Syria’s authoritarian chief was kicked out of energy earlier this month after a exceptional riot and is now receiving asylum in Russia.
It was a serious humiliation for Putin in addition to Assad as a result of Russia had been propping up the regime for the final 9 years so the Kremlin might keep a stronghold within the Center East.
However, preoccupied by Ukraine, Russia selected to not come to Assad’s assist when the lightning offensive began in December.
Putin then performed down Russia’s failure at a information convention on Thursday when he made his first public feedback on the topic.
He mentioned: “You need to painting the whole lot that’s occurring in Syria as some sort of failure, a defeat for Russia. I guarantee you, it isn’t.”
However, chatting with HuffPost UK, a Western official mentioned this remark was significantly telling.
They mentioned: “That’s actually indicative of the pressure there, and it’ll be attention-grabbing how that performs out.”
The Russian president additionally mentioned he had not but met Assad since he moved to Russia, however that he would do in some unspecified time in the future, and claimed Moscow had helped stop Syria changing into a “terrorist enclave” when it aided the oppressive regime.
He additionally claimed that Israel was the “predominant beneficiary” of the riot because the IDF moved into Syrian land close to the border.
The Russian president used the prolonged information convention to speak concerning the two navy bases Russia has in Syria too, saying: “We keep relations with all of the teams that management the state of affairs there… the overwhelming majority of them inform us that they’d be fascinated with our navy bases remaining in Syria.”
He added: “I don’t know. We have now to consider this as a result of we should assess our relationships with these political forces which might be in management and might be in charge of the state of affairs sooner or later.”
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The Solely Murders within the Constructing star, 32, shared information of her engagement with the 36-year-old “Eastside” singer to her thousands and thousands of Instagram followers on Wednesday (December 11). Taking to the platform, Gomez shared a close-up photograph of her large diamond engagement ring, in addition to the location of the proposal and a selfie exhibiting her beaming response to the engagement.
“Eternally begins now,” she captioned the put up, which has been appreciated greater than 16 million instances on Instagram on the time of writing.
Within the feedback part, a whole bunch of followers and well-known figures rushed to congratulate the Golden Globe nominee, together with her finest pal, pop star Taylor Swift. “Sure I would be the flower lady,” the Grammy winner wrote.
Selena Gomez and Benny Blanco are engaged one 12 months after confirming their romance (Instagram @selenagomez)
“HONEY!! Congratulations candy mama!” commented Jennifer Aniston, whereas Emily in Paris star Lily Collins stated: “Ahhhhhhhh sure sure sure!! Finest information ever. Couldn’t be extra blissful for you each.”
Nevertheless, there was one remark that raised eyebrows amongst Gomez’s followers. Chef Ramsay — who appeared on the fourth season of Gomez’s HBO sequence, Selena + Chef — commented underneath the put up, “Congratulations to you each it should be the cooking,” together with three purple coronary heart emojis.
The document producer is thought to be fairly the chef, typically sharing his recipes on social media. In April, he co-wrote his first cookbook, Open Huge: A Cookbook for Buddies.
Gordon Ramsay referred to as ‘shady’ for his remark underneath Gomez’s put up (Instagram)
“Gordon Ramsay shady af he stated it’s not the face so it should be the meals,” one individual on X/Twitter commented.
“Gordon’s compliments at all times include a aspect of salt,” another person stated.
Others defended the Kitchen Nightmares host, like one one who claimed: “I feel he’s referring to Selena’s cooking present, which he was a visitor chef on.”
Gordon Ramsay appeared on Selena Gomez’s HBO sequence ‘Selena + Chef’ (Getty Photographs)
Based on studies, Blanco proposed to the Uncommon Magnificence founder with a marquise diamond ring set on a gold band encrusted with small diamonds. The choice to get a marquise-shaped rock is probably going a nod to Gomez’s 2015 hit “Good For You,” through which she boasts about being “on her marquise diamonds.”
The couple publicly confirmed their relationship in December 2023. Gomez just lately gushed about Blanco in her September Self-importance Honest cowl story, the place she emphasised their dedication to creating one another really feel secure.
“We at all times ensure that we’re defending what now we have, however there’s no guidelines,” she defined. “I would like him to at all times be himself. I at all times need to be myself.
