DAMASCUS: Marie Colvin and Remi Ochlik, journalists, were struck by a rocket on the morning of Feb. 22, 2012, in the neighborhood of Baba Amr in Homs at the beginning of the Syrian civil war. In federal court in Washington, DC, on Monday, evidence was submitted in a lawsuit accusing the Syrian government of targeting and murdering Colvin, a US citizen raised on Long Island, as she sought to cover the war.
The Intercept — in an article headlined “How the Assad regime tracked and killed Marie Colvin for reporting on war crimes in Syria” — describes how the Colvin family filed video and nearly 2,000 pages of evidence, including military intelligence memoranda and testimony from Syrian defectors, as part of the federal civil lawsuit. The documents provide detailed and unprecedented evidence to support the claim that Colvin was deliberately hunted and killed as part of a policy by the Assad regime to eliminate journalists.
The Center for Justice & Accountability, a San Francisco-based human rights group, built the case following a six-year investigation. “Three factors came together to create the conditions for the attack: The regime’s intent to target journalists, its access to powerful surveillance capabilities, and an absence of international political will to prevent atrocities in Syria,” says The Intercept.
How the Assad regime tracked and killed Marie Colvin for reporting on war crimes in Syria — The Intercept
How the Assad regime tracked and killed Marie Colvin for reporting on war crimes in Syria — The Intercept
IMF approves reviews, unlocks $240m in funding for Jordan
- The decision allows Jordan to draw about $130 million under the EFF and about $110 million under the RSF
AMMAN: The International Monetary Fund’s executive board has completed the fourth review of Jordan’s Extended Fund Facility and the first review under the Resilience and Sustainability Facility, unlocking immediate access to about $240 million to support the kingdom’s economic program.
The decision allows Jordan to draw about $130 million under the EFF and about $110 million under the RSF, bringing total disbursements under the IMF arrangement to about $733 million.
In a statement issued on Saturday, the IMF said Jordan’s economy “remains resilient,” supported by sound macroeconomic policies and strong international backing.
Growth accelerated to 2.7 percent in the first half of 2025 and is expected to reach about 3 percent in the coming years, driven by major investment projects, deeper regional integration and continued structural reforms.
Inflation remains anchored at about 2 percent, while the current account deficit is projected to narrow to below 5 percent of GDP over the medium term. The IMF also noted that Jordan’s banking sector is stable and international reserves remain strong.
Fiscal performance continues to align with program targets, underpinned by robust revenue collection and disciplined current spending. The authorities remain committed to reducing public debt to 80 percent of GDP by 2028 through gradual fiscal consolidation, while protecting social and development spending and reducing losses at public utilities.
The IMF said progress under the RSF is ongoing, with reforms addressing vulnerabilities in the water and electricity sectors and strengthening health emergency preparedness. All reform measures scheduled for the current review have been completed.
Commenting after the board discussion, IMF Deputy Managing Director Kenji Okamura said Jordan’s continued macroeconomic stability amid persistent external headwinds reflects the authorities’ commitment to sound policies, supported by strong international assistance.
He said growth continues to recover, inflation remains low and reserve buffers are strong, stressing the importance of maintaining prudent fiscal and monetary policies amid regional tensions and global uncertainty.
Okamura added that accelerated structural reforms are essential to foster job-rich growth, improve the business environment, enhance labour market flexibility, tackle youth unemployment and low female labour force participation, and attract private investment.
He also underlined the importance of sustained donor support to help Jordan manage external challenges and the economic cost of hosting large numbers of refugees, while noting that progress under the RSF would help address long-term vulnerabilities and strengthen balance-of-payments stability.
