Moshe Yaalon once supported the occupation of Gaza, but now accuses Benjamin Netanyahu of “ethnic cleansing”

Former Israeli Defense Minister Moshe Yaalon has accused Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of plotting the “ethnic cleansing” of Gaza and claimed that Israel Defense Forces (IDF) troops are carrying out “war crimes” in the Palestinian enclave.

Israel has been battling Hamas militants in Gaza for over a year. The conflict has killed almost 45,000 people and displacing nearly all of the densely populated territory’s residents. In recent weeks, Israel has focused much of its firepower on northern Gaza, issuing an evacuation order covering large swathes of the region last weekend.

This evacuation order is an attempt to hide the ongoing “ethnic cleansing” of Palestinians, Yaalon claimed on Sunday.

“I am compelled to warn about what is happening there and is being concealed from us,” he told Israel’s Kan broadcaster. “At the end of the day, war crimes are being committed,” he added, citing information supposedly provided by IDF commanders in Gaza.

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“The path they’re dragging us down is to occupy, annex, and ethnically cleanse. What is going on there? There is no Beit Lahia, no Beit Hanoun, they are operating now in Jabalia and basically cleaning the area of Arabs,” he said in a separate interview with Democrat TV on Saturday, referring to several neighborhoods inside the evacuation zone.

Yaalon served as the IDF’s chief of staff during the Second Intifada, a Palestinian uprising that began in 2000 and ended after the Sharm El Sheikh peace summit in 2005. He went on to serve as Netanyahu’s defense minister from 2013 until 2016, overseeing Israel’s six-week war in Gaza in 2014. Since leaving office, he has become an ardent critic of Netanyahu.

Although Yaalon opposed Israel’s 2005 withdrawal from Gaza, he has criticized the “hardliners” in Netanyahu’s cabinet for plotting the resettlement of the enclave. Netanyahu has been reluctant to reveal his plan for post-war Gaza, but some members of his cabinet have openly declared their desire to depopulate and resettle the territory.

During a visit to the Gaza border last week, Housing Minister Yitzhak Goldknopf posed with a map of proposed Israeli developments in Gaza, telling reporters that “Jewish settlement here is the answer to the terrible massacre and the answer to the International Criminal Court in the Hague.”

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Earlier this year, Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir both called for Gaza’s population to be reduced tenfold through forced emigration, while a leaked policy document compiled by Israel’s Ministry of Intelligence urged Netanyahu to permanently occupy Gaza and resettle its estimated 2.3 million people in Egypt, the Gulf states, and Europe.

The International Criminal Court (ICC) issued warrants for the arrest of Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant last month, accusing them of committing crimes against humanity and war crimes in Gaza.

In a statement on Monday, the IDF said that it “rejects the serious claims of ethnic cleansing” by Yaalon, insisting that it issues evacuation orders temporarily and “in accordance with the operational need.” Netanyahu’s Likud party accused Yaalon, a former member, of spreading “slanderous lies,” while Gallant demanded that the former minister “retract his words and apologize to the IDF soldiers.”

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The Russian president has postponed the international sporting event scheduled for the summer of 2025 or 2026 until further notice

Russian President Vladimir Putin has postponed the World Friendship Games – an international sporting event that was scheduled to take place in the country in the summer of 2025 or 2026.

On Monday, the president’s office published a decree to “postpone the holding of the World Friendship Games international competition until further notice by the Russian president.”

According to the document, the decision was made to “protect athletes’ and sporting organizations’ rights to free access to international sporting activities.”

Plans to hold the games, which would have included 35 disciplines, were announced by another presidential decree in April. The competition in Moscow and the city of Ekaterinburg had initially been scheduled for September of this year. However, in late August, the event was put off until the summer of 2025 or 2026.

According to the organizers, competitors could have won prizes of up to $40,000.

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When the event was first announced earlier this year, the International Olympic Committee voiced strong opposition to the initiative, dismissing it as a “cynical attempt by the Russian Federation to politicize sport.”

Speaking in early April, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov accused the international body of “trampling on” the principles enshrined in the Olympic Charter to please the “hegemons.” He went on to say that the World Friendship Games would reflect the charter’s core values.

Following the escalation of the Ukraine conflict in February 2022, Russian and Belarusian athletes were stripped of their right to compete in the Olympic Games and other international sporting events under their countries’ flags. A little over a dozen Russians were eventually allowed to take part in this year’s Paris Olympics as ‘individual neutral athletes’.

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The presidents of Russia and Iran have expressed “unconditional support” for Damascus in its fight against terrorists

Russian President Vladimir Putin discussed the situation in Syria with his Iranian counterpart Masoud Pezeshkian on Monday, according to a statement issued by the Kremlin.

The large-scale attack launched by Islamist militants was aimed at undermining the sovereignty, political and socio-economic stability of the Middle Eastern nation, according to the two leaders.

They expressed “unconditional support” for actions taken by Damascus “to restore constitutional order and territorial integrity of the country.” Putin and Pezeshkian also stressed the importance of coordinating efforts within the framework of the ‘Astana format’ with the participation of Türkiye.

Last week, Islamist militants, including Hayat Tahrir-al-Sham (HTS) terrorist group, staged a large-scale attack on government forces in northwest Syria. The militants claim to have captured considerable chunks of the provinces of Aleppo and Idlib, with some units reaching as far as the center of the city of Aleppo.

Formerly known as Jabhat al-Nusra, HTS is considered a terrorist organization by Syria, Russia, Iran, the US, and several other countries.

Damascus reportedly succeeded in halting the insurgents near the city of Hama in central Syria after receiving reinforcements. Syrian President Bashar Assad has pledged to “eliminate terrorists” and to punish their “sponsors and supporters.”

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The Syrian military acknowledged that dozens of its troops had been killed during the counteroffensive while estimating terrorist losses at around 1,000. Government forces were also backed by waves of Russian airstrikes, which reportedly neutralized hundreds of terrorists. The strikes also targeted headquarters, weapons, and ammunition depots.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed on Monday that Russian warplanes stationed in Syria had conducted strikes on militant forces in recent days. Peskov reiterated Russia’s support for the Syrian government, stating that Moscow and Damascus had been in contact and were analyzing ongoing developments.

Russia intervened in the Syrian conflict in 2015, helping to inflict heavy defeats on numerous terrorist groups, most notably al-Nusra and the Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS). Russia maintains a significant military presence in the country and has bases in Hmeimim and Tartus.

Last week’s Islamist attack was the first major clash between Syrian rebels and government forces since March 2020, when Russia and Türkiye brokered a ceasefire in the country.

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The bloc is now the main divisive force in Europe, a member of Russia’s Federation Council believes

The European Union has morphed into an “aggressive political bloc” and a “war union,” the Vice Speaker of the Russian parliament’s upper chamber, Konstantin Kosachev, has said.

The senator criticized the EU in a Telegram post on Tuesday, pointing to the bloc’s support for the ongoing turmoil in Georgia, which has been hit by mass anti-government, pro-EU protests.

The unrest has been going on since Thursday, when Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze announced that he would freeze accession talks with the bloc until 2028. He accused Brussels of persistent “blackmail and manipulation” of Georgia’s internal affairs in justifying the decision.

“The first Molotov cocktails were thrown by protesters at Georgian police immediately after the new EU foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas, publicly called the crowd’s protests legitimate and the response of the authorities – illegal,” Kosachev wrote.

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The vice speaker was apparently referring to remarks made by Kallas during her visit to Kiev, where she threatened Georgia with “consequences” and openly took the protesters’ side.

“It is clear that using violence against peaceful protesters is not acceptable, and the Georgian government should respect the will of the Georgian people,” she stated.

Members of the bloc’s foreign service are acting as “instigators” of the unrest, according to the Russian lawmaker. Kosachev recalled the 2020 Capitol Hill rioting in the US, stating that the EU kept silent on it at the time and did not mention any “citizens’ right to protest.”

The bloc has grown out of its original economic cooperation framework into an “aggressive political bloc with military inclinations,” acting as the main divisive force in Europe, Kosachev said. “The contemporary European Union is the main factor in dividing Europe and provoking conflicts. [It’s] a union of war,” he stressed.

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Sixteen defendants have been handed lengthy prison terms

A court in Moscow Region has sentenced 16 people to various prison terms for their roles in what is believed to be the largest operation to distribute illegal narcotics in Russia.

The outcome of the trial was highlighted on Monday by the regional prosecutors. The ringleader, Stanislav Moiseev, was sentenced to life behind bars, while his 15 accomplices received terms of 8 to 23 years depending on their involvement in the criminal enterprise, the statement said.

The court also ordered the confiscation of their property gained through the drug operation and ordered the defendants to pay fines that total around $189,000. The sentences, which were issued after a jury found the defendants guilty, can be appealed.

Moiseev and his co-conspirators were accused of masterminding a darknet drug marketplace called Hydra, which connected sellers and buyers of narcotics using digital tools to facilitate the transactions and help those involved to avoid the attention of law enforcement.

Russian officials said the marketplace operated from 2015 to 2022 and that it took investigators five years to collect enough evidence to finally bust the ring. Around one ton of drugs was reportedly confiscated in the operation.

READ MORE: US citizen sentenced to over 12 years behind bars in Russia

Analysts estimated Hydra to be the largest enterprise of its kind in Russia at its peak, with total transactions growing from $9.3 million in 2016 to almost $1.4 billion in 2020. Hydra’s rise was reportedly enabled by a crackdown on similar darknet marketplaces in Western countries, which eradicated competition.

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At the COP29 conference, countries of the region highlighted their commitment to energy transition and the complexities ahead

In November, the capital of Azerbaijan, Baku, hosted COP29, a landmark event that served as a vital platform for shaping global climate policy and advancing the energy transition. The conference drew heads of state and government from over 80 countries, alongside experts and business leaders, to address pressing issues such as scaling up climate finance, expanding carbon markets, and responding to emerging challenges.

The opening ceremony was presided over by Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, the president of COP28, who formally handed over the chairmanship of the climate summit from the United Arab Emirates to Azerbaijan. In his remarks, he reviewed the strides made in advancing the climate agenda during COP28 and underscored the significance of the newly established collaboration between the presidencies of COP28, COP29, and COP30. This unprecedented tripartite effort marks a transformative approach to tackling global climate challenges.

While COP29 highlighted notable progress, it also revealed the enduring complexities of aligning the ambitions and priorities of developed and developing nations. The role of Middle Eastern countries was a focal point of these discussions, as the region grapples with the dual imperatives of sustaining its traditional hydrocarbon economy and embracing the global push for decarbonization.

Against the backdrop of an evolving global climate agenda and rapid shifts in energy markets, the quest for balanced, effective solutions to the energy transition remains paramount. These solutions must account for national circumstances, economic imperatives, and technological potential. The ultimate goal is to design adaptive and resilient energy systems that can simultaneously secure energy supplies, drive economic growth, and achieve substantial reductions in greenhouse gas emissions.

Many Middle Eastern countries have taken proactive steps to foster international collaboration in energy innovation, prioritizing open and mutually beneficial partnerships. By leveraging their unique position in the global energy landscape, they aim to play a leading role in shaping the future of sustainable energy.

The Middle East is one of the world’s most vital energy regions, holding over 30% of global oil reserves and 40% of natural gas reserves. This makes the region not only a leading exporter of fossil fuels but also a crucial player in the global effort to meet the goals of the Paris Agreement. At the same time, the Middle East is highly vulnerable to climate change. Rising temperatures, desertification, water shortages, and ecosystem degradation present significant risks that demand a coordinated response. During COP29, Middle Eastern countries reiterated their commitment to climate targets while calling for an approach that reflects their economic and social realities.

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Many countries in the region, especially BRICS members, advocate for the principle of a ‘just energy transition’. This concept underscores the right of nations to independently chart their path toward decarbonization, define their energy priorities, and develop their energy systems based on national goals.

Saudi Arabia, as one of the world’s largest oil producers, remains a key player in global climate discussions. At COP29, the Kingdom reaffirmed its commitment to achieving carbon neutrality by 2060, showcasing initiatives under the Saudi Green Initiative. The Saudi delegation outlined expanded plans for investments in renewable energy, focusing on solar and hydrogen projects. A central topic of discussion was the Circular Carbon Economy (CCE) initiative, which aims to reduce emissions by capturing and repurposing CO2. Saudi Arabia emphasized that carbon capture technologies must be formally recognized as an essential part of global climate agreements.

A major highlight of COP29 for Saudi Arabia was the launch of its first carbon trading platform, operated by the Regional Voluntary Carbon Market Company (RVCMC). This initiative is part of a broader national strategy to expand voluntary carbon markets and is supported by the Public Investment Fund (PIF), which holds an 80% stake, alongside the Saudi Tadawul Group with 20%. The PIF also oversees major investments in renewable energy, including solar projects, as part of the Vision 2030 plan to diversify the Saudi economy.

During COP29, Saudi Arabia also announced strategic partnerships with Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan. These partnerships aim to modernize energy infrastructure and integrate renewable energy sources into the national grids of participating countries. Meanwhile, there were reports that Saudi negotiators sought to steer the final COP29 declaration away from language that explicitly called for the “phasing out of fossil fuels.”

Saudi-based ACWA Power also played a prominent role at COP29 as the official Energy and Water Partner. As the world’s largest private desalination company, a trailblazer in green hydrogen, and a leader in renewable energy development, ACWA Power highlighted Saudi Arabia’s ambitions to position itself at the forefront of the global energy transition.

Qatar, as one of the leading global exporters of liquefied natural gas (LNG), leveraged COP29 to present its initiatives for transitioning from traditional natural gas to hydrogen. The Qatari delegation outlined an ambitious plan to develop infrastructure for the production and export of both ‘blue’ and ‘green’ hydrogen, ensuring the country’s continued leadership in the energy market while reducing its carbon footprint. Qatar also emphasized the importance of enhancing funding for climate adaptation projects, advocating for increased international support to assist developing nations. This initiative reflects Doha’s growing role in global climate diplomacy.

The country is actively expanding its investments in renewable energy as part of its National Renewable Energy Strategy, which targets a 30% share of clean energy in the national energy mix by 2030. Significant progress has been made in advancing solar energy projects and improving energy efficiency. In the realm of sustainable transportation, Qatar has achieved notable milestones, including the launch of the Doha Metro, the Lusail Tram, and the use of electric buses, which now account for over 70% of the country’s public transportation fleet. These efforts were further highlighted during the first-ever carbon-neutral FIFA World Cup in 2022, a global showcase of Qatar’s commitment to sustainable development.

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The United Arab Emirates reinforced its position as a global leader in climate technology at COP29, presenting transformative projects such as the development of some of the world’s largest solar power plants and groundbreaking advancements in hydrogen energy. The UAE articulated its aspiration to become an international hub for the production and export of green hydrogen, emphasizing the importance of hydrogen as a cornerstone of the energy transition. Additionally, the UAE focused on sustainable urban development, unveiling updated plans for Masdar City, a model for carbon-neutral urban living and a centerpiece of the country’s sustainability vision.

The UAE stressed the importance of international collaboration in advancing climate technology and proposed the establishment of a global fund to support innovative climate solutions. A key player in these efforts is Masdar, a globally recognized renewable energy company and a pioneer in clean energy technologies. Masdar continues to accelerate the global energy transition through its investments in solar, wind, geothermal, energy storage, and green hydrogen, helping to achieve global net-zero ambitions.

Iran, on the other hand, emphasized the importance of aligning climate commitments with national interests. Tehran announced plans to increase its capacity for solar and wind energy production but highlighted the challenges posed by international sanctions, which restrict access to advanced technologies and foreign investments. Iran called for the creation of international mechanisms to ensure the equitable distribution of climate responsibilities between developed and developing nations.

Countries such as Iraq and Yemen, both deeply affected by political and economic instability, stood out at COP29 due to their heightened vulnerability to climate impacts. These nations presented ambitious plans focused on ecosystem restoration and enhanced water resource management, while emphasizing the critical need for international support. A key priority was addressing desertification, which threatens food security across the region and demands urgent action.

COP29 marked a significant milestone in advancing the global climate agenda and fostering new opportunities for international collaboration. Middle Eastern countries played a central role, actively contributing to global initiatives. Among the most important outcomes was the adoption of a new collective climate goal: Tripling climate finance for developing nations by 2035, raising annual commitments from $100 billion to $300 billion. This decision underscores the recognition that large-scale financial investments are essential to tackle the pressing challenges of climate change, particularly in countries most vulnerable to its effects.

Another breakthrough was the long-awaited agreement on the establishment of carbon markets under the Paris Agreement, a move expected to save nations up to $250 billion annually in the implementation of climate plans. Additionally, the formal creation of a dedicated fund to assist countries most affected by climate change represents a critical step toward ensuring equitable resource allocation.

Despite ongoing geopolitical tensions, COP29 demonstrated substantial progress in advancing international climate priorities. The conference’s exceptional organization in Azerbaijan earned widespread acclaim, and the initiatives launched provided significant momentum for adopting sustainable practices. However, the ultimate success of these decisions will hinge on their practical implementation and the sustained commitment of participating nations.

As the host country, Azerbaijan reaffirmed its commitment to addressing global environmental challenges and solidified its position as a proactive leader in sustainability. This role opens up new opportunities for the country to strengthen international partnerships and attract investment in its green economy. The outcomes of COP29 serve as a powerful reminder of the importance of solidarity and collective action in securing a sustainable and resilient future for the planet.

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The Baku Declaration adopted at COP29 sets out strategic priorities for international cooperation in addressing climate change. A key focus of the declaration is the management of water resources, which is becoming an increasingly pressing issue as climate change exacerbates water scarcity worldwide. It highlights the need for immediate and coordinated action, encouraging the sharing of knowledge and technologies to promote efficient water use and prevent future crises.

Another significant priority is the development of climate-smart cities. The declaration underscores that urbanization must go hand in hand with the integration of green technologies, energy-efficient solutions, and sustainable urban planning. Cities must be designed to adapt to evolving climate conditions, ensuring they remain safe, resilient, and livable spaces.

The declaration also places a strong emphasis on transparency in climate data. It calls for enhanced collaboration in data sharing, open access to climate research, and the adoption of improved standards for monitoring climate change. By proposing the creation of a global infrastructure for collecting and analyzing climate information, the Baku Declaration seeks to equip countries with the tools needed for better coordination and informed decision-making.

More than just a statement of intent, the Baku Declaration provides a strategic framework for future international climate policy. It calls for an integrated approach that unites countries and regions to achieve the goals of the Paris Agreement and advance the broader sustainable development agenda.

COP29 provided a crucial platform for Middle Eastern countries to showcase their ambitions, propose innovative solutions, and draw attention to their unique challenges. It is essential for the global community to support these efforts, recognizing the region not only as a major exporter of oil but also as a critical partner in the global fight against climate change.

Middle Eastern nations demonstrated a clear commitment to transforming their energy policies toward sustainability. However, their participation also highlighted the complex challenges posed by the region’s economic, social, and climatic conditions. Achieving global climate goals will require not only sustained international support for the region’s initiatives but also a recognition that the transition to a low-carbon economy in the Middle East necessitates a tailored approach and robust international collaboration.

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The country’s military is facing high desertion rates and a shortage of fighting-age men at the front

Any major public event in Ukraine can be raided by conscription officials looking for potential recruits, an officer responsible for enforcing mobilization admitted in a recent interview.

Kiev overhauled its system of military service this year in an attempt to boost conscription rates amid a shortage of manpower at the front. Meanwhile, several large concerts have been targeted recently. Attendees found officials waiting at the exits to check their status and, in some cases, issue summonses.

Oleg Timoshenko, who leads the draft campaign in the city of Cherkasy, was responsible for one such raid on a concert in mid-October. In an interview with local media last week, he said that such efforts were part of the conscription center’s regular work.

“We analyze the developing situation, the number of people that the Army needs, and where such people could congregate,” he told the online news outlet 18000.

Asked whether officials followed the schedule of public events to pick raid targets, Timoshenko said “of course” they did. But this “does not mean that conscription officials or police will be at every concert,” he added. The next raid in the region could happen “tomorrow or in two months,” he said.

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A concert in Kiev by Ukrainian rock band Okean Elzy in October marked the first major incident of the kind. Some 50 military personnel and police officers were deployed outside the Palace of Sports to screen male attendees.

The group’s frontman, Vyacheslav Vakarchuk, served as an MP and in 2019 founded the pro-Western Golos party. Since its parliamentary faction is in opposition to Vladimir Zelensky’s Servant of the People party, there was speculation that the event was targeted for political reasons.

Kiev’s mobilization drive is being carried out in an increasingly strong-armed fashion, Western media have acknowledged. An officer interviewed by The Telegraph last week compared draft dodgers with cornered rats who keep fighting even after being caught.

Meanwhile, the Ukrainian military is plagued with high desertion rates, with at least 60,000 troops having gone AWOL, the Financial Times reported on Saturday.

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Russia, Iran, North Korea and China are working together, the EU’s new chief diplomat has claimed

Russian President Vladimir Putin’s influence in global affairs is growing, new EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas has said.

Speaking to reporters in Kiev during her first official visit on Sunday, Kallas, who stepped down as Estonia’s prime minister to take the EU post, reiterated that the European Union “wants Ukraine to win this war.”

She doubled down on support for military aid to Ukraine, insisting that providing the country more weapons is not “charitable aid,” but an investment in the security of the EU, since Russian President Vladimir Putin “shows no signs of abandoning his goals.”

Kallas has advocated tougher sanctions on Russia and is known for her strident stance against Moscow. She also stated Sunday that supporting Ukraine is in the interests of the US.

“If America is worried about China, it should be worried about Russia first,” Kallas claimed, according to the outlet Suspilne, adding that Russia, Iran, North Korea and China are working together.

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She also admitted that despite Western efforts to isolate Russia and its leader, Vladimir Putin’s political influence has been amplified.

“And we also see what Putin is doing in other countries, really increasing his influence. So, if the United States wants to be the strongest state in the world, they will eventually have to deal with the Russian Federation. And the easiest way to deal with this is to support Ukraine so that it wins the war,” the diplomat concluded.

Kallas also did not rule out sending Western troops to Ukraine.

“So far, the discussion has centered on which countries are ready to send soldiers to Ukraine and which are not,” she told reporters. “I believe that nothing can be ruled out.”

The remarks come as the UK and France have revived debates about sending forces to Ukraine, according to a recent report in Le Monde.

In February, French President Emmanuel Macron caused controversy by refusing to rule out sending ground troops “to prevent Russia from winning this war.” The statement was quickly disavowed by NATO officials, while German Chancellor Olaf Scholz told reporters that Ukraine’s Western backers were “unanimous” in their opposition to the idea.

Russia has long claimed that Western special forces personnel are already active in Ukraine as military advisors and mercenaries. Putin maintains that NATO troop deployments in Ukraine cannot not change the situation on the battlefield.

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Beijing is willing to aid Damascus to prevent the situation from deteriorating further, Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian has said

China is “deeply concerned” about developments in Syria, where jihadist militants launched a surprise offensive last week, Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian said on Monday. As Damascus’ “friend,” Beijing is prepared to take steps to prevent a further deterioration of the situation, he said.

The Hayat Tahrir-al-Sham (HTS) terrorist group, formerly known as Jabhat al-Nusra, and allied militias launched a large-scale attack on government-controlled territory in northern Syria last Wednesday. The militants took over a number of towns and villages in the Aleppo, Idlib and Hama provinces.

Syrian government forces, backed by Russian fighter jets, launched a counteroffensive on Thursday and successfully liberated several settlements over the weekend, reportedly eliminating hundreds of militants and thwarting their advance into central Syria. However, dozens of Syrian army service members were lost amid the heavy fighting, the Syrian General Command said in an earlier statement.

“China is deeply concerned over the situation in northwestern Syria, and supports its effort to uphold national security and stability,” Lin told a press briefing on Monday. “As Syria’s friend, China is willing to make an active effort to avoid further deterioration of the situation in Syria,” the official said.

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The Chinese embassy in Syria “is closely following the local situation” and has issued a security alert for Chinese citizens residing in the country, advising them to take extra security precautions and, if possible, move to safer areas, Lin said.

China’s ties with Syria have been growing closer in recent years. Last September, Chinese President Xi Jinping and his Syrian counterpart Bashar Assad inked a “strategic partnership” deal, pledging to work together in order to “jointly safeguard international fairness and justice” in the face of the “unstable and uncertain international situation.”

Xi told Assad at the time that Beijing supported Syria in “opposing foreign interference and unilateral bullying, safeguarding national independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity.”

READ MORE: Syria will ‘eliminate’ terrorists and their sponsors – Assad

A number of other nations, including Russia, Iran, Iraq and Egypt, have expressed support for Damascus over the past few days, commending it for fighting against terrorism. Moscow has slammed the militants’ offensive as a “direct violation of Syria’s sovereignty,” and mobilized air force units stationed in the country to aid the Syrian army. Tehran has urged Islamic countries to unite in helping Syria defeat the militants, placing the blame for the escalation on Israel and the US.

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However, a top security official in Manilla has conceded that the Russian sub has every right to sail through Filipino waters

Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has described the reported presence of a Russian submarine in the West Philippine Sea as “very concerning.” Marcos has lobbied for an increased US military presence in the area, which is one of the world’s most disputed waterways.

The Russian Kilo-class submarine was spotted around 80 nautical miles (148km) off the island of Mindoro on Thursday, Philippine Navy spokesman Roy Vincent Trinidad said in a statement on Monday. It identified itself by radio and said “it was awaiting improved weather conditions before proceeding to Vladivostok, Russia,” after an exercise with the Malaysian military, Trinidad said.

”All of that is very concerning,” Marcos told reporters. “Any intrusion into the West Philippine Sea, of our EEZ [Exclusive Economic Zone], of our baselines is very worrisome.”

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The West Philippine Sea is a disputed term for a disputed body of water. It is usually used to refer to the area of the South China Sea located within the Philippines’ EEZ, although China claims sovereignty over two atolls – the Spratly Islands and Scarborough Shoal – situated inside this zone. Beijing does not use the term ‘West Philippine Sea’, while Manilla sometimes uses it to describe the entire South China Sea.

Apart from China and the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Brunei claim parts of the South China Sea. The waterway sees significant volumes of commercial traffic and serves as the main conduit for the foreign trade of South Asian nations.

Jonathan Malaya, the assistant director-general of the Philippines National Security Council, told reporters that the Russian submarine has the right of “innocent passage” through the sea.

The US regularly invokes this same right to sail warships through the Taiwan Strait and past islands claimed by China, including the Spratly Islands, Scarborough Shoal, and the Paracel Islands. Washington also cited ‘freedom of navigation’ when an American destroyer sailed into what Russia says is its territorial waters near Vladivostok in 2020, with the Pentagon arguing that the bay was improperly claimed by the USSR in 1984.

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Relations between Manila and Washington were often strained under Marcos’ predecessor, Rodrigo Duterte. While Duterte sought to improve relations with Beijing and Moscow, Marcos – the son of notorious dictator Ferdinand Marcos – has taken a more pro-American course.

Since taking office in 2022, Marcos has allowed American forces and weapons access to four additional Philippines military bases, some of which are located near disputed waters. Marcos has also increased the scale and frequency of joint US-Philippines military drills, and backed the US Navy’s ‘freedom of navigation’ operations in the South China Sea.

These maneuvers have stoked tension with Beijing. After a two-day exercise by the US, Australia, Canada, and the Philippines near Scarborough Shoal in August, China launched a surprise combat patrol near the disputed atoll to test its “strike capabilities.” In a statement, the Chinese military accused the Philippines and its allies of “undermining regional peace and stability.”

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Spokesman Dmitry Peskov has referred to the US president’s decision regarding his son as “American internal affairs”

The Kremlin has refused to comment on US President Joe Biden’s decision to pardon his son. The outgoing leader went back on an earlier pledge not to interfere in criminal cases against Hunter Biden.

In June, the younger Biden was convicted on three felony counts of lying about his drug addiction when buying a handgun in 2018. In a separate case, he pleaded guilty in September to three felonies and six misdemeanor tax offenses, with the sentencing scheduled for this month.

When asked for a comment on Monday, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov replied: “We have nothing to say, these are American internal affairs.”

Speaking to Izvesita the same day, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova described the presidential pardon as a “caricature of democracy.”

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In a statement late on Sunday, President Biden announced that the “full and unconditional pardon” applies to offenses that his son “has committed or may have committed or taken part in during the period from January 1, 2014 through December 1, 2024, including but not limited to all offenses charged or prosecuted.”

Biden claimed that his son had been prosecuted “selectively and unfairly” because of familial ties, pointing the finger at his Republican opponents.

Since Joe Biden assumed the top job in 2021, several prominent GOP politicians have accused his son of acting as a middleman in corrupt dealings overseas – a claim vehemently denied by the president.

Taking to his Truth Social platform on Sunday, President-elect Donald Trump described Biden’s decision as an “abuse and miscarriage of Justice.”

Billionaire tech tycoon Elon Musk, whom the Republican has appointed to head a so-called Department of Government Efficiency, suggested on X that Biden’s pardon was “impugning the integrity of the United States.”

Several Republican members of Congress have also slammed the outgoing president’s clemency toward his son.

Andy Biggs claimed that “Joe Biden will go down as one of the most corrupt presidents in American history,” with fellow lawmaker Josh Hawley characterizing the pardon as an “outrageous abuse of the rule of law.”

The Republican-controlled House Committee on Oversight and Accountability also released a statement, saying that “Joe Biden’s unprecedented abuse of power has been a stain on the honor of the US presidency.”

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Paris has lost almost all of its footholds on the continent, Thierry Mariani has said

Chad’s termination of a military agreement with France and Senegal’s impending expulsion of French troops is a “catastrophe” for President Emmanuel Macron’s foreign policy, Thierry Mariani, a member of the European Parliament, has said in an interview with RIA Novosti on Monday.

Mariani stated that Paris has lost almost all of its footholds in Africa during the seven years of “illusory influencer” Macron’s presidency.

“No one has done as much damage in the last 40 years as Macron. If he wants to do France a favor, he should resign as soon as possible”, the French politician said.

Last week, Chadian Foreign Minister Abderaman Koulamallah announced the Central African nation’s decision to cancel a defense cooperation treaty signed with France in 2019. The decision came just hours after Koulamallah met with French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot in the landlocked state’s capital, N’Djamena.

On Sunday, Chad’s president, Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno, told reporters that the agreement, which had sought to strengthen security ties between the two countries, had become “completely obsolete.”

READ MORE: Chad ends defense cooperation with France

“It no longer corresponded to the security, geopolitical, and strategic realities of our time, nor to our legitimate expectations regarding the full expression of our sovereignty,” Mahamat Deby said in a speech published by local outlet Alwihda Info.

The move makes Chad the latest African state to end military partnership with Paris amid a wave of anti-French sentiment in former colonies in recent years. Its neighbors Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger have expelled French troops for allegedly failing to quell a deadly jihadist insurgency in the Sahel region. The three West African states have sought alternative alliances, including forging closer security ties with Russia. Chadian political analyst Evariste N’Garlem Tolde previously told RT that the French army has failed in combating rebel groups responsible for violence in the country. Paris already has a base in the country with around 1,000 troops.

