FOREIGN

Syria regime takes on two rebel bastions

Published

6 years ago

January 8, 2018

Regime forces upped the pressure on two of the last rebel bastions in Syria, with air strikes in Idlib province and a move to break a siege near Damascus Monday.

Syrian and Russian aircraft pounded targets in the northwestern region of Idlib, pressing a week-old operation targeting the last province in the country to escape government control.

Raids Sunday left “at least 21 dead, including eight children and 11 members of the same family” west of the town of Sinjar in the southeast of the province, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.

“Regime and Russian strikes are continuing today on several parts of Idlib” province, Rami Abdel Rahman, the head of the Britain-based monitoring organisation, told AFP.

Russian-backed regime forces launched an operation on the edge of Idlib province in the last days of 2017 and have retaken villages every day since.

After the collapse of the Islamic State group in both Syria and Iraq late last year, President Bashar al-Assad’s regime is bent on restoring its grip over the country.

Idlib province, which borders Turkey, is almost entirely controlled by anti-government forces that are dominated by a jihadist outfit known as Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) consisting mostly of fighters from a former Al-Qaeda affiliate.

Among the other groups present in the province are thousands of jihadists from Central Asian states and members of the Muslim Uighur ethnic minority of China’s Xinjiang province.

An explosion on Sunday in the city of Idlib at a base for the group Ajnad al-Qawqaz, made up of fighters from the Caucasus that operates alongside HTS, left at least 34 dead, including 19 civilians, the Observatory said.

The initial death toll for the attack, the origins of which remain unclear, was 23 but the number went up on Monday when more bodies were found in the wreckage.

– Ghouta fighting –
Abdel Rahman said the casualty count could yet rise because more victims were believed to be buried under the rubble and many of the wounded were in critical condition.

“Rescue teams are still sifting through the wreckage,” he said.

It was not immediately clear whether the blast was caused by air strikes or was the result of the kind of internal clashes that sometimes break out between jihadist and rebel factions.

After shrinking to barely a sixth of the country at the height of the nearly seven-year-old conflict, the areas under government control now cover more than 50 percent of Syrian territory.

Another pocket where rebels are still holding out however is Eastern Ghouta, a semi-rural area east of the capital Damascus that is home to some 400,000 people.

Rebels led by the Jaish al-Islam group had in recent days surrounded the army’s only military base in the area but the state news agency SANA said Monday the siege had been broken.

“Units from the Syrian Arab Army have brought an end to the encirclement of the Armoured Vehicles Base in Harasta,” it said, adding that operations were ongoing to fully secure the base.

According to the Observatory, the fighting in Harasta since the base was surrounded in late December left 72 regime fighters and 87 rebels dead.

The shelling and bombardment of besieged Ghouta, where the humanitarian conditions have sharply deteriorated in recent months, has also claimed a heavy toll on civilians.

The latest casualties came on Monday when air strikes killed a child and two other civilians in Madira, a village in Eastern Ghouta, the Observatory said.

More than 340,000 people have been killed and millions have been driven from their homes since Syria’s conflict erupted with anti-government protests in 2011.

Guardian

FOREIGN

BTS Singer V Ties Bandmates J-Hope, Jimin And Suga With New Hot 100 Hit

Published

3 weeks ago

March 27, 2024

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South Korea’s global superstars, BTS, are currently fulfilling their mandatory military service. But that hasn’t slowed them down. A dedicated fan base continues to propel V, one of the BTS members, to new heights on the American music scene.

While the group is focused on their national duty, this particular member’s solo work resonates with American audiences.

BTS’s influence remains strong, even with all seven members enlisted. This latest achievement proves that their music transcends borders and continues to captivate listeners around the world.

V, a member of the global phenomenon BTS, is making waves as a solo artist. His brand new single, “Fri(end)s,” hit the prestigious Billboard Hot 100 chart at a very impressive No. 65 in its first week.

This marks V’s fourth time landing a song on the Hot 100, and this time, it’s all him. BTS, as a group, has already achieved an incredible record with 27 hits on the chart. But V’s solo success ties him with three of his bandmates for another impressive feat.

With “Fri(end)s,” V joins J-Hope, Jimin, and Suga in the exclusive club of BTS members with four Hot 100 hits to their names.

However, the top soloist title goes to another BTS member. Jung Kook has a whopping six Hot 100 entries under his name. That’s just one slot ahead of K-pop legend Psy, who boasts five hits on the chart.

V’s solo journey on the Hot 100 began in 2022 with the release of “Christmas Tree.” The song gained significant traction during the holiday season, but its official chart debut came in the new year.

