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.
Damascus (AFP) – AFP journalists heard loud explosions in Damascus early Tuesday, as the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reports that Israel has carried out a flurry of air strikes on Syria since the fall of president Bashar al-Assad’s government. According to the Britain-based war monitor, Israel has been targeting key military installations across the country since Sunday, with the aim of destroying them. IMAGES
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.
