CNN
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Since Thursday, massive wildfires have torn apart the coastal mountain ranges of Syria’s Jabal Torkmann, destroying thousands of hectares of forests and overwhelming emergency services.

Latakia’s Civil Defense Director Abdel Kafi Kaial said efforts to control the fire were hampered by strong winds, rugged terrain and dangers left behind by landmine dangers left over from years of war.

The fire comes as the new Syrian government seeks to promote the country’s recovery after more than a decade of war and crippling sanctions, with basic services not present in many parts of the country.

The fire burned along a 20-kilometer (12-mile) line, blocking roads and causing thousands to escape the home. They also left some powerless territory.

Drone videos have shown that they progress along the wide front of rugged territory and occasionally burn when encountering dried forests.

“This fire is extremely difficult,” Kaiyal told CNN on Saturday, adding that reinforcements have been called from all over the country.

Despite efforts by more than 60 fire units, the fires are now spreading across parts of Tartus.

Syrian authorities are seeking international support. Turkey dispatched two helicopters and 11 fire engines, and on Sunday, Jordanian civil defense teams participated in efforts to cut the fires across the border.

Satellite data from NASA’s corporate services show that the area burned is now over 180 square kilometers, an area larger than the capital Damascus.

Syrian government figures for 2023 show that the country’s forest cover is around 5,270 square kilometers, suggesting that these fires consumed more than 3% of the country’s total forest area in just three days.

The country is also aware of long-term droughts. The Carnegie Fund Middle East Program last year reported that the entire Euphrates River Basin region, particularly the entire desert region in the south and eastern Syria, suffered from low rainfall and very high temperatures for four years.

Dharamshala / Hong Kong
CNN
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Thousands of people gathered in Dharamshala, India on Sunday to celebrate the 90th birthday of the Dalai Lama. This is an important milestone in the lives of spiritual leaders and Nobel Peace Prize winners, known for his message of compassion and for seeking greater freedom in Tibet under Beijing’s control.

Unshakable by the heavy monsoon rain and thick mist, the crowds packed narrow streets early in the morning, lining up in large numbers hoping to get a glimpse of the Dalai Lama at the Buddhist complex in Tskrakan-Tibet.

Hundreds of hopeful attendees waited to see if they would be allowed to enter the temple.

The masked dancers in traditional costumes were circling towards the sounds of gongs, pipes and corners as the Dalai Lama was led into the complex by two attendants.

The Indian government minister spoke at the event with Hollywood actor Richard Guerre, a longtime supporter of the Dalai Lama.

The Dalai Lama was offered slices of his birthday cake topped with fresh fruit and white lilies, so the singing performance filled the courtyard.

The rally marked the culmination of several days of celebrations that brought supporters and spiritual heads to a small city in India’s Himalayas hilly region.

Many traveled far to attend celebrations, including Namgal Drujee Gompa in New Jersey, USA.

The 49-year-old told CNN in celebration of his wife and three sons: “This is a very important opportunity for me and my family.”

“Every year, we travel to India, the epicenter of the Tibetan setup in exile, and this is a great opportunity as my children born abroad can return to their roots and learn about the culture and live, so this is a great opportunity.”

In X’s birthday message, the Dalai Lama emphasized the importance of fostering a good heart and achieving peace of mind through compassion. What was woven into his reflection was a pledge to continue to promote human values, religious harmony, ancient Indian wisdom and Tibetan culture.

At the ceremony on Saturday, when attendees prayed for his long life, he assured them that he was “great physical condition” and raised his longevity goal to 130 over 20 years, exceeding his previous predictions.

When he was led to the temple, the video showed the Dalai Lama gently swaying to more live music, following outside and leaving the golf cart.

This year’s festival is increasing its importance as a stage for a charismatic leader to address the looming question of what will happen after his death.

In a video message to religious elders on Wednesday, the Dalai Lama announced he would have a successor after his death, confirming that his office has “the sole authority” to recognize his future reincarnation.

“No one else has such authority to interfere with this issue,” the Dalai Lama said in his recorded message.

The statement sets the stage for a struggle over his succession between Tibetan Buddhist leaders in exile and the atheist Communist Party of China.

