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Damaskus (AFP) – Syrians celebrate the end of ousted president Bashar al-Assad’s rule. Assad fled Syria as Islamist-led rebels swept into the capital, bringing a spectacular end to five decades of brutal rule by his clan over a country ravaged by one of the deadliest wars of the century. While Syria has been at war for over 13 years, the government’s collapse ended up coming in a matter of days, with a lightning offensive launched by the Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS).

Seoul (AFP) – The writer and director of the South Korean hit series ‘Squid Game’ says watching the series “will not be that far from looking at the world” as the country is facing a political crisis after President Yoon Suk Yeol briefly declared martial law. ‘Squid Game’, an ultra-violent tale exploring themes of division and inequality, is considered to be one of the most significant works in solidifying South Korea’s status as a global cultural powerhouse, alongside the Oscar-winning film ‘Parasite’ and K-pop megastars BTS.

Newry (AFP) – Hundreds of people dressed as Santa Claus ski together at the Sunday River Ski Resort in Newry, Maine, to raise money for a local non-profit organisation. The Sunday River Resort’s 24th annual Santa Sunday attracted over 300 skiers and riders dressed as Santa and raised $9,000 for The River Fund Maine.

Negros Island (AFP) – A timelapse video shows a volcano in the central Philippines sending a huge column of ash into the air as it erupts. Rising more than 2,400 metres (8,000 feet) above sea level on the central island of Negros, Kanlaon is one of 24 active volcanoes in the Philippines. According to the seismology office, Kanlaon has erupted more than 40 times since 1866.

Genf (AFP) – Political transition in Syria should “ensure accountability for perpetrators of serious violations,” says UN rights chief Volker Turk during a press conference in Geneva. Syria’s President Bashar al-Assad fled the country as Islamist-led rebels swept into the capital, bringing to an end on Sunday five decades of brutal rule by his clan over a country ravaged by one of the deadliest wars of the century.

London (AFP) – Syrians around the world gather to celebrate the dramatic fall of Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad, chanting slogans and waving Syrian flags. The president fled Syria as Islamist-led rebels swept into Damascus, triggering celebrations across the country and beyond at the end of his oppressive rule. Assad’s government fell 11 days after the rebels began a surprise advance, more than 13 years after Assad’s crackdown on anti-government protests ignited Syria’s civil war — which had become largely dormant until the rebel push.

Jerusalem (AFP) – Israel’s Foreign Minister Gideon Saar says that Israel’s takeover of Syria’s buffer zone is a “limited and temporary step” during a press briefing in Jerusalem. A Syria war monitor said Monday that overnight Israeli strikes targeted military positions and depots in several parts of the country after Islamist-led rebels ousted President Bashar al-Assad.

Montevideo (AFP) – The EU and four South American countries have concluded a controversial trade deal that was opposed by France and many European farmers, European Commission chief Usula von der Leyen announces. “This is a win-win agreement,” von der Leyen says in Uruguay, where she is attending a summit of the Mercosur bloc involved in the deal, which also comprises Brazil, Argentina and Paraguay. SOUNDBITE

San Francisco (AFP) – Residents in San Francisco and Santa Cruz responded swiftly to a tsunami warning issued after a powerful earthquake struck off the coast of California. Though the alert was later cancelled, precautionary measures saw locals evacuating to higher ground and harbour officials securing docks and vessels.

Kyiv (Ukraine) (AFP) – Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky lays flowers at a memorial to honour fallen soldiers and attends a commemoration in Kyiv on the Day of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. “More than 1,000 days of battle for the state. More than 700,000 enemy losses. For us, they are nameless, dishonourable,” says Zelensky, adding, “we all cry out in our hearts for our fallen soldiers.”

Syria (AFP) – Residents of Hama’s countryside flee to safe areas in northern Syria, fearing intense clashes between the rebels fighters and regime forces. In little over a week, the rebel offensive has seen strategically located Hama and Syria’s second city Aleppo fall from President Bashar al-Assad’s control for the first time since the civil war began in 2011.

(AFP) – Afghan women partake in a video protesting against a reported plan to ban women from attending medical training institutes. The footage was shared by Afghan women’s protest group: Purple Saturday. An Afghan health ministry source and managers from private medical institutes told AFP earlier this week that the public health ministry had issued a directive from the Taliban supreme leader to suspend women’s attendance. The ban would be the latest restriction on women’s education since the Taliban swept to power in 2021 and imposed what the United Nations has dubbed “gender apartheid”.