International
France will send a diplomatic delegation to Syria after 12 years without official representation
The acting Foreign Minister of France, Jean-Noël Barrot, announced on Sunday that a delegation with four French diplomats will leave on Tuesday for Syria, a country where Paris ceased to have official representation 12 years ago.
“A French diplomatic mission will go to Syria, the first time in 12 years, to be able to return to our old diplomatic offices on the ground and establish the first contacts,” the acting minister said in an interview with public radio France Inter.
The announcement of Paris coincides with the week of the overthrow of President Bashar al-Asad by an offensive by an insurgent coalition.
On Sunday, the UN special envoy for Syria, Geir Pedersen, arrived in Damascus on the first visit of an international official under the new transitional government.
“We want to verify if the first statements of this new authority correspond to reality, which have been hopeful for calling for calm and that apparently have not made any exactions,” Barrot added.
A week ago, an insurgent coalition led by the Islamist group Levante Liberation Agency (Hayat Tahrir al Sham or HTS, in Arabic), which is heir to the former Syrian subsidiary of Al Qaeda, overthreak the Government in just 12 days of offensive that ended 53 years of iron hand of the Al Asad family.
Since the overthrow, a transition has begun in Syria in which Mohamed al Bashir is currently as acting prime minister until next March, as well as the leader of the insurgent coalition, Ahmed al Charaa (known by the war name of Abu Mohamed al Jolani), as the “strong man” of the country.
International
Trinidad and Tobago Education Minister Lisa Morris-Julian dies in house fire with her children
The Minister of Education of Trinidad and Tobago, Lisa Morris-Julian, tragically passed away in a fire at her home early Monday morning, along with her two children, local authorities reported.
Police stated that Morris-Julian died alongside her 25-year-old son and 6-year-old daughter after they were trapped as the fire engulfed their home in the Arima district, the main city in eastern Trinidad. Her husband and two other family members who were present at the time of the fire were injured and are currently under observation in the hospital.
“The Government of Trinidad and Tobago expresses its deepest condolences to her family, loved ones, and constituents at this time, and we keep them in our collective thoughts and prayers,” the government said in a statement.
Prime Minister Keith Rowley and other government officials visited the scene of the fire as firefighters worked to extinguish the flames.
The cause of the fire has not yet been determined, police said.
Morris-Julian, who was also a Member of Parliament, had planned to seek re-election next year.
International
Nearly 40 dead in Istanbul after consuming contaminated alcohol in six weeks
Almost 40 people have died in Istanbul in the past six weeks after consuming adulterated alcohol, local authorities announced on Monday.
In total, “37 people lost their lives, 77 people were poisoned, with 17 still undergoing treatment due to the consumption of contaminated alcohol since November 1, 2024,” stated the Istanbul governor’s office on social media platform X.
At least 14 people have been arrested for distributing the illicit alcohol, authorities added. Alcohol poisoning is common in Turkey due to the surge in illegal production driven by rising taxes on alcoholic beverages.
In late 2021, at least 25 people died in several provinces within a few days. The previous year, around 40 people lost their lives from the same cause.
Rakı, the national alcoholic drink, costs around 1,300 Turkish liras ($37) per liter in supermarkets, in a country where the minimum wage is 17,000 liras ($489).
International
At least 12 injured in shooting at abundant life christian school in Wisconsin
Over 10 people have been injured following a shooting at a Christian school in Wisconsin, United States, according to international media reports on Monday afternoon.
The shooting took place at Abundant Life Christian School. So far, local authorities have confirmed 12 individuals affected, according to major news outlets.
The scene is still being processed by the State Police. It has also been reported that the shooter has been neutralized, though no details about their identity have been released. Authorities mention that the school caters to students from Kindergarten through Middle School.
Trinidad and Tobago Education Minister Lisa Morris-Julian dies in house fire with her children
Nearly 40 dead in Istanbul after consuming contaminated alcohol in six weeks
At least 12 injured in shooting at abundant life christian school in Wisconsin
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