Syria’s interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa visited Saudi Arabia during his first official visit as the country’s new leader. During his visit, he met with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Riyadh on Sunday, Feb. 2.

Al-Sharaa assumed the new role of president on Wednesday, Jan. 29. This came less than two months after his group toppled the Bashar Assad regime. Assad has been living in Russia since escaping Syria.

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Following the meeting, al-Sharaa said in a written statement that he and the crown prince discussed humanitarian and economic topics. He also said the two discussed “future plans in the fields of energy, technology, education and health.”

The Saudi Press Agency said the discussions examined ways to “support the security and stability of sisterly Syria.”

How did al-Sharaa come to power?

In December 2024, al-Sharaa’s group, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, began a lightning offensive against the Assad-backed military. Assad’s regime was toppled in less than two weeks following the rebels’ first attack on Nov. 27, 2024. Assad fled the country 11 days later on Dec. 7, 2024. 

Since Assad’s fall, al-Sharaa and HTS have been working with their neighbors to get the West to lift the crippling sanctions on Syria given during the Assad regime. 

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan visited the Syrian capital of Damascus in January. During his visit, he said that Saudi Arabia is “actively engaging in dialogue” to help lift sanctions in Syria. 

Before his trip to Saudi Arabia, al-Sharaa hosted Qatar’s ruling emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, as his first foreign head of state.

What challenges does Syria currently face?

However, al-Sharaa faces a few challenges from militant groups in Syria. On Saturday, Feb. 1, a car bomb exploded in Manbij, according to The Associated Press. The blast killed four civilians.

Turkish-backed Syrian rebels had seized Manbij in December 2024. Officials said this was part of a push by Turkey to secure Syrian territory close to its border for a buffer zone. 

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Al-Sharaa is expected to remain in Saudi Arabia on Monday, Feb. 3. Officials said he is expected to visit the holy city of Mecca.

Actor and director Justin Baldoni has issued new accusations against actress Blake Lively, news outlet The New York Times and others in a newly amended lawsuit. The lawsuit is seeking $400 million in compensatory damages. 

Lawyers for Baldoni filed a 224-page amended counterclaim on Friday, Jan. 31. Along with the counterclaim, they also released a website on Saturday, Feb. 1.

Why are the two stars suing each other? 

The two Hollywood stars have both filed lawsuits against each other. It began in December 2024, when Lively filed a lawsuit against Baldoni alleging sexual harassment and retaliation on the set of “It Ends With Us.” Baldoni was the director and both he and Lively co-starred in the film.

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The New York Times had posted an article stating that after Lively raised concerns on set, Baldoni and a producer hired crisis management experts who tried to “destroy” Lively’s reputation. 

Baldoni denied the allegations and sued the news outlet for $250 million for libel. He alleged The Times pushed an “unverified and self-serving narrative” by only using some “cherry-picked” communications without the right context. 

The Times defended itself, saying they were just following the facts. The news outlet said its story was, “meticulously and responsibly reported,” according to The Hollywood Reporter. Officials at The Times said it was “based on a review of thousands of pages of original documents, including the text messages and emails.”

Then in late December 2024, Lively sued again, stating that Baldoni and his team were trying to undermine her reputation for speaking up about sexual misconduct on the set of the film. 

On Jan. 16, Baldoni filed his second lawsuit. In it, he names Lively, her husband and actor Ryan Reynolds and their publicist as defendants. The lawsuit claims the three extorted, defamed and invaded the privacy of Baldoni. The lawsuit also claims that the smear campaign Lively accused Baldoni of was not real.   

What does Baldoni’s amended lawsuit allege? 

In the amended lawsuit, Baldoni claims that Lively’s complaint against him was filed after Lively and her team spent several months telling The Times lies about him. It also alleges that the news publication had Lively’s civil rights complaint 11 days before The Times report was published. 

What did the website show?

Besides the amended lawsuit, Baldoni’s team also released a website. It had the newly-amended lawsuit but it also has a 168-page document showing an outline of the events.

The document shows never-before-seen texts and emails that Baldoni allegedly exchanged with Lively and Reynolds. 

Baldoni said he launched the website to refute Lively’s claims that he sexually harassed her.

Representatives for both Lively and Reynolds have not spoken on the amended lawsuit or the website.