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Senegal’s government is also seeking the closure of all French army bases. On Thursday, Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye stated in an interview with Le Monde that “there will soon be no more French troops in Senegal” without specifying when the withdrawal will take place. He is also cited as telling AFP that the French army bases are “incompatible” with the West African country’s sovereignty. France currently has 350 soldiers stationed in Senegal but plans to reduce the contingent to 100 as part of a broader military reconfiguration.

According to Thierry Mariani, “what happened with Chad is tragic; it’s 50 years of friendship that are over. The same with Senegal. It is a disaster for our foreign policy, and it is Macron’s fault. He has shown endless contempt for African leaders”.

Last year, a group of French lawmakers wrote to Macron expressing their dissatisfaction with France’s African policy failures, which they claim have resulted in deteriorating relations between former colonies.

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The teenager was only arrested after authorities learned of plans to stage an attack in the coming weeks, Bild and Der Spiegel have reported

German authorities allowed a teenage terrorist suspect to remain at liberty for months before finally detaining him after learning of his plans to stage an attack shortly before or after Christmas, national media have reported.

In a report on Sunday which cited court documents and materials obtained by police investigators, Bild claimed that US special services had tipped off their German counterparts in early March about a young Islamic State supporter in the country.

The suspect, identified as 17-year-old Emin B., was allegedly a member of an Islamist chat group named ‘Adawla Al Islamia Assalafia’, where he is said to have shared plans to bomb consular premises in Germany. He also expressed a wish to behead infidels, the report claimed. The article suggested that by mid-March, the suspect had purchased nitrate, carbon and sulfide, apparently in order to assemble an improvised explosive device.

Acting on the information provided by US authorities, German police raided Emin B.’s home and impounded various pieces of evidence, but eventually let the youngster go, Bild and Der Spiegel reported.

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Bild quoted an anonymous investigator as recounting that while the teenager “now knew he was in [the police’s] sights, his radicalization was getting ever stronger and his attack deliberations more concrete.”

According to the media outlet, the suspect – who supposedly had an accomplice – had his premises searched once again in August, but remained at large.

In late October, Emin B. allegedly contacted another individual, identified as ‘Silvio’, via WhatsApp to plan a terror attack for either December 20 or 24, or for January 20 or 24, the German media reported. The attack would purportedly have consisted of the pair plowing a truck into a large gathering of people and dying as “martyrs.” The 17-year-old is said to have taken driving lessons in preparation for the assault.

According to the two media outlets, the suspect was eventually placed in pre-trial detention in early November, with the judge pointing to the teenager’s “firm Islamist views [and] massive readiness to engage in violence,” as quoted by Bild.

On December 19, 2016, Anis Amri, a failed asylum seeker from Tunisia, deliberately rammed a truck into a Christmas market in Berlin, killing 12 people and injuring dozens more. The terrorist managed to flee the scene and was later located and shot dead by Italian police.

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Algeria appears to have firmly set itself on the road to achieving economic sovereignty

In September, Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune announced that by the end of 2025, his country aims to achieve “full self-sufficiency in durum wheat production.” This declaration coincided with the start of the 2024-25 agricultural season, in the course of which Algeria plans to grow a record 1.6 million hectares of durum wheat – approximately 80% of the country’s annual needs.

This is just one of the many indicators reflecting the success of Algeria’s economic development strategy. It also signifies the broader achievement of diversifying economic activities and moving away from the rentier economy, which, as Tebboune noted, “stifles the mind and innovation.”

A rational economy

Algeria’s comprehensive approach to transforming its economy was recognized by international financial institutions. In July, Ousmane Dione, World Bank vice president for the Middle East and North Africa, congratulated Algeria on its economic performance, which enabled its upward reclassification by the World Bank. He described the country’s economy as a “success model worthy of sharing with other countries in Africa and the MENA region.”

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Dione also noted that in 2023, Algeria became one of four countries worldwide to move from a lower-middle-income to an upper-middle-income category in the World Bank’s annual income classification report. During this same period, Algeria’s economy recorded a growth rate of 4.1%, which was primarily driven by a “’comprehensive revision to national accounts statistics undertaken by the Algerian authorities (Office National des Statistiques) to align with current international standards.”

Algeria’s significant achievements stem from a pragmatic economic course laid out by President Tebboune at the start of his first term in 2019. This new model emphasizes support for small and medium-sized businesses across various sectors, including agriculture and industry, while prioritizing local production over imports to safeguard foreign currency reserves and encourage domestic businesses. The government has also focused on reducing unemployment and streamlining the legislative framework.

As for investments, the Agency for Investment Promotion reports approving about 3,000 projects recently proposed by both local and foreign investors, resulting in the creation of approximately 250,000 jobs. Notably, several key projects have been initiated in the mining sector, including the Gara Djebilet iron mine, the Oued Amizour zinc mine, and the Bled El-Hadba phosphate megaproject.

The agricultural sector is also making progress in enhancing food security. Currently, Algeria is constructing the world’s largest dairy farm, spanning 117 hectares, following a $3.5 billion agreement with the Qatari dairy company Baladna QPSC signed in April 2024. Furthermore, economic reforms implemented since 2020 have transformed Algeria from an importer into an exporter of various products, including construction materials, cement, and clinker.

Tebboune’s 2019 program called for a reassessment of unfavorable economic and trade agreements and a strategic realignment of diplomatic efforts to serve the critical interests of Algeria’s economic development. The establishment of the Algerian Agency for International Cooperation for Solidarity and Development has given Algerian entrepreneurs greater access to international markets, particularly African ones.

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A focus on Africa

Algeria is clearly increasing its economic and diplomatic influence across the African continent. Since taking office, President Tebboune has prioritized strengthening ties with Africa, and the results of this initiative are already visible.

In February 2023, Algeria announced that it would allocate $1 billion to fund development projects in Africa through the Algerian Agency for International Cooperation for Solidarity and Development. The president’s initiative supposes the establishment of Algerian exhibition halls and banks in West African countries, including the Algerian Union Bank (AUB) in Nouakchott and the Algerian Bank of Senegal (ABS) in Dakar. A third bank is set to open soon in Cote d’Ivoire.

Algerian products are steadily expanding their presence in African markets. In 2021, the country joined the African Continental Free Trade Area Agreement (AfCFTA), which aims to eliminate customs barriers in trade among member nations. At the beginning of 2022, Algeria opened the first maritime route connecting it with Mauritania and Senegal in order to boost trade volumes, and it is currently working on establishing a land route to Mauritania. These initiatives open doors to new markets in West Africa.

Revising unfavorable agreements

In September, shortly after being re-elected for a second term, Tebboune announced plans to review the Association Agreement with the European Union, starting in 2025. This agreement was signed in 2002 and came into effect in 2005. It includes provisions for gradually eliminating customs duties between the two parties and has often sparked controversy in light of Algeria’s efforts to protect its domestic products and Europe’s desire to get the maximum benefits from exports to Algeria.

According to Tebboune, the need to revise this agreement stems from significant changes in Algeria’s economic landscape. Notably, at the beginning of the 21st century, Algeria was emerging from a decade-long civil war between the government and Islamist groups. Now that the country’s economy has stabilized and strengthened, the terms of the agreement with the EU no longer reflect current realities.

Since 2021, Algeria has imposed several restrictions on European exports and investments to safeguard national production. The EU views these measures as a ban on its products and a violation of the agreement, and has threatened Algeria with an arbitral tribunal. In June 2024, the European Commission announced that it was initiating dispute settlement procedures with Algeria, and stated that if the parties are unable to reach a settlement, the matter may be brought before an arbitral tribunal.

This is the second time that the EU has initiated a dispute settlement procedure with Algeria over the association agreement. In June 2020, the bloc initiated a similar case regarding trade restrictions imposed by Algeria between 2015 and 2019. The dispute was not resolved, leading the EU to commence arbitration in March 2021, though the results remain undisclosed.

From the start, Algeria’s plan for economic development faced two significant challenges: falling global oil prices and the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. Despite these challenges, in August 2023 Tebboune declared that Algeria’s recent economic achievements are nothing short of miraculous and surpass the progress many nations make over decades.

The path to financial independence

President Tebboune highlighted key economic achievements during his International Workers’ Day speech on May 1, 2024. He particularly noted Algeria’s newfound independence from external loans, especially from organizations such as the International Monetary Fund, and a near-total absence of external debt.

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According to Tebboune, Algeria’s economic growth rate in 2023 was between 4.1% and 4.2%, which corresponds to World Bank estimates. “The IMF and the World Bank classify Algeria as the third-largest economy in Africa, following South Africa and Egypt,” he noted.

By the end of 2023, Algeria’s GDP had risen to $260 billion, and the government plans to boost it to $400 billion by 2026 and 2027. The Algerian dinar rose by 4.5% against foreign currencies, and according to Tebboune, “this is just the beginning.”

The country’s foreign exchange reserves have grown to $70 billion. To compare, when Tebboune assumed office in 2019, foreign exchange reserves amounted to $42 billion while import expenses exceeded $60 billion.

In the energy sector, Algeria is currently the third-largest oil producer in Africa and the continent’s leading gas exporter, supplying about 11% of the EU’s natural gas needs. Nevertheless, the government remains committed to diversifying its income sources and breaking free from an economy reliant solely on gas and oil exports.

“In 2022, Algeria achieved a record non-hydrocarbon export volume of $7 billion for the first time in 40 years, while previously these figures rarely exceeded $1.5 billion,” Tebboune said.

Joining the BRICS bank

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A significant development in Algeria’s economic landscape was announced at the end of August 2023, when the country joined the BRICS New Development Bank (NDB). With an initial contribution of $1.5 billion, Algeria became the ninth member of this organization. This milestone reflects Algeria’s impressive economic achievements in recent years and marks a crucial step toward integrating the nation into the global financial system. According to Algeria’s Ministry of Finance, joining the NDB is expected to further bolster the country’s economic growth in both the medium and long term.

Self-sufficiency in durum wheat production

The substantial durum wheat harvest has already brought Algeria $1.2 billion and the government doesn’t intend to stop at that. With support from Qatari and Italian companies, Algeria plans to expand cultivation areas in its southern regions. The president has tasked the government with increasing yield per hectare to at least 55 quintals.

The accomplishments recently noted by the Algerian authorities underscore the success of their ambitious economic agenda. These achievements reflect a commitment to reducing the nation’s long-standing dependency on foreign durum wheat imports, as Algeria has traditionally been a major buyer of wheat. Additionally, they highlight progress in the broader strategy of diversifying the economy and moving away from oil dependence – a major goal that successive Algerian governments have pursued since gaining independence from France in the mid-20th century.

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Slovakia has alerted Hungary that “an organized group” is operating near the Druzhba pipeline, Magyar Nemzet has reported

National security authorities in Hungary are investigating a possible sabotage plot targeting the Russian Druzhba oil pipeline, the Magyar Nemzet newspaper reported on Monday. The pipeline carrying Russian crude to landlocked countries in Central Europe was at the center of a spat between Budapest and Brussels over the summer.

Hungary’s Anti-Terrorism Center was alerted by authorities in neighboring Slovakia over the weekend that “an organized group” was operating in both countries carrying out “field survey” in the vicinity of the pipeline. The activities could indicate “possible preparations for a terrorist attack” against the countries’ critical infrastructure, wrote the paper.

“Unfortunately, the Slovak announcement had to be taken seriously” by the Anti-Terrorism Center and the national security services, the report added.

Built in the 1960s, the Druzhba pipeline stretches some 4,000km (2,485 miles) and connects Russian and Kazakh oil suppliers with consumers in Europe. The pipeline branches off in Belarus, with the northern part going to Poland and Germany, and the southern branch to Ukraine, Hungary, Slovakia, and the Czech Republic.

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In June, Ukraine halted the transit of crude supplied by Russian energy giant Lukoil via the pipeline, citing its own sanctions on the company. The measure has directly hit landlocked Hungary and Slovakia, depriving them of oil previously exported by the company through Ukrainian territory. Lukoil’s supply was reportedly replaced by that of another Russian oil firm, Tatneft.

Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto in July accused Brussels of orchestrating the suspension of Lukoil’s supply to blackmail the two states. Slovakia and Hungary are the only EU members that have rejected the bloc’s policies on supplying Kiev with military aid amid the conflict with Moscow. Both states have repeatedly called for the crisis to be solved through diplomacy.

READ MORE: Hungary can’t survive without Russian oil – FM

In September, Hungarian energy company MOL reached a deal with suppliers and pipeline operators. Under its terms, the crude shipped via Ukraine would be officially sold to MOL before it crosses the country’s border.

Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky’s top adviser, Mikhail Podoliak, said at the time that Kiev will honor its agreements and transit Russian oil to Europe until the contracts expire in 2029.

The Washington Post reported last year that Zelensky secretly plotted a range of steps that contradicted his official statements at the time. The outlet cited classified US intelligence documents that detailed Zelensky’s plans to enter Russia and occupy villages along the border, to push for permission to use Western long-range missiles to hit targets inside Russia’s borders, and to bomb a pipeline that transfers Russian oil to Hungary.

READ MORE: Ukraine’s top general approved attack on TurkStream gas pipeline – Der Spiegel

The first part of the plan has materialized in recent months with Kiev’s offensive in Russia’s Kursk Region and the permission by the US, the UK, and France to launch their long-range missiles deep into Russia.

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Russia will provide support to Syria to stabilize the situation in light of the terrorist offensive, spokesman Dmitry Peskov has said

Russia will continue to support Syrian President Bashar Assad as his country fends off a surprise terrorist offensive that began last week, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has said. Russian warplanes stationed in Syria have been conducting strikes on militant forces in recent days.

The Hayat Tahrir-al-Sham (HTS) terrorist group, an offspring of the al-Nusra jihadist organization, and allied militias launched a large-scale attack on government forces on Wednesday, capturing considerable chunks of the provinces of Aleppo and Idlib, with some units reaching as far as the center of Aleppo city. The Syrian military acknowledged that dozens of its troops had been killed while estimating terrorist losses at around 1,000.

According to the state-run SANA news agency, Damascus succeeded in halting the insurgents near the city of Hama in central Syria after receiving reinforcements.

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Government forces were also backed by waves of Russian airstrikes, which reportedly neutralized hundreds of terrorists. SANA reported that the strikes also targeted headquarters, weapons, and ammunition depots.

Speaking to reporters on Monday, Peskov reiterated that “we, of course, continue supporting Bashar Assad,” adding that Moscow and Damascus have been in contact and are analyzing ongoing developments. “We will outline the approach regarding measures to stabilize the situation,” he said. He previously called the terrorist offensive an “attack on Syria’s sovereignty.”

Russia intervened in the Syrian conflict in 2015, helping to inflict heavy defeats on numerous terrorist groups, most notably al-Nusra and the Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS). Russia maintains a significant military presence in the region and has military bases in Hmeimim and Tartus.

Meanwhile, Assad has pledged to “eliminate terrorists” and to punish their “sponsors and supporters.” A Kyiv Post report on Sunday claimed that at least some of the terrorist forces had been trained by operatives of the Ukrainian military intelligence service. Much of the training was reportedly focused on applying the experience gained while fighting Russia and also on conducting drone warfare, which has become a crucial aspect of the hostilities between Moscow and Kiev.

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Spokesman Dmitry Peskov has claimed an “orange revolution” is being attempted in the former Soviet republic

The anti-government protests currently taking place in Georgia are comparable to the 2014 Western-backed Maidan coup in Ukraine and exhibit all the signs of an attempted “orange revolution,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told journalists on Monday.

Tbilisi has been rocked by anti-government, pro-EU protests since Thursday, following an announcement by Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze that he would freeze accession talks with the bloc until 2028. He cited Brussels’ “constant blackmail and manipulation” of Georgia’s domestic politics as the reason for the decision.

Demonstrators have since repeatedly clashed with law enforcement, shot fireworks, and thrown Molotov cocktails at riot police, who have deployed tear gas and water cannons in an effort to disperse the protesters. Over 250 people have reportedly been arrested.

Commenting on the events in Georgia, Peskov stated that “there is an obvious attempt to destabilize the situation” and that similar events have taken place in “a number of countries” in recent years.

“The most direct parallel that can be drawn is the events of the Maidan in Ukraine,” Peskov said, referring to the Western-backed coup in Kiev in 2014 which ousted the country’s democratically-elected president and precipitated the current conflict between Russia and Ukraine. Peskov added that the anti-government protests in Georgia have “all the signs of an attempt to carry out an ‘orange revolution’.”

However, the spokesman stressed that “everything that happens in Georgia is Georgia’s internal affair.” He said that as the country’s authorities take measures to stabilize the situation, Moscow would not interfere.

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Prime Minister Kobakhidze has slammed the rallies as an “attack on the constitutional order in the country” and blamed the civil unrest on “EU politicians and their agents.” He further accused the West of trying to orchestrate a coup similar to the US-backed Maidan revolution in Ukraine.

Kobakhidze has insisted that “unlike Ukraine in 2013, Georgia is an independent state with strong institutions and, most importantly, experienced and wise people. The Maidan scenario cannot be realized in Georgia. Georgia is a sovereign state and will not allow this.”

Meanwhile, the US has responded to Georgia’s decision to freeze EU accession talks by suspending its strategic partnership with the country and condemning the move, claiming it is a “betrayal of the Georgian constitution.”

EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas has also stated that sanctions are being considered against Tbilisi for its crackdown on protesters.

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The terrorists’ foreign backers aim to weaken the country and sow sedition across the region, Tehran claims

The jihadist offensive in Syria was launched in coordination with the US and Israel, Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Esmail Baghaei said on Monday. According to the diplomat, it is no coincidence that the terrorists attacked northern Syria right after Israel struck a ceasefire deal with Hezbollah.

The Hayat Tahrir-al-Sham (HTS) terrorist group (formerly Jabhat al-Nusra), along with allied militias, launched an assault on government-controlled territory in northern Syria last Wednesday. The jihadists seized a number of villages and towns in Aleppo, Idlib, and Hama provinces, and entered the city of Aleppo on Friday.

The initial offensive started on the same day the long-negotiated ceasefire between Israel and the Lebanese-based militant group Hezbollah took effect. West Jerusalem reluctantly agreed to the ceasefire earlier in the week, but Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu pledged to “respond forcefully” to any violations on the part of Hezbollah.

“The concurrence of the recent developments in Syria with the ceasefire in Lebanon, and the statements of the American officials in this regard, indicate the existence of some kind of coordination and cooperation between the terrorists, the US, and the Zionist regime,” Baghaei said at a press briefing.

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The official suggested that Washington and West Jerusalem were using the attack to “weaken Syria” and “create division and sedition among Islamic countries.” According to Baghaei, Washington has long been assisting militant groups operating in the country, while Israel is “the party that benefits the most from the developments in Syria.”

The diplomat urged “all Islamic countries” to recognize the “threat posed by the Zionist regime” and join forces in resisting its actions.

Last week’s attack effectively broke the truce between the Syrian government and the militants, which was mediated by Russia and Türkiye in 2020. According to Baghaei, Tehran is currently working with regional powers to try and restore the deal. He noted that it could be done through the Astana Process, which was launched in 2017 to resolve the Syrian civil war and later to support the country in its post-war restoration, led by Türkiye, Russia, and Iran.

“Everyone acknowledges that the Astana Process has been the most stable and successful mechanism related to crisis control in Syria in recent years. [It] is still alive,” he stated, noting that Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi is currently on a trip to Türkiye to discuss ways to ease the current escalation.

READ MORE: Israel forces Syria-bound Iranian airliner to turn back – media

Previously, Araghchi also accused the US and Israel of being responsible for the resurgence of terrorism in Syria, calling last week’s offensive “an American-Zionist” plot. He suggested that Washington and West Jerusalem are using HTS as a proxy to strike a blow against the Syrian government, which supports Palestine.

The US has long supported anti-Assad militias in Syria, including HTS. In a 2021 interview, former US special representative for Syria engagement James Jeffrey described the group as “an asset” to American strategy in Syria.

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Roughly $300 billion of Russian central bank assets has been frozen by Ukraine’s backers as part of sanctions against Moscow

The West will not return any of the Russian sovereign assets frozen as part of sanctions over the Ukraine conflict, the CEO of major Russian lender VTB, Andrey Kostin, has predicted, as cited by Reuters.

The US and its allies have immobilized around $300 billion of assets belonging to the Russian central bank since 2022 as part of Ukraine-related sanctions. The funds deposited in Brussels-based clearing house Euroclear have generated billions in interest, which the EU has decided to use to finance Kiev.

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“In the West, they say, let’s pay for the reconstruction of Ukraine from the reserves. And they will draw up such a bill that even the reserves will not be enough,” Kostin, the CEO of Russia’s second-largest lender, told Reuters in an interview published on Monday.

The new president of the European Council, Antonio Costa, said on Sunday that the EU will continue to provide economic and military aid to Ukraine in the coming year, using the interest accrued on frozen Russian money.

“Starting next month, we plan to provide, for a full year, every month, €1.5 billion [$1.58 billion] of assistance. This money comes from the proceeds of Russia’s frozen assets and can also be used for military purposes,” Costa said during a visit to Kiev on day one of his mandate.

READ MORE: EU can’t replace US aid to Ukraine – Bloomberg

Earlier this year, the EU decided to give Ukraine a chunk of the interest generated by Russian assets. In July, the European Commission announced it would allocate €1.5 billion to Kiev, mainly for weapons, as the first tranche of aid. The second tranche, expected to amount to €1.9 billion, could reportedly be disbursed next spring.

In October, the European Parliament also approved a loan of up to €35 billion to Ukraine to be repaid with future revenues from frozen Russian assets. The loan is the EU’s part of a package the Group of Seven (G7) agreed in June to provide Kiev with up to $50 billion in financial support.

Approximately €210 billion in assets belonging to the Russian central bank is being held in the EU. The US has not yet made public the amount of funds it holds. According to Reuters’s calculations, at the start of 2022, Russia had $67 billion in US dollar assets.

Russia has repeatedly accused the West of “stealing” its money. Finance Minister Anton Siluanov warned in October that Moscow would respond in kind to the West’s use of the income generated by its frozen central bank reserves. Last month, he said Russia would use income from the frozen assets of Western investors.

READ MORE: West stealing billions from Russia – minister

While the finance minister did not elaborate on the amount of Western assets currently held in Russia, previous calculations by RIA Novosti put the figure at roughly equal to the size of the Russian funds frozen abroad.

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Spokesman Dmitry Peskov has warned that the US president-elect’s warning will only accelerate desire to abandon the dollar

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, has weighed in on US President-elect Donald Trump’s weekend threat to impose 100% tariffs on BRICS countries if they pursue the creation of a currency to replace the US dollar. Peskov stressed on Monday that American pressure will only accelerate a growing global trend toward national currencies in trade, diminishing the greenback’s role as a reserve currency.

Peskov’s remarks come after Trump’s statement over the weekend on Truth Social, in which he warned that countries attempting to abandon the dollar in favor of an alternative would face severe economic consequences. “The dollar is starting to lose its attractiveness as a reserve currency for many nations,” Peskov said, adding that the erosion of its dominance is a “process gaining strength.”

READ MORE: Putin explains reason behind BRICS

This shift, Peskov noted, is not limited to BRICS nations but is a broader movement worldwide. The use of national currencies in trade is becoming increasingly common, as more states seek alternatives to the dollar, particularly in light of Western sanctions and the weaponization of financial systems. BRICS previously comprised Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, and was expanded in January to include Egypt, Iran, Ethiopia, and the United Arab Emirates.

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Russia has supported the development of the BRICS Bridge platform, designed to facilitate settlements in national currencies, including via digital channels. Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has emphasized that such initiatives aim to shield countries from the economic influence of the US and EU.

Peskov also referred to statements by Russian President Vladimir Putin during the BRICS summit in Kazan in October, where he pointed out that while Russia hasn’t “rejected” the dollar, it has had to find alternative financial systems to circumvent Western control over global financial infrastructure.

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Three staff from Beijing’s diplomatic mission in Lithuania have been declared personae non gratae

China’s foreign ministry has strongly condemned Lithuania’s move to expel three of its diplomats and warned of “countermeasures,” in a statement released Beijing on Monday. Relations between the two countries have soured over Vilnius granting a delegation from Taiwan diplomatic status and allegations that a Chinese ship was involved in damaging two undersea cables in the Baltic Sea.

Three staff members from China’s diplomatic mission were declared personae non gratae on Friday for activities which the Lithuanian foreign ministry claimed had violated the Vienna Convention and Lithuanian legislation.

Beijing described the move as “wanton and provocative action,” and said it “reserves the right to take countermeasures against Lithuania.”

The diplomats were ordered to leave the country within a week. The Lithuanian ministry, however, did not specify what had led to the decision.

“The decision was made in light of the information provided by the responsible authorities and the incompatibility of the status and activities of the non-accredited personnel with the provisions of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, other principles and practices of international law, and Lithuanian legislation,” the ministry said in a statement.

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The Chinese foreign ministry responded by claiming that Vilnius had demanded the expulsion of its diplomats “without any reason,” and accused the country of violating the One-China principle on issues related to Taiwan, as well as breaching its “political commitment” to China-Lithuania diplomatic relations.

The move comes after relations between the two countries soured following Lithuania’s decision to allow Taiwan, which Beijing considers an inalienable part of China, to open a de facto embassy in Lithuania in 2021. In response, Beijing downgraded diplomatic ties with Vilnius and imposed trade restrictions.

“China calls on Lithuania to immediately stop undermining China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, and stop creating difficulty for bilateral relations,” the ministry said.

The development also comes amid allegations that a Chinese ship, the Yi Peng Three, was linked to an incident in which two Baltic Sea telecommunications cables were damaged.

The cables – one linking Sweden to Lithuania and the other between Finland and Germany – were severed last month in Swedish territorial waters. The Chinese ship is believed to have been in the area at the time and has since been anchored in international waters off Denmark.

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A service was held in the village of Pesky just outside of Donetsk

Russian troops have taken part in a prayer service at a church in the village of Pesky that had suffered significant damage from Ukrainian attacks, the Russian Defense Ministry reported on Sunday.

Pesky is a small settlement on the northwestern outskirts of the city of Donetsk that has seen fighting since the early stages of the conflict in 2014. The damaged church where the service was held belongs to a small Orthodox women’s monastery.

The service was conducted by a military chaplain for the Orthodox members of the Russian 9th Separate Guards Motor Rifle Brigade, a unit formed from veterans of the Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR) militia. The region opposed the 2014 Western-led coup in Kiev and joined Russia in late 2022, after residents voted to do so in a referendum.

A video released by the ministry showed a small group of uniformed men led by the priest making their way into the church, bringing some icons in with them before joining in a prayer.

“In places like this, where temples suffered bleeding wounds, prayers for holy Russia are particularly strong,” Father Oleg said of the service.

Ukraine’s Orthodox community is currently in disarray after the government in Kiev cracked down on the canonical Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC), pressuring priests and worshipers to leave it and join the much more recently created Orthodox Church of Ukraine.

READ MORE: Ancient Orthodox cathedral in Ukraine turned into movie theater – MP (PHOTOS)

The UOC is self-governed but has historical and spiritual ties with the Russian Orthodox Church. A law enacted this past September gave the church nine months to distance itself from Moscow or be formally banned.

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The Indian capital is bracing for a new wave of agitation as farmers demand support and fixed minimum prices for crops

The Indian capital witnessed heavy traffic jams and increased security on Monday, as farmers from several key agricultural states launched a protest march demanding reforms to the sector.

Thousands of security force personnel have been deployed in parts of Noida, a satellite city of Delhi within the National Capital Region, local media reported, citing police officials. Authorities stated they are in constant communication with the farmers and have issued traffic advisories.

The ‘Delhi Chalo’ (“On to Delhi!”) protest march, organized by the farmers’ body Bhartiya Kisan Parishad (BKP) and allied organizations, is demanding benefits related to agricultural reforms, including a legal guarantee for the Minimum Support Price for key crops. Other farmer organizations from different states have announced foot marches towards Delhi starting on December 6.

The 235-kilometer-long march will begin at Shambhu, a point on the national highway leading to Delhi located on the border between Punjab and Haryana.

Shambhu and Khanauri, another location along the Punjab-Haryana border, have become focal points for farmers’ protests in recent years, often resulting in violent clashes with authorities.

Members of farming groups have been sitting at the Shambhu and Khanauri sites since February of this year, following their previous march to the capital, which was halted by security forces. They seek implementation of their demands by the central government.

VIDEO | Protesting farmers, who are marching to Delhi from Uttar Pradesh have reached near Mahamaya flyover of Noida in large numbers.

(Full video available on PTI Videos - https://t.co/n147TvrpG7) pic.twitter.com/chVovUhH8E

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) December 2, 2024

The protesters accuse the government of failing to address their multiple requests, including legislation that would guarantee a minimum sale price (MSP) for major crops, implementation of the Swaminathan Commission’s recommendations, pensions for farmers and farm laborers, and a waiver of farm debts.

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This marks the second time thousands of north Indian farmers have taken to the streets, urging the federal government to fulfill their demands. In 2020-21, a 13-month-long agitation forced the ruling BJP administration to repeal several farm laws that it claimed were aimed at modernizing the agricultural sector.

Agriculture employs around 58% of the country’s population and accounts for approximately 18.3% of India’s GDP at current prices. Its market size was estimated at $372.94 billion in 2024 and is expected to reach $473.72 billion by 2029. India is the world’s second-largest producer of wheat, rice, and sugar.

Indian Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar reached out to farmers on Sunday, urging them to find solutions to their complaints through negotiations. “I appeal to my farmer brothers to understand that in this country, issues are resolved through dialogue and mutual understanding.”

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi has invited the Russian leader to visit New Delhi in 2025 for their next bilateral summit

Russian President Vladimir Putin’s visit to India next year is already being prepared, although exact dates have yet to be confirmed, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said on Monday. During the recent BRICS summit in Kazan, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi invited Putin to India in 2025 for their next bilateral summit.

“I can confirm that the visit is indeed being planned,” Peskov stated, adding that the visit is highly anticipated in Moscow. The Russian president last visited India in December 2021, when he attended the India-Russia Annual Summit in New Delhi alongside Modi.

The two leaders have met twice in the past six months, both times in Russia. In July, Modi traveled to Moscow for a bilateral summit with Putin, during which they discussed expanding cooperation in various sectors and set a new trade target. They met again in October during the BRICS summit in Kazan, where Modi extended the invitation to the Russian leader.

Last week, Russian presidential aide Yury Ushakov confirmed that the exact date of Putin’s visit would be finalized in early 2025.

“Our leaders have agreements to meet once a year. Now it is our turn to visit New Delhi or another location in India in 2025,” Ushakov told the media. He emphasized that the invitation from Modi had been received and will be accepted. “We will likely determine specific timing at the start of the year,” he added.

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During their October meeting, Modi touted Russia’s role in promoting multilateralism, sustainable development, and global governance reforms. The prime minister’s office noted that the two leaders reviewed bilateral cooperation across various fields, including political, economic, defense, energy, and people-to-people ties.

