Abu Mohammad al-Jolani, born Ahmed Hussein al-Shar’a, is a key figure in Syria’s ongoing civil war and the leader of the rebel group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS). This faction has become a dominant force in the country’s opposition to the regime of President Bashar al-Assad. With a past rooted in jihadism and extremist movements, al-Jolani’s evolution as a leader reflects the shifting dynamics of Syria’s brutal conflict, as HTS now pushes towards the ultimate goal of toppling Assad’s authoritarian rule. Early Life and Rise in Jihadist Movements Born in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, to a family displaced from the Golan Heights…
Author: Oki Bin Oki
In a rare and exclusive interview with CNN, Abu Mohammad al-Jolani, leader of the militant group Hayat Tahrir Al-Sham (HTS), declared that the ultimate objective of Syria’s armed opposition is to overthrow the regime of President Bashar al-Assad. This statement comes amid a stunning military offensive by rebel forces, which has seen them capture key cities like Aleppo and Hama, dealing a significant blow to Assad’s control over the country. Jolani emphasized that despite efforts by Iran and Russia to prop up the Assad regime, the opposition is determined to end his rule. He presented a vision for Syria’s future,…
The Prince of Wales met US President-elect Donald Trump while visiting France for the ceremonial reopening of Notre-Dame cathedral. Prince William has joined other world leaders in Paris to mark the restoration of the world-famous landmark, which was devastated by a fire five years ago. He is set to have a meeting with president-elect after the ceremony, Kensington Palace said. It is expected that the prince will discuss the importance of the US-UK “special relationship” with both Trump and the first lady during their respective meetings. Greeting the prince at the ceremony, Trump gave William a pat on the shoulder…
Manchester United have now lost back-to-back games under their new boss, as in the gusty winds which much of England suffered on Saturday, Nottingham Forest pulled off a famous 3-2 victory. The Red Devils were behind with just two minutes on the clock, as Nikola Milenkovic’s header from a corner harkened back to United’s frailties from their midweek 2-0 loss at Arsenal. Rasmus Hojlund replied quarter of an hour later but rapid-fire goals from Morgan Gibbs-White and Chris Wood after half-time put Nuno Espirito Santo’s side back in the driving seat. Bruno Fernandes pulled a goal back to set up…
President William Ruto has announced the extension of the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) from Naivasha to Uganda, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), a move aimed at enhancing bilateral ties among the nations. Already, Uganda has laid the groundwork for the project as the construction of SGR will begin in phases, beginning with the Malaba to Kampala line in January next year. For the project to be complete, it is expected to take 48 months to build the 272 km railway line. During the launch of the project last month, Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni explained that the SGR…
Lando Norris will start from pole position for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, the Briton leading team mate Oscar Piastri to secure a McLaren front row lockout on a weekend where the squad are hoping to clinch a long-awaited constructors’ title. After Max Verstappen initially set a time strong enough for provisional pole during the first runs of Q3, it was Norris who surged ahead during the decisive final laps on an effort of 1m 22.595s, putting him 0.209s clear of Piastri. Carlos Sainz was third for Ferrari, while Nico Hulkenberg grabbed a sensational fourth in his last event for…
Lawmakers in South Korea narrowly failed to impeach the nation’s president over his short-lived attempt to declare martial law. A bill to censure Yoon Suk Yeol fell three votes short of the 200 needed to pass, with many members of parliament in the ruling People Power Party (PPP) boycotting the vote. The South Korean premier sparked widespread shock and anger when he declared military rule – associated with authoritarianism in the country – on Tuesday, in a bid to break out of a political stalemate. Yoon’s declaration was quickly overturned by parliament, before his government rescinded it a few hours…
We’re entering the critical stretch of the NFL regular season when MVP campaigns are won and lost. With Thanksgiving around the corner, the standout performances are starting to crystalize. Players have built their cases with impressive wins and suffered setbacks with tough losses, shaping the landscape of this year’s contenders. While the MVP award is open to all, quarterbacks have dominated the honor for over a decade. So, who are the top candidates? Let’s focus on four standout quarterbacks and one running back, aligning closely with the trends of MVP voting history. Saquon Barkley, RB, Philadelphia Eagles If any non-quarterback…
