BEIRUT: Pointing to a green screen as if presenting a weather forecast, Bilal Abdul Kareem analyzes the Turkish-Russian deal over Syria’s Idlib, broadcasting in his native English from inside the war-torn country’s last opposition stronghold.
The 47-year-old American is a long way from where he grew up near the Bronx, watching reruns of “Rocky” and eating at Italian restaurants.
Dressed in a charcoal suit jacket, the broad-shouldered and bearded Abdul Kareem stares into the camera and insists: “In this deal, this specific deal, nobody can say the rebels were not winners.”
For the past six years, he has reported from shrinking opposition territory in Syria’s north, filming the aftermath of airstrikes, interviewing hard-line fighters, even meeting Al-Qaeda members.
His contacts, including in Hayat Tahrir Al-Sham (HTS), have granted him extensive access at a time when the risk of abduction makes much of Syria too dangerous for journalists from mainstream news outlets.
But it has also prompted allegations that Abdul Kareem is an extremist “propagandist” and would not have survived in the area had he been an impartial journalist — particularly given HTS’ history of harsh crackdowns against perceived foes.
Speaking to AFP from Idlib over Skype, WhatsApp, and Facebook, Abdul Kareem denied the claims and directed accusations of his own: He is suing the US government for allegedly trying to kill him in Syria.
As the case drags through US courts, the self-described “bald-headed black guy in the middle of Syria” has remained in Idlib despite fears of a looming regime offensive, continuing to file dispatches for his media upstart, On the Ground News.
Born Darrell Lamont Phelps, Abdul Kareem embraced Islam before moving to the Middle East in 2002. He married and had children in Egypt, but declined to disclose their location for security reasons.
He arrived in Syria in 2012 from Libya, curious about the fighters battling President Bashar Assad’s forces in a conflict which at that point was just a year old.
Working first with major broadcasters including CNN, he founded OGN in 2015 as editors started to express “doubts” about his political stances, he said.
The channel now publishes on YouTube, Twitter, and a Facebook page with more than 86,000 followers.
“I have a good working relationship with every group, which doesn’t necessarily mean I agree with everything they do or they agree with everything I do,” he said.
A normal day begins with dawn prayers at 4:30 a.m., followed by a routine search of his car for bombs. The rest is up to the news cycle.
He could find himself on a motorcycle zipping toward a frontline, lapel mic in hand but without protective gear, or sipping tea with hardcore fighters most Americans would consider unsavory.
“I remember I had these very, very in-depth conversations with different Al-Qaeda members about America, Americans and the democratic system,” Abdul Kareem said.
He offered unsuccessfully to facilitate a dialogue between Western powers and Idlib’s militants, whom he insisted don’t have “blood dripping from their fangs and want to eat American children.”
The US has designated Al-Qaeda and HTS “terrorist organizations.” Around 3 million people live in Idlib and surrounding rebel territory, including foreigners who have joined the war against the Assad regime. “There are quite a few Americans here. All fighters,” Abdul Kareem said. Asked about his future, he recalled escaping second city Aleppo as it fell to the regime in 2016. If the same fate awaits Idlib, he said, “I would be one of the last people to leave.” Abdul Kareem’s 16-year absence from the US has made him miss simple things: speaking English, sugary cereals. But he fears the 2016 election of President Donald Trump has changed the country too much.
“It sounds like America is not the same America that I grew up in,” he said. His remaining links are with his sister, and a lawsuit he filed last year against Trump and a coterie of US officials, accusing the government of attempting to kill him five times. Once was on a reporting trip. “My car was hit with a drone strike. The car flipped up into the air and landed on its side facing the opposite direction,” he said. Abdul Kareem is demanding the government stop targeting him, remove him from any so-called “kill list” and disclose the names of other citizens who may be on it. In the meantime, OGN’s cameras keep rolling.
“I’m not in America because being here in Syria doing the work that I’m doing and covering the things I’m covering, in my estimation, is the right thing to do,” Abdul Kareem said.
