Tomb of Assad’s father set on fire in Syria hometown

Militants stand next to the burning gravesite of Syria’s late president Hafez Assad at his mausoleum in the family’s ancestral village of Qardaha in the western Latakia province on December 11, 2024, after it was stormed by opposition factions. (AFP)
Militants stand next to the burning gravesite of Syria’s late president Hafez Assad at his mausoleum in the family’s ancestral village of Qardaha in the western Latakia province on December 11, 2024, after it was stormed by opposition factions. (AFP)
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Updated 11 December 2024
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Tomb of Assad’s father set on fire in Syria hometown

Militants stand next to the burning gravesite of Syria’s late president Hafez Assad at his mausoleum.

QARDAHA: The tomb of ousted Syrian president Bashar Assad’s father Hafez was torched in his hometown of Qardaha, AFP footage taken Wednesday showed, with militant fighters in fatigues and young men watching it burn.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights war monitor told AFP the militants had set fire to the mausoleum, located in the Latakia heartland of Assad’s Alawite community.
AFP footage showed parts of the mausoleum ablaze and damaged, with the tomb of Hafez torched and destroyed.
The vast elevated structure atop a hill has an intricate architectural design with several arches, its exterior embellished with ornamentation etched in stone.
It also houses the tombs of other Assad family members, including Bashar’s brother Bassel, who was being groomed to inherit power before he was killed in a road accident in 1994.
On Sunday, a lightning offensive by militants seized key cities before reaching Damascus and forcing Assad to flee, ending more than 50 years of his family’s rule.


Pakistan to implement new energy market system from March, relinquishing government control 

Pakistan to implement new energy market system from March, relinquishing government control 
Updated 10 min 10 sec ago
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Pakistan to implement new energy market system from March, relinquishing government control 

Pakistan to implement new energy market system from March, relinquishing government control 
  • New system enables consumers to buy power from multiple suppliers, moving away from government-controlled system 
  • Pakistan's energy sector has long struggled with financial strain due to circular debt, power theft and transmission losses

Islamabad: Pakistan’s Energy Minister Awais Ahmad Khan Leghari said this week electricity consumers will be able to buy power from multiple suppliers starting March, as the government moves to implement a new energy market system.
Pakistan’s Cabinet Committee on Energy last October approved the formation of an independent entity to reform Pakistan’s energy market. The new system enables consumers to buy power from multiple suppliers, moving away from the current government-controlled system, where it is the sole buyer of electricity.
Pakistan’s energy sector has long struggled with financial strain due to circular debt, power theft and transmission losses, which have led to blackouts and high electricity costs.
“The National Assembly was informed today (Wednesday) that the government will not purchase electricity after March this year as authorization has been given for the creation of an Independent Electricity Market,” state broadcaster Radio Pakistan reported on Wednesday. 
Leghari told the lower house of parliament during the National Assembly session’s Question Hour that the Independent Electricity Market will enable consumers to purchase electricity from multiple suppliers.
Pakistan’s government expects the move will reduce the country’s circular debt and stabilize electricity prices, which along with food prices, pushed inflation to a record 38 percent high in May 2023. 
The federal cabinet this week also approved a plan to renegotiate agreements with 14 independent power producers (IPPs), another move aimed at lowering electricity costs and addressing the mounting circular debt. 
The main issue between the government and the IPPs were capacity charges, or payments made to IPPs regardless of electricity consumption, which have exacerbated circular debt, now exceeding Rs2.4 trillion ($8.6 billion), as per the energy minister. 
Pakistan says revised contracts will save the government Rs1.4 trillion ($5 billion) over their duration, translating into annual savings of Rs137 billion ($493.2 million) for consumers.
The government’s renegotiation efforts were influenced by the International Monetary Fund’s reform recommendations, which seek to reduce tariffs and capacity payments to ease fiscal pressure.


India’s Bollywood star Saif Ali Khan stabbed at Mumbai home — media

India’s Bollywood star Saif Ali Khan stabbed at Mumbai home — media
Updated 17 min 19 sec ago
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India’s Bollywood star Saif Ali Khan stabbed at Mumbai home — media

India’s Bollywood star Saif Ali Khan stabbed at Mumbai home — media
  • Khan has received six stabbing injuries, with one located close to his spine
  • Hospital says the extent of the damage will become clear after the surgery

