SUMMARY: The head of the U.N. migration agency, Amy Pope, expressed optimism after meetings with Syria’s new caretaker government, noting their recognition of the challenges ahead and their need for international support. Since former President Bashar Assad’s departure, around 100,000 people have returned to Syria, while approximately 85,000 have left for Lebanon. Most of those departing are Shiite Muslims, in contrast to the predominantly Sunni armed groups now in control. Pope, one of the first U.N. agency leaders to visit post-Assad Syria, reaffirmed IOM’s commitment to aid efforts, seeking $30 million to support nearly 685,000 people in the northwest.

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SUMMARY: NASA has extended the mission of astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, who will remain in orbit aboard Boeing’s Starliner capsule until spring, nearly ten months after their June 5 launch. Originally slated for an eight-day mission, their return has been delayed due to issues with Starliner, prompting NASA to send it back empty in September. The pair’s homecoming is now pushed to late March or April, contingent on the launch of a replacement crew, which has been postponed for over a month. NASA chose to wait for a new SpaceX capsule rather than using an older model for crew transport.

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SUMMARY: The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) will soon mandate that hotels, vacation rental platforms, and event promoters disclose all fees upfront in their pricing. This decision, motivated by consumer complaints about unexpected “junk fees,” aims to promote transparency and ensure consumers know the total costs before booking. The rule takes effect in 120 days and was approved by four of the five commissioners. It requires businesses to clearly disclose all mandatory fees in their advertised prices, potentially saving consumers 53 million hours annually. This initiative follows the FTC’s exploration of fee transparency, spurred by over 12,000 public comments.

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