They also discussed the situation in Ukraine, with Modi reiterating that “dialogue and diplomacy” were the way forward to resolve the conflict.

In November, Modi met with Russian First Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov in New Delhi ahead of extended bilateral talks on trade, economic ties, energy, connectivity, and other issues. Modi welcomed the “sustained and joint efforts” being made by both sides to ensure implementation of the decisions he and Putin had made during their summit in Moscow.

READ MORE: Strategic choice: How India navigates oil diplomacy with Russia

India and Russia share a longstanding relationship, particularly in defense cooperation. Since the escalation of the Ukraine conflict, India has refrained from condemning or sanctioning Russia despite Western pressure. Additionally, India has become a key consumer of Russian oil since 2022, with trade between the two nations reaching $65 billion in 2023. Moscow and New Delhi aim to cross the $100 billion mark by 2030.

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The arrangement would require Ukraine to recognize Russian gains, the country’s leader says

Ukraine will not relinquish its claim to Russian territories that belonged to Kiev before 2014 as a precondition for joining NATO, Vladimir Zelensky has said.

Speaking at a joint press conference with new EU Council President Antonio Costa on Sunday, Zelensky reiterated that Kiev would “never legally recognize any occupation of our lands” by Russia. He was referring to Crimea, Donetsk, Lugansk, Kherson and Zaporozhye, which voted to join the country in a series of referendums.

This means that “there cannot be a NATO invitation that excludes parts of Ukraine’s territory,” he added.

“Such an invitation would be an automatic acknowledgment that all other [lost] territories are not just at risk, but also not Ukrainian. Ukraine will never agree to this. If there’s an invitation, it must include all territories,” he stated.

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Kiev also understands that Article 5 of the NATO Treaty – which stipulates that an attack on a bloc’s member is an attack on all of them – “cannot fully operate during a war across Ukraine’s entire territory because countries fear being dragged into the conflict,” according to Zelensky.

“Ukraine has never involved anyone else in this war – by which I mean the armies of NATO member states,” he added. As for potential security guarantees for Ukraine, Zelensky claimed that it had not received any specific offers from its backers.

Ukraine first identified NATO membership as a strategic goal in 2019. This had been a red line for Moscow, which for years had expressed concerns about the bloc’s creeping expansion towards its borders. Russian President Vladimir Putin has said Kiev’s NATO ambitions were the key reason behind the current conflict.

Zelensky’s comments come after he signaled last week that Kiev may be willing to agree to a ceasefire with Moscow without recapturing Ukrainian-claimed territory. He has also acknowledged that Ukraine’s army is too weak to retake its lost territories by force, adding that his country must rely on diplomacy to achieve that goal.

Moscow has said it is ready for dialogue over Ukraine but insisted that any settlement must recognize the territorial reality on the ground. It has also ruled out freezing the conflict, arguing that all the goals of its military operation – including Ukrainian neutrality, denazification, and demilitarization – must be achieved.

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The Pikne exercises will last two weeks and involve servicemen from the US, Estonia, Latvia, France and the UK

NATO countries are set to kick off major war games in northeast Estonia near the border with Russia on Monday, focusing on the rapid deployment of the bloc’s forces and increasing their interoperability.

Some 2,000 troops from Estonia, Latvia, the US, France, and the UK are set to take part in the two-week Pikne (‘Lightning’) exercise, which is part of NATO’s broader Brilliant Eagle program dedicated to increasing the bloc’s deployment and cooperation capabilities in the Baltic Sea region.

According to the commander of the Estonian Division, Major General Indrek Sirel, who is leading the exercises, the war games will focus on “rapid deployment of reinforcements and cooperation between French, British and Estonian forces.” Units of the French Armed Forces will carry out a rapid deployment operation to Estonia by air, followed by joint multinational maneuvers on land, air and sea, Sirel said in a press release.

The first week of the exercises will be dedicated to the movement of units and practicing cooperation in various regions of north and northeast Estonia as well as the Gulf of Finland, and will focus on conducting operations as a “multinational force to counter an emerging threat on land, in the air, and at the sea.” The second week will involve live-fire exercises with heavy combat equipment and military aircraft.

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Estonian residents have been warned that low-altitude flights will be taking place over parts of the country as part of the exercises, and that loud noises will likely be heard due to the use of simulation ammunition.

The exercise comes as tensions between Russia and NATO have continued to escalate. Moscow has repeatedly stressed that the expansion of the US-led bloc towards its borders represents a threat to its security.

In October, Deputy Foreign Minister Aleksandr Grushko also claimed that NATO is no longer hiding the fact that it is gearing up for a potential military conflict with Russia by continuing to hold increasingly larger military exercises near its borders, such as the Steadfast Defender drills, which were the bloc’s largest maneuvers since the end of the Cold War.

“Regional defense plans have been approved, concrete tasks for all of the bloc’s military command structures have been formulated. Possible options for military action against Russia are being continuously worked out,” the diplomat said.

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The billionaire appointed by Donald Trump as government efficiency czar made the remark after the US president pardoned his son Hunter

US President Joe Biden’s decision to pardon his son Hunter could undermine America’s “integrity,” billionaire tech tycoon Elon Musk has said. Biden previously suggested that he would not intervene in the legal proceedings involving his son.

In June, Hunter Biden was convicted on three felony charges for lying about his drug-related issues on his gun-purchase paperwork when buying a revolver in 2018. In a separate case, he pleaded guilty to three felony tax offenses and six misdemeanor tax offenses in September, with the sentencing slated for December.

Replying to a post on X by fellow entrepreneur David Marcus on Sunday, Musk wrote: “I don’t care about the drugs stuff, but impugning the integrity of the United States is not ok.”

Soon after his victory in the election on November 5, President-elect Donald Trump chose the Tesla and Space X CEO to head the newly created Department of Government Efficiency. The initiative will apparently operate outside the confines of the US government.

In a statement issued on Sunday evening, Biden announced that the “full and unconditional pardon” covers offenses which his son “has committed or may have committed or taken part in during the period from January 1, 2014 through December 1, 2024, including but not limited to all offenses charged or prosecuted.”

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The president claimed that his son was prosecuted “selectively and unfairly” because of his familial ties, insisting that “people are almost never brought to trial on felony charges solely for how they filled out a gun form.” He added that the cases against Hunter constitute a “miscarriage of justice,” which his Republican opponents are allegedly behind.

Since Biden took office in 2021, a number of prominent GOP politicians have alleged that his son acted as the president’s ‘bagman’ in corrupt dealings involving foreign nations. The outgoing president has denied the claims.

Commenting on the pardon in a post on his Truth Social platform on Sunday, Trump denounced Biden’s decision as an “abuse and miscarriage of Justice.”

“Does the Pardon given by Joe to Hunter include the J-6 Hostages, who have now been imprisoned for years?” he wrote, referring to people who were prosecuted for taking part in the unrest on Capitol Hill on January 6, 2021.

Several Republican members of Congress have also expressed indignation at Biden’s decision.

Meanwhile, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova told Izvestia that the pardon is a “caricature of democracy.”

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Increasing interest is reportedly being driven by competitive pricing and high quality

African nations are showing increasing interest in Russian grain due to its quality and competitive pricing, Eduard Zernin, chairman of the Russian Union of Grain Exporters, has said.

Speaking to TASS on Friday, Zernin highlighted that the combined grain market capacity of the Middle East and Africa is approximately 170 million tons annually, with this figure expected to rise due to Africa’s rapidly growing population and challenging climatic conditions for local grain production.

“In the current 2024-25 season, [Russian] exports to Morocco and Nigeria have already increased significantly. Kenya, which is already one of the main importers of Russian grain, is also expanding its volumes,” Zernin reported.

He noted that global grain exporters, including Russia, the EU, Argentina, Canada, Australia, and the US, are actively competing in the African market. Zernin identified the EU as Russia’s primary competitor but predicted a decline in the bloc’s competitiveness due to regulatory inefficiencies and climate-related challenges.

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The Russian Center of Grain Quality Assurance has reported that wheat exports from Krasnodar Region, one of the country’s main agricultural hubs, to 25 African nations increased by 14.4% between January and September 2024, totaling 14.8 million tons.

The top five African importers of Russian wheat during the period were Egypt (6.8 million tons), Algeria (1.3 million tons), Kenya (1.2 million tons), Libya (1.0 million tons), and Sudan (0.6 million tons). Shipments to Gambia, Djibouti, and Ethiopia also resumed this year, reflecting strong demand for Russian grain across the continent.

In May, Russian Agriculture Minister Oksana Lut announced plans to increase grain exports to over $55 billion by 2030, with farmers expected to boost production by 25% within six years to meet targets. She emphasized a shift in focus toward North African markets, where Russia became Morocco’s top wheat supplier in May, surpassing France for the first time since 2019. Morocco imported over 61,800 tons of Russian wheat that month, accounting for 26% of its total wheat imports.

In April, Russian President Vladimir Putin called for a 50% increase in agricultural exports by 2030 compared to 2021 levels, which totaled $37 billion.

READ MORE: Russian province boosting exports to Africa

Russia donated 200,000 tons of wheat to six low-income African nations back in February as part of a large-scale humanitarian initiative.

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The Syrian leader has pledged that his forces will continue to defend the territorial integrity of the country

Syrian President Bashar Assad has vowed to “eliminate terrorists” who launched an offensive in the north of the country last week, along with their “sponsors and supporters.”

In a phone call with Badra Gunba, the acting president of Abkhazia, late on Sunday, Assad said his forces would “continue to defend the stability and territorial integrity” of the nation.

“Terrorism only understands the language of force, and that is the language which we will break and eliminate it with, along with whoever its supporters and sponsors are,” he stated, as quoted by Syria’s official Sana news agency. The Syrian leader said his military forces “are capable of striking at the terrorists and those who support them” with the help of the country’s allies.

The Hayat Tahrir-al-Sham (HTS) terrorist group, formerly known as Jabhat al-Nusra, and allied militias launched an assault on government-controlled territory in northern Syria last Wednesday. The attack largely targeted Aleppo and Idlib provinces, with jihadists overrunning a number of villages and towns in the area before entering the city of Aleppo last Friday. Aleppo, which is the second-largest city in the country, had been under Syrian government control since 2016.

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The Syrian Armed Forces, backed by Russian fighter jets stationed in the country, launched a counteroffensive on Thursday, and have been engaged in fierce clashes with terrorists to regain ground. According to a military source who spoke to Sana on Sunday, government forces have stopped the militants from advancing on the city of Hama in central Syria. They also successfully liberated several towns and villages in Hama province, including Suran, Halfaya, Qalat al-Madiq, and Maardas, the source added.

According to Syrian media outlets, nearly 1,000 terrorists have been killed during fighting in the past three days.

In a statement on Saturday, the Syrian General Command said the army had lost dozens of service members, but noted that HTS fighters had failed to establish fixed positions amid airstrikes by Syrian and Russian jets. It also said the militants’ attack had been “supported by thousands of foreign terrorists, heavy weapons, and a large number of drones.”

READ MORE: Ukraine trained Syrian terrorists – media

Damascus has long accused Western states and their regional allies of aiding terrorist groups operating in the region. In a piece published on Sunday, the Kyiv Post claimed that some Islamist groups that attacked Syria last week had been trained by the Khimik Group, a special forces unit of the Ukrainian military intelligence service (HUR). It reported that the unit, which has reportedly been active in Syria for some time, trained the terrorists on tactics developed during the ongoing conflict with Russia, including the use of drones.

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Violence reportedly erupted following a controversial decision by a referee during a local tournament in the African state

Dozens of people in Guinea have been killed in violent clashes between rival fans during a football match in the West African nation’s southern city of Nzerekore, according to multiple reports.

The incident occurred on Sunday afternoon during a local tournament between the Labe and Nzerekore teams in honor of Guinea’s military leader, Mamadi Doumbouya, local news agency MediaGuinee reported. A doctor who spoke to AFP anonymously stated that “there are around 100 dead.”

“There are bodies lined up as far as the eye can see in the hospital. Others are lying on the floor in the hallways. The morgue is full,” the doctor said, according to the French outlet.

READ MORE: Landslide in Uganda leaves over dozen dead (VIDEO)

Guinean Prime Minister Mamadou Oury Bah confirmed a stampede at the sports event, saying that “victims were recorded.”

“The government will publish a press release when it has collected all the relevant information on these unfortunate incidents,” he wrote on X.

While the minister did not provide details about what happened inside the stadium, MediaGuinee reported that the chaos was sparked by a disputed referee decision. According to the outlet, security forces used tear gas to disperse outraged supporters of the visiting Labe team, against which a penalty had been awarded.

“It all started with a contested decision by the referee. Then fans invaded the pitch,” AFP also quoted a witness as saying.

Social media footage showed chaotic scenes outside the stadium, with large crowds of people trying to escape by scaling walls. Other videos show numerous bodies lying on the ground.

The fatal melee in Nzerekore, which is around 570 km (350 miles) from the capital, Conakry, is not the first to occur in a stadium in the former French colony.

At least 156 people were reportedly killed, several unaccounted for, and more than 100 girls and women raped when troops attacked a political rally at the Conakry Stadium on September 28, 2009. Late in July, the Dixinn criminal court in Guinea sentenced the country’s former president, Moussa Dadis Camara, to 20 years in prison after finding him and a number of other military officials guilty of crimes against humanity in response to the massacre.

READ MORE: Can this African nation find balance between BRICS and NATO?

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The decision marks a reversal for US President Joe Biden, who previously pledged not to intervene in his son’s legal cases

US President Joe Biden’s pardon of his son Hunter Biden, who was convicted earlier this year of breaking federal gun and tax laws, is a “caricature of democracy,” Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova has said.

The outgoing US president backtracked on his earlier pledge not to interfere in his son’s cases and announced the pardon late on Sunday, sparing the younger Biden a possible prison sentence.

Speaking to the Izvesita news outlet on Monday, Zakharova condemned the decision, describing it as a “caricature of democracy.”

In June, Hunter Biden was convicted of illegally buying and possessing a gun as a drug user. He was found guilty of lying on a federal firearms purchase form about his cocaine addiction in 2018.

In a separate case, Hunter Biden pleaded guilty to three felony tax offenses and six misdemeanor tax offenses in September. The sentencing in both cases had been scheduled for this month.

Joe Biden intervened in the case despite saying earlier that he would not pardon his son or commute his sentence. “I will not pardon him,” the US president said in June after a jury found Hunter Biden guilty.

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The pardon applies to all offenses that were or may have been committed between January 1, 2014 and December 1, 2024, according to the White House.

This timeframe includes allegations from Republicans that Hunter Biden served as a “bagman” for his father in purportedly illicit business transactions in China and Ukraine. President Biden has consistently denied any involvement in or benefits from his son’s activities.

US President-elect Donald Trump and congressional Republicans have also slammed the outgoing president for going back on his word.

Trump, who has vowed to dramatically overhaul the Justice Department following the prosecution of his supporters for an attempt to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election, said in a post on Sunday that Hunter Biden’s pardon was “such an abuse and miscarriage of Justice.”

US lawmaker Marjorie Taylor Greene argued that “this pardon is Joe Biden’s admission that Hunter is a criminal.”

Congressman Andy Biggs claimed that “Joe Biden will go down as one of the most corrupt presidents in American history.”

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President Biden wants every allocated dollar spent by the time he leaves office, Jake Sullivan has said

Outgoing US President Joe Biden will use every opportunity he can take to deliver more weapons to Ukraine in the final days of his administration, National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan has pledged.

With 50 days of its term left, the Biden administration is working to “get Ukraine all the tools we possibly can to strengthen their position on the battlefield,” the senior official told ABC News on Sunday.

“President Biden directed me to oversee a massive surge in the military equipment that we are delivering to Ukraine so that we have spent every dollar that Congress has appropriated to us by the time that President Biden leaves office,” he said.

President-elect Donald Trump has claimed that he could end the Ukraine conflict in 24 hours after he is sworn in on January 20. Biden’s stated strategy has been to stand with Ukraine “for as long as it takes” to defeat Russia.

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Kiev will eventually have to engage Moscow diplomatically, Sullivan acknowledged on Sunday, and the purpose of the US military aid is to “give Ukraine as many tools as possible so that they could go into that negotiation and feel they could achieve the outcome that they would like to see.”

Ukraine’s stated goal has been to retake all lands it claims under sovereignty, an aim that Russia considers detached from reality. When asked by anchor Jonathan Karl about the possibility of territorial concessions, Sullivan said it was up to Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky to decide that. He mused that the “key thing” in the situation is that Ukraine’s destiny should “not be imposed by outside powers, including the United States.”

In 2022, Kiev and Moscow preliminarily approved a draft peace agreement that would have ended the hostilities in exchange for Ukraine renouncing its ambition to join NATO and accepting a cap on the strength of its army. Russia was willing to offer it security guarantees in exchange.

READ MORE: Boris Johnson admits Ukraine conflict is a ‘proxy war’

However, Kiev dropped the proposal after then-British Prime Minister Boris Johnson told the Ukrainians to “just fight,” as Kiev’s top negotiator later put it. Western officials have denied that the Ukrainian government was pushed to continue fighting, though Johnson last week described Ukrainian soldiers as “our proxies” as he urged giving them more arms to “do the job.”

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Diplomacy is the only option, but it will only be possible when Ukraine is strong enough, the country’s leader has said

The Ukrainian army is powerless to push back Russian forces and recapture all the territories that belonged to Kiev before 2014, Vladimir Zelensky has said, adding that his country must rely on diplomacy to achieve this goal.

In an interview with Kyodo News on Monday, the Ukrainian leader signaled that Kiev wants to end the conflict as soon as possible and retake Crimea, Donetsk, Lugansk, Kherson, and Zaporozhye regions after the prospects of joining NATO become clear.

He acknowledged, however, that this will not be easy. “Our army lacks the strength to do that… We do have to find diplomatic solutions.” At the same time, diplomacy will have a chance “only when we know that we are strong enough” and Russia is prevented from launching new offensives, Zelensky said.

The Ukrainian leader went on to say that US President-elect Donald Trump, who will be sworn in in January, is well aware of the details of his ‘victory plan’, adding that this initiative will put Ukraine in a “strong position” for negotiations. The plan, which was unveiled by Zelensky in October, demands an immediate invitation to join NATO, unrestricted Western military support, and placing conventional deterrence measures in Ukraine to keep Russia at bay. Moscow has rejected the plan as a “set of incoherent slogans” and a recipe for escalation.

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The Trump team, the Ukrainian leader claimed, is “studying the plan and we are going to hear from them… But there will be no capitulation from the side of Ukraine.”

While Zelensky has ruled out “bargaining” over territory, he signaled last week that Kiev could be ready for a ceasefire with Moscow if Ukraine is allowed in its current form to join NATO. He added, however, that this deal has never been on the table.

Russia has signaled that it is ready for talks over Ukraine, but insists that any settlement must take into account the territorial realities on the ground. Moscow has also ruled out the option of freezing the conflict, stressing that all of the goals of its military operation – including Ukrainian neutrality, denazification, and demilitarization – must be achieved.

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The interception was reportedly prompted by suspicions that the aircraft was carrying arms for Hezbollah

The Israeli military forced an Iranian civilian airliner to turn back mid-flight and leave Syrian airspace over the weekend, according to media reports. West Jerusalem was reportedly concerned that the plane may have been transporting weapons for the Lebanon-based militant group Hezbollah.

The purported incident happened overnight from Saturday to Sunday and involved several Israeli fighter jets, which reportedly threatened the Mahan Air plane before it could land in Syria, according to Ynet and The Times of Israel.

Ynet shared a map of a flight coming from Tehran via Iraqi airspace to Syria and then going back, but the Times of Israel said it was unrelated to the incident.

A similar air encounter reportedly took place in early October in Iraqi airspace, when a Qeshm Fars Air flight from Tehran had to make a U-turn after a warning from the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF). The Israeli military has accused Tehran of ferrying weapons to Hezbollah via the Beirut airport under the cover of civilian aircraft, vowing in late September to “patrol” the airspace to prevent such cargoes from making it to their supposed destination.

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West Jerusalem also claims that Hezbollah receives regular weapons shipments via land routes through Syria. Last week, the Israeli military reported bombing several “smuggling sites” along the Lebanese-Syrian border.

Israel has a long record of airstrikes on Syrian soil, including at border crossings and in large cities, which the IDF claims are aimed at disrupting Iranian military operations in the country.

In April, Israel hit a building at Tehran’s embassy compound in Damascus, killing an Iranian general and multiple other people. An Israeli military spokesman later claimed that the facility was a legitimate military target and not protected by international law.

Tensions between Hezbollah and Israel escalated in October 2023, when the IDF besieged the Palestinian enclave of Gaza in retaliation for Hamas’ deadly raid into southern Israel. In September, West Jerusalem launched a campaign to cripple the movement, targeting its leaders and regular members with airstrikes and covert action and later sending ground troops across the border.

READ MORE: France privately accuses Israel of breaching ceasefire – media

Last Wednesday, a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah brokered by the US and France entered force. However, Paris has reportedly privately criticized West Jerusalem after recording over 50 violations of the truce throughout the week.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claimed that one of the reasons his government agreed to the ceasefire was a need to focus on the Iranian threat.

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A section of the Druzhba pipeline connecting the Polish city of Plock with oil refineries in Germany has reportedly been damaged

An oil spill has occurred on a section of the Russian Druzhba pipeline near the town of Pniewy in western Poland, the broadcaster TVN24 reported late on Sunday, citing the local fire department.

The spill was discovered earlier in the day after local residents reported a strong smell of petroleum on the outskirts of the town, according to the outlet.

Martin Halasz, spokesman for the fire service, told the news outlet that firefighters called to the area discovered a “substance resembling oil” in a nearby field where the pipeline runs. The fire department contacted PERN, Poland’s state-owned pipeline operator, which confirmed that there was a leak on a section of the pipeline.

A PERN representative who arrived at the scene said the pipeline was shut down, while maintenance crews were working to assess the damage and determine the cause of the spill. It is currently unclear whether the damage was man-made.

The fire department said there was no threat of fire or explosion due to the leak.

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Built in the 1960s, the Druzhba pipeline has two branches, spanning a total of some 4,000km (2,485 miles), and connecting Russian and Kazakh oil suppliers with consumers in Europe.

The section of the pipeline where the leak was found connects the PERN oil supply base near Plock in central Poland with two oil refineries in Germany, constituting part of the northern branch. The pipeline branches off in Mozyr, Belarus, with the northern part going to Poland and Germany, while the southern branch goes to Ukraine, Hungary, Slovakia, and the Czech Republic. The flow of oil from Russia along the northern branch was stopped due to EU sanctions imposed in early 2023, but it has been pumping Kazakh oil to Germany since last December.

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The outgoing US president has backtracked on his pledge not to intervene in favor of his son

US President-elect Donald Trump and congressional Republicans have blasted outgoing President Joe Biden for pardoning his son, Hunter Biden, who was convicted of tax evasion and illegally purchasing a gun. The sentencing in both cases had been scheduled for this month.

Despite saying publicly that he would not interfere in his son’s cases, the president went back on his word and announced the pardon on Sunday evening. He labelled the convictions “a miscarriage of justice,” arguing that Hunter Biden had been “singled out” because of his ties to the president.

According to a statement from the White House, the pardon applies to all offenses that were or may have been committed between January 1, 2014 and December 1, 2024. This period covers accusations by Republicans that Hunter Biden acted as “a bagman” on behalf of his father during allegedly illicit business dealings in China and Ukraine. The president and his son have denied the claims.

The Republicans, who have long accused the Biden administration of politically motivated prosecutions, condemned the pardon.

“The failed witch hunts against President Trump have proven that the Democrat-controlled DOJ and other radical prosecutors are guilty of weaponizing the justice system,” Trump’s spokesman, Steven Cheung, said in a statement.

“That system of justice must be fixed and due process must be restored for all Americans, which is exactly what President Trump will do as he returns to the White House with an overwhelming mandate from the American people,” he added.

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Trump compared the treatment of the president’s son to the prosecution of his own supporters who stormed the US Capitol on January 6, 2021, hoping to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election. “Does the pardon given by Joe to Hunter include the J-6 hostages, who have now been imprisoned for years? Such an abuse and miscarriage of justice!” Trump wrote on Truth Social.

Many top Republicans in Congress were appalled, with Senator Chuck Grassley saying he was “shocked” by Biden’s decision.

“This pardon is Joe Biden’s admission that Hunter is a criminal,” Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene wrote on X. Congressman Andy Biggs claimed that “Joe Biden will go down as one of the most corrupt presidents in American history.”

“This is an outrageous abuse of the rule of law – all to protect the Biden family business of selling access and influence,” Senator Josh Hawley wrote on X.

The Republican-controlled House Committee on Oversight and Accountability released a statement, saying “Joe Biden’s unprecedented abuse of power has been a stain on the honor of the US presidency.”

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The US president has intervened in the case despite saying earlier that he would not

Outgoing US President Joe Biden has gone back on his word and pardoned his son Hunter Biden, who was convicted earlier this year of breaking federal gun and tax laws.

In June, the younger Biden was convicted of three felony charges related to the purchase of a revolver in 2018. According to the prosecutors, he lied on his gun-purchase paperwork that he was not addicted to or using illegal drugs.

In a separate case, Hunter pleaded guilty to three felony tax offenses and six misdemeanor tax offenses in September. The sentencing for both convictions was supposed to happen this month.

In a statement issued on Sunday evening, the president said the “full and unconditional pardon” covers offenses which his son “has committed or may have committed or taken part in during the period from January 1, 2014 through December 1, 2024, including but not limited to all offenses charged or prosecuted.”

The president argued that his son was prosecuted “selectively and unfairly” because of his familial ties. He claimed that “people are almost never brought to trial on felony charges solely for how they filled out a gun form.”

“It is clear that Hunter was treated differently,” he said. The president went on to state that the charges against his son were brought “only after several of my political opponents in Congress instigated them to attack me and oppose my election.” He accused Republicans of sabotaging “a carefully negotiated plea deal” that would have been a “reasonable resolution of Hunter’s cases.”

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“No reasonable person who looks at the facts of Hunter’s cases can reach any other conclusion than Hunter was singled out only because he is my son – and that is wrong,” the president said. “In trying to break Hunter, they’ve tried to break me – and there’s no reason to believe it will stop here. Enough is enough.”

The decision is a reversal of Biden’s previous position, as he and his team repeatedly said in the past that he would accept the jury verdict and would not pardon his son. Asked by ABC News in June if he would accept the outcome of the trial and if he would rule out pardoning his son, the president replied “yes” to both questions.

In his statement on Sunday, Biden confirmed that his opinion on the matter has changed. “I believe in the justice system, but as I have wrestled with this, I also believe raw politics has infected this process and it led to a miscarriage of justice,” he claimed.

Hunter Biden released his own statement shortly after the pardon was announced. “I have admitted and taken responsibility for my mistakes during the darkest days of my addiction – mistakes that have been exploited to publicly humiliate and shame me and my family for political sport,” he said.

“I will never take the clemency I have been given today for granted and will devote the life I have rebuilt to helping those who are still sick and suffering.”

Hunter Biden has been the subject of much scrutiny during his father’s term in office, as Republicans have claimed that he acted as the president’s ‘bagman’ in allegedly corrupt dealings with countries such as Ukraine and China.

The president has denied the corruption allegations and publicly backed his son, describing him as “the smartest guy I know.”

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Clashes with police have once again taken place outside the parliament building in the Georgian capital

Pro-EU protesters used a makeshift ‘fireworks mini-gun’ against riot police in the Georgian capital, Tbilisi, on Saturday evening.

Large-scale protests erupted in the former Soviet country earlier this week after the ruling Georgian Dream party announced the freezing of negotiations to join the EU until 2028. Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze has accused the bloc of using the accession talks to “blackmail” Georgia.

Protesters gathered for a fourth consecutive night to hold a rally outside the parliament building. While some remained peaceful, others launched fireworks at police and threw Molotov cocktails.

The government has accused opposition parties of attempting to stage riots and fomenting “systemic violence” on the streets. Georgia’s pro-EU president, Salome Zourabichvili, has described the protests as peaceful and accused the police of using excessive force. She claimed that the protesters were victims of “provocations” orchestrated by the government.

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HTS jihadists stormed the lavish residence amid their ongoing offensive against government forces

Video footage has emerged showing jihadist gunmen roaming the halls of Syrian President Bashar Assad’s palace in Aleppo. Insurgents stormed into the city in a surprise offensive on Thursday.

The Hayat Tahrir-al-Sham (HTS) terrorist group and allied militias attacked government-controlled territory in northern Syria on Wednesday, entering Aleppo the following day as the Syrian military scrambled to regroup and launch a counteroffensive. By Saturday, the Syrian General Command acknowledged that the army had lost dozens of service members, but said that HTS fighters had failed to establish fixed positions amid relentless airstrikes by Syrian and Russian warplanes.

A video purportedly filmed by HTS members and shared on social media on Sunday showed the militants entering the Presidential Guest Palace in Aleppo. The jihadists could be seen wandering through darkened dining rooms and climbing a marble staircase to reach the palace’s upper levels.

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— A Mansour ???? ????? (@amansouraja) December 1, 2024

The palace appeared to have been unoccupied before the video was filmed. Although the Syrian government regained full control of Aleppo in 2016 and held the city until this week, Assad uses numerous residences, and at the time the video was filmed, was meeting with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi in Damascus some 350km to the south.

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Araghchi pledged that Tehran would provide all necessary support to help Assad’s forces defeat the insurgency. “The Syrian army will once again beat these terrorist groups as in the past,” he told Iran’s IRNA state news agency before the meeting.

According to reports by both pro- and anti-Assad Telegram channels, Iranian military advisers and volunteers entered Syria on Saturday and are currently helping the Syrian army organize a counteroffensive from the city of Hama, around 80km south of Aleppo.

On Sunday, Syria’s state-run SANA news agency said that the army “was able to secure a number of areas” around Hama and inflict significant casualties on the terrorist force, without providing further details. On Saturday, Syrian officials estimated HTS losses at around 1,000 fighters.

Before adopting its current name in 2017, Hayat Tahrir-al-Sham was known as Jabhat al-Nusra. Indirectly armed by the US and formerly backed by Türkiye, Jabhat al-Nusra was one of the main factions opposing Bashar Assad’s government during the Syrian Civil War. Russia intervened in the conflict in 2015, helping Assad retake much of the country from Jabhat al-Nusra, Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS), and dozens of US-supported armed groups termed “moderate rebels” by Washington.

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The former mentor and key backer of the comedian-turned-president believes his ex-protege has betrayed him

Businessman Igor Kolomoisky, once a key political ally and mentor to Vladimir Zelensky, has accused the Ukrainian leader of orchestrating the illegal seizure of his oil assets, specifically the firms Ukrnafta and Ukrtatnafta.

In an interview with UNIAN published on Saturday, Kolomoisky described how his shares in the companies were effectively seized by the government in November 2022 under the guise of national security. Zelensky publicly said the move was essential for the country’s defense.

Kolomoisky has been in jail since September 2023, and claims the nationalization was a calculated move by Zelensky to eliminate him as a rival and gain control over his businesses.