The announcement of the Dalai Lama was welcomed by many Tibetan Buddhists who awaited his decision on whether the centuries-old facility would end with his death.

Speaking from the crowd, 26-year-old Tenzin Nidong, originally from Orissa, in eastern India, has raised concerns about the “politicization” of China, which “politicized” this process, “with deep respect” for CNN, retaining his reincarnation.

“He considers the future thoughtfully and feels that the decision has made clear that it will be guided by the Tibetan people and Buddhist traditions, not external political interference,” she added.

“At the same time, like many Tibetans, I am concerned about China’s attempts to politicize the reincarnation process by appointing my own Dalai Lama.

Tibetan Buddhists believe in the circle of rebirth, and when an enlightened spiritual master like the Dalai Lama dies, he will be able to choose the place and time of his rebirth through the power of compassion and prayer.

However, religious traditions are becoming a battlefield for Tibetan’s mind and heart rule, and experts hope Beijing will seek to establish its own Dalai Lama after part of a campaign to “stave” religion, which is part of its current religion.

The Dalai Lama previously said that his successor was born in a “free world” outside of China and urges his followers to reject the candidates chosen by Beijing.

Asked about the latest statement from the Dalai Lama on his reincarnation, a spokesman for the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Wednesday reiterated Beijing’s long-standing stance that the reincarnation of spiritual leaders must be in China, in China and complied with Chinese laws and regulations approved by the central government.

Beijing has long tried to trust the Dalai Lama, but claims he is a dangerous “separatist.”

However, since the 1970s, the Dalai Lama has no longer sought for full independence in Tibet, but claims that they no longer want “meaning” autonomy that allows Tibetans to maintain their distinct culture, religion and identity. His commitment to a non-violent “middleway” approach won him international support and the Nobel Peace Prize in 1989.

However, as China’s political and economic influence grows, the global influence of the Dalai Lama appears to be declining, especially as older people make it difficult to maintain his extensive extermination of the planet. Spiritual leaders have not met the US President since 1991, since Barack Obama in 2016.

However, on his birthday, he received heartfelt messages from world leaders, politicians, lawmakers and artists in a video that was played at the event and edited by Tibetan TV, run by the Tibetan government.

Obama hoped for a “very happy birthday to the youngest 90th birthday I know,” and thanked the Dalai Lama for his friendship.

“You have shown generations the meaning of practicing compassion and speaking for freedom and dignity. It’s not bad for those who describe themselves as a simple Buddhist monk,” he added.

In a statement on X read at the event, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, “I will join 1.4 billion Indians and spread our warmest wishes to his sacred Dalai Lama on his 90th birthday.

“He was a lasting symbol of love, compassion, patience and moral discipline. His message has brought respect and admiration across all faiths. We pray for his continued health and long life.”

In an official statement read at the event, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio expressed support for efforts to preserve the Tibetan heritage.

Hong Kong
CNN
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The summit of leaders of the major emerging economy BRICS group will begin on Brazil’s Sunday, but there are no top leaders with the most powerful members.

For the first time in more than a decade of rules, Chinese leader Xi Jinping has made BRICS a center of push to rebuild the global balance of power – will not attend an annual leadership gathering.

The absence of Xi’s neighbors from the two-day summit in Rio de Janeiro borrows the acronyms to early members of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, and has expanded since 2024 to include Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, Ethiopia, Indonesia and Iran.

Some members are violating the July 9 deadline to negotiate US tariffs to be imposed by US President Donald Trump, and all face the global economic uncertainty brought about by him Maintaining American trade relations – Putting the club under more pressure shows solidarity.

XI’s absence means that Chinese leaders are missing out on important opportunities to introduce China as a stable alternative leader for the US. That’s an image that Beijing has long seen to project globally into the South, And what was recently raised by Trump’s shift to “America First” policy and a shift to last month’s US decision has joined Israel to bomb Iran’s nuclear facilities.

However, the Chinese leader’s decision not to attend — sending his second official Li Qiang instead — does not mean that Beijing has downgraded the importance imposed on the BRICS, and that doesn’t mean that it’s not so important to Beijing’s bid to build a group to offset Western powers.

