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A year on from the ousting of Assad

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  Damascus, Syria — “Hold your head high, you’re a free Syrian.” The refrain of this Arabic song—now widely embraced as the unofficial anthem of a new Syria—echoes throughout Damascus. It blares from market loudspeakers, rings out during celebrations in the central square, and is even sung by the man offering traditional coffee to new arrivals at the airport. For decades, many Syrians lived with lowered gazes under the authoritarian rule of the Al-Assad family. The regime maintained an expansive surveillance system in which the feared Mukhabarat , the intelligence network, kept the population in check. Remaining silent was often the safest choice—until the Arab Spring ignited an uprising, and Assad’s fierce response plunged the nation into a ten-year civil war. Today, Syrians are openly and energetically marking the first anniversary of what they regard as their liberation from Assad’s government. The celebration follows a rapid rebel offensive on December 8 last year, led by fo...
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A year on from the ousting of Assad

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  Damascus, Syria — “Hold your head high, you’re a free Syrian.” The refrain of this Arabic song—now widely embraced as the unofficial anthem of a new Syria—echoes throughout Damascus. It blares from market loudspeakers, rings out during celebrations in the central square, and is even sung by the man offering traditional coffee to new arrivals at the airport. For decades, many Syrians lived with lowered gazes under the authoritarian rule of the Al-Assad family. The regime maintained an expansive surveillance system in which the feared Mukhabarat , the intelligence network, kept the population in check. Remaining silent was often the safest choice—until the Arab Spring ignited an uprising, and Assad’s fierce response plunged the nation into a ten-year civil war. Today, Syrians are openly and energetically marking the first anniversary of what they regard as their liberation from Assad’s government. The celebration follows a rapid rebel offensive on December 8 last year, led by fo...
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Location: Israel
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Japan tells residents to evacuate as powerful earthquake strikes north-east

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  Here is a fully rewritten (spun) version of your article while keeping the original meaning intact and avoiding added facts: A powerful 7.5-magnitude earthquake struck north-eastern Japan, triggering evacuation orders for roughly 90,000 people and prompting tsunami warnings that were later reduced to lower-level advisories. The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) initially warned that waves up to 3 metres (10ft) could reach the region’s coastline after the quake hit offshore at 11:15pm (2:15pm GMT) . Tsunami warnings were put in place for Hokkaido, Aomori, and Iwate , and waves measuring 20–70cm (7–27in) were recorded at several ports, according to the JMA. By early Tuesday morning, however, the agency downgraded those warnings to advisories , indicating that expected wave heights had decreased and the risk of coastal flooding had diminished. Here is a fully rewritten (spun) version of your text, keeping all the original facts but expressing them in new wording and st...
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Location: Japan
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Apple Music Replay 2025 Rolls Out With New Listening Stats and Global Charts

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  December 2025 — Apple Music has officially released Apple Music Replay 2025 , giving subscribers a full breakdown of their year in music with expanded analytics, a redesigned visual experience, and new listening categories that reflect how users discovered and revisited music throughout the year. The annual recap, which began rolling out to users this week, highlights each listener’s most-streamed songs, artists, albums, genres, and total minutes listened. This year’s update builds on the company’s push to make Replay a more dynamic and social feature, rivaling Spotify Wrapped with deeper insights and a smoother in-app experience. A More Seamless, In-App Experience With iOS 26, Apple Music Replay is now fully native inside the Apple Music app , eliminating the web-based interface previously required for the visual recap. Users can access it directly from the Home tab, where Apple has added a “Replay: Your Top Music” section that opens an interactive highlight reel. The new ...
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Location: United States
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Paul Dano Continues to Redefine Hollywood’s Quiet Power

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  Paul Dano has long been recognized as one of Hollywood’s most distinctive talents—an actor whose performances are marked not by volume or flash, but by an uncanny ability to inhabit complex, emotionally charged roles with understated precision. While he rarely courts the spotlight, Dano’s work consistently generates it. From early breakthroughs in Little Miss Sunshine and There Will Be Blood to later acclaim in Prisoners , Love & Mercy , and The Fabelmans , Dano has built a career defined by range rather than repetition. Critics and audiences alike often cite his performances as “quietly devastating,” “uncomfortably immersive,” or “eerily authentic”—phrases that have become synonymous with his name. A Career Built on Subtlety and Substance Unlike many actors of his generation, Dano has deliberately avoided typecasting. His roles have spanned troubled prodigies, soft-spoken villains, earnest creatives, and deeply flawed but sympathetic everyday men. What ties them togeth...
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Location: United States
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Costco Business Center, once known primarily as a wholesale destination for restaurants and small businesses

