International

18 Wounded in Twin Damascus Blasts During Macron’s Historic Syria Visit

Published

3 months ago

July 7, 2026

18 Wounded in Twin Damascus Blasts During Macron’s Historic Syria Visit

DAMASCUS — At least 18 people, including four police officers, were injured on Tuesday when twin explosions rocked central Damascus during French President Emmanuel Macron‘s landmark visit to Syria — the first by a European Union leader since the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime, marking a significant moment in the country’s fragile transition. The blasts occurred near the Four Seasons Hotel in the heart of the capital, where the French leader had been staying, and the Ministry of Tourism building, close to Victoria Bridge and Umayyad Square, a bustling area that is home to government buildings and commercial establishments, making it a high-profile target for any group seeking to disrupt the visit. A security source confirmed to AFP that one device was planted in a dumpster and another in a vehicle near the hotel, and Syrian state television reported that security forces detected the devices during field operations, but they exploded while specialised units were preparing to defuse them, suggesting that the attackers may have been monitoring the security response or that the devices were booby-trapped to detonate upon tampering.

Social media footage showed a vehicle engulfed in flames, plumes of smoke rising from the scene, and blood stains on the street near the hotel, with panicked civilians running for cover and emergency responders rushing to the scene to assist the wounded. Roads around the site were immediately sealed off, and security forces established a cordon to protect civilians and secure the area, while ambulances transported the injured to nearby hospitals for treatment. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack, and Syrian authorities have launched an investigation to establish the circumstances and identify those responsible, with security sources indicating that they are examining surveillance footage and interviewing witnesses to piece together the events leading up to the explosions.

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The explosions occurred after Macron had entered the Presidential Palace to meet Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa for talks on bilateral relations, reconstruction, and Syria’s political transition, and at no point was the French president in danger, as the blast site was outside the secure perimeter designated for his movement and accommodation. The Elysee Palace confirmed that Macron did not hear the explosions while travelling to the meeting, and a Reuters journalist with the press group accompanying Macron did not hear the blast or see any commotion during the president’s morning events, underscoring the distance between the explosion site and the location of the French leader’s engagements. French presidency sources stated: “The programme continues,” adding that the explosion site was outside the security perimeter designated for the president’s accommodation, and that Macron’s schedule remained unchanged, with the visit proceeding as planned to demonstrate France’s commitment to engaging with Syria’s new leadership.

Macron arrived in Damascus on Monday evening, becoming the first European Union leader to visit Syria since the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s 24-year rule in December 2024, a historic moment that signals a significant shift in international engagement with the country. He was accompanied by a business delegation including the chief executives of TotalEnergies and French container shipping group CMA CGM, with Syria’s reconstruction among the key themes of the visit, reflecting France’s interest in securing economic opportunities in the war-torn nation. In a post on social media, Macron declared: “I have come to express France’s commitment to the Syrian people. For a sovereign Syria, united in its diversity and at peace with its neighbours. Together, let us open a new chapter of stability and peace,” emphasizing France’s support for Syria’s territorial integrity and its vision for a peaceful future. The visit highlights Syria’s geopolitical transformation under al-Sharaa, a former al Qaeda commander who has established close ties with Western and Middle Eastern powers that shunned Assad, as he seeks to rebuild a country shattered by 13 years of war and re-establish its place in the international community.

France has signalled support for those who can “contribute to build a new Syria” in line with the aspirations expressed since the 2011 Arab Spring, a reference to the pro-democracy protests that sparked the brutal conflict and eventually led to Assad’s downfall. The incident comes just days after a bomb blast at a crowded cafe near the Palace of Justice in central Damascus killed at least ten people and injured 21 others, and earlier this week, Syrian authorities also foiled an attempt to bomb a passenger bus in a Damascus suburb, indicating that security threats remain a persistent challenge. It underscores the fragile security situation in Syria even as the country’s new leadership seeks to rebuild ties with Western powers and attract investment for reconstruction, as remnants of the previous regime, extremist groups, or other actors may seek to destabilise the transition through acts of violence.