“We are a great place to go,” said Jung Jang, an associate professor at National University of Singapore.

But that pressure may be Trump in office, Chong added, referring to his relationship with the US president’s key partners, which may not be “his top priority” for XI, as BRICS focuses on piloting China’s domestic economy. Beijing may also have low expectations for a major breakthrough at this year’s summit, he said.

XI is not just the head of state who is expected to be absent from Rio.

Russia’s Vladimir Putin, the closest ally of Chinese leaders in the group, will be present only via video links. For the same reason, he also attended the 2023 BRICS rally in South Africa. Brazil, like South Africa, is a signatory to the International Criminal Court, and is therefore obligated to arrest Putin on court charges claiming war crimes in Ukraine.

Without two global heavy hitters, India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be in the spotlight. Narendra Modi will visit Brazil for both summits and state visits. South African President Cyril Ramaphosa will also be present.

Indonesia’s Prabowo Subianto is expected in Rio at Indonesia’s Prabowo Subianto after Southeast Asia’s largest economy officially joined BRICS earlier this year, but some new club members have yet to announce plans. BRICS partner countries, including those aiming to join the group, will also send delegations. Uncertainty remains as to whether Saudi Arabia has accepted an invitation to become a full member.

The stab wounds in Xi’s absence for President Luis Inacio Lula da Silva, the President of Brazil, could be slowed down by the fact that Chinese leaders visited Brazil in November for a G20 summit and a state visit. The Brazilian leader visited China in May after attending a military parade in Moscow with XI.

That recent diplomacy, low expectations for a major breakthrough at this year’s summit, and a growing focus on domestic issues are likely considered in Xi’s decision to send his trusty assistant commander, Li, the observer says.

China faces sudden economic challenges in the face of trade frictions with the US. Its leaders are busy creating a five-year course ahead of the major political conclaves expected this year.

In Rio, Li is accused of increasing priorities such as strengthening energy ties between Beijing and BRICS’s major oil export members, driving the expansion of China’s offshore and digital currencies for intra-group trade.

“Whether it’s the Shino-Russian partnership or Beijing’s desire to be called leadership in the Global South, there’s a lot to do with BRICS+ that resonates with XI’s foreign policy worldview,” Wong said using the terminology of the Expansion Group.

Started as an economic coalition of Brazil, Russia, India and China before South Africa joined in 2009, BRICS holds roughly the answer to the Global South’s group of seven major developed countries.

It has greater importance as countries are now distributing more “multipolar worlds” and Beijing and Moscow are trying to strengthen international influence as they deepen tensions with the West.

But the composition of BRICS – mixed with large, different political and economic systems and countries with occasional friction between each other, the recent expansion has attracted criticism as ineffective as the group is too cumbersome.

The efforts of different groups to speak with one voice that is different from the Western voice are often plagued by conflicting views. Last month’s statement expressed “significant concerns” over BRICS members’ military strikes over Iran, but stopped specifically naming the two countries that took the strike, the United States or Israel.

Nevertheless, the US sees how the country speaks about one issue that typically combines. It moves trade and finances into the national currency and separates from the dollar. Such deco-oping is particularly attractive to member states such as Russia and Iran, which are highly sanctioned by the US.

Earlier this year, in Brazil’s host semester goals, Lula included “increased payment options” to reduce “vulnerabilities and costs.” When Russia held the club last year, it promoted the development of its own cross-border payment system.

However, the low chance of being on the negotiation table is the lofty goal of the “BRICS currency.” It’s an idea proposed by Lula in 2023 that sparked anger from Trump, even if other BRICS leaders don’t show that it’s a group’s priority.

In January, the US president threatened to place “100% tariffs” on “seemly hostile” BRICS countries if he supported the BRICS currency or to support another currencies to replace the “strong US dollar.”

As the country convenes in Rio, observers track how strict their leaders are on promoting national highway use at a meeting of a group where China is a key member but the US’s global economic influence remains large.

CNN
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Germany (AFD)’s far-right alternative is now Germany’s largest opposition group, breaking through some opinions in the weeks following the federal election in February.

At the same time, the AFD has recently faced a call for a complete ban from another major political party.

