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Brief alcohol ban in Damascus sparks concerns about President al-Sharaa’s vision for Syria
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There are growing fears among some in Syria that the government of President Ahmed al-Sharaa has the aim of clamping down on the rights and freedoms of its civilians by promoting a more conservative interpretation of Islam.
Local authorities in Syria’s capital, Damascus, recently banned restaurants and bars from selling alcohol in most parts of the city. Only venues in the majority-Christian neighborhoods of Damascus would be allowed to continue to sell alcohol, but only for takeaway. The move sparked minor protests throughout the capital, with security forces sent in to maintain order.
«What you’re seeing is pressure from one part of Syrian society, the clerics and sort of harder-line Islamists who have a vision, an Islamist vision of how Syrian society should be,» Robert Ford, former ambassador to Syria, told Fox News Digital. Syria’s temporary constitution is guided by Islamic law.
EVANGELICAL LEADER SAYS US MUST PROTECT SYRIAN CHRISTIANS FROM ATTACKS BY JIHADI TERRORISTS
Christians gather to celebrate Christmas at the Monastery of Our Lady of Saydnaya in Syria on Dec. 24, 2024. (Ali Haj Suleiman/Getty Images)
Syria’s social affairs minister, Hind Kabawat, a Christian and the only woman in al-Sharaa’s cabinet, pushed back on the idea that alcohol can only be consumed in Christian neighborhoods.
«Our neighborhoods are not places for alcohol, but the heart of Damascus,» she said in a Facebook post.
«The strength of our nation is in its diversity, and any radical, extremist voice will cause our nation’s weakness,» she added.
In response to the outcry, Damascus authorities walked back the ban, saying that alcohol purchases could remain in places important for tourism, such as hotels and certain restaurants.
The move is a significant departure for everyday Syrians living in Damascus, where alcohol was readily available in bars and restaurants for decades, even under the authoritarian and oppressive rule of former dictator Bashar al-Assad.
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«Steps like these, which restrict freedoms in Syria, are worrying. When they have occurred far from Damascus, the central government can argue that it lacks sufficient control. But it is particularly meaningful to see such steps in Damascus since President al-Sharaa dominates there,» Mara Karlin, a former Department of Defense official and professor at Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS), told Fox News Digital.
«If he is pushing an Islamist Syria, then it calls into question how much he is moving beyond his history,» Karlin added.
Al-Sharaa, who led the Islamist rebel group Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) to victory over Assad, has been on an international charm offensive since taking power, visiting foreign capitals and reintegrating Syria into the global community.

The Eagles of Antioch protest in Damascus following the burning of a Christmas tree by extremists during Christmas 2024. (Obtained by Fox News)
President Trump even endorsed al-Sharaa, who first met with him in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in May 2025 and again in November 2025 when Trump hosted him at the White House, the first time a Syrian leader had visited the White House since the country gained independence in 1946.
Karlin, who testified before the House Foreign Affairs Committee in February on the challenges facing Syria after the fall of Assad, said that, while the Syrian government does include former jihadists, they have been mostly pragmatic and non-ideological in their governance.
She noted, however, that their reach beyond Damascus is weak and limited.
«There have been some troubling instances of restrictions on women’s freedom, for example, and indicators such as these merit close scrutiny for evidence of the Syrian government’s influence and ideology.»
TRUMP ORDERS COMPLETE WITHDRAWAL OF ALL TROOPS FROM SYRIA WITHIN TWO MONTHS: REPORT

