Russia analyzes Ukraine's provocation motives; Syrian president reshuffles cabinet

Russia explains Ukraine's real motives behind the Azov Sea encounter

One of the three Ukrainian ships detained by the Russian navy was brought to Kerch port. Photo: RT

The statement, made by Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Grigory Karasin, emphasized that the timing of the incident was noteworthy. Kiev's "provocation" in the Azov Sea, where Russia and Ukraine both have freedom of navigation, was designed to bring about "the necessary results to stir up an international controversy," Deputy Minister Karasin commented.

The ultimate goal is to give Ukraine the opportunity to impose martial law, stir up anti-Russian sentiment in the East and tighten sanctions on Moscow.

US reopens border crossing with Mexico hours after closure

Barbed wire fence on the US-Mexico border. Photo: Reuters

U.S. Customs and Border Protection said the vehicle lanes at the San Ysidro port of entry have reopened to traffic in both directions. Pedestrian lanes had reopened earlier.

Earlier on November 25, US border guards had to close the San Ysidro border crossing in both directions for vehicles and pedestrians after hundreds of migrants tried to cross the border fence from Mexico into the US.

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad decides to reshuffle his cabinet

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. Source: urdupoint

Sputnik reported that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad announced a cabinet reshuffle with nine positions being replaced, including the position of Interior Minister.

Accordingly, Mr. Mohammad Khalid Rahmon was appointed as Minister of Interior to replace Mr. Mohammad Shaar, who held this position since 2011. Other positions in this reshuffle include ministers of tourism, education, water resources, domestic trade and consumer protection, housing, industry and information.

France fines cruise ship owner for using polluting fuel

The Azura cruise ship. Source: cruiseindustrynews

A court in Marseille (France) has ordered American Evans Hoyt, Captain of the P&O cruise ship The Azura, to pay a fine of 100,000 euros for using fuel with a higher sulfur content than allowed by the European Union. This is the first trial of its kind in France.

The plaintiff in the case is the local government. The purpose of this is to warn of the serious situation caused by cruise ship emissions, after a surprise inspection of the cruise ship The Azura in March found that the ship was using fuel containing 1.68% sulfur, higher than the 1.5% allowed by the EU. The court said that Captain Hoyt was aware that the fuel was banned but continued to use it to save costs.

Rebel attack in Somalia, at least 18 people killed

Scene of a bombing in Somalia. Source: AFP

At least 18 people were killed and many others injured in an attack carried out by extremists in the early morning of November 26 in Galkayo city, capital of Mudug province, central Somalia.

Police in the city of Galkayo said two suicide bombers detonated explosives in front of a residence of a Sufi monk and a mosque. Four other gunmen then stormed the building and opened fire. The attack killed at least 18 people and wounded about 20. Somalia's al-Shabab militant group has claimed responsibility for the attack.

Australia declares state of emergency due to bushfires in Queensland

Queensland authorities have declared a state of emergency in Gladstone after two homes were destroyed and four people were injured in out-of-control bushfires. Residents in the area were forced to flee their homes as the state of emergency was declared.

Previously, the Queensland Fire and Emergency Department also asked people living in the bushfire area to evacuate to other places to ensure their safety in the context of weather conditions that are causing the bushfires to spread.

Turkish police expand investigation into Khashoggi case

Turkish police are searching a villa in the northwestern province of Yalova as part of the investigation into the murder of Saudi journalist Khashoggi earlier last month, the Anadolu news agency reported. The villa is located in the village of Samanli, in the Termal district of Yalova. The results of the search were not immediately released.

Earlier, Turkish prosecutors were allowed to search the Saudi Arabian consulate in Istanbul as well as the private residences of the Gulf nation's diplomatic staff in Türkiye.