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 Costco Business Center, once known primarily as a wholesale destination for restaurants and small businesses, is quickly gaining traction among everyday shoppers as inflation and rising food costs push consumers to look for larger quantities and lower prices. Industry analysts say foot traffic at Costco Business Center locations has increased steadily over the past two years, driven by families, meal-preppers, event planners, and bulk-buying enthusiasts who prefer the early hours, broader food selection, and business-focused inventory. A Different Kind of Costco Unlike traditional Costco warehouses, Costco Business Centers operate with a streamlined, no-frills model designed to support high-volume purchasing. They typically open as early as 4–6 AM , offer faster checkout, and stock thousands of products not sold at regular Costco stores. Shoppers will not find optical centers, bakeries, pharmacies, or the popular Costco gas stations at these locations. Instead, the aisles are...
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Location: United States
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UN rights council orders probe of ‘appalling’ abuses in Sudan’s el-Fasher

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  The United Nations ’s top human rights body has ordered a probe into abuses in Sudan ’s el-Fasher , where mass killings have been reported since the city fell to the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) last month.  During a special session in Geneva on Friday, the UN Human Rights Council adopted a resolution ordering the UN’s Independent International Fact-Finding Mission for Sudan to urgently investigate violations in el-Fasher, the capital of North Darfur state . The resolution also called on the investigative team to “identify, where possible,” suspected perpetrators in an effort to ensure they are “held accountable”.  The move comes weeks after the RSF, which has been battling the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) for control of Sudan since April 2023 , took full control of el-Fasher on October 26 after an 18-month siege on the city.  Nearly 100,000 people have fled el-Fasher since the RSF’s takeover, with displaced Sudanese civilians saying they faced indisc...
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Location: Sudan
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Pakistan partially reopens Torkham border crossing to allow Afghan refugees to leave

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  PESHAWAR, Pakistan: Pakistan on Saturday partially reopened the Torkham border crossing with Afghanistan to allow thousands of stranded Afghan refugees to return home, officials said.  All other cross-border movements, including trade, remain restricted. On October 12, Pakistan closed all Afghan border crossings due to deadly clashes in which both sides claimed to have killed dozens of troops. Hundreds of goods-transporting trucks and thousands of Afghan refugees were left stranded during the nearly three-week closure, which shut down important trade routes between the two nations. The reopening came after Pakistan and Afghanistan agreed to maintain a ceasefire following nearly weeklong negotiations facilitated by Turkiye and Qatar aimed at preventing a wider conflict in the region.  Since the ceasefire along the Durand Line, a 2,611-kilometer (1,622-mile) border that Afghanistan has never formally recognized, authorities stated that no new firefights had occurred. Whil...
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Location: Afghanistan
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Fisherman from Pakistan arrested

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  Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said on Saturday that a fisherman from Pakistan was arrested by the Indian Coast Guard and was coerced into carrying out tasks for the neighbouring country’s intelligence agency.  Tarar stated that the Indian media was fabricating a false narrative in the wake of the four-day conflict with Pakistan in May while addressing a press conference in Islamabad with Minister of State for Interior Tallal Chaudhary. The minister stated that Ijaz Mallah, a fisherman, had recently been captured by authorities while he was out fishing in the sea. He stated, "In September this year, he was arrested by the Indian Coast Guard while he was out fishing, and after the arrest, he was taken to an undisclosed location and was coerced and forced to do some tasks for the Indian intelligence agency." “He was told that he would be compensated and if he did not comply, he would have to stay imprisoned for two to three years,” the minister said.  He continued, ...
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Location: Pakistan
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Trump says will get Pak-Afghan conflict ‘solved very quickly’

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  United States President Donald Trump said on Sunday that he would get the conflict between Pakistan and Afghanistan “solved very quickly”, calling Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and COAS Field Marshal Asim Munir “great people”.  Tensions between Islamabad and Kabul flared up earlier this month over accusations of terrorism, as border clashes killed 23 Pakistani troops as well as 200 Taliban and affiliated terrorists after an attack by Kabul, which it claimed was retaliation for Islamabad conducting air strikes in its territory.  A first round of talks in Doha last weekend led to a ceasefire agreement, with both governments seeking to firm up the agreement in more talks yesterday.  Trump arrived in Malaysia today to co-sign a ceasefire agreement between Thailand and Cambodia and to attend a summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) in Kuala Lumpur. He was also involved in brokering a ceasefire between Pakistan and India in May of this year as well ...
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Location: United States
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US and China ease trade tensions on first day of Trump’s Asia diplomacy tour