“People are dying by the droves, and if I can do something to help people see what the real realities are, then what business do I have going back to America right now?“
Live from Idlib, an American broadcasts from Syria’s last rebel zone
Live from Idlib, an American broadcasts from Syria’s last rebel zone
- Around 3 million people live in Idlib and surrounding rebel territory, including foreigners who have joined the war against the Assad regime
Lebanese social entrepreneur among Schwab Foundation awardees at WEF
- Aline Sara, co-founder of NaTakallam (Arabic for “we speak”), has been enabling refugees and other conflict-affected people to earn an income online
DUBAI: The co-founder of an online platform that hires refugees and displaced persons as online tutors, teachers and translators was among 18 recipients of the 2025 Schwab Foundation Award announced on the first day of the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting in Davos.
Aline Sara, co-founder of NaTakallam (Arabic for “we speak”), has been enabling refugees and other conflict-affected people to earn an income online and connect them with people around the world through language.
In this context, the social enterprise “disrupts the conventional approach to humanitarian aid” and uses the gig economy to promote sustainable solutions to major crises, according to the Schwab Foundation’s official statement.
Although the idea was inspired by the Syrian refugee crisis, Sara, a Lebanese citizen, has expanded the platform to serve displaced people around the world, reaching as far as Venezuela, Burundi and Yemen.
Launched with an initial offer of online Arabic conversation classes, NaTakallam proposes services ranging from translation, interpretation and transcription to an Arabic curriculum in partnership with Cornell University in the US. Other languages include Persian and Spanish to address the pressing needs of Venezuelan refugees.
The Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship, in partnership with the Motsepe Foundation, awarded 18 social entrepreuners from 15 organizations whose groundbreaking solutions address urgent issues and drive positive change around the world.
“This year’s awardees are addressing health disparities from the United States to Zambia, creating income opportunities for displaced individuals, combatting deforestation in Central and West Africa, and improving the lives of vulnerable communities in India and beyond,” the foundation said in a statement.
The entrepreneurs were rewarded based on their business, social development and environmental models that are helping to build a more equitable and sustainable world.
According to the WEF, social entrepreneurship and innovation are gaining momentum worldwide, with more than 10 million social enterprises creating 200 million jobs and generating $2 trillion annually.
Despite their significant economic contribution and commitment to sustainable and inclusive development, social enterprises face a $1.1 trillion funding need.
At the Annual Meeting 2025, the Schwab Foundation aims to spotlight social entrepreneurs and innovators who are already leading the way with successful and innovative business models and, ultimately, help advance these solutions at scale to reach more of the world’s people.
Francois Bonnici, director of the Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship, said: “Our world is grappling with instability, polarization and disenfranchisement while facing extreme, unpredictable weather events and disasters. It is also undergoing a radical transformation with both the green and digital transitions.
“Although this comes with economic opportunity, it also risks exacerbating existing inequalities or creating new ones,” he said. “In the face of these significant challenges, the need for bold and innovative solutions has never been more pressing. The work of social entrepreneurs and innovators is not just important, it is essential.”
Aramco retains MENA’s most valuable brand amid ‘outpacing’ regional growth
- The Saudi oil and gas giant was valued at $41.7bn, ranking 38th globally, while stc was ranked the strongest brand in the Middle East
- Among the rest of the region, e& boasts the fastest-growing brand value globally this year, with an eight-fold increase to $15.3bn
LONDON: Aramco has maintained its position as the Middle East and North Africa’s most valuable brand in the Global 500 2025 report by marketing consultation firm Brand Finance, leading the region amid a period of “outpacing” growth for MENA brands.
The Saudi oil and gas giant was valued at $41.7 billion, ranking 38th globally. However, its growth lagged behind regional counterparts, attributed to falling oil prices driven by a surplus that has persisted since the post-COVID-19 spike and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
“Middle Eastern brands continue to make their mark on the global stage, with a combined $127.4 billion brand value contribution to the Brand Finance Global 500 2025 ranking,” said David Haigh, chairman and CEO of Brand Finance.
Haigh highlighted Saudia Arabia’s particularly strong performance, saying the Kingdom accounts for $75.5 billion of the region’s total, with five Saudi brands securing places in the top 500.
Every year, Brand Finance evaluates 5,000 major brands, publishing over 100 reports across diverse sectors and countries. The rankings highlight the top 500 most valuable, and strongest, brands in several categories. Various criteria are used to determine brands rated as the strongest, in a type of credit rating, which is then used to determine the most valuable overall.
