Opposition vows to build a democratic and pluralistic Syria after the fall of al-Assad's government

DAMASCUS, Syria (AP) — The Syrian National Coalition, one of Syria's main oppositions, vowed Sunday to continue working to transfer authority to a transitional governing body with full executive powers, to usher in a free, democratic and pluralistic Syria.

In a statement to the international community, the coalition emphasized its commitment to ensuring stability and security in neighboring countries and stressed that Syrians will refrain from interfering in the affairs of regional states.

The coalition said it hoped to forge strategic alliances with countries in the region and around the world to rebuild Syria for all its citizens, regardless of ethnicity, religion or sect. The group reiterated its vision of a nation founded on equality and democratic principles, laying the foundation for a peaceful and inclusive future.

In recent days, Damascus has become a focal point of rapid developments, marking a critical turning point in Syria's protracted civil conflict. The Syrian capital, which for years remained under the tight control of President Bashar al-Assad's government, experienced a sudden and dramatic change in power on Sunday following major rebel advances in the country.

Beginning in late November, armed opposition groups made significant gains in northern provinces such as Aleppo, where the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham rebel group spearheaded a major offensive against government forces. With the rebels' advance, reports emerged of rapid army withdrawals from major southern provinces, including Quneitra, Daraa, and Sweida.

Inside the capital, these developments sparked public anxiety, and many residents were unsure of what would come next. They rushed to get basic necessities, such as bread and rice.

After opposition forces seized control of Damascus, the Russian Foreign Ministry confirmed in a statement on Sunday that al-Assad has left Syria and resigned as the country's president, who, in the meantime, called for a peaceful transfer of power.

Local factions and international observers are closely monitoring the situation in Syria, concerned about the stability of diplomatic missions and the potential for violence in the Syrian capital following incidents such as the assault on the Iranian embassy.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei on Sunday condemned the attack, while noting that Iran's ambassador to Syria and embassy staff were in full health.

Mercosur and the EU announce the completion of trade agreement negotiations in Uruguay

MONTEVIDEO -- Uruguayan President Luis Lacalle Pou and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen confirmed Friday the completion of negotiations for a trade agreement between the Southern Common Market (Mercosur) and the European Union (EU).

During the 65th Summit of Mercosur (Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay) and Associated States, which is being held this Friday in Montevideo, Lacalle Pou said that an agreement of this nature "is not a solution, it is an opportunity."

Exercising the temporary presidency of Mercosur, the Uruguayan president pointed out that the speed of progress will depend on the will of each country, emphasizing that progress must be made with "small, but sure" steps in the same direction.

Lacalle Pou spoke on behalf of the other founding members of the South American bloc: Javier Milei (Argentina), Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (Brazil) and Santiago Peña (Paraguay).

For her part, Von der Leyen expressed the "success" of the negotiations, calling them an "ambitious" agreement that sends a "clear and forceful message to the world" by demonstrating that democracies can support each other.

"Today is truly a historic milestone, and let me thank the chief negotiators for their dedication and determination," von der Leyen said.

"This agreement is not just an economic opportunity; It is a political necessity. We are partners with shared mentalities and common roots," he added, speaking at Mercosur headquarters.

Mercosur and the European Union had initially reached an agreement in 2019, but it was never ratified and had to be renegotiated.

The agreement still needs to be ratified by the parties involved, including the parliaments of the four founding countries of Mercosur. However, it faces resistance from some European nations, led by France, who fear that the influx of agricultural products from South American countries could negatively affect their own agricultural sectors.

The agreement would create a market of more than 700 million people, making it the largest free trade area in the world.

Mercosur hopes to export more food products such as beef and soybeans, while the European Union aims to increase shipments of cars and machinery.

Uruguayan Foreign Minister Omar Paganini explained that the agreement allows Mercosur countries to eliminate 70 percent of tariffs on exportable products such as industrial oils, fish, fruits, vegetables and infusions.

For Paganini, the trade pact also opens up opportunities for European investments in Mercosur as part of value chains.

Due to challenges in gaining parliamentary approval in the European Union, the agreement has been split into two parts: a three-pillar Association Agreement and an Interim Trade Agreement as the trade pillar.

The trade agreement will be adopted more quickly than the Association Agreement, as it is the exclusive competence of the European Union and only requires its adoption by the EU institutions and its Parliament.

The Association Agreement, on the other hand, is a mixed competition agreement and must be approved not only by the EU institutions, but also by the national and regional parliaments of each Member State.

