World News – Page 146 – Prologue Journal

Live Briefing: Washington makes contact with rebels who took over Syria

Washington Post Secretary of State Antony Blinken says U.S. officials have urged Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, Syria’s new Islamist leaders, to respect human rights and spurn extremism. https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2024/12/15/israel-syria-war-news-hamas-gaza-palestine/

‘They Had the Desire to Return’

New York Times Elated residents are trickling home to their shattered Syrian town, a rebel stronghold controlled until recently by the government. https://www.nytimes.com/2024/12/15/world/middleeast/syria-rebel-stronghold-return.html

This year’s Spanish Scrabble champion? A man who can’t speak Spanish.

Washington Post Nigel Richards, arguably the best Scrabble player ever, previously won French tournaments without speaking the language. https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2024/12/14/spanish-scrabble-champion-nigel-richards/

Unexploded mines endanger Syrian returnees, nonprofit warns

Washington Post Live ordnance is littered across vast swaths of Syria, the nonprofit HALO Trust warned. https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2024/12/14/syria-unexploded-mines-ordnance/

U.S. officials in direct contact with Syria’s new leaders

Washington Post Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the U.S. government is communicating with Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, which remains on a State Department terrorism list. https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2024/12/14/blinken-meets-with-regional-leaders-push-peaceful-syrian-transition/

Files from Aleppo intelligence facility show extent of Assad repression

Washington Post Branch 322 was one of hundreds of facilities that detained and interrogated civilians and military officers, and recruited locals to monitor their neighbors. https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2024/12/14/aleppo-prisoners-syria-assad/

Sweet Season

New York Times The holidays are upon us. It’s time to start baking. https://www.nytimes.com/2024/12/14/briefing/sweet-season.html

With K-pop and light sticks, South Koreans demanded Yoon’s impeachment

Washington Post K-pop fans, many of them young women, were especially visible at the party-like protests that preceded the South Korean president’s impeachment. https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2024/12/14/kpop-yoon-impeachment-protest-martial-law/

South Korea lawmakers vote to impeach president over martial law declaration

Fox News South Korean lawmakers on Saturday voted to impeach President Yoon Suk Yeol over his short-lived martial law declaration earlier this month. The National Assembly passed the motion in a 204-85 vote on Saturday. Saturday’s vote means that Yoon’s presidential powers and duties will be suspended after the copies of a document on the…

Live Updates: South Korea’s President Impeached Over Martial Law Crisis

New York Times President Yoon Suk Yeol declared martial law on Dec. 3 and plunged South Korea into political turmoil. Some members of Mr. Yoon’s own party helped pass the motion to impeach. https://www.nytimes.com/live/2024/12/14/world/south-korea-impeachment-president-yoon