Celebration in Damascus as world leaders discuss challenges facing Syria

Tens of thousands of Syrians have converged at the landmark Umayyad Mosque in the capital Damascus to celebrate the removal of President Bashar al-Assad, as world leaders held meetings to discuss the challenges facing the war-torn country.

Friday’s celebration was called for by the leader of the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) armed group Ahmed al-Sharaa – also known as Abu Mohammed al-Julani.

HTS swept across the country and took the capital last week, removing al-Assad who fled to Russia and capping nearly 14 years of war.

The group, which was affiliated to al-Qaeda before breaking ties in 2016, is designated “a terrorist organisation” by many Western governments that now face the challenge of determining their approach.

Dark chocolate is thought to have many health benefits – from guarding against cardiovascular disease to lowering blood pressure. Now, a new study published in the British Medical Journal (BMJ) suggests eating dark chocolate could also reduce the risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

Scientists and medical professionals believe this could be significant because diabetes has become increasingly widespread since the 1990s.