Author: News Desk

Damascus, Syria: Mohammed al-Bashir has been named interim Prime Minister by Syrian rebels following the ousting of Bashar al-Assad’s regime. The announcement signifies a major turning point in Syria’s ongoing transition after more than a decade of conflict. Life in Damascus is beginning to show signs of recovery, with businesses reopening and a cautious return to normalcy. Al-Bashir, a veteran leader of the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS)-led Syrian Salvation Government, will oversee governance until March 1, 2025. Al-Bashir’s appointment comes in the wake of Assad’s reported escape to Moscow amid the rebels’ swift takeover of the capital. Drawing on his…

Gulf of Aden: The United States military successfully repelled a Houthi attack on three US-flagged commercial vessels in the Gulf of Aden. The attack, which involved multiple cruise missiles and uncrewed aerial systems (drones), was launched from Yemen. The US Navy responded swiftly, with two destroyers, the USS Stockdale and the USS O’Kane, intercepting the barrage. In addition, a US Navy helicopter and French Air Force aircraft helped shoot down four drones and a missile, preventing any casualties or damage to the vessels. The vessels, which were owned and operated by the US, were en route to Djibouti when they…

Beverly Hills: The 2025 Golden Globes nominations have been unveiled, with Netflix’s Spanish-language musical thriller Emilia Perez and A24’s post-World War Two Epic The Brutalist topping the list. Emilia Perez scored 10 nominations, while The Brutalist garnered seven, placing them as strong contenders for the coveted Best Film Drama award. Both films will face stiff competition in the best film drama category, going up against an eclectic mix of nominees: the papal election drama Conclave, Bob Dylan biopic A Complete Unknown, the highly anticipated Dune: Part Two, the historical Nickel Boys, and September 5, a gripping recount of journalists during…

San Francisco: OpenAI has officially launched Sora, its highly anticipated text-to-video generator, now accessible to users in the United States and several international markets. Initially introduced in February for select artists, filmmakers, and safety testers, Sora allows users to create AI-generated video clips from written prompts. For instance, one prompt produced a video of woolly mammoths walking through a desert. The company describes Sora as a tool to inspire creativity and expand the possibilities of video storytelling. However, the rollout has not been without challenges. OpenAI wrote in a blog post that, “We hope this early version of Sora will…

United States: Google has introduced its latest quantum computing chip, “Willow,” which promises groundbreaking capabilities. The chip reportedly solves a problem in five minutes that would take the world’s fastest supercomputers an unfathomable 10 septillion years to complete. Leap in Quantum Computing Quantum computing leverages the peculiar principles of particle physics to solve problems exponentially faster than classical computers. “Willow,” described by Google as the most advanced quantum processor to date, incorporates breakthroughs in error correction—a key challenge in quantum computing for decades. Hartmut Neven, the head of Google’s Quantum AI lab, said the chip represents a significant step toward…

Reno, Nevada: A U.S. probate commissioner has denied Rupert Murdoch’s attempt to amend his family trust to ensure control of his global media empire passes solely to his eldest son, Lachlan Murdoch. Nevada Commissioner Edmund Gorman ruled that Murdoch and Lachlan acted in “bad faith” in their efforts, describing the plan as a “carefully crafted charade” to secure Lachlan’s executive roles regardless of the impact on other beneficiaries. The trust, formed in 1999 during Murdoch’s divorce from his second wife, Anna, currently divides control of the family’s 40% voting stakes in Fox Corp and News Corp equally among Murdoch’s four…

Washington: US President-elect Donald Trump has reiterated his commitment to the promises that shaped his campaign, including mass deportations, new tariffs, and a reshaped foreign policy in his first television interview since re-election. Trump addressed a range of controversial issues, starting with immigration. Trump reaffirmed his stance on deporting individuals who have entered the United States without authorisation, stressing that the US must adhere to its laws. “I think you have to do it, and it’s a very tough thing to do, but you have rules, regulations, laws. They came in illegally,” Trump said. Trump also reasserted the plan to…

Melbourne, Australia: Victoria Police has officially classified the arson attack on the Adass Israel synagogue in Melbourne, which occurred, as a terrorist act. This decision came after a meeting between Victoria Police, Australian Federal Police (AFP), and the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO). Police Chief Commissioner Shane Patton described the attack as “targeted,” “callous,” and an assault on the Jewish community, with significant concerns about the emboldened nature of the crime. The attack, which resulted in extensive damage to the synagogue, was carried out early on Friday,  6th of December, with about 60 firefighters and 17 trucks were called to the…

Brussels: Chancellor Rachel Reeves will make a historic address to European finance leaders on Monday, calling for a reset of relations between the UK and the EU to drive economic growth. In the first speech by a British chancellor to the Eurogroup since Brexit, Reeves will highlight the importance of “breaking down barriers to trade” and facilitating mutual market access for businesses. Reeves is expected to stress that the UK’s renewed engagement with the EU should be focused on building a “mature, business-like relationship” that benefits both parties. While the Labour Party has repeatedly ruled out rejoining the EU, it…

Moscow: Bashar al-Assad, the ousted President of Syria, and his family have arrived in Russia after being granted asylum by Russian authorities on “humanitarian grounds,” according to Russian news agencies. The Kremlin confirmed the family’s relocation on 8th of December. The whereabouts of al-Assad were uncertain after opposition forces captured Damascus, declaring the fall of his regime. Reports suggest that al-Assad may have been evacuated via a Russian plane from a Syrian airbase in Latakia, though the plane’s transponder was turned off during departure. US President Joe Biden commented on the situation, acknowledging that al-Assad might be in Moscow but…