The Biden administration has announced yet another significant aid package for Ukraine, totaling $988 million, as part of its ongoing support against Russian aggression.
Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad, notorious for his use of chemical weapons against his own population, has fled the country as rebel forces stormed the capital city of Damascus, according to Reuters.
Eileen O’Neill Burke, the newly sworn-in Cook County state’s attorney, has announced new policies focused on pretrial detention for violent offenses and stricter thresholds for retail theft. Burke’s approach marks a shift in priorities following the tenure of her predecessor, Kim Foxx.
Texas state Rep. Dade Phelan (R-Beaumont) announced on Friday that he will not seek reelection as Speaker of the Texas House. Phelan’s decision comes after claiming last month that he had enough support to defeat both Republican and Democratic challengers.
Republican senators are demanding that negotiators remove a provision in the annual defense bill that requires women to register for the Selective Service System.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) increased its military presence along the Syrian border in the Golan Heights on Friday in response to rapid advances by Syrian rebels against the Assad regime. The move comes as rebel forces, including Islamist factions, capture key cities like Aleppo and Hama, forcing regime troops to retreat.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu criticized Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s Labor government on Friday, accusing its anti-Israel policies of fostering antisemitism after an arson attack on a Melbourne synagogue. The Adass Israel synagogue was firebombed during morning prayers, injuring one and causing extensive damage. Worshippers inside reported masked assailants throwing incendiary devices through the windows.
Poland’s Foreign Minister Radek Sikorski called for Russia’s suspension from the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) during a meeting in Malta on Thursday, accusing Moscow of attempting to rebuild its empire. Sikorski led a walkout of European delegations in protest against Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov’s presence.
