The United States is in direct contact with the Syrian rebel group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), which has gained control of Damascus after overthrowing the over two-decade regime of Bashar al-Assad, US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken confirmed on Saturday (local time). Blinken also affirmed that the US is committed to finding home Austin Tice, an American journalist who has been missing in Syria since 2012. "We've been in contact with HTS and with other parties. We have impressed upon everyone we've been in contact with the importance of helping find Austin Tice and bringing him home," he told reporters in Jordan. "We've also shared the principles that I just laid out for our ongoing support - principles, again, that have now been adopted by countries throughout the region and well beyond. And we've communicated those," Blinken added. Regarding, reports of Russian military withdrawal from Syria, Blinken acknowledged reports of Russian withdrawals, though he refrained from offering specific details beyond media reports. "I can't comment on anything beyond what I've seen in - reported in the media," Blinken remarked, directing further inquiries to other administration officials for clarification. Notably, Blinken, who was on an unannounced tour to the Middle East, met Iraqi Prime Minister, Mohammed Shia al-Sudani in Baghdad on Friday to discuss the future of neighbouring Syria. Blinken arrived in Baghdad after stopping in Turkiye, where he also emphasised the importance of working against a resurgence of ISIL. During his meeting with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, he spoke stressed the importance of a "Syria-led" and "Syrian-owned" transition. Blinken's visit to Baghdad was the final stop on his Middle East tour, following the toppling of President Bashar al-Assad's government in Syria. According to Al Jazeera, Blinken and al-Sudani discussed the need for Syria's transition from dictatorship to democracy to be inclusive and protective of all minorities. They discussed "the conviction of so many countries in the region and beyond that as Syria transitions from the Assad dictatorship to hopefully a democracy, it does so in a way that, of course, protects all of the minorities in Syria, that produces an inclusive, nonsectarian government", Blinken said, adding that Syria "should not become a platform for terrorism." "I think this is a moment as well for Iraq to reinforce its own sovereignty as well as its stability, security and success going forward," Blinken said. After the Syria rebel forces led by the Hayat Tahrir al-Shamb entered Damascus, forcing President Bashar al-Assad to flee from the country, ending his over two-decade rule in the country. Recently, the opposition declared Mohammed al-Bashir as the interim Prime Minister. al-Bashir prioritised the repatriation of Syrian refugees living abroad as one of his main objectives. He said that one of his first goals is to "bring back the millions of Syrian refugees who are abroad." He also emphasised the need for "stability and calm" in Syria and stated that he is collaborating with officials from Bashar al-Assad's former regime to restore public services and institutions. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
15 December,2024 11:04 AM IST | Washington | ANITaiwan's Ministry of National Defence (MND) said that 4 Chinese military aircraft and 6 naval vessels were detected operating near Taiwan until 6 am (local time). Of the 4 People's Liberation Army (PLA) aircraft, 2 aircraft crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait, according to Taiwan's MND. The details were shared by Taiwan's Ministry of National Defence (MND) in a post on X. https://x.com/MoNDefense/status/1868098798167466173 "4 PLA aircraft and 6 PLAN vessels operating around Taiwan were detected up until 6 a.m. (UTC+8) today. 2 of the aircraft crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait. We have monitored the situation and responded accordingly," Taiwan MND said on X. On Saturday, Taiwan reported 17 Chinese aircraft, and 5 naval vessels near its territory. "17 PLA aircraft and 5 PLAN vessels operating around Taiwan were detected up until 6 a.m. (UTC+8) today. 13 of the aircraft crossed the median line and entered Taiwan's southwestern ADIZ. We have monitored the situation and responded accordingly," Taiwan MND said on X. This incident follows a recent pattern of escalated manoeuvres by China around Taiwan, raising concerns over regional stability as Beijing continues to assert its claims over the island. In response to the PLA's activities, the MND initiated war-preparedness drills at strategic locations across the island and is closely coordinating with the Coast Guard Administration to implement appropriate countermeasures. The Taiwan-China issue is a complex and longstanding geopolitical conflict centred on Taiwan's sovereignty. Taiwan, officially known as the Republic of China (ROC), operates its own government, military, and economy, functioning as a de facto independent state. However, China considers Taiwan a breakaway province and insists on the "One China" policy, which asserts that there is only one China, with Beijing as its capital. This has fuelled decades of tension, especially since the Chinese Civil War (1945-1949), when the ROC government retreated to Taiwan after the Communist Party, led by Mao Zedong, took control of mainland China. Beijing has consistently expressed its goal of reunification with Taiwan, using diplomatic, economic, and military pressure to isolate Taiwan internationally. Meanwhile, Taiwan, supported by a significant portion of its population, continues to maintain its independence. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