As co-owner of the Privat Group conglomerate, Kolomoisky was once an influential figure in Ukraine’s business and media sectors. He alleges that the Kiev authorities used the needs of the armed forces as an excuse to achieve their goal of taking control of the two oil giants.

“The decision to transfer the shares was not made by the military command,” he stated. “The president’s office used the military to achieve its goal of raider seizure.”

The businessman has also spoken of a blackmail campaign he allegedly endured in 2022, when the then Deputy Head of the Office of the President, Rostislav Shurma, supposedly suggested he voluntarily relinquish his shares in exchange for resolving his ongoing legal battles with the authorities. Kolomoisky claims that after his refusal, Zelensky secretly revoked his Ukrainian citizenship and seized his holdings.

He further claims that the seizure was part of a broader effort to consolidate control over valuable assets, despite his previous support for Zelensky.

At the time of the nationalization, Zelensky’s government justified the move by citing the importance of the assets for national defense, with officials suggesting Ukrnafta had refused to supply fuel to the military, although Kolomoisky vehemently denies this. According to the tycoon, both companies had been supplying fuel voluntarily, without contracts, and continued doing so during the early stages of the war.

The business mogul’s claims come as he continues to battle charges related to money laundering and embezzlement of funds from PrivatBank, which was nationalized in 2016.

From detention, Kolomoisky is continuing to push for a legal investigation into the taking of his assets, accusing Zelensky and other officials of corruption.

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NATO planned to use its proxy to conduit a long war, with the goal of exhausting Russia and knocking it out from the ranks of great powers

For almost three years, NATO countries have boycotted diplomatic contact with Russia, even as hundreds of thousands of men die on the Ukraine conflict's battlefield. The decision to reject diplomacy is morally repugnant. Diplomacy could have reduced violence, prevented escalation, and even opened a path to peace. Instead, political and media elites skillfully presented this rejection as a sign of moral righteousness, labeling dialogue as treason and war as virtuous.

NATO’s Long War

To exhaust Russia in a long war, the goal was to ensure that the Russians and Ukrainians kill each other for as long as possible. US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin outlined the US objective in the Ukraine War as weakening its strategic adversary: “We want to see Russia weakened to the degree that it can’t do the kinds of things that it has done in invading Ukraine.” In late March 2022, Vladimir Zelensky revealed in an interview with The Economist: “There are those in the West who don’t mind a long war because it would mean exhausting Russia, even if this means the demise of Ukraine and comes at the cost of Ukrainian lives.”

The aim has been to exhaust Russia in a protracted conflict, ensuring that Russians and Ukrainians continue killing each other for as long as possible. US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin outlined the objective: “We want to see Russia weakened to the degree that it can’t do the kinds of things that it has done in invading Ukraine.” In March 2022, Vladimir Zelensky revealed in an interview with The Economist: “There are those in the West who don’t mind a long war because it would mean exhausting Russia, even if this means the demise of Ukraine and comes at the cost of Ukrainian lives.”

Israeli and Turkish mediators confirmed that Russia and Ukraine had agreed to a peace deal in Istanbul, where Russia would withdraw and Ukraine would restore its neutrality. Yet the West rejected this. The goal wasn’t peace — it was to bleed Russia through its proxy army in Ukraine. Both Germany and France have admitted that the Minsk Peace Agreement was never meant to be implemented, but used as a vehicle to build up Ukraine’s military.

The Turkish Foreign Minister and former Israeli Prime Minister have both acknowledged that NATO states actively wanted the war to continue. Former NATO figures, such as retired General Harald Kujat, have said the war was deliberately provoked by NATO, with the US and UK blocking peace efforts to weaken Russia politically, economically, and militarily.

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US lawmakers, such as Lindsey Graham, have been openly supportive of fighting Russia “to the last Ukrainian.” They argue that assisting Ukraine without risking American lives is a smart investment in weakening Russia. Meanwhile, Mitch McConnell called it an investment in America’s national security, and Mitt Romney called financing the war “the best defense spending ever.”

These statements underscore the growing sentiment in the West that the war is a proxy battle where Ukraine is expendable, serving merely as a tool to diminish Russia. NATO’s leadership, including Jens Stoltenberg, has stated that a “victory” for Ukraine would result in a battle-hardened Ukrainian army on the West’s side, with a weakened Russia.

Diplomacy as Treason and War as Virtue

The West’s propaganda has framed the conflict as a battle of good versus evil, with peace through diplomacy portrayed as dangerous appeasement. In contrast, war is presented as virtuous. In practice, this means that Western countries have continuously avoided negotiations, while pretending Russia is unwilling to engage. Despite calls for talks from US military leaders like General Mark Milley, who acknowledged Ukraine might be in a better position to negotiate after recapturing territories, the West’s strategy has been to prolong the conflict, not resolve it.

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EU leaders, such as Josep Borrell and Kaja Kallas, have rejected any notion of diplomacy, dismissing Putin as a “war criminal” and portraying negotiations as unthinkable. The EU, once a peace project, has now become a geopolitical one, punishing any country or leader that dares to propose an end to the war. Hungary’s Viktor Orban was smeared for attempting to mediate, much like anyone who opposes further escalation.

Opponents of peace argue that conceding territory to Putin would reward his aggression, yet the war’s roots go far beyond territorial disputes. The Istanbul peace agreement showed that Russia was ready to pull back its troops in return for Ukraine’s neutrality. But NATO wasn’t interested in peace; it saw the conflict as an opportunity to weaken Russia and further entrench its military foothold in Europe.

As the war rages on, Ukrainian casualties grow, and the public’s support for the fight wanes. A Gallup poll recently revealed that no region in Ukraine has a majority supporting continued warfare. Ukrainian leaders, once hopeful, now face a reality where their own people are increasingly disillusioned.

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The Coming Backlash

As Ukraine’s frontlines collapse, there is growing recognition that NATO sabotaged peace efforts, aiming to prolong the war to bleed Russia. This strategy is ultimately backfiring. Ukrainians will resent Russia for decades, but they will also turn their anger toward the West. The idea of “fighting to the last Ukrainian” is no longer a noble cause — it’s a tragedy.

The war was never about territorial disputes. It’s about NATO’s geopolitical ambitions, and it’s Ukraine that’s paying the price. The longer the conflict persists, the more it becomes clear: the West’s strategy is failing, and the war will only end when Kiev’s hostile stance toward Russia is abandoned.

This piece was first published on Glenn Diesen’s Substack and edited by the RT team.

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Paris has recorded 52 violations since Wednesday, according to Ynet

France privately warned Israel on Sunday that its continued violations of a US-brokered ceasefire deal with the Hezbollah movement in Lebanon could doom the fragile agreement, several Israeli news outlets have reported.

According to Ynet, Paris has recorded at least 52 alleged violations by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), resulting in the deaths of at least three Lebanese civilians. The French authorities also reportedly expressed concern over renewed Israeli low-altitude drone flights over the Lebanese capital, Beirut.

The IDF struck what it claims to be Hezbollah targets without consulting the international committee tasked with monitoring the truce, Paris reportedly told West Jerusalem, calling on Israel to exercise restraint and let the Lebanese authorities fulfill their end of the bargain. According to Israeli broadcaster Kan, Paris accused Hezbollah of violating the truce as well.

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“The Lebanese are fully committed to maintaining the cease-fire and preventing Hezbollah from reestablishing its presence in southern Lebanon, but they must be given time to prove themselves,” a French official said, according to Ynet.

West Jerusalem defended its actions by claiming that the international monitoring committee would not be operational until early next week. Until then, Israel will respond with force to any perceived violations by Hezbollah, Israeli officials reportedly said.

Separately, the Times of Israel reported on Sunday that Israel’s actions are in line with a purported US “side letter” allowing West Jerusalem to use force against any renewed “threats.” Israel is reportedly entitled to act any time it believes the terms of the deal have been breached in southern Lebanon. It should, however, notify the US whenever it takes action against targets inside Lebanon, according to the report.

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The US-brokered truce between Israel and Hezbollah came into effect on Wednesday. On Friday, each side accused the other of violating the truce after the Israeli military struck a facility supposedly used by the Lebanese movement in the south of the country.

The IDF has also struck targets on Syrian territory near the Lebanese border on several occasions in recent days, claiming that the targeted facilities were used by Hezbollah to move weapons from Syria to Lebanon. Syrian state-run SANA news agency reported on Wednesday that one Israeli airstrike killed six Syrians, including military personnel and a humanitarian worker.

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No one of the ethnicity will remain in the world in about six generations, a renowned medical specialist has said

The Ukrainian ethnos could be extinct in less than two centuries, Olga Bogomolets, a renowned Ukrainian medical expert, warned this week. Extremely low birth rates and high mortality could lead to the nationality’s demise in about 180 years, she said. Bogomolets holds a post-doctoral degree in medicine, as well as the title ‘distinguished physician of Ukraine’.

According to the expert, the nation is facing an “insane, catastrophic” rise in mortality rates combined with a continued decline in the number of newborns.

“If this model persists, without even taking into account the war-associated losses and emigration… With just such a birth rate and mortality, the Ukrainian nation will be reduced to nothing in 180 years,” Bogomolets told the Vechir.Live show, which aired on YouTube.

The country has only six generations’ time to reverse the trend, the health professional warned. Otherwise, “zero [Ukrainians] will remain,” she said, adding that the territory of Ukraine would be inhabited by some other people “who will no longer be Ukrainians.”

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The conflict with Moscow has taken a heavy toll. Ukrainian military losses alone have amounted to more than half a million since February 2022, according to the Russian Defense Ministry. Around 6.6 million people had fled the country as of July 2024, according to German data aggregator Statista.

The Ukrainian media has reported that the country’s population could have fallen by a whopping 10 million over almost three years of fighting, considering both conflict-linked losses and emigration. A quarter of Ukrainians who fled abroad also have no interest in going back, the news outlets said.

The World Health Organization (WHO) currently estimates Ukraine’s population at just over 37.7 million people as of 2023, down from 44.3 million in 2021 and almost 50 million in 2000. The international body says that number was in steady decline even before the conflict with Russia, and is projected to fall further to less than 32 million by 2050.

In October, Florence Bauer, the Regional Director for Eastern Europe and Central Asia of the UN Population Fund (UNFPA), described the situation in Ukraine as a “demographic crisis,” explaining that “the birth rate plummeted to one child per woman – the lowest fertility rate in Europe and one of the lowest in the world.” She added that the nation’s population had declined by over 10 million since the start of the 2014 crisis following the Maidan coup in Kiev.

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Moscow has warned that the transfer of such weapons to Kiev would be treated as a nuclear attack

The US is not considering giving Ukraine nuclear arms, National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan has said. Last month, a New York Times report claimed that some officials in Washington wanted to arm Kiev with atomic weapons.

Speaking to ABC News on Sunday, Sullivan said that the idea is “not under consideration.”

“What we are doing is surging various conventional capacities to Ukraine so that they can effectively defend themselves and take the fight to the Russians, not [giving them] nuclear capability,” he told the network.

Less than two weeks earlier, the New York Times claimed that President Joe Biden “could allow Ukraine to have nuclear weapons again, as it did before the fall of the Soviet Union,” citing anonymous US officials.

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The newspaper described the prospect of a nuclear-armed Ukraine as “an instant and enormous deterrent” to Russia, but noted that “such a step would be complicated and have serious implications.”

Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev spelled out some of these implications, warning that “transferring such weapons may be considered as the launch of an attack against our country” in accordance with Russia’s recently revised nuclear doctrine.

Russia’s nuclear doctrine allows for the use of atomic weapons in the event of a first nuclear strike on its territory or infrastructure, or if Russia’s sovereignty or territorial integrity is critically threatened by either nuclear or conventional weapons. The most recent iteration of the doctrine also allows Moscow to treat an attack by a non-nuclear state backed by a nuclear power as equivalent to direct nuclear aggression.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov dismissed the report as the “absolutely irresponsible deliberations by people who probably have a poor understanding…of reality, and who do not feel a shred of responsibility” for the consequences of their proposals.

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Ukraine was left with around 1,700 nuclear warheads after the collapse of the Soviet Union. While this stockpile technically made Ukraine the world’s third-largest nuclear power, the weapons themselves remained under the operational control of Russia, and were surrendered under the 1994 Budapest Memorandum. This agreement involved the US, UK, and Russia providing security assurances to Kiev in return for the removal of the arms.

Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky has expressed regret that his country surrendered its nuclear weapons, declaring in 2022 that Kiev had “every right” to reverse the decision. Back in October, he declared that has only two options to ensure its security: join NATO or obtain nuclear weapons. He later clarified that he considers NATO membership his only choice.

A month later, however, a Ukrainian military think tank called on Zelensky to raid the country’s nuclear reactors for the plutonium needed to craft a “simple atomic bomb,” like the one the US dropped on Nagasaki during the Second World War. The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry stated that Kiev would not heed this advice, and does not intend to acquire nuclear weapons.

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Kaja Kallas has accused the Tbilisi of using violence against protesters

New EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas has said that sanctions are one of several “options” being considered by the bloc after Georgia froze accession talks with Brussels and cracked down on subsequent pro-EU protests.

Protests have been raging in Tbilisi since Thursday, when Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze announced that he would freeze EU accession talks until 2028, due to Brussels’ “constant blackmail and manipulation” of Georgia’s domestic politics. At Saturday’s demonstration, demonstrators shot fireworks and lobbed molotov cocktails at riot police, who responded with tear gas and water cannons and arrested scores of people.

Speaking to reporters in Ukraine on Sunday, Kallas took the protesters’ side. “It is clear that using violence against peaceful protesters is not acceptable, and the Georgian government should respect the will of the Georgian people,” she declared.

“When it comes to the European Union, then this clearly has consequences on our relationship with Georgia,” she continued.

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Kallas said that she had presented EU member states with a list of “options” for dealing with the situation in Georgia, including economic sanctions.

“We have different options,” she said. “But of course, we need to come to agreement.”

Kobakhidze’s Georgian Dream party, which won nearly 54% of the vote in parliamentary elections last month, favors stable relations with both the EU and Russia. Pro-Western opposition parties, as well as Georgia’s French-born president, Salome Zourabichvili, have refused to recognize the results of the vote.

Zourabichvili’s mandate ends this month, but she has refused to leave office until the elections are re-run.

Kobakhidze has blamed the latest bout of civil unrest on “EU politicians and their agents,” accusing the West of trying to orchestrate a coup like the US-engineered Maidan revolution that toppled Ukraine’s democratically elected president in 2014. Earlier this year, Kobakhidze accused the European Commission of threatening him with assassination over the passing of a law forcing NGOs that receive more than 20% of their funding from abroad to register as foreign agents.

READ MORE: Top EU officials putting Ukraine before their own citizens – Medvedev

Kallas assumed office on Sunday, replacing veteran EU diplomat Josep Borrell. Previously the prime minister of Estonia, Kallas is known for her ardent anti-Russian policies and rhetoric, and has repeatedly called for more sanctions on Moscow and military aid to Kiev. Under her leadership, Estonia became the first EU country to approve a mechanism to confiscate frozen Russian assets and use them as “compensation” for Ukraine.

Russia issued an arrest warrant for Kallas earlier this year due to her efforts to destroy Soviet WWII memorials in Estonia.

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Ukraine’s military intelligence provided “operational training” to some of the Islamist groups, the Kyiv Post claims

Some Islamist groups that attacked Syria’s northern Aleppo province this week received training from a Special Forces unit of the Ukrainian military intelligence service (HUR), the Kyiv Post claimed in a piece published on Sunday.

According to the Kiev-based weekly, some militant groups based in Syria’s Idlib province, which is not under government control, were provided “operational training” by the Khimik Group, reportedly an HUR Special Forces unit. The Ukrainians reportedly focused on educating the terrorists on tactics developed during the ongoing conflict with Russia, including the use of drones, the Kyiv Post said, citing “Islamist social media sites.”

The Khimik Group has reportedly been active in Syria for quite some time. In September, the Ukrainian weekly claimed that the unit successfully attacked a Russian military base on the outskirts of Aleppo, inflicting material damage. Moscow did not comment on the reports at the time.

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The media outlet also published a video purportedly showing an HUR flag waving over a building in Aleppo province, claiming that the Ukrainian military intelligence units were conducting a “special operation” in the country to “destroy Russian forces in Syria.” The Russian military has not reported any major attacks on their facilities in the Middle Eastern country or any significant losses in recent months.

A loose coalition of Idlib-based militias and extremist groups led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), a terrorist group formerly known as Jabhat al-Nusra, attacked government-controlled territory in northern Syria on Wednesday. HTS was previously known as an Al-Qaeda affiliate.

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The terrorists initially claimed to have seized around 400 square kilometers of territory and reached the city of Aleppo. Government forces have since halted the group’s advance, with both the Russian and Syrian air forces launching strikes against the militants in recent days.

On Sunday, the Syrian state-run SANA news agency reported that government forces thwarted a terrorist offensive near the city of Hama, inflicting significant casualties on the militants. Syrian President Bashar Assad also vowed to defeat and destroy the terrorists “no matter how intense their attacks are.”

In July, the HUR admitted to aiding Tuareg militants in the Sahel region in West Africa. A statement by HUR spokesman Andrey Yusov followed a Tuareg attack that killed dozens of Wagner Group private military personnel and local armed forces personnel in Mali, sparking a diplomatic crisis.

The foreign minister of Mali called on the UN Security Council to take action against Ukraine for its support of African militant groups. Damascus also accused Kiev of allying itself with the HTS terrorist group in Syria last month. Syrian government sources told RT at the time that Ukrainian operatives were supplying the former Al-Qaeda affiliate with weapons provided to Kiev by the US.

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According to the constitution, Salome Zourabichvili has only a few weeks before her term ends, Irakli Kobakhidze has insisted

Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili will be expected to leave her post later this month when her term ends, the nation’s prime minister, Irakli Kobakhidze, has announced. Zourabichvili has rebuffed calls to leave, alleging that recent parliamentary elections were marred by fraud and labeling the current government “illegitimate.”

In a video address released Saturday, the French-born president declared, “I remain your President! There is no legitimate parliament that will elect a new president. My mandate continues until there is a legitimately elected parliament that will legitimately elect a president who will replace me!”

Zourabichvili was elected via direct popular vote. However, a 2017 constitutional reform mandates that the next president be chosen by an electoral college composed of members of parliament and regional representatives. The vote is scheduled for mid-December, with the victor expected to be inaugurated before the end of the month.

Addressing reporters on Sunday, Kobakhidze acknowledged Zourabichvili’s “emotional state” but emphasized that by December 29, “she will have to leave her residence and cede the building to a legitimately elected president.”

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The prime minister also confirmed the establishment of a new government following the parliamentary election. He said that Tbilisi has no intention of holding a do-over despite opposition claims of unfairness.

Kobakhidze further pledged that Tbilisi would prevent a scenario akin to the Ukrainian Maidan, referencing the 2014 Western-backed uprising in Kiev that ignited prolonged turmoil.

According to official results, the ruling Georgian Dream party, which advocates pragmatic relations with Russia, secured approximately 54% of the vote.

The results have prompted allegations of electoral fraud and Russian interference – charges that Moscow has denied – leading to significant pro-Western protests that at times have escalated into violence. The unrest has been exacerbated by the government’s decision to postpone EU membership negotiations until 2028. Tbilisi has accused Brussels of using the EU membership issue to interfere in the nation’s domestic affairs.

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The conflict is a proxy war led by the US and EU, and Moscow is “justified” in refusing to bow to their ambitions, Julius Malema tells RT

The Ukraine conflict is a proxy war led by the “imperialist” West against Russia, and Moscow is right to defend itself, Julius Malema, the leader of South Africa’s Economic Freedom Fighters opposition party, has told RT. In an exclusive interview aired on Friday, the politician expressed his support for Russian President Vladimir Putin and the decisions he has made over the past two years with regard to the Ukraine crisis.

“What Putin is fighting for is justifiable. Anyone who is being pursued by the imperialist forces is in alliance with the progressive forces in the entire world,” Malema stated.

“He can’t have America and the EU wanting to expand its territory to the point where they would breathe down Putin’s neck – he’s not going to allow that, he’s going to defend his territory, his sovereignty, and we’ve seen him doing it very well,” he said, referring to Moscow’s justification for the military operation in Ukraine – NATO expansion near Russia’s borders. Rather than confronting the military bloc directly, Malema added, Putin chose to address the immediate threat in Ukraine, hoping for international mediation.

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Meanwhile, the US has been actively exacerbating the situation, recently granting permission to Kiev to use US-made long-range missiles to strike internationally recognized Russian territory, which amounts to a “declaration of war,” the politician said.

“It’s not Ukraine’s war, it’s America’s war, let’s call things by their proper names. And it’s Europe’s war,” Malema added. He noted that Putin is unlikely to agree to end the conflict on the West’s terms, no matter how much pressure the US applies.

“America has got no respect for international law… They have always behaved like a big brother – anything that is not in the interest of what they stand for has got to go. But Putin is not the kind that is going to be pushed all over by Americans,” he said.

READ MORE: Biden’s last gamble: Is Washington trying to start World War III?

Malema criticized Washington for using culture and media to push its narratives on issues such as the Ukraine conflict. He praised platforms like RT for countering this and providing insight into what is “actually happening” around the world.

“The alternative media gives us the correct information that we can critically analyze. Look at RT. They were banned in South Africa at one point, but nothing has stopped us from accessing the Russian news,” he said, adding that RT has shown the “realities” that helped South Africa declare: “We are with Russia.”

Watch Malema’s full interview here:

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Slovakia’s Robert Fico has accepted Vladimir Putin’s invitation to attend the annual Victory Day commemoration

Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico has accused the opposition in his country of attempting to use the European Parliament to thwart his visit to Moscow next year for the 80th anniversary of the defeat of Nazism.

Earlier this week, Fico announced that he had accepted an invitation from Russian President Vladimir Putin to travel to Moscow in May 2025. The visit would be the first by a Slovak government official since the escalation of the Ukraine conflict in 2022, and has sparked significant backlash from Slovak politicians and EU lawmakers.

“Opposition MPs tried, with the help of the European Parliament, to derail my plans to visit the Russian Federation, but they get wrong with reality,” Fico said, emphasizing that no one could tell the prime minister of a sovereign country where to go or not go.

“Victory over fascism would have been impossible without the former Soviet Union,” he concluded.

Fico’s plans have drawn sharp criticism from Michal Simecka, the leader of the largest opposition party in Slovakia’s parliament, who labeled the plan “a huge disgrace.”

On Thursday, lawmakers in the European Parliament addressed the issue of Fico’s proposed visit. However, a resolution condemning the trip was not put to a vote, as it was introduced as part of a broader debate on support for Ukraine and the issue of Russia’s cooperation with North Korea.

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Fico’s perspective on relations with the Kremlin diverges significantly from most Western nations, which are backing Kiev in its armed conflict with Moscow. The United States and its allies have notably avoided engaging with Russia during significant commemorations, including the Allied landing in Normandy in June and the liberation of Auschwitz by Soviet troops in January.

The Kremlin has long accused the West of distorting historical narratives to further its geopolitical goals and appease sentiment in the Baltic states, which regard local militias that allied with the Axis powers during World War II as national heroes in their fight against the USSR.

Fico has been vocally critical of the West’s handling of the Ukraine conflict, particularly regarding efforts to isolate Russia. His planned trip to Moscow follows a visit by Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban in July, coinciding with Hungary’s EU presidency, which also faced substantial criticism from other EU member states.

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The attacks on Aleppo and Idlib could be an attempt to break the ‘Axis of Resistance’ against Israel and even revive the 2011 ‘revolution’

For the past few days, foreign-backed terrorists in Syria’s northwest have been attacking Syrian army positions in the Aleppo and Idlib countryside, and shelling civilian districts of Aleppo.

While regional media have been giving updates on these attacks and counterattacks by Syria and Russia, what is less clear is what is happening in Aleppo itself. Terrorist-aligned media claim Tahrir al-Sham (al-Qaeda re-branded) and allied terrorists have taken numerous western districts and even the city center.

But their proof – short videos showing terrorists in various areas they claim to control – was countered by videos of Syrians walking in key districts, saying things are calm. More on this later.

The following is what is known in summary about the attacks.

On Wednesday, November 27, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham and Turkish-backed National Army factions launched attacks in the Idlib and Aleppo countryside, in what they dubbed “Operation Deterrence of Aggression.”

According to Al-Mayadeen, as related by Syrian journalist Wassim Issa, convoys of militants, equipment and ammunition entered from the Bab al-Salam crossing with Türkiye and headed to the fighting fronts in the western Aleppo and southern Idlib countryside.

Al Mayadeen reported Tahrir al-Sham used new weapons and equipment, including Ukrainian drones, “reportedly acquired from Kiev’s intelligence services.”

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Since Thursday evening, terrorists have been shelling Aleppo University dormitories, as well as districts of western Aleppo. On Friday, terrorist shelling killed four students and injured dozens.

By Friday, the Syrian Arab Army had re-taken many points breached by terrorists, Al Mayadeen reported, noting that intense fighting continues on two fronts in rural Aleppo, and that on the Idlib front, “armed groups are attempting to open a new axis after their failure to advance further toward the M5 international highway for all traffic from the south to Aleppo, through Hama and SE Idlib.”

The General Command of the Army and Armed Forces issued the following statement:

“Our armed forces were able to inflict heavy losses on the attacking organizations, inflicting hundreds of dead and wounded among their ranks, destroying dozens of vehicles and armored vehicles, and were able to shoot down and destroy seventeen drones.

...In a related context, terrorist organizations, through their platforms, publish misleading information, news and video clips aimed at terrorizing citizens. The General Command of the Army and Armed Forces warns our fellow citizens not to accept this news and misinformation, and to receive what is issued by the national media and its official platforms.”

As of late Friday, citing the Russian Coordination Center in Syria, Al Mayadeen reported that more than 600 terrorists had been killed. This update went on to detail Syrian and Russian airstrikes on terrorists in the northern Aleppo and Idlib countryside.

These attacks, apparently supported by Türkiye, the US, and Israel, mark the latest effort to destabilize Syria and weaken the ‘Axis of Resistance’ against Israel. It is of course notable that these attacks commenced just after the so-called ceasefire between the Lebanese Resistance, Hezbollah, and Israel (which began violating the ceasefire almost immediately, as Israel has done with virtually every ceasefire in the past).

One possible reason for Türkiye’s involvement could be to pressure Syrian President Bashar Assad into reconsidering his stance on normalization talks with Ankara. Assad previously rejected any such talks while Turkish forces remain in Syria, and according to some analysts. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan could have helped escalate military action to coerce Assad to change his mind.

Another motivation for the attack could be to cut Lebanese Hezbollah off from supply lines during the ceasefire with Israel. From Damascus, British journalist Vanessa Beeley wrote: “This attack has been spoken about and planned for since the beginning of the Israeli aggression against Lebanon... Now Syria will be the target to destroy weapons supply lines and manufacturing facilities that would rearm Hezbollah during the ceasefire. There will be attempts to destroy the land bridge infrastructure that brings materials from Iran, through Iraq and Syria to Lebanon. This includes essential humanitarian relief supply lines. Syria is the beating heart of the Resistance and must be protected at all costs.”

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Attempts to resuscitate the Syrian ‘revolution’

Unsurprisingly, there are calls on social media for President Assad to be removed; the same calls heard during the Western-orchestrated media psyop which saw ignorant people around the world supporting a very bloody “revolution” in 2011.

It was never a revolution, and it was never (for Syrians) about Assad (who is overwhelmingly supported). What kind of revolution destroys its own culture, heritage and civilians, and partners with the US and Israel, among others?

On one of my four trips to Aleppo in 2016 alone, in November, before Aleppo was liberated from terrorist forces, the head of forensic medicine at a local hospital, Dr. Zaher Hajo, told me that since the occupation of Aleppo in 2012, 10,750 civilians had been killed by terrorists, 40% of whom were women and children.

On that same visit, I met three prominent Sunni leaders who, according to the priest who introduced us, were considered ‘infidels’ by al-Nusra and company because they didn’t follow their distorted terrorist ideology. One of them, Dr. Kukeh said: “Those who are killing the Sunnis are the same who claim that they are defending the Sunnis. The shells that hit us daily are sent by them.”

Dr. Kukeh, who said he named his oldest son after Hezbollah leader, Hassan Nasrallah, “because I love that man,” explained that in 2012 he was living in eastern Aleppo when terrorists began to occupy districts there. He was targeted for assassination because he did not agree with the terrorists’ ideology.

The Aleppo university dorms which were targeted recently were likewise routinely targeted in 2016. At the time, they had for four years been housing well over 10,000 internally displaced Syrians from areas of Aleppo and its countryside, including from areas occupied by the terrorists.

In subsequent visits in 2017 and years after, I saw the remnants of the terrorists’ occupation of eastern regions of Aleppo (underground prisons with solitary confinement cells), took testimonies of Syrian civilians on life under terrorist rule, and later, saw the city begin to rebuild and flourish, with businesses reopening, ancient markets being restored, life bustling around the famous citadel (during the reign of the terrorists, walking near it meant almost certainly being sniped dead) and atop the citadel.

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The city that Western and Gulf corporate media claimed “fell” when it was liberated from al-Qaeda, ISIS and their co-terrorists came back to life under the rule of the Syrian government.

Current chaos: Aleppo occupied?

Throughout the fighting, there have been conflicting reports of terrorists taking parts of Aleppo. As I wrote at the beginning, photos and videos which appeared to show a terrorist presence in western Aleppo neighborhoods and even the city center aren’t proof of terrorists having taken districts.

It isn’t difficult for sleeper cell terrorists to pop up, take these photos and videos, and leave. Time will show which of their claims are true and which are part of psychological warfare to demoralize Syrians and turn them against their army and even against Russia.

Recall the General Command of the Army’s warning regarding misinformation. Making definitive declarations about the condition of Aleppo and surrounding region, without proof, is irresponsible and unhelpful. In a clickbait age where everyone wants to be the first to post “BREAKING” followed by some unverified soundbite, discerning the truth is complicated.

If the unthinkable happens and parts of Aleppo are re-occupied by terrorists no different from and even including ISIS, they will ultimately be defeated by Syria, Russia, and their allies, just as they were before.

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Some 60,000 soldiers have reportedly been prosecuted for leaving their positions this year

More than twice as many Ukrainian soldiers have been charged with desertion this year than in 2022 and 2023 combined, the Financial Times has reported. The spike in desertions has hampered Kiev’s ability to replenish its thinned-out ranks.

Ukrainian prosecutors opened 60,000 cases against deserters between January and October of this year, the British newspaper reported on Saturday, noting that those convicted face prison terms of up to 12 years.

For some of these men, desertion is seen as the only way of getting off the front lines to rest. Ukrainian lawmakers dropped a provision from a bill earlier this year that would have allowed the country’s longest-serving conscripts to be demobilized in the coming months, and service members told the Financial Times that the Ukrainian Armed Forces (UAF) lacks the manpower to give troops shorter four-week rotations off the front lines for rest and retraining.

”They’re just killing them, instead of letting them rehabilitate and rest,” one officer told the newspaper.

