The Yarmouk refugee camp outside Damascus was considered the capital of the Palestinian diaspora before the war in Syria reduced it to row after row of blasted out buildings where there were once falafel stands, pharmacies and mosques. Taken over by a series of militant groups then bombarded by government planes, the camp has been all but abandoned since 2018. The buildings that were not destroyed by bombs were demolished by the government or stripped by thieves. Those who wanted to return to rebuild their homes were stymied by Kafkaesque bureaucratic and security requirements. But bit by bit, the camp’s former occupants have trickled back. After the Dec. 8 fall of former Syrian President Bashar Assad in a lightening offensive by opposition forces, many more hope they will be able do so. At the same time, Syria's Palestinian refugees — a population of about 450,000 — are unsure of their place in the new order. Syrians celebrate during first Friday prayers since Assad’s ouster “The new Syrian leadership, how will it deal with the Palestinian issue?” said Palestinian ambassador to Syria Samir al-Rifai. “We have no information because we have had no contact with each other so far.” Days after Assad’s government collapsed, women walked in groups through the streets of Yarmouk while children played in the rubble. Motorcycles, bicycles and the occasional car passed between bombed-out buildings. In one of the less heavily damaged areas, a fruit and vegetable market was doing brisk business. Some people were coming back for the first time in years to check on their homes. Others had been back before but only now were thinking about rebuilding and returning for good. Ahmad al-Hussein left the camp in 2011, soon after the beginning of the anti-government uprising-turned-civil-war. A few months ago, driven by rising rents elsewhere, he came back to live with relatives in a part of the camp that was relatively untouched. He is now hoping to rebuild his home in a building that was reduced to a hollowed-out shell and marked for demolition. Under Assad’s rule, getting permission from security agencies to enter the camp “wasn’t easy,” al-Hussein said. “You would have to sit at a table and answer who’s your mother, who’s your father, and who in your family was arrested and who was with the rebels. … Twenty-thousand questions to get the approval,” Ukraine's new procurement agency aims to boost NATO ambitions He said people who had been reluctant now want to return, among them his son, who fled to Germany. Taghrid Halawi came with two other women on Thursday to check on their houses. They spoke wistfully of the days when the streets of the camp used to buzz with life until 3 or 4 a.m. “You really feel that your Palestine is here, even though you are far from Palestine,” Halawi said. “Even with all this destruction, I feel like it’s like heaven. I hope that everyone returns, all the ones who left the country or are living in other areas.” Yarmouk was built in 1957 as a Palestinian refugee camp but grew into a vibrant suburb where many working-class Syrians settled. Before the war, some 1.2 million people lived in Yarmouk, including 160,000 Palestinians, according to the U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA. Today, it houses some 8,160 Palestinian refugees who remained or have returned. Palestinian refugees in Syria are not given citizenship, ostensibly to preserve their right to go back to the homes they fled or were forced from during the 1948 creation of the state of Israel and where they are currently banned from returning. But in contrast to neighboring Lebanon, where Palestinians are banned from owning property or working in many professions, in Syria, Palestinians historically had all the rights of citizens except the right to vote and run for office — a negligible matter given that the outcome of Syrian elections was largely predetermined. At the same time, Palestinian factions have had a complicated relationship with Syrian authorities. Former Syrian President Hafez Assad and Palestinian Liberation Organization leader Yasser Arafat were bitter adversaries. Many Palestinians were imprisoned for belonging to Arafat's Fatah movement. Mahmoud Dakhnous, a retired teacher who returned to Yarmouk to check on his demolished house, said he used to be frequently called in for questioning by the Syrian intelligence services. “Despite their claims that they are with the (Palestinian) resistance, in the media they were, but on the ground the reality was something else," he said of the Assad dynasty. In recent years, the Syrian government began to roll back the right of Palestinians to own and inherit property. Syria struggles; Gaza nears famine, WFP warns As for the country's new rulers, “we need more time to judge” their stance toward Syria's Palestinians, Dahknous said. “But the signs so far in this week, the positions and proposals that are being put forward by the new government are good for the people and the citizens,” he said. Yarmouk’s Palestinian factions tried to remain neutral when Syria’s civil war broke out, but by late 2012, the camp was pulled into the conflict and different factions took opposing sides. Since the fall of Assad, the