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Trump allies slam government department over 'woke' pansexual post: 'Sanity is returning in 43 days'(Bloomberg) -- Springbok and impala wander through the parkland at Steyn City, a private residential estate that’s four times the size of Monaco. Nearby, a rider cools down her horse after a morning out at an Olympic-sized equestrian arena, while golfers tee off on a Jack Nicklaus-designed course. The enclave on the outskirts of Johannesburg — replete with a man-made lagoon, biking trails, restaurants and a school, and where homes are sold for as much as 50 million rand ($2.7 million) — illustrates the efforts of the wealthy to shield themselves from rampant crime and deteriorating infrastructure in the world’s most unequal country. Despite a 20% decline in South Africa’s millionaire population over the past decade, it remains a hub for the continent’s high-net-worth individuals, according to the Henley & Partners’ Africa Wealth Report. Meanwhile, government data show that roughly half of the 63-million-strong population lives in poverty, relying on at least one monthly welfare payout. Housing stock in estates — of varying degrees of luxury — is the fastest-growing segment in the country’s residential property market, according to Lightstone. There are almost 490,000 homes in such developments, a fourfold increase since 2003, the real estate data firm said. Estate living emerged around three decades ago when developers financed golf courses by adding properties within secure perimeters, creating a sense of community based on shared values and lifestyles, said Andrew Golding, chief executive of Pam Golding Property Group. Crime, which, according to World Bank estimates, erodes $40 billion — 10% of South Africa’s GDP — annually, more than a decade of power cuts, and water outages have since spurred these developments, which typically include backup solutions. It’s “a symptom of a failed society,” said Bronwyn Williams, a partner at Flux Trends. While it is natural for people to prioritize their families’ safety when “the government is not fulfilling its mandate to look after your safety and security,” buying their way out of problems is a moral gray area, she said. Sign up for the twice-weekly Next Africa newsletter for the latest business and economic news from the continent. To be sure, this phenomenon is not unique to South Africa. Exclusive communities catering to ultra-rich have mushroomed worldwide, from the US to Brazil and the United Arab Emirates. New World Wealth predicts that by 2050, over half of the world’s centi-millionaire population will reside in or own second homes in lifestyle estates. For Douw Steyn, whose 250-million-rand home is perched on a ridge overlooking the estate bearing his name, the development provided a way to honor his heritage. “While many successful South African businesspeople who built their fortunes here chose to disinvest in the economy, I saw things differently,” the founder of local insurer Auto & General and BGL Group, one of the biggest consumer insurance firms in the UK, said in an emailed response to questions. Nelson Mandela, the anti-apartheid activist who became the country’s first Black president, broke ground at the site in 2007. He stayed at the tycoon’s former Johannesburg house when freed after 27 years in prison, and worked on his autobiography as well as the nation’s first democratic constitution there. Steyn City’s developers say they’ve spent almost 9 billion rand, including contributions to municipal infrastructure, on the property and have committed 2.7 billion rand for further works over the next six to seven years. It’s not uncommon for estate developers to upgrade and build infrastructure that also serves surrounding communities. Val de Vie, the only other African estate ranked among the top 10 lifestyle estates globally by New World Wealth, is located on a site of an old quarry, less than an hour away from the tourist hotspot Cape Town. Its developers spent more than 25 billion rand, including to build power, water and road infrastructure, according to Ryk Neethling, its marketing and brand director. Since the pandemic boosted remote work’s popularity, luxury compounds have drawn more affluent foreign residents. Approximately 40% of Val de Vie’s buyers are foreigners — two-thirds of whom are returning South African expatriates, with the rest mostly Europeans — including venture capitalists, traders and finance and IT professionals, Neethling, who’s also an Olympic swimming gold medalist, said. Luxury homes on the estate sell for as much as $3,860 per square meter, compared with $5,600 per square meter for prime property in Cape Town. Steyn City’s international population comprises roughly 10% of its residents, mostly Africans working in industries like mining, logistics and financial services. These residents seek to travel easily and strike deals across the continent, Steven Louw, its chief executive officer, said. Land in the estate sells for as much as $315 per square meter. In housing developments like estates “the costs per square meter are amortized over a greater number of units” allowing for more amenities than typical freehold or free-standing properties, said Golding. Competition in the luxury market has prompted estates to adopt cradle-to-grave strategies, introducing amenities like kindergartens, medical and senior living facilities and office parks, minimizing the need for residents to leave their enclaves. As buyers grow accustomed to these offerings, they are likely to demand similar features in mid-market developments, said Siphamandla Mkhwanazi, a senior economist at FirstRand Ltd.’s FNB. “What used to be luxury is going to become more average.” You can follow Bloomberg’s reporting on Africa on WhatsApp. Sign up here. More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com ©2024 Bloomberg L.P.St. John’s mailbag: Deivon Smith’s fate, an emerging player and Bahamas falloutHome entertainment holiday gift ideas at a discount
