A wide array of Western sanctions are debilitating Syria’s economy and threatening its recovery after 14 years of civil war. The United States and European Union both imposed sanctions against former President Bashar al-Assad and his regime for committing crimes during the war, which began after pro-democracy protesters were repressed in 2011. While al-Assad is now gone, the sanctions remain in place, including on Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), the main group that overthrew al-Assad and is now leading Syria’s transition. Some European officials recently said they would not lift sanctions until Syria’s new rulers demonstrate that they will protect minorities…
Author: THE CONNECTING NEWSPAPER
Like it or not, congestion pricing has arrived — but not without questions from drivers. While the MTA has tried to address many concerns both in the leadup to and after the plan went into effect, drivers still have not been completely sure of all the rules when it comes to who is charged, when they get charged, how many times they can be charged each day, and more. Here is a breakdown of what the changes mean for drivers: Who will be charged? Almost all drivers of most cars, SUVs, small vans and pickup trucks. Who is exempt? Certain…
LONDON, England – The Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF) has activated an advanced UK-led reaction system to track potential threats to undersea infrastructure and monitor the Russian shadow fleet, following reported damage to a major undersea cable in the Baltic Sea. The Joint Expeditionary Force is comprised of ten like-minded nations, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Netherlands, Sweden and the UK as the Framework Nation. The JEF by design is a high-readiness, adaptable force which enhance the ability of the grouping to respond rapidly to threats, anywhere in the world. “The ten-nation strong Joint Expeditionary Force, of which the…
Dwayne Carruthers, Digital Transformation Communications & Advocacy Manager, United Nations Development Programme Daniel Amewor, Head of Communications, Centre for Digital Public Infrastructure Digital public infrastructure (DPI) is a force multiplier today, enabling countries to deliver a range of services at scale. However a few years ago, it was still an emerging concept for much of the development community, sparking questions about its benefits and governance. Not only has its narrative evolved with more clarity today, but DPI’s real-world impact across communities is also coming alive. With a promising outlook for an inclusive digital future, the success of the global DPI…
A 7.1-magnitude earthquake hit western China near the border with Nepal on Tuesday, according to the United States Geological Survey.The quake struck shortly after 9 a.m. at a depth of 6.2 miles in Dingri County in the Tibet region of China, Chinese state media reported. The state-run news agency Xinhua said there had been deaths in at least three townships. Several aftershocks were felt in the area, including in Nepal. The earthquake’s epicenter was recorded in Shigatse City, the second-largest city in Tibet.The Himalayan region is prone to powerful earthquakes. In 2015, a quake in Nepal with a magnitude of…
The Lance family is becoming North Dakota State royalty. On Monday, North Dakota State won its 10th national title overall and fifth in the last eight seasons, withstanding a furious Montana State second-half rally in a 35-32 win. At the center of the win was wide receiver Bryce Lance, the younger brother of Cowboys quarterback and former first-round pick Trey Lance, who led North Dakota State to a 16-0 record and national championship in 2019 while scoring 42 total touchdowns with no interceptions. On Monday, Bryce gave the Bison a 21-3 lead over the Bobcats with his 17th touchdown reception of…
The quiet proceeding contrasts with efforts by Trump’s own supporters to overturn his 2020 loss by storming the US Capitol.The United States Congress has certified Donald Trump’s victory in November’s presidential election, clearing a final hurdle for his return to the White House later this month. Monday’s ceremony in Congress officially validated the 2024 Electoral College results. Overseen by Vice President Kamala Harris, Trump’s main rival in the election, the event passed quickly and with little fanfare. “Today was obviously a very important day,” Harris, who also serves as the president of the Senate, said in remarks afterwards. “It was about…
On the first weekday of NYC’s new congestion-pricing era that’s already being threatened by the incoming Trump administration, Jose Martinez, THE CITY’s senior reporter covering transportation, offers some perspective on what this means for the trains and streets inside the zone and throughout the five boroughs:https://feeds.fireside.fm/faqnyc/rss?congestion“Politicians use the words historical a lot, but I do think that when they flipped the switch on this thing Saturday night, yeah, that was a bit of history here in New York. It’s something that has just been brewing for years — now it’s here.” Our nonprofit newsroom relies on donations from readers to…
By Sharonmae Smith Walker As we embrace 2025, we thank God for the opportunity to reset, using past experiences to bolster our future outlook. We thank you, our valued partners – Member States, the CARICOM Secretariat, International and Regional Collaborators, and the CARICOM Regional Organisation for Standards (CROSQ) Team for journeying with us through 2024, amidst our successes, constraints, and inevitable change. We reflect on the lyrics in the CARICOM Song – “We vow to join hands and to focus on building one Caribbean,” as we purposefully step into the new year. We build on past successes and commit to…
His Excellency President Julius Maada Bio departed Freetown today for Accra, Ghana, to attend the inauguration ceremony of Ghana’s President-Elect, His Excellency John Dramani Mahama. This historic occasion celebrates Ghana’s enduring commitment to democratic values and political transitions, serving as a beacon of hope and inspiration for the African continent. As Ghana ushers in a new chapter under President-Elect Mahama’s leadership, President Bio reaffirms Sierra Leone’s commitment to working closely with Ghana to promote peace, prosperity, and unity across the region and beyond. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of State House Sierra Leone. Source link