A criminal court in Damascus has sentenced ousted Syrian president Bashar al-Assad to death in absentia. Following a landmark trial examining the atrocities of Syria's nearly 14-year civil war, the court convicted Assad, his brother Maher al-Assad, and several former security officials on charges including premeditated murder, torture, arbitrary detention, and crimes against humanity.


Damascus court delivers verdict against Bashar al-Assad | Syria sentences ousted ruler to death

According to a report, U.S. has brokered a deal whereby IAEA will soon remove nuclear material stored at a clandestine site in Syria. This material was reportedly moved from the Al-Kibar facility which was bombed by Israel in 2007.


Syria's nuclear material to be removed in US-brokered deal, report says

A Syrian court has sentenced ousted dictator Bashar al-Assad to death in absentia, after convicting him of committing war crimes and crimes against humanity during the country's civil war.

It is the first conviction against Assad, who fled from Damascus to the Russian capital, Moscow, with his family after his regime was overthrown in December 2024, ending his family's five-decade grip on power.

Bashar Al Assad faces death sentence in Syria, while living in Russia  

Syria will take over management of the Hmeimim airport and the commercial berth at Tartus port and the bases would be converted into joint training and capacity-building centres. The transition is expected to be completed within three months, the Syrian foreign ministry said.

Syria and Russia reach deal; Damascus to take over two Mediterranean bases

Global tensions remain high as Iran says it has halted retaliatory attacks after the United States paused its airstrikes for two consecutive nights, raising hopes of a possible diplomatic breakthrough. At the same time, Yemen's Houthi rebels claim they have downed a Saudi drone and intensified attacks on Saudi targets, keeping pressure on regional security.

Meanwhile, the Russia-Ukraine war continues to widen, with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy accusing Moscow of providing satellite intelligence to Iran for attacks on U.S. military bases and Gulf facilities. Romania has summoned Russia's ambassador after another drone incident near its border with Ukraine, while India has issued a fresh advisory urging its citizens to carefully evaluate security risks before accepting jobs on commercial vessels operating in or passing through the Black Sea.

Elsewhere, rescue teams continue searching for missing crew members after a Vietnamese vessel carrying 62 people sank in the South China Sea. In Europe, Spain is battling rapidly spreading wildfires fueled by extreme heat and strong winds, forcing emergency firefighting operations. Iraq has also approved a memorandum with Syria to build a new oil pipeline linking Iraqi oil fields to Mediterranean export terminals, aiming to diversify export routes and reduce dependence on the Strait of Hormuz.

Stay tuned for comprehensive coverage of the latest developments in global conflicts, diplomacy, energy security, maritime safety, climate disasters, and international affairs.

Iran-US Conflict Update | Houthis Target Saudi Arabia | Ukraine Accuses Russia | Spain Wildfires

The World's Most Livable Cities 2026 ranking has been revealed, with Copenhagen, Denmark securing the top spot, followed by Vienna and Melbourne. The list highlights cities offering the best quality of life, while Damascus, Syria ranks as the least livable city, followed by Tripoli and Dhaka. Indian cities including Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai and Bengaluru also feature in the global rankings.

World's most livable cities 2026: Copenhagen tops, Damascus ranks last 

New violence shook the Middle East early Monday as the United States announced another wave of attacks on Iran, Kuwait said it was intercepting drones and Tehran's Revolutionary Guards claimed to have hit an "enemy command centre" in Syria.

Bahrain's interior ministry also said that its air raid sirens had sounded and urged citizens and residents to head to "the nearest safe place".

US says strikes 'punish' Iran for killing three soldiers

As tensions reach a boiling point, U.S. forces have conducted a sixth consecutive night of airstrikes across southern Iran, specifically targeting critical transportation infrastructure. Iranian state media reports that at least five bridges—including key logistical routes like the Gariveh and Kahurestan bridges—were struck, severely impacting internal mobility.

Iran reports several killed in strikes that hit 5 bridges 

In today's top world headlines, India's National Security Adviser Ajit Doval urged stronger BIMSTEC cooperation to address shared security and economic challenges, including global supply chain disruptions. Iran warned that any U.S. interference in the Strait of Hormuz would cross a "red line," while explosions were reported near Iran's Jabar Port amid escalating tensions between Washington and Tehran. Israel reaffirmed its military presence in security zones across Lebanon, Syria, and Gaza, and Russian ballistic missile strikes killed civilians in Kyiv. Meanwhile, Toronto recorded the world's worst air quality due to wildfire smoke, Indian stock markets traded flat after a volatile session, and Zee Group Chairman Dr. Subhash Chandra announced the establishment of Sri Nand Kishor Goenka University in Hisar.

Iran threatens U.S. | BIMSTEC summit | Toronto air quality worsens | Kyiv missile attack | WION News

In a major geopolitical shift, the United States, Iraq, and Syria are reportedly finalizing a deal to restore the historic 800-kilometer Kirkuk-Baniyas oil pipeline. The project, dormant for decades and severely damaged since the 2003 Iraq war, is expected to be unveiled next week during Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi’s White House meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump.  


Reports: US, Iraq & Syria move to revive historic Kirkuk-Baniyas pipeline to bypass Hormuz

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack fundamentally changed Israel's security doctrine. Israel now insists on maintaining buffer zones inside Gaza, southern Lebanon, and parts of Syria, arguing they are essential to prevent future attacks. While Israeli leaders say the policy is about national security, critics accuse Israel of prolonged military occupation and violating neighboring countries' sovereignty.

