Shining light on America's missing man in Syria
In the seven months since the collapse of Bashar al-Assad's regime in Syria, one name has stayed near the top of the Trump Administration's agenda: Austin Tice. The American citizen vanished in 2012 in a Damascus suburb. During his first term President Donald Trump made overtures to the Assad regime about finding and returning Mr Tice.
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BBC News
37 minutes ago
- BBC News
Trump vowed to make the world safer - has he?
When Donald Trump was sworn in as US president for a second time in January, he made a promise. "My proudest legacy will be that of a peacemaker and unifier," he told his audience at home and far a little more than a hundred days on, during his first foreign tour – which took him to three wealthy Arab states – he boasted that he was making good on that vow. "I will tell you that the world is a much safer place right now," he said in reference to Ukraine. "I think in two or three weeks we can have a much safer place."But how much progress is the self-styled "world's best peacemaker" really making? Is Trump turning the world into a safer, or a more dangerous, place?There are many angles to the is difficult to ignore the reality on the ground in perhaps the world's two most prominent Trump boasts that he is the only one who can reach a deal with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin - but Russia is now pounding Ukraine with the largest number of drones and missiles since its full-scale invasion in he has repeatedly called for a ceasefire in Gaza, but this week staff at the Red Cross Field Hospital say they are receiving the highest number of weapons-wounded patients since they established their clinic more than a year frantic peace brokering hints at what he really wantsTrump says rare earths deal 'done' with ChinaKremlin calls Trump 'emotional' over Ukraine commentsOn other fronts, however, there are some glimmers of light in the talks between the US and Iran are underway, pushed by an American president who insists that he wants to reach a good deal and avert a bad destructive war. The next round of those talks, mediated by Oman, is expected to take place on Sunday, although there is intense speculation that Israel may be preparing its own military strikes on has more of a fighting chance to tackle dangerous internal tensions, as well as deep poverty, after President Trump suddenly announced last month that punishing sanctions on the country would be lifted on the urging of his Saudi ally."It's the worst of times and the best of times," David Harland, executive director of the Geneva-based Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue, told me. "There are now more wars than ever in the world, but more conflicts are on the negotiating table and some are moving forward."There is truth in Trump's claim that only he can bring some players to talk peace. He is the only world leader that Putin and Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, among others, know they need to listen to – or else."You bet, they're scared of him," said K. T. Mcfarland, Trump's former deputy national security adviser who will join a BBC World Service debate on whether the president is making the world safer or more dangerous that will be broadcast on motto "peace through strength" rests on his belief that his sheer force of personality, bold threats, and direct telephone calls can end wars. He even said he could end wars in a day – but clearly hasn't. Trump has, however, pushed Russian and Ukrainian officials back to the negotiating table, but there's been little progress beyond some important prisoner swaps. President Putin shows no signs he is ready to end this grievous threats of "hell to pay" ultimatums to Hamas, as well as pressure on Israel, helped get a Gaza ceasefire deal over the line in January, even before he was sworn into office on 20 January. But the truce, described by Trump as "epic", collapsed in March."He doesn't like to get into the detail," one Arab diplomat told me, underlining the president's preference for quick easy deals in what are deeply complex conflicts."We all want deals, but we know deals don't work or don't last, if they're not peace deals, as opposed to end-of-war deals," said Martin Griffiths, a former UN Under-Secretary General who is now the Executive Director of Mediation Group International. Trump, who prides himself on being the world's disruptor-in-chief, has also dissed the skills of seasoned career diplomats. "They may know the rivers, the mountains, the terrain, but they don't know how to do a deal," he his preference is to use the deal-makers of his own property world, most of all his golf buddy and former real estate lawyer and investor Steve Witkoff, who is juggling all the tortuous and tricky files on Ukraine, Gaza, Iran, and Trump's Make America Great Again crusade goes beyond individual deals. He has run roughshod through the rules-based world order that forged the foundation for global stability and security in the aftermath of World War repeated threats to seize control of the Panama Canal, buy Greenland, and turn Canada into the 51st US state have stunned - and scared - capitals the world steep tariffs imposed on both ally and adversary have unleashed retaliatory taxes and fears of a debilitating global trade war, while also straining age-old international he's also galvanised others, including in the NATO military