15 December,2024 11:04 AM IST | Taipei | ANIUS Ambassador to India, Eric Garcetti, expressed deep concern over the ongoing atrocities against Hindus and other religious minorities in Bangladesh. He reiterated the importance of safeguarding religious minorities worldwide, highlighting that such protections are foundational not only to democracy but also to global peace. During an informal visit to St. Xavier's College in Maharo, Dumka, Garcetti spoke with ANI, stressing that the protection of religious minorities must be a priority regardless of the country in which they reside. “We have been very clear that around the world, religious minorities must be protected no matter what country they live in. That’s a cornerstone not only of democracy but of peace in the world,” he said. Garcetti further emphasised that the US has been actively engaging with countries like India and Bangladesh to ensure the voices of these minorities are heard and protected. His comments come amid mounting concerns over the rising violence against religious minorities in Bangladesh, where several incidents have left Hindus vulnerable to persecution. The US government has repeatedly called for action to prevent such violence and ensure religious freedom for all communities. Garcetti’s visit to Dumka, part of a cultural exchange programme, also included discussions on the region’s deep-rooted traditions. He described Jharkhand as the "heartland of India," highlighting the significance of the Santhal people and their connection to the land. “This entire region is such a heartland of India, a place where the people are close to the land, where the traditions run deep,” Garcetti said, adding that his visit to Jharkhand had been on his list since meeting President Murmu. The Ambassador also reflected on the similarities between the cultures of Indian and American tribes, noting the shared reverence for nature and the importance of preserving the environment. High Commissioner of Malta to India, Reuben Gauci, who accompanied Garcetti on the visit, also acknowledged the historical connections between Malta and Dumka. He shared that the Jebusites, a group of Maltese missionaries, had arrived in the region in 1925, marking the beginning of the ties between Malta and Jharkhand. Gauci expressed pride in his connection to Dumka, a place not widely recognised even in his home country. He noted the significance of his relationship with the local Santhali community, with many of the early Maltese missionaries fluent in the Santhali language. Gauci shared a post on social media, thanking Garcetti for taking the time to visit Dumka and explore the Jisu Jaher complex, founded by Maltese Jesuits in India. The post also mentioned meeting with Maltese missionaries Fr. Paul Aquilina SJ and Marcette Buttigieg, further emphasising the long-standing ties between Malta and the region. (With inputs from ANI)
15 December,2024 09:32 AM IST | DumkaThe reopening of Notre Dame was a solemn celebration of cultural and spiritual renewal. Yet for some, the historic cathedral's revival also felt like a meticulously choreographed branding event from Louis Vuitton Moët Hennessey (LVMH) and other luxury conglomerates. Bernard Arnault, the billionaire behind luxury powerhouse LVMH and a key Notre Dame donor who regularly tops the list of the world's richest men, was at the center of the celebration. He was surrounded by his family, the French president, the archbishop and clergy, and the unmistakable symbols of his luxury empire's influence, including its brands Louis Vuitton and Dior. LVMH CEO Bernard Arnault. PIC/GETTY IMAGES First lady, Brigitte Macron held a Lady Dior handbag. Louis Vuitton artistic director Pharrell Williams performed kitted out in Louis Vuitton. “Welcome to the inauguration of the LVMH arena,” commented television journalist Yann Barthes about the cathedral ceremony this week. Some questioned the taste of such brand prominence occurring in a sacred space like the beloved Gothic monument, while noting LVMH's crucial contribution to the reconstruction. Not far behind Arnault sat representatives of Kering (parent company of brands like Gucci, YSL, Balenciaga, etc) adding another layer to the ongoing rivalry between France’s two largest luxury conglomerates. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