President Donald Trump meets with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa at the White House on Nov. 10, 2025. (Syrian Presidency/Anadolu)
Ford, who was the last U.S. ambassador in Damascus in 2011, stressed that al-Sharaa is not a democrat and probably would like to impose parts of an Islamist vision on Syria, but has so far held back since overthrowing the Assad regime in 2024.
The ordinances in Damascus and elsewhere are imposed by local officials, but these officials are directly tied to the government and are loyal to al-Sharaa and likely support an Islamist vision for Syria.
Some worry the ban on alcohol could harm Syria’s fragile post-conflict reconstruction, particularly at a time when al-Sharaa is trying to reintegrate Syria into the world economy and rebuild the country’s tourism sector.
The World Bank estimated Syria’s reconstruction costs are about $216 billion after nearly 14 years of civil war. Syria’s minister of tourism previously said the country will need at least $100 million over the next seven years to rebuild the tourism industry.
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Alcohol isn’t the only target of some local authorities in Syria. Officials in the port city of Latakia in February banned women from wearing makeup at work. Another town outside Damascus prohibited men from working in female clothing stores to uphold public decency.
Ford said although some of the local ordinances are a cause for concern, it is a domestic issue, and Syrians will have to determine the role of religion in post-Assad Syria.
THE Associated Press contributed to this article.
syria, middle east, conflicts
INTERNACIONAL
El Partido de Concertación Nacional desmiente fórmula presidencial para las elecciones de 2027 en El Salvador
El Partido de Concertación Nacional (PCN) de El Salvador emitió un comunicado oficial para desmentir las versiones que han circulado en redes sociales y diversos medios sobre la supuesta definición de su fórmula presidencial para las elecciones de 2027.
El documento, divulgado el pasado 31 de julio, aclara que el partido aún no ha elegido oficialmente a sus candidatos a presidente y vicepresidente de la República. En la publicación, el PCN explica que el 24 de julio de 2026 solicitó al Tribunal Supremo Electoral (TSE) una prórroga del plazo para la realización de la elección interna de candidaturas presidenciales. En ese sentido, el organismo electoral resolvió concediendo una extensión de ocho días, iniciando el 29 de julio y finalizando el 5 de agosto de 2026.
La dirección del partido señala que el proceso interno sigue en marcha y, por respeto a sus estructuras partidarias, no existe hasta la fecha una fórmula presidencial electa.
El mensaje del Consejo Ejecutivo Nacional del PCN enfatiza que cualquier “publicación, imagen, anuncio o comentario que circule en redes sociales, medios de comunicación o plataforma digital o impresa” sobre la supuesta designación de candidatos presidenciales no representa “la posición oficial del partido”.

“El Partido de Concertación Nacional se compromete que vencido el plazo otorgado por el Tribunal Supremo Electoral informará a través de la Comisión Electoral Nacional los resultados oficiales”.
El comunicado fue publicado luego que, en los últimos días, circulara información que atribuía al PCN una fórmula encabezada por el general Alirio García Flamenco como candidato presidencial, y Mauricio Vilanova, exalcalde de San José Guayabal, en Cuscatlán Norte, como candidato a la vicepresidencia.
García Flamenco es un militar con extensa trayectoria en la Fuerza Armada, quien ha sido reconocido por liderar misiones en Irak y Afganistán. Su perfil ha sido percibido como el de una figura de peso en el ámbito militar y de seguridad nacional.
Mientras que Vilanova alcanzó popularidad durante su gestión municipal por mantener una postura de combate a las pandillas. Estas características han hecho que ambos nombres se posicionen en discusiones y rumores en torno a la estrategia electoral del PCN, aunque el partido insiste en que aún no existe decisión oficial.
Elecciones presidenciales 2027: proceso y candidatos confirmados

