World
Assad Visits U.A.E. in Latest Sign of Re-engagement
DAMASCUS, Syria — Syria’s president, Bashar al-Assad, was within the United Arab Emirates on Friday, his workplace mentioned, his first go to to an Arab nation since Syria’s civil battle erupted in 2011.
In a press release posted on its social media pages, Mr. Assad’s workplace mentioned he had met with Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum, the Emirates’ vp and prime minister, who can be the ruler of Dubai. The 2 mentioned increasing bilateral relations between Syria and the Emirates, it mentioned.
The go to sends the clearest sign but that the Arab world is prepared to re-engage with Syria’s broadly shunned president. It comes in opposition to the backdrop of the battle in Ukraine, the place Mr. Assad’s major ally, President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia, is urgent on with a army offensive, now in its fourth week. Syria has supported Russia’s invasion, accusing the West of getting provoked it.
Syria was expelled from the 22-member Arab League and boycotted by its neighbors after its civil battle broke out 11 years in the past. A whole lot of 1000’s of individuals have been killed within the battle, which displaced half of Syria’s inhabitants. Massive elements of the nation have been destroyed, and reconstruction would value tens of billions of {dollars}.
Arab and Western nations usually blamed Mr. Assad’s lethal crackdown on 2011 protests for setting off the battle, they usually supported the opposition within the early days of the battle.
The Lasting Impact of Syria’s Civil Conflict
After a decade of preventing, many Syrians marvel if their nation could be put again collectively.
Requested about Mr. Assad’s go to to the Emirates, a State Division spokesman, Ned Value, mentioned Washington was “profoundly dissatisfied and troubled by this obvious try to legitimize Bashar al-Assad, who stays accountable and accountable for the loss of life and struggling of numerous Syrians, the displacement of greater than half of the prewar Syrian inhabitants and the arbitrary detention and disappearance of over 150,000 Syrian males, girls and youngsters.”
Mr. Assad has very not often traveled outdoors Syria throughout the battle, visiting solely Russia and Iran. Tehran has given the Syrian authorities billions of {dollars} in support and despatched Iran-backed fighters to battle alongside his forces — help that, together with Russian air energy, helped flip the tide in Mr. Assad’s favor.
With the battle having fallen right into a stalemate and Mr. Assad recovering management over a lot of the nation, Arab nations have inched towards restoring ties with the Syrian chief in recent times.
The Emirates reopened its embassy in Syria in late 2018 in probably the most important Arab overture towards the Assad authorities, although relations remained chilly. Final fall, the Emirati overseas minister flew to Damascus for a gathering with Mr. Assad, the primary go to by the nation’s prime diplomat since 2011. America, a detailed associate of the Emirates, criticized the go to on the time, saying it might not help any normalization of relations with Mr. Assad’s authorities.
A key motive for the overtures by Sunni Muslim nations within the Persian Gulf is to blunt the involvement of their Shiite-led foe, Iran, whose affect expanded quickly within the chaos of Syria’s battle.
Understanding Syria’s Civil Conflict
An everlasting battle. The Syrian battle started 11 years in the past with a peaceable rebellion in opposition to the federal government and spiraled right into a multisided battle involving armed rebels, jihadists and others. Here’s what to know:
The rapprochement, nevertheless, might serve either side.
Syria badly wants to enhance relations with oil-rich nations as its economic system is strangled by crippling Western sanctions and because it faces the duty of postwar reconstruction. The Emirates can be dwelling to 1000’s of Syrians who work there and ship cash to their family at dwelling.
The Emirates’ state-run WAM information company mentioned the nation’s de facto ruler, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed, had welcomed Mr. Assad at his palace in Abu Dhabi.
On the assembly, the crown prince expressed his hope that “this go to could be the start of peace and stability for Syria and the complete area,” in response to the report. Mr. Assad was reported to have left the Emirates from Abu Dhabi afterward Friday.
World
Kamala Harris Calls Out Donald Trump for Backing Out of Sept. 10 Debate on ABC
ad
World
Argentina's Milei rallies Venezuelan opposition despite Maduro's 'ugly' attacks
Argentinian President Javier Milei has emerged as a powerful ally of the Venezuelan anti-government protests as international pressure mounts to award the recent presidential election to the opposition.
Leaders from around the world, including the U.S., have cast doubt on Nicolas Maduro’s claim that he won the election, and protesters have clashed with police in the streets of the embattled South American nation.
“He’s been very, very helpful, and he has been kind of like a rallying voice in South America to allow him, along with the left, the opposition of healing work and kind of pushing other democracies to recognize Edmundo as president,” Daniel Acosta Rivas, an OSINT Analyst, told Fox News Digital.
Rivas said that Milei’s vocal support has “been coming into Venezuela and especially in the diaspora.”