15 December,2024 08:21 AM IST | Paris | AgenciesAfter insurgents toppled Bashar al-Assad’s regime in Syria last week, many senior officials and members of his dreaded intelligence and security services appear to have melted away. Activists say some of them have managed to flee the country while others went to hide in their hometowns. Maher Assad is the younger brother of the ousted president and the commander of the 4th Armoured Division. He is under US and European sanctions. He disappeared over the weekend, and Abdurrhaman said he made it to Russia. Maj Gen Ali Mamlouk, security adviser to Assad and former head of the intelligence services, fled to Lebanon, and it is not clear if he is still in the country under the protection of Hezbollah. Brig Gen Suheil al-Hassan, the commander of the 25th Special Missions Forces Division and later became the head of the Syrian Special Forces, is known to have close ties to Russia and was praised by Russian President Vladimir Putin during one of his visits to Syria. Al-Hassan's whereabouts are not known. Maj Gen Hussam Luka, head of the General Security Directorate intelligence service, has been sanctioned by the US and Britain for his role in the crackdown. It’s not clear where he is. Maj Gen Qahtan Khali, whose whereabouts are also unknown, was head of the Air Force Intelligence service and is widely known as the “Butcher of Daraya” for allegedly leading a 2012 attack on a Damascus suburb of the same name that killed hundreds of people. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
15 December,2024 08:20 AM IST | Beirut | AgenciesA 26-year-old Indian-origin former employee of the artificial intelligence giant OpenAI has died by suicide in San Francisco. The medical examiner’s office determined the manner of death to be suicide and police officials said there is “currently, no evidence of foul play.” Balaji was one of the researchers who worked gathering data to train OpenAI's programmes like GPT4, which users interact with through the chatbot ChatGPT. His death comes three months after he accused OpenAI of violating US copyright law while developing ChatGPT. Its public release in late 2022 spurred a torrent of lawsuits against OpenAI from authors, computer programmers and journalists, who say the company illegally stole their copyrighted material to train its programme and elevate its value past $150 billion. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
15 December,2024 08:20 AM IST | New York | AgenciesLuigi Mangione, a 26-year-old accused of gunning down UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, is unexpectedly capturing hearts online. Arrested at a Pennsylvania, USA McDonald’s, Mangione’s case remains under investigation. Mangione getting arrested Social media users, however, are focused less on the crime and more on Mangione’s persona—valedictorian, heir to a resort fortune, and an avid reader. Posts admiring his looks and intelligence have gone viral, with some even demanding his release. Mugshot of Mangione, from prison Adding to the chaos, Mangione fans are bombing McDonald’s review pages with 1-star ratings, calling the restaurant staff “rats” for tipping off police. Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro condemned the glorification of Mangione, emphasising that the real hero is the whistleblower who called 911. Critics are calling out this bizarre infatuation, questioning how adults can romanticize someone accused of murder. As Mangione faces serious charges, including second-degree murder and firearm possession, the Internet’s fixation reveals a troubling trend of idolising alleged criminals. The wizard of words Nigel Richards wins Spanish Scrabble World Championship without speaking the language Scrabble master, Nigel Richards. PIC/AP NEWS Nigel Richards, the 57-year-old Scrabble maestro from New Zealand, has recently clinched the 2024 Spanish-Language Scrabble World Championship in Granada, Spain, despite not speaking a word of Spanish. This isn’t Richard’s first linguistic rodeo. Back in 2015, he wowed the world by winning the French-Language Scrabble Championship—also without speaking French. His secret? Forget learning the language; Richard memorises vast swathes of vocabulary as if flipping through flashcards for fun. Words aren’t words to him—they’re strategic letter puzzles waiting to be conquered. Nip slips Nipple augmentation, also known as “designer nipples”, is the latest cosmetic craze as sheer garments and braless fashion take centre stage. Celebrities like Bella Hadid, Kendall Jenner, and Charli xcx are leading the charge, inspiring a rise in requests for nipple fillers. These minimally invasive procedures, costing roughly Rs 4,25,000, can offer a confidence boost. A McMystery Fans are bombarding McDonald’s with bizarre questions about their new mascot, Grimace. One fan asked, “How does Grimace breed?” and McDonald’s X page responded in a tweet: “sigh.” Another user described the exchange as “wild” to which the official McDonald’s X page replied with “It’s just another day to me.” Another user expressed, “I think some things are better to remain a mystery,” to which the restaurant responded with, “Feel the same.” The walking dead Morgue workers in Jhunjhunu City, India, were stunned when a man, named only as Rohitash, 45, presumed dead, began breathing just before cremation. Footage captured him opening his eyes, prompting an ambulance to rush him back to the hospital, where he later passed away. Wisdom eggs A young woman in Nonthaburi, Central Thailand is so obsessed with the colour pink that she has painted her entire house neon pink and has been surrounding herself with pink accessories. The pink house of Nonthaburi first went viral in August of 2019. Falling hard A 22-year-old man spent three harrowing days at the bottom of a 12-metre-deep well in a Thai village, as locals mistook his cries for help as ghostly wails. Liu Chuanyi fell into the abandoned well while trekking. Sustaining a fractured wrist and a concussion, he rationed his cries for help, only to find villagers too spooked to investigate.