In May, the country’s domestic intelligence agency officially classified the AFD as an extremist entity that threatens democracy. The 1,100-page report presented the finding that the Federal Bureau for the Protection of the Constitution, or BFV, is racist, anti-Muslim, and assesses “all segments” of the German population.

The move to allow BFVs to better monitor the group has rekindled attempts to impose a ban, the party, the highest performance by far-right parties in the country since World War II, despite claiming a significant 20.8% of votes in the February national elections.

The AFD also enjoys extremely vocal support from the Trump administration, with Tesla billionaire Elon Musk, who has since left his position in the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), urging Germans to vote for the party in the preliminary stage of the election. More recently, both the US Vice President, J.D. Vance, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio have criticized Germany’s decision to classify the AFD as an extremist.

On Monday, the Central Left Social Democrats (SPD), now the junior coalition partner of the conservative-led government in Berlin, voted unanimously to begin efforts to ban it.

However, the legal path to banning AFDs is long and almost unprecedented.

The German political system set up to avoid repeating Nazi rules is Conflictable democracyor “extremist democracy,” meaning it is a democracy.

In other words, German states can actively defend against internal threats to democratic principles and constitutional order, including the prohibition of political parties.

However, two criteria must be met by the German Federal Constitutional Court to form the legal basis for the prohibition.

First, the parties in question must be known to work against the country’s free democratic order, showing a “active, belligerent and aggressive attitude.” Second, parties must be popular enough to pose a concrete threat to democracy, a provision created in 2017 and called “possibility.”

Parties found to meet the first criteria are prohibited from accessing public campaign funding rather than the second criteria, but are permitted to continue other activities.

“It’s a widespread German misconception that AFD cannot be banned in Germany… because it’s too big,” Holters, a professor of constitutional law at the University of Rufuna, told CNN.

“The opposite is true. Its size indicates that it meets the criteria for “potential.” ”

To begin the process of banning parties, you must make a formal request to federal court. This request is the government itself, and Bustestag, German House of Parliament, or Federal Council, A legislative body representing the 16 regions of the country.

The court then decides whether to start the case or to abandon the application as unfounded.

It must examine thousands of pages of evidence, hear witnesses, hold a full trial and consider whether the parties are in fact violating the Constitution, Hortels explained.

The court may declare a party unconstitutional. The party then dissolves and bans all political activities. Additionally, the creation of alternative organizations is prohibited.

To make a declaration, at least two-thirds of the justice of the court must agree.

In fact, if the AFD is banned, the sitting lawmakers will automatically suffer a loss of mandate at the regional and federal levels and at the European Parliament.

Of the 152 seats AFD currently has Bustes Tag 42 people were direct seats, with each candidate winning the district individually as a majority. These 42 districts will need to vote again to fill their seats with new candidates from other parties. The other 110 AFD seats assigned using the Party List System remain vacant until the next election cycle. Similarly, seats in the AFD in the European Parliament remain vacant.

In either case, this changes the majority ratio. This means that seats of all other parties will gain greater importance.

The German Federal Constitutional Court has only been banned in the country’s history, both of which were early postwar years. The Socialist Imperial Party (SRP), the successor to the Nazi Party, was banned in 1952. Four years later, in 1956, Germany’s Communist Party (KPD) was also banned.

Repeated attempts to ban the Neo-Nazi Democratic Party (NPD) in Germany have failed in 2003, 2016 and 2021. The 2017 court publicly admitted that the party was unconstitutional, but found that it poses no major threat to the constitutional order. In January 2024, the court approved a freeze on the NPD’s state funds for six years.

Overall, Hortels believes it would be difficult to impose a ban on German political parties. “The party’s ban is seen as a measure of last resort against the enemy of democracy,” he said.

The rise of the AFD has sparked widespread unrest, and protesters are calling for it to be outlawed. Most notably, in early 2024, when tens of thousands of demonstrators descended in German cities, especially after senior AFD members discussed plans to deport immigrants.

But German lawmakers remain divided on the issue, with some fearing that the move backfires and burns far-right sympathy.

Pointing to the classification as a right-wing extremist organization, SPD co-leader Lars Klingbeil told party members at Monday’s meeting that efforts to ban the AFD should be launched.