Green Bay head coach Doug Gottlieb appears to have gotten through to guard Anthony Roy. The Phoenix head coach elected to bench his leading scorer if Roy didn't start playing Gottlieb's way. This was seen during Saturday's game against Cleveland State when Roy did not see the court. Following the game, Gottlieb addressed the elephant in the room and explain why he did not play Roy. "I owe it to the guys to play the guys that do what we ask them to do," Gottlieb said. "There's things that transpired that I don't find appropriate to play today and I made the personal decision to not play him. I know how I want to do it and too many times in my life and too many times in the last six months I have acquiesced." He then elaborated by comparing running the program to building a dream house, saying that he was going to do it "the right way." Following the game, Roy took to X to apologize for his actions that included missing the shoot-around prior to the game: Roy is in his first season with Green Bay and has averaged 28 points, 5.9 rebounds and 3.2 assists in nine games. He is currently the leading scorer in college basketball. However, the win over Cleveland State was just Green Bay's second of the season so Roy's high-volume scoring wasn't necessarily contributing to team success. He will hope to draw back into the lineup going forward and help the Phoenix capture some more success down the stretch.None
Jayhawks rally in 2nd half, beat Tigers to take Island Division title
Eight years and $10 billion later, GM has decided to pull the plug on its grand robotaxi experiment. The automaker's CEO, Mary Barra, made the surprise announcement late on Tuesday, arguing that a shared autonomous mobility service was never really in its "core business." It was too expensive and had too many regulatory hurdles to overcome to make it a viable revenue stream. Instead, GM would pivot to "privately owned" driverless cars — because, after all, that's what the people really wanted. "Customers like to drive," Barra said in a call with investors. "And there's times they don't like to drive." If some of this sounds familiar, Ford essentially made the same decision two years ago when it pulled its funding for Argo AI, the autonomous driving startup it had financed since 2017. It cited as one of its reasons a belief that partial autonomy — often described as Level 3 or Level 3-plus — will have more near-term payoffs. Automakers are tapping out of the robotaxi business Automakers are tapping out of the robotaxi business. With all the money being spent on electric vehicles, the auto industry has decided to cut its losses on autonomous mobility. Only one transformational, prohibitively expensive, once-in-a-generation shift at a time. "I think this is more a recognition that autonomous vehicle technology is going to take a decade or more to provide driverless rides at a national scale," said Phil Koopman, an AV expert from Carnegie Mellon University. "GM decided that they would rather make money selling private cars while waiting for the technology to mature than continue to invest billions of dollars standing up robotaxi businesses city by city." Turmoil behind the scenes To be sure, there's been a lot of technological progress. Not too long ago, Cruise had driverless cars ferrying passengers across San Francisco. The company even said it was on the cusp of winning government approval to deploy its steering wheel- and pedal-less Origin shuttles in a... Andrew J. Hawkins
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — After more than 150 shows across five continents over nearly two years, the global phenomenon that is is coming to an end. There is no simple way to encapsulate the effects of Swift’s decision to put on a 31⁄2-hour concert, showcasing 44 songs representing 10 different “eras” of her career — a feat she kicked off in March 2023 and will end Sunday in Vancouver, Canada. The tour shattered sales and attendance records and created such an economic boom that even But for many who attended the concerts, and the millions more who eagerly watched fan-broadcasted livestreams on their screens, the tour also became a beacon of joy — a chance not only to appreciate Swift's expansive music career, but also celebrate the yearslong journey fans have taken with her. “Right now we have this special designated time to be together, talk about the show and hang out,” said Tess Bohne, a stay-at-home mom of three turned content creator dedicated to livestreaming Swift’s concerts — by attending herself or coordinating with others to highlight their streams. “For some, it’s their therapy.” Bohne, who has earned the title among as the “livestream queen,” says she often interacts with fans hosting parties to watch an Eras concert live at home with their closest friends. People have also made lasting friendships as they geek out together watching the show from afar. Swift has long been known for leaving Easter eggs for her fans to pinpoint and decipher, a quirk that quickly took on a life of its own during the tour as eagle-eyed devotees began analyzing the possible meaning of her outfits, surprise songs and subtle lyric swaps. The buzz has been so large that multiple