Author: Anadolu Agency
Canada on Sunday welcomed the collapse of the Assad regime, emphasizing the chance to rebuild an inclusive Syria. “Canada welcomes the end of the Assad regime in Syria, a regime that has inflicted decades of suffering on its own people. This event marks a significant turning point for the Syrian people, who have endured unimaginable hardship under the rule of Bashar al-Assad and his father, Hafez al-Assad,” said a statement by the Foreign Ministry. Highlighting “the Assad family’s brutal grip on power” in Syria, the statement recalled the killing of thousands of Syrians and forceful displacement of millions. “As Syria…
The US strongly supports a peaceful transition of power to an “accountable” government in Syria through an inclusive Syrian-led process, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Sunday. “During this transitional period, the Syrian people have every right to demand the preservation of state institutions, the resumption of key services, and the protection of vulnerable communities,” Blinken said in a statement. He said the Syrian people “finally have reason for hope” after 14 years, adding that the Assad regime’s refusal to engage in a credible political process and its reliance on Russia and Iran led to its collapse. “We will be…
The US’ oldest dictionary, Merriam-Webster, a direct descendant of the pioneering 1806 dictionary by Noah Webster, has picked “polarization” as the word of 2024. The dictionary said on its website that the term was widely used in US media during the presidential election to highlight divisions in society. It also reflected global social issues, drawing attention to fractures that emerged throughout the year. Merriam-Webster defines “polarization” as the division of a group or society into two sharply opposing sides, where opinions or beliefs cluster at extremes instead of spreading across a spectrum. According to CNN, Merriam-Webster is among the last…
South Korea on Monday imposed an overseas travel ban on President Yoon Suk Yeol amid the ongoing political crisis triggered by his failed martial law attempt. The country’s Justice Ministry imposed the ban on Yoon, KBS broadcaster reported. The travel ban request was filed by the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials. Yoon is being investigated over alleged treason, insurrection, mutiny, and abuse of power after the majority of lawmakers rejected his martial law declaration last week. However, he survived an impeachment motion over the move. “Securing the necessary materials comes first… We are deciding based on a comprehensive review,…
Taiwan on Monday said it raised the alert level among its combat units after Taipei detected movement by the Chinese military around the island nation. The Defense Ministry said in a statement that the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) had set up seven “air reserves zones” around eastern Fujian and Zhejiang provinces for a two-day period ending Wednesday. It added the PLA had dispatched naval vessels, as well as coast guard boats, while Taipei initiated “combat readiness drills” and its military units on its outlying islands “heightened their vigilance.” Beijing has yet to announce whether it plans any military drills.…
The Kremlin on Monday confirmed that deposed head of the Syrian regime Bashar al-Assad and his family were given asylum by Russia. “Of course, such decisions cannot be made without the head of state. It is his (Russian President Vladimir Putin) decision,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters in Moscow. Noting that Putin’s official schedule does not include a meeting with Assad, Peskov said there is also “nothing to tell” about his current whereabouts. Peskov said that Moscow is working to contact those who can ensure the security of Russian military bases in Syria, while the Russian military is also…
Egypt on Monday strongly condemned Israel’s seizure of a demilitarized buffer zone in Syria’s Golan Heights following the fall of the Bashar al-Assad regime. A Foreign Ministry statement described the Israeli grab of the Syrian land as “an occupation of Syrian territories and a flagrant violation to the 1974 Disengagement Agreement.” The 1974 Disengagement Agreement led to Israel’s withdrawal from some Syrian territories but left the Golan Heights under Israeli control. Egypt called the Israeli practices a breach of international law and a violation of Syria’s territorial integrity. It called on the UN Security Council and world powers to assume…
White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan will travel to Israel this week to discuss key issues, including cease-fire efforts in Gaza, developments in Syria, and the situation in Lebanon, his spokesperson announced Monday. “Sullivan is traveling to Israel this week to meet with Israeli officials as part of our close consultations on a range of important issues including efforts to reach a hostage release and ceasefire deal in Gaza, the latest developments in Syria, and for discussions about Lebanon and Iran,” National Security Council spokesperson Sean Savett said in a statement. Sullivan’s planned visit also comes after a cease-fire…
Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday reiterated condemnation “in the strongest terms” of Israel’s military aggression against Lebanon, reaffirming Islamabad’s “unwavering” support for Lebanon’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. In a phone conversation with his Lebanese counterpart Najib Mikati, he welcomed the Lebanon-Israel cease-fire and called for a similar cease-fire agreement in Gaza, said a statement from Sharif’s office. Referring to “brotherly and warm” relations between the two nations, Sharif stated that the “entire” Pakistani nation stands in solidarity with the people of Lebanon during these challenging times. Pakistan has already provided humanitarian assistance to Lebanon. Both leaders exchanged views…
UN chief Antonio Guterres urged Monday global leaders to intensify efforts to prevent genocide and bring perpetrators to justice as he marked the 76th anniversary of the Genocide Convention. Saying that the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide was adopted in the aftermath of the Holocaust, Guterres in a statement said: “The Convention is a pledge to the victims and survivors of genocide to ensure that these atrocities never occur again.” “Tragically, in a world plagued by division, mistrust and violence, the dark spectre of genocide is still with us,” he said. Urging all countries…