El proceso electoral en El Salvador para 2027 avanza bajo la supervisión del Tribunal Supremo Electoral. Para estas elecciones, el TSE ha abierto plazas temporales para personal de apoyo y ha instado a los salvadoreños en el exterior a actualizar su residencia para poder ejercer el sufragio. La Asamblea Legislativa aprobó un presupuesto de 172.1 millones de dólares para la organización de los comicios.
Hasta el momento, algunas fórmulas presidenciales han sido confirmadas por otros partidos, aunque la competencia oficial aún no está completamente definida. Medios nacionales indican que, al cierre de julio de 2026, las principales agrupaciones políticas continúan con sus procesos internos y definiciones de candidatos, y que figuras como Manuel Flores han desmentido anuncios prematuros sobre postulaciones para 2027. El debate sobre la participación de ARENA y FMLN también se mantiene vigente, mientras que la reelección indefinida ha sido tema de discusión en el contexto de reformas constitucionales recientes.
El PCN reitera en su comunicado el compromiso con la transparencia, la legalidad y el respeto a las normas democráticas en la elección de sus candidatos, asegurando que cualquier decisión se tomará conforme a la Constitución y la legislación electoral.
corresponsal:Desde San Salvador, El Salvador
INTERNACIONAL
Sen Bernie Moreno calls for ex-son-in-law to resign from House, get ‘serious psychological help’
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Unmoved by his former son-in-law’s X livestream denials Sunday, Sen. Bernie Moreno, R-Ohio, called on Rep. Max Miller, R-Ohio, to resign from Congress and seek «serious psychological help.»
«If there are any basic standards of character required to hold elected office, Max Miller fails them,» Moreno wrote in a lengthy statement on X. «He should not serve in the House of Representatives.»
It was a call repeated by Miller’s Democratic challenger in Ohio’s 7th Congressional District.
«No one credibly accused of holding a gun to his wife’s head and breaking their 2-year-old daughter’s collarbone belongs in the halls of power,» Brian Poindexter, the union ironworker and Brook Park city councilman, wrote in a statement Sunday.
GOP REP MAX MILLER PUSHES BACK AGAINST ABUSE ALLEGATIONS: ‘I HAVE NOTHING TO HIDE’
Sen. Bernie Moreno, R-Ohio, rejected Rep. Max Miller, R-Ohio, on his denials of daughter Emily Moreno’s allegations against his former son-in-law and called for him to resign from the House and seek ‘serious psychological help.’ (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
Moreno delivered an even more blistering public rebuke an hour after Miller livestreamed a sweeping denial of domestic abuse allegations made by ex-wife Emily Moreno, the daughter of the senator.
«As he has admitted privately, Max Miller needs serious psychological help,» Moreno wrote. «He is a danger to my daughter, and I hold my breath every minute he has custody of my granddaughter.»
The aftermath of the couple’s divorce had been «pure hell» for his family, Moreno began.
«As a father and husband, I can tell you the last two years have been pure hell for my wife Bridget, our daughter Emily, me, and our entire family in the aftermath of Emily’s divorce,» Moreno wrote.
5TH ACCUSER COMES FORWARD AGAINST REP ERIC SWALWELL AHEAD OF EXPECTED RESIGNATION

Emily Moreno and Rep. Max Miller, R-Ohio, have gone through a difficult divorce that continues to rock their family, the 2026 midterm elections and divide the Republican Party. (Amanda Andrade-Rhoades/AP)
«It has been horrific to watch this play out in full public view, all while knowing an innocent two-year-old girl is caught in the middle. Our priority has always been protecting our daughter and our granddaughter.
«Out of concern for the safety of my family, I hoped to keep this matter private but Max Miller’s increasingly erratic and dangerous behavior has made that impossible.»
Miller has categorically denied abusing Emily Moreno or their daughter. In the livestream, he said no court or government agency had substantiated an allegation of abuse against him and that he had never faced a criminal charge related to the claims.
The congressman said child welfare investigations involving his daughter had been closed without findings against him. He also argued that the allegations emerged as the former couple’s custody battle intensified and accused his former wife of using them as leverage.
DEMOCRATS TARGET MORE GOP HOUSE SEATS AFTER SOCIALIST VICTORIES ROCK LEFT-WING PRIMARIES

