U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio will host a meeting in Washington of his counterparts from Australia, India and Japan one day after President Donald Trump started his second term in office. The meeting of the so-called "Quad", four countries sharing concerns about China's growing power, is designed to signal that countering Beijing is a top priority for the new president.
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Outgoing U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has recommended a boost in defense spending by about $50 billion more than the current 2026 projections. This move would push the defense budget beyond $1 trillion in the coming years, according to Bloomberg News.
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The collapse of Bashar Assad marks a significant and impactful event for Iran. On one hand, grief and regret can be observed among the leaders of the Islamic Republic, as they have lost their most critical regional ally. On the other hand, this event has sparked a wave of joy and optimism among the Iranian people, as the weakening of a religious regime in the region amplifies hope for the eventual downfall of the Islamic government in Iran. In a situation where the Islamic regime faces the dual challenges of losing its proxy forces and strategic ally while confronting a more determined population, the question arises: what pivotal changes await Iran after the fall of Assad's government?
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