factions have been angling to solidify their relationship with the new government. A group of Palestinian factions said in a statement Wednesday that they had formed a body, headed by the Palestinian ambassador, to manage relations with Syria's new authorities. The new leadership — headed by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, an Islamic militant group — has not officially commented on the status of Palestinian refugees or regarding its stance toward Israel, which the previous Syrian government never recognized. The Syrian interim government on Friday sent a complaint to the U.N. Security Council denouncing the incursion by Israeli forces into Syrian territory in the Golan Heights and their bombardment of multiple areas in Syria. But HTS leader Ahmad al-Sharaa, formerly known as Abu Mohammed al-Golani, has said the new administration does not seek a conflict with Israel. Al-Rifai said the new government's security forces had entered the offices of three Palestinian factions and removed the weapons that were there, but that it was unclear whether there had been an official decision to disarm Palestinian groups. “We are fully aware that the new leadership has issues that are more important” than the issue of Palestinian refugees, he said, including “the issue of stability first.” For now, he said, Palestinians are hoping for the best. "We expect the relationship between us to be a better relationship.”

The US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has added India to its list of 'uncooperative' countries, accusing the listed nations of failing to cooperate adequately in deportation processes. In addition to India, the list includes Bhutan, Cuba, Iran, Pakistan, Russia, and Venezuela. ICE stated that these countries have failed to assist in key processes such as conducting interviews, issuing travel documents in a timely manner, and facilitating the repatriation of their nationals on designated flights. US closely monitoring Bangladesh situation, urges protection of minorities: WH According to ICE, the US plans to deport 1.45 million undocumented immigrants, including 18,000 Indians. In recent years, nearly 90,000 Indian nationals have been detained while attempting to enter the US illegally. Although many Indian migrants are seeking to regularize their status in the US, the process could take two to three years to complete. Honduras tops the list of countries with the highest number of undocumented immigrants in the US, with 261,000 individuals. Among Asian nations, China leads with 37,908 undocumented immigrants, while India ranks 13th.

South Korea's parliament voted Saturday to impeach President Yoon Suk Yeol, citing allegations of rebellion related to his controversial martial law order on December 3. The decree, which lasted only six hours, has ignited a political crisis in the country.  The National Assembly passed the impeachment motion with a vote of 204-85. Yoon's presidential duties will be suspended once the impeachment notice is delivered to him and the Constitutional Court, which has 180 days to decide whether to remove him from office or reinstate him. If dismissed, a national election must take place within 60 days.  This marks the second attempt to impeach Yoon after a failed vote last week, where most ruling party lawmakers abstained. Growing public outcry and plummeting approval ratings have since led some members of Yoon's People Power Party to support the impeachment.  South Korean lawmakers to vote on Impeachment of President Yoon over martial law decree For two weeks, tens of thousands of protesters in Seoul have called for Yoon’s removal, while smaller groups of his supporters held counter-rallies. Both sides have demonstrated peacefully.  Yoon’s martial law order, the first in over 40 years, was declared in response to tensions with the opposition Democratic Party, which holds a parliamentary majority. Yoon deployed troops and police to block a parliamentary vote on his decree, but they withdrew after lawmakers unanimously overturned the martial law.  Opposition leaders and legal experts accuse Yoon of rebellion, arguing his decree violated constitutional provisions allowing martial law only during wartime or emergencies. They claim his actions disrupted the National Assembly and undermined democratic governance.  The impeachment motion alleges Yoon staged a “rebellion” by using military and police forces to intimidate parliament and the public. In a defiant speech Thursday, Yoon denied the charges, claiming his actions were intended to counter the Democratic Party, which he called “anti-state forces.”  Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung condemned Yoon’s remarks, describing them as a “declaration of war” against the people.  Yoon is banned from leaving the country as authorities investigate whether he and others involved in the martial law order committed crimes such as rebellion or abuse of power. While Yoon enjoys immunity from most criminal charges, rebellion and treason are exceptions.  Several top officials, including the defense minister and police chiefs, have been arrested in connection with the martial law case. Investigations into other senior figures are ongoing. 