mobile apps were launched so fans could guess and track all the various changes. There’s even a game that gives out prizes for correctly predicting various particulars of a show, including what color guitar Swift uses while playing “Lover.” “Imagine your favorite sports team,” Bohne said. “They’re still a team, but they’re not going to play any games for the foreseeable future. That’s going to leave a hole for some folks.” Swift herself appeared to struggle that while performing at her 100th Eras show in June at Liverpool. “This is the very first time I’ve ever acknowledged to myself and admitted that this tour is gonna end in December,” she said, stressing that “this tour has really become my entire life.” Late last month, in Toronto, she briefly broke down at the thought of the tour's impending end. Swift kicked off the Eras tour the first of many sold-out stadiums as the tour progressed first in the U.S. and later into South America, Asia, the United Kingdom and Canada. By the end of 2023, it had become the first tour to ever and saw hundreds of millions of dollars spent on merchandise. She is likely to bring in over $2 billion by the time the tour wraps on Dec. 8, according to concert trade publication Pollstar. Throughout the tour, Swift was named . Apple Music named her its and Spotify revealed she was . She dropped a box office-topping concert film and helped send NFL viewership skyrocketing when Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce. Toward the end of the tour, she released a coffee table book. And if that wasn’t enough, she released re-recordings of her ” and as well as released her “I think it’s perfect in these times to have somebody like Taylor to kind of give us distraction, give us inspiration, give us hope,” said Ralph Jaccodine, an assistant professor at Berklee College of Music and a former concert promoter who has worked with Bruce Springsteen and others. “And this is a woman that owning it, she’s come a long way. And now she can talk about artist rights and women’s rights and equality. And really, just her work ethic is relentless." Even the word “era” has become ubiquitous, with fans and casual observers using the term to explain both frivolous and transformative phases — are you in your “villain era” or a “healing era”? “I think this tour really solidified her position as a legend,” said Kayla Wong, an influencer who runs the popular @headfirstfearless. “Whether or not you like her music, whether or not you think she’s talented, the numbers really speak for themselves. The tour broke so many records and was such a global phenomenon for so long that I think she’s achieved a level where it’s undeniable as to how everlasting her impact is.” Yet the tour did experience its own dark moments. In Brazil last year, one concertgoer — 23-year-old Ana Clara Benevides — passed out and later In July, during a Taylor Swift-themed summer holiday dance and yoga class that left three little girls dead. News outlets reported that Swift met with some of the survivors backstage in London. And in August, all three of Swift's concerts in Vienna were called off after officials announced arrests over an apparent plot to launch an attack on an event in the city. from around the world had traveled to Vienna for the shows. “Having our Vienna shows cancelled was devastating,” Swift later wrote in a statement. “The reason for the cancellations filled me with a new sense of fear, and a tremendous amount of guilt because so many people had planned on coming to those shows.” Through the hardships and celebrations, Swift's connections to her fans has only ballooned and deepened throughout the tour. After the Vienna cancellations, to sing Swift's songs and placed friendship bracelets — which also became an iconic feature of the shows — on a nearby tree. Over the past two years, the fandom has welcomed new audiences — both old and new. “I feel like years ago, we were kind of all the same age and fans for the same reason,” Wong said of Swifties. “Now the fandom has people from all kinds of backgrounds, all ages, all different reasons for following her in the first place.”Lawmakers edge closer to deal on government funding
Asian athletes are making history at the 2024 World Weightlifting Championships in Bahrain, clinching all titles so far, with North Korea leading the pack. With the competition wrapping up on 15 December, North Korean lifters have dominated, claiming eight golds and breaking seven senior world records. Historic Wins for North Korea Ri Chong Song secured a thrilling victory in the men’s 81kg category, lifting a total of 371kg. His female teammate, Ri Suk, dazzled in the women’s 64kg division, shattering four world records within minutes. Meanwhile, Rim Un Sim earned silver in the same category, narrowly missing new records but showcasing North Korea's depth. China's Li Shuang completed the podium with bronze. Regional Dominance Asian athletes are leading across all events, with notable performances by Kazakhstan’s Alexey Churkin and Uzbekistan’s Mukhammadkodir Toshtemirov, who both medaled in the men’s 81kg. Indonesia’s Rahmat Erwin also showcased his prowess, despite a tough year marked by injury. Upcoming Showdowns With several categories remaining, including the highly anticipated 89kg event featuring Bulgaria’s Karlos Nasar, the championship promises more exciting battles. Nasar, fresh from Olympic gold, aims to claim his first world title while continuing his record-breaking streak. The continued dominance of Asian lifters highlights their growing influence in the sport, setting new standards for excellence and determination. (Source: Inside the Games)None