Milei was among the first world leaders to speak out after the Maduro-controlled National Electoral Council handed victory to the incumbent with an alleged margin of 51%, compared to 44% support for the opposition. Pre-election polling (which is illegal in the country) indicated that opposition candidate Edmundo Gonzalez received double the votes of Maduro.
BLINKEN SAYS VENEZUELA’S NICOLAS MADURO LOST ELECTION BEFORE CLAIMING VICTORY WITH ‘NO SUPPORTING EVIDENCE’
The U.S. eventually recognized Gonzalez as the winner after claiming to have reviewed tally sheets, but Milei had immediately blasted the election result as a “fraud carried out and perpetrated by the dictator Nicolás Maduro.”
“He may believe he has won a battle,” Milei said. “However, the most important thing is that the Venezuelan lions have awakened, and sooner or later socialism will come to an end.”
Milei stressed that Argentina “will not acknowledge a new fraud” and urged Venezuela’s armed forces to “defend democracy and popular will this time around.” He pointed to “data” that showed a “crushing victory for the opposition.”
Protesters took to the streets and met a violent crackdown from police as Maduro attempted to press his victory claim, drawing international condemnation. Milei continued to urge the protesters and support their fight against Maduro.
CHAVEZ STATUES TOPPLED ACROSS VENEZUELA AS ELECTION PROTESTS RAGE ON
Maduro lashed out at Milei earlier this week, taking several shots at the Argentinian. He referenced Milei’s “monster face” and called him “an ugly guy, too, and stupid.”
He also labeled Milei a “Nazi, fascist guy” who demanded to know how anyone could take a “guy like that seriously,” according to the Buenos Aires Herald. He also called Milei a “cowardly bug” and a “traitor to the homeland.”
“These people have said no to wild capitalism and fascism,” Maduro insisted during a rally outside his party headquarters. “From Caracas, Venezuela has said no to the Nazi fascist Milei. We are a country of warriors.”
But Maduro’s response only seemed to have galvanized the protesters and strengthened Milei’s popularity among the opposition. Rivas noted that Maduro keeps commenting on the likes of Milei and Elon Musk – both prominent critics following the election result – in an effort to shift the focus away from the election, but the efforts have only highlighted him and his politics in a region that is increasingly unhappy with politics as normal in the region.
BIDEN’S VENEZUELA POLICY FEEDS MADURO STRONGMAN IMAGE, EMBOLDENS DICTATOR IN ELECTION CONTROVERSY: RUBIO
“He has pushed a right-wing movement or classical liberal movement throughout Latin America,” Rivas said. “You see people being inspired by his message and his rise to the leadership … he was virtually unknown outside of libertarian circles before he ran for office, and he was dismissed by the other members of the opposition in Argentina during the Fernandez-Kirchner government. And look at him now.”
Jorge Jraissati, a Venezuelan foreign policy expert and President of the Economic Inclusion Group, told Fox News Digital that “young people in Venezuela are tired of communism, even the mildest form of socialism.”
“What all of us want is a true change towards the idea of freedom,” Jraissati said. “This is why Javier Milei is … openly defending the ideas of freedom. He is tackling inflation. He is cutting wasteful government spending. And overall, he is pushing the notion that if people are allowed to be free, our countries will finally flourish.”
“The communists have been in power for 25 years in Venezuela,” he continued. “Their legacy has been one of extreme poverty and hunger: From being the wealthiest country in Latin America, we are now the poorest, and on the political front, they turn a functioning democracy into a Stalinist system in which all political freedoms have been taken away from us.”
HARRIS FAILED TO COMBAT ‘ROOT CAUSES’ OF ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION, FORMER BORDER PATROL CHIEF SAYS
Venezuelan activists living in exile spoke glowingly of Milei and his potential impact on the country as protesters continue seeking an end to the Maduro-Chavez system and a new way of life, possibly one that aligns more with the politics of Milei. Since taking office earlier this year, Milei, an economist, has tamed Argentina’s runaway inflation, balanced the budget and pared the size of government.
“Young people tend to embrace socialist ideas; however, those who have lived under these political systems become their biggest adversaries,” Esteban Hernández, a Venezuelan journalist in exile in Miami, told Fox News Digital.
“The Venezuelan youth, unlike in other countries, doesn’t support these ideas,” he said. “As a matter of fact, we have seen that in nations like the U.S. or even Argentina, they make efforts to get elected those who oppose socialism.”
“During the last election cycle in Argentina, for example, we saw many Venezuelans warning locals about voting for Sergio Massa, and many even volunteered to get Javier Milei elected,” Hernández added.
Franklin Camargo, a Venezuelan activist in exile, told Fox News Digital that “Javier Milei is the best right-wing leader of our generation, since he refutes the socialists and the left with philosophical and moral arguments while continually offering the best defense of Individualism, Capitalism and Freedom.”