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Those killed are replaced by ill-trained and unfit draftees. In an earlier article, Ukrainian commanders told the Financial Times that on some busy sectors of the front, 50 to 70% of these new conscripts are killed or wounded within days of starting their first rotation. Those who survive often go AWOL as soon as they can, the newspaper reported.

Some choose to desert while at training camps in NATO countries. An anonymous Polish security source told the Financial Times that around 12 Ukrainian men abscond from training centers in Poland every month.

Earlier this week, a Ukrainian MP told the Associated Press that as many as 200,000 soldiers may have deserted since the conflict with Russia escalated in 2022.

There are around 350,000 active-duty soldiers in the UAF, although heavy losses – more than half a million since February 2022, according to the Russian Defense Ministry – have seen the country’s longest-serving soldiers replaced first by almost a dozen NATO-trained divisions, and then, after these divisions were chewed up during last year’s disastrous counteroffensive, by unwilling conscripts.

READ MORE: Ukraine ‘will lose the war’ – former foreign minister

Press-ganged off the streets and dragged out of nightclubs to serve, these draftees include the blind, the deaf, and the mentally handicapped, according to recent media reports and testimony from Ukrainian lawmakers.

”Men who are the right age for the military draft are scared to walk freely in the street,” one draft-dodger told The Telegraph earlier this week. A recruiter concurred, telling the newspaper that approaching a potential conscript is often “like dealing with a cornered rat.”

The UAF is seeking to recruit around 160,000 new soldiers in the coming months. To reach this target, the US has begun pushing the Ukrainian government to lower the minimum draft age to 18, down from 25, the Associated Press reported on Wednesday.

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The CERN center now denies Moscow’s physicists access to the Large Hadron Collider after a cooperation deal expired

Scientific ties between hundreds of Russian scientists and the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) have been halted, the Swiss-based research center said on Sunday, citing its decision to terminate a 60-year cooperation agreement ‘with Moscow.

Run by its 24 member states, CERN suspended Russia’s observer status in March 2022 shortly after the escalation of the Ukraine conflict. Last December, the organization said it would not extend the agreements, “together with all related protocols and addenda,” that it had with Russia and close ally Belarus after the deals expired on November 30.

In September, a spokesperson for the research center said that the decision would affect up to 500 scientists affiliated with Russian institutions and around 15 Belarusian scientists.

“CERN is an international organization, but it is not an island. It’s not acceptable to support scientific research when wars are taking place between countries which once had staff who worked together at CERN,” a spokesperson said at the time, adding that all activities were suspended shortly after the start of Moscow’s military operation against Kiev.

Kremlin education and science adviser Andrey Fursenko said on Saturday that foreign scientists wanted to continue working with Russian researchers within CERN. The official told RIA Novosti that the decision was made “at government level” and under “intense pressure from Ukraine,” which has the status of an associate member state in the organization. Fursenko said a proposal to maintain the deal with Russia was one vote short of being passed by CERN members.

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Moscow has slammed the step as politicized, discriminatory, and unacceptable. In March, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said that Western powers were increasing pressure on Russia in “the field of fundamental science.”

CERN started cooperating with the USSR back in 1964, although neither the Soviet Union nor Russia have ever been full members. Russia applied for associate membership in 2012, but withdrew its application six years later. It has held observer status since 1991.

Russia contributed financially to the research center and helped to build the Large Hadron Collider, the world’s largest and most powerful particle accelerator, which achieved its first collisions in 2010. The collider has allowed scientists to confirm the existence of the Higgs boson, the particle that gives mass to other particles such as electrons and quarks.

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The chairman of Adani Group asserted resilience and regulatory adherence as the conglomerate faces global scrutiny

Indian tycoon Gautam Adani, founder of the Adani Group, has for the first time commented on recent bribery allegations from the US authorities, emphasizing his conglomerate’s unwavering commitment to regulatory compliance. He dismissed the allegations and claimed that “every attack makes us stronger.”

Speaking at an awards ceremony in Jaipur, Adani addressed accusations that he, along with seven others – including his nephew Sagar Adani and Vneet S. Jaain, managing director of Adani Green Energy – were involved in a $265 million bribery scheme aimed at securing Indian power supply contracts. The US Department of Justice has charged them with misleading American investors during fundraising efforts while engaging in corrupt practices in their home country.

Although the group has denied these allegations, the situation has placed substantial scrutiny on the conglomerate, which has faced similar challenges in the past.

“Less than two weeks ago, we encountered serious allegations regarding compliance at Adani Green Energy. This is not our first experience with adversity. What I can tell you is that every attack makes us stronger and every obstacle becomes a stepping stone,” Adani stated, according to the Times of India.

Adani reflected on the difficulties faced by his company, including resistance to its coal-mining endeavors in Australia and previous short-selling attacks. “Over the years, I have come to accept that roadblocks are part of pioneering. The bolder your vision, the more scrutiny you attract. It’s in this very scrutiny that we must find the courage to rise above and innovate,” he remarked.

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Last year, US short seller Hindenburg Research released a report claiming that the company was involved in large-scale stock manipulation and accounting fraud. The report ended up leading to $150 billion being wiped off the group’s market value. Adani Group has denied all allegations and linked them to “Soros-funded interests,” following investigations by the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP) and major Western media outlets, including the Financial Times and The Guardian.

These investigations claimed the Adani family had “secretly” invested “hundreds of millions of dollars” to buy its own shares in the Indian stock market. OCCRP lists foundations owned by American investor-turned-philanthropist George Soros among its donors.

While addressing concerns about the speed at which negativity can spread, Adani reiterated his dedication to world-class compliance practices as the legal situation unfolds. “Today, the pace of misinformation can outstrip the truth. As we navigate these legal challenges, I reaffirm our steadfast commitment to regulatory excellence,” he affirmed.

Earlier this week, the Adani Group stated that the DOJ indictment does not present any direct evidence that Adani executives paid bribes to Indian government officials. Instead, it added that the claims are based on allegations of promises or discussions of bribes, with no confirmation of actual payments. The group also said that no representatives of the Adani Group had been charged with violating the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) or obstructing justice, raising questions about the motives behind the ongoing scrutiny.

READ MORE: Indian tycoon to invest $10bn in US economy following Trump win

The legal wrangling and alleged inaccurate reporting have dealt a financial and reputational blow to the group. International projects have been canceled, and the conglomerate has seen nearly a $55 billion loss in market capitalization across its 11 listed companies, according to the company.

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The arrival of reinforcements allowed two towns near the city of Hama to be recaptured, SANA has reported

The Syrian army has thwarted a terrorist offensive near the city of Hama and inflicted significant casualties on the insurgents, the state run SANA agency reported on Sunday, citing a military source.

A few days ago, the Syrian army came under a surprise attack spearheaded by the Hayat Tahrir-al-Sham (HTS) terrorist group, an offshoot of Jabhat al-Nusra, and its allies. The militants managed to capture significant territories in the Idlib and Aleppo provinces, with some forces reaching as far as the center of Aleppo city.

According to the outlet, as part of the response to the offensive, which stretched along a front extending more than 100km, the government in Damascus deployed reinforcements to the area around the city of Hama in central Syria. Defensive lines were buttressed with “various means of weapons, personnel and equipment” that “confronted the terrorist organizations and prevented them from any breach of the area,” the source claimed.

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SANA later reported, also citing a military source, that more government reinforcements had arrived in the area, adding that the terrorists were on the run. “Syrian-Russian warplanes are intensifying air strikes on the terrorists’ sites, headquarters, weapons and ammunition depots, leaving scores of casualties and deaths among the terrorists,” he said.

According to the report, fighting also took place near the towns of Qalaat Al-Madiq and Maardis, both of which are in close proximity to Hama. As a result, the Syrian army “was able to secure a number of areas,” including those two towns, while inflicting casualties on the terrorists and routing them, it claimed, without providing further details.

On Saturday, the Syrian General Command acknowledged that the army had lost dozens of service members killed, with numerous others wounded, adding that while the militants had managed to make their way into Aleppo, they had failed to establish fixed positions due to continuous bombardment. Syrian officials have also estimated the terrorist losses at around 1,000 troops.

Russia, which entered the Syrian conflict in 2015 at the request of the government of President Bashar Assad, also provided support to Damascus by targeting the attacking forces with airstrikes, claiming to have killed hundreds of militants.

Commenting on the latest escalation in Syria, the first over the last several years, Assad pledged that Damascus would defeat and destroy the terrorists “no matter how intense their… attacks are.”

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The ex-Russian president believes a visit to Kiev by Kaja Kallas and Antonio Costa on their first day in office shows a focus on prolonging the hostilities

Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has criticized the new leaders of the EU for visiting Kiev on their first day in office. In a post on X, he argued that the arrival in the Ukrainian capital of Kaja Kallas, the new foreign policy chief, and Antonio Costa, the president of the European Council, signals a commitment to prolonging the Ukraine conflict.

“Costa, the new European Council head, and the Russophobic ‘top EU diplomat’ Kallas turn up in Kiev on their first day. It shows the priority is prolonging the war, not ensuring the wellbeing of the EU. Happy now, Europeans?” Medvedev, who serves as deputy chairman of Russia’s Security Council, remarked.

The visit by Kallas and Costa to Kiev on Sunday was their first official engagement after taking office. Kallas, formerly the prime minister of Estonia, succeeded Josep Borrell as the EU’s top diplomat. Known for her strident anti-Russia stance, Kallas has advocated for tougher sanctions. She was placed on a Russian wanted list this year due to her efforts to destroy Soviet WWII memorials in Estonia.

Antonio Costa, the former prime minister of Portugal, took over from Charles Michel as European Council president.

Both Borrell and Michel supported continuing military aid to Ukraine. However, in his farewell remarks, Borrell expressed concern about the bloc’s security, suggesting that Washington’s commitment might be less certain with Donald Trump set to return to the White House. Borrell also earlier defended the US decision to allow Ukraine to use Western-supplied long-range missiles for strikes deep into Russia.

READ MORE: Zelensky changes position on ceasefire terms

Moscow has warned that Western assistance to Ukraine only serves to extend the conflict without changing the eventual outcome.

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The German chancellor has warned against sending long-range Taurus missiles to Kiev

Germany should not make hasty and reckless decisions on support for Ukraine in its conflict with Russia, especially with regard to long-range missiles, Chancellor Olaf Scholz has said.

Scholz made the remarks during an hour-long campaign speech on Saturday, as he lashed out at Friedrich Merz – the Christian Democratic Union’s candidate for chancellor in next year’s federal election – who has argued for supplying long-range Taurus missiles to Ukraine, but on certain conditions.

Merz said that Germany should give Russia an ultimatum to stop striking targets in Ukraine, and if it does not comply, Berlin would lift the restrictions on the range of missiles, and then supply them to Kiev.

Scholz, who has repeatedly argued against sending Taurus missiles to Kiev for fear of Germany being drawn into the conflict, rejected the idea. “All I can say is: Be careful! You don’t play Russian roulette with Germany’s security,” he said, vowing to “remain steadfast and level-headed” in supporting Ukraine.

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In mid-November, Scholz and Putin held their first phone call since late 2022, during which the chancellor “insisted on Russia’s readiness to negotiate with Ukraine in order to achieve a fair and lasting peace,” while stressing that Berlin is ready to support Kiev for “as long as necessary.” Putin reiterated that the conflict was a “direct result of NATO’s long-standing aggressive policy aimed at creating an anti-Russian bridgehead on Ukrainian territory.”

While Germany has long dragged its feet on supplying Ukraine with long-range missiles, the same has not been true of the US, UK, and France, which have provided Kiev with ATACMS and Storm Shadow/Scalp missiles. Last month, Washington granted permission to Ukraine to use US-made long-range missiles for strikes deep into Russia, with Moscow also reporting attacks with the use of Storm Shadows.

Ahead of the approval, Russian President Vladimir Putin warned that the move would mean direct NATO involvement and would change the nature of the conflict because Ukraine is not able to operate the missiles without targeting data from its Western backers.

After Ukraine launched several attacks deep into Russia, Moscow retaliated with a strike on a defense facility in Dnepr using the new Oreshnik medium-range hypersonic missile.

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Russia has documented proof of Ukrainian troops indiscriminately using toxins, including against civilians, a Foreign Ministry official has told RT

Ukraine’s Western backers are concealing Kiev’s use of chemical weapons, Rodion Miroshnik, the Russian Foreign Ministry’s ambassador-at-large on the Kiev regime’s war crimes, told RT in an exclusive interview. He said Russia has documented proof of Kiev’s troops using toxins against Russian soldiers and civilians, but any attempts by Moscow to appeal to international watchdogs are stalled by the West.

“Ukraine has used various types of chemical weapons throughout the conflict, and this is documented and recorded by our relevant departments,” Miroshnik stated, adding that the findings have been repeatedly submitted to the Hague-based Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW). He noted that the toxins Kiev uses are supplied by Western states, which also provide it with “so-called diplomatic cover,” hushing up its use of prohibited substances.

“[Kiev] sincerely believes that the West will in every possible way shield it from liability for the use of prohibited types of weapons. And, unfortunately, this is exactly what is happening within the framework of a number of international organizations, in particular, the OPCW,” the official stated, noting that Russia’s requests to probe incidents in which Kiev uses chemical weapons “are blocked with enviable regularity” and any data Moscow provides as evidence “is not considered” at all.

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“Under pressure from the Americans, the British, this situation is simply hushed up, talked down, and [doesn’t] turn into a detailed investigation,” he stressed.

According to Miroshnik, as of this past summer, Russian experts had recorded more than 400 instances of prohibited chemical weapons being used by Kiev. They have also discovered a number of laboratories in Ukraine that produce chemical agents and toxic substances. The official noted that Kiev is “indiscriminate” when using prohibited types of weapons, targeting both Russian soldiers at the front and civilians via drone attacks.

Western support allows Kiev to keep using the banned toxins with impunity, Miroshnik claimed, “demonstrating that any red lines from the Ukrainian side can simply be crossed and nothing will happen to them for it.”

Moscow has repeatedly accused Ukraine of using chemical weapons on the battlefield and of hosting American biolabs on its territory. Earlier this fall, Lieutenant General Igor Kirillov, the head of Russia’s Radiological Chemical and Biological Defense Forces, warned that Kiev was preparing a false-flag chemical weapons attack with the aim of framing Russia.

READ MORE: Ukraine preparing false flag chemical attack – Moscow

He also accused Ukraine of deploying chemical weapons disguised as smoke bombs during its incursion into Russia’s Kursk Region, and said such munitions were used in the Russian town of Sudzha in August, with more than 20 people exposed to the toxins.

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Pygmy hippo Moo Deng has become a sensation and spread knowledge of endangered species, but captivity comes at a price

The antics of Moo Deng, a four-month-old pygmy hippo at a Thai zoo, have made her the latest internet sensation. She has countless fan pages, four songs dedicated to her, a 24-hour live stream, as well as a makeup line in her honor. The social media craze around Moo Deng also brought to light Amara, a pygmy hippo in London Zoo; Biscuits, a seal in Canada; Pesto, a penguin in Melbourne; Hujan, a baby elephant in Malaysia; and Hua Hua, a panda in China. Each of them has fans asserting their “cute aggression” and the need for more updates on their everyday lives.

But such popularity seemingly comes at a cost. These cases have reignited the debate around the ethics of keeping animals in captivity. One can recall Lolita, the orca, who died last year after five decades at the Miami Seaquarium; Harambe, the gorilla who was shot in Cincinnati Zoo after a boy fell into his enclosure; Flocke, the lonely polar bear at Nuremberg Zoo; and many such examples of animals that have spent much of their lives in an enclosure.

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While increased visibility of endangered species, like pygmy hippos, results in a spike in revenue for zoos and aquariums – aimed at improving their well-being and conservation – there’s the question surrounding how these establishments capitalize on the social media craze.

“Zoos primarily deal with three aspects of conservation – practice, advocacy and research,” says Indian conservationist Latika Nath, who was involved in facilitating the joint conservation program between Kenya’s Ol Pejeta Conservancy and the San Diego Zoo for the Northern White Rhinos project.

“Conservation practice entails captive breeding, species reintroduction programs, species survival plans and the use of zoo revenue for conservation programs in the wild,” Nath says. “Advocacy involves public engagement, promoting awareness, advocating stewardship, and fundraising events and schemes – a good example of which is the ‘Adopt an Animal’ scheme at most modern zoos. Research is conducted on wildlife biology, population dynamics, animal behavior, health and welfare; there are also publications generated by zoos on animal care and captivity.”

The perks of viral fame

It’d be safe to assume that the great majority of social media users today know what a pygmy or dwarf hippo is, thanks to Moo Deng. The 24-hour live stream from the zoo feeds her thousands of fan pages to keep viewers tuned in to check whether she’s charging at her caretakers or battling it out with her basin again. Daily attendance at Khao Kheow Open Zoo has risen from 600-700 to massive crowds of more than 30,000 people, who queue up for hours to catch a glimpse of the hippo.

Within three weeks of Moo Deng’s birth, zoo director Narongwit Chodchoy said the public’s fascination with her had led to a 50% increase in their visitor numbers. The zoo is believed to have earned 11 million baht ($320,700) since her birth, and projects a total revenue exceeding 200 million baht this financial year. They also sell a plethora of merchandise on Moo Deng, thereby bringing in more revenue.

But there’s more to Moo Deng than the cash flow and people she brings in. The zoo has cashed in on her fame to spread awareness about pygmy hippos – experts say fewer than 3,000 of them remain in the wild. Besides educating visitors, the zoo shares information about their unique traits and conservation status, which has further highlighted the importance of preserving these animals and the zoo’s efforts. Moo Deng’s 24-hour live stream has also drawn attention to the live streams of other animals at Khao Kheow, bringing into focus various species, their natural behaviors, habitat needs and more.

Moo Deng & Co. – her distant buddies

London Zoo, which has its own pygmy hippo, Amara – a three-year-old moved from Edinburgh Zoo in 2023 – has taken advantage of Moo Deng’s popularity to raise awareness about endangered species and efforts to boost their population through the European Breeding Programme (EEP) and Edge of Existence recovery efforts of the Zoological Society of London (ZSL). In fact, Amara was transported to London after being matched with a hippo named Thug through EEP.

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“As a conservation zoo that’s also part of global charity ZSL, we’re working to create a world where wildlife thrives,” says Alex Kemsley, senior press officer at London Zoo. “Inspiring people to love nature is the first step to creating change – a responsibility we take seriously. We saw a marked interest in stories about pygmy hippos on our digital platforms, but our visitor surveys this year revealed that visiting a good zoo for a day out was our primary visitor driver.”

The world’s also glued to updates from Sea Life Melbourne Aquarium, where Pesto, a baby king penguin, has begun to shed the brown feathers the birds are born with. Born in January, Pesto grew to become far larger than his parents, towering over them, and soon had the world glued to his clumsy waddling.

“We’ve seen record-breaking visitor numbers, with attendance up by an impressive 50 to 70% compared to our usual figures,” shares a spokesperson for Sea Life Melbourne Aquarium. “His popularity has also sparked our highest-ever website visitation, with record hits on two separate days. We have had higher visitation and some big celebrity names through the door, but the most important part of this is the conversations Pesto has begun.”

“Pesto’s rise to fame has meant that millions of people feel like they know a king penguin and are, therefore, connected to him. This encourages learning more about penguins and their environment, so they are more likely to feel connected to future conservation initiatives, helping us raise awareness of climate change and generally being more engaged global citizens,” the spokesperson added. “An increase in awareness and visitation means an increase in our ability to further fund conservation here at the aquarium and also enable us to play a bigger part in important global initiatives, too.”

The psychology of animal celebrity culture

Accounts that share content related to pets, wildlife and animal conservation garner substantial interaction and boast millions of followers, illustrating the broad interest in animal content across social media. More recently, social media has surfaced as a driver of wildlife narratives.

Recent evidence suggests that anthropomorphism –the attribution of human characteristics to an animal – isn’t all that bad. “It may, in fact, be important to embrace emotional attachments to wildlife because it incentivizes people to care, thus helping conservation in the long run,” says Nath.

“Anthropomorphising wildlife can help conservation by bolstering a sense of place – people feeling connected to their local landscapes. Studies have shown that having this sense, especially at a young age, encourages people to make more environmentally friendly decisions later in life. Connecting and empathizing with wildlife in your neighborhood can make you more likely to recycle, plant pollinator gardens or support local conservation initiatives in the future,” she explains.

Take the sloth, for example. Viral videos have sparked new interest in this otherwise ignored species. Actor Kristin Bell professed her love for the slow tree-dwelling mammals with her famous 2012 meltdown on the Ellen Show, which then inspired a wave of “sloth love” and raised funds for conservation. Would people have cared about sloths before in quite the same way had there not been a trigger for their viral fame?

It’s also been seen in science that naming a study animal and building a story around it can push for a conservation movement. P-22, a lone mountain lion that frequented Griffith Park in Los Angeles, for instance, attracted a massive following of dedicated fans. His popularity had helped drive funding for the Wallis Annenberg wildlife crossing, the largest corridor of its kind.

Moreover, it’s not only captive, bred or rehabilitated animals that become icons. Tigers like Machli, Sita, Charger, Collarwali, or Munna who live across India’s tiger reserves attract safari-goers in droves, which leads to the generation of millions in revenue through tourism. This further helps tiger conservation efforts by raising funds and awareness using these big cats.

The flip side and social media

“Confined solitary lives, with forced exposure to visitors, is one of the greatest evils of zoos and one that needs to be acknowledged and changed,” says Nath. However, the traditional role of zoos is evolving in modern times, and they can be viewed as centers of conservation. “Zoos can influence conservation on site and in local communities. They can also work at national and international levels to coordinate breeding programs and share animals, genetics, skills, and knowledge.”

This brings us back to Moo Deng and her global posse. In every case, the zoos have witnessed an uptick in foot traffic and general interest in the species, thereby indicating that being among the internet’s favorite baby animals does come with its perks and a better chance of their numbers growing in the future.

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The State Department has authorized the sale to Taipei of spare parts for F-16 fighter jets and radars valued at $385 million

China’s Foreign Ministry has issued a strong condemnation of Washington following the latter’s recent approval of a $385 million arms sale to Taiwan. In a statement on Sunday, Beijing emphasized that such actions violate the one-China principle and undermine relations with the US.

The ministry’s spokesperson stated that such sales infringe on China’s sovereignty and security interests, send dangerous signals to separatist factions in Taiwan, and threaten peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait. “China is strongly dissatisfied and firmly opposed to this, and has lodged solemn representations with the US side,” the spokesperson added.

On Friday, the State Department authorized an additional $385 million in military sales to Taiwan. This package includes spare parts and support for F-16 aircraft, active electronically scanned array radars, and continued assistance for previously approved equipment and services.

China’s Foreign Ministry highlighted that the ongoing support contradicts earlier commitments made by the US under the August 17 Communiqué from 1982, in which the US pledged not to pursue a long-term policy of arms sales to Taiwan and expressed its intention to gradually reduce arms sales over time.

READ MORE: US planning AI sanctions on China – Bloomberg

While Washington officially adheres to the ‘one-China policy’, recognizing Taiwan as part of China, it simultaneously engages in military cooperation with the self-governed island. Back in November, Chinese President Xi Jinping identified the Taiwan issue as being among the key boundaries that the US must respect in order to maintain a balanced relationship between the two countries.

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A recent UNESCO report ignores the killing and oppression of Russian reporters

The Russian Union of Journalists (RUJ) has asked the public to sign a petition to revise the latest UNESCO safety report on media workers. The publication has failed to carry sufficient information about Russian reporters either killed or targeted with prosecution over the past two years, the trade body complains.

Earlier this month, UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay presented the organization's ‘Report on the Safety of Journalists and the Danger of Impunity’. The publication, covering 2022 and 2023, claimed that 162 journalists, media workers, and social media producers had been killed over the indicated period. The report mentioned the killings of only two Russian media workers since the escalation of the Ukraine conflict.

“We urge you to support this initiative and send your consent to join the appeal to UNESCO by the Russian Union of Journalists,” the professional association said in a Telegram post on Friday, in order to “fight for truth and justice in the name of the memory of the fallen colleagues.”

The petition addressed to Azoulay was published by the RUJ earlier this week. It expresses deep indignation regarding the omissions in the controversial report.

The lack of information about media professionals form Russia in the publication “raises serious questions about the objectivity and impartiality of the report’s authors, especially in light of numerous accounts of attacks, threats, and the deaths of Russian journalists and media employees,” the letter reads.

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The association’s concerns are not the first criticism of the report. Moscow’s ambassador to UNESCO, Rinat Alyautdinov, had previously condemned the body for ignoring attacks on Russian journalists and the persecution of Russian media abroad..

The envoy said that at least five Russian journalists had been “assassinated” by the Kiev regime during the reporting period. He added that Moscow had earlier submitted its findings to UNESCO on the killings, but the body blatantly ignored them when preparing its report. Alyautdinov also slammed the international body for failing to mention sanctions imposed on Russian media by the West.

In June, Russian President Vladimir Putin estimated that at least 30 Russian journalists had been killed in the line of duty since the Ukraine conflict flared up in 2022.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova also slammed the report, accusing UNESCO of “deliberate distortions and fact-twisting.” The diplomat also said that Moscow would not back adoption of the report unless it is carefully corrected.

RT joined the uproar by sending a letter to Azoulay that denounced the document and listed a number of incidents that had been omitted, including assassination plots against RT editor-in-chief Margarita Simonyan. RT also accused the international organization of failing to maintain neutrality when it comes to Russian media.

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Norway’s new hub in Sorreisa will help prepare the US-led military bloc’s troops for amphibious assaults, officials say

Norway plans to establish a new NATO Arctic and amphibious warfare center where US, British, and Dutch marines will be trained amid heightened tensions with Russia, the Defense Ministry in Oslo announced on Friday.

The new hub will be created in the municipality of Sorreisa north of Lofoten in Norway's Arctic, some several hundred kilometers, as the crow flies, from Russia's strategic port of Murmansk, which is a key military and naval base.

The NATO member's facility will house several hundred soldiers and is expected to become fully operational in 2026.

“We must train together to be able to defend Norway, the Nordic countries and NATO in crisis and war,” Defense Minister Bjorn Arild Gram said, adding that his country is now “in a more serious security policy situation.”

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“We want an increased allied presence in Norway. More training and practice is good for Norwegian security. We need allies to be familiar with the Norwegian climate and weather conditions. We also need to practice together in case the need arises. So this is a desirable development,” he stated.

The new center will have close links with several nearby military facilities, which the minister claimed will be extremely useful for NATO.

The announcement comes after the Norwegian government presented a plan this spring for a historic increase in defense spending, with the aim of spending $54 billion on the military from 2024 to 2036.

As part of the package, Oslo also wants to acquire its first long-range air defense system and expand the army from one to three brigades, while boosting the size of the Home Guard to 45,000 troops.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov signaled this September that Moscow will check NATO’s expansionist ambitions in the region. “We see how NATO is stepping up exercises related to possible crises in the Arctic. Our country is fully prepared to defend its interests in military, political and military-technical terms,” he said at the time.

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Law enforcement officers have claimed they discovered weapons and illegal substances at one of the venues

Russian police raided several Moscow night clubs on Friday night, citing restrictions on LGBT propaganda, TASS has reported. At least three large dance venues were raided, including the site of a controversial naked party last year that drew widespread public attention.

According to people at the clubs who posted videos of the raids online, officers stormed the venues late at night and forced people to lie face down on the floor with their hands behind their heads.

The masked riot police then proceeded to check documents and question the guests at random, eventually letting the female revellers go. Visitors to Arma, the site of last year’s infamous party, claimed the raid lasted for at least three hours.

Officers also reportedly searched the premises with dogs. Some of the guests were detained on suspicion of being under the influence of drugs, although it is unclear how many detentions were made.

Этой ночью силовики устроили облавы в московских ночных клубах «Монобар», «Инферно», «Арма», «Simach». Искали наркотики и представителей нетрадиционной ориентации. Сотни человек уложили на пол. Задержали и увезли в участки десятки посетителей и организаторов. pic.twitter.com/PSrzjhJduV

— Независимый взгляд ? (@zgldz) November 30, 2024

The Interior Ministry in Moscow later confirmed the raid at a club called Inferno. According to a statement released by the ministry on Saturday, the inspection was conducted to “identify illegal activity” after police received information that the venue was linked to LGBT propaganda, which has been banned in Russia since 2022.

В московских клубах Arma (бывший «Мутабор»), в бывшем гей-клубе Mono и баре Simach прошли рейды рейды силовиков, приуроченные к годовщине признания ЛГБТ «экстремистским движением» в России, что произошло 30 ноября 2023 года pic.twitter.com/oysQvCnSJo

— REXNEWS (@REXNEWS_) November 30, 2024

“According to operational information, the club was promoting the ideology of the LGBT movement, which is banned in Russia,” the statement read, noting that the raid yielded weapons and a stash of illegal alcohol.

Москва.
Ночью силовики устроили облавы на московские гей клубы «Монобар», «Инферно», «Арма», «Simach».

В ходе рейда выявили полный букет: наркота, мигранты-танцоры, ВИЧ-инфицированные и гей-эскортники.

Мордой в пол уложили сотни отдыхающих.
Задержаны десятки организаторов. pic.twitter.com/yiCoNtF0KB

— ТОМКА??СССР (@TOMKACCCP) November 30, 2024

The ministry did not confirm the raids at other clubs, nor disclose information regarding detentions made during the searches. Media reports claim that all three clubs were closed on Saturday, with the entrance to Inferno sealed and its logo removed.

Russia has been tightening laws regarding LGBTQ since the early 2010s, first banning propaganda among minors in 2013 and then expanding the prohibition to adults in 2022. The same year, the Russian Supreme Court also outlawed the “international LGBT public movement,” labeling it an extremist organization.

READ MORE: Russian deputy minister slams ‘gay nationalism’

President Vladimir Putin has repeatedly clarified that the authorities have no desire to interfere in people’s private lives, pledging that they will not crack down on representatives of the LGBTQ community for their personal choices. He noted, however, that “flaunting” them in public or involving children will be considered cause for prosecution.

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The leadership in Astana is putting its own country’s interests first – this is not another Ukraine

Russian President Vladimir Putin’s state visit to Kazakhstan this week, along with his participation in the CSTO summit (also attended by the leaders of Belarus, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan) marks a significant step in strengthening the already deep-rooted partnership between the two countries.

This marks Putin’s 35th visit to Kazakhstan and his second this year, following the Shanghai Cooperation Organization meeting in July, during which Astana held the presidency. Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev described Putin’s arrival as a historic event, emphasizing that Russia is not just a strategic partner, but a reliable ally, united by centuries-old bonds of friendship, good neighborliness, and shared history.

Kazakh-Russian cooperation has reached an unprecedented level, and both leaders discussed a wide range of issues, signing strategic documents to further deepen bilateral ties. Tokayev highlighted Moscow’s position as one of Astana’s top three investors, with 49 joint projects worth nearly $30 billion in progress by 2020. The countries are also focused on boosting trade, with turnover projected to exceed $30 billion in the near future. In the energy sector, major projects, including the gasification of Kazakhstan and the development of new transport corridors, are in the pipeline.

