The first international commercial flight since the fall of former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has landed at the Damascus airport. The Qatar Airways flight landed at Damascus International Airport on Tuesday, greeted by the passengers’ relatives and friends inside a terminal building. Ashad al-Suleibi, head of Syria’s Air Transport Authority, said Qatar had provided assistance in rehabilitating the airport, which had suffered from years of neglect as well as sustaining damages from periodic Israeli air strikes. “There was a lot of damage from the [al-Assad] regime to this lively area and this lively airport and also the Aleppo airport,” he…
Author: THE CONNECTING NEWSPAPER
Nearly 44 years after Jimmy Carter left the nation’s capital in humbling defeat, the 39th president returned to Washington for three days of state funeral rites starting Tuesday. Carter’s remains, which had been lying in repose at the Carter Presidential Center since Saturday, left the Atlanta campus Tuesday morning, accompanied by his children and extended family. Special Air Mission 39 departed Dobbins Air Reserve Base north of Atlanta and arrived at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland. A motorcade carried the casket into Washington for a final journey to the Capitol, where members of Congress will pay their respects. In Georgia, eight military pallbearers held Carter’s…
The Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) and Transportation Security Administration (TSA) are collaborating on Advanced Imaging Technology to improve the passenger screening experience. In 2024, TSA screened three million people in a single day for the very first time. With unprecedented numbers of travelers passing through airports, S&T is focused on improving the airport experience of the future so passengers can move to their destinations with ease. New and retrofitted passenger screening systems are currently being tested at S&T’s Transportation Security Laboratory (TSL) in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Developing the future of aviation security The S&T Screening at Speed Program, in collaboration with…
Oluwadolarz LyricsWith infectious hooks and catchy melodies, Oluwadolarz’s Old Soldier song is bound to uplift your spirits and make you move to the rhythm.Old Soldier Cover ArtOluwadolarz – Old Soldier LyricsHaa haa haaHaa haa haa haaOkay!Old soldier is dead and gone to his graveHmm haaOmoyi sunmo ibibayi, keja tete loleHmm haaToba de dami lohun, ma bere si ni keHmm haaI get plenty dollars and I am not talking 1kHmm haaI wanna hear you sayHmm haa hmm haaI wanna hear you sayHmm haa hmm haa hmm haa hmm haaOmo yen ni idi buruku lika shukuMy spot long and e ready to…
U.S. officials made a new offer to the Taliban over the weekend to try to secure the release of Americans held in Afghanistan, according to people familiar with the matter.American officials declined to discuss the negotiations or the offer. But people briefed on the conversations said the White House had been working on a deal to get the Americans back in exchange for Muhammad Rahim, an Afghan who has been held at Guantánamo Bay since 2008.The U.S. government has said Mr. Rahim was a senior aide in Al Qaeda, but others have cast doubt on his role in the organization,…
The Seattle Kraken have activated starting goaltender Joey Daccord off of injured reserve. Daccord has missed Seattle’s last five games with an upper-body injury sustained in the team’s Dec. 22 matchup against Colorado. Seattle has also recalled forward Mitchell Stephens from, and assigned goaltender Ales Stezka and defenseman Cale Fleury to, the minor leagues in corresponding moves.Daccord has stood as one of the best goalies in the league when healthy. He’s rivaled the top of multiple star categories — ranking 14th in both save percentage (.912) and goals-against-average (2.51). Daccord also ranked 13th in wins (12) and 14th in games…
Amnesty International warns that al-Qaradawi could be at risk of human rights violations if extradited to the UAE.Lebanon’s government has decided to extradite Egyptian opposition activist Abdul Rahman al-Qaradawi to the United Arab Emirates (UAE), despite warnings that he could be subject to ill-treatment there. The office of Lebanon’s Prime Minister Najib Mikati announced on Tuesday that the country is set to extradite the son of the late Muslim Brotherhood cleric Yusuf al-Qaradawi to the UAE after the cabinet voted in favour. The 53-year-old was arrested in Lebanon on December 28, shortly after returning from Syria, where he had travelled…
What to KnowThe 39th president died at his home in Plains, Georgia, on Dec. 29 at the age of 100.The longest-lived U.S. president, Jimmy Carter will be remembered for his commitment to humanitarian causes, which continued long after his time in the White House.On Tuesday, his casket was flown from Atlanta to Washington, D.C., where he is lying in state in the U.S. Capitol Rotunda.Visitors will be able to pay their respects as he remains under the watch of a military guard of honor.President Biden is expected to give a eulogy Thursday morning at Washington National Cathedral and has declared…
The Independent Expert on the human rights situation in the Central African Republic, Yao Agbetse today welcomed the adoption of a law to protect human rights defenders in the Central African Republic (CAR) which was adopted by the National Assembly on 27 December 2024. “This historic legislation marks a crucial stage in the recognition and protection of organisations and individuals who devote their lives to the defence of fundamental rights, and the preservation of their operating space,” Agbetse said. Agbetse said the new legislation marked a significant development in the democratic evolution of the CAR and would be decisive in…
Recent reports indicate that Victor Osimhen has rejected a big money move to Man United in the January 2025 transfer window.Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis is reportedly upset with Victor Osimhen after the Nigerian striker turned down a potential transfer to Man United in the January 2025 window. Since September, Osimhen has been excelling on loan at Galatasaray, scoring 10 goals in 15 league appearances. Despite interest from the Premier League giants, Osimhen remains committed to staying with Galatasaray until the end of the season.According to reports, his decision has frustrated De Laurentiis, who views it as another instance of…