标签： Asia

The Syrian city of Aleppo has been plunged into a state of emergency as persistent armed confrontations between government forces and Kurdish-led factions entered their second consecutive day. The escalating violence has prompted authorities to implement widespread closures of educational institutions, government offices, and commercial establishments throughout the northern metropolis.

According to state media reports, the renewed hostilities represent the most severe breach of a March 2025 agreement that envisioned the integration of Kurdish semi-autonomous administrations into Syria’s central governance structure. The conflict has already claimed nine lives, predominantly civilians, with conflicting accounts from both sides regarding responsibility for initiating the combat operations.

Civil aviation authorities have enacted emergency measures, suspending all flight operations at Aleppo International Airport for 24 hours and diverting air traffic to Damascus International Airport. The transportation disruption compounds the city’s paralysis, with residents reporting complete blackouts in numerous neighborhoods and minimal civilian movement after dark.

Eyewitness accounts depict a city under siege. Abdul Karim Baqi, a 50-year-old resident of one of Aleppo’s Kurdish-majority districts, described to AFP: ‘During nighttime, Aleppo transformed into an abandoned urban landscape—devoid of activity, with shuttered commercial establishments and extensive power outages creating pervasive darkness across numerous thoroughfares.’

The Kurdish-administered neighborhoods of Ashrafieh and Sheikh Maqsud have reportedly been completely encircled by government forces. Abdul Karim Omar, representing Kurdish autonomous administration in Damascus, asserted that these areas remain under the control of Kurdish security forces possessing only light weaponry, denying allegations that shelling originated from these districts.

The current violence evokes traumatic memories of Aleppo’s destructive role during the Syrian civil war, when the city endured devastating urban combat before government forces reclaimed control in 2016. The present conflict emerges against the backdrop of failed implementation of the integration agreement, with Kurdish advocates continuing to push for decentralized governance arrangements that Syria’s current Islamist leadership has consistently rejected.

In a remarkable cultural prelude to the Global Mayors Dialogue in Harbin, municipal leaders from seven nations immersed themselves in the rich artistic traditions of China’s Hezhe ethnic minority on January 6th. The international delegation explored an exclusive exhibition of intangible cultural heritage, witnessing extraordinary craftsmanship that blends ancient techniques with contemporary expression.

The mayors encountered three distinctive art forms that showcase Hezhe cultural preservation: wheat straw mosaic art demonstrating intricate natural material work, birch bark paintings depicting urban landscapes through indigenous perspectives, and innovative fish leather artistry utilizing piscine hides transformed into durable decorative pieces. This unique gallery experience provided a rare insight into how traditional craftsmanship maintains relevance in modern society.

The cultural exchange event served as both diplomatic bridge-building and cultural education, allowing global city leaders to appreciate China’s diverse ethnic heritage while fostering mutual understanding. The Hezhe people, one of China’s smallest ethnic groups with a population of approximately 5,000, primarily inhabit the Heilongjiang region and are renowned for their fishing culture and distinctive artistic traditions.

This intercultural engagement highlights how heritage preservation and international diplomacy can intersect, creating opportunities for cultural appreciation beyond formal political dialogues. The event demonstrated China’s commitment to showcasing its multicultural tapestry while building connections between local traditions and global leadership.

In a landmark declaration, United Nations Human Rights Chief Volker Turk has formally characterized Israel’s treatment of Palestinians in the West Bank as an “apartheid system,” marking the first time a UN rights chief has applied this controversial term to the situation. A comprehensive report released Wednesday details what it describes as intensifying systematic discrimination against Palestinians across occupied territories.

The UN investigation reveals that Israeli authorities enforce two distinct legal systems and policies for Israeli settlers and Palestinians, creating profoundly unequal treatment across critical areas including land rights, resource access, and judicial proceedings. Palestinians face large-scale land confiscation, resource deprivation, and systematic violations of due process rights through military court prosecutions.

Turk emphasized that “every aspect of life for Palestinians in the West Bank is controlled and curtailed by Israel’s discriminatory laws, policies and practices,” from accessing water and education to seeking medical care and visiting relatives. The report specifically highlights the “systematic asphyxiation of the rights of Palestinians” through what it terms a “particularly severe form of racial discrimination and segregation.”

Compounding the discrimination, the document details escalating settler violence that frequently occurs “with the acquiescence, support and participation of Israel’s security forces.” Since the start of the Gaza war following Hamas’s October 2023 attack, Israeli troops and settlers have killed more than 1,000 Palestinians in the West Bank, according to figures from the Palestinian health ministry.

The report documents an “almost complete impunity” for unlawful killings, noting that of over 1,500 Palestinian deaths between 2017 and September 2025, Israeli authorities opened just 112 investigations resulting in only one conviction. Additionally, thousands of Palestinians remain arbitrarily detained under administrative detention without charge or trial.

The UN rights office has called on Israel to immediately repeal all laws, policies and practices perpetuating systemic discrimination based on race, religion or ethnic origin. It further urged Israel to end its “unlawful presence in the occupied Palestinian territory, including by dismantling all settlements and evacuating all settlers,” while respecting the Palestinian people’s right to self-determination.

Saudi Arabian authorities have carried out capital punishment against three individuals convicted of terrorism-related offenses in the Qassim Region. The executions, conducted on Wednesday, January 7, 2026, followed comprehensive judicial proceedings that culminated in final verdicts upheld by the court of appeal.

The convicted individuals—Rayan bin Yousuf bin Ibrahim Al-Dubaikhi, Mohammed bin Sulaiman bin Mohammed Al-Shuwaini, and Saudi national Abdulrahman bin Ibrahim bin Ahmed Al-Aybari—were found guilty of multiple severe crimes. Their charges included affiliation with an external terrorist organization, manufacturing explosive devices, illegal possession of firearms and live ammunition, financing terrorist operations, and providing shelter to perpetrators of terrorist acts.

The Ministry of Interior issued an official statement emphasizing that these sentences demonstrate the kingdom’s unwavering commitment to national security and justice. The ministry further clarified that these measures align with Islamic Sharia rulings, which strictly prohibit attacks on innocent civilians and violations of their fundamental rights to life and security.

This judicial action represents Saudi Arabia’s continued zero-tolerance approach toward terrorism and its ongoing efforts to combat extremist activities within its borders. The public announcement serves both as a deterrent to potential offenders and as reassurance to citizens and residents regarding the government’s dedication to maintaining stability and safety across the nation.