NEW DELHI: India’s Bollywood star Saif Ali Khan, 54, is being treated for six stabbing injuries following a scuffle early on Thursday with an intruder at his home in the financial capital of Mumbai, media said.
Khan lives in an apartment in the city’s western suburb of Bandra, home to many in the film industry, along with his wife Kareena Kapoor, who is also an actor, and their two children, Jeh and Taimur.
He was taken to a nearby hospital at around 3:30 a.m. on Thursday with six injuries, two deeper than the others, the Hindustan Times newspaper said, citing Niraj Uttamani, the hospital’s chief operating officer.
“One of the injuries is closer to his spine ... We will be able to tell the extent of the damage only after surgery,” it quoted the official as saying.
Police said the assailant fled after the incident and an investigation had been launched, with teams searching for him, media said.
The son of cricketer and former India captain Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi and actress Sharmila Tagore, Khan is among the country’s most bankable stars, having featured in more than 70 films and television series, in some also as producer.


Pakistan raises alarm over Yemen airstrikes, links conflict to overall Middle East situation

Pakistan raises alarm over Yemen airstrikes, links conflict to overall Middle East situation
Updated 26 min 56 sec ago
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Pakistan raises alarm over Yemen airstrikes, links conflict to overall Middle East situation

Pakistan raises alarm over Yemen airstrikes, links conflict to overall Middle East situation
  • Ambassador Munir Akram expresses concern over Houthi attacks in the Red Sea at the Security Council
  • He reiterates Pakistan’s stance that the conflict in Yemen should be resolved through political means

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s top diplomat at the United Nations raised concerns over airstrikes in Yemen during a Security Council briefing on Wednesday, emphasizing the need to view the conflict in the context of the volatile situation across the Middle East.

The United States and Israel launched aerial attacks in Yemen in recent weeks, targeting positions held by the Houthis, a faction that controls much of northern Yemen, including the capital Sanaa.

The strikes were said to be in response to Houthi attacks on commercial ships in the Red Sea and a series of missile and drone strikes against Israel, including a projectile intercepted near central Israel.

The Houthis have described their actions as a commitment to the Palestinian resistance, expressing solidarity with Gaza and Lebanon in the face of Israeli military operations.

A senior UN official noted during the briefing that the conflict in Yemen was increasingly becoming internationalized due to the involvement of external actors.

“Pakistan is deeply concerned on the airstrikes in Yemen,” Ambassador Munir Akram said during his comments to the Security Council. “Israeli airstrikes on Yemen’s civilian infrastructure, including Sana’a International Airport, Red Sea ports and power stations have caused civilian casualties, further exacerbating the dire humanitarian and political crises in Yemen.”

“We are also deeply concerned over Houthi attacks on commercial and maritime vessels in the Red Sea, which threaten global trade, regional stability and the environment,” he added.

Focusing on Yemen’s internal situation, the Pakistani diplomat highlighted the progress made during the December 2023 peace negotiations, which resulted in agreements on a nationwide ceasefire, economic revival initiatives, resuming oil exports and ensuring the payment of public sector salaries.

“It is crucial to preserve these gains, establish a roadmap and fully implement commitments to foster sustainable peace,” he emphasized.

Hans Grundberg, Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for Yemen, also urged for “immediate de-escalation and genuine engagement for peace,” noting that nearly 40 million Yemenis had long awaited a peaceful environment to rebuild their lives.

Ambassador Akram reiterated Pakistan’s stance that the conflict in Yemen should be resolved through diplomatic and political means.

“Pakistan urges all parties to prioritize dialogue, engage in a Yemeni-led and Yemeni-owned political process, and resolve differences through peaceful means,” he said.


Lavender thrives in Saudi Arabia’s Northern Borders region

Lavender thrives in Saudi Arabia’s Northern Borders region
Updated 25 min 48 sec ago
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Lavender thrives in Saudi Arabia’s Northern Borders region

Lavender thrives in Saudi Arabia’s Northern Borders region
  • The plant has been observed to grow on the edge of the Nafud Desert, an indication that it could be propagated to fight desertification, says environmentalist

ARAR: The Northern Borders region of Saudi Arabia, a vast area spanning approximately 104,000 square kilometers, boasts a richly aromatic, seasonal, and annual plant biodiversity. 

These plants play a crucial role in sustainable development, combating desertification, increasing vegetation cover, stabilizing soil, and fostering ecotourism. Lavender has recently emerged as a prominent species among the region's diverse flora.

Lavender, characterized by its fragrant scent and vibrant purple hue, has been observed on the edge of the Nafud Desert, signaling its potential expansion throughout the region. This emergence highlights the region's ecological significance and capacity to support diverse plant life.

