In Syria, the attack of anti-government rebels who have entered the capital of this country, Damascus, continues. Dictator Bashar al-Assad probably escaped from it. In Paris, the grand opening ceremony of the Notre Dame Cathedral, which was rebuilt after the fire, was held. In Poland, Rafal Trzaskowski and Szymon Holounia started their presidential campaign. Yaroslav Kaczynski created an account on the X portal. Here are five things to know on Sunday, December 8.
1. The rebels entered Damascus. Media and the military: the end of the Assad regime
Anti-government rebels are on the offensive in Syria, and they are reporting new territories they are taking. On the night of Saturday to Sunday, the Syrian rebels announced that they entered Damascus, the capital of this country, without resistance from the government forces. A few hours later, international agencies reported that President Bashar al-Assad escaped from the capital on a plane flying to an unknown destination. The Prime Minister of the country, Mohammad Ghazi al-Jalali, announced that he will remain in his position and is ready to ensure the continuation of state power. Reuters reported that the Syrian army command was to inform its officers that “Assad's 24-year rule is over”.
READ MORE: Damascus is in the hands of the rebels. Has Assad's 24-year rule ended? >>>
Earlier, the militants reported that they had entered Homs, a key city in the west of the country.
READ ALSO: The rebels are going to the capital. They occupy other cities
The Polish embassy in Syria announced on social media that “due to the escalation of the situation, which will soon cover the entire territory of Syria, we call on all Polish citizens who remain in the country to leave the country immediately.”
READ ALSO: “Expansion of violence”. Appeal of the Polish embassy
2. Inauguration of Notre Dame Cathedral, which was repaired after the fire
On Saturday in Paris, the opening ceremony of Notre Dame Cathedral was held, which was rebuilt after the fire of 2019. Many guests came to the ceremony. Among them were President Andrzej Duda and US President-elect Donald Trump.
ALSO READ: “The bells of Notre Dame are ringing again”
The event was also attended by: Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskyi (Trump, Zelenskyi and Macron held trilateral talks at the Elysée Palace earlier that day), Jill Biden – the wife of outgoing President Joe Biden – Britain's Prince William, the monarchs of Belgium, Luxembourg and Monaco and Norway, the presidents of Germany and Italy.
Notre Dame Cathedral rejoices again. The opening ceremony was attended by guests from all over the world Maciej Woroch/Fakty TVN
3. Rafal Trzaskovsky's speech at the congress in Gliwice
Rafal Trzaszkowski launched his campaign at Saturday's Civic Alliance convention in Gliwice.
This is the second round of this fight. If we had won four years ago, there would be no shame in the international arena, no huge inflation, and no abortion law in the middle ages, he said. He added that “Poland needs speed” and the president cannot support the interests of one party and “only flex his muscles in the gym”.
ALSO READ: “All of Poland forward!”. 52 minutes of Rafal Trzaskovsky's speech
In Gliwice, Rafal Trzaskovsky revealed his plans for the post of president. “End of Divisions” Katarzyna Kolenda-Zaleska/Fact TVN
ALSO READ: “Poland must be a force.” Trzaskovsky about the economy
4. Szymon Kholovnia's appearance in Gdańsk
The Speaker of the Sejm, the leader of Poland-2050, Simon Holovnia, also launched his presidential campaign. He did this at the Shakespeare Theater in Gdańsk. – This election will be about you, not this or that politician. I ask you to remember that this is your choice, he told the audience. “You should be the president of the Republic of Poland,” added the Marshal of the Sejm.
ALSO READ: Holounia: it's not symmetry, it's a story about community
Szymon Holounia launched the election campaign in Gdansk Radomir Wit/Fakti TVN
5. Kaczynski on X. A series of records appeared
PiS President Jarosław Kaczynski created a profile on the X website on Saturday, the politician's account appeared as Rafal Trzaszkowski's rally in Gliwice began. “Hello and welcome!” was his first entry. He posted up to 15 of them in an hour.
READ ALSO: Jarosław Kaczynski reports on X. He comments on the Trzaszkowski Convention
“Jarek, it's better to post one intelligent entry on X a day than dozens of meaningless posts. But don't give up,” wrote Prime Minister Donald Tusk in response.
ALSO READ: “Yarek…”. Tusk turns to Kaczynski and advises: do not give up
Main photo source: EPA/PAP
