US special envoy praises Syrian leader's steps on foreign fighters

US special envoy praises Syrian leader's steps on foreign fighters

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -U.S. President Donald Trump's special envoy to Syria on Saturday said he met with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa and commended the leader's steps taken regarding foreign fighters and relations with Israel. Thomas Barrack, a special envoy to Syria and the current U.S. ambassador to Turkey, said in a statement that the two met in Istanbul on Saturday, and that he commended Sharaa for "taking meaningful steps" on foreign fighters as well as "relations with Israel." The meeting comes after U.S. President Donald Trump's administration issued orders effectively lifting sanctions on Syria after its 14-year civil war. Syria welcomed the sanctions waiver, describing it as a "positive step". It mainly focused on following up with the implementation of the sanctions waiver, with Sharaa telling Barrack that sanctions remain a heavy burden on Syrians and hinder economic recovery efforts, Syrian state news agency SANA reported on Sunday. They also discussed means to support foreign investments in Syria, especially in the fields of energy and infrastructure, according to SANA. The Syrian side expressed readiness to provide the necessary facilitation to attract investors and contribute in reconstruction efforts. (Reporting by Jason Lange in Washington and Menna Alaa El-Din in Cairo; Editing by Daniel Wallis and Christopher Cushing)

byDan Dunne

in

May 24, 2025

US special envoy praises Syrian leader's steps on foreign fighters

US special envoy praises Syrian leader's steps on foreign fighters WASHINGTON (Reuters) -U.S. President Donald Trump's special envoy...

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Massive Russian drone-and-missile attack on Ukraine kills at least 7 people, officials say

Massive Russian drone-and-missile attack on Ukraine kills at least 7 people, officials say

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — A massive Russian drone-and-missile attack targeted Ukraine for a second consecutive night, killing at least seven people and injuring dozens, officials said early Sunday. The attack took place on the third day of a planned prisoner swap between Russia and Ukraine, the only tangible outcome from peace talks in Istanbul earlier this month which have so far failed to produce a ceasefire. The exchange has been arare moment of cooperationbetween the warring sides. Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said "there are already 10 injured in the capital" as of 3 a.m. Sunday. Soon afterward, Ukraine's emergency service said four people were killed and 16 were injured, including 3 children, just in the Kyiv region. Klitschko said a student dormitory in Holosiivskyi district was hit by a drone and one of the building's walls was on fire. In Dniprovskyi district, a private house was destroyed and in Shevchenkivskyi district, windows in a residential building were smashed. Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Russia's defense ministry said each side brought home 307 more soldiers on Saturday,a day after each released a total of 390 combatants and civilians. Further releases expected over the weekend are set to make the swap the largest in more than three years of war. "We expect more to come tomorrow," Zelenskyy said on his official Telegram channel. Russia's defense ministry also said it expected the exchange to be continued, though it did not give details. Hours earlier, explosions and anti-aircraft fire were heard throughout Kyiv as many sought shelter in subway stations as Russian drones and missiles targeted the Ukrainian capital overnight. Intalks held in Istanbul earlier this month— the first time the two sides met face to face for peace talks sinceRussia's 2022 full-scale invasion— Kyiv and Moscow agreed to swap 1,000 prisoners of war and civilian detainees each.

byDan Dunne

in

May 24, 2025

Massive Russian drone-and-missile attack on Ukraine kills at least 7 people, officials say

Massive Russian drone-and-missile attack on Ukraine kills at least 7 people, officials say KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — A massive Russian drone-and-...

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‘Pod Save America’ host says he struggled over whether to talk about Biden decline

'Pod Save America' host says he struggled over whether to talk about Biden decline

"Pod Save America" co-host Jon Lovett recently said he struggled to speak about former President Biden's mental state for fear of his statements' impact on the 2024 presidential race. "I remember feeling I want to talk about this as a huge liability. To talk about this is something Joe Biden can overcome, but I'm not going to go so far as to say, 'I think Joe Biden must drop out. He is too old to be president,'" Lovett said during a Thursday appearance onThe Weekly Show with Jon Stewart. "A, because I didn't know exactly what was going on behind the scenes, but B, if Joe Biden is the candidate, I want him to f—— win," he continued. During Biden's last months in office, critics often railed at the leader's slurred speech, alleging the oldest sitting president was experiencing a cognitive decline. However, rumors were denied by both family members and staffers alike. Jake Tapper and Alex Thompson's new book, "Original Sin" outlines the testimony of Democratic insiders who say they watched Biden's downfall. The book details Lovett's meeting with the former president alongside co-hosts Jon Favreau and Dan Pfeiffer in April of 2024. The narrative recounts the conclusion of the meeting leading the three to believe the leader came across as "incoherent." During Thursday's podcast, Lovett said he didn't speak on his concerns in hopes of not "having the words we're saying taken out of context and all of a sudden be part of the case against Joe Biden from the right — that would use any person criticizing Joe Biden from the left as a weapon against him." Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.