alliance - whose own chief is now amplifying Washington's order for members to significantly step up their own military American president also took credit for a ceasefire brokered between India and Pakistan after days of cross-border strikes between the neighbours last month. The US's belated intervention made a big difference, but many other players pitched business-oriented "America First" approach has also meant that other conflicts, including the terrible killing fields in Sudan, are not beeping loudly on his own warring sides in many regions are now courting him, wielding their mineral wealth and investment potential as a bargaining chip. The president's proposed security-for-minerals deal in war-torn Congo, for example, has provoked a chorus of concern that it doesn't tackle the root causes of the conflict."If you could use a mineral deal to end decades of war, then there are countries who would have fixed that already," International Crisis Group President Comfort Ero administration's cuts to UN aid agencies, and his dismantling of the American aid agency USAID, have also deepened the suffering of displaced and marginalised people in many regions and exacerbates after only a few months of his second presidency, Trump's frustration with intransigent actors has led him to issue threats to "take a pass" and walk away from conflicts like Ukraine."Deals take forever," Martin Griffiths, the former UN Under-Secretary General, told me. "You have to start and you have to stay." The BBC World Service Debate – Is Donald Trump making the world safer or more dangerous?The BBC World Service Debate considers the rapidly changing international landscape during Trump's presidency. Chief International Correspondent Lyse Doucet is joined by a panel of guests to discuss whether the new international order emerging will make the world a safer can watch the debate on the BBC News Channel at 21:00BST on Friday 13 June and it will be streamed on the BBC News website. It will air on BBC Radio 5Live and World Service radio on Saturday 14 June.
Daily Mail
an hour ago
- Daily Mail
Israel 'plans to hit Iran nukes in days': US warns of imminent strike after Tehran breaches weapons pledge
Israel is preparing to attack Iran 's nuclear sites within days after a UN watchdog said Tehran has breached its non-proliferation obligations, it has been claimed. Strikes could take place without US support amid fears Washington could agree to a deal with Iran that falls short of ending all nuclear enrichment, with a fresh round of talks expected on Sunday. Sources in the US revealed the possibility of an imminent attack, which a senior source in the Israeli prime minister's office would not confirm or deny. But they did tell the Mail: 'President Trump said it best, 'Iran has to get rid of the concept of a nuclear weapon...' We agree. This is a global threat.' The US has announced it will evacuate personnel from the region amid concerns they could be targeted by Iran in reprisals. The New York Times reported an Iranian source saying Tehran has an immediate counter-attack plan in place if Israel strikes. The response would reportedly be of a similar scope to the attack it launched in October last year, when Iran fired more than 200 drones, ballistic missiles and cruise missiles at Israel to overload air-defence systems, sending the entire population into bomb shelters. Most missiles were shot down or intercepted, causing limited damage. The International Atomic Energy Agency said Iran had breached its non-proliferation obligations for the first time in almost 20 years (pictured IAEA Director General Rafael Grossion Monday) The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) yesterday declared Iran in breach of its non-proliferation obligations for the first time in almost 20 years. Iran failed to provide the watchdog with credible explanations as to how uranium was detected at undeclared sites, despite the agency having investigated the matter for years. Nineteen of the 35 countries on the board of the IAEA voted for the motion to declare the breach. The motion was submitted by the 'Quad' of nations – the US, UK, France and Germany – who said 'states will be held to account if they do not live up to their obligations' Iran says the decision was 'political' and said they would respond by setting up a new uranium enrichment facility. It follows a report from the IAEA last week which criticised Iran's 'general lack of co-operation' and said it had enough enriched uranium to potentially make ten nuclear bombs. US and Iranian officials will hold a sixth round of talks on Tehran's accelerating uranium enrichment programme in Oman on Sunday. But Benjamin Netanyahu's office said yesterday's resolution 'proves that Israel was right all along'. On Wednesday, Donald Trump said he feared Tehran would not agree to stop enriching uranium, a key American demand. 'They seem to be delaying. I'm less confident now than I would have been a couple of months ago. Something happened to them,' he said. Mr Netanyahu has long been a strident critic of Iran and has accused Tehran of secretly attempting to acquire nuclear weapons, something they deny. 'One way or the other, Iran will not have nuclear weapons,' he said in April. Former prime minister Ehud Barak and former chief of the Mossad national intelligence agency Tamir Pardo claimed Mr Netanyahu sought to bomb Iran in 2010 and 2011, but he was opposed by senior Israeli officials.