Mysterious finding: scientists discovered life forms in ancient rocks more than 3000 years old

These organisms, of surprising sizes, could offer new clues about the evolution of life on Earth.

Scientists  have made a surprising discovery by finding fossilized cells in rocks that formed shortly after Earth's birth, about 3.8 billion years ago.

These cells, remarkably different from any other living thing on the planet, have no cell walls and present a complexity that exceeds that of modern cells.

Now, a new study offers a new explanation for the origin of these mysterious structures and suggests that they could be the precursors of modern cells.

What are the cells found in ancient rocks like?

Unlike modern bacteria, which are typically 1 to 2 micrometers wide and lack internal structures, the microfossils found in these ancient rocks are a considerable 60 to 70 micrometers in size.

This unprecedented discovery has been a subject of intense debate among biologists, who question whether these fossils really represent the remains of living cells.

An eye-opening study on bacteria

 Microfossils were first discovered in 1987 and have since been found in different parts of the planet. "They seem too complex," said Dheeraj Kanaparthi, a researcher at the Max Planck Institute for Biochemistry in Germany, in statements collected by New Scientist.

"They're also too big. What we find is always disconcerting," he added.

The recent study by Kanaparthi's team, still pending publication, focuses on bacteria growing around freshwater springs  at the bottom of the Dead Sea.

These organisms are a type of cell without a wall called L-forms, known since the 1930s. It was found that under high salinity conditions, these cells tend to swell and develop structures similar to mysterious microfossils.

How was the evolution of these cells?

The researchers suggest that the saline conditions and the type of salts present in the environment of these primitive fossils could be responsible for the excessive growth of the cells, forming what appear to be internal structures, indicates the article written by Omar Kardoudi.

In different situations, these L-forms grow in long chains that divide into separate cells. "We thought that these cells would grow into big bubbles and then split into a thousand pieces," Kanaparthi explains, adding, "But in reality, they reproduce in a very defined way."

This study provides evidence on:

•  
• How primitive cells could have inhabited Earth shortly after it cooled  enough to allow carbon-based chemistry.
• The lack of a cell wall in these primitive cells could have influenced their shape and an inefficient method of reproduction.
• In this process of reproduction, much of the content of the stem cell was lost.
• This leakage could explain the carbon deposits found around some microfossils.

Milei's government advances in the purchase of French submarines

The country showed its interest in acquiring Scorpene submersibles by signing a letter of intent.

 Scorpene submarine made in France.

The government of Argentine President Javier Milei took another step towards its goal of acquiring new submarines for the country's Navy with the aim of recovering an operational capacity of this force after the loss of the submarine ARA San Juan, which sank in 2017, Todo Noticias reported on Sunday.

According to the media, a few weeks ago, Argentina's Ministry of Defense managed to sign a letter of intent with its French counterparts to acquire Scorpene-class units, which means that the Latin American country showed interest in moving forward with an eventual agreement. However, the signing of a letter of intent does not yet mean that the agreement has finally been finalized. 

Previously, it was already revealed that in the 2025 Budget the Milei government made a request for debt for some 2,300 million dollars "for the recovery of submarine capacity." The minimum repayment term is three years and the Ministry of Defense would take the loan.

The Argentine government is considering buying two French Scorpene submarines, developed by the company Naval Group, at a unit cost of 500 million dollars. Its construction may take up to seven years and it is not even ruled out that the Argentine shipyard Tandanor will participate in the process.

These submarines, which are 72 meters long, have a diving depth of 300 meters, an autonomy of 78 days to carry out missions in the open sea and a payload of 18 torpedoes and missiles.

MOSCOW -- Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree approving Russia's updated nuclear doctrine, the Kremlin reported Tuesday.

The decree, published on the Kremlin website, states that aggression by any state in a military coalition or bloc against Russia or its allies is seen as aggression by the entire bloc as a whole and aggression from a non-nuclear state, with the involvement or support of a nuclear power, will be regarded as a joint attack on Russia.

According to the document, Russia views nuclear weapons "as a means of deterrence ... which is a last-resort and forced measure," and the country is taking "all necessary efforts" to reduce the nuclear threat and prevent the escalation of interstate tensions that could lead to military conflicts, including nuclear ones.

The revised doctrine further clarifies the states and military alliances subject to nuclear deterrence. According to the decree, nuclear deterrence is aimed at potential enemies, which are defined as "individual states and military coalitions that view Russia as a potential enemy" possessing nuclear weapons or significant general-purpose military capabilities.

