Category: World

Thousands of happy Syrians gathered at the famous Umayyad Mosque in Damascus for Friday prayers, cheering and waving flags opposing the former president, Bashar al-Assad. This exciting celebration happened after rebels took control of the city, something no one expected just a week ago. Families, including kids, came together with armed fighters, celebrating their freedom.

It felt like the early days of the protests in 2011 when people stood up for democracy. Nour Thi al-Ghina, a 38-year-old woman, said, “We are so happy to be free from the prison we lived in.” Rebel fighters handed out flowers and let children take pictures with their guns, showing that they want to build a peaceful future together.

Some held flags representing a free Syria, a sight that was dangerous under Assad’s rule. Many people hung pictures of loved ones who had disappeared in Assad’s jails around the mosque, reminding everyone of the past struggles.

On this special day, rebel leader Abu Mohammed al-Jolani asked everyone to celebrate their victory. People sang songs about unity, saying, “One, one, one, the Syrian people is one!”

Omar al-Khaled, a 23-year-old, said he had made the journey from the area of Idlib, excited to see Damascus for the first time. He said, “My dream has come true! It feels amazing to finally be here.” Amani Zanhur, a 42-year-old professor, expressed hope for a better future, adding that many people suffered in prisons under Assad’s rule.

With cheerfulness in the air, thousands of people waved a big rebel flag and felt positive about moving toward a bright new beginning for Syria.

Barron Trump, the youngest son of President Donald Trump and Melania Trump, is making headlines at New York University’s Stern School of Business. He started college in September and is reportedly fitting in well. Many students find Barron attractive, and he has quickly become popular, especially with the girls. An insider said, “He’s really handsome and tall, and even some liberal students like him.”

When Barron first arrived at school, he had security with him for safety. He wore a white polo shirt and black pants, carrying a backpack over one shoulder. This moment was a big step for him, especially since he graduated from Oxbridge Academy in Florida just a few months earlier. His dad mentioned earlier that Barron chose to attend a good school in New York, which turned out to be NYU.

Melania Trump, Barron’s mother, recently shared that her son can’t experience college like a regular student. She explained on a TV show, “I don’t think it’s possible for him to have a normal college experience. He knows he is in a different position.” She praised Barron for being strong and for handling his unique situation well. Melania called him a “grown young man” and expressed pride in how knowledgeable he is, especially about politics.

Barron played a role during the 2024 presidential election, helping to bring many young voters. Even though he didn’t go to the Republican National Convention as a delegate, he still supported his father behind the scenes. Balancing college life while being in the spotlight has been tough. Melania said, “I don’t think it’s possible for him to have a normal college experience,” but she admires his strength.

Do you love puzzles that get your mind working? The NYT Connections puzzle is a thrilling challenge that mixes logic, creativity, and pattern spotting. In this game, you see a grid full of random words and your goal is to find hidden connections to group them into categories. This game sharpens your thinking skills and boosts your creativity while helping you learn new words.

Connections, made by Wyna Liu, asks you to look for clever patterns among the words. It’s a fun brain workout! You can play on any device, making it great for a quick break or a deep-thinking session. With its easy-to-use design, it’s enjoyable for everyone, no matter how good you are at puzzles!

How to Play NYT Connections?

In Connections, you get 16 random words and must sort them into four groups based on hidden themes. The words cover a lot of topics, like science, history, pop culture, and current events. Some words might trick you, so think hard and creatively to find their links!

Every puzzle has one correct answer, which makes it a blend of strategy and quick thinking. Are you ready to challenge your mind? Jump into Connections, find the patterns, and see how fast you can group the words!

NYT Connections Hints for December 13

– Fantasy Creatures: DRAGON, GIANT, PIXIE, TROLL
– Email Folders: DRAFTS, SENT, SPAM, TRASH
– Citrus Sodas: CRUSH, SPRITE, SQUIRT, STARRY
– Animal Homophones: BORE, LINKS, PHISH, TOWED

As Donald Trump threatens to raise tariffs on Chinese goods, China is trying to act quickly and make its own rules before he takes office again. Experts believe that China wants to get the U.S. back to the negotiating table to talk about trade, science, and technology without triggering a full trade war.

China’s economy is not doing well, and it knows new tariffs could make things worse. This week, China announced it will investigate American company Nvidia for suspected unfair business practices. This comes after China banned some exports of rare minerals to the U.S.

Fred Neumann, an economist at HSBC, thinks China’s actions are just the start of negotiations with the U.S., rather than a fight where both sides walk away unhappy. George Magnus from Oxford University agrees that China can handle most tariffs unless they are extremely high, like 60%.

China is now leading in areas like electric vehicles and green energy, which means it doesn’t rely as much on U.S. goods like Boeing jets as it used to. However, China still needs to buy important technology from the U.S., like advanced microchips. U.S. consumers also play a key role in their economy, especially as trade globally is slowing down and buyer interest at home is weak.

Beijing wants to meet with Trump before he imposes more limits on high-tech exports and to renew an important agreement that supports science cooperation, which recently expired.

In the past, it took China a couple of years to agree to buy more American products as part of a previous trade deal. This time, China has new offers, like buying more oil and natural gas from the U.S. since America is producing more than it needs.

Given the new chip restrictions, the U.S. can still sell agricultural products and energy supplies to China. China’s commerce ministry says it is open to talking with Trump’s trade team. However, if the U.S. feels angry about China’s past commitments, it may prefer to impose tariffs instead of negotiating.

Michael Hart from the American Chamber of Commerce in China mentioned that U.S. businesses are worried about their ability to sell in China. In a recent survey, American businesses reported the lowest confidence since 1999 about their market access in China.

There are other political issues too. Trump has promised to add an extra 10% tariff on Chinese goods to encourage China to stop the flow of fentanyl into the U.S. Expert Neumann notes that using political reasons for tariffs can make trade tensions harder to resolve, and Magnus believes this might be China’s way of retaliating against U.S. actions.

Donald Trump shared his thoughts on Kamala Harris’ unsuccessful campaign for the White House in an interview where he was named Time’s ‘Person of the Year.’ Trump said that Harris made a big mistake by even trying to run for president. He believes her campaign failed right from the start because she didn’t know her strengths. Trump explained that Harris didn’t connect with many people during her campaign. Unlike him, she didn’t reach out to popular influencers like Joe Rogan. He said, “When she wouldn’t talk to anybody, it shone a light on her,” meaning it made people question her abilities.

Trump, who was named ‘Person of the Year’ for the second time, had a lot to say about how he connected with people. He pointed out that he has done interviews with anyone willing to talk to him, which helped him stay in the spotlight. He mentioned that his interview with Joe Rogan lasted almost three and a half hours, showing he was willing to have long, open discussions.

In the Time article, they praised Trump for making a strong comeback and changing how the American presidency works. They highlighted his 2024 win, calling it surprising because it was his first time winning the popular vote. He also turned all the swing states red. Notably, this election made Trump the oldest president in U.S. history, and he had been found guilty of fraud earlier in the year, making him the first convicted felon to become president.