The visit is scheduled to continue as planned, with Macron set to travel next to Ankara, Turkey, for the NATO summit, where al-Sharaa is also expected to attend, providing an opportunity for further high-level discussions on regional security and Syria’s future. The French presidency has emphasised that the visit demonstrates France’s determination to engage with the new Syrian authorities and support the country’s transition, despite the security risks that such engagement entails. As the investigation into Tuesday’s explosions continues, Syrian authorities have vowed to bring those responsible to justice and to maintain security in the capital, while the international community watches closely to see whether the country can navigate its transition without descending into further violence.

18 Wounded in Twin Damascus Blasts During Macron’s Historic Syria Visit

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International

2026 Nobel Prize: Three Scientists Win Medicine Award for Optogenetics

Published

8 hours ago

October 5, 2026

Trends Admin

American scientist Karl Deisseroth, German scientists Peter Hegemann and Georg Nagel

2026 Nobel Prize: Three Scientists Win Medicine Award for Optogenetics

American scientist Karl Deisseroth, German scientists Peter Hegemann and Georg Nagel have won the 2026 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for discoveries that led to optogenetics, a technology that allows scientists to control the activity of nerve cells using light.

The Nobel Assembly at Karolinska Institutet announced the award on Monday, October 5, recognising the trio for their discoveries concerning light-gated ion channels and optogenetics.

Their work has transformed neuroscience, giving researchers a highly precise way to switch individual nerve cells on or off and study how the brain controls functions such as movement, memory, emotions and behaviour.

The breakthrough began with research into how microscopic algae respond to light. Peter Hegemann studied the light-sensitive mechanisms of algae in the 1990s, while Georg Nagel helped demonstrate that a light-sensitive protein known as channelrhodopsin could function as an ion channel.

Their work showed that light could be used to trigger electrical activity in cells. The discovery eventually provided the foundation for optogenetics, which combines genetics and optics to manipulate specific cells with pulses of light.

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Karl Deisseroth, a neuroscientist at Stanford University, subsequently demonstrated that the technology could be used in nerve cells. His research showed that light-sensitive proteins could be introduced into neurons and used to control their activity.

The technique has since become an important research tool worldwide. Scientists can genetically make selected populations of neurons sensitive to light and then use precisely delivered light to activate or silence them.

The Nobel Assembly said optogenetics has made it possible to switch individual nerve cells on or off in a living brain, allowing researchers to investigate the complex networks underlying brain function.

Beyond basic research, the technology is also being investigated for potential medical applications. Researchers are exploring optogenetic approaches to restore vision in people affected by certain forms of blindness, while other studies are examining whether the technology could contribute to future treatments for neurological disorders.

Deisseroth is based at Stanford University in the United States, while Hegemann is affiliated with Humboldt University of Berlin and Nagel with the University of Würzburg in Germany.

The three laureates will share the 2026 Nobel Prize award of 12 million Swedish kronor.

The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine traditionally opens the annual Nobel announcements, with the prizes for physics, chemistry, literature, peace and economic sciences following during Nobel week.

The 2026 medicine award highlights a scientific breakthrough that has fundamentally changed how researchers study the brain, particularly their ability to examine the role of specific nerve cells with unprecedented precision.

2026 Nobel Prize: Three Scientists Win Medicine Award for Optogenetics

International

Israeli Forces Reportedly Destroy School, Burn Homes in Southern Lebanon

Published

11 hours ago

October 5, 2026

Trends Admin

Israeli Forces Reportedly Destroy School, Burn Homes in Southern Lebanon

Israeli forces reportedly destroyed a school and set fire to several homes in southern Lebanon as military operations, including airstrikes, artillery fire and demolitions, continued across the region.

The reported incident occurred in Houla, in the Marjayoun district, where Lebanese media said Israeli troops placed explosives inside the Jabal Amel Intermediate School before detonating them.

Local reports said the school was destroyed in an early-morning blast, while further demolitions were reportedly followed by fires in residential buildings in the town.

The reports could not be independently verified, and the Israeli military had not immediately provided a specific response to the allegations concerning the school and homes.

The reported destruction in Houla came amid wider Israeli military operations in southern Lebanon.

