The Biden-Harris administration is reportedly considering removing the terrorist designation for Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), a Syrian rebel group with ties to Al Qaeda. The move, first reported by Politico, aims to legitimize HTS to provide billions in U.S. humanitarian aid for post-civil war reconstruction in Syria. However, critics warn the decision could backfire, echoing past controversies over similar policy shifts.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken faces sharp criticism from Congress for attempting to incorporate an LGBTQ+ agenda into U.S. international diplomacy. In a strongly worded letter obtained by Breitbart News, Rep. Brian Mast, R-Fla., a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, accuses Blinken of overstepping his authority and misrepresenting U.S. treaty obligations under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR).
Singer Jay-Z is strongly denying recent allegations that he assaulted a 13-year-old girl alongside Sean "Diddy" Combs at an MTV Video Music Awards after-party in 2000.
Former January 6 Committee member Liz Cheney pushed back Monday against President-elect Donald Trump’s call for her to be jailed over allegations of destroying 117 files from the committee’s investigation. The controversy stems from claims that these files, which Trump asserts exonerate him, were deleted or encrypted by members of the panel.
American Airlines announced it will not resume flights to Haiti in February, citing the worsening gang violence and instability in the Caribbean nation.
In an interview on NBC's Meet the Press, former President Donald Trump suggested that President Joe Biden might consider issuing preemptive pardons to prominent Democrats and members of the January 6 Committee, including Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), Liz Cheney, Adam Kinzinger, and Bennie Thompson (D-MS). The remarks came amid ongoing scrutiny of the committee's handling of evidence and its perceived partisanship.
While former Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (D-HI) faced criticism for meeting Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad in 2017, prominent Democratic leaders, including then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), had also met with Assad in the past. Pelosi’s 2007 visit to Damascus, where she conveyed a peace message from Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, drew backlash from the Bush administration.
Syrians in Damascus celebrated Monday, flooding Umayyad Square to mark the end of President Bashar al-Assad’s regime. The sudden collapse of Assad’s government follows a rapid rebel offensive that ousted the dictator after decades of rule by his family.