More than 150 illegal miners have been rescued from an abandoned mine in South Africa’s eastern Mpumalanga province. Police say three bodies were recovered earlier this week on the first day of the rescue operation. Most of those rescued, reportedly foreign nationals, claim they were forced underground against their will to search for gold. A police spokesperson confirmed the miners have been arrested, and investigations are continuing into illegal mining activities in the region. Days earlier, the national police head Fannie Masemola also confirmed officers were investigating “allegations of human trafficking and forced labour in these mining operations by those…
Detectives drawn from the Operations Support Unit Saturday December 7 arrested one Steve Okoth Odek alias David Bett, for scamming a foreign national a staggering USD 256,000 (Sh32 million) in a fake gold deal that involved over 500 kilograms of fake gold. Investigations revealed that the victim entered into two separate gold purchase agreements with the scammer where on February 6, 2024 he was to purchase 500kg of gold and on March 14, 2024 another 580kg with each kilogram priced at USD 40,000. Additionally, the detectives established that the second contract was signed after the first deal failed where the…
Hiring in the US jumped in November, extending a long-running streak of gains that has bolstered the world’s largest economy. The report from the Labor Department showed employers added 227,000 jobs, led by healthcare firms, restaurants and bars. It marked a strong rebound from October, when jobs growth dropped sharply amid disruption from major storms and labour strikes. The figures emerged as analysts debate how much the US central bank will cut interest rates in the months ahead. The Federal Reserve started reducing rates in September, saying lower borrowing costs were needed to keep the economy on track and stave…
President Joe Biden and his senior aides are discussing the idea of issuing pre-emptive pardons for people President-elect Donald Trump has scorned in recent years as he has hinted about plans for retribution, two sources familiar with the discussions confirmed. While the discussions have included certain names, including Senator-elect Adam Schiff, D-Calif., Dr. Anthony Fauci and former Rep. Liz Cheney, R-Wyo., the process hasn’t progressed to the point of consensus on an actual list, sources said. Some Democrats and “Never Trump” Republicans have supported the notion of pre-emptive pardons to protect people under a new Trump presidency. Politico first reported…
A 64-year-old woman was found dead four days after she reportedly fell through a sinkhole above an abandoned mine in Pennsylvania, officials say. Elizabeth Pollard was reported missing by family members after she went out to search for her cat on Monday night. Investigators later determined she fell into a 30-ft (9m) sinkhole connected to an old abandoned coal mine in the town of Marguerite. On Wednesday, police officials said they strongly believed the search had become a recovery mission, rather than a rescue. The discovery of Ms Pollard’s body was confirmed by Westmoreland County Coroner to KDKA-TV, part of…
TikTok’s bid to overturn a law which would see it banned or sold in the US from early 2025 has been rejected. The social media company had hoped a federal appeals court would agree with its argument that the law was unconstitutional because it represented a “staggering” impact on the free speech of its 170 million US users. But the court upheld the law, which it said “was the culmination of extensive, bipartisan action by the Congress and by successive presidents”. TikTok says it will now take its fight to the US Supreme Court, the country’s highest legal authority. The…
The Kenya police led Multinational Security Support (MSS) in Haiti Friday dismissed as lies claims some of the officers had resigned over delayed payment of allowances. MSS Commander Godfrey Otunge said the information disseminated is both inaccurate and malicious. “The MSS categorically refutes these claims. Reuters News did not reach out to the MSS for clarification, and the information being disseminated is both inaccurate and malicious.” “All MSS personnel have received their salaries, including monthly allowances, and no MSS officer has tendered their resignation as alleged,” said Otunge in a statement. He said MSS officers remain highly motivated and fully…
Social media is an unstoppable force. Whether you love it or hate it- there’s no escaping its magnitude. There are billions of users who actively participate on platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn, which emphasizes how powerful of a tool social media can be. Many businesses operating today know all too well the importance of utilizing social media. Social media serves as a primary channel for brand promotion, customer engagement, and data collection. Each social media platform offers significant opportunities for companies to reach diverse audiences, gather insights, and drive growth. However, regularly posting content is not enough. Effective social…