 Where things stand  • As President Donald Trump kicks off a diplomacy tour in Asia, the US and China have reached a “basic consensus” in trade talks, Chinese negotiators said.  The announcement eases tensions ahead of Trump’s high-stakes sit-down with Chinese leader Xi Jinping this week.  The threat of a 100% tariff on China is now “off the table,” according to the US Treasury Secretary.  • Trump has spent the first day of his trip in Malaysia, where he oversaw the signing of a peace agreement between the leaders of Cambodia and Thailand.  Southeast Asian leaders lavished him with praise, jokes, and applause upon his arrival. • Before he arrived in Asia, Trump announced a hike in tariffs on Canada, addressed peace efforts in Gaza and Ukraine, and previewed meetings with key leaders in comments made during the long-haul flight.
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Location: Malaysia
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Trump thanks Qatar for mediation efforts as talks on Gaza plan continue

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  United States President Donald Trump has thanked Qatar for its efforts in securing a ceasefire deal in Gaza as Israeli forces continued attacks on the Palestinian territory, killing at least one person and wounding four others.  Trump made the comments on Saturday as he welcomed Qatari Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani on board Air Force One on Saturday, as the US president’s plane stopped to refuel in the Gulf country on its way to a summit in Malaysia. Trump, who was speaking with the leaders of Qatar, said, "We've done a lot together, especially in the last year." "What we've done is incredible—bringing peace to the Middle East—and they were a very big part of it, so I just want to thank you," she said. The Qatari Emir, on the other hand, wrote in a post on X that he was pleased to meet Trump and that their meeting was a "good opportunity to discuss peace plans in the Middle East, f...
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Location: United States
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PM Shehbaz makes 34 foreign trips in 20 months

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  Islamabad: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif made 34 foreign visits in 20 months, while President Asif Ali Zardari traveled three times.  These outings highlight Pakistan's active diplomatic efforts abroad. Both leaders prioritized China, reflecting its strategic importance in Pakistan’s economic and regional policies. During the years 2024 to 2025, President Zardari went to China twice and Turkmenistan once. His trips aimed to strengthen bilateral cooperation in trade, energy, and economic development.  While limited in number, these visits targeted Pakistan’s most critical foreign policy goals. The Prime Minister visited China twice under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) framework.  He concentrated on infrastructure projects, investments, and trade. These efforts reinforced Pakistan’s commitment to regional connectivity and economic growth.  Saudi Arabia was the most visited country, with eight trips by PM Shehbaz.  He also visited the United Sta...
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Location: United Arab Emirates
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IT firms shift focus to Middle East, Europe

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  KARACHI:  Entrepreneurs are looking into new markets like the Middle East and Europe as the United States cuts back on investment in Pakistan's IT companies. In order to meet the changing requirements of European markets, where opportunities in automation, artificial intelligence (AI), and smart systems are rapidly expanding, Pakistan's IT industry must urgently reskill its workforce. Experts warn that Pakistan risks missing out on high-value outsourcing contracts and strategic partnerships in the region unless local software and IT companies improve their human resource capabilities. They emphasize that the skill gap remains a significant obstacle to entering Europe's lucrative technology landscape, particularly in industrial automation, the Internet of Things (IoT), embedded systems, and edge computing. The government's Uraan program's $10 billion target for the country's exports by FY29 is contingent on expanding this talent pool. Industry leaders have call...
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Location: Europe
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US readies new sanctions to pressure Russia over ongoing war in Ukraine

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  According to a US official and another person familiar with the situation, the administration of US President Donald Trump has prepared additional sanctions that it could use to target key areas of Russia's economy if President Vladimir Putin continues to delay ending Moscow's war in Ukraine. According to two US officials, Washington has held nascent internal discussions about leveraging Russian assets held in the US to support Ukraine's war effort. Additionally, US officials have informed counterparts in Europe that they support the EU using frozen Russian assets to purchase US weapons for Kyiv. After Trump imposed sanctions on Russia on Wednesday for the first time since returning to office in January, it is unclear whether Washington will actually carry out any of those actions in the immediate future. However, it demonstrates that the administration has a well-developed toolkit to further up the ante. Read More: US strike on suspected Venezuelan drug boat kills six in...
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Location: United States
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Pakistan minister warns of ‘open war’ with Afghanistan if peace talks fail