Lebanon’s National News Agency reported artillery fire around Khiam, while Tallouseh and Bani Hayyan were also reportedly targeted. Airstrikes were reported in Bani Hayyan and Kfar Tibnit, while artillery fire affected areas around Mayfadoun and Zawtar al-Sharqiyah.

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Further demolitions and explosions were also reported in parts of southern Lebanon, including Beit Yahoun, Qantara and Mansouri.

The latest developments have renewed concerns over damage to civilian infrastructure in southern Lebanon, particularly schools and residential buildings.

The reported destruction of the Houla school comes against a wider backdrop of disruption to education in the region. Previous reporting has indicated that dozens of schools in Lebanon have been damaged or destroyed during the conflict, while thousands of students have been displaced from their communities.

The latest military activity is also occurring amid continuing tensions along the Israel-Lebanon border, despite diplomatic efforts aimed at reducing hostilities.

Israel has previously said its military operations in southern Lebanon are intended to counter Hezbollah infrastructure and security threats near the border. Lebanese authorities and Hezbollah have disputed aspects of Israel’s military activities and their justification.

The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) continues to monitor developments and maintain contact with the parties as part of efforts to prevent further escalation.

The renewed violence has added to concerns over the safety of civilians in southern Lebanon, where communities have already experienced displacement and extensive damage to homes and public infrastructure.

As tensions persist, the situation remains volatile, with further military activity potentially threatening efforts to maintain calm along the border.

Israeli Forces Reportedly Destroy School, Burn Homes in Southern Lebanon

International

Over 70 Killed as Fighting Intensifies Around Yemen’s Taiz

Published

12 hours ago

October 5, 2026

Trends Admin

Over 70 Killed as Fighting Intensifies Around Yemen’s Taiz

More than 70 people have been killed in fighting in and around Yemen’s southwestern Taiz province over the past 24 hours, as clashes between Houthi fighters and forces aligned with the internationally recognised government intensify.

Sources from both sides cited by AFP reported that 34 government troops were killed, including 20 in neighbouring Lahj province, while Houthi military sources said 39 of their fighters were killed in clashes across Taiz and areas bordering Lahj. The figures could not be independently verified.

The escalation comes after Houthi forces reportedly cut a key supply route linking Taiz with Aden, the interim seat of Yemen’s internationally recognised government. Security and military sources said the Houthis took control of the Al-Safiya area and a police station there, bringing traffic along the route to a halt and effectively tightening their encirclement of Taiz city.

Taiz city itself remains under the control of government-aligned forces, but the city has been surrounded from several directions by Houthi forces for years. The latest advances have increased pressure on the city’s remaining supply lines and raised concerns about access to food, medicine and other essential goods.

The renewed fighting has also focused attention on the strategic importance of Taiz. The city sits between Yemen’s northern and southern regions and provides important links to the Red Sea coast, making control of the area significant for military movements and supply routes.

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The escalation comes as Yemen’s internationally recognised government launches a broader military offensive against the Houthis.

President of the Presidential Leadership Council Rashad al-Alimi announced the start of military operations aimed at retaking territory held by the Houthis and extending government authority across the country.

The announcement followed recent Houthi gains along Yemen’s Red Sea coast and around the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a strategically important maritime passage connecting the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden.

The latest escalation marks a major deterioration after several years of relative calm. Yemen’s conflict began in its current form after the Houthis seized the capital, Sanaa, in 2014, prompting a Saudi-led military intervention the following year.

The renewed fighting has already worsened the country’s humanitarian crisis. More than 145,000 people have reportedly been displaced amid the latest escalation, while food insecurity and limited access to healthcare remain major concerns. The World Food Programme has also warned of severe food needs in Taiz, with a large proportion of households in accessible areas struggling to meet basic food requirements.

The conflict has also taken on a wider regional dimension, with Saudi Arabia backing Yemen’s internationally recognised government and the Houthis aligned with Iran.

The latest battlefield developments around Taiz could therefore have wider implications for Yemen’s civil war, humanitarian access and security around the Bab el-Mandeb shipping corridor.

For now, Taiz remains a major flashpoint as government forces seek to reopen supply routes and push back the Houthi advance, while the Houthis attempt to consolidate their positions around the strategically important city.