In Syria, an offensive is underway by anti-government rebels who have entered the capital of the country, Damascus. Dictator Bashar al-Assad probably escaped from it. The grand opening of the Notre Dame Cathedral, renovated after the fire, took place in Paris. In Poland, Rafał Trzaskowski and Szymon Hołownia launched their presidential pre-campaigns. Jarosław Kaczyński created an account on the X portal. Here are five things worth knowing on Sunday, December 8.
1. The rebels entered Damascus. Media and military: the end of the Assad regime
The offensive of anti-government rebels is ongoing in Syria and they are reporting on new territories they are taking over. On the night from Saturday to Sunday, Syrian rebels announced that they had entered the capital Damascus without encountering any resistance from government troops. World agencies reported a few hours later that President Bashar al-Assad fled the capital on board a plane that took off in an unknown direction. The country's Prime Minister, Mohammad Ghazi al-Jalali, announced that he remains in place and is ready to ensure the continuity of state power. Reuters reported that the Syrian army command was to notify its officers that “Assad's 24-year rule is over.”
Earlier, the fighters reported that they had entered, among others, Homs, a key city in the west of the country.
“Due to the rapid escalation of the situation, which quickly covered the entire territory of Syria, we appeal to all Polish citizens staying in this country to leave the country immediately,” the Polish embassy in Syria announced on social media.
2. Opening of the Notre Dame Cathedral, renovated after the fire
The opening ceremony of the Notre Dame Cathedral, rebuilt after the 2019 fire, took place in Paris on Saturday. Many guests came to the ceremony. Among them was President Andrzej Duda and US President-elect Donald Trump.
READ ALSO: “The bells of Notre Dame are ringing again”
The event was also attended by, among others, the leader of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky (earlier in the day Trump, Zelensky and Macron held trilateral talks at the Elysée Palace), Jill Biden – wife of outgoing President Joe Biden – British Prince William, monarchs from Belgium, Luxembourg, Monaco and Norway, presidents of Germany and Italy.
Notre Dame Cathedral delights again. Guests from all over the world came to its grand openingMaciej Woroch/Fakty TVN
3. Rafał Trzaskowski's speech at the convention in Gliwice
Rafał Trzaskowski inaugurated his presidential pre-campaign during Saturday's convention of the Civic Coalition in Gliwice.
This is the second round of this fight. If we had won four years ago, there would have been no embarrassment on the international arena, no huge inflation and no medieval abortion law, he said. He added that “Poland needs acceleration” and the president cannot represent the interests of one party and “only flex his muscles in the gym.”
Rafał Trzaskowski in Gliwice revealed his plans for the presidency. “The end of divisions”Katarzyna Kolenda-Zaleska/Fakty TVN
4. Speech by Szymon Hołownia in Gdańsk
The Speaker of the Sejm, leader of Poland 2050, Szymon Hołownia, also inaugurated his presidential pre-campaign. He did it at the Gdańsk Shakespeare Theater. – These elections will be about you, not this or that politician. I ask you to remember that these are your choices, he told the audience. – You are supposed to be the president of the Republic of Poland – added the Marshal of the Sejm.
Szymon Hołownia inaugurated the election campaign in GdańskRadomir Wit/Fakty TVN
5. Kaczyński created an account on X. A series of entries appeared
PiS president Jarosław Kaczyński created a profile on the X website on Saturday. The politician's account appeared when Rafał Trzaskowski's convention began in Gliwice. “Hello and welcome!” was his first entry. He published as many as 15 of them in just an hour.
“Jarek, it's better to post one sensible entry a day on X than a dozen senseless ones. But don't give up,” wrote Prime Minister Donald Tusk in reaction.
Main photo source: EPA/PAP