Sales of $10 Million-Plus Homes Dropped Around the World Prior to the U.S. Election, a New Report SaysMaterials Down as U.S. Steel Slides -- Materials Roundup
The industry buzz is we will see repeats between now and Christmas so if you miss the deal first time around, keep checking.HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Democratic Sen. Bob Casey of Pennsylvania conceded his reelection bid to Republican David McCormick on Thursday, as a statewide recount showed no signs of closing the gap and his campaign suffered repeated blows in court in its effort to get potentially favorable ballots counted. Casey’s concession comes more than two weeks after Election Day, as a grindingly slow ballot-counting process became a spectacle of hours-long election board meetings, social media outrage, lawsuits and accusations that some county officials were openly flouting the law. Republicans had been claiming that Democrats were trying to steal McCormick’s seat by counting “illegal votes.” Casey’s campaign had accused of Republicans of trying to block enough votes to prevent him from pulling ahead and winning. In a statement, Casey said he had just called McCormick to congratulate him. “As the first count of ballots is completed, Pennsylvanians can move forward with the knowledge that their voices were heard, whether their vote was the first to be counted or the last," Casey said. The Associated Press called the race for McCormick on Nov. 7, concluding that not enough ballots remained to be counted in areas Casey was winning for him to take the lead. As of Thursday, McCormick led by about 16,000 votes out of almost 7 million ballots counted. That was well within the 0.5% margin threshold to trigger an automatic statewide recount under Pennsylvania law. But no election official expected a recount to change more than a couple hundred votes or so, and Pennsylvania's highest court dealt him a blow when it refused entreaties to allow counties to count mail-in ballots that lacked a correct handwritten date on the return envelope. Republicans will have a 53-47 majority next year in the U.S. Senate. ___ Follow Marc Levy at twitter.com/timelywriter Marc Levy, The Associated Press
MESA, AZ — A preliminary NTSB report provides some details on the moments before a small plane crashed and killed five people near Falcon Field in November. According to the report, the occupants were heading to Provo, Utah for a college basketball game and intended to return to the Valley the same night. After fueling the plane, Air Traffic Control cleared the pilot for the flight. Security video showed the plane accelerating on the runway until about 3,000 feet before it began to descend, the plane later "struck the airport perimeter fence located about 600 ft beyond the departure end of the runway before it continues across a roadway." "The data showed that during takeoff, the airplane had accelerated to about 130 knots before it began to decelerate. No engine anomalies were noticed in the data," said the report. Aerial footage showed the plane on fire and at least one damaged vehicle that was involved. Preliminary reports do not typically offer a detailed explanation of what exactly caused a plane to crash, just additional details on the incident. Mesa police released the names of four people on the plane that died in the crash . They were identified as 43-year-old Spencer Lindahl, 48-year-old Rustin Randall, 44-year-old Drew Kimball, and 12-year-old Graham Kimball. ABC15 spoke to the family of the driver killed, Ray Longhi, in the days after the crash. ABC15 viewer Terri Fairfield was hiking at Usery Mountain Regional Park when she saw the smoke minutes after the crash. This is a developing story. Stay with ABC15 for the latest updates. Latest from ABC15: WATCH: Cardinals player inspiring literacy among Valley youth one page at a time Elenee Dao Chad Chronister, Donald Trump’s pick to run DEA, withdraws from consideration AP via Scripps News Revisiting Jim Chilton's ranch on the border after the election Ford Hatchett Apple Music Replay 2024 has arrived. Here's how to find your listening report Scripps News StaffUS President-elect Donald Trump doubled down on Sunday on hard-line campaign pledges to impose trade tariffs and carry out mass deportations while dangling the idea that the United States could withdraw from Nato after he takes office next month. In his first formal television interview since the election — and just six weeks before Inauguration Day — Trump again signalled that US support for Ukraine will scale back, saying he will “probably” cut the aid helping Kyiv repel Russia’s invasion. The president-elect also said he would “very quickly” look at pardons for supporters jailed for storming the US Capitol after his 2020 election defeat to Joe Biden. The interview on NBC’s ‘Meet the Press with Kristen Welker’ was recorded on Friday but aired on Sunday, following Trump’s meetings with the presidents of France and Ukraine over the weekend — his first foreign trip since winning the November election against Vice President Kamala Harris. Trump reiterated his familiar threat to leave Nato, the cornerstone of security in Europe since World War II, saying that US allies do not pay enough for their defence. “If they’re paying their bills, and if I think they’re treating us fairly, the answer is absolutely I’d stay with Nato,” said. But there is also “absolutely” the possibility of America’s departure, he said. He also stressed that his campaign promises of huge tariffs — including against top US trading partners Canada, Mexico and China — will be enacted.