Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday promised to ask former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad for help in locating missing American veteran and journalist Austin Tice.
A recent faculty survey from the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE) reveals troubling trends regarding academic freedom and political bias in U.S. colleges. The survey highlights a significant bias against conservatives in academia, with only 20% of respondents believing a conservative would be a "positive fit" in their department, while 71% felt a liberal would fit well. Additionally, 39% of faculty members viewed a conservative as a "poor fit."
Barbara Leaf, the State Department’s top official for the Middle East, will travel to Damascus this week, marking a significant step in U.S. diplomatic engagement with Syria.
Since the Biden administration took office nearly four years ago, there have been a slew of controversial actions, many of which seem unjustified. But often, it’s the behind-the-scenes decisions that cause the most frustration. One such example was the Department of Defense’s (DOD) February 2023 policy that prohibited uniformed servicemembers from participating in the unfurling of the American flag at sporting events. The policy, stemming from concerns about how flags were displayed horizontally at these events, had no real justification and only served to dampen the spirit of military members and fans alike.
In the wake of Hurricane Helene, which killed 103 people and caused an estimated $53 billion in damages, North Carolina has received significant aid for recovery efforts, including over $1.1 billion in state relief and billions more in federal requests. The storm, considered the state’s worst natural disaster, has prompted both state and federal governments to take action, though criticism has followed regarding the adequacy of those efforts.
U.S. officials are raising alarms over the possibility of thousands of ISIS fighters escaping from detention centers in Syria due to ongoing Turkish-backed military operations.