“I’ve by no means been beloved this manner,” Gomez added. “He’s simply been a light-weight. An entire mild in my life. He’s my finest pal. I like telling him every little thing.”
Turkey’s President, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, has claimed that he and Russian President Vladimir Putin “are the one two leaders left” on the world stage, feedback that may probably anger his Western allies in NATO.
Talking on Monday, Erdogan made the remarks after Turkish-backed rebels had helped the Islamist Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) group take away Bashar al-Assad from energy in Syria.
He stated: “There are solely two of us left among the many leaders. Proper now, it’s simply me and Vladimir Putin.”
Turkish-backed rebels say they’ve claimed the town of Manbij in northern Syria in an offensive that was separate from the one which pressured Assad to flee to Russia.
Town was taken from Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), a gaggle Turkey says is a terrorist organisation because of its ties with the Kurdistan Employees Occasion (PKK) militant group.
Erdogan has tried to make sure that Kurdish teams don’t play a considerable position in Syria’s future.
Erdogan is ready to be one of many main winners from the downfall of Assad. In Turkey, he has confronted stress due to the three million Syrian refugees within the nation.
It’s now anticipated that lots of them will return to their residence nation.
Regardless of Erdogan’s reward of Putin, the autumn of Assad is seen broadly as a blow to the Russian President.
Assad’s brutal oppression within the wake of the 2011 Arab Spring rebellion sparked the civil warfare in Syria, which lasted for 5 years.
Russian airstrikes on anti-government forces – together with ISIS – performed an important half in protecting Assad in energy.
Iran-backed Hezbollah additionally helped Assad. Nevertheless, with Russia distracted in Ukraine and Hezbollah reeling from its warfare with Israel, Syrian insurgent forces have been capable of launch a shock offensive and take quite a few cities in current days,
HTS – led by former Al Qaeda militant Abu Muhammed al Jolani – have been capable of shortly attain Damascus final week.
Whereas many in Syria rejoice, many are additionally making an attempt to rescue prisoners trapped contained in the now-infamous Sednaya jail close to Damascus.
Described as a “human slaughterhouse” by Amnesty Worldwide, the jail has been topic to quite a few human rights abuses – together with torture and executions.
The codes for the digital doorways weren’t left by the jail guards who fled, so Syrians are at the moment making an attempt to knock their means via to the underground cells the place many are nonetheless trapped.
Alison Hume, the MP for Scarborough and Whitby, has requested Prime Minister Keir Starmer to assist ladies who say they’ve skilled sexual harassment or inappropriate behaviour and referred to as for perpetrators to be handled.
Talking within the Home of Commons on Wednesday, December 4, Ms Hume famous that “a big variety of Members on this place are, no matter class, ladies of a sure age”.
She referenced feedback made by MasterChef presenter Gregg Wallace who prompt that allegations in opposition to him got here from “a handful of middle-class ladies of a sure age”.
Mr Wallace, who has since apologised for the feedback, stepped except for presenting MasterChef after a BBC Information investigation revealed allegations of inappropriate sexual feedback and inappropriate behaviour in opposition to him.
His legal professionals have strongly denied he engages in behaviour of a sexually harassing nature.
Keir Starmer MP replied: “I definitely agree with that, and I feel all people throughout the Home would.
“She’s proper, as a result of, one of many biggest limitations that ladies face when coming ahead and reporting unacceptable behaviour within the office is having confidence that they are going to be taken severely. And that requires all of us to place in place mechanisms and preparations to make that potential.”
Ms Hume, the primary girl to symbolize Scarborough and Whitby in Parliament, additionally addressed the continuing Employment Rights Invoice laws throughout a debate on Tuesday, December 3.
She informed the Home of Commons that the invoice “will improve safety from sexual harassment, being a type of middle-class ladies of a sure age – the Authorities’s dedication to holding office offenders to account can’t come quickly sufficient”
She added: “Final week, we heard that there’s robust proof that almost all of sexual harassment within the office, significantly in retail and hospitality, comes from third events—a consumer, buyer or affected person […] It’s important that employers can take affordable steps to stop harassment by third events as a result of the web impact on the sufferer is similar whether or not that behaviour comes from a direct co-employee or a 3rd social gathering.”
