Russia strikes Turkish-owned bulk vessel off Ukraine’s southern coast
A bulk carrier struck during a Russian attack on Ukraine’s southern coast on Friday is owned by a Turkish company, a source familiar with the incide...
New government focuses on rebuilding Syria’s education system, damaged by 13 years of war.
Syria's new education minister, Nazir Mohammad al-Qadri, has announced significant reforms to the country’s school system, including the removal of all references to the Baath Party, which ruled Syria for decades. Despite the changes, girls' access to education will remain unrestricted, and the existing curriculum will largely stay intact.
“Our mission is very difficult today because the regime destroyed the schools, so there’s a need to restore and build more than 9,000 schools,” Qadri stated. Over half of Syria’s 18,000 schools were damaged or destroyed during the conflict.
Qadri emphasized that religious studies, both Muslim and Christian, will continue to be part of the curriculum, and schools will remain segregated by gender after primary level, consistent with longstanding norms.
The new government, led by Islamist rebel group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), has adopted a moderate tone, seeking to include minority groups and focus on reconstruction. With schools opening soon, “nationalist studies,” which previously taught Baathist ideology, will no longer be mandatory.
Syria’s education system, once a regional model, faces challenges from Western sanctions and widespread destruction, but the new administration is working quickly to rebuild and reform.
Japan has lifted a tsunami advisory issued after an earthquake with a magnitude of 6.9 hit the country's northeastern region on Friday (12 December), the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) said. The JMA had earlier put the earthquake's preliminary magnitude at 6.7.
The United States issued new sanctions targeting Venezuela on Thursday, imposing curbs on three nephews of President Nicolas Maduro's wife, as well as six crude oil tankers and shipping companies linked to them, as Washington ramps up pressure on Caracas.
Iran is preparing to host a multilateral regional meeting next week in a bid to mediate between Afghanistan and Pakistan.
Iran's President Massoud Pezeshkian has begun a two day visit to Kazakhstan, with officials from both sides describing the trip as an opportunity to advance cooperation in trade, transport, industry, mining and cultural exchanges.
China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has urged Afghanistan and Pakistan to resolve their tensions through dialogue and engagement, as it pledged to work with the international community to help improve relations between the two countries.
A bulk carrier struck during a Russian attack on Ukraine’s southern coast on Friday is owned by a Turkish company, a source familiar with the incident told Reuters.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi has begun a multi-nation diplomatic tour of the Middle East, showing Beijing’s deepening engagement in a region undergoing conflicts, shifting alliances and major geopolitical realignments.
Pakistan and China are conducting a joint counterterrorism exercise, Warrior IX, to strengthen military cooperation. The drill comes at a time of renewed regional instability, with analysts saying it underscores both countries’ determination to deepen security ties.
A former estate of drug lord Pablo Escobar, now a wildlife park in Colombia, has marked Christmas by setting animals festive feeding challenges designed to boost their mental and physical health.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for the 12th of December, covering the latest developments you need to know.
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