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The joint declaration on ‘Deepening the Strategic Partnership in the New Global Order’ underscores mutual respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, reinforcing the long-term commitment both countries have to each other. This declaration reflects not only political solidarity but a clear acknowledgment that Russia remains Kazakhstan’s most critical partner, both economically and strategically.

While economic and political dialogue is flourishing, the visit also reaffirmed the importance of Astana’s security ties with Moscow. The CSTO – a six-country military alliance – remains a cornerstone of regional stability, and Kazakhstan’s role within this organization ensures protection from external threats. The 2022 CSTO peacekeeping operation in Kazakhstan, which stabilized the country during internal unrest, highlighted Russia’s commitment to its ally. This incident, which saw a rapid deployment of troops at Tokayev’s request, exemplified the strength of the CSTO and the vital role Moscow plays in safeguarding its member’s sovereignty.

External pressures and Western attempts to undermine relations

Despite the deepening partnership, Kazakhstan faces increasing external pressure to distance itself from its traditional ally. Western powers, particularly the EU and the US, are actively trying to weaken this relationship by promoting alternative trade routes and partnerships, such as the Trans-Caspian route, which competes with traditional transit routes through Russia. These Western efforts are portrayed as an opportunity to reduce dependence on Moscow, but such initiatives fail to provide the same geographical advantages and are seen as impractical.

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Moreover, Western attempts to force Astana to impose sanctions on Russia only threaten to undermine the republic’s economy, which is closely linked to Moscow. As Kazakhstan’s foreign policy continues to be attacked by external actors, the country remains steadfast in understanding that its future is inextricably linked to its neighbor to the north.

Western media narratives and false propaganda, which exaggerate the risks of Kazakhstan’s participation in the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) or the CSTO, are aimed at sowing distrust between Russia and Kazakhstan. These narratives ignore the mutual benefits Kazakhstan enjoys as part of the EAEU – including a thriving trade partnership with Russia and the financial stability that comes from regional cooperation. The country’s economic growth, bolstered by participation in the EAEU, reflects the success of this partnership, with trade between Kazakhstan and Russia increasing by 30% in recent years.

Kazakhstan’s commitment to maintaining strong ties with Russia, despite the external pressure, underscores the pragmatic and strategic foresight of Astana’s leadership. The country understands that a break from Russia would bring more risks than rewards, as no alternative partnership could offer the same level of security, economic cooperation, and political stability.

Economic cooperation: A strategic pillar

The economic dimension of the relationship is especially important. Kazakhstan’s trade with the EAEU increased by 7.1% in 2022, with exports to EAEU countries growing by 22.3%. The number of joint ventures with EAEU countries in Kazakhstan has increased by 2.5 times since 2015, reflecting the success of this economic collaboration. Furthermore, the gross inflow of FDI from EAEU countries more than tripled between 2015 and 2021. This mutually beneficial relationship demonstrates that Astana’s participation in the EAEU is not just a matter of economic necessity but a strategic advantage.

Through projects in energy, transport, and agriculture, Moscow continues to modernize Kazakhstan’s economy. It remains Russia’s largest trade partner in Central Asia, and the interdependence between the two countries ensures long-term stability in the region. Kazakhstan’s leadership is keenly aware of this, reinforcing the importance of maintaining strong economic and political ties with Moscow.

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Cultural and humanitarian cooperation

Putin’s visit also emphasized the growing importance of cultural and humanitarian cooperation between Russia and Kazakhstan. The two countries’ historical and cultural ties provide a strong foundation for expanding cultural exchanges and promoting mutual understanding. The establishment of the ‘Avenue of Kazakh-Russian Friendship’ in Astana and the creation of new opportunities for educational exchanges highlight the shared cultural values that bind the two nations.

Education remains a critical area of cooperation, with thousands of Kazakh students attending Russian universities each year. Expanding education programs and scholarships was a key topic during the visit, further strengthening ties between the younger generations of both countries. Joint cultural initiatives, including festivals, exhibitions, and the preservation of cultural heritage, are also important in maintaining the rich, shared history between the two societies.

The road ahead: A strategic partnership for the future

Putin’s state visit to Kazakhstan was an important milestone in the deepening of bilateral relations. The discussions on economic cooperation, security, and cultural exchange reaffirmed the strategic nature of the partnership. The Russia-Kazakhstan alliance remains the foundation for stability in Central Asia, offering a counterbalance to external pressures and ensuring long-term prosperity for both nations.

As external forces – chiefly the EU and US – attempt to undermine Astana’s relationship with Moscow, the Kazakh leadership remains resolute in its commitment to a pragmatic and mutually beneficial partnership. Despite the challenges posed by Western interference, Kazakhstan understands that its future lies in strengthening ties with Russia. The strategic alliance between the two countries continues to be a powerful force in regional stability, and the visit underscored the importance of this cooperation in navigating global challenges.

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Protests in the ex-Soviet state continue for the third day following the government’s decision to freeze EU accession talks until 2028

Washington announced on Saturday the suspension of its strategic partnership with Georgia, condemning the ruling party’s recent decision to freeze EU accession talks until 2028.

US State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller has slammed the Georgian Dream party over the move.

“Georgian Dream’s decision to suspend EU accession is a betrayal of the Georgian constitution,” Miller posted on X. “We condemn excessive force used against Georgians exercising their freedom to protest and have suspended our Strategic Partnership with Georgia.”

The Georgian government’s announcement came on Thursday when Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze declared that discussions on joining the EU would not be prioritized until at least 2028. He stated that while Georgia aims to become a member, it should do so under fair conditions, accusing the EU of using the talks to “blackmail” Georgia and meddle in its affairs.

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In response to the government’s announcement, protests erupted across several cities, with demonstrators clashing with police in the capital, Tbilisi. President Salome Zourabichvili expressed support for the protesters, calling the parliament “illegitimate” and refusing to resign before her term ends on December 16.

On Saturday evening, violence escalated outside the parliament building, where law enforcement deployed water cannons and tear gas to disperse the crowd. Several protesters were detained as tensions soared. In retaliation, demonstrators hurled bottles, eggs, and fireworks at the police, marking the third consecutive day of unrest.

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The US president-elect has chosen longtime ally and former adviser Kash Patel to lead the agency

US President-elect Donald Trump has named former adviser Kash Patel to serve as next FBI director. If confirmed by the Senate, Patel will replace Christopher Wray, who Trump has often attacked and accused of going after him and his allies for political reasons.

“Kash is a brilliant lawyer, investigator, and ‘America First’ fighter who has spent his career exposing corruption, defending justice, and protecting the American people,” Trump wrote on Truth Social on Saturday.

The president-elect praised Patel for playing “a pivotal role in uncovering the Russia Hoax,” referring to the allegations that the Trump campaign colluded with Moscow during the 2016 presidential election. He added that Patel “did an incredible job” when he advised Trump on national security and briefly served as chief of staff to Acting Defense Secretary Christopher Miller during Trump’s first term.

Under Patel’s leadership, the FBI will “end the growing crime epidemic” and take on “migrant criminal gangs,” Trump said.

Trump has long accused the Democrats and the Biden administration of weaponizing the FBI and Department of Justice to launch investigations as part of a politically motivated “witch hunt.” He also accused Wray of incompetence.

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“He knows nothing about the terrorists and other criminals pouring into our country at record levels. His only focus is destroying J6 Patriots, raiding Mar-a-Lago, and saving radical left lunatics, like the ones now in DC burning American flags and spray painting over our great national monuments,” Trump wrote about the current FBI chief on social media in July 2024.

Patel, the son of Indian immigrants and a former public defender, worked for several years as a prosecutor with the Justice Department. He later drew the interest of the Trump administration while serving as a staff member for the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence.

The 40-year-old ultra-loyalist recently published a book in which he slammed the FBI and the Department of Justice as “government gangsters,” accusing them of being behind the “deep state corruption” in the US.

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Patel called for a complete restructuring of the FBI, including stripping the agency of its intelligence gathering role, arguing that it should focus more on combating organized crime.

Patel has also called for a crackdown on government officials who leak information to the media, while changing the law to make it easier to ‘go after’ journalists. In an interview with Steve Bannon last December, Patel said that he and others on Trump’s team plan to find the “conspirators” who “helped” outgoing President Joe Biden rig the 2020 election – an accusation that Trump himself has also repeatedly made.

“We will go out and find the conspirators – not just in government, but in the media… whether it’s criminally or civilly... we’re going to come after the people in the media who lied about American citizens, who helped Joe Biden rig presidential elections,” he said, claiming that their investigations will help Trump’s team shed light on the extent of the Biden administration’s “crimes.”

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The strike took place days after a truce was reached with Hezbollah in Lebanon

The Israeli Air Force announced on Saturday that its jets have hit what it says was a Hezbollah-linked site in Syria.

The strike came just days after Israel and the Lebanese-based armed group agreed to a ceasefire mediated by the US and France. Both sides have since accused each other of violations, with Israel carrying out more strikes on southern Lebanon on Friday.

“This strike was carried out following the identification of the transfer of weapons to Hezbollah from Syria to Lebanon, even after the ceasefire agreement,” the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said in a statement.

The IDF has repeatedly accused Hezbollah of using civilian border crossings to deliver weapons in order to launch cross-border attacks against Israeli service members and civilians. The IDF vowed to “continue to act to remove any threat to the State of Israel” that violates the fragile ceasefire.

The truce, which came in effect on Wednesday morning, was designed to serve as a permanent cessation of hostilities and facilitate the gradual withdrawal of Israeli troops from southern Lebanon, according to US President Joe Biden. The IDF has since confirmed that its soldiers would stay in southern Lebanon for the time being and urged residents not to return to their homes.

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Syrian state-run SANA news agency reported on Wednesday that an Israeli airstrike killed six people on the border with Lebanon, including military personnel and a humanitarian worker. The Syrian Arab Red Crescent said that its volunteers were killed in the strike.

According to Israeli website Ynet, the bombardment killed at least ten Syrian soldiers.

The strikes took place against the backdrop of a larger flare-up in Syria, where several militant groups, including jihadists from Hayat Tahrir-al-Sham (HTS), launched a surprise offensive in the northeastern part of the country. The Syrian government, with air support from Russia, is currently fighting to drive HTS from parts of Aleppo, Syria’s largest city.

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The US president-elect will work to hammer out a deal between Hamas and Israel, Lindsey Graham has said

US President-elect Donald Trump wants to see Israel and Hamas reach a deal for a ceasefire in Gaza and the release of the remaining Israeli hostages, Republican Senator Lindsey Graham told Axios in an interview published on Friday.

More than 44,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza since the fighting broke out between Hamas and the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) more than a year ago. The IDF operation in the Palestinian enclave was triggered by a surprise Hamas attack on October 7, 2023, which left around 1,200 Israelis dead. The group took more than 250 hostages, around 100 of whom are believed to still be held in Gaza.

“Trump is more determined than ever to release the hostages and supports a ceasefire that includes a hostage deal. He wants to see it happening now,” Graham told Axios. He traveled to the Middle East earlier this month and met with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

According to Axios, Graham frequently speaks to Trump and advises him on the issues related to foreign policy and the Middle East. The senator said the president-elect wants to reach a deal on Gaza so he can focus on other issues, including the normalization of Israeli-Saudi relations and consolidating a regional coalition against Iran.

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Graham expressed hope that “Trump and the [outgoing] Biden administration will work together during the transition period to release the hostages and get a ceasefire.”

Earlier this week, Hamas official Sami Abu Zuhri told Reuters that the armed group was ready for a ceasefire with Israel. According to Zuhri, Hamas demonstrated “high flexibility” and remains “interested in reaching an agreement that ends the war in Gaza.” He also accused Netanyahu of showing no interest in reaching a truce.

Netanyahu told Israeli Channel 14 on Thursday that he is “ready for a ceasefire at any time,” but only if West Jerusalem “can achieve the release of the hostages.” He added, however, that a ceasefire would not mean an end to the war against Hamas.

According to AFP, Hamas informed Egypt, Türkiye, and Qatar it is “ready for a ceasefire” and a “serious” prisoner exchange.

On November 27, Israel and the Lebanese-based pro-Palestinian group Hezbollah agreed to a ceasefire mediated by the US and France. The truce came into force on Wednesday morning. Both sides have since accused each other of violations.

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Activists continue clashing with police in Tbilisi

Pro-EU protests continued on Sunday in Georgia’s capital, Tbilisi, where activists clashed with riot police outside the former Soviet country’s parliament building.

The demonstrations are backed by a coalition of opposition parties, as well as Georgia’s pro-EU president, Salome Zourabichvili, who called the current government “illegitimate.” She previously claimed that the parliamentary election in October was rigged in favor of the ruling Georgian Dream party.

The protesters are outraged by the government’s decision to freeze negotiations on joining the EU until 2028.

Prime Minister Irakli Kobakzhidze said Georgia should ultimately become a member state, but do so on fair terms. He accused the EU of using the accession talks to “blackmail” Georgia and meddle in its politics.

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The nation’s president has said his forces and allies are capable of holding back the jihadist advance

Syrian President Bashar Assad has vowed to defeat the jihadists currently rampaging through the north of his country, “no matter how intense their terrorist attacks are.” His comments came as the Syrian Army geared up to defend the city of Hama from the attackers.

In a phone call with Emirati President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed on Saturday, Assad stressed that “Syria continues to defend its stability and territorial integrity in the face of all terrorists,” according to a readout published by his office.

Syria “is capable, with the help of its allies and friends, of defeating and eliminating them no matter how intense their terrorist attacks are,” Assad added, according to the statement.

The Hayat Tahrir-al-Sham (HTS) terrorist group – formerly known as Jabhat al-Nusra – and a collection of allied militias attacked government-controlled territory in northern Syria on Wednesday, breaking a fragile truce established by Russia and Türkiye in 2020. By Friday, HTS fighters had entered Aleppo, which had been under Syrian government control since 2016.

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In a statement on Saturday, the Syrian General Command said that the attack was “supported by thousands of foreign terrorists, heavy weapons, and a large number of drones,” and that dozens of Syrian Army personnel had been killed defending Aleppo.

Syrian government forces succeeded in preventing the total loss of Aleppo, and have withdrawn from the city to prepare a counterattack, the General Command said. According to unconfirmed reports on social media, Syrian forces have started arriving in the city of Hama – around 80km south of Aleppo – in preparation for this counteroffensive.

Sporadic clashes have broken out on the outskirts of Hama as the jihadists advance on the city, Turkish media reported on Saturday. Iranian military advisers and volunteers have arrived in Hama to assist the Syrian military, according to both pro- and anti-Assad Telegram news groups.

Sheikh Mohammed told Assad that the UAE “stands with the Syrian state and supports it in combating terrorism and extending its sovereignty, territorial integrity and stability,” according the Syrian leader’s office.

READ MORE: Syrian jets strike jihadist targets (VIDEO)

Iran has vowed to issue a “serious” response to HTS, after the group attacked its consulate in Aleppo and killed Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Major General Kiyumars Pourhashemi earlier this week. Russia, which has maintained a military presence in Syria since 2015, has been carrying out airstrikes against the jihadists, killing at least 600 militants since Thursday, according to Colonel Oleg Ignasyuk, the deputy head of the Russian Reconciliation Center for Syria.

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Anyone looking to replace the US dollar can “wave goodbye to America,” the president-elect has declared

The BRICS nations will be hit with 100% tariffs on their goods if they try to introduce a reserve currency to rival the dollar, US President-elect Donald Trump has warned. Trump has repeatedly threatened to use tariffs to achieve his geopolitical goals.

”The idea that the BRICS Countries are trying to move away from the Dollar while we stand by and watch is OVER,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform on Saturday.

Trump went on to say that he would ask the BRICS nations to promise not to create a common currency, “nor back any other currency to replace the mighty US dollar,” or they will face 100% tariffs.

”They can go find another ‘sucker!’” he continued. “There is no chance that the BRICS will replace the US Dollar in International Trade, and any Country that tries should wave goodbye to America.”

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BRICS previously comprised Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, and was expanded in January to include Egypt, Iran, Ethiopia, and the United Arab Emirates. Around 30 other nations have expressed interest in joining the group of emerging economies.

Russia, which currently holds the group’s rotating presidency, floated the idea of introducing a BRICS currency in 2022. Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva echoed Moscow’s proposal last year, arguing that having the option of trading in another reserve currency would reduce the BRICS countries’ “vulnerability” to fluctuations in the dollar’s exchange rate.

BRICS leaders stopped short of announcing plans for such a currency at their summit in the Russian city of Kazan last month. Instead, the group pledged to set up a cross-border payment system to function alongside the Western SWIFT network, and to increase their use of local currencies in international trade.

”Cooperation within BRICS is not directed against anyone or anything – neither against the dollar nor against other currencies,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated in October. “It pursues the main goal of ensuring the interests of those countries that participate in this format.”

READ MORE: China could devalue yuan to spite Trump – JP Morgan

Using local currencies to settle bilateral trade bills “helps to keep economic development free from politics,” Russian President Vladimir Putin said at the time.

Trump has vowed to use tariffs to settle US trade deficits, force offshore manufacturers to return, and achieve a range of geopolitical goals. In addition to proposing a blanket tariff of 20% on all incoming goods, Trump has threatened Canada and Mexico with additional 25% tariffs if they fail to reduce the flow of migrants and drugs into the US. Trump also declared this week that “we will be charging China an additional 10% tariff, above any additional tariffs,” until Beijing “follows through” on punishing the producers and smugglers of fentanyl, a powerful synthetic opioid.

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Salome Zourabichvili has refused to recognize the legitimacy of the newly elected parliament and says that it cannot choose her successor

Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili will not step down from her position despite the end of her mandate in December, she said in a video address on Saturday, explaining that she does not recognize the legitimacy of the newly-formed parliament and intends to stay in office until new elections.

“I remain your President! There is no legitimate parliament that will elect a new president,” she said in a video published on her Facebook page. “My mandate continues until there is a legitimately elected parliament that will legitimately elect a President who will replace me!”

Under the 2017 Georgian Constitution, the head of state is elected by an electoral college consisting of 300 members. Half of them are MPs, and another half are representatives of various Georgian regions. The next presidential vote is scheduled for December 14. Whoever wins is reportedly expected to be inaugurated before the end of the year.

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In October, the South Caucasus nation also held parliamentary elections. The Georgian Dream party, which seeks to establish pragmatic relations with all the country’s neighbors, including Russia, emerged victorious with nearly 54% of the vote. The pro-Western opposition parties have refused to recognize the results, sparking a wave of street protests.

The French-born Zourabichvili – a career diplomat for Paris who acquired Georgian citizenship in her 50s – condemned the October election as a “Russian-style” operation, claiming that Georgian Dream is steering the nation towards Moscow and away from that of the EU. She also called for mass protests.

A new wave of demonstrations was sparked this week by the Georgian government’s decision to suspend EU accession talks until 2028. Tbilisi accused Brussels of using the talks to meddle in Georgian politics using “constant blackmail and manipulation.”

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On Friday, Zourabichvili published another video address, in which she called on various Georgian officials, including the military and the security services, to join the anti-government protests. She also said that “resistance” was on the rise in the country.

The president described this week’s protests as “extremely peaceful” and blamed the street violence exclusively on the police. “This is your responsibility and only yours,” she said in her speech on Friday. Zourabichvili also joined the protests on Friday night, according to local media reports.

At least ten law enforcement officers were injured in violent clashes with demonstrators that night, according to the Georgian Interior Ministry. Over 250 people have reportedly been arrested in connection with the protests in Tbilisi over the past two days.

On Saturday, Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze blamed the developments on EU meddling and vowed to prevent a scenario similar to Ukraine’s 2014 Maidan coup, which led to the ouster of the legitimately elected president, Viktor Yanukovich.

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Heavy rains triggered the disaster in Bulambuli district, sweeping away homes and isolating villages

At least 15 people have been confirmed dead and over 100 remain missing after a landslide swept through villages in eastern Uganda’s Bulambuli district, the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) and police reported on Thursday.

The disaster, triggered by days of heavy rainfall, occurred on Wednesday in the mountainous region about 300km (190 miles) east of Kampala.

According to the Ugandan Red Cross Society, at least 40 homes were buried in the landslide, leaving the affected communities devastated.

“We are shocked that it was this devastating,” said Charles Odongtho, spokesperson for the OPM.

“We have 15 dead and fears are that there are many more bodies still buried,” Odongtho stated. He added that bridges in the area had been destroyed and that roads were submerged, hindering rescue efforts.

Over 100 people are reported missing as mudslides kill at least 15 residents in Bulambuli District, Elgon Sub-region. Local authorities said more than 40 homes were swept away by mudslides and floods following a Wednesday downpour that lasted nearly 10 hours. Four villages in… pic.twitter.com/uUmBVCP8Df

— Daily Monitor (@DailyMonitor) November 28, 2024

Police confirmed that 113 people were reported missing and that impassable roads were delaying the arrival of emergency services. Alongside the 15 fatalities, 15 injured individuals have been rescued and hospitalized. According to the BBC, the Ugandan Red Cross Society noted that at least six of the recovered bodies were children.

READ MORE: Landslide kills ten in DR Congo

Heavy rains have inundated Uganda in recent days, with rivers bursting their banks, flooding schools, churches, and vital infrastructure. On Tuesday, torrential rains caused the River Nile to overflow, flooding a major highway connecting Kampala to the country’s northwest, according to the Uganda National Roads Authority.

?The Time for change is NOW??

?It’s with a heavy heart that I share the painful reality happening right now in my home region, Bugisu Subregion in Eastern Uganda.

??Every rainy season, what should be a blessing turns into devastation. Just yesterday, in Bulambuli district… pic.twitter.com/VrIcZtmcVL

— Ms. Gladys Rosette Nandutu (@Rosette_Nandutu) November 28, 2024

Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja issued a disaster alert on X on Wednesday, stating “people are suspected to be missing and some feared buried by slides.”

Uganda’s history of landslides includes the devastating 2010 disaster in Bududa, which claimed around 300 lives.

READ MORE: The colonial legacy of this vital river threatens peace in Africa and beyond

The latest tragedy comes amid similar weather-related disasters in the region. Last Friday, at least ten people, including a mother and her seven children, were killed in the Democratic Republic of the Congo following heavy rains that triggered a landslide.

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The Ukrainian leader has recently expressed his willingness to accept a ceasefire under conditions he previously rejected out of hand

Ukrainians who have died in the conflict between Moscow and Kiev “have already won,” Vladimir Zelensky claimed in an interview with Sky News released this week. Those sacrifices enabled Kiev to secure aid from its Western backers and eventually prevent Moscow from achieving its goals, according to the Ukrainian leader.

When asked by Sky News chief correspondent Stuart Ramsay if he believed that those Ukrainians who had died throughout the conflict had given their lives for nothing, Zelensky said “it was wrong” to think so. “They are already winners,” he added.

“Our people did not give their lives for nothing,” the Ukrainian leader said, adding that they “performed not only their personal but also constitutional duty to defend their country.” He then went on to claim that “had Ukrainians not … sacrificed their lives and their comfort” back in February 2022, when Russia launched its military campaign against Ukraine, the country would have quickly yielded to Russia.

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“No one would have helped us then,” he said, apparently referring to Kiev’s Western backers. The Ukrainian leader also admitted that if Kiev loses the support of the US and its allies, it “will lose everything.”

“[Our] most important weapon is our people,” Zelensky said.

The Ukrainian leader also slammed those world leaders who are willing to talk to Moscow. He claimed they were only doing it for international fame as they “want to get on the front pages in the media.” Zelensky compared talking to Russian President Vladimir Putin to “opening Pandora’s box,” which could undermine the Western unity behind Kiev’s cause.

According to Zelensky, some world leaders are “afraid” of Putin. “When they are afraid, they start to communicate with their societies and divide their societies,” he said. The Ukrainian leader referred to Russia’s president as “an animal without any human values that we share.”

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He also claimed that Ukraine should be “at the same level” with Russia in terms of power or even “stronger” for peace talks to start in earnest. Zelensky then also demanded that Kiev’s backers adopt a “one voice policy” spearheaded by Ukraine when it comes to the conflict.

Zelensky also said that Kiev could agree to “end the hot phase of the war” without trying to take back former territories that officially joined Russia following a series of referendums in the fall of 2022. He still maintained that this would only be possible if the territories still under Kiev’s control are “invited” to join NATO and the US-led bloc recognizes Kiev’s territorial claims.

Moscow has repeatedly stated throughout the conflict that it is ready for peace talks and would like to resolve all differences diplomatically. It has also consistently warned that it would never agree to Ukraine joining NATO and named the US-led bloc’s expansion eastward as among the root causes of the conflict.

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Nobody will have to work during extreme weather, Labor Minister Yolanda Diaz has declared

Spain’s left-wing government has passed legislation guaranteeing up to four paid days off for people who can’t travel to work due to “climate emergencies.” The law was passed less than a month after more than 200 people were killed in flash floods in Valencia.

The law was enacted on Friday, a day after it was approved by the country’s Council of Ministers, which is dominated by Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez’s Socialist Workers' Party.

The paid days will apply when civil protection and meteorological organizations issue extreme weather warnings, Labor Minister Yolanda Diaz explained on Thursday, declaring that “no worker will have to run any risk.”

Should a weather emergency persist beyond four days, employers will be able to extend their workers’ “climate leave,” with the government covering their lost earnings.

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At least 229 people were killed last month when torrential downpours caused flash flooding that inundated several towns in Spain’s eastern province of Valencia. Locals have accused regional president Carlos Mazon of failing to issue an alert urging workers to stay at home on the day of the disaster.

Mazon has defied public anger and refused to resign, arguing that he was not notified of the seriousness of the situation by the government’s water monitoring body.

Sanchez and Spanish King Felipe VI have also been condemned by angry survivors of the tragedy, although in her speech on Thursday, Diaz attempted to pin as much of the blame as possible on Mazon, who is a member of the conservative People's Party.

“In the face of climate denialism from the right, the Spanish government is committed to green policies,” she said, before announcing additional economic aid for survivors of the disaster. To date, the government has approved €16.6 billion ($17.5 billion) in assistance for the region.

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Visitors to the chain’s latest outlet must undergo an identity check before getting their venti frappuccinos

Starbucks has opened a cafe atop a lookout point on the Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), allowing curious patrons to sip pumpkin spice lattes while gazing into the nuclear-armed North.

The cafe, which opened on Friday, is located in the Aegibong Peace Ecopark in Gimpo city, about 32km north of Seoul, South Korea. From its terrace, visitors can look across a section of the Han River that is considered neutral waters and into the North Korean town of Kaephung, just over a kilometer away.

On a clear day, Reuters reported, visitors can use telescopes to observe North Korean villagers going about their day across the world’s most heavily militarized border.

The Korean War was halted by an armistice agreement in 1953, but never formally ended. The armistice left the Korean Peninsula divided along the 38th parallel, with the communist North and capitalist South separated by the 4km-wide DMZ. Both sides maintain warrens of fortifications and lookout posts along the DMZ, and North Korea is believed to have more than 10,000 artillery pieces dug in along its side of the border, including in the mountains behind Kaephung.

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Some 6,000 of these guns are in range of major South Korean population centers, according to a 2020 report by the RAND Corporation, a think tank funded by the US military. If a war broke out between the two Koreas, more than 205,000 people could be killed in Seoul, Incheon, Gimpo, and other South Korean cities within an hour, the RAND report estimated.

The Aegibong Peace Ecopark sits on the site of ‘Hill 154’, which was fiercely contested during the Korean War and changed hands multiple times throughout the three-year conflict. Owing to its proximity to the DMZ, visitors to the park must fill out an entry form and submit to a background check by the Korean Marine Corps.

According to the mayor of Gimpo, bringing Starbucks to the DMZ is a show of strength for the South, demonstrating the “robust security on the Korean Peninsula through the presence of this iconic capitalist brand.”

The cafe opened at a time of heightened tensions between the two Koreas. Earlier this year, Pyongyang began launching balloons filled with trash and excrement south over Gimpo and Seoul, in response to the South dropping propaganda leaflets into Northern territory. North Korea then announced that artillery units along the border had been placed on standby to “open fire,” before blowing up sections of road leading to South Korea last month.

READ MORE: Korean Peninsula facing nuclear destruction – Pyongyang

Pyongyang claims to have severed the roads in response to repeated South Korean drone flights through its airspace, and overt joint US-South Korean military exercises earlier in the month. North Korea considers these exercises “provocative war drills for aggression,” the country’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

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The Ukrainian leader has cited ‘EU unity’ as a reason to bow to his demands

Western politicians should not communicate with Russian President Vladimir Putin because it could open Pandora’s box, Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky has told British TV.

In an interview with Sky News on Friday, Zelensky said he is worried that Putin’s rhetoric could undermine unity in the West regarding support for Ukraine.

“If we will lose this [unity], I am afraid that we can lose everything,” the Ukrainian leader said.

When the Russian president “speaks about something, some leaders in the world are afraid,” he stated. “When they are afraid, they begin to communicate with their societies… they divide their societies. Then they communicate with other leaders and divide the unity in Europe.”

According to Zelensky, this leads to more pressure from Moscow through actions such as Oreshnik missile strikes or updates to its nuclear doctrine. The recently approved document allows for a nuclear response by Russia to a conventional attack from a non-nuclear state backed by a power that possesses weapons of mass destruction.

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Zelensky said he was not surprised when German Chancellor Olaf Scholz reached out to Putin for the first time in nearly two years in mid-November, noting that Scholz later explained to him that “he wants to speak and to understand what Putin is thinking about.” Zelensky responded that he “cannot support this as it opens this new page – this Pandora’s box,” meaning that other Western officials will begin to talk to the Russian president as well.

There are politicians who would like to communicate with the Russian president simply because they are looking to be “on the first page of newspapers” and for “everybody [to] speak about them that they can communicate with Putin,” Zelensky claimed.

Putin commented on his phone call with Scholz during a press conference in Kazakhstan’s capital, Astana on Thursday, saying their conversation mainly focused on Ukraine.

“There was nothing unusual about it, I think, either for him, or for me. He laid out his position, I laid out mine, and each of us has remained of the same mind on this matter,” the Russian president said.

“Strange as it may seem, we stay in communication with many countries with which we have very strained relations. Indeed, I did not have direct contacts with the leaders of these countries. But I am aware that some of them are also willing to resume contacts with us, and to discuss the ongoing developments in Ukraine bilaterally and in the pan-European context.”

READ MORE: Zelensky has failed his country – Ukrainian-born US lawmaker

Putin stressed that Moscow remains open to contact with these countries. “We, including me, have never turned down such contacts and will never turn them down in the future. If anyone is willing to talk, they are welcome to do so,” he said.

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No diplomatic staff members were injured or killed in the assault in Aleppo, the Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman has said

Iran’s consulate in the Syrian city of Aleppo has come under attack by “some terrorist elements,” the Islamic Republic’s Foreign Ministry claimed on Saturday. A former local Al Qaeda affiliate launched a major offensive against the city this week.

The diplomatic mission was attacked by armed militants, the ministry’s spokesman, Esmaeil Baghaei, told journalists, adding that the Iranian consul general and all diplomatic staff members currently in Aleppo were unharmed.