Nuclear deterrence is also aimed at states that allow their territory and resources to be used for aggression against Russia, the decree added.

BEIJING, (Xinhua) -- New equipment, including the J-35A fighter jet, will debut at the 15th China International Aviation and Aerospace Exhibition, also known as Airshow China, China's Air Force announced on Tuesday.

Apart from the J-35A medium-sized stealth fighter, the HQ-19 surface-to-air missile weapon system and a new attack reconnaissance unmanned aerial vehicle will also be unveiled for the first time at the air show, said Niu Wenbo with the Air Force equipment department at a press conference.

The air show, scheduled for Nov. 12-17 in the southern Chinese city of Zhuhai, features a diverse range of activities including aerobatic displays, according to Air Force spokesperson Xie Peng.

The aircraft set to fly at the show include the J-20, J-16, and the YY-20A for refueling. The cargo hold of Y-20 aircraft will also be open to the public.

The event coincides with the commemoration of the 75th anniversary of the founding of the Chinese People's Liberation Army Air Force, which falls on Nov. 11. ■

To understand what makes a DANA so destructive, it is first necessary to understand what this phenomenon consists of. Depressions, in meteorology, are areas of low atmospheric pressure, which means that the air is denser in the surroundings than in the center of this "bubble." This imbalance of pressures is essential to generate rain, storms and strong winds.

In the case of a DANA, the situation is even more complex. This phenomenon, which is also known as a "cold drop," occurs when a mass of very cold polar air is isolated at high altitude, between 5,000 and 9,000 meters above sea level. Unlike other storms, the DANA forms in isolation from the air currents that normally regulate the climate in the northern hemisphere, such as the polar jet stream or the subtropical jet stream. This isolation allows the cold air mass to begin to interact with the warm, humid air in its surroundings, generating conditions of atmospheric instability. The orography of the Iberian Peninsula, particularly the arrangement of the mountains in the Valencia region, favors the rise of warm, humid air from the sea into the atmosphere, where it meets the cold air of the DANA. This clash between air masses in different states of temperature and humidity intensifies rainfall and generates extremely unstable conditions.

During the days of greatest activity, some areas of Valencia recorded more than 500 (mm) of water, the equivalent of a year's worth of rain in a matter of hours. This led to massive flooding that swept away entire towns and left thousands of people trapped in their homes and vehicles. The combination of heavy rain, water-saturated land, and an urban drainage system unable to handle this extreme volume of rainfall contributed to the water accumulating rapidly. It should be added that the rains were not only accompanied by thunderstorms, but also by strong winds and, in some cases, tornadoes that hit the region. The magnitude of this phenomenon led the Emergency Coordination Centre (CCE) to raise the alert level to red in several areas of Valencia, issuing warnings to the population to avoid non-essential travel. The frequency and intensity of DANAs have been increasing in recent years. A recent study by the American Meteorological Society confirms that since the 1960s, the number of episodes of this type has grown significantly in the Mediterranean, and many experts point to climate change as a fundamental factor.

Global warming raises the temperature of the Mediterranean, allowing DANAs to be more intense. The World Weather Attribution organisation, which is dedicated to analysing the effects of climate change on extreme phenomena, estimates that torrential rains of this type are now 12% more intense and twice as likely compared to the pre-industrial climate. Friederike Otto, a researcher at Imperial College London, explains that “we are seeing events from the past, but they are becoming more common and extreme due to global warming.” This phenomenon in Valencia is an example of how climate change is already affecting communities and ecosystems, and emphasizes the need to take measures to prepare for an increasingly unpredictable climate.

Three days after historic flash floods swept through several towns south of Valencia in eastern Spain, killing at least 205 people, the initial shock gave way to anger, frustration and a wave of solidarity on Friday. Spanish emergency authorities raised the death toll to at least 205 victims, 202 of them in Valencia alone. Many streets were still blocked by vehicles and piled-up debris, in some cases trapping residents in their homes. Some places remained without electricity, running water or stable telephone connections.