Responding to the Scarborough and Whitby MP’s query at PMQs, Mr Starmer added: “Everyone needs to be handled with dignity and respect, and I’m pleased with the truth that the Employment Rights Invoice that we’re passing will strengthen protections from sexual harassment at work.”
From reproductive rights to local weather change to Large Tech, The Impartial is on the bottom when the story is creating. Whether or not it is investigating the financials of Elon Musk’s pro-Trump PAC or producing our newest documentary, ‘The A Phrase’, which shines a light-weight on the American ladies preventing for reproductive rights, we all know how vital it’s to parse out the information from the messaging.
At such a vital second in US historical past, we’d like reporters on the bottom. Your donation permits us to maintain sending journalists to talk to each side of the story.
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The TV presenter appeared on the cookery competitors in 2021, making it to the semi-final. Nonetheless, Sykes ended up making a casual criticism about Wallace, who has “stepped away” from the present over allegations of inappropriate feedback.
Since information broke of the scandal, a number of stars to have appeared on Movie star MasterChef, together with former Newsnight host Kirsty Wark and Geordie Shore’s Charlotte Crosby, have hit out on the host for alleged remarks they heard once they had been filming episodes – and Katy Model addressed being subjected to a “crass” remark made by the previous host.
Sykes spoke out in opposition to her time on Movie star MasterChef in her autobiography Illuminated, which was revealed in 2023 – one yr earlier than the investigation into Wallace was introduced final month.
Within the ebook, Sykes claimed that Wallace requested her as she walked onto set whether or not fashions eat, which she deemed “unprofessional”.
The TV persona, who as soon as hosted a daytime present with Des O’Connor, stated the comment stemmed from “ignorance and disrespect with an additional serving to of conceitedness”.
Sykes wrote in her ebook: ‘‘The MasterChef expertise continued to be an eye-opener and a few unprofessional behaviour on set was jaw-dropping.”
But it surely was a dialog with Wallace on the finish of filming that made her determine to give up the TV trade “as soon as and for all”.
Melanie Sykes says Gregg Wallace encoutner compelled her choice to give up TV (Getty Pictures for eONE)
Writing in Illuminated, Sykes, who has been on screens because the Nineteen Nineties, stated that Wallace advised her showing on Movie star MasterChef would assist her profession.
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“I didn’t know what to say, so I smiled and stated ‘Sure,’ however I used to be actually pondering, ‘Sure, you could have lastly helped me determine to finish my tv profession as soon as and for all,’” Sykes wrote, including: “I used to be performed.”
After ending her filming commitments with collection Store Effectively for Much less, Sykes made good on her vow and relocated to Lancashire.
In a YouTube clip shared on Monday (1 December), Sykes stated that she didn’t actually like Wallace being round and steered he had unhealthy vitality.
She additionally criticised the TV trade for failing to stamp out poor behaviour by high-profile stars.
“I do know that individuals suppose, ‘Oh nicely, you realize we are able to’t eliminate him often because it’s such a profitable present’, and it’s form of concern about altering the format in case viewers don’t watch,” she stated.
Gregg Wallace has ‘stepped apart’ as host of ‘MasterChef’ (BBC)
Sykes revealed that she “complained” about Wallace, including: “I stated I didn’t wish to make a proper criticism as a result of, truthfully, I’d spend my entire time in litigation if I did that, and I believe that’s one of many the explanation why individuals don’t go for it.
The BBC stated of the allegations in opposition to Wallace: “We take any points which can be raised with us significantly and we now have sturdy processes in place to cope with them. We’re at all times clear that any behaviour which falls beneath the requirements anticipated by the BBC won’t be tolerated.
“The place a person is contracted instantly by an exterior manufacturing firm we share any complaints or issues with that firm and we are going to at all times help them when addressing them.”
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#Gregg #Wallace #jawdropping #MasterChef #remark #Melanie #Sykes #give up
From reproductive rights to local weather change to Large Tech, The Unbiased is on the bottom when the story is growing. Whether or not it is investigating the financials of Elon Musk’s pro-Trump PAC or producing our newest documentary, ‘The A Phrase’, which shines a lightweight on the American girls preventing for reproductive rights, we all know how essential it’s to parse out the information from the messaging.
