Syria

In the midst of the Watergate scandal back home, Nixon needed a distraction. After years of isolation, his trip to Damascus on 15 June 1974 paved the way for future visits by US presidents.

Electricity cuts are both a symptom and a driver of Syria's economic decline. The country is caught in a vicious downward spiral. Somehow, it needs to turn the tide.

With an eye on the Lebanese presidency, the Phalange commander and sworn enemy of Syria sends secret messages of 'reassurance' to al-Assad. Meanwhile, Damascus refuses to host PLO fighters.

Analysts have accused the Lebanese government of exploiting the issue of Syrian prisoners to secure additional funding from the international community

Some Lebanese see this as a "bribe" to prevent Syrian refugees from travelling by boat to Cyprus and then on to Europe. Lebanese Caretaker PM Najib Mikati denies this assertion.

Erast Belling, an émigré from the Bolshevik revolution, soon found himself in tune with Damascus society and helped found a rich musical tradition, both there and in Lebanon

The Captagon trade has generated billions of dollars for the al-Assad regime, but Biden has hesitated to wield sanctions effectively. The Captagon 2 Act has more teeth, but will he use it?

From the Israeli attack on the Iranian consulate in Damascus to Iran's retaliation on Israel, the Syrian leader has been acting strangely normal. Al Majalla gives a breakdown of the past two weeks.

After a decade of conflict, natural disasters, and economic woes, Syrians are increasingly turning to art to express themselves. 'The Cirque' exhibition in Damascus displayed some promising works.