The damage from Tuesday and Wednesday's storm was reminiscent of the effects of a tsunami, with survivors picking up the pieces as they mourned loved ones lost in the deadliest natural disaster in Spain's living memory. "The situation is unbelievable. So much disaster and so little help," said Emilio Cuartero, a resident of Masanasa, outside Valencia. “We need machinery, cranes, to make the sites accessible. We need a lot of help. And bread and water.” In Chiva, residents were working on Friday to clear debris from mud-filled streets. The Valencian town received more rain in eight hours on Tuesday than in the previous 20 months and water overflowed a ditch that runs through the town, tearing away roads and walls of houses. Mayor Amparo Fort told RNE radio that “whole houses have disappeared, we don’t know if they have people inside or not.” Security forces and soldiers were working to search for an unknown number of missing people and many were feared still trapped in wrecked vehicles or flooded garages. Chiva resident Juan Vicente Perez said in statements near the site of his former home that if he had waited five more minutes before evacuating, he would have died.

Images from Valencia before and after the disaster showed the scale of the catastrophe, which had turned the Mediterranean city into a landscape of murky waters. The V-33 motorway was stained brown by a thick layer of mud. The tragedy has unleashed a wave of local solidarity. Some residents in towns such as Paiporta, where at least 62 people died, and Catarroja, have walked kilometres to Valencia to get supplies, passing neighbours from unaffected areas who bring water, essential products or shovels to help remove the mud. The large number of people coming to help led the authorities to ask them not to drive there, because they were blocking roads needed for emergency services. In addition to contributions from volunteers, associations such as the Red Cross and local councils were distributing food. And as the authorities repeated again and again, more storms were expected. The State Meteorological Agency (Aemet) issued warnings for heavy rain in Tarragona, Catalonia, as well as in parts of the Balearic Islands. Meanwhile, flood survivors and volunteers were focused on the titanic task of clearing an ever-present layer of thick mud. “This is a disaster. There are many elderly people who do not have medicine. There are children who do not have baby food. We do not have milk, we do not have water. We do not have access to anything,” a resident of Alfafar, one of the worst-affected towns in southern Valencia, told state broadcaster TVE. “Nobody has come here even to warn us on the first day.” Juan Ramón Adsuara, the mayor of Alfafar, one of the worst-affected towns, said that the aid was not enough for residents trapped in a “critical situation.” “There are people living with corpses at home, that is very sad. We are organizing ourselves, but we are running out of everything,” he told reporters. “We go to Valencia with the vans, we shop and we come back, but here we are totally forgotten.” The rushing water turned narrow streets into death traps and created torrents that swept away homes and businesses, leaving many uninhabitable. There was some looting in shops, and authorities arrested 50 people. Social media has channelled the needs of those affected. Some posted images of missing people in the hope of obtaining information about their whereabouts, while others launched initiatives such as Suport Mutu – or Mutual Support, in Valencian – that connected requests for help with people offering it. Others organised collections of basic goods across the country or started fundraisers.

Spain's Mediterranean coast is accustomed to autumn storms that can cause flooding, but this was the most severe flash flood in recent memory. Scientists link it to climate change, which is also behind rising temperatures and droughts in Spain and the warming of the Mediterranean Sea. Man-made climate change has doubled the likelihood of a storm like this week's deluge in Valencia, according to a partial analysis released Thursday by World Weather Attribution, a group of dozens of international scientists who study the role of global warming in extreme weather. Spain has suffered a drought for nearly two years, which worsened flooding because dry soil was so hard it couldn't absorb water. Meanwhile, efforts continue to search for missing people and rehabilitate homes, streets and infrastructure. Since Friday morning, 500 more soldiers have joined the search efforts, along with the 1,200 UME soldiers deployed from almost the first moment.