This strong debut for “Fri(end)s” is a great sign for V’s solo career. Fans are eagerly awaiting to see how high the song can climb on the chart in the coming weeks.

ENTERTAINMENT

Ariana Grande Surpasses Tie With Travis Scott, Reaches Justin Bieber’s Chart Record

Published

3 weeks ago

March 27, 2024

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Ariana Grande is dominating the Billboard charts this week. Her brand new album, “Eternal Sunshine,” has skyrocketed to the No. 1 spot on the Billboard 200 chart, making it the biggest album debut of 2024 so far. Ariana Grande’s new single, “We Can’t Be Friends (Wait For Your Love),” also rocketed to the top of the Streaming Songs chart in the US. This chart tracks the most-played songs each week, considering both audio and video streams across major platforms.

This chart success isn’t just a one-off win for her. This feat marks Ariana Grande’s sixth time leading on the Streaming Songs chart, officially breaking her tie with rapper Travis Scott. Previously, both artists were locked in a four-way tie for third place with five chart-topping hits each. Now, Grande takes the solo bronze medal position, pushing Scott down to fifth.

Ariana Grande Reaches Justin Bieber’s Chart Record | Fab.ng

Ariana Grande now shares the number-two spot with pop superstar Justin Bieber. Both singers have snagged six No. 1 hits on the Streaming Songs chart. But Ariana Grande achieved her latest win much more recently than Justin Bieber.

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Drake continues to dominate the streaming song chart. He has 20 No. 1 hits, a record no other artist has even come close to matching.

Following Drake is Taylor Swift, who has secured an impressive eight No. 1 hits on the Streaming Songs chart. She’s poised to add to her tally soon with the upcoming release of her new album, “The Tortured Poets Department.”

Ariana Grande has been on a roll this year, scoring two new No. 1 hits already. Her latest track, “We Can’t Be Friends (Wait For Your Love),” debuted at the top spot, following the success of her previous chart-topper, “Yes, And?” These two new hits join her previous four leaders: “Thank U, Next,” “7 Rings,” “Positions,” and the collaboration with The Weeknd, “Die For You.”

FOREIGN

House Of The Dragon’ Season 2 Drops Premiere Date

Published

3 weeks ago

March 27, 2024

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Get ready for fire and blood! HBO released two thrilling trailers for the highly anticipated second season of “House of the Dragon” on Thursday.

These action-packed “duelling trailers” offer a glimpse into the brewing Targaryen civil war, packed with conflict and drama.

The trailers confirm that Season 2 premieres on Sunday, June 16th.

The prequel series to the smash-hit “Game of Thrones” takes viewers back 200 years to explore the history of Daenerys Targaryen’s ancestors. The Targaryen family, known for their mastery of dragons, is on the brink of war, and these trailers showcase the intensity of the coming conflict.

The first season of “House of the Dragon” premiered in August 2022 and was a massive success, capturing the attention of a reported 29 million viewers each week.

The movie is based on George R.R. Martin’s “Fire & Blood.” It dives into a brutal civil war within the Targaryen dynasty.

The story centers on Rhaenyra Targaryen, who defies tradition by being named heir to the Iron Throne, a position typically held by men. Rhaenyra faces opposition from the very beginning. Her initial close friend, Alicent Hightower, becomes her stepmother after marrying King Viserys, Rhaenyra’s father. This marriage strains their friendship and sows the seeds of future conflict.

The Targaryens, known for keeping their bloodline pure, are also infamous for marriage within the family. In this case, Rhaenyra is married to her uncle, Daemon Targaryen, a powerful and unpredictable warrior.

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King Viserys dies in the course of the movie. This tragedy leads to trouble. Aegon, Rhaenyra’s half-brother, steps forward with the claim that he, not Rhaenyra, should be king. Alicent, now firmly on Aegon’s side, fuels the flames of war.

Supporters have formed behind each heir, creating clear factions. Those who back Rhaenyra are known as the “Blacks,” while Aegon’s supporters are called the “Greens.”

Adding to the chaos is Aegon’s violent brother, Aemond. Aemond’s actions escalate the conflict to a horrifying new level, leaving one of Rhaenyra’s sons dead by the end of season one.

This brutal act ignites a fire of vengeance in Rhaenyra, setting the stage for a bloody war known as the Dance of the Dragons.

The intense rivalry between these two sides promises a thrilling and ruthless battle for ultimate power. The show has even released separate trailers for each faction, further amplifying the excitement for fans

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