内容摘要：WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — The strange reproductive habits of a large, carnivorous

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — The strange reproductive habits of a large, carnivorous

After leading the lightning insurgency that toppled Assad, al-Sharaa promised a new Syria.He vowed to rid the country of Iranian influence and Iran-backed armed groups such as the Lebanese militia Hezbollah. He promised an inclusive, representative government that would allow the country’s many ethnic and religious groups to live in peace.

Washington lifted the terror designation weeks after he took power, and he was embraced by Turkey and Saudi Arabia, whose de facto leader, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, hosted Wednesday’s meeting with Trump.But the difficulties have been daunting.Fourteen years of war left large areas in ruins and, along with the sanctions, devastated the economy. An estimated

lives in poverty. Assad’s rule and the civil war also left deep fissures between the country’s Sunni minority and the Alawite minority from which Assad hailed, and which benefited from his rule. Those rifts have proven tough to heal.Al-Sharaa formed a transitional government that gave some positions to minorities but was dominated by his inner circle.

later broadened al-Sharaa’s powers and said Islamic law would remain at the heart of legislation for a five-year interim period. Al-Sharaa argued that the measures were needed to stabilize the country, while many critics viewed it as a power grab.

“It appears that many of the steps taken have been rushed and performative rather than offering genuine meaningful change in Syria,” said Lara Nelson, policy director at the Syrian research and policy group Etana. “There are concerns about authoritarian consolidation.”. Hamas attacked Israel on Oct. 7, 2023 and Israel froze aid to Gaza for two weeks.

Now, Gaza is entering its third month without supplies. Thousands of trucks queue along the border of the territory, waiting to be let in. Community kitchens are closing down and bakeries are running out of fuel. Families spend hours waiting in line for small portions of rice.In their desperation, Palestinians have begun scavenging warehouses and stores for anything left. Aid groups report a rise in looting incidents over the last week. At least some have been

Meanwhile, Israel is moving forward with plans to seize all of Gaza and to stay in the Palestinian territory for an unspecified amount of time. It says it will expand operations there, defying calls for an immediate renewal of a ceasefire from families whose relatives are still held hostage in Gaza.Israel’s offensive has displaced more than 90% of Gaza’s population and, Palestinian health officials say, killed more than 52,000 people, many of them women and children. Palestinian officials do not distinguish between combatants and civilians in their count.