Investing in Argentine pesos is a constant concern for those who want to protect their savings and make them grow, especially in an economic context marked by inflation and volatility. In this article, we explore various investment alternatives in pesos that can help maintain purchasing power and obtain attractive returns. Javier Milei's government raised a 2025 budget with income and expense guidelines with projections. Tips for Investing in Pesos in Argentina To choose the best investment option in pesos in Argentina, consider the following aspects: • Evaluate your risk tolerance: Market volatility and inflation can affect some investments to a greater extent than others. • Establish deadlines and objectives: Defining the investment period (short, medium or long term) and the objective (savings, growth or preservation of value) is essential to make appropriate decisions. • Consult a financial advisor at the bank where you have an account: Given the local economic context, consulting with experts can offer a clearer vision and help customize the investment strategy. Notes for non-professional investors Investing in pesos in Argentina can be an effective way to protect capital against inflation and devaluation. The key is to explore alternatives such as UVA fixed terms, CER bonds and mutual funds that offer coverage against inflation. Analyzing the context and personal objectives will help choose the most appropriate and safe option for each investor. Are you ready to protect your capital in the current economic context? Given the annual inflation and exchange rate fluctuations, investing in pesos becomes a key tool to protect the value of savings. Although the dollar is a popular option to preserve the value of money, there are alternatives in pesos that offer benefits and opportunities for those who wish to avoid exchanging for foreign currency. 1. Fixed Terms: A traditional and safe alternative (more information here) • Traditional Fixed Term: This type of investment allows you to secure a fixed interest rate throughout the agreed period (usually 30 days or more). Currently, banks offer competitive interest rates that seek to beat monthly inflation. • UVA Fixed Term: This is a type of fixed term adjustable by inflation, where the invested capital is adjusted according to the variation of the price index (UVA). Investment in UVA is ideal for those who want direct protection against inflation, since the yield is linked to inflationary variations. 2. Peso Bonds: long-term coverage • CER Bonds: Bonds adjusted by CER (Reference Stabilization Coefficient) are also linked to inflation, which allows the value of the capital to be maintained in an inflationary context. These bonds are issued by both the State and private companies, and usually offer returns that exceed inflation. • Badlar Bonds: This type of bond adjusts its rate based on the Badlar rate (average interest for fixed terms of more than one million pesos in private banks), which usually offers a higher return than common fixed terms and allows you to take advantage of variable rates. 3. Mutual Funds Mutual funds are a flexible option that allows you to diversify your capital in different assets. In Argentina, there are several types of FCI in pesos: • Fixed-income funds: Composed mainly of bonds and fixed terms, they usually have a moderate risk. • Variable-income funds: They include shares and other instruments with greater volatility, which allows for greater potential gains in the medium and long term. • CER and UVA funds: These funds are composed of assets that are adjusted based on inflation, which makes them attractive for those seeking protection against the loss of purchasing power. 4. Investing in the Real Estate Sector with Pesos In recent years, the real estate sector has presented options for those who wish to invest in pesos without having to resort to the dollar. Some alternatives are: • Trusts in pesos: These funds allow you to participate in real estate projects and usually require a lower initial investment compared to the direct purchase of properties. • Real estate crowdfunding: Although still in its infancy in the country, this option allows for the acquisition of a small portion of real estate projects with affordable amounts, which democratizes access to real estate investment. 5. Cedears in Pesos: Investing in International Shares Argentine Certificates of Deposit (Cedears) are instruments that represent shares of foreign companies and can be acquired in pesos. Although these instruments are exposed to the dollar exchange rate and international movements, they allow for diversification Investments with companies such as Apple, Google or Tesla from the Buenos Aires Stock Exchange.

Los depósitos de manteros en el barrio porteño de Once fueron allanados por más de 500 efectivos de la Policía de la Ciudad, se realizaron casi 200 pesquisas en la zona y el jefe de Gobierno porteño dijo que "se terminó la joda".

Conforme a lo informado por fuentes policiales de la Ciudad, este viernes por la mañana comenzó un amplio operativo “dentro del polígono conformado por las calles Pueyrredón, Rivadavia, Corrientes y Pasteur”.

Las 197 pesquisas se llevaron a cabo tras una ardua investigación por parte del Ministerio de Seguridad porteño que duró más de cinco meses.

En el acto procesal “participaron más de 500 efectivos entre los allanamientos y el operativo de prevención de la venta ilegal en la zona”.

Interviene la Fiscalía Flagrancias Este a cargo del Dr. Tropea, Auxiliar Fiscal Dr. Almeida, Juzgado Penal, Contravencional y de Faltas N°26 a cargo del Dr. Repetto.

Aunque resta hacer el conteo final de la mercadería secuestrada en los diferentes allanamientos, a comienzos de la mañana fueron contabilizados casi 200 bultos de mercadería apócrifa.

“En Once se terminó la joda. Le acabamos de dar un golpe durísimo a la mafia que inundaba de suciedad y trabajo esclavo las calles de Once. Recuperar la libertad también es esto: hacer cumplir la ley. ¡Felicitaciones a los 600 Policías de la Ciudad que pusieron el pecho!", aseguró el jefe de Gobierno Jorge Macri.

“Hicimos allanamientos en 23 parcelas y secuestramos elementos”, explicó Waldo Wolff, ministro de Seguridad porteño.

Junto a Diego Kravetz, el funcionario destacó que se logró “restablecer el orden público” y ”prevenir la venta ilegal de mercadería". 

“Ya lo hicimos en otros barrios, ahora tocó en Once”, expresó Wolff en conferencia de prensa desde el operativo. 

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