One of the other Saudi brands in the list, telecom giant stc, was named the ninth most valuable telecoms brand globally and the strongest brand in the Middle East, with a Brand Strength Index score of 88.7/100 and an AAA rating — marking a slight improvement compared to last year and placing it 66th in the global BSI rankings
Stc’s brand value rose by 16 percent, reaching $16.1 billion in 2025, up from $13.9 billion in 2024. This increase secures its position as the third most valuable brand in the region and the leading telecom brand in the Middle East.
The results of this year’s index are “a reflection of our leadership position and relentless pursuit of innovation and excellence,” commented Vice President of Corporate Relations at stc Group Mohammed R. Abaalkheil, who added that the “recognition pushes the group to think ahead to stay ahead.”
Brand Finance attributed stc’s performance to its successful implementation of the Masterbrand strategy, which has expanded the brand into new sectors such as banking, cybersecurity, and B2B IT services. Strategic M&A initiatives have further bolstered its leadership position regionally and internationally.
Abaalkheil added: “As we continue our journey in alignment with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, we are committed to driving digital transformation and sustainable growth that impacts not just the region, but the world at large.”
Other Saudi brands in the index, including Al-Rajhi Bank, SNB, and SABIC, also made significant strides. These companies climbed 45, 20, and five spots, respectively, in the global rankings, collectively increasing their brand value by nearly $2 billion.
Outside Saudi Arabia, the Abu Dhabi National Oil Co. secured the 105th spot globally, making it the second most valuable MENA brand. ADNOC’s valuation surged 25 percent to $19 billion, the fastest among energy brands, driven by its decarbonization commitments unveiled during the COP28 climate conference in Dubai.
E& (formerly Etisalat) emerged as the world’s fastest-growing brand, with its value soaring eightfold to $15.3 billion, reflecting the success of its three-year rebranding strategy. In comparison, Nvidia has the highest like-for-like growth — 98 percent — making it the second fastest-growing brand value for 2025 thanks to a continued market demand for artificial intelligence chips.
“This year, Middle Eastern brands in the Global 500 ranking achieved a growth rate of 23 percent, more than double that of non-Middle Eastern brands at 11 percent,” said Andrew Campbell, managing director, Brand Finance Middle East. “This underscores the significant progress made by Middle Eastern brands as the region continues to invest in both tangible and intangible assets, committed to diversification beyond the oil and gas sector in the pursuit of global brand recognition.”
Globally, Apple retained its title as the most valuable brand, with its value rising 11 percent to $574.5 billion, despite below-average earnings in the tech sector due to weak Chinese market sales.
TikTok continued its rise, ranking seventh globally, even amid the recent US controversy and temporary bans. Incoming US President Donald Trump delayed the ban for 75 days, allowing TikTok to remain operational in the interim.
In contrast, German automaker Mercedes-Benz was the only brand among the top 25 to lose value, declining by 11 percent due to the sluggish European car market.
TikTok gets reprieve with Trump order but with twist
- Trump suggested that the US should be a half owner of TikTok’s US business in return for keeping the app alive
- Short video service used by 170 million Americans was briefly taken offline for US users on Saturday
WASHINGTON: President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Monday delaying by 75 days the enforcement of a ban of popular short-video app TikTok that was slated to be shuttered on Jan. 19.
But Trump suggested that the US should be a half owner of TikTok’s US business in return for keeping the app alive.
The short video service used by 170 million Americans was briefly taken offline for US users on Saturday, hours before a law that said it must be sold by its Chinese owner ByteDance on national security grounds took effect on Sunday. US officials had said that under ByteDance, there was a risk of Americans’ data being misused.
TikTok restored access on Sunday and thanked Trump for providing assurances to TikTok and its business partners that they would not face hefty fines to keep the app running. The app and website were operational on Monday, but TikTok was still not available for download in the Apple and Google app stores.
Trump’s order, signed hours after he was inaugurated on Monday, directs the attorney general to not enforce the law “to permit my administration an opportunity to determine the appropriate course of action with respect to TikTok.”
The executive order capped 48 hours of legal maneuvering and political intrigue that left millions of TikTokkers saddened and then elated over the rapidly changing fate of their app.
The debate over TikTok also comes at a tense moment in US-China relations. Trump has said he intends to place tariffs on China but has also indicated he hopes to have more direct contact with China’s leader.
While signing the executive order Monday evening, Trump said that he “could see” the US government taking a 50 percent stake in TikTok and as part of that stake, the US could police the site.
