Author: Steven Sahiounie

Voluntary Return Procedures for Syrians from Turkey The Turkish Directorate of Migration Management issued a detailed statement on Sunday regarding the voluntary return and visitation procedures for Syrians holding temporary protection cards in Turkey. The statement specifies five border crossings available for this purpose, emphasizing that all measures have been taken to ensure a voluntary, safe, dignified, and organized return in line with civilizational values for Syrians wishing to return to their homeland. The designated border crossings for voluntary return are: According to the statement, the process of voluntary return begins with booking an appointment via a dedicated website. Following…

Biden: Trump’s Actions in Capitol Breach Were a Threat to Democracy Washington D.C. – In a statement made on the eve of Congress certifying the results of the November 5, 2024, presidential election, President Joe Biden has once again described the actions of his predecessor, Donald Trump, during the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot as a “real threat to democracy.” When questioned by reporters at the White House about whether he still considered Trump a threat, Biden responded, “I believe what he did was a real threat to democracy. I hope we’ve moved past that.” The president, whose term is…

A Snowstorm, the Strongest in 10 Years, Hits the United States Washington D.C., January 5, 2025 – A monumental winter storm, described by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) as potentially the fiercest in the last decade, has begun to sweep across the United States. According to CNN, this storm could bring unprecedented challenges to states like Kansas, Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, and Kentucky, where it’s expected to be the most severe in ten years. The National Weather Service reported that major roads in parts of Kansas and Indiana were blanketed with snow and ice, leading to the deployment of…

Microsoft expects to spend $80 billion on AI this fiscal year Microsoft president Brad Smith on Friday said the company is on track to pump about $80 billion into artificial intelligence (AI) this fiscal year. Smith contended AI is poised to transform all aspects of life, and it is imperative that the United States be the global leader when it comes to the technology, he wrote in an online post. “In many ways, artificial intelligence is the electricity of our age, and the next four years can build a foundation for America’s economic success for the next quarter century,” Smith…

Magnitude 5.5 earthquake hits Ethiopia A magnitude 5.5 earthquake struck northern Ethiopia Friday, where a volcano erupted after months of increased seismic activity, the European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC) and local media said. The EMSC said the quake, which occurred at a depth of about 10 kilometres (6 miles), hit some 55 kilometres (34 miles) northwest of the city of Asbe Teferi. No injuries have been reported so far. A nearby volcano also erupted after months of intense seismic activity, according to local media. Aden Bela, a local official, told the Ethiopian broadcaster EBC that the volcanic eruption had taken place at 5:30 am on…

Sudan welcomes Turkish offer to solve the conflict Sudan’s army chief has welcomed a Turkish offer to resolve the brutal 20-month conflict between his forces and their paramilitary rivals, the Sudanese foreign minister said. In early December, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said in a phone call with Sudan’s Abdel Fattah al-Burhan that Ankara could help establish “peace and stability” in the war-torn African state. At a meeting in Port Sudan on Saturday, Burhan asked Turkey’s deputy foreign minister Burhanettin Duran to “deliver the Sudanese leadership’s welcoming of the initiative” to Erdogan, Sudanese foreign minister Ali Youssef said in a…

Israel Destroys UNIFIL Properties and Lebanese Army Watchtower The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) has confirmed that operations by Israeli forces north of the Blue Line, which separates Lebanon and Israel, are ongoing. On Saturday, they announced the documentation of a new Israeli violation. In their statement, UNIFIL said, “Peacekeepers witnessed an Israeli military bulldozer this morning destroying a blue barrel marking the withdrawal line between Lebanon and Israel in Labouneh, as well as a Lebanese Armed Forces observation tower near a UNIFIL position in the area.” The statement further criticized these actions, saying, “The deliberate and direct…

Limited US Spaceports Threaten to Delay Launches According to a report by “The Wall Street Journal” published on Sunday, the limited number of spaceports in the United States threatens to cause congestion and delays in rocket launches. As noted by the newspaper, nearly all American launches are executed from just three spaceports, located in Florida and California. This concentration of launch facilities could lead to significant bottlenecks, particularly as the demand for space access grows. In 2023, the US achieved a record high of 145 rocket launches, with the vast majority (134) conducted by Elon Musk’s SpaceX. The Wall Street…

Record-Breaking Sales for Eco-Friendly Korean Cars in 2024 In a significant milestone for sustainability in the automotive industry, South Korea’s five major car manufacturers achieved a new sales record for eco-friendly vehicles in 2024, fueled by the soaring popularity of hybrid models. Last year, these companies collectively sold 450,194 units of environmentally friendly cars, marking an increase of 11.1% from the 405,331 units sold in 2023. This data was compiled from separate reports by Hyundai Motor, Kia, GM Korea, KG Mobility, and Renault Korea Motors, released on Sunday. The standout performance came from hybrid models, which saw sales of 356,058…

Israeli Soldier Escapes Brazil Amid War Crimes Allegations An Israeli soldier, who was vacationing in Brazil, managed to flee the country after an investigation was opened regarding his alleged involvement in war crimes in Gaza. According to the Israeli newspaper “Yedioth Ahronoth,” the soldier was enjoying his holiday with friends in Brazil. A friend’s father told the newspaper, “There were five of them on the trip. They stayed on Morro Island, where many Israelis settle.” He added that the soldier and his friends “were enjoying a peaceful vacation until they received a phone call informing them of an arrest warrant…