Iron-fisted Assad never quelled the Syrian rebels who came back to topple him

(Reuters) – Syria’s Bashar al-Assad used Russian and Iranian firepower to beat back rebel forces during years of civil war but never defeated them, leaving him vulnerable to their breathtaking advance when his allies were distracted by wars elsewhere. President for 24 years, Assad flew out of Damascus for an unknown destination early on Sunday, …

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After Yoon’s martial law order, South Korean protester recalls strongman military rule

By Sebin Choi and Eduardo Baptista SEOUL (Reuters) – When President Yoon Suk Yeol declared martial law, for the first time in South Korea since 1980, 70-year-old Lee Chul-Woo was reminded of his youth, much of it spent protesting right-wing military strongman rule. The swift rejection and failure of Yoon’s move partly stems from that …

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US spending on TikTok Shop gains as TikTok faces threat of ban, data shows

By Arriana McLymore and Sheila Dang NEW YORK (Reuters) – U.S. TikTok users spent heavily to buy merchandise from a range of vendors on the e-commerce platform TikTok Shop so far this holiday shopping season, according to TikTok estimates and a Reuters analysis of spending patterns measured by data from Facteus. The patterns show that …

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US House to vote to provide $3 billion to remove Chinese telecoms equipment

By David Shepardson WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The U.S. House of Representatives is set to vote next week on an annual defense bill that includes just over $3 billion for U.S. telecom companies to remove equipment made by Chinese telecoms firms Huawei and ZTE from American wireless networks to address security risks. The 1,800-page text was released …

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Georgia’s president says she talked with Trump, Macron about ‘stolen election’

By Felix Light TBILISI (Reuters) – Georgia’s President Salome Zourabichvili said she talked with U.S. President-elect Donald Trump and French President Emmanuel Macron about the parliamentary election last month in her country that she and the opposition say was rigged. “In depth discussion with Presidents Trump & Macron,” Zourabichvili, who was in Paris for the …

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US unveils $988 million aid package for Ukraine including rockets and drones

By Mike Stone SIMI VALLEY, California (Reuters) -The United States unveiled a $988 million aid package of new arms and equipment to Ukraine for its ongoing fight against Russia’s invasion on Saturday. The package nearly halves the available $2.21 billion remaining in Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative as the Biden administration works to commit to buying …

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UK’s Starmer to push for stronger ties with UAE, Saudi Arabia in first Gulf visit

LONDON (Reuters) – British Prime Minister Keir Starmer will begin a multi-day visit to the Gulf on Sunday, his first trip to the region since taking office, seeking stronger economic and defence ties with the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia. He will aim to boost investment and deepen defence and security partnerships, the government …

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