Daily Mail
an hour ago
- Daily Mail
Florida sheriff threatens to KILL protesters who turn violent: 'Graveyard dead'
A no-nonsense Florida sheriff has issued an extraordinary warning by telling protesters that authorities will shoot them dead without hesitation if they commit violence. Violent protests have erupted around the nation inspired by rioters in Los Angeles taking a stand against President Donald Trump and his Immigration Enforcement agents. But in Florida, Sheriff Wayne Ivey laid down the law with a chilling warning that his officers 'are not gonna play' ahead of a scheduled demonstration this weekend. 'If you throw a brick, a firebomb, or point a gun at one of our deputies, we will be notifying your family where to collect your remains at. Because we will kill you, graveyard dead,' he said. Ivey went on to explain in great detail what he meant by 'turn violent', breaking down what punishment each individual offense could carry. 'If you resist lawful orders, you're going to jail,' he said. 'If you block an intersection or a roadway, you're going to jail. 'If you flee arrest, you're going to go to jail tired, because we are going to run you down and put you to jail. 'If you try to mob roll a car... gathering around and refusing to let the driver leave, in our county you're most likely going to get run over and dragged across the street. 'If you spit on us, you're going to the hospital, and then jail. If you hit one of us, you're going to the hospital, and then jail, and most likely bitten by one of our big, beautiful dogs here.' Ivey's comments attracted praise from MAGA loyalists who celebrated his commitment to 'upholding the law.' 'That's it.. I'm moving to Florida,' one supporter said. 'This man is the GOAT [greatest of all time].' 'This is how you keep order,' another said, in an apparent reference to Trump's repeated criticism of California's Democrat Governor Gavin Newsom. Newsom has been locked in a war of words with Trump over his handling of riots in LA, insisting that Trump's decision to deploy 700 Marines and 4,100 National Guard troops had made the violence worse. Trump hit back and insisted: 'We will not allow an American city to be invaded and conquered by a foreign enemy.' The riots in LA started last Friday on the back of ICE raids across the city. In the days since, new protests have flared across the country. Volatile protests prompted city officials to enforce curfews in Los Angeles and Spokane. And Republican governors in Texas and Missouri mobilized National Guard troops to be ready to help law enforcement manages demonstrations in those states. Activists are planning 'No Kings' events across the country on Saturday to coincide with Trump's planned military parade in Washington, DC. The Trump administration said immigration raids and deportations will continue regardless. In Las Vegas 94 people were arrested on 'various criminal and traffic' charges, and four officers were injured in a Wednesday night protest. Some in the estimated crowd of about 800 threw bottles and rocks at law enforcement, police said. Meanwhile hundreds of protesters marched through downtown Seattle Wednesday evening to a federal building where immigration cases are heard. Some of them dragged a dumpster nearby and set it on fire. The building was covered in graffiti, with 'Abolish ICE Now' written in large letters across its front window. They moved electric bikes and cones to block its entrance. Tuscon, Arizona and San Antonio, Texas have also been hotbeds of protest this week. But authorities across the nation have now set their sights on the No Kings protests scheduled for 2,000 locations across the country this weekend. Trump's critics are rallying against a military parade in Washington to mark the Army's 250th anniversary, which coincides with Trump's 79th birthday. The No Kings Day of Defiance is expected to be the largest single-day mobilization since Trump returned to office, organizers said. Organizers said they are preparing for millions of people to take to the streets across all 50 states.