15 December,2024 08:19 AM IST | New Zealand | A CorrespondentAccording to the National Centre for Seismology (NCS), an earthquake with a Richter scale value of 6.2 struck the Chile-Argentina border region on Saturday morning, ANI reported. The NCS reported in a post on X that the quake's epicentre was 203 kilometres south of Santiago, Chile, and it had a depth of 110 km. The earthquake struck the region at 5:08 am (IST). "EQ of M: 6.2, On: 14/12/2024 05:08:17 IST, Lat: 35.28 S, Long: 70.65 W, Depth: 110 Km, Location: Chile-Argentina Border Region," NCS posted on X. EQ of M: 6.2, On: 14/12/2024 05:08:17 IST, Lat: 35.28 S, Long: 70.65 W, Depth: 110 Km, Location: Chile-Argentina Border Region. For more information Download the BhooKamp App https://t.co/5gCOtjdtw0 @DrJitendraSingh @OfficeOfDrJS @Ravi_MoES @Dr_Mishra1966 @ndmaindia pic.twitter.com/YpoaNoT36t — National Center for Seismology (@NCS_Earthquake) December 13, 2024 No casualties or major damage was reported, ANI cited. More details are awaited. Tremors in parts of Maharashtra after earthquake jolts Telangana Last week, tremors were felt in Maharashtra's Nagpur, Gadchiroli and Chandrapur districts after an earthquake struck Mulugu in neighbouring Telangana on Wednesday morning, as per officials, PTI reported. The earthquake of 5.3 magnitude was recorded in Mulugu at 7.27 am, according to the National Center for Seismology. Light tremors were felt in Nagpur, as per the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) sources and local residents, reported PTI. Mild shocks were also experienced in Gadchiroli, which is located very close to Telangana, according to the district information office. In Chandrapur, parts of the city, Ballarpur and tehsils adjoining the Telangana border also experienced mild tremors, a district administration official told PTI. Chandrapur Collector Vinay Gowda appealed to residents not to panic, and asked them to stay vigilant and move to open spaces outside buildings if such tremors are felt again, reported PTI. Light tremors are generally felt 200 to 300 km from the epicentre of a quake, as per the IMD officials. (With inputs from ANI and PTI)
14 December,2024 01:40 PM IST | New Delhi | mid-day online correspondentSouth Korean lawmakers are set to vote for a second time on an impeachment motion against President Yoon Suk Yeol on Saturday, as authorities investigate allegations of rebellion over his controversial December 3 martial law decree that has caused huge political turmoil in the country, reported news agency the Associated Press. Last Saturday, Yoon survived an impeachment vote after most ruling party lawmakers boycotted a floor vote. It's not clear if those People Power Party lawmakers would do the same again. Public protests against Yoon have since intensified and his approval rating has plummeted. Tens of thousands of people have braved the bitter cold and poured onto the streets of the capital, Seoul, every night for the past two weeks, calling for Yoon's ouster and arrest. They shouted slogans, sang, danced and waved K-pop light sticks. Smaller groups of Yoon's conservative supporters, still in the thousands, have also been rallying in Seoul, denouncing attempts to impeach the president. Both rallies have largely been peaceful, reported the Associated Press. "Many people are using idol light sticks even though they are expensive. I think it's become a really great culture because people are bringing their most precious and brightest possessions to express their will and opinions," said Hong Gayeong, a 29-year-old protester, near the National Assembly on Friday night, reported Associated Press. Yoon's martial law imposition, the first of its kind in more than four decades in South Korea, lasted only six hours but has caused massive political tumult, halted diplomatic activities and rattled financial markets. Yoon was forced to lift his decree after parliament unanimously voted to overturn it. After declaring martial law, Yoon sent hundreds of troops and police officers to the parliament to try to impede its vote on the decree before they withdrew after the parliament rejected it. No major violence occurred. Opposition parties and many experts accuse Yoon of rebellion, citing a law clause that categorises as rebellion the staging of a riot against established state authorities to undermine the constitution. They also say that by law a president in South Korea is allowed to declare martial law only during wartime or similar emergencies and has no right to suspend parliament's operations even under martial law. The impeachment motion alleged that Yoon "committed rebellion that hurts peace in the Republic of Korea by staging a series of riots." It said Yoon's mobilization of military and police forces threatened the National Assembly and the public and that his martial law decree was aimed at disturbing the Constitution, reported the Associated Press. In a fiery speech on Thursday, Yoon rejected the rebellion charges, calling his martial law order an act of governance. The conservative Yoon said he aimed to issue a warning to the main liberal opposition Democratic Party, calling it "a monster" and "anti-state forces" that he argued has flexed its legislative muscle to impeach top officials and undermined the government's budget bill for next year, reported Associated Press. "I will fight to the end to prevent the forces and criminal groups that have been responsible for paralysing the country's government and disrupting the nation's constitutional order from threatening the future of the Republic of Korea," Yoon said, reported Associated Press. Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung called Yoon's speech a "mad declaration of war" against his own people. The Democratic Party and five other opposition parties control the 300-member unicameral parliament with a combined 192 seats, but they are eight seats shy of the two-thirds majority needed to pass Yoon's impeachment motion. Yoon has been banned from leaving South Korea, as law enforcement authorities are investigating whether he and others involved in the martial law declaration committed rebellion, abuse of power and other crimes. If convicted, the leader of a rebellion plot can face the death penalty or life imprisonment. If the National Assembly passes Yoon's impeachment motion, his presidential powers and duties will be suspended until the Constitutional Court determines whether to dismiss him as president or restore his powers. If he's thrown out of office, a national election to choose his successor must be held within 60 days. Yoon has the presidential privilege of immunity from criminal prosecution but that doesn't extend to allegations of rebellion or treason. Subsequently, Yoon could be investigated, detained, arrested or indicted over his martial law decree, but many observers doubt that authorities will forcefully detain him because of the potential for clashes with his presidential security service. Yoon's defence minister, police chief and the head of Seoul's metropolitan police agency have been arrested over their roles in the martial law case. Other senior military and government officials also face investigations. (With inputs from Associated Press)
14 December,2024 01:16 PM IST | Seoul | mid-day online correspondentIncarcerated former Pakistan Prime Minister, Imran Khan has been named in the deaths of three Pak Rangers during a protest by his party Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf in Islamabad, ARY News reported. The FIR, lodged at Ramna Police Station, accuses Khan, his wife Bushra Bibi, and other top PTI leaders of murder, terrorism, and other serious offences. The FIR alleges that the plan to attack the Rangers personnel was put together in Adiala Jail, where Khan had met with his party leaders, as reported by ARY News. The plan was allegedly executed by Bushra Bibi and other party workers, who incited protesters to attack the Rangers personnel. Several other senior PTI leaders have also been named in the FIR, including Omar Ayub, Sheikh Waqas Akram, Salman Akram Raja, Ali Amin Gandapur, Murad Saeed, Zulfi Bukhari, Raoof Hassan and Hammad Azhar. They are accused of conspiring to launch a deadly assault on the Rangers personnel. The incident occurred during PTI's recent protests in Islamabad on November 26, where a car driven by an unidentified driver ran over three Rangers personnel, killing them on the spot, ARY News reported. The FIR has been registered under various sections of the Pakistan Penal Code and the Anti-Terrorism Act. At least four Pakistan Rangers soldiers were killed in the incident, while five others including policemen were injured in the incident. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
14 December,2024 08:48 AM IST | Islamabad | ANIPakistan International Airlines (PIA) will be resuming flights to the United States after seven years of suspension, marking a significant development for the country's aviation sector, ARY News reported. A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed between US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to settle pending financial obligations. According to DG CAA Nadir Shafi Dar, payments to the FAA are expected to be made shortly, paving the way for the FAA's delegation to visit Pakistan by February or March. According to ARY News, the development has increased chances that Pakistan will be reclassified to 'Category One' status with the FAA, allowing direct flights to the US to resume, as per ARY News. Notably, PIA's flights to the US were suspended in 2017, when the airline operated six flights per week between Pakistan and the US, including four to New York and two to Chicago. The Pak government is also intensifying efforts to privatise PIA through government-to-government (G2G) agreements, with a deadline set for December 31, ARY News reported on Saturday, citing sources. According to the report, both Abu Dhabi and Qatar have expressed strong interest in PIA's privatisation, creating a potential opportunity for foreign investment. Active discussions are underway with both countries to finalise the terms of the deal. To attract investors, the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) is reportedly offering substantial incentives to those looking to acquire stakes in PIA. These measures are designed to ensure a smooth transition during the privatization process, providing necessary support to potential investors, the ARY report added. In October 2024, Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb stated that the government plans to complete PIA's privatisation, along with that of three power distribution companies, by the end of the year. Initially set to conclude by October 1, the privatisation process was delayed to October 31 due to low bidder interest, ongoing legal challenges, issues with the ageing fleet, and civil aviation concerns. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
14 December,2024 08:44 AM IST | Islamabad | ANIADVERTISEMENT