Nasser Al-Majlad, head of the Aman Environmental Association, told SPA that the lavender species is Horwoodia dicksoniae. This annual herbaceous plant features branching stems, typically reaching about 30 centimeters in height, and large, lobed leaves. Its dark lilac flowers, gathered in spike inflorescences, release a distinctive fragrance.

The plant thrives in shallow sandy loam and is valued for its ornamental qualities, making it suitable for cultivation in both homes and gardens. Its smooth brown seeds further contribute to its propagation.

Al-Majlad emphasized the positive impact of nature reserves and the Saudi Green Initiative on the region's ecology. These initiatives have facilitated afforestation, land reclamation, and the protection of wild areas, contributing to the resurgence of numerous trees and plants, including lavender, within the environmental landscape.


US imposes fresh round of sanctions against Russia ahead of Trump return to White House

US imposes fresh round of sanctions against Russia ahead of Trump return to White House
Updated 16 January 2025
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US imposes fresh round of sanctions against Russia ahead of Trump return to White House

US imposes fresh round of sanctions against Russia ahead of Trump return to White House
  • Sanctions target Russia’s military industrial base and evasion schemes
  • Congressional approval required to lift some sanctions on critical Russian entities
  • China-based entities, Kyrgyzstan financial institution among targets

WASHINGTON: The United States on Wednesday imposed hundreds of sanctions targeting Russia, seeking to increase pressure on Moscow in the Biden administration’s final days and protect some sanctions previously imposed.
The US State and Treasury departments imposed sanctions on over 250 targets, including some based in China, taking aim at Russia’s evasion of US sanctions and its military industrial base.
As part of the action, the Treasury imposed new curbs on almost 100 entities that were already under sanctions, potentially complicating any future efforts to remove the measures.
Russia’s embassy in Washington did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
The Treasury in a statement said Washington was imposing fresh sanctions on almost 100 critical Russian entities — including Russian banks and companies operating in Russia’s energy sector — that were previously sanctioned by the United States. It said the move increases secondary sanctions risk for them.
The new sanctions are issued under an executive order that a senior Treasury official said requires Congress to be notified before any of the actions can be reversed.
Jeremy Paner, a partner at the law firm Hughes Hubbard & Reed, said the actions are “Trump-proofed,” preventing reversal of the additional sanctions without congressional approval.
“You can’t just with the stroke of a pen remove what’s being done,” he said.
Edward Fishman, a former US official who is now a research scholar at Columbia University, called it a “very significant action.”
“It protects these sanctions against sort of any frivolous decision to lift them,” he said. “It gives the new Trump administration more leverage with Russia.”
Trump’s transition team did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
It was unclear how Donald Trump, who succeeds President Joe Biden on Monday, will approach the issue of sanctions on Russia. Trump has been friendly toward Russian President Vladimir Putin in the past and said on Monday that he would aim to meet quickly with him to discuss Ukraine.
When asked about his strategy to end the war, Trump told Newsmax: “Well, there’s only one strategy and it’s up to Putin and I can’t imagine he’s too thrilled about the way it’s gone because it hasn’t gone exactly well for him either.”

Sanctions evasion scheme
Washington also took action against a sanctions evasion scheme established between actors in Russia and China, targeting regional clearing platforms in the two countries that it said have been working to allow cross-border payments for sensitive goods. The Treasury said several Russian banks under US sanctions were participants.
“China firmly opposes any illegal unilateral sanctions and ‘long-arm jurisdiction’,” Liu Pengyu, spokesperson for the Chinese embassy in Washington, said in a statement.
“The normal economic and trade exchanges between China and Russia should not be interfered with or disrupted, and should not be used as a tool to smear and contain China.”
Also hit with sanctions on Wednesday was Keremet Bank, a Kyrgyzstan-based financial institution the Treasury accused of coordinating with Russian officials and a bank identified by the United States as circumventing sanctions.
Keremet Bank did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The US State Department also imposed sanctions on Russian-held Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, the largest in Europe.
The plant, located in Ukraine’s south east, was captured by Russia shortly after it launched the invasion in 2022. It is shut down but needs external power to keep its nuclear material cool and prevent a meltdown.
The sanctions will not affect its operations, Russian news agencies reported on Wednesday, citing the plant’s spokeswoman.
The Biden administration has imposed rafts of punitive measures targeting Russia over its February 2022 invasion of Ukraine that has killed or wounded thousands and reduced cities to rubble. Washington has repeatedly sought to counter the evasion of its measures.
Less than a week ago, the administration imposed its broadest package of sanctions so far targeting Russia’s oil and gas revenues in an effort to give Kyiv and Trump’s incoming team leverage to reach a deal for peace in Ukraine.