World
Ledecky seals GOAT status, USA break world record in Olympic swimming pool
Already rated one of swimming’s all-time greats coming into the Paris Olympics, Katie Ledecky made it official by storming to victory in her signature event, the 800-metre freestyle, to end her work in the French capital in great style.
French torpedo Leon Marchand may be the prince of Paris, electrifying the home nation with four spectacular gold medals, but it is Ledecky writing her name in the record books after she claimed her ninth gold, equalling Soviet gymnast Larisa Latynina for the most by any woman in any Olympic sport.
In sharp contrast to Ledecky’s runaway win in the 1,500-metre, the 800-metre freestyle on Saturday was a thriller from start to finish, with Ariarne Titmus matching her stroke-for-stroke for almost the entire distance.
But with the American setting a relentless, grinding pace, her great Australian rival would never get her nose in front, settling for silver as Ledecky got to the wall first in a time of 8 minutes, 11.04 seconds.
Paige Madden took bronze for the United States.
It is the fourth time Ledecky has won the 800-metre freestyle and she joins compatriot Michael Phelps as the only swimmer to win gold in four different Olympics.
The 800-metre was the final event on Ledecky’s Paris card and she returns home having added two golds, a silver and a bronze, bringing her Olympic stockpile to 14 medals in all – with more possible. The 27-year-old has hinted that a home Olympics in Los Angeles in four years is on her mind.
And in a passing of the baton moment, Canada’s Summer McIntosh enhanced her status as the rising star of women’s swimming by winning her third gold medal of the games in the 200-metre individual medley.
The 17-year-old produced a brilliant late surge to win in a time of 2min 06.56sec, the third-fastest time in history.
Kate Douglass of the USA finished second to take silver while Australian Kaylee McKeown took the bronze after American Alex Walsh, who had finished third, was disqualified.
McIntosh had already claimed gold in the 400-metre individual medley and the 200-metre butterfly, as well as a silver in the 400-metre freestyle.
“It’s pretty surreal. I’m just so proud of myself, how I’ve been able to recover and manage the events because it is a lot,” said the teenager, who also won silver in the 400-metre freestyle during what has been an intense games for her.
“The reason I’m able to do this just because of all the hard work and dedication I’ve given to this moment along with all my family and my teammates and my coaches, and I’ve also worked so hard for me to be here today,” she said.
The Canadian said she knew that she had to pull out all the stops to secure her latest win.
Earlier, Hungarian powerhouse Kristof Milak stormed to a second Olympic gold with victory in a thrilling men’s 100-metre butterfly final, while adding to the silver medal he won in the 200-metre event at the Paris Games.
Three years after claiming the 200-metre gold at Tokyo, the 24-year-old secured the shorter of the two Olympic butterfly titles by touching the wall in 49.90, 0.09 seconds ahead of Canadian runner-up Josh Liendo.
Ilya Kharun grabbed a second bronze for Canada, having also taken one in the 200-metre butterfly in Paris.
Now boasting four Olympic medals, Milak gave Hungary a second gold in the Paris meet following Hubert Kos’s 200-metre backstroke title.
In the final race of the night in the pool, the United States broke the world record in winning the 4×100-metre mixed medley relay gold, outgunning China and Australia.
Their team of Ryan Murphy, Nic Fink, Gretchen Walsh and Torri Huske touched in 3min 37.43sec to narrowly better the mark set by Britain at the Tokyo Games, when the event was first added to the Olympic programme.
China’s Zhang Yufei took silver in 3:37.55, with Australia filling the podium in 3:38.76.
It is only the second world record in the pool in Paris after China’s Pan Zhanle smashed the men’s 100-metre freestyle best.
Teams in the mixed medley comprise two women and two men, with each of the four swimmers allocated to one of the four traditional medley strokes – backstroke, breaststroke, butterfly and freestyle.
The United States chose to lead off with Murphy up against China’s Xu Jiayu, while Australia opted for Kaylee McKeown.
Both Fink and Walsh then swam storming legs before Huske brought it home with China’s Yang Junxuan and Australia’s Mollie O’Callaghan in hot pursuit.
-
Mississippi4 days ago
MSU, Mississippi Academy of Sciences host summer symposium, USDA’s Tucker honored with Presidential Award
-
World1 week ago
Typhoon Gaemi barrels towards China’s Fujian after sinking ship off Taiwan
-
Politics7 days ago
Republicans say Schumer must act on voter proof of citizenship bill if Democrat 'really cares about democracy'
-
World6 days ago
More right wing with fewer women – a new Parliament compendium
-
News1 week ago
Video: Kamala Harris May Bring Out Trump’s Harshest Instincts
-
News1 week ago
Who Can Achieve the American Dream? Race Matters Less Than It Used To.
-
Politics1 week ago
Trump announces to crowd he 'just took off the last bandage' at faith event after assassination attempt
-
World7 days ago
Israel says Hezbollah crossed ‘red line’, strikes deep inside Lebanon