Thai police on Saturday said two suspects were in custody as authorities investigated a bombing in the north that killed at least three people and injured dozens of others. An explosive device was thrown into a crowd during an outdoor performance at an annual festival in Umphang town in Tak province, which borders Myanmar, on Friday just before midnight, according to the Association of the Umphang Rescue Groups. Local police said at least 48 people were injured and that police have not yet pressed charges against the suspects as the investigation is ongoing. Thanathip Sawangsang, a spokesperson for the Defense Ministry, told The Associated Press that local police said there was a fight between rival groups of men before the explosion and that there was no wider security threat. He said the forensic evidence showed that the explosive device was a homemade bomb. South Korean lawmakers to vote on Impeachment of President Yoon over martial law decree Tak province has a heavy military presence in its border areas, including in Umphang. Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra expressed her condolences to the victims and their families, and ordered security personnel and relevant agencies in the area to investigate and help those who have been affected, said government spokesperson Jirayu Houngsap.  

South Korea’s parliament is scheduled to vote on Saturday on an opposition-led motion to impeach President Yoon Suk Yeol, following his defense of a controversial martial law decree and refusal to step down despite growing public outcry. This marks the second impeachment attempt related to Yoon's brief imposition of martial law on Dec. 3. The first vote last Saturday failed after ruling party lawmakers largely boycotted the session. It remains uncertain whether members of the People Power Party will repeat their boycott. Public protests against Yoon have escalated, accompanied by a steep decline in his approval ratings. Despite a majority in the 300-seat parliament, opposition parties are eight votes short of the two-thirds majority required to pass the motion. Mass protests have filled the streets of Seoul over the past two weeks, with tens of thousands demanding Yoon’s removal and arrest. Meanwhile, conservative supporters of Yoon have also rallied, decrying the impeachment attempt as “unconstitutional” and “misleading propaganda.” The martial law, which lasted just six hours, was South Korea’s first in over 40 years. It sparked political turmoil, disrupted diplomacy, and shook financial markets. Parliament unanimously voted to overturn the decree, forcing Yoon to withdraw it. During the declaration, Yoon deployed hundreds of troops and police officers to the National Assembly in an attempt to obstruct the vote on martial law, although no significant violence was reported. Critics, including opposition parties and legal experts, accuse Yoon of rebellion. South Korean law permits martial law only in wartime or similar emergencies and prohibits the suspension of parliamentary operations even under such measures. Law enforcement is investigating whether Yoon’s actions constitute rebellion, abuse of power, or other crimes, with rebellion carrying a potential death sentence or life imprisonment. On Dec. 3, Yoon also ordered soldiers and police to the National Election Commission, citing concerns over potential vulnerabilities in its systems. This has led to speculation that Yoon acted on conspiracy theories regarding alleged election fraud after his party’s loss in April’s parliamentary elections. The impeachment motion accuses Yoon of rebellion, alleging he disrupted peace and constitutional order by mobilizing armed forces and imposing martial law. In a speech on Thursday, Yoon defended his actions as governance, denying rebellion allegations. He described the troop deployment to the parliament as a means of maintaining order and accused the opposition Democratic Party of attempting to undermine his administration. Yoon characterized the opposition as “anti-state forces” that have abused legislative power, jeopardized next year’s budget, and aligned with North Korea. He pledged to resist what he called threats to South Korea’s constitutional future. Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung condemned Yoon’s remarks as a “mad declaration of war” against his own citizens. If the impeachment motion passes, Yoon’s presidential duties will be suspended while the Constitutional Court reviews the case to decide whether to remove him or reinstate his powers. If dismissed, a new presidential election must be held within 60 days. Yoon’s defense minister, police chief, and Seoul’s police agency head have been detained over their roles in the martial law case. Former Defense Minister Kim Yong Hyun, accused of initiating the martial law proposal, attempted suicide in detention but is now in stable condition. Though Yoon is immune from criminal prosecution as president, this privilege does not extend to allegations of rebellion or treason. Authorities could investigate and detain him, though analysts suggest such measures are unlikely due to potential clashes with his security detail.