Israel says October 7 changed everything, Netanyahu defends buffer zones in Gaza, Lebanon & Syria

A new flashpoint is forming in the Middle East. Israel has warned about Turkish military expansion in Syria, calling it a direct threat to its security. Officials say Ankara is building a bigger presence near Israel’s northern border, raising fears of a potential confrontation. Syria, already devastated by years of war, is now caught between two regional powers. Analysts say this could open a new battlefront. 


Israel threatens response if Turkey builds Syria bases

Israel warns of Turkish military expansion in Syria

Donald Trump said he wants to remove Syria from the US terrorism list, praising Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa and citing the country's growing stability.

Trump says ​al-Sharaa has done a 'fantastic job,' hints at removing Syria from terror list

Chaos in Damascus. Two bombs exploded near a hotel where French President Emmanuel Macron had spent the night, killing 4 people including police officers and wounding 18. Macron’s motorcade had left just before the blasts. He went ahead with the visit and met Syria’s President Ahmad al-Sharaa at the palace, in the first EU leader visit since Assad’s fall. France called Syria a "primary partner" for rebuilding. But the attack shows how fragile security still is after 13 years of war. Roads were sealed, security was tight, and a country trying to heal was shaken again.


Damascus blast: Explosions struck near hotel where President Macron held meeting

Damascus explosion: Two bombs hit Damascus hotel area during Macron’s historic Syria visit

French President Emmanuel Macron held a working dinner with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa during his visit to Damascus. The two leaders also toured the historic Umayyad Mosque, highlighting growing diplomatic engagement between France and Syria amid shifting regional dynamics.


Macron holds talks with Syria's al-Sharaa, tours historic Umayyad Mosque

French President Emmanuel Macron has arrived in Damascus, marking the first visit by a Western European head of state since the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad in late 2024. During this historic trip, Macron and Syrian interim leader Ahmed al-Sharaa are holding high-stakes talks centered on political transition, regional security, and economic cooperation.


France's Macron And Syria's Al-Sharaa Hold High-Stakes Talks Amid His Historic Visit

A bomb blast at a cafe in central Damascus on Thursday killed nine people and wounded 20 others, Syria's interior ministry ​said. There was no immediate claim of responsibility. Syrian state television said an explosive ‌device had been planted at the cafe, near the Palace of Justice in the centre of the capital.

Syria explosion: Nine killed, 20 injured in Damascus bomb blast

Raging wildfires tear through Syria’s northeastern countryside, forcing desperate residents and local farmers onto the front lines to protect what remains of their harvest. Armed only with water hoses and clothing, locals struggle to contain the advancing flames before the nation's critical wheat fields are entirely consumed.

Wildfires Engulf Wheat Fields Across Syria

Syrian President Ahmed Al-Sharaa snubbed U.S. President Donald Trump's suggestion of initiating military action against Hezbollah. Trump had floated this idea after expressing his frustration over Israel's approach towards Hezbollah. Speaking to the media, Al-Sharaa made it clear that the solution to the Lebanon crisis doesn't lie in bombing of cities.


Syria's President Al-Sharaa Snubs Trump, Rules Out Military Action Against Hezbollah

US President Donald Trump’s proposal for Syria to take over the fight against Hezbollah has hit a major roadblock. Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa has explicitly ruled out deploying Syrian troops to fight Hezbollah, stating that the crisis in Lebanon cannot be solved through war.


Trump's Plan to Let Syria Handle Hezbollah in Trouble, Al-Sharaa Refuses to Fight

Iraq and Syria have reportedly closed their airspace following Iran’s missile attack on Israel, as regional tensions continue to escalate. The precautionary move comes amid renewed Iran–Israel hostilities that have disrupted civilian air routes and heightened security concerns across the Middle East.


Israel-Iran War: Iraq, Syria Close Airspace After Iran Attacks Israel

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Damascus court delivers verdict against Bashar al-Assad | Syria sentences ousted ruler to death

Syria's nuclear material to be removed in US-brokered deal, report says

Bashar Al Assad faces death sentence in Syria, while living in Russia

Syria and Russia reach deal; Damascus to take over two Mediterranean bases

Iran-US Conflict Update | Houthis Target Saudi Arabia | Ukraine Accuses Russia | Spain Wildfires

World's most livable cities 2026: Copenhagen tops, Damascus ranks last

US says strikes 'punish' Iran for killing three soldiers

Iran reports several killed in strikes that hit 5 bridges

Iran threatens U.S. | BIMSTEC summit | Toronto air quality worsens | Kyiv missile attack | WION News

Reports: US, Iraq & Syria move to revive historic Kirkuk-Baniyas pipeline to bypass Hormuz

Israel says October 7 changed everything, Netanyahu defends buffer zones in Gaza, Lebanon & Syria

Israel threatens response if Turkey builds Syria bases

Israel warns of Turkish military expansion in Syria

Trump says ​al-Sharaa has done a 'fantastic job,' hints at removing Syria from terror list

Damascus blast: Explosions struck near hotel where President Macron held meeting

Damascus explosion: Two bombs hit Damascus hotel area during Macron’s historic Syria visit

Macron holds talks with Syria's al-Sharaa, tours historic Umayyad Mosque

France's Macron And Syria's Al-Sharaa Hold High-Stakes Talks Amid His Historic Visit

Syria explosion: Nine killed, 20 injured in Damascus bomb blast

Syria explosion: Nine killed, 20 injured in Damascus bomb blast

Wildfires Engulf Wheat Fields Across Syria

Syria's President Al-Sharaa Snubs Trump, Rules Out Military Action Against Hezbollah

Trump's Plan to Let Syria Handle Hezbollah in Trouble, Al-Sharaa Refuses to Fight

Israel-Iran War: Iraq, Syria Close Airspace After Iran Attacks Israel

Trump says al-Sharaa has done a 'fantastic job,' hints at removing Syria from terror list