Scrutiny turns to safety set-up after deadly Swiss bar blaze
Swiss prosecutors say a deadly New Year’s Eve fire at a bar in the ski resort of Crans-Montana likely started when sparkling candles were held too c...
Türkiye will provide 2 billion cubic metres of natural gas per year to Syria under a new bilateral agreement aimed at jumpstarting Syria’s war-ravaged energy sector,Turkish Energy Minister Alparslan Bayraktar announced Thursday during a joint press conference in Damascus with his Syrian counterpart.
The deal marks a major step in the normalization of relations between Ankara and Damascus following the end of Syria’s 13-year civil war, which concluded this month with the ousting of longtime President Bashar al-Assad. Türkiye, a former backer of rebel forces during the conflict, is now positioning itself as a key partner in Syria’s reconstruction.
Bayraktar said the gas supplied from Türkiye will enable Syria to generate an additional 1,300 megawatts of electricity, significantly boosting the country’s power capacity. As part of the short-term plan, Türkiye will also provide 1,000 megawatts of electricity directly to help stabilize Syria’s battered grid.
Syrian Energy Minister Mohammed al-Bashir confirmed that both sides had agreed to reactivate a cross-border gas pipeline, with flows expected to begin as early as June. "This will significantly boost electricity generation, which will positively impact the Syrian people’s electricity needs," he stated.
The agreement also outlines the completion of a 400-kilovolt transmission line connecting the two nations, expected to be operational by the end of the year or shortly thereafter. The line will enable the import of up to 500 megawatts of electricity from Türkiye into Syria.
Beyond gas and electricity, the cooperation framework includes opening Syria to Turkish investment in key sectors such as mining, phosphate extraction, electricity generation, and power distribution. Bayraktar noted that Türkiye is also involved in “intensive work” to explore new oil and gas reserves, both onshore and offshore in the eastern Mediterranean region.
The comprehensive energy deal not only aims to alleviate Syria’s severe power shortages but also signals growing Turkish influence in the post-war economic and geopolitical landscape of the region. Analysts say the partnership could serve as a model for broader regional cooperation in Syria’s long path toward recovery.
Dozens of people are feared dead and around 100 others injured after an explosion tore through a crowded bar during New Year’s Eve celebrations at the Swiss ski resort of Crans-Montana, authorities said.
Russian athletes will not be allowed to represent their country at the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics even if a peace deal is reached with Ukraine, International Olympic Committee President Kirsty Coventry said in an interview with an Italian newspaper.
At least 47 people were killed and 112 injured after a fire broke out at a crowded bar in the Swiss ski resort town of Crans-Montana during New Year’s Eve celebrations, Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani told Italian media on Thursday.
India has approved a major arms deal with Israel valued at approximately $8.7 billion, highlighting the deepening defence partnership between the two countries.
A 6.5-magnitude earthquake has struck the southern state of Guerrero in Mexico.
Swiss prosecutors say a deadly New Year’s Eve fire at a bar in the ski resort of Crans-Montana likely started when sparkling candles were held too close to the ceiling, triggering a fast-spreading blaze that killed at least 40 people.
The United Nations on Friday voiced serious concern over the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Sudan, warning that rising violence is increasingly affecting civilians.
Ukrainian officials reported on Friday that thousands of children and their parents were evacuated from frontline areas in the Zaporizhzhia and Dnipropetrovsk regions as Russian forces continued to advance.
Yemen’s southern separatists have announced plans to hold a referendum on independence from the north within two years, a move likely to further escalate tensions as Saudi-backed government forces seek to retake territory seized by the group last month.
A 6.5-magnitude earthquake has struck the southern state of Guerrero in Mexico.
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