Syria's new authorities announced on Tuesday that the military chief of the Islamist group that spearheaded the offensive that toppled longtime ruler Bashar al-Assad had been appointed defence minister in the transitional government. As commander of the Islamist rebel forces, he played a key role in the offensive that ousted Assad on December 8 after a lightning advance from north Syria to the capital Damascus.
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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio emphasized their united strategy on Gaza, warning that severe action would ensue if hostages are not released. Netanyahu reinforced Israel's goals of defeating Hamas and securing hostages, with critical support from the US.
Discovered in December 2024, YR4 currently ranks 3 out of 10 on the Torino Scale. Nasa said it is deploying the James Webb Space Telescope to overserve the asteroid. The asteroid will be at its brightest in March 2025 when the first round of Nasa observations is scheduled. The follow-up will take place in May when YR4 moves away from the Sun. This will be the last opportunity to study it until it returns in 2028.
Donald Trump launched a meme coin called $TRUMP, which started dominating the market within hours. “Trump Memes are intended to function as an expression of support for, and engagement with, the ideals and beliefs embodied by the symbol “$TRUMP†and the associated artwork, and are not intended to be, or to be the subject of, an investment opportunity, investment contract, or security of any type,†the fine print on the site said.
A bridge collapse on the BR-226 highway in Brazil killed at least one person and caused a sulfuric acid spill into the Tocantins River. The central section of the Juscelino Kubitschek de Oliveira Bridge gave way as vehicles crossed, including two trucks, a car, and a motorcycle.
Syrian security forces and allied groups have killed 973 civilians, including women and children, in massacres in coastal areas and the Latakia Mountains. The violence targets the Alawite community, which supported former president Bashar al-Assad. The killings began after an ambush and subsequent crackdowns, resulting in widespread devastation and sectarian violence.
Seven foreign tourists, including four Australians and an American, were hospitalized in Fiji after experiencing nausea, vomiting, and neurological symptoms following consumption of cocktails at a five-star resort. The incident occurred on Saturday night at the Warwick Fiji resort.
Finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman stated that 99% of borrowed resources will be used for capital expenditure in 2025-26, with effective capital expenditure at 4.3% of GDP. She also noted the moderation of inflation, with retail inflation within the 2%-6% range, and emphasized the robust growth of the Indian economy.
A woman at Los Angeles International Airport shocked TSA agents with over 80 prohibited items in her carry-on, including fireworks, knives, replica firearms, and pepper spray. The TSA seized the items and emphasized the importance of travelers double-checking their bags to avoid such incidents. TSA recommends using the 'MyTSA' app to verify permissible items.
As Vivek Ramaswamy posted photos from Superbowl Sunday, social media users asked him why he was there if he did not like American culture. In December, Ramaswamy made a long rant about US culture blaming it for nor producing top engineering talents owing to it misplaced focus on mediocrity and not on excellence, he said -- to the ire of many Republicans.
Five of the eleven fatalities in the Los Angeles fires lived in a close-knit Altadena neighborhood. Victims included Anthony and Justin Mitchell, who awaited evacuation, Victor Shaw, who tried to protect his home, Rodney Nickerson, who underestimated the threat, and Erliene Kelley, who lacked timely warning. The fires devastated their long-standing community.