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What’s next in the case?

Both sides are now getting ready for the court cases. The trial is scheduled to begin on March 9.

Gun control activist and March for Our Lives co-founder David Hogg was elected as vice chair of the Democratic National Committee after securing 214.5 votes in a four-round election on Saturday, Feb. 1. Pennsylvania state Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta and Artie Blanco of Nevada were also elected as vice chairs, reinforcing the party’s efforts to elevate new leadership.

A call for generational change

Hogg, 24, ran on a platform emphasizing generational change within the Democratic Party, positioning himself as a voice for young voters.

“I’m one of the youngest people ever to run for this role,” he told the DNC Black Caucus before the vote. “We need to make sure that we’re supporting our young people. That’s just what I’ve done.”

The victory speech

After winning, Hogg called for an aggressive approach to Republican opposition and gun control reform in his victory speech.

“Let’s go win our young people back, and let’s stop sending just our thoughts and prayers to address gun violence and do something.”

Hogg gained national attention after the 2018 mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, where 17 people were killed. He co-founded March for Our Lives, a movement advocating for gun control legislation, and helped push Florida lawmakers to raise the legal gun purchase age to 21.

Key endorsements from Democratic leaders

Hogg received major endorsements from Minnesota Democratic Gov. Tim Walz, a former Democratic vice presidential candidate, and Rep. Eric Swalwell, D-Calif.

In addition to his activism, Hogg has founded Leaders We Deserve PAC, an organization focused on electing young progressive lawmakers.

More leadership changes in the DNC

Alongside Hogg’s victory, Reyna Walters-Morgan was elected as vice chair for civic engagement and voter participation, defeating sitting Reps. Joyce Beatty, D-Ohio, and Nikema Williams, D-Ga.

The Dallas Mavericks traded superstar Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers late Saturday night, Feb. 1, in exchange for star center Anthony Davis in a move that has shocked fans, players and executives around the league and the sports world. According to Elias Sports Bureau, it’s the first time that two reigning All-NBA players have been traded for each other midseason.

The 25-year-old Doncic, a 5-time All-Star, will now play alongside LeBron James in one of the league’s biggest markets. The Lakers also got Maxi Kleber and Markieff Morris in the deal.

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Anthony Davis, the 31-year-old center is a 10-time All-Star who helped the Lakers win a championship in 2020 goes to the Mavericks along with guard Max Christie and a 2029 first-round pick. As part of the three-team deal, the Utah Jazz acquired guard Jalen Hood-Schifino and a pair of second-round picks.

Mavericks General Manager Nico Harrison explained the motivation for the deal to the Dallas Morning News, saying, “It’s one of those things where it’s my job to make the tough decisions that put our goals first and foremost.”

Doncic who averaged 28 points, 8.3 rebounds and 7.8 assists in 22 games this season has been dealing with several injuries and hasn’t played since suffering a calf injury on Christmas. He led the Mavericks to the NBA Finals last season and was eligible to sign a five-year, $345 million supermax extension this offseason.

Harrison, however, felt the Mavs needed something else to get them over the finish line, “We really feel that defense wins championships, and we think the players that we’re bringing in add to the culture, which is important to what J-Kidd (head coach Jason Kidd) and I have been building here from day one,” Harrison said.

The 6 ft. 10 in. Davis has career averages of 24.2 points and 10.7 rebounds but more important to the Mavericks he has been named to five All-Defensive teams and is a three-time NBA blocked shots leader. 

Reaction to the blockbuster trade from around the league and around the sports world was quick to take over social media. The Phoenix Suns were still playing Saturday night’s game against the Portland Trailblazers when they learned of the deal.

“It’s crazy, man. I really don’t know what to say about it,” Suns Guard Devin Booker said during post-game media interviews. “Luka being a guy that everybody has claimed is untouchable and untradeable. The NBA shows you again. Can’t predict. It’s a business. They’re always having a conversation about you. So don’t think you’re safer than you are.”

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Fellow Suns star Kevin Durant said if Doncic can get traded, then anyone can.

“Insane. It’s crazy. Crazy. Damn, would of never thought Luka Doncic would get traded. At his age, midseason, the NBA is a wild place, man. If he can get traded, then anybody is up for grabs, Durant said.