Rep. Max Miller, R-Ohio, vowed to stay in the race Sunday, but the Republican Party might still pressure him to resign before Wednesday’s deadline so they can replace him before the November general election ballot deadline. (CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)
Emily Moreno has accused Miller of physically assaulting and threatening her during their marriage, including allegedly holding a gun to her head. Questions have also been raised about how the couple’s daughter suffered a broken collarbone. Miller denies causing the injury and said his daughter was no longer in his care when it was discovered.
Miller also denied an allegation that he threw boiling water on his former wife, saying he sprayed her with water from a kitchen sink during what he described as horseplay.
«It is shameful that Max Miller decided to go on a bizarre and lie-filled rant about his ex-wife to desperately try to save his political career,» Emily Moreno spokesman Stefan Mychajliw wrote in a statement Sunday.
«There is a documented trove of evidence that Miller has a history of violent and dangerous behavior and no amount of victim shaming will change that.
«It is despicable and abhorrent that Miller lied on an unhinged and humiliating video for their daughter to watch one day.
«No loving parent would have ever used their daughter as a PR pawn to save their own political career. Miller can lie and spin on X, but he cannot do so under oath in a court of law. We are confident that justice will prevail in court.»
The extraordinary intervention from a sitting Republican senator adds pressure on Miller as a Wednesday deadline approaches for the party to replace him on the November ballot. Democrats have increasingly viewed the northeast Ohio district as a possible pickup opportunity amid the controversy.
Miller, a former advisor in President Donald Trump’s first administration who had Trump’s endorsement, insisted Sunday that he would remain the Republican nominee.
«I’m not dropping out of this race,» Miller said. «And I’ll win in November.»
politics, house of representatives politics, senate, republicans, mental health
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Mayor calls upscale restaurant bombing a ‘brutal terrorist act’ after 3 killed, 21 injured
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A bombing at an upscale restaurant in Moscow that killed three people and wounded at least 21 others on Saturday was a «brutal terrorist act,» according to the city’s mayor, who vowed to hunt down those responsible for the attack.
Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin made the declaration Sunday, a day after the explosion tore through the Balzi Rossi Italian restaurant in the Russian capital.
«Yesterday, a brutal terrorist act was committed in Moscow that claimed human lives. The victims are currently in the city’s hospitals, where they are receiving all necessary care,» Sobyanin wrote on social media Sunday.
EXPLOSION AT RESTAURANT IN CENTRAL MOSCOW LEAVES THREE DEAD, MORE THAN A DOZEN INJURED
Police block an area near a deadly explosion at a restaurant in Moscow, Saturday, Aug. 1, 2026. (Sergei Vedyashkin/Moscow News Agency via AP)
He added investigators are working to identify those behind the attack and vowed they «will certainly be found and will face the punishment they deserve.»
Russian authorities have not identified any suspects, and no group had claimed responsibility as of Sunday.

Emergency vehicles are parked in an area near a deadly explosion at a restaurant in Moscow, Saturday, Aug. 1, 2026. (Sergei Vedyashkin/Moscow News Agency via AP)
Russia’s National Anti-Terrorism Committee said the blast was caused by a homemade explosive device. Russian state news agency RIA Novosti, citing local officials, reported that a woman carrying the bomb tried to enter the restaurant but was stopped by a security guard before it exploded.
The blast killed the woman, the security guard and a restaurant patron, RIA Novosti reported. At least 21 other people were injured in the explosion, which happened around 8 p.m. local time at the restaurant on Kudrinskaya Square.
UKRAINE UNLEASHES MORE THAN 400 DRONES NEAR MOSCOW IN ONE OF WAR’S BIGGEST ATTACKS
The restaurant was closed to the public Saturday night for a private event, according to its website and Russian state media.

Police block an area near a deadly explosion at a restaurant in Moscow, Saturday, Aug. 1, 2026. (Sergei Vedyashkin/Moscow News Agency via AP)
Video released by Russian state media showed heavily armed police officers, ambulances and other emergency vehicles outside the damaged restaurant as investigators examined the scene.
Earlier this year, Russia’s Federal Security Service, or FSB, said it would tighten security for senior military and government officials following a series of assassination attempts in Russian cities since the Kremlin launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
Russian authorities have not linked the restaurant bombing to those earlier attacks or to the war in Ukraine.
Fox News Digital’s Brie Stimson and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
russia, terrorism, bombings, crime world, world
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