Author: Amanda Martinez

Syrians are embracing a new era of freedom after Assad. Jubilation and gunfire fill the streets of Damascus, while mourning and reflection are also prevalent. The city is celebrating the end of over 50 years of Baathist dictatorship. Locals describe the mood as one of relief but also sadness as they remember loved ones who didn’t survive the brutal 13-year civil war. Thousands have died, many others were held in dungeons and jail cells. The rebel offensive led to the release of thousands of prisoners from the notorious Saydnaya complex. Syria’s cultural community is celebrating the collapse of the House…

Google unveiled a groundbreaking quantum computing chip dubbed Willow. This innovation marks a significant milestone in quantum computing. Willow can solve a complex problem in just five minutes. The world’s fastest supercomputers would take ten septillion years to complete this task. This achievement showcases quantum computing’s potential. Google’s Hartmut Neven leads the Quantum AI lab. He described Willow as the best quantum processor built to date. Neven said Willow will be used in practical applications including simulating complex systems and designing new materials.  Experts praise Google’s achievement. Professor Alan Woodward of Surrey University noted that quantum computers excel in specific…

Cyclist Rohan Dennis had pleaded guilty to a charge related to the death of his wife, Melissa Hoskins. Dennis admitted to one aggravated count of creating the likelihood of harm. This charge is a lesser offense than the original count of dangerous driving causing death. The incident occurred on December 30, 2023, outside the couple’s home in Adelaide, Australia. Hoskins was struck by a vehicle driven by Dennis. She later died in the hospital. The circumstances leading up to the incident are not well-known. However, Dennis’s guilty plea acknowledges that he drove the car when Hoskins was nearby, knowing it…

Donald Trump praised Prince William for his appearance and character following their meeting in Paris over the weekend. The US President-elect attended the reopening of Notre Dame Cathedral, where he met the Prince. Trump stated that the Prince of Wales is a “good looking guy” and praised his demeanor during their conversation. The meeting occurred after the reopening of Notre Dame Cathedral, which had been under restoration since the devastating fire five years ago. Speaking to the New York Post, Trump shared details about the encounter, emphasizing his admiration for the Prince. “He looked really, very handsome last night. Some…

At least 180 people, primarily elderly residents, were brutally killed during a weekend massacre in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. The killings occurred in the Wharf Jérémie area of the Cité Soleil neighborhood, a gang-controlled location, and shocked the international community. The National Human Rights Defence Network (RNDDH) reported that Monel Felix, known as Mikano, planned the massacre. Felix, a notorious gang leader, targeted elderly locals after consulting a voodoo priest about his son’s mysterious illness. The priest blamed the disease on witchcraft. However, the blame on witchcraft led to Felix accusing the elderly residents of practicing voodoo and causing his son’s death.…

Syria witnessed a historic moment as rebel forces overthrew President Bashar al-Assad’s regime after 13 years of civil war. Rebels stormed Damascus. The rebels declared the capital as liberated, which further forced Assad to flee to Moscow. The fall of Assad’s regime marked the end of five decades of authoritative rule. The Military Operations Command, a coalition of Islamist and moderate factions, led the attack. The group led by Abu Mohammad al-Jolani, the head of the militant group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), advanced through Syria in just 11 days. Beginning with Aleppo, rebels seized key cities, including Hama and Homs,…

South Korea’s President Yoon Suk Yeol is facing a travel ban after his shirt-lived martial law declaration last Tuesday. This development comes as Yoon narrowly survived an impeachment motion over the weekend. The motion was boycotted by MPs from his ruling People Power Party (PPP), who decided not to support it after Yoon agreed to shorten his term and not get involved in foreign and domestic affairs. Thousands have protested since Yoon’s martial law order, calling for his resignation or impeachment. Several key figures involved in the martial law order have faced action, including former Defence Minister Kim Yong-hyun, who…

Jay-Z and Diddy face a lawsuit. The lawsuit alleges they raped a 13-year-old girl in 2000. The lawsuit, filed under New York’s Victims of Gender-Violence Protection Act, accuses the two rappers of assaulting the girl at a party after the MTV Video Music Awards. Jay-Z has dismissed the lawsuit as a blackmail attempt. The accuser, identified as Jane Doe, claims she was dropped off at the VMAs by a friend and approached limousine drivers to try to gain access to the show. One driver told her he worked for Diddy and that she fit what Diddy was looking for. The…

Residents in Cwmtillery, Wales, are worried. A landslide narrowly missed their homes during Storm Bert in November. Now, they’re demanding action from the local council. Dianne Morgan, a resident, wants assurances that the council will maintain the coal tip behind her home. Meanwhile, the Welsh government is introducing new legislation. This law will establish a new authority to manage coal tips. This law will establish a new authority to manage coal tips. The authority will assess, register, and monitor coal tips. This move comes after a landslide in Tylorstown in 2020, which highlighted the need for better coal tip management.…

President Yoon avoids impeachment as South Korea’s National Assembly narrowly failed to gather the votes required after his martial law declaration. The censure bill, requiring 200 votes for approval, fell short of three votes as most ruling party lawmakers boycotted the session. On Tuesday, President Yoon Suk Yeol declared martial law to resolve political gridlock, triggering nationwide protests and outrage. Parliament quickly overturned the declaration, and the government backtracked hours later amid mounting public pressure and demonstrations. People Power Party (PPP) members walked out during the impeachment vote, leaving only three in the chamber. PPP lawmaker Cho Kyung-tae referred to…

President Emmanuel Macron, hopes that the reopening of Notre Dame Cathedral will present an opportunity to improve his political standing. Saturday’s celebration will highlight the renowned cathedral’s incredible recovery from a fire that occurred five years ago.  World leaders, including U.S. President-elect Donald Trump, Prince William, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, will join Macron for the grand reopening. In his speech, Macron will urge the world to view the cathedral’s restoration as a testament to French resilience.  This event coincides with a turbulent time in French politics following the collapse of Prime Minister Michel Barnier’s government. While Macron originally envisioned…

Anti-Assad Rebels have made significant gains in southern Syria, capturing most of the Deraa region, which is close to the Jordanian border. This region holds symbolic importance as the birthplace of the 2011 uprising against President Bashar al-Assad. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reports that rebels control over 90% of the Derra region. Only the Sanamayn area remains under government control. Rebel sources claim a deal has been reached for the army to withdraw. Rebel forces will provide military officials with safe passage to Damascus. Meanwhile, Islamist-led rebels in northern Syria have reached the outskirts of the city of…