Trump added that if a deal isn’t approved by China, “there’s no value. So if we create that value, why aren’t we entitled to like half?” He said the company could be worth hundreds of billions of dollars.
Trump did not formally invoke the 90-day delay allowed under the statute, which can only be issued if ByteDance had binding agreements to divest the app within 90 days. He suggested a joint venture as a possibility instead.
It would be unprecedented for the US government to demand an equity stake in a major company in exchange for approving its continued use.
Trump’s comments did not address whether ByteDance or other Chinese entities would be allowed to hold a stake in TikTok or if the deal would address US national security concerns about US user data.
The order directs the Justice Department to issue letters to companies like Apple, Alphabet’s Google and Oracle that supply services to TikTok “stating that there has been no violation of the statute and that there is no liability for any conduct that occurred during the above-specified period.” It is still unclear if Trump’s order will be enough for the companies to restore the app to stores in the United States.
“Frankly, we have no choice. We have to save it,” Trump said at a rally on Sunday ahead of his inauguration.
That announcement came as China indicated for the first time it would be open to a transaction keeping TikTok operating in the US
When asked about the app’s restoration and Trump’s desire for a deal, China’s foreign ministry told a regular news briefing on Monday that it believed companies should “decide independently” about their operations and deals.
Missing US journalist’s mother says new Syria leaders ‘determined’ to find son
DAMASCUS: The mother of US journalist Austin Tice, who went missing in Syria in 2012, said on Monday in Damascus that the war-torn country's new leadership was committed to finding him.
Tice was working as a freelance journalist for Agence France-Presse, McClatchy News, The Washington Post, CBS and other media outlets when he was detained at a checkpoint in August 2012.
“I have been privileged to meet with the new leadership of Syria,” Debra Tice told journalists in Damascus, after holding talks with Syria’s new leader Ahmed al-Sharaa.
“It was so wonderful to learn that they are dedicated and determined to bring home my son, and your son,” she added.
She expressed hope the incoming administration of Donald Trump, who takes office as US president later on Monday, will work to bring her son home.
“Today... Trump will be sworn into office and a page will be turned,” she said.
“I have great hope that the Trump administration will be very engaged in diligent work to bring Austin home.
“I look forward to working closely with the team, including National Security Advisor Mike Waltz and Special Presidential Envoy Adam Logan.”
Debra Tice said she was “looking forward” to engaging with the Trump administration.
“His people have already reached out to me,” she said.
“I haven’t experienced that for the last four years, and so I’m very much looking forward to their help and involvement, and I think they’re going to be quick at it.”
Last month, US officials said Syria’s new leadership had assisted in the hunt for Tice, including searches at sites of interest.
“We feel it’s our duty as the US government to press on until we know with certainty what happened to him, where he is and to bring him home,” said Roger Carstens, the US point man on hostages.
He made the remarks during the first visit to Damascus by US officials since Islamist-led forces toppled autocratic Syrian president Bashar al-Assad.
TikTok says it’s in the process of restoring service to US users
- TikTok thanks Donald Trump, who says he plans to give TikTok’s China-based parent company more time to find an approved buyer
- Popular video-sharing platform went dark in US in response to new law
NEW YORK: TikTok says it’s “in the process” of restoring service to users in the United States after the popular video-sharing platform went dark in response to a new law.
The company that runs TikTok said in a post on X on Sunday that tech companies that faced fines if they didn’t remove TikTok’s app from the digital stores and other service providers had agreed to help.
TikTok thanked President-elect Donald Trump, who on Sunday said he planned to sign an executive order after his inauguration on Monday to give TikTok’s China-based parent company more time to find an approved buyer before the popular video-sharing platform is subject to a permanent USban.
It was not immediately clear whether TikTok was working as it did before the company instituted a blackout late Saturday. Some users reported that the app was working, and TikTok’s website appeared to be functioning for at least some users. However, the app remained unavailable for download on Apple’s app store.
Google and Apple removed the app from their digital stores to comply with a federal law that required them to do so if TikTok parent company ByteDance didn’t sell its US operation by Sunday. The law, which passed with wide bipartisan support in April, allowed for steep fines for non-compliance.
TikTok said Trump’s promise of an executive order had provided “the necessary clarity and assurance to our service providers that they will face no penalties providing TikTok to over 170 million Americans and allowing over 7 million small businesses to thrive.”