Tehran will provide a “serious” response to the attack, “both legally and internationally,” Baghaei said. The spokesman did not provide any details about the incident.

Hayat Tahrir-al-Sham (HTS), a terrorist group formerly known as Jabhat al-Nusra, attacked government-controlled territory in Northern Syria on Wednesday alongside a collection of allied militias. The terrorists then claimed to have seized some 400 square kilometers of territory and reached the city of Aleppo.

Government forces have since halted the group’s advance, with both Russian and Syrian Air Force launching strikes against the militants over the past days. The Syrian Arab Army also claimed that the strikes inflicted devastating losses on the insurgents.

Moscow has called the developments “an attack on Syria’s sovereignty in the region” and urged Damascus to restore “order there as soon as possible.” Iran branded the offensive “an American-Zionist” plot, suggesting that Washington and West Jerusalem were using HTS as proxies to strike a blow against President Bashar Assad’s government, which supports the Palestinian cause.

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Irakli Kobakhidze has blamed “EU politicians and their agents” for violent protests in the country

Georgia will not allow a scenario similar to Ukraine’s Maidan to happen, Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze has vowed.

He referred to the unconstitutional Western-backed coup in Kiev a decade ago, which ousted Ukraine’s democratically elected president, triggered hostilities throughout the country and led to the ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia.

“Unlike Ukraine in 2013, Georgia is an independent state with strong institutions and, most importantly, experienced and wise people. The Maidan scenario cannot be realized in Georgia. Georgia is a sovereign state and will not allow this,” Kobakhidze said at a briefing on Saturday, as cited by the News Georgia outlet.

According to the premier, much like the Maidan coup, the current violent unrest in Georgia is the result of interference in the country’s internal affairs by EU politicians and their agents.

“The main responsibility for yesterday’s violent rally lies with the relevant European politicians and bureaucrats, with local agents, the fifth column, which is represented by four opposition parties,” he stated. An anti-government demonstration in downtown Tbilisi on Friday resulted in police using tear-gas and water cannons to disperse the crowds.

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Kobakhidze slammed the protest as an “attack on the constitutional order in the country.” He expressed gratitude to law enforcement who kept protesters from storming the parliament, saying the officers protected Georgia’s sovereignty and independence.

Protests have been taking place in Georgia since late last month, when the ruling Georgian Dream party secured victory in the parliamentary election. The party is known to advocate pragmatic relations with all neighbors, including Russia, and has recently passed laws considered controversial in the West, including a foreign agents law.

The Georgian opposition and pro-Western President Salome Zourabichvili refused to recognize the election results and called for mass demonstrations. The EU, which granted Georgia candidate status in 2023, sided with the opposition, with the European Parliament condemning the elections as “neither free nor fair” and calling for them to be repeated.

The unrest escalated earlier this week, when Kobakhidze announced that the government would postpone Georgia’s EU accession negotiations until 2028, accusing Brussels of using the talks to meddle in Georgian politics with “constant blackmail and manipulation.” Over 250 people have reportedly been arrested in violent clashes between the police and pro-EU demonstrators at rallies in Tbilisi over the past two days alone.

READ MORE: EU candidate state suspends accession talks

Violent Western-backed opposition protests, which later became known as the Maidan, broke out in November 2013 after former Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovich refused to sign an association agreement with the EU.

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Alisher Usmanov headed the FIE for nearly 15 years, but stepped down in 2022 due to Ukraine-related sanctions

Russian metals and telecoms tycoon Alisher Usmanov has been appointed as president of the International Fencing Federation (FIE), TASS reported on Saturday. The billionaire is returning to the job he left in 2022 after being sanctioned by the US and EU over the Ukraine conflict.

In a vote in Uzbekistan’s capital, Tashkent, Usmanov reportedly received 120 votes to 26 for Otto Drakenberg, a Swedish Olympic fencer and president of the Swedish Fencing Federation.

“I am grateful to the international fencing family for their trust and support, which convinced me that my decision to run for the FIE presidency is right,” Usmanov said in a statement on Saturday.

Usmanov served as president of the FIE for 14 years. The 71-year-old businessman, who was first elected in 2008 and reelected in 2012, 2016, and 2021, voluntarily suspended his duties in March 2022.

At the time, the billionaire – who holds a major stake in USM, a Russian investment group with holdings in iron ore miner Metalloinvest and telecommunications company MegaFon – was added to the UK, EU, and US sanctions lists shortly after the Ukraine conflict escalated more than two years ago.

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The Uzbek-born businessman, who according to Forbes has a total net worth of $14.4 billion, was nominated for a return to the position in October, when his candidacy was supported by 103 nations. Emmanuel Katsiadakis served as interim president.

Usmanov, who practiced professional fencing when he was young and was a member of Uzbekistan’s national saber team, focused on fighting in European courts with media outlets that linked him to Russian President Vladimir Putin. The businessman managed to win the case, but his appeal against the EU sanctions has been dismissed.

Commenting on his election, Usmanov said he has always been guided by the interests of the federation, and would continue to take all steps to avoid an extension of “the legally untenable sanctions” imposed against him to FIE and its activities.

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Proliferation is becoming one of the most critical threats for the West, the chief of French intelligence has said

Iran could acquire a nuclear weapon within months, Nicolas Lerner, the head of the French Foreign Intelligence Service, has claimed.

Lerner made the remarks on Friday while speaking to reporters in Paris alongside Richard Moore, the head of the British Secret Intelligence Service. He described Tehran’s nuclear program as one of the greatest concerns for Paris and London.

“Our services are working side by side to face what is undoubtedly one of the threats, if not to say the most critical threat, in the coming months – the possible atomic proliferation in Iran,” he said, as quoted by Reuters.

Echoing those concerns, Moore claimed that Iran’s “nuclear ambitions continue to threaten all of us.”

Iran’s work on uranium enrichment has long been viewed by the West as a covert effort to develop nuclear weapons. Concerns rose after the US unilaterally withdrew from the Iran nuclear deal in 2018. As part of the agreement signed three years earlier, Tehran agreed to curb its nuclear program in exchange for partial sanctions relief.

Then US President Donald Trump, however, argued that the deal failed to thwart Iran’s nuclear program, with all diplomatic efforts to revive the agreement in the following years failing to reach a breakthrough.

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Iran maintains that its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes and that it does not seek to develop a weapon. However, since the collapse of the deal, Tehran has increased uranium enrichment to 60%, according to the UN’s International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). To be used in a nuclear bomb, it must be enriched to more than 90%.

The watchdog also said this week that Iran would begin enriching uranium using thousands of advanced centrifuges.

Earlier this month, Kamal Kharrazi, a senior aide to Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, confirmed that Tehran has “the technical capabilities necessary to produce nuclear weapons.”

He stressed that while the country has no plans to do so, “if the survival of Iran comes under serious threat, we reserve the right to reconsider.”

The US has also voiced strong concerns about Iran’s nuclear program, with Secretary of State Antony Blinken suggesting in July that Iran would need “probably one or two weeks” to produce enough weapons grade material for a nuclear bomb.

The Middle East remains in a state of heightened tension, with Iran and Israel locked in a stand-off over the conflict in Gaza.

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Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty has expressed Cairo’s support for the country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity

Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty has said Cairo is concerned over the recent escalation in Syria, in which jihadist militants launched a large-scale assault in Aleppo and Idlib provinces.

Abdelatty made the statement while being briefed on the situation by his Syrian counterpart, Bassam al-Sabbagh, in a phone call on Friday, the Egyptian Foreign Ministry said.

Abdelatty expressed Egypt’s “unwavering support” for Syria and its “national institutions, sovereignty, and territorial integrity.” He commended Damascus for its role in “fostering regional stability and combating terrorism.”

The Hayat Tahrir-al-Sham (HTS) terrorist group, formerly known as Jabhat al-Nusra, and allied militias launched an assault on northern Syria on Wednesday, effectively breaking a truce mediated by Russia and Türkiye in 2020.

The offensive, supported by heavy shelling, reportedly allowed the militants to overrun several areas previously under the control of the Syrian military, and seize parts of Aleppo for the first time since Syrian government forces recaptured it in 2016. The militants have also reportedly seized control of Saraqib, a strategic city in Idlib province.

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The Syrian Armed Forces, which launched a counteroffensive on Thursday, said earlier that they were actively engaged in both Aleppo and Idlib “to repel the offensive by terrorist organizations... backed by a large number of armed foreign terrorists.”

According to a statement on Friday, the Syrian military “inflicted heavy losses” on the militants, killing and wounding hundreds. The Syrian authorities temporarily closed Aleppo Airport and key access roads leading to the city. Clashes between government forces and militants have resulted in the deaths of at least 27 civilians so far, Reuters reported, citing a UN official.

Russia has pledged its support for Syria’s efforts to repel the jihadist forces, with Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov saying on Friday that the assault was an infringement on Syrian sovereignty.

Russian fighter jets stationed in Syria carried out airstrikes against jihadist militants, Colonel Oleg Ignasyuk, the deputy head of the Russian Reconciliation Center for Syria, told reporters in a briefing on Friday, adding that at least 600 militants were killed by Russian and Syrian forces over the two days of the counteroffensive.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi earlier claimed that the US and Israel were responsible for the resurgence of terrorism in Syria. In a phone call with al-Sabbagh on Friday, Araghchi called the offensive “an American-Zionist” plot intended to strike a blow against Syria’s government, which supports Palestine.

READ MORE: ‘American-Zionist plot’ behind jihadists’ Syria offensive – Iran

On Friday, Türkiye called for an end to the attacks on Idlib and Aleppo, with the Foreign Ministry posting on X that “the recent fighting has caused… an undesirable escalation of tensions.”

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Some operators reportedly charge Westerners up to €3,600 to get close to the front lines

With Ukraine’s tourism industry hammered by the conflict with Russia, a number of enterprising guides have found a new source of revenue – showing curious Westerners around battlefields and bomb sites, sometimes for an exorbitant fee.

There are around a dozen such companies catering to the so-called ‘dark tourism’ market, according to various Western media reports over the last year. One such outfit, WarTours Ukraine, told France’s AFP news agency this week that it has had around 30 customers since January, mostly Americans and Europeans.

According to its website, WarTours will show visitors “destroyed military equipment” and “the consequences of missile strikes” around Kiev for €150 ($158). For €250, the company will bring tourists to the towns of Irpin and Bucha to see a “cemetery of destroyed cars” and hear tales of alleged Russian war crimes. For an undisclosed fee, WarTours will take visitors to Kharkov, where Russian forces killed at least 40 foreign fighters of the infamous Kraken Ukrainian nationalist unit in a missile strike last week.

Every tour has a propaganda component, with WarTours promising meetings with “witnesses of Russian crimes” and the company of “a certified guide [who] will tell you everything you need to know about the war.”

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WarTours co-founder Dmitry Nikiforov told AFP that his business is “not about money, it’s about memorialization of the war.” Other tour operators echoed his statement, with Kiev-based Capital Tours telling the news agency that its €120 ‘Horrors of Russian Occupation’ package is intended to “prevent this from ever happening again.” Both firms donate a portion of their earnings to the Ukrainian military.

The Ukrainian government has seemingly realized the propaganda value of taking busloads of Westerners to the sites of supposed war crimes. Mariana Oleskiv, the head of the National Agency for Tourism Development, told AFP that her agency provides specific training to guides and is preparing “memorial tours” in Kiev and its surrounds.

Russia maintains that the alleged massacre of civilians at Bucha in March 2022 was a Ukrainian false-flag operation designed to derail peace talks which were taking place in Istanbul at the time. Moscow insists that the killings took place after its forces had left the town, and has called for a UN investigation into the incident. Russia accused Ukraine of plotting a similar operation in Irpin before its forces left the city in April 2022. Within days of the Russian pullout, the Ukrainian military claimed to have found hundreds of bodies, which the Russian Defense Ministry said were pulled from morgues and strewn in the streets for Western media.

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While WarTours and Capital Tours charge a modest fee for their services, and avoid travel to the front lines, other companies are less scrupulous. One firm contacted by The Telegraph in August offers a week-long “war tour” for €3,600, while others contacted by AFP run multi-day excursions to the area of Ukraine’s disastrous 2023 counteroffensive for €3,300.

Another company which formerly ran tours to the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) has announced that it is already taking bookings for visits to the Kursk NPP, despite the facility being located deep inside Russia’s Kursk Region. The Ukrainian military launched a surprise invasion of Kursk Region in August, an operation that has cost 36,000 men to date, according to the latest figures from the Russian Defense Ministry.

Although the Kursk NPP remains firmly under Russian control, the company claims that it has already received orders to visit the plant from tourists in the US and UK.

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An attack led by Hayat Tahrir-al-Sham has failed to establish permanent positions in Aleppo, the country’s General Command has said

The Syrian military is not allowing terrorists that launched a surprise offensive on Aleppo to establish well-entrenched positions in the city and is gathering forces for a counterattack, the country’s General Command has said. It admitted, however, that dozens of its troops have been killed in the fighting.

Earlier this week, the Hayat Tahrir-al-Sham (HTS) terrorist group, an offshoot of Jabhat al-Nusra, and its allies launched the first major attack in Syria in years, capturing large swaths of land in Idlib and Aleppo and pushing back government forces.

In a statement on Saturday, the Syrian General Command said that the attack was “supported by thousands of foreign terrorists, heavy weapons, and a large number of drones.” It said that the military has fought battles over an area exceeding 100km in a bid to halt their advance.

Absolutely wild scenes from Aleppo today, as islamic terrorists raise the flag of jihad above the Citadel.

Civilians, minorities and ancient heritage are all in grave danger.

pic.twitter.com/YJRkJGlmKe

— ???? ???? ? ?? (@NiohBerg) November 30, 2024

Damascus acknowledged that “dozens of our forces were killed and others were wounded during the battles,” without giving exact figures.

The Command added that the terrorist forces have been able “to enter large parts of Aleppo city” but failed “to establish their positions due to the continued concentrated and strong strikes by our armed forces.” The military is also expecting reinforcements to arrive for a counterattack, the statement added. Authorities are making every effort to ensure the safety of people and to regain control of the entire area, it said.

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Meanwhile, unverified videos circulating on social media appear to show the militants in the center of Aleppo, with one clip depicting an armed man waving a flag at the gates of the city’s historic citadel.

The Syrian military’s response to the attack was backed by Russian airstrikes. According to Oleg Ignasyuk, deputy head of the Russian Reconciliation Center for Syria, Russian and Syrian forces have eliminated about 600 militants over the past two days.

Moscow intervened militarily in Syria in 2015, helping the government of Bashar Assad inflict heavy defeats on numerous terrorist groups, most notably al-Nusra and Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS). Russia maintains a significant military footprint in the country, with bases in Hmeimim and Tartus.

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Leaked papers expose a secret military operation that includes planning attacks, suppressing media and brainwashing the British public

Unless you want to be blind, it is obvious that Ukraine under the Zelensky regime is not remotely a free country. In politics, after massive repression, there are only remnants of an opposition, which face continuing oppression and harassment by the government, as even the French newspaper Le Monde, generally naïve about the Zelensky regime, has reported.

Ukraine’s public sphere is stifled by nationalist propaganda, pressure, and demonstrative, intimidating terror. Before the escalation of 2022, even a robustly propagandistic tool of Western information warfare such as Freedom House could still acknowledge that much: its 2018 report, authored by Ukrainian researcher Vyacheslav Likhachev, identified Ukraine’s Far Right organizations as “a threat to democracy” and “aggressively trying to impose their agenda on Ukrainian society, including by using force against those with opposite political and cultural views.”

Regarding Ukraine’s media, expect not much resistance from there. They are tightly controlled and, often, pro-actively obedient, whether out of misguided conviction, fear, or careerism. Even Ukraine’s Western supporters, as well as some courageous critics in Ukraine, have voiced criticism of the crude propaganda habits of the Zelensky regime.

Make no mistake: The authoritarian features of the rule of Vladimir Zelensky – formerly the object of a veritable Western personality cult that, by now, at least some devotees must feel embarrassed about – are not the result of the large-scale war. The politics of Zelenskyism, to coin an ugly but handy term, were always unusually deceitful and manipulative and, by 2021 at the latest, openly bending toward authoritarianism, as many Ukrainian critics pointed out at the time.

And yet: Imagine a future trial, maybe to be held in Ukraine, of Zelensky and his team. The defense would not be able to do much about their record of corruption, but it would certainly at least try to blame some of the former leader’s underhanded and tyrannical tendencies on the war. It would be a stretch, but lawyers have to do their best, even for the worst of clients.

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In the case of the Western users of the Zelensky regime, though, such a defense would not be merely far-fetched but completely absurd. Yet a defense some of them at least might come to need. Take for instance the case of Britain’s Lieutenant General Charlie Stickland and his shadowy but numerous associates.

The unfortunately important general – boasting of his pirate ancestors and in charge of “UK-led joint and multinational overseas military operations” – and his motley crew have just been the object of an investigative exposé by Grayzone reporter Kit Klarenberg. In, for now, two articles, the Grayzone has detailed how, in 2022, Stickland set up a below-the-radar network of “an assortment of leading academics, authors, strategists, planners, pollsters, comms, data scientists and tech.” Under the name Project Alchemy and overlapping and liaising with another group of wannabe keyboard Ninjas calling themselves – I kid you not – “the Elders,” this conspiratorial group has worked on, in essence, keeping the Ukraine war going at any price and by means foul and fouler.

Based on leaked documents, the Grayzone’s reporting is revealing in more ways than can be discussed here. Yet, as we are dealing with prose authored by militant bureaucrats and self-weaponizing intellectuals in the land of George Orwell, that old stickler for the English language, we would be remiss not to appreciate their bizarre lingo. It brings together a certain jejune rugby field boyishness – “mischief” is proudly being made – with a militarized sociolect of corporatese: “fusion players” and “sideways thinkers” get “badged” and “meshed in” to “move at pace,” and – greatest pride of the eminent executive – stand ready to work over the weekend!

Doing what exactly? All kinds of things, really, and all based on one stupid yet once immensely popular assumption: that the proxy war in Ukraine could be leveraged to defeat Russia, reduce it to geopolitical insignificance, impose regime change on it, and even break it up. Some, including the new de facto foreign minister of the EU, Estonia’s Kaja Kallas – imagine Annalena Baerbock, but without the brilliant intellect – still seem to be on that political equivalent of an LSD trip gone terribly wrong. What a hangover it will be one day, probably soon.

In Britain, highlights of Project Alchemy groupthink included hatching plans for stay-behind sabotage networks and recommending the example of the underground “ Gladio” operations that NATO ran in Western – not, please note, Eastern – Europe during the Cold War. Strictly speaking, Gladio was an Italian label, while the same bad idea had different names in other countries. By now, though, Gladio stands for a whole plethora of clandestine organizations set up, ostentatiously, to engage in partisan resistance in case of a Soviet attack and occupation.

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You may feel that, in principle at least, for generals, preparing for the possibility of future partisan warfare is not an objectionable activity. Yet the issue is that, in reality, the Gladio operations were not only extremely dubious in constitutional and legal terms, as being entirely beyond democratic control and oversight, as well as tied to foreign intelligence services. In addition, these networks served to fight a dirty war against the domestic left, including by terrorism, false-flag attacks, the systematic use of far-right conspirators and terrorists, and support for military coups.

An influential, black-ops-connected British general and his chums wanting to learn lessons from Gladio for underground networks in Ukraine? The country with the best-armed (compliments of the West), most whitewashed and naively underestimated (compliments of the Western media and self-weaponizing intellectuals of the Anne Applebaum/Tim Snyder variety), most aggressive, and most militarized far right in the world? Swimming in arms right next to an EU-NATO Europe they will soon feel bitterly disappointed by? What could possibly go wrong? But maybe Charlie 'Pirate' Stickland is “fusion”-”thinking” “sideways” in Churchillian terms: “Set Europe Ablaze!” Yet Stickland seems to have overlooked that Churchill wanted to set it ablaze against the Nazis, not with them.

All of this is, in and of itself, very bad, if unsurprising, news. But Project Alchemy has been prolific, producing lousy ideas the way Russian industry is churning out artillery shells and missiles. There also were: a frank emphasis on “creatively using” – let’s be honest: breaking – the law so as to get silly violent things done, including “deniable ops”; a daft idea to attack the Kerch Bridge, as if Russia would not strike back (both have by now happened, the militarily useless attack and the painful payback); an anticipatory strategy of how to manipulate the British public in case it should get tired of pumping money into the proxy war; attempts to undermine BRICS-plus (thinking big and bigger); plans to shut down Russian media in the West, obviously; and, last but not least, an aggressive strategy to use covert lawfare and deliberate financial pressure to bring down Western critical media as well, including, as it happens, the Grayzone. Say what you will, but Stickland and company seem to have had a foreboding from where exactly they would get their richly deserved come-uppance.

It would be tempting to think of this wave of disinformation and manipulation in the West as a kind of “Ukrainization.” As if the West had caught the contagion of the Zelensky regime’s very bad habits. But to be fair, the West has its own, well-established tradition of waging war by massive lying on the home front. In 2019, it was the Washington Post, usually hewing close to the American government line, that ran a series of in-depth stories detailing how, during the West’s long war in Afghanistan, started almost two decades before, the US had been “at war with the truth.” Suddenly, clearly in preparation of the impending Western retreat, readers were allowed to learn that while “officials constantly said they were making progress,” they “were not, and they knew it.”

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And the name of that Washington Post series? The Afghanistan Papers. That, of course, was a reference to the famous Pentagon Papers, an internal and classified Defense Department review of US policy and warfare in Vietnam that was leaked to the New York Times by the historic – and heroic – whistleblower Daniel Ellsberg, who suffered severe, criminal attempts to silence, and in effect, destroy him. The long American intervention, begun indirectly in the 1940s and escalating into one of the most brutal US campaigns of the twentieth century in the 1960s, only ended with the total defeat of both Washington and its South Vietnamese proxy in 1975.

The New York Times began to publish the Pentagon Papers in 1971. Once again, as with the later bloody Western fiasco in Afghanistan, the moment of truth – some truth – came late, only toward the end of a policy catastrophe that had long been supported by compliant mainstream media. The Grayzone is considered alternative media, and its reporters are doing a much better job at real journalism than their competition in the mainstream version. As to them, they clearly have not yet reached the stage of always-too-late revelation that, during the proxy wars in Vietnam and Afghanistan, was marked by 1971 and 2019, respectively.

How do we know? They are ignoring the Grayzone’s sensational revelations about a military-think-tank-industry conspiracy to undermine the law, deliberately manipulate the public, and wage proxy war in a way that is both dirty and bound to backfire very badly on the West itself. One more sign that all too many in the West are not yet ready to face reality, even while the Ukrainians they claim to help but only use keep dying.

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Flows must not be disrupted by the latest US sanctions on Moscow, according to the Turkish Energy Minister

Türkiye strongly opposes US sanctions on Russian gas as it cannot be replaced in the medium term, Turkish Energy Minister Alparslan Bayraktar said on Friday according to broadcaster TRT Haber.

Last week, Washington introduced blocking sanctions on more than 50 Russian financial institutions, including Gazprombank, linked to the eponymous gas giant, and six of its international subsidiaries. The measure has cut off Russia’s primary bank for energy-related transactions from the SWIFT interbank messaging system.

“We are against any decision that will affect the gas flow from Russia. If these sanctions come to this point, [it] will harm the Turkish economy, households and 85 million people,” Bayraktar told journalists.

The minister emphasized that Türkiye is the fourth largest gas market in Europe and that Russia is one of the nation’s key gas suppliers. Bayraktar also said that the issue is currently being addressed by the country’s finance and foreign affairs ministries.

Bayraktar also expressed hope that the five-year transit contract for gas pipeline supply from Russia to Europe via Ukraine, which expires on December 31, will be extended. Ukraine has said that it has no plans to prolong the deal. If the flow stops, the EU could potentially lose up to 5% of its total annual consumption.

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“The extension of the agreement will have a positive impact on prices on the gas market. In this case, Türkiye is ready to do whatever is necessary, but I think that the agreement will still be extended,” he said, stressing that the issue of payments via Gazprombank is vital for the EU as well.

Earlier this week, media reports emerged that Ankara was in talks with Washington to secure a Russia sanctions waiver that would allow Türkiye to continue paying for imports of gas from Russia. Bloomberg cited Bayraktar as saying that the latest sanctions “may amount to something very big” for his country if no exemption is made.

Although a NATO member state, Ankara has not implemented sanctions against Russia and has maintained relations with both Moscow and Kiev. Last year, Russian supplies to Türkiye amounted to around 45% of the country’s gas imports.

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At least ten law enforcement officers have been injured in clashes with demonstrators in Tbilisi

Police detained several dozen protesters at demonstrations in the Georgian capital of Tbilisi on Friday night during unrest that ensued after opposition parties denounced the government’s decision to freeze Georgia’s EU accession talks.

According to a statement released on Saturday by the Ministry of Internal Affairs, at least 107 activists have been detained “for disobedience” and “petty hooliganism.”

Crowds of protesters have been flocking to Tbilisi’s central Rustaveli Avenue since Thursday evening, when Georgia’s French-born president, Salome Zourabichvili, accused the country’s ruling Georgian Dream party of declaring “war” on its own people by postponing EU accession negotiations until 2028.

Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze said earlier on Thursday that his government does not renounce the goal of joining the bloc eventually, but won’t take steps to do it now. He accused Brussels of using the talks to meddle in Georgian politics, saying that the country should not bow to “constant blackmail and manipulation” from EU officials.

According to the authorities, during Friday’s protests activists launched fireworks, erected makeshift barricades, set dumpsters on fire, and damaged the entrance gate to the parliament building and video surveillance cameras in the vicinity. The statement noted that protesters had been repeatedly warned to follow Georgia’s assembly and demonstration law, but blatantly disobeyed police commands to keep the rally peaceful and “verbally and physically” assaulted officers. At least ten officers have reportedly been injured as a result of the protesters’ actions.

Earlier reports claimed that some 150 more protesters were detained following Thursday’s demonstrations.

Rallies have been taking place in Georgia since late last month, when Georgian Dream secured victory in parliamentary elections. The party, which advocates pragmatic relations with all of Georgia’s neighbors, including Russia, won a majority with nearly 54% of the vote. However, both the opposition and Zourabichvili refused to recognize the results, claiming the election was rigged despite international observers finding no significant violations.

The EU granted Georgia candidate status in late 2023, but relations between Brussels and Tbilisi soured this year when the latter adopted two laws the bloc saw as controversial. One requires NGOs that receive more than 20% of their funding from abroad to register as foreign agents, while the other bans the dissemination of LGBTQ propaganda.

READ MORE: Police use water cannon against pro-EU protesters in Georgia (VIDEOS)

Earlier this week, the European Parliament adopted a resolution condemning the elections as “neither free nor fair” and called for them to be re-run within a year. The MPs also stated that Georgian Dream’s policies are incompatible with the country’s EU integration.

Kobakhidze on Saturday blamed EU politicians and their agents in the country for the violence in Tbilisi.

“The main responsibility for yesterday’s violent rally lies with the relevant European politicians and bureaucrats, with local agents, the fifth column, which is represented by four opposition parties,” he said at a briefing, expressing gratitude to police officers who prevented an “attack on the constitutional order in the country” by dispersing the protests.

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The “terrorist attack” was carried out by “gangs directed by Serbia,” the breakaway region’s prime minister has claimed

Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti has accused the Serbian authorities of being behind a blast on a canal that provides water to the breakaway region’s two main coal-fired power plants.

Kurti spoke about the attack on the Ibar-Lepenac waterway near the town of Zubin Potok during a televised address on Friday evening. Parts of the region could be left without power if the damage caused by the explosion is not fixed soon, he warned.

"This is a criminal and terrorist attack aimed at damaging our critical infrastructure,” the prime minister said.

The bombing “was carried out by professionals. We believe it comes from gangs directed by Serbia,” he claimed without providing any evidence.

In a post on X, Kurti promised that the authorities in Pristina “will hold those responsible accountable.”

There were no reports of fatalities or injuries as a result of the blast, which also affected water supplies in the breakaway region.

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The government in Belgrade has not yet commented on the incident.

The Serb List, a party representing the interests of the Serb minority in the mainly Albanian-populated Kosovo, told the media that the attack on the canal was “absolutely against the interests of the Serbian people.”

The party demanded an “urgent investigation” into the blast by the NATO-led international peacekeeping force (KFOR) and the EU’s civilian mission to the breakaway region (EULEX).

US ambassador to Kosovo Jeff Hovenier wrote on X that Washington has offered “full support to the government of Kosovo to ensure that those responsible for this criminal attack are identified and held accountable.”

The EU’s envoy to the region, Aivo Orav, also condemned the attack and called for the incident to be investigated.

The explosion on the Ibar-Lepenac Canal is the third attack in Kosovo this week. On Tuesday, unidentified perpetrators threw two grenades into the courtyard of a police station in the town of Zvecan in the north of the region. There was material damage, but no injuries as a result of the incident.

The next day, a municipality building in Zvecan was also targeted with a grenade. The building and four cars parked outside suffered minor damage in the attack, the police said.

READ MORE: Russian gas rejecters will repent – Serbian president

The US and many of its allies recognized Kosovo as a sovereign state in 2008 after the province declared independence. Belgrade still considers the region part of Serbia, as do Russia and China, among other countries.

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Long-range strikes are “reckless military adventurism” by the West and Ukraine, the country’s leader has insisted

Pyongyang will continue to support Moscow in its quest to defend its national sovereignty against the West, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has said, according to the state-run KCNA news agency.

Kim made the remarks during a meeting with Russian Defense Minister Andrey Belousov, who arrived in Pyongyang on Friday to discuss defense cooperation between the two countries.

Relations between Russia and North Korea reached a new high in June when they signed the Treaty on Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, which stipulates that if one side is attacked, the other “shall provide military and other assistance with all means in its possession without delay.”

According to KCNA, Kim lauded the burgeoning cooperation while condemning the recent “reckless military adventurism” by the West and Ukraine, referring specifically to recent US approval for Kiev to strike deep into Russia using foreign-made long-range weapons.

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The action constitutes “direct military intervention in the conflict,” and Russia has the right to “self-defense… and [to] take resolute action to make the hostile forces pay the price,” the North Korean leader said.

He added that “the DPRK… will invariably support the policy of the Russian Federation to defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity from the imperialists’ moves for hegemony” while praising Moscow’s retaliation, which saw the first battlefield use of an Oreshnik medium-range hypersonic missile as an “effective measure.”

Kim assured Belousov that Pyongyang “would always be with Moscow.”

Close ties between Russia and North Korea, which date back to the Soviet era, have been given a new impetus since the start of the Ukraine conflict, with Pyongyang expressing firm support for Moscow’s effort to defend its national interests, particularly when it comes to NATO expansion.

The US and NATO claimed last month that North Korea had sent a significant military force to Russia for training and possible use in battle, potentially to fight Ukrainian forces that have invaded Kursk Region.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has neither confirmed nor denied the reports, while insisting that it is up to the two nations alone to decide how to fulfill their mutual obligations under the new treaty. At the same time, North Korea has described the Western claims as an attempt to tarnish the country’s image on the international stage.