At such a essential second in US historical past, we’d like reporters on the bottom. Your donation permits us to maintain sending journalists to talk to either side of the story.
The Unbiased is trusted by People throughout the whole political spectrum. And in contrast to many different high quality information shops, we select to not lock People out of our reporting and evaluation with paywalls. We imagine high quality journalism needs to be obtainable to everybody, paid for by those that can afford it.
The TV presenter made it to the semi-final of Movie star MasterChef in 2021, after which she made a casual criticism about Wallace. In her autobiography, Illuminated, Sykes revealed she witnessed “unprofessional behaviour on set” which was “jaw-dropping”.
When Wallace, 60, instructed her that MasterChef would assist additional her profession, Sykes determined she was “achieved” working in TV.
“I didn’t know what to say, so I smiled and stated ‘Sure,’ however I used to be actually pondering, ‘Sure, you have got lastly helped me determine to finish my tv profession as soon as and for all,’” Sykes wrote, including: “I used to be achieved.”
Sykes, 54, is one in every of quite a few stars to have appeared on Movie star MasterChef who’ve accused the host of alleged inappropriate remarks whereas episodes had been being filmed.
Melanie Sykes is one in every of quite a few girls to criticise Gregg Wallace’s behaviour (BBC / YouTube)
13 individuals got here ahead with historic allegations about Wallace’s behaviour over a 17-year interval, and a few high-profile figures have revealed their experiences with Wallace in current days.
The criticism ramped up on Wallace after he revealed a video on Instagram claiming the complaints had been coming from a “handful of middle-class girls of a sure age”, a remark which attracted widespread criticism, together with from Downing Road. Wallace apologised on Monday, saying he made the feedback whereas feeling “underneath siege”.
Legal professionals for Wallace have strongly denied that “he engages in behaviour of a sexually harassing nature”.
On Tuesday, the BBC introduced it had axed its MasterChef Christmas specials amid the investigations into Wallace’s alleged sexually inappropriate feedback. The 2 specials had been set to air on BBC One later this month, with the broadcaster initially insisting all recorded episodes of the present would go forward as deliberate.
The U-turn got here as allegations of inappropriate feedback continued on Tuesday. Former MasterChef contestant Jackie Kearney instructed Sky Information that Wallace made innuendos “always” and in earshot of crew members, and that one sexually inappropriate remark left her in tears.
MasterChef: The Professionals, which is at present being aired, will go forward as deliberate.
“As we’ve stated, MasterChef is an incredible competitors which is life-changing for the cooks participating and the present sequence of MasterChef: The Professionals is constant as deliberate,” the broadcaster stated in a press release.
“The superstar Christmas specials are clearly a unique sort of present and within the present circumstances we’ve determined to not broadcast them.”
Gregg Wallace at Windsor Fortress in February 2023 after receiving his MBE (PA)
Labour grandee Baroness Harriet Harman stated she doesn’t “assume the BBC needs to be airing” the present. She instructed LBC : “It’s not the job of presenters to trash an entire load of viewers who hitherto have loved watching the programme. However I, for one, am not going to be watching it.”
Movie star MasterChef Christmas Prepare dinner Off, one of many Christmas specials hosted by Wallace and John Torode, was to see celebrities competing for the glittery Golden Whisk Trophy.
Emmerdale actor Amy Walsh, comic Shazia Mirza, actuality star Luca Bish, and The Wished singer Max George, who all appeared on Movie star MasterChef final yr, had been amongst these set to function.
The opposite particular, Strictly Festive Extravaganza, was a Strictly Come Dancing-themed particular which concerned appearances from skilled dancers Amy Dowden, Gorka Marquez, Kai Widdrington and Nancy Xu.
Strictly choose Motsi Mabuse was billed as a thriller visitor on the present, with the dancers tasked with making a two-course menu that will impress the judges.
The BBC stated of the allegations towards Wallace: “We take any points which might be raised with us significantly and we’ve sturdy processes in place to take care of them. We’re at all times clear that any behaviour which falls beneath the requirements anticipated by the BBC won’t be tolerated.
“The place a person is contracted immediately by an exterior manufacturing firm we share any complaints or issues with that firm and we’ll at all times assist them when addressing them.”
