Powerful storm dealt damage to 154 facilities and numerous buildings and caused many trees to fall in the northern parts of Kyrgyzstan. A total of 24 people were injured, said Kyrgyzstan’s Ministry of Health. Public transportation services were suspended and power cuts were occurred in some areas. A state of emergency was declared by Bishkek Mayor Aybek Junushaliyev.
The US flag has been hoisted once more at the US Embassy in Damascus, Syria, for the first time since its closure in 2012.
US Special Representative for Syria Thomas Barrack made his first official visit to Damascus and personally raised the flag during a ceremony attended by Syrian Foreign Minister Assad Hassan Shaybani. The embassy had suspended operations amid the outbreak of civil conflict following anti-government protests.
No official statement has been issued regarding the resumption of embassy operations.
The move follows a surprise meeting earlier this month between US President Donald Trump and Syrian President Ahmed al-Shara in Riyadh, where a decision was made to lift sanctions imposed during the Assad era, signaling a potential shift in Washington-Damascus relations.
TR