byDan Dunne

in

May 24, 2025

‘Pod Save America’ host says he struggled over whether to talk about Biden decline

'Pod Save America' host says he struggled over whether to talk about Biden decline "Pod Save America" co-host Jon Lovett r...

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Jon Stewart: Trump will ‘burn’ country down for ‘insurance money’

Jon Stewart: Trump will 'burn' country down for 'insurance money'

Jon Stewart said President Trump's legal woes with media companies amount to an effort to tear down the country for "insurance money." He referenced Trump'sdefamation lawsuitwarranting a $15 million payout from ABC and first lady Melania's $40 million documentary deal with Amazon as proof of funds in exchange for "protection." "They just put money into the pot. So ultimately, at the end of this, does Trump burn our fucking country down for insurance money? Like, where are we headed?" Stewart said during a Friday appearance onThe Bill Simmons podcast. He said large-scale settlements set a poor precedent for future court battles with the Trump administration. "Now [Trump will] go after Harvard or Comcast or whatever the hell else he does because a policy of appeasement always leads to more conquest," Stewart said. Throughout Trump's second stint in office, he hasclashed with Harvardover their campus culture, alleging the school harbors students with antisemitic views. He has pushed to have one of the country's oldest institutionsstripped of their tax exempt statusand said their ability to welcome international students should be revoked. "Harvard's going to have to change its ways," Trump told reporters in the Oval Office on Friday. As the president encourages a nationwide educational overhaul, Stewart has suggested Democrats prepare for the next presidential race in 2028. He urged the party to "overcome the stink" in the next election cycle to regain support from voters after November's landslide loss. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.

byDan Dunne

in

May 24, 2025

Jon Stewart: Trump will ‘burn’ country down for ‘insurance money’

Jon Stewart: Trump will 'burn' country down for 'insurance money' Jon Stewart said President Trump's legal woes with med...

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North Korea detains 3 shipyard officials over the failed launch of a naval destroyer

North Korea detains 3 shipyard officials over the failed launch of a naval destroyer

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — North Korea authorities have detained three shipyard officials over the recentfailed launch of a naval destroyer, an incident that leaderKim Jong Unsaid was caused by criminal negligence, state media said Sunday. The 5,000-ton-class destroyer wasdamaged Wednesdaywhen a transport cradle on the ship's stern detached early during a launch ceremony attended by Kim at the northeastern port of Chongjin. Satellite imagery on the site showed the vessel lying on its side and draped in blue covers, with parts of the ship submerged. The vessel is North Korea's second known destroyer. The failed launch was subsequently an embarrassment to Kim, who is eager to build greater naval forces to deal with what he calls U.S.-led military threats. North Korea launched itsfirst destroyer, also a 5,000-ton-class ship, with massive fanfare last month. The ship is North Korea's largest and most advanced warship and state media reported it is designed to carry various weapons including nuclear missiles. Law enforcement authorities detained the chief engineer, head of the hull construction workshop and deputy manager for administrative affairs at Chongjin Shipyard, who they said were responsible for Wednesday's failed launch, the official Korean Central News Agency said. Hong Kil Ho, the shipyard manager, also was summoned for questioning, KCNA previously reported. Kim blamed military officials, scientists and shipyard operators for what he called a "criminal act caused by absolute carelessness, irresponsibility and unscientific empiricism." In an instruction to investigators Thursday, North Korea's powerful Central Miliary Commission echoed Kim's position, saying those responsible "can never evade their responsibility for the crime." North Korea denied the warship suffered major damage, saying the hull on the starboard side was scratched and some seawater flowed into the stern section. North Korea said Friday it needed about 10 days to make repairs, but many outside observers said the country likely understated the damage.

byDan Dunne

in

May 24, 2025

North Korea detains 3 shipyard officials over the failed launch of a naval destroyer

North Korea detains 3 shipyard officials over the failed launch of a naval destroyer SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — North Korea authorities have ...

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