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 The warning from the defense minister comes as nations hold talks in Istanbul to consolidate the Doha ceasefire from last week. In Istanbul, officials from Pakistan and Afghanistan met to discuss how to keep the recent ceasefire agreement between the two countries in effect. The Pakistani defense minister warned of "open war" if the efforts were unsuccessful. The talks, which started on Saturday and are expected to go on Sunday, come just a few days after Qatar and Turkiye brokered a truce in Doha to put an end to the deadly clashes between the neighbors. Hundreds of people were injured, and dozens were killed in the cross-border violence. “We have the option, if no agreement takes place, we have an open war with them,” Pakistan Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif said from the eastern Pakistani city of Sialkot on Saturday.  “But I saw that they want peace,” he added.  Al Jazeera's Sinem Koseoglu reported from Istanbul that Turkiye's "technical-level talks...
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Location: Pakistan
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Israeli drone strike in Lebanon kills Senior Hezbollah official

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  BEIRUT – Israel launched a drone strike in southern Lebanon, killing a senior Hezbollah commander, in violation of the ceasefire agreement once more. Abbas Hassan Kurki, the logistics commander of Hezbollah's southern front, was killed when an Israeli drone struck his vehicle near the village of Toul, which is close to Nabatieh, according to Lebanon's National News Agency (NNA). According to the agency, a drone's guided missile struck Kurki while he was driving down a rural road. Hezbollah later confirmed his death, naming him as a key logistics figure in the southern command who was in charge of managing supply routes. The strike, which it claimed was carried out against Hezbollah's "southern front logistics commander, Abbas Hassan Kurki," was claimed by the Israeli military in a statement. The attack marks yet another violation of the ceasefire agreement reached in November 2024, which was intended to end over a year of cross-border clashes between Israel ...
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Location: Israel
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Fraternity and hope strengthen relations between Catholics and Anglicans

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 Perspectives on the British Royal Family's visit to the Vatican by Bishop Ball, director of the Anglican Centre in Rome, and Archbishop Pace, secretary of the Pontifical Council for Christian Unity. It "nurtures our confidence in the path of dialogue and engagement with one another to which our churches remain wholeheartedly committed," as evidenced by the warmth and gestures that came along with it. We continue to hope, as Pope Leo has expressed it, for ‘the re-establishment of full and visible communion. By Bishop Anthony Ball and Archbishop Flavio Pace Queen Elizabeth I's body was moved to Westminster Abbey in London four years after she died in 1603, where it was reinterred in the same grave as her half-sister, Queen Mary I (Tudor). The two were connected by blood, but their religious beliefs were different. All spiritual and canonical authority over the "ecclesia anglicana" had been transferred from the papacy to the crown by a series of Acts of Parlia...
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Location: United Kingdom
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IPI General Assembly Resolution: States must urgently increase protections and support

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  The International Press Institute (IPI) members unanimously approved the following resolution on October 15, 2025, at the 74th Annual General Assembly. It was then presented at the IPI World Congress on October 25, 2025, in Vienna, Austria. Around the world, journalists are being forced into exile in unprecedented numbers.  The global press freedom environment is deteriorating as authoritarianism and illiberalism gain ground.  Wars and political instability add further peril.  For many, the only path to safety is to flee abroad.  Yet even as the need grows, the number of states willing to provide refuge for exiled journalists is shrinking.  This leaves many journalists and their families in an impossible bind: trapped between repression at home and dwindling options abroad.  Through transnational repression, which is an act of persecution carried out by authoritarian states against their critics abroad, journalists who do manage to reach safety conti...
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Location: Austria
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Fatah rejects any external guardianship over Palestinians

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  October in RAMALLAH 25 (Xinhua) -- The Palestinian National Liberation Movement (Fatah) stated on Saturday that opposition to a unified Palestinian authority would only exacerbate internal divisions and that it would reject any form of external guardianship over the Palestinian people. In a statement, Fatah said international involvement should be confined to monitoring the ceasefire and overseeing reconstruction within a set timeframe.   It stressed that security in Gaza must remain under the control of official Palestinian security forces, and that any international troops should be stationed only along the borders under a clear UN Security Council mandate, without infringing on Palestinian sovereignty.  The movement said the question of Palestinian arms should be resolved within a national framework that ensures a single authority, a unified security force, and the rule of law -- measures it said were essential to internal stability and to denying Israel grounds...
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Location: Palestine
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