“The moment the domestic Intelligence Agency says this is a confirmed right-wing extremist party, there can’t be any more tactics,” he said.

But Merz’s Christian Democratic Union (CDU) leads the German Union of Union government – hesitant.

German Home Minister Alexander Dobrind, a member of the Christian Social Union (CSU), the CDU’s Bavarian sister party, poured cold water into the SPD’s movement. Speaking to the German news podcast “Table. Today,” he said, “The decision made at the SPD Party meeting is not a mandate of the Minister of Home Affairs.”

Meltz reported in May that he was “skeptical” about the proceedings that the newspaper banned political parties, and he himself has been paying attention to the moves.

The AFD’s unparalleled public recognition means that strong transatlantic allies, let alone support from the Trump administration, may have a significant response to their ban.

Some polls found that, weeks after the German election, support for the AFD was even higher than the official 20.8% result, making it the country’s most popular party in a short time.

In April, the national voting agency FORSA found that the AFD was voting at a record 26%. Currently, FORSA shows AFD at 24%, a 4-point delay in the CDU.

With AFD support reaching such heights, Hortels risks creating a “martist effect” in the case of a ban, and sees the AFD as “staging as a victim of political opponents.” This could lead to further radicalisation of some of its supporters, and even politically motivated violence, he said.

He said the lengthy legal process could further boost the AFD platform, but the move could risk the “anger” of the Trump administration and challenge the narrative of “undemocratic Europe” populist.

Ukraine struck a Russian air base on Saturday, but Russia continued to smash Ukraine with hundreds of drones overnight as part of a gradual bombing campaign that shattered hopes of efforts to end the war for more than three years.

A Ukrainian military official said that Ukrainian forces had attacked Bolisogrebuk Air Base in the Bolognez region of Russia, explaining it is home to Russia’s SU-34, SU-35S and SU-30SM fighter jets.

Writing on Facebook, the public staff said they attacked the depot, which contained glide bombs, training aircraft and “probably other aircraft.”

Russian officials did not immediately comment on the attack.

Such attacks on Russian air bases aim to halt Russia’s military capabilities and demonstrate Ukraine’s ability to strike a valuable target in Russia. Last month, Ukraine said it had destroyed more than 40 Russian planes stationed at several airfields deep in Russian territory in a surprise drone attack.

Russia fired 322 drones and decoys at Ukraine overnight on Saturday, the Ukrainian Air Force said. Of these, 157 were shot down, 135 were lost, and possibly clogged electronically.

According to the Air Force, the western Kumelnitsky region of Ukraine was the main target of the attack. Regional Governor Serhii Tyurin said on Saturday that no damage, injuries or deaths were reported.

Russia is stepping up its long-range attacks on Ukraine. Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine began, waves of drones and missiles targeted Kiev on Friday. On Saturday, Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said the number of people killed in assaults has increased to two. A further 31 people were injured.

A fresh wave of attack came after Ukrainian President Voldimi Zelensky said he had a “very important and productive” call with President Donald Trump on Friday.

The two leaders discussed how Ukrainian air defenses will be strengthened, joint arms production between the US and Ukraine, and how broader US-led efforts to end the war with Russia, according to a statement from Zelensky.

When asked about the call Friday night, Trump said, “I think we had a very good call.”

When asked about finding a way to end the battle, Trump said: “I don’t know. I don’t know if that will happen.”

The US has suspended several shipments of military aid to Ukraine, including critical air defense missiles. Ukraine’s major European supporters are considering how they can help them pick up slack. Zelensky says plans are underway to accumulate Ukraine’s domestic arms industry, but scale up will take time.

The Russian Ministry of Defense said it fired 94 Ukrainian drones overnight on Saturday, along with 45 drones in the morning and early afternoon. No casualties have been reported, but local officials in the Saratov area said 25 apartments were damaged by Ukrainian drones in the city of Engels.

Four Ukrainian drones were shot down while approaching Moscow on Saturday, according to Moscow mayor Sergei Sobianin. Russian Aviation Authority Rozaviatsya said air traffic was temporarily suspended in one of Moscow’s airports, like Sheremetyevo.