Category: World

Former Syrian leader Bashar Assad has shared his first comments since being overthrown by rebel groups. He said he had no plans to leave Syria after the fighting reached Damascus. However, after insurgents attacked the capital, he left the city on December 8 with help from Russian forces. Assad explained that he traveled to the Russian military base in Latakia, a coastal area, where he intended to keep fighting. Later that night, after the base was attacked by drones, the Russians decided to move him to Russia for safety. Assad clarified that he did not leave as part of a pre-planned escape, despite earlier reports.

Estonia has decided to ask leaders of the northern European NATO countries, who are led by the UK, to spend at least 2.5% of their money (GDP) on defense. This is because of worries about Russia. Right now, only 23 out of the 32 NATO countries plan to spend the NATO goal of 2% of their GDP on defense.

Michal, a leader in Estonia, told Reuters recently, “Everyone in NATO and the EU feels that we need to spend more on defense because of what’s happening around the world and with Russia.” He believes that Europe, being the richest area in the world, should invest more in defense and security.

This week, Michal is hosting leaders of a group called the Joint Expeditionary Force in Tallinn. They will discuss Russia’s “shadow fleet” of oil tankers, which could cause serious environmental problems. Since the war in Ukraine began nearly three years ago, Estonia has doubled its defense budget and plans to reach 3.2% of GDP in 2024.

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer mentioned in July that he wants to raise UK defense spending to 2.5% of GDP but only when the UK can afford it after reviewing its defense strategy.

Incoming U.S. President Donald Trump has spoken about ending the war in Ukraine quickly, but he hasn’t shared his plans. Michal stressed the need for lasting peace and suggested using 200 to 300 billion euros from Russia’s frozen assets worldwide to help rebuild Ukraine. He also wants to tax Russian goods to collect an additional 300 billion euros, which he believes would prevent Russia from continuing attacks and strengthen Ukraine’s military.

“Ukraine is part of Europe and should be in NATO,” Michal added.

A heartbreaking accident happened on Friday when a 26-year-old woman from Tenali, Andhra Pradesh, lost her life in a crash in the United States. Nagasri Vandana Parimala, who was studying for her master’s degree in data science, got into a collision with a truck in Memphis, Tennessee. She was driving with two friends, who were badly hurt in the crash.

Vandana moved to the U.S. in December 2022 and worked hard as a conference assistant at her university. She was responsible for organizing events and creating important reports while studying. On the fateful Friday night, she was driving home from work after picking up her friends when the accident occurred near Rockwood Avenue in Memphis. Although she was quickly taken to the hospital, Vandana sadly passed away from her injuries. Her friends suffered serious injuries, with one reported to be in critical condition.

Vandana’s family was informed about her death by local authorities in Tennessee. The minister of Andhra Pradesh, Nadendla Manohar, expressed his condolences and offered support to her family. Her father, Ganesh, who runs a business in Tenali, mentioned that the Telugu Association of North America is helping bring her body back to Tenali for her final rites.

Before moving to the U.S., Vandana worked at a company in Chennai from January 2021 to December 2022. She was a source code professional and earned her bachelor’s degree in technology (electronics and communications) in 2020 from a private college in her hometown.

Germany’s political parties haven’t worked together much since Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s coalition fell apart in November. Even though the collaboration between the Free Democrats (FDP) and the government ended, there’s a chance that some important laws could still be passed before the early elections set for February 23.

After the FDP left the coalition, Scholz’s government lost its majority, leaving many planned laws uncertain. However, on Friday, the FDP said it would support some of the laws that were already close to being finished. Scholz is set to hold a vote of confidence on Monday and has asked lawmakers to unite and finalize important measures before the elections.

What Laws Could Get Passed This Week?

The old coalition parties – the SPD, Greens, and FDP – agreed on Friday to provide income tax relief and raise child benefits. This plan means that over €11 billion (around $11.6 billion) in tax cuts will be available for 2025 and 2026. Additionally, child benefit payments will increase by €5, bringing the total to €255 each month.

Another key item is the Deutschlandticket, which allows unlimited travel on local transport for a monthly fee of €58 next year. Many people like this idea, but it needs approval for its €1.5 billion cost. Conservative leader Friedrich Merz has stated he will support it.

There might also be new measures to protect Germany’s constitutional court. This court might be at risk if parties on the right or left gain enough seats after the election. This could stop new judges from being appointed, causing delays in the court’s work.

What Laws Probably Won’t Pass?

A law to build more hydrogen-ready power stations was in the works but will likely not happen. These stations are needed to support wind and solar energy, but there isn’t enough time to pass the law. New Finance Minister Joerg Kukies mentioned that the 2025 budget also won’t pass, but the old plan will be used temporarily until a new government takes over.

While the cabinet wanted to extend a rent freeze until 2029, Merz said his party wouldn’t agree because the current freeze lasts until the end of 2025. Scholz’s idea to lower the VAT on food from 7% to 5% is also not expected to work, as both conservatives and FDP think it’s just a move for election votes.

Scholz’s plan for a guaranteed minimum pension of 48% of the average wage is also unlikely to get enough support. His proposal to limit electricity transmission costs to 3 cents per kilowatt-hour also lacks backing from the opposition.

Former Syrian President Bashar Al Assad reportedly sent a huge amount of money, around $250 million, to Moscow between 2018 and 2019. This money was transferred in US dollars and Euros. Reports say this shows how strong Assad’s financial ties were with Russia during the Syrian Civil War.

Documents indicated that flights from the Syrian Central Bank brought cash to Vnukovo Airport in Moscow, where it was put into Russian banks. Russia has been a major supporter of Assad ever since the war began in Syria in 2011, especially when Assad was running low on money.

These transactions took place from March 2018 to September 2019, right after Russian forces helped Assad fight against rebels trying to take over Damascus. The cash transfers included big amounts, sometimes $10 million or $20 million at a time, mostly using $100 bills and €500 bills.

Recently, rebel groups, led by Hayat Tahrir Al Sham, got very close to Damascus after quickly taking control of several cities, including Aleppo. But where was Assad? He left Syria early one morning and flew to Russia. The Kremlin later confirmed that he now has political asylum there.

A heron flew high in Rio de Janeiro on Sunday after veterinarians saved it from a terrible fate. The bird had a plastic cup stuck to its neck, making it hard to eat and breathe. When they rescued it, many people in Brazil became upset about how plastic pollution harms animals in the city known for its beautiful mountains and beaches.

As the heron was released from its cage, it paused, looking around before taking off into the sky, its wings spread wide as it soared over the river in a neighborhood called Recreio dos Bandeirantes. “I hope it doesn’t find any more plastic on its journey,” said Jeferson Pires, a vet who spotted the heron and shared its story on social media.

Before it was rescued, the logo of a popular drink was easy to see on the cup stuck to the heron’s neck. Videos showed the bird trying hard to remove the cup with its orange beak. Environmentalist Isabelle de Loys said, “This highlights how plastic affects wildlife.”

The cup blocked the heron from eating, which could have led to starvation in just days without surgery. At one point, the heron even vomited a fish it couldn’t swallow because of the cup. Pires explained that injuries on the bird’s neck were likely from its attempts to eat, leaving it a bit underweight.

Thanks to Pires’ social media posts, the heron became a symbol for environmental awareness, receiving attention from many news outlets in Brazil and sparking anger over the effects of single-use plastics.

After the cup was removed, Pires was excited to let the heron go back to its home in the wild. “We had no reason to keep her,” he said. This bird, called a Cocoi heron, is the largest heron species in Latin America and can weigh up to 3 kg (7 lbs) with wings about 40 cm (16 inches) long.