The Damascus book fair this month marked a turning point for the country, showing that books once banned are now on shelves and selling well. The event opened after Bashar al‑Assad’s regime fell, reflecting how the new government has changed Syria’s cultural rules. At the fair, readers could find
A well‑known director and a celebrated composer are upset that a piece of music from their earlier film was used in a documentary about the former first lady. They say the score should be taken out of the new movie. The director is working on a film that has recently been nominated for an Oscar. Th
In Syria's northeast, Kurds are keeping watch. They don't trust the shaky truce. They remember last year's violence. They want to protect their land. They want to keep their self-rule. In Qamishli, a city mostly Kurds call home, people are volunteering for night patrols. They carry guns. They say t
Tensions are high in northern Syria as government troops and Kurdish forces face off, waiting for a deadline that could either bring peace or more fighting. The deadline, set for Saturday evening, was supposed to decide if the two sides would stop fighting or keep going. But there's talk that the de
A group of well-known stars has stepped into the spotlight to challenge tech giants over AI training practices. Scarlett Johansson, Cate Blanchett, and Joseph Gordon-Levitt are among the 700+ supporters of the "Stealing Isn't Innovation" campaign. This initiative, launched by the Human Artistry Camp
In Syria, a shaky truce is holding between the government and Kurdish-led forces. The U. S. is pushing for this peace to last. They want both sides to trust each other more. This comes after the Syrian government took control of big parts of the northeast. They want to show they are in charge. The
In a surprising turn of events, the U. S. military has relocated 150 Islamic State fighters from Syria to Iraq. This action follows the sudden breakdown of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in northeast Syria. The SDF had been in charge of securing several prisons and detention camps, b
Syria's government has taken control of large areas in the north and east of the country. These areas were once held by Kurdish forces. This change happened quickly. It brings almost all of Syria back under the control of the central government in Damascus. The Syrian government and the Kurdish-led
In Syria, a big problem is getting bigger. The Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) recently lost control of some areas. This has put the safety of prisons and camps holding over 10, 000 Islamic State (IS) members and their families at risk. These places are packed with fighters, women, and ki
Syria's political landscape has shifted dramatically since Bashar al-Assad's departure. The new leader, Ahmed al-Sharaa, has been making waves, both good and bad. On one hand, he's been trying to win over the West, especially the United States, to bring in much-needed foreign investment. On the othe