Thousands of Syrians gathered in Damascus on Friday for the first Muslim Friday prayers since the ousting of President Bashar Assad, marking a pivotal moment in the country’s dramatic political shift. The scene unfolded at the Umayyad Mosque, one of the world’s oldest and a powerful symbol of Syria’s heritage. Large crowds also filled the capital’s main square, celebrating the fall of the Assad regime after insurgents seized the city last Sunday, ending nearly five decades of authoritarian rule. The gatherings were a major display of both jubilation and hope, coming almost a week after a surprise insurgent offensive ousted Assad's government. It also coincided with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s diplomatic mission in the region to guide Syria’s political transition, urging the formation of an "inclusive and non-sectarian" interim government. The key insurgent group, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), has been working to establish security and start political reforms in the wake of Assad’s sudden fall. The group’s leadership, which had previously been associated with extremist views, has vowed to break from its past and promote a more inclusive government. However, HTS remains labeled a terrorist organization by the United States and the European Union. HTS leader Ahmad al-Sharaa (formerly Abu Mohammed al-Golani) addressed the nation in a video message on Friday, celebrating the “victory of the blessed revolution” and urging Syrians to celebrate peacefully without resorting to violence. He promised that the insurgents would work to build a new Syria, united under a government that includes all citizens. The Friday prayers at the Umayyad Mosque were a highly symbolic occasion. The mosque, which has been a center of worship and power for over 1,200 years, was once tightly controlled under Assad’s regime, with sermons strictly censored. In the early days of the uprising in 2011, it was here that many anti-regime protests began after Friday prayers, which were met with violent crackdowns. Read: Syria struggles; Gaza nears famine, WFP warns One worshipper, Ibrahim al-Araby, expressed his joy at being able to attend the prayers after more than a decade of restrictions. "Since 2011, I haven’t been this happy," he said, reflecting on the newfound sense of freedom under the new government. However, others like Khair Taha expressed mixed emotions, balancing hope for the future with uncertainty over the country's transition. In Umayyad Square, the city’s largest roundabout, thousands of Syrians continued the celebrations, chanting slogans like "Unified Syria to build Syria." Some protesters, emboldened by the regime's collapse, even shouted insults at the late President Hafez al-Assad and his son Bashar, something unthinkable under the previous regime. Khaled Abu Chahine, a 51-year-old from Daraa, the birthplace of the 2011 uprising, shared his hope for a new Syria: "I hope for freedom and coexistence between all Syrians—Alawites, Sunnis, Shiites, and Druze." The Friday’s prayers and celebrations were part of a broader shift in Syria, with the country now under the control of HTS, a group long based in the opposition-controlled enclave of Idlib. The group has promised to build a government free of corruption, similar to the one in Idlib, which many in the capital saw as a positive step. The Syrian insurgents face several challenges, including the need to win international recognition for their new government and to ease fears from minority communities about the group’s future direction. Key regional players like Turkey and the U.S. are closely monitoring developments, with Blinken advocating for a transition that guarantees minority rights and regional stability. Read more: US keen to support Syrian leaders on conditions In the midst of this, the U.S. continues to have troops in eastern Syria, focusing on defeating remnants of ISIS, while Israel carries out airstrikes in the country, reportedly targeting weapon shipments to extremist groups. With Syria’s future still uncertain, global powers are keen to shape the country’s post-Assad era, aiming to ensure that extremist groups do not regain control and that stability is restored in the war-torn nation.

