Syria has declared the devastating wildfires in Latakia province fully extinguished after 12 days of fierce battling. However, officials caution that the environmental and social impacts will persist for years.
Raed al-Saleh, Minister of Emergency and Disaster Management, stressed that while the immediate danger has passed, the recovery phase is only beginning. He outlined plans to implement a national wildfire early warning system and enhance forest protection through stronger community involvement.
Firefighters faced major obstacles including unpredictable winds, difficult mountainous terrain, and dangerous remnants of war such as landmines. Years of neglect left forests vulnerable, with insufficient firebreaks contributing to the spread.
Al-Saleh warned of severe long-term consequences, including soil erosion, vegetation loss, and increased risk of landslides — risks worsened by ongoing drought and climate change, the worst in decades.
The ministry used advanced tools such as satellite imaging, drones, and weather monitoring stations to track fire behaviour and direct response efforts. Al-Saleh expressed gratitude to support teams from Türkiye, Jordan, Iraq, Lebanon, Qatar, as well as local volunteers and government agencies, calling their cooperation “an historic achievement for the nation.”
Governor Mohammad Othman reported that more than 16,000 hectares of forest were destroyed, alongside 2,200 hectares of farmland.
The fires damaged 45 villages and displaced approximately 1,200 families.
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Protesters took to the streets in Minneapolis on Friday, 30 January, joined by student walkouts across the United States, demanding the withdrawal of federal immigration agents after two U.S. citizens were fatally shot in the city.
Melania, the new documentary about the U.S. First Lady Melania Trump that premiered Thursday, is drawing sharply contrasting reactions. Professional critics have slammed the film, giving it a 8% on Rotten Tomatoes, while ordinary viewers have embraced it, with audience ratings currently at 99%.
U.S., Israeli and European leaders exploited Iran’s economic problems and encouraged unrest during recent nationwide protests, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said on Saturday (31 January).
The United Nations faces the risk of “imminent financial collapse” because of unpaid contributions, including substantial arrears from the United States, Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has warned.
Catherine O’Hara, the celebrated Canadian actress and comedy legend, has died at the age of 71, her publicist confirmed on Friday. She passed away at her home in Los Angeles following a brief illness.
The Kremlin said on Friday (30 January) that Russian President had received a personal request from his U.S. counterpart, Donald Trump. The request was to halt strikes on Kyiv until 1 February to create a favourable environment for peace negotiations.
Bangladesh and Pakistan on Thursday (29 January) resumed direct flight services after 14 years, marking a milestone in the revival of relations between the two Muslim-majority nations.
Iran’s armed forces are prepared to “immediately and powerfully” respond to any U.S. attack, Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi said, as American military assets arrived in the Middle East amid renewed tensions over Tehran’s nuclear program.
“The decision is made that the Qamishli air base is not needed anymore,” political analyst Dmitry Bridzhe said, as Russia begins withdrawing forces from its facility in northeastern Syria amid shifts in the country’s political and security landscape.
Storm Kristin has killed at least five people and left more than 850,000 residents of central and northern Portugal without electricity on Wednesday (28 January), as it toppled trees, damaged homes, and disrupted road and rail traffic before moving inland to Spain.
Several people, including children, were reported missing in New Zealand's north island on Thursday after a landslide struck a coastal campsite amid heavy rain that caused evacuations of people to safety, road closures and widespread power outages.
At least four people were killed on Tuesday as floods swept across Tunisia during the worst torrential rain for more than 70 years in some regions, and there were fears the death toll could rise, authorities said.
The world has already entered an era of global water bankruptcy, with irreversible damage to rivers, aquifers, lakes and glaciers pushing billions of people into long-term water insecurity, according to a major United Nations report released on Tuesday.
Chilean President Gabriel Boric declared a state of catastrophe in two southern regions of country on Sunday as raging wildfires forced at least 20,000 people to evacuate and left at least 19 people dead.
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