Janet Jalil

But those faint hopes were shaken this month after an outbreak of fighting in which hundreds of civilians, mostly from the same Alawite minority as the Assad family, were killed by security forces.

But those faint hopes were shaken this month after an outbreak of fighting in which hundreds of civilians, mostly from the same Alawite minority as the Assad family, were killed by security forces.

With Syria's new Islamist rulers pledging to bring the perpetrators to justice, they have, for the first time, been taking part in an annual conference to gather aid pledges that Syrians desperately need. The European Union is hosting the conference in Brussels.

With Syria's new Islamist rulers pledging to bring the perpetrators to justice, they have, for the first time, been taking part in an annual conference to gather aid pledges that Syrians desperately need. The European Union is hosting the conference in Brussels.

Announcing an aid package of $2.7 billion, the president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, said Syrians needed help more than ever.

Announcing an aid package of $2.7 billion, the president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, said Syrians needed help more than ever.

But despite the dire situation in Syria, with 16 million people in need of humanitarian assistance, the funding fell short of last year's pledges after the US, which has been the biggest single donor, cut foreign aid. In all, more than $6 billion were pledged. I asked BBC Arabic's Reda El-Mawi, who was at the aid conference, whether it was enough to help start rebuilding Syria in a meaningful way.

But despite the dire situation in Syria, with 16 million people in need of humanitarian assistance, the funding fell short of last year's pledges after the US, which has been the biggest single donor, cut foreign aid. In all, more than $6 billion were pledged. I asked BBC Arabic's Reda El-Mawi, who was at the aid conference, whether it was enough to help start rebuilding Syria in a meaningful way.

And for the first time, a member of the Syrian government is attending this aid conference, the new foreign minister, Assad al-Shabani. What has he been saying?

And for the first time, a member of the Syrian government is attending this aid conference, the new foreign minister, Assad al-Shabani. What has he been saying?

But European nations, while they want to help Syria, they also want to see its rulers do more to ensure a peaceful political transition, especially after the violence that we saw this month.

But European nations, while they want to help Syria, they also want to see its rulers do more to ensure a peaceful political transition, especially after the violence that we saw this month.

Rwanda and Belgium have announced tit-for-tat expulsions of each other's diplomats as relations between the two countries worsen over the war in the Democratic Republic of Congo. UN experts say that Rwanda is backing rebels in Congo that have seized large swathes of territory, a charge Kigali denies. Anne Soy reports.

Rwanda and Belgium have announced tit-for-tat expulsions of each other's diplomats as relations between the two countries worsen over the war in the Democratic Republic of Congo. UN experts say that Rwanda is backing rebels in Congo that have seized large swathes of territory, a charge Kigali denies. Anne Soy reports.

And so, thousands of people have taken part in protests in North Macedonia demanding justice and action against corruption after a nightclub fire killed 59 people in the town of Kocheni at the weekend, many of them teenagers. The venue was allowed to operate despite not having a licence, and one of its two exit doors was locked when the fire broke out.

And so, thousands of people have taken part in protests in North Macedonia demanding justice and action against corruption after a nightclub fire killed 59 people in the town of Kocheni at the weekend, many of them teenagers. The venue was allowed to operate despite not having a licence, and one of its two exit doors was locked when the fire broke out.

Our Balkans correspondent Guy Delaney reports from Kotchani.

Our Balkans correspondent Guy Delaney reports from Kotchani.

Guy Delaney in North Macedonia. Taiwan has rejected Chinese accusations that four of its officials have carried out cyber attacks against China.

Guy Delaney in North Macedonia. Taiwan has rejected Chinese accusations that four of its officials have carried out cyber attacks against China.