are now hitting voluntary targets for military spending, due in part to pressure from Trump in his first term.
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Europe’s economy needs help |
Even before the French and German governments collapsed, Europe’s economy had enough difficulties: Tepid growth and lagging competitiveness versus the U.S. and China, an auto industry that’s struggling, and now Donald Trump threatening tariffs. Solutions will be harder to find while the two countries that make up almost half of the eurozone economy remain stuck in political paralysis well into 2025. Read more.
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Where once there was the so-called French-German axis to push Europe ahead, now there’s a vacuum. French Prime Minister Michel Barnier resigned last week after losing a vote of confidence, and while President Emmanuel Macron will appoint a successor, the new head of government will lack a majority. Elections are not constitutionally permitted until at least June. Germany’s coalition led by Social Democratic Chancellor Olaf Scholz with the Greens and pro-business Free Democrats fractured in November, triggering an early election on Feb. 23. Talks to form a new government could last into April.
The most urgent matter may be how to respond to U.S. President-elect Donald Trump. European officials are trying to defuse a potential trade conflict involving new U.S. tariffs or import taxes on European goods that would seriously ding the continent’s export-focused economy. Europe could decide not to retaliate to any U.S. tariffs, thus avoiding a mutually destructive tit-for-tat cycle.
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A collection of photos chosen by AP photo editors.
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Associated Press 100 Photos of 2024: An epic catalog of humanity
This year, AP photographers across the world have assembled a visual catalog of our civilization as life in 2024 hurtled directly at us at every speed and in every imaginable color and flavor — dizzying, unremitting, challenging the human race to make sense of it. |
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Please let us know what you think of this newsletter. You can sign up for more and invite a friend here. For news in real time visit APNews.com. - Sarah
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