Latakia (Syria) (AFP) – “We cried with happiness. Finally, we have been freed after a long period of oppression” says a resident of Syria’s port city of Latakia as she celebrates in the street after the fall of president Bashar al-Assad, outsed by an Islamist-led opposition alliance. Syria’s 14-year civil war killed 500,000 people and forced half the country to flee their homes.
Tabernas (Spain) (AFP) – A cowboy collapses after gunshots ring out outside a saloon — this is not America’s Wild West but Spain’s arid Almeria region, long a popular backdrop for Western movies. The elaborate sets featuring dusty streets and saloons now also serve as Western-themed amusement parks.
Qardaha (Syria) (AFP) – Rebel fighters joyously observe as the tomb of ousted Syrian president Bashar al-Assad’s father Hafez burns in his hometown of Qardaha. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights war monitor told AFP the rebels had set fire to the mausoleum, located in the Latakia heartland of Assad’s Alawite community.
Sao Paulo (AFP) – Images of the Hospital Sirio-Libanas in Sao Paulo, where Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva underwent intracranial surgery for bleeding that put pressure on his brain. Lula, 79, remains under observation in intensive care in the hospital following the emergency operation carried out on December 10. His doctors have said he should be released next week. IMAGES
Damascus (AFP) – Syrians flock to the iconic Old City of Damascus two days after an Islamist-led rebel alliance toppled Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.
Tel Aviv (AFP) – Pro and anti-Netanyahu protesters rally outside a court in Tel Aviv as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu testifies in his corruption case for the first time. Netanyahu, who has repeatedly sought to delay his court appearance, dismissed the accusations as he spoke in court. He is the first sitting prime minister of Israel to face a criminal trial and faces charges of bribery, fraud and breach of public trust in three separate cases. The trial is scheduled to last for several months, with an appeals process that could further prolong matters.
Tiflis (AFP) – Irakli Pipia is one of many protesters who say they have been beaten in Georgia’s massive pro-EU demonstrations, in a political crisis that shows no sign of abating. Police have arrested more than 400 people, with most reporting physical abuse, according to the Social Justice Centre NGO, which provides legal counselling to those affected. Tens of thousands have rallied for over a week in Tbilisi, infuriated by the government’s decision to shelve EU accession talks and accusing it of steering Georgia towards the Kremlin.
Reykjavik (AFP) – In Iceland’s parliament, six cleaners take a break from their duties to spend time learning Icelandic, seen as one of the principal barriers to integration in the country. Of the Nordic country’s roughly 400,000 residents, about one in five have an immigrant background, and few of them speak Icelandic, which experts say could affect social cohesion.
Genf (AFP) – Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) and the other armed groups that have swept Syrian president Bashar al-Assad from power are “sending good messages” of “unity, of inclusiveness” to Syrians, says Geir Pedersen, the UN special envoy for Syria. At a press conference in Geneva, he also adds that Israeli bombardments into Syrian territory need “to stop”.
Brüssel (AFP) – According to the annual tally conducted by the International Federation of Journalists, 104 journalists or media contributors were killed in 2024, with over half of them in Gaza. The number is down slightly from 2023 but is still “one of the worst years” on record, says Anthony Bellanger, the organisation’s general secretary.
Damascus (AFP) – Drone footage shows a column of smoke rising above Damascus following a strike. AFP journalists heard loud explosions in Damascus early Tuesday, hours after the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported around 250 Israeli air strikes on Syrian territory since the fall of president Bashar al-Assad. IMAGES
Tokyo (AFP) – Survivors of the US atomic bombings of Japan are set to receive the Nobel Peace Prize, but after years of anti-nuclear campaigning and showing the world their scars, they still retain the painful memories of the discrimination they have faced.