Russia launched one of its largest aerial assaults on Ukraine on Friday, firing 93 cruise and ballistic missiles along with nearly 200 drones, according to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. This attack targeted the country’s energy infrastructure and is considered one of the heaviest since Russia’s full-scale invasion nearly three years ago. Ukrainian air defenses successfully intercepted 81 missiles, including 11 cruise missiles downed by F-16 fighter jets provided by Western allies earlier this year, Zelenskyy reported. Despite these defenses, the assault still caused significant damage, particularly to Ukraine’s energy sector. In a message on his Telegram channel, Zelenskyy accused Russia of “terrorizing millions of people” and called for a strong international response. "A massive strike – a massive reaction. This is the only way to stop terror," he urged, emphasizing the need for global unity against Russian President Vladimir Putin’s actions. As the war continues, there is growing uncertainty over the future, especially with U.S. President-elect Donald Trump set to take office next month. Trump has pledged to end the war and cast doubt on the continuation of U.S. military support for Ukraine. In response to the attack, the Russian Ministry of Defense stated that the missile and drone strikes targeted "critically important fuel and energy facilities" in Ukraine, which are crucial for its military-industrial complex. Russia framed the assault as retaliation for a Ukrainian strike earlier in the week using U.S.-supplied Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMs) on a Russian airbase. Read: US warns Russia may use new lethal missile against Ukraine soon Trump has expressed opposition to allowing Ukraine to strike Russian territory using U.S. weapons, a position that Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov noted aligns with Russia’s stance. Peskov said, "We have a shared vision of the causes of escalation," acknowledging that Trump understands what exacerbates the conflict. The U.S. Embassy in Kyiv confirmed that Friday's attack also targeted transportation networks and other vital infrastructure. Ukrainian energy company DTEK, the country’s largest private energy provider, reported that its thermal power plants had been "seriously damaged" in the strike. Russia has consistently targeted Ukraine’s power grid, seeking to cripple its electricity supply and disrupt both civilian life and Ukraine's defense production capabilities. Ukrainian Energy Minister Herman Halushchenko assured the public that energy workers were taking all necessary measures to mitigate the damage, promising to provide more information once the security situation allowed. The Ukrainian Air Force reported multiple drone strikes overnight, followed by a wave of cruise missile attacks across the country’s airspace. Additionally, Russia employed air-launched Kinzhal ballistic missiles in Ukraine’s western regions. This attack mirrors a similar massive strike on November 28, which also involved over 200 missiles and drones, leaving more than a million households without power until emergency teams could restore the electricity. Ukrainian officials have warned that Russia is stockpiling additional missiles and drones for future strikes. Read more: EU may suspend asylum for migrants 'weaponized' by Russia, Belarus On November 21, Russia used its first-ever intermediate-range hypersonic missile, the Oreshnik, to target an industrial facility in Dnipro, eastern Ukraine. Putin had threatened more such attacks in response to Ukrainian strikes on Russian territory using Western-supplied long-range weapons. There were no reports of the Oreshnik missile being used in Friday’s assault, but U.S. officials have warned that it could be deployed in the near future. Half of Ukraine’s energy infrastructure has already been destroyed during the conflict, and widespread electricity blackouts are a common occurrence. While Kyiv’s Western allies have provided advanced air defense systems to help protect critical infrastructure, Russia continues to overwhelm Ukraine’s defenses with large-scale "swarm" attacks, launching numerous missiles and drones in a single strike. In the broader military context, Russia has maintained the initiative this year, making slow but steady progress in its eastern offensives, steadily pushing through Ukrainian defenses.