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Pyotr Andryushchenko earlier revealed that around a third of residents have moved back to the city, which is now part of Russia

A Ukrainian official who revealed the extent to which former residents have returned to the now-Russian city of Mariupol has been fired.

According to a Telegram post by the Kiev-assigned city Mayor Vadim Boychenko on Saturday, his adviser Pyotr Andryushchenko has been stripped of his position and will no longer perform his duties as the official speaker of the Mariupol City Council.

The Black Sea city in the Donetsk People’s Republic has been under Russian control since May 2022, when it was captured following an 85-day battle that left much of the city in ruins. The region voted to join Russia later that same year, along with the regions of Lugansk, Kherson, and Zaporozhye.

Earlier this month, Andryushchenko made headlines after claiming that a third of the people who had lived in Mariupol under Ukrainian rule and fled to Kiev-controlled territories amid the fighting have returned to the city due to inadequate support from the government in Kiev.

“The reason is the lack of sufficient support and solutions to the housing issue on the territory of Ukraine. People simply have nowhere to live. Even if they work, there is not enough money to afford rent,” Andryushchenko told the broadcaster Mi-Ukraine.

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His comments caught the attention of a number of Ukrainian officials who accused the government in Kiev of not doing enough to assist people displaced due to the conflict.

Maksim Tkachenko, the people’s deputy from the Servant of the People party, recently claimed that 150,000 internally displaced people have moved to former Ukrainian territories that are now Russian, including around 70,000 to Mariupol alone. He later backtracked, saying his words were an “emotional assumption.”

Boychenko himself acknowledged earlier this month that around 30% of Mariupol’s residents who left the city after the start of the conflict have now returned. In his post announcing the firing of Andryushchenko, Boychenko did not comment on whether the move had anything to do with the adviser’s statements on people returning to Mariupol.

Earlier this week, Irina Vereshchuk, the deputy head of Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky’s office, attempted to refute the claims of people moving to former Ukrainian territories en masse, saying there are no confirmed statistics on this. Vereshchuk called the claims “hype for the sake of good headlines,” but acknowledged that the government is not doing enough to support the displaced, as it currently lacks resources “due to war.”

READ MORE: German companies helping Russia rebuild Mariupol – media

After the escalation of the conflict in February 2022, the Ukrainian authorities paid each internally displaced person 2,000 hryvnia ($50) a month. However, in March this year, most of the payments were cut, and now only pensioners, disabled people, children with disabilities, orphans, and children deprived of parental care are eligible to receive the funds.

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A group of the country’s major news outlets have accused the maker of ChatGPT of breaking copyright terms by using news stories to train its chatbot

A coalition of Canadian news media corporations has filed a lawsuit against OpenAI, alleging that the creator of ChatGPT breached copyright and online terms of use to train its artificial intelligence models.

The suit, filed in the Ontario Superior Court of Justice on Friday, marks the latest in a series of legal actions against OpenAI over the use of data and news materials to train AI systems.

The lawsuit seeks punitive damages from the AI developer, as well as payment of any profits that it made from using news articles published by the media outlets. Moreover, the plaintiffs are looking for a legal ruling that would ban OpenAI from using their news articles in the future.

“OpenAI regularly breaches copyright and online terms of use by scraping large swaths of content from Canadian media to help develop its products, such as ChatGPT,” Torstar, Postmedia, The Globe and Mail, The Canadian Press, and CBC/Radio-Canada said in a joint statement.

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They emphasized that the company was doing this without getting permission or providing compensation to content owners.

“Journalism is in the public interest. OpenAI using other companies’ journalism for their own commercial gain is not. It’s illegal,” the plaintiffs concluded.

The lawsuit is latest among similar legal challenges that the AI developer has faced over the past years. Last December, the New York Times filed a federal lawsuit against OpenAI and Microsoft, alleging copyright infringement.

Earlier this year, US billionaire Elon Musk took the company to court over an alleged breach of its original mission to develop AI technology not for profit but for the benefit of humanity. Two weeks ago, the lawsuit was expanded after the tech entrepreneur added OpenAI’s largest financial backer, Microsoft, as a defendant, and accused both of monopolizing the market for generative artificial intelligence and sidelining competitors.

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Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk has called for “navy policing” in the Baltic Sea to be carried out by countries in the region in order to counter Russia.

Tusk came up with the proposal on Wednesday before traveling to Sweden for a meeting of the heads of governments of the Baltic and Nordic nations.

He noted that NATO countries had already begun carrying out “air policing” above the territory of the Baltic states of Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia.

“I will convince our partners of the need to immediately create an analogous formula when it comes to the control and security of the Baltic waters, to ‘navy policing,’” the prime minister told journalists.

According to Tusk, such patrols should be “a joint undertaking of the countries that lie on the Baltic Sea and that have the same sense of threat when it comes to Russia.”

“If Europe is united, then Russia is a technological, financial and economic dwarf in relation to Europe. But if Europe is divided, Russia poses a threat to each and every European country individually,” he claimed.

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A total of nine countries have access to the Baltic Sea: Russia, Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Germany, and Poland.

The Polish prime minister made his proposal shortly after two underwater cables in the Baltic Sea – going from Finland to Germany and from Sweden to Lithuania, respectively – were severed. German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius called the incident an act of “sabotage,” while Western media reports claimed that the damage was inflicted by a Chinese-registered merchant vessel that had a Russian captain.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov responded to the allegation by saying that “it is quite absurd to continue to blame Russia for everything without any grounds.”

It is not Russia but “Ukraine that prefers to engage in acts of sabotage and terrorism on the bottom of the Baltic Sea,” Peskov pointed out, referring to Kiev’s alleged involvement in blowing up the Nord Stream pipelines in September 2022.

READ MORE: Six bombs used in Nord Stream sabotage – media

In August, Nikolay Patrushev, the former head of Russia’s Security Council, who currently serves as an aide to President Vladimir Putin, warned that “the West is seeking to deprive Russia of access to the Baltic Sea.” According to Patrushev, NATO’s newest members – Sweden and Finland – are being used in an attempt to turn it into “the bloc’s ‘internal sea.’”

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Moscow has observed a voluntary moratorium since 1990

Russia does not rule out the resumption of nuclear tests, which it has not conducted since the waning days of the Soviet Union, Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov has said.

Asked in an interview with TASS on Saturday whether Moscow is considering this option as a response to the escalatory actions of the US, Ryabkov replied that “the issue is on the agenda.”

“Without getting ahead of myself, I will simply say that the situation is quite complex. It is constantly being considered in all its components and aspects,” he said.

Despite being a major nuclear power, modern Russia has never conducted a nuclear test under a voluntary moratorium, with the last one dating back to 1990 before the collapse of the Soviet Union.

The US, Russia’s main nuclear rival, conducted its last test in 1992 and has since relied on computer simulations and subcritical tests, meaning that the tests do not use enough fissile material to produce a self-sustaining reaction. The last known test of this type took place in May, with Moscow saying it was “looking closely at what is happening” at American test sites.

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Russian President Vladimir Putin said last year that Moscow should be ready to resume nuclear testing if the US does. “We know for a fact that some people in Washington are considering running the real-life tests of their nuclear weapons while the US is developing new types of nuclear weapons,” he said at the time. “We won’t be the first to do this, of course, but if the US conducts such a test, then we will too.”

Ryabkov’s comments come after the US allowed Ukraine to carry out strikes deep into Russia using American-made long-range weapons, despite Moscow’s warnings that this would lead to a major escalation of the conflict. After Kiev launched several attacks, Russia retaliated by striking a Ukrainian defense facility with the new Oreshnik medium-range hypersonic missile.

Before this, Moscow also amended its nuclear strategy to stipulate that “aggression against Russia by any non-nuclear state, but with the participation or support of a nuclear state” would be treated as a “joint attack,” crossing the nuclear threshold.

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Moscow’s new weapon could be used to hit Vladimir Zelensky’s HQ in Kiev, Aleksey Zhuravlyov has said

Moscow could use its new Oreshnik ballistic missile to strike Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky’s office in Kiev, senior Russian MP Aleksey Zhuravlyov has said.

Russia revealed the Oreshnik to the world on November 21, when it was used to hit a weapons factory in the Ukrainian city of Dnepr. President Vladimir Putin said the strike was a response to Ukrainian attacks deep inside Russia with Western-supplied missiles, including the ATACMS and Storm Shadow/SCALP-EG.

“I’m confident that the Russian Defense Ministry has already compiled a list of worthy targets on the territory of Ukraine,” Zhuravlyov, the first deputy chair of the parliamentary defense committee, wrote on Telegram on Thursday.

“There is the presidential office on Bankovaya Street [in Kiev], where Zelensky was hiding in a bunker during the first days [of the conflict]. I’m curious whether the Oreshnik can destroy this impenetrable bunker,” he wrote.

Zhuravlyov said the headquarters of the General Staff of the Ukrainian Army in Kiev could be a suitable target.

He added that Russia should strike “logistics hubs for Western weapons in Lviv Region, the Yavorov Military Base, where Western mercenaries are being trained, the bridges across the Dnieper used to transport equipment to the front line.”

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Putin said this week that potential Oreshnik targets include military sites, defense factories, and “decision-making centers in Kiev.”

At a press conference during his trip to Kazakhstan on Thursday, Putin described the missile as an extraordinarily powerful weapon, comparing its effects to the impact of a large meteorite. “Anything located in the epicenter is reduced to dust,” he said.

Outgoing US President Joe Biden officially lifted the restrictions on the use of ATACMS by Ukraine earlier this month. Putin described the move as a dangerous escalation that “changes the nature” of the conflict. He has argued that sophisticated missiles such as ATACMS cannot be fired without the involvement of Western personnel, which is tantamount to NATO’s direct participation in the conflict.

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The Ukrainian leader has said Kiev could sign a truce without recapturing territory from Russia

Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky has said for the first time that he might be willing to agree to a ceasefire with Russia without taking control of territory he demands be returned to Kiev.

Zelensky has previously insisted that only the “complete withdrawal” of Russian forces from territory that was once part of Ukraine and the restoration of the country's 1991 borders would serve as a precondition for peace negotiations.

In an interview with Sky News on Friday, Zelensky was asked to comment on recent reports that US President-elect Donald Trump’s team is considering allowing Russia to keep territory claimed by Ukraine in exchange for Kiev becoming a NATO member.

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“Ukraine joins NATO, but Russia takes control and keeps the land that it has to date. Would that be a possibility?” Ramsay asked.

Zelensky said it could potentially serve as a foundation for a ceasefire. “If we want to stop the hot phase of the war, we need to take under the NATO umbrella the territory of Ukraine that we have under our control,” he said.

“We need to do it fast. And then on the [occupied] territory of Ukraine, Ukraine can get them back in a diplomatic way,” he added.

Zelensky claimed that this arrangement has never been officially offered to Ukraine. He clarified that Kiev will not formally renounce claims on Crimea and four other regions which joined Russia following referendums in 2014 and 2022 respectively.

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“We cannot, by law, recognize any Ukrainian territory under occupation of Russia as Russian. That is impossible. That is against the Constitution of Ukraine,” Zelensky said.

Ukraine applied to join the US-led alliance in September 2022. NATO has made it clear, however, that Ukraine cannot become a member until the conflict with Russia is resolved.

Moscow has insisted that Ukraine must withdraw its troops from the parts of Donbass it controls and recognize Russia’s current borders. The country must also become neutral and abandon its plans to join NATO.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has cited NATO’s expansion eastward as one of the root causes of the conflict.

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Hundreds of jihadist fighters have been killed around Aleppo, Moscow has said

Russian fighter jets stationed in Syria have carried out airstrikes against jihadist militants attacking the northern city of Aleppo, the spokesman for Moscow’s expeditionary force has said.

The Hayat Tahrir-al-Sham (HTS) terrorist group and allied militias attacked government-controlled territory in northern Syria on Wednesday, breaking a fragile truce mediated by Russia and Türkiye in 2020.

“Providing support to the Syrian Arab Army, the Russian Aerospace Forces are carrying out missile and bomb strikes on the equipment and manpower of illegal armed groups, command posts, warehouses, and artillery positions of terrorists. Over the past 24 hours, at least 200 militants have been eliminated,” Colonel Oleg Ignasyuk, the deputy head of the Russian Reconciliation Center for Syria, told reporters in a briefing on Friday. He added that another 400 militants were killed by Russian and Syrian forces the day before.

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Earlier in the day, HTS told Al Jazeera and Türkiye’s Anadolu news agency that its fighters had entered several neighborhoods of Aleppo. The group claimed to have taken control of over 400 square kilometers of land in Aleppo and Idlib provinces and captured heavy weaponry and other equipment from the Syrian Army. Videos shared on social media purportedly show HTS gunmen moving through Aleppo on foot and in armored vehicles.

The government in Damascus said its troops have “inflicted heavy losses” on the attackers and regained control of some areas. Local media reported the arrival of Syrian Army reinforcements to both Idlib and Aleppo on Friday.

Before adopting its current name in 2017, HTS was known as Jabhat al-Nusra, and was one of the main Sunni islamist factions opposing President Bashar Assad’s government during the Syrian Civil War. Jabhat al-Nusra was originally founded as an offshoot of Al-Qaeda in Syria.

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Russia intervened in the conflict in 2015, helping Assad retake much of the country from al-Nusra, Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS), and dozens of US-supported armed groups described by Washington as ‘moderate rebels’.

Syrian forces lifted the nearly five-year siege of Aleppo in December 2016 and pushed al-Nusra and other groups west into Idlib province. Türkiye took responsibility for Idlib in 2018, vowing to separate terrorists from “legitimate rebels,” but never did so. A March 2020 agreement between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan was meant to permanently end the fighting around Idlib.

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Clashes have taken place outside the parliament building in the capital, Tbilisi

Clashes between protesters and riot police continued for the second night in a row in Georgia’s capital, Tbilisi, where opposition parties denounced the government’s decision to freeze negotiations on joining the EU.

Just like the day before, a large crowd of protesters descended on the central Rustaveli Avenue on Friday evening to hold a rally outside the parliament building.

While some attendees were peaceful, others launched fireworks and threw objects at police officers.

Some erected small makeshift barricades and set dumpsters on fire.

At around midnight, police moved to disperse the crowd using a water cannon. According to the Interior Ministry, the action was taken in response to multiple violations of assembly laws by protesters and after two officers were injured.

According to local media, several people have been detained.

A coalition of opposition parties and Georgia’s pro-EU president, Salome Zourabichvili, have called the current government “illegitimate” and accused the ruling Georgian Dream party of rigging last month’s parliamentary election.

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In a post on X, Zourabichvili described the crackdown on protesters as “brutal and disproportionate.”

Mamuka Mdinaradze, the leader of Georgian Dream in the parliament, claimed that the opposition was planning to “organize riots” in order to destabilize the situation in the country.

Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze defended the decision to suspend accession talks with the EU until 2028, arguing that Brussels has used the negotiations to meddle in Georgian politics. “For two years, the status of [EU] candidate has been used as a blackmail method… It must stop,” he said at a press conference on Friday.

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The bombing has thwarted the offensive launched by militants on the town of Tel Rifat, RIA Novosti has reported

Syria has launched an airstrike targeting a motorized column of terrorists in the country's northwestern Aleppo Province, RIA Novosti has reported, citing local security sources. The news agency has published aerial footage showing the raid.

The strike was ordered in response to a surprise counteroffensive launched by the militants against Syrian troops on Wednesday. Hayat Tahrir-al-Sham (HTS), a terrorist group formerly known as Jabhat al-Nusra and affiliated with Al Qaeda, attacked government-controlled territory in the north of the country on Wednesday alongside a collection of allied militias, breaking a fragile truce brokered by Russia and Türkiye in 2020.

A short black-and-white clip shows a column of vehicles moving along a road through open terrain. The group is then engulfed in a series of powerful explosions, with fire and smoke rising high into the air. It is unclear what types of heavy equipment the jihadists had in their possession as the vehicles are barely distinguishable in the video.

A Syrian security source told RIA that the column consisted of heavy armor the terrorists had planned to use in an offensive on the town of Tel Rifat, located some 35 kilometers to the north of the provincial capital Aleppo.

Earlier, RIA published another video showing a strike against various facilities reportedly occupied by the jihadists. The attacks were aimed and preventing the terrorists from staging another offensive on Aleppo from the province of Idlib, which was left outside the control of Damascus following the Syrian conflict.

Russian aircraft also launched a series of attacks against the terrorists following the surprise offensive. More than 400 jihadists were killed in the airstrikes, the Russian military said on Friday.

The Syrian Arab Army also claimed that the strikes had inflicted devastating losses on the extremists.

HTS and allied groups have claimed to have seized some 400 square kilometers of territory, reaching the outskirts of the city of Aleppo on Thursday, Turkish news agency Anadolu reported on Friday. They also claim to have captured some heavy weaponry and military hardware from the Syrian Army. Dozens of civilians have been killed in the terrorist assault since Wednesday, according to the UN.

READ MORE: Russian jets strike jihadists near Aleppo and Idlib in Syria – military

Moscow has called the developments “an attack on Syria’s sovereignty in the region” and urged Damascus to restore “order there as soon as possible.” Iran branded the terrorist offensive “an American-Zionist” plot, suggesting that Washington and West Jerusalem were using HTS as proxies to strike a blow against Assad’s government, which supports the Palestinian cause.

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Sir Richard Moore of MI6 has voiced confirmation of years-long rumors

British Secret Intelligence Service agents have been involved in covert operations against Russia on behalf of Ukraine, SIS head Sir Richard Moore has said.

The SIS was created by the WWII-era Special Operations Executive and is also known as MI6. Moore made the admission in a speech at the British Embassy in Paris on Friday at the reception for his French counterpart, Nicolas Lerner of the DGSE.

“We cherish our heritage of covert action which we keep alive today in helping Ukraine resist the Russian invasion,” Moore said at one point.

His admission came just a day after former UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson openly declared that Ukraine is a proxy of NATO in a war against Russia.

“Let’s face it: We’re waging a proxy war but not giving our proxies the ability to do the job,” Johnson told the Daily Telegraph, arguing that “the problem has not been escalation; the problem has been the failure to escalate fast enough.”

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Russia has long known about the role of British – and American – intelligence operatives in Ukraine. Last month, Moscow’s ambassador to the UN, Vassily Nebenzia, told the Security Council that “Western intelligence agencies, primarily the British MI6, have systematically prepared Ukrainian sabotage and reconnaissance groups to organize provocations at nuclear power plants in Russia.”

According to Ukrainian media, the UK has also pushed Kiev into military adventures such as the Krynki bridgehead, where hundreds of elite marines perished trying to create a foothold on the other bank of the Dnieper. British mercenaries have also taken part in the Ukrainian incursion into Russia’s Kursk Region.

In February, the New York Times revealed an almost decade-long effort by the CIA to shape Ukraine into a weapon against Russia, implicating several allied intelligence services as well. The current head of Ukrainian military intelligence (HUR), Kirill Budanov, is among the operatives trained by American spies.

The CIA and the MI6 were on the ground in Ukraine as early as 2014, former Ukrainian Security Service (SBU) employee Vasily Prozorov testified in March 2019. Speaking in Moscow, Prozorov named some of the British agents who visited the front line in Donbass, as well as the special forces training grounds in Berdichev.

In his speech in Paris, Moore insisted that France and Britain are “united and unflinching in our determination to support Ukraine for as long as it takes,” arguing that NATO can prevail because it has “many times Russia’s GDP and defense budget.”

“We should never doubt that our alliance has strength in numbers, both economic and military, and our unity of purpose makes that count,” the British spymaster claimed, adding that “Our democracy is our strength.”

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Dmitry Kuleba has said that Kiev was “lucky” to get the support it did, but now lacks the ability to defeat Russia

Ukraine lacks the means to gain the upper hand against Russia and will “lose the war” if the situation continues as it is, former Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmitry Kuleba has told the Financial Times, adding that US President Joe Biden was too fearful of nuclear war to give Kiev the weapons it would need to win.

“Do we today have the means and tools to turn the tables and change the trajectory of how things are happening? No, we don’t,” Kuleba told the British newspaper in an interview published on Friday, adding: “And if it continues like this, we will lose the war.”

Kuleba’s comments came after the US and France gave Ukraine permission to use their long-range missiles to strike internationally-recognized Russian territory. While extremely escalatory, President Vladimir Putin said that the move “cannot affect the course of combat operations,” and that all of Moscow’s military goals will be achieved.

Kuleba stepped down as Kiev’s chief diplomat in September, amid a large-scale purge of senior officials by Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky. Before his resignation, he had repeatedly insisted that a battlefield victory was possible for Ukraine, as long as the country’s Western backers would hand over sufficient quantities of heavy weaponry.

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His demands for weapons and money were often abrasive, as was the case when he told German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock to hand over long-range cruise missiles, as it was “just a matter of time” before she would “do it anyway.”

“We Ukrainians are lucky that Joe Biden was the president of the United States in 2022, because if it was someone else, things would have gone much worse for us,” he told the Financial Times. However, he claimed that the US president had slow-walked the delivery of certain weapons systems, as his “Cold War logic” made him too fearful of provoking nuclear war with Russia.

Under Biden, the US has allocated $131.36 billion for Ukraine, according to figures published by the Pentagon earlier this month. Just under $90 billion of this amount has actually been transferred, according to Germany’s Kiel Institute for the World Economy, which tracks military, economic, and humanitarian aid to Kiev.

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With less than two months to go until President-elect Donald Trump takes office, Biden has reportedly asked Congress to authorize an additional $24 billion in Ukraine-related spending, in a bid described by Politico as a “long shot.”

Even if this multibillion-dollar aid tranche is authorized, Ukraine is facing a well-documented manpower shortage. Kiev has lost up to half a million troops since 2022, The Economist reported this week, a claim approaching the Russian Defense Ministry’s official tally.

With desertion reportedly on the rise and Ukrainian recruiters turning to increasingly more brutal methods such as the use of press gangs, the White House has urged Kiev to begin drafting teenagers to fulfil its recruitment goals, the Associated Press reported on Wednesday.

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The interplay of external forces mirrors broader trends of rivalry among major powers, increasing the likelihood of a large-scale conflict

In recent days, northern Syria has witnessed intense fighting, marking the most violent clashes since March 2020, when a ceasefire was brokered with the involvement of Russia and Türkiye. On the morning of November 27, anti-government groups launched an offensive in the Aleppo and Idlib provinces. According to reports, the operation involves Islamist factions, including Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), a group banned in Russia, as well as armed opposition forces such as the US and Turkish-backed Free Syrian Army.

By the morning of November 28, opposition forces declared the capture of about a dozen settlements, including strategically significant areas such as Urm al-Sughra, Anjara, and Al-Houta, located west of Aleppo. Additionally, they claimed to have seized the 46th Brigade Base, the largest military base of the Syrian army. Rebel sources reported capturing five tanks, an infantry fighting vehicle, and a stockpile of missiles. On the same day, insurgents conducted a precision strike on a helicopter at the An-Nayrab airbase. Reports from Anadolu and CNN indicated that key positions, including Kafr Basma, Urum al-Kubra, and several strategic highlands, fell under rebel control.

On November 28, the group Al-Fateh al-Mubin announced the capture of Khan al-Assal, located just 7 kilometers from Aleppo, along with ten tanks. The rebels claimed that panic and declining morale were spreading among President Bashar Assad’s forces. Meanwhile, the offensive also advanced south and east of Idlib, a rebel stronghold since 2015. The rebels reported taking Dadikh and Kafr Batikh, near the vital M5 highway.

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Over the course of three days, militants reportedly captured at least 70 settlements, spanning approximately 400 square kilometers across both provinces. By the evening of November 29, some participants in the operation even declared the capture of Aleppo, Syria’s second-largest city. They stated their mission was to “liberate the city from the cruelty and corruption of the criminal regime,” aiming to restore dignity and justice to its people.

Al-Fateh al-Mubin launched a Telegram channel to document the operation, named “Deterring Aggression.” The channel has been cited by leading international and regional media outlets. According to the militants, their offensive was a response to alleged intensified airstrikes by Russian and Syrian forces on civilian areas in southern Idlib, as well as anticipation of potential Syrian army attacks.

Why has the conflict gained new momentum?

Before the current crisis, the Idlib province had remained the last major stronghold of armed opposition to Assad’s government throughout the Syrian conflict. The region became a focal point of overlapping interests among various local and international powers, creating a volatile and tense environment.

In 2017, as part of the Astana peace process, Russia, Türkiye, and Iran agreed to establish de-escalation zones, with Idlib designated as one of them. The purpose of these agreements was to reduce the intensity of hostilities and create conditions for a political resolution. However, the ceasefire was repeatedly violated, and military operations persisted, escalating the conflict. The growing influence of radical Islamist groups, such as Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), complicated dialogue between the parties, as many of these organizations were excluded from negotiations and classified as terrorist groups.

Türkiye, driven by strategic interests and concerns over a new wave of refugees, increased its military presence in Idlib. It supported certain opposition forces and established a network of observation posts, occasionally leading to direct confrontations with the Syrian army and straining relations with Russia. This added another layer of complexity to an already fraught situation, fueling further clashes.

The humanitarian situation in Idlib continued to deteriorate. Ongoing hostilities triggered a large-scale humanitarian crisis, displacing millions of people, many of whom became refugees in neighboring countries or were displaced internally. A lack of adequate humanitarian aid and worsening living conditions heightened tensions and eroded trust in authorities. This created fertile ground for radicalization, driving recruitment into armed groups.

Idlib’s strategic significance was also a key factor. The province’s location at the intersection of critical transport routes and its border with Türkiye gave it both military and economic importance. Control over this territory became a priority for all parties involved, intensifying the struggle and hindering progress toward a peaceful resolution.

The radicalization of the opposition and the presence of extremist elements within its ranks further complicated prospects for peace. These groups had little interest in negotiations and sought to prolong armed conflict, undermining international efforts to stabilize the region. Simultaneously, internal challenges facing the Syrian government, such as economic difficulties, international sanctions, and domestic divisions, weakened its position. This likely prompted the government to pursue more aggressive military action to consolidate control and project strength.

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Thus, the current escalation in Idlib stems from a complex interplay of geopolitical interests, internal divisions, opposition radicalization, and severe humanitarian issues. Resolving the crisis requires coordinated international efforts, including active dialogue involving all stakeholders, humanitarian initiatives to alleviate civilian suffering, and a political settlement that considers the interests of various groups and promotes sustainable peace. Without a willingness to compromise and collaborate, the conflict in Idlib risks further escalation, posing a threat to regional stability and international security.

Who is behind the escalation?

While many speculated that Türkiye could be a beneficiary of the recent escalation – seeking to pressure Assad into normalizing relations between Ankara and Damascus –Türkiye’s official stance remained ambiguous. Statements and comments from Turkish authorities were contradictory: on the one hand, Ankara appeared to provide undeniable support to Assad’s opponents; on the other, it seemed reluctant to take responsibility for the unfolding events and expressed clear frustration with the actions of the Idlib-based “opposition.”

Türkiye faced a critical decision: either continue to support the outdated status quo, potentially harming both itself and the region, or, in line with its public declarations of a desire to restore ties with Damascus and its commitments under the Astana process, assist its partners – Russia and Iran – as well as neighboring Syria in resolving the situation in Idlib.

There are also suggestions that the current escalation could have been orchestrated by external actors such as Israel and the US. The flare-up began shortly after a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah and a week following reports of Western long-range missiles being used in strikes deep within Russian territory, along with Russia’s retaliatory test of the Oreshnik missile system. It is possible that the US and Israel, leveraging the situation in Ukraine, tensions with Iran, and Ankara’s anti-Israel stance and refusal to join anti-Russian sanctions, instigated unrest in Syria to achieve several objectives.

One such objective might have been to deny Iran and its allies in the Levant a respite, opening a new “front” against Tehran and sowing discord between Tehran and Ankara. Additionally, it could have been aimed at increasing the strain on Russia’s Aerospace Forces supporting Damascus, thereby diverting Russian resources amid its involvement in Ukraine. The West may have sought to further weaken Russia’s position, possibly hoping to open a “second front” against Moscow with the expectation of achieving gains in Syria.

For Damascus, the escalation might have served as a pressure tactic to dissuade its support for Hezbollah and its involvement in the anti-Israel front. It may also have aimed to prevent normalization with Türkiye and the formation of a unified anti-Kurdish (and thus anti-American) coalition involving Moscow, Tehran, Ankara, and Damascus east of the Euphrates.

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As for Türkiye, the situation could have been used to exert pressure by threatening a new wave of refugees, heightened security instability, and worsening economic conditions. This would complicate Ankara’s operations against Kurdish forces in Syria, hinder normalization with Damascus, and strain its relations with Russia and Iran.

Thus, it is plausible that the current escalation in Idlib was initiated by Israel and the US, aiming to further weaken Iran and create rifts in Russia-Türkiye relations. This underscores the multilayered nature of the Syrian conflict, where external actors exploit regional tensions to advance their strategic interests. The situation highlights the need for clear political positions and coordinated actions by regional powers to address Syria’s challenges and ensure stability in the region.

The war in Idlib: A harbinger of potential global catastrophe

The escalation in Syria’s Idlib province transcends the bounds of a localized conflict, serving as a stark warning of global instability. The northwest of the country has become a battlefield where the interests of global powers converge, and the intensifying violence reflects the deep fractures in the current world order. The involvement of numerous external players pursuing their own agendas has turned the region into a microcosm of geopolitical contradictions, potentially foreshadowing a broader global crisis.

The resurgence of long-standing conflicts, such as Israel’s military actions in Gaza and Lebanon, amplifies tensions on the international stage. These seemingly dormant or controlled confrontations are reigniting with renewed intensity, posing threats to regional and global stability. The revival of these underscores the inability of existing mechanisms to effectively prevent escalation and address the underlying causes of discord.

Global tensions are nearing a critical tipping point, as many “frozen” conflicts begin to “bleed.” The old world order, built on principles and institutions shaped during the last century, is proving inadequate to meet the challenges of globalization, technological progress, and shifting power dynamics. International organizations and agreements frequently falter in the face of contemporary threats, whether terrorism, cybersecurity, or hybrid warfare.

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Constructing a new world order requires a rethinking of existing structures and, perhaps, dismantling outdated approaches. This transition is inherently fraught with conflict, as the shift from the old to the new is rarely smooth. Competing powers and blocs are striving to safeguard their interests, heightening the risk of confrontation unless a common understanding and mutual trust can be established.

The situation in Idlib epitomizes this painful transitional phase. It highlights how regional conflicts can escalate into global crises if left unresolved. The interplay of external forces in Syria mirrors broader trends of rivalry and mistrust among major powers, further increasing the likelihood of a large-scale conflict.

In conclusion, the escalation in Idlib and other global hotspots serves as a warning that the world is on the brink of profound change. To avoid sliding into a global conflict, the international community must work collaboratively to establish a new, more resilient world order capable of addressing modern challenges. This requires dialogue, compromise, and a willingness to overcome old divisions for the sake of a shared future.

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