A report from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) concluded that the severe turbulence experienced by a Hawaiian Airlines flight in December 2022 was likely caused by the flight crew's decision to fly over a storm cell, rather than diverting around it. The turbulence, which injured both passengers and crew members, occurred on a flight from Phoenix to Honolulu on December 18, 2022. According to the NTSB's final report, three passengers and one crew member sustained serious injuries, and a total of 20 people were hurt during the incident. One crew member described the event as reminiscent of a "volcanic explosion," while a passenger who had been in the lavatory at the time of the turbulence reported being violently thrown against the ceiling and then to the floor. Cabin damage included missing ceiling panels, a broken overhead light, and a handset that was shattered into pieces. Earlier in the investigation, the flight’s captain had told authorities that conditions were calm and the skies were clear when a sudden, towering cloud appeared in front of the plane, resembling a plume of smoke. The crew said they did not have time to change their flight path. Read: One dead as Singapore Airlines flight from London encounters severe turbulence The NTSB’s final report stated that meteorological forecasts had predicted unstable weather conditions and isolated thunderstorms for the area, and determined that the crew’s decision to fly over the storm cell—despite warnings of potential severe turbulence—was the probable cause of the accident. In response to the findings, Hawaiian Airlines said in a statement that it regularly trains its crews to avoid severe weather and turbulence. The airline also stated that after Flight 35, they conducted a thorough internal review and worked closely with the NTSB to understand what led to the unexpected turbulence. "We will continue to learn as much as we can from this event," the airline added.

An ancient relic that many Christians revere as Jesus Christ’s “Crown of Thorns” is returning to Notre Dame, five years after it was saved from the flames of the cathedral’s devastating 2019 fire. The crown — a circular band of branches encased in a gilded golden tube — is being brought back to its historic home Friday. The ceremony will be presided over by the archbishop of Paris and attended by knights and dames of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulcher, marking a key moment in the cathedral’s restoration journey. The relic was first mentioned by Jerusalem pilgrims in the 5th century before being transferred to Constantinople in the 10th century. In 1239, it was acquired by King Louis IX of France, who brought it to Paris and housed it at Notre Dame before commissioning the Sainte-Chapelle for its safekeeping. It was later returned to Notre Dame. During the fire that consumed much of Notre Dame on April 15, 2019, the Crown of Thorns was preserved in a sealed case alongside other relics. Firefighters’ quick actions ensured the survival of those treasures. Starting Jan. 10, the Crown of Thorns will be displayed for public veneration every Friday until April 18, culminating on Good Friday. Afterward, it will be shown on the first Friday of each month.

Russia on Friday launched a massive aerial attack against Ukraine, involving dozens of cruise missiles and drones. The Russian military targeted Ukrainian power grid, energy minister Herman Halushchenko wrote on his Facebook page. “The enemy continues its terror,” he said. Halushchenko said energy workers do everything necessary to “minimize negative consequences for the energy system,” promising to release more details on damages once the security situation allows it. Ukraine’s air force reported multiple strike drones launched at Ukraine overnight followed by swarms of cruise missiles in country’s air space. It said Russia also used air-launched ballistic Kinzhal missiles against Ukraine’s western regions. Ukraine's new procurement agency aims to boost NATO ambitions Friday’s attack is the latest in a series of such raids that heightened fears that the Kremlin aims to cripple the country’s power generation capacity as the winter sets in. Since launching its invasion in February 2022, Russia has relentlessly pummeled Ukraine’s electricity system, resulting in repeated shutdown of critical heating and drinking water supplies during the bitter winter months in an apparent attempt to break Ukrainian spirits and resolve. Moscow has declared that the attacks were aimed to hobble Ukraine’s defense industry producing missiles, drones, armored vehicles and artillery among other weapons. The previous such massive attack on November 28 involved about 200 missiles and drones and left more than a million households without power until emergency teams restored supplies.