“We’re subsidising Mexico and we’re subsidising Canada and we’re subsidising many countries all over the world,” he said. Vowing that “properly used” tariffs are “a very powerful tool,” Trump added that he would not only wield them economically, “but also for getting other things outside of economics.” As to whether Americans would see higher prices as a result of those tariffs, Trump said, “I can’t guarantee anything.” The Republican also said he would go ahead with what economists say could be the hugely disruptive mass deportation of undocumented immigrants in the United States. “I think you have to do it, and it’s a hard — it’s a very tough thing to do,” he said. He also said he would try to end the “ridiculous” constitutionally protected right to US citizenship for anyone born in the country. The Republican offered a small olive branch to advocates for allowing some undocumented migrants — a key source of labour for much of the US economy — to stay. Trump said “I will work with the Democrats” on the so-called “ dreamers ” — people who have grown up in the United States after entering the country illegally as young children. However, Trump suggested that even US citizens could be deported if they have family members who are in the country illegally — a legally dubious move and a major escalation of the current policy if carried out. “The only way you don’t break up the family is you keep them together and you have to send them all back,” he said. Trump, who was impeached by Congress and criminally charged over his historic attempt to overturn the results of the 2020 election, once again refused to admit he lost that vote. “No, why would I do that?” he said. He also said that members of Congress who investigated him over the January 6, 2021, insurrection by his supporters “should go to jail.” While stressing that he would not personally order law enforcement bodies to prosecute his political enemies, he said officials could take the decision to do so themselves. Asked whether his pick to head the FBI, Kash Patel , should go through with his frequent threats to go after political opponents, Trump answered: “If they think that somebody was dishonest or crooked or a corrupt politician, I think he probably has an obligation to do it.” Trump said he will have “the absolute right” to prosecute domestic opponents because as president “I’m the chief law enforcement officer.” However, he said he was “not interested in that” and would instead work for economic growth and an end to illegal immigration so that his “retribution will be through success”.
Trump says he can't guarantee tariffs won't raise US prices and won't rule out revenge prosecutionsSyrians poured into streets in celebration on Sunday after a stunning rebel advance reached the capital, ending the Assad family’s 50 years of iron rule . Russian state news agencies were reporting that President Bashar Assad and his family had arrived in Moscow and were given asylum. Russia said Assad left the country after negotiations with rebel groups and that he had given instructions to transfer power peacefully. Joyful crowds gathered in central squares in Damascus, waving the Syrian revolutionary flag. Others ransacked the presidential palace and residence. Abu Mohammed al-Golani , a former al-Qaida commander who cut ties with the group years ago leads the biggest rebel faction in Syria and is poised to chart the country’s future. He made his first public appearance since fighters entered the Damascus suburbs Saturday, at the capital’s sprawling Umayyad Mosque, and called himself by his given name, Ahmad al-Sharaa. He said Assad’s fall was “a victory to the Islamic nation.” The rapidly developing events have shaken the region. Lebanon said it was closing all its land border crossings with Syria except for one that links Beirut with Damascus. Jordan closed a border crossing with Syria, too. Israel has issued warnings to villages in southern Syria and its forces seized a buffer zone in the Golan Heights. Here's the Latest: Russian state news agencies reported that ousted Syrian President Bashar Assad has arrived in Moscow with his family and been given asylum. The agencies, Tass and RIA, cited an unidentified Kremlin source. The Associated Press was not immediately able to verify the reports but had contacted the Kremlin for comment. CAIRO — The Arab League on Sunday condemned Israel for taking advantage of Syrian President Bashar Assad's downfall by moving into more Syrian territory. Hours after Assad’s overthrow, Israel announced it had seized a buffer zone in the Golan Heights that was established by a cease-fire agreement with Syria in 1974. In a statement, the Arab League said Israel illegally sought to occupy more territories. But Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the 50-year-old agreement regarding Syrian territory had collapsed and that Syrian troops had abandoned their positions, necessitating Israel taking over as a “temporary defensive position.” UNITED NATIONS — The United Nations secretary-general is marking the “fall of the dictatorial regime” in Syria and says the future of the country is “is a matter for the Syrians to determine.” A statement by Antonio Guterres also called for calm and the protection of the rights of all Syrians as well as of diplomatic and consular facilities in Syria. He said there is much work ahead to ensure an “orderly political transition to renewed institutions,” and he called on the international community to ensure that “any political transition is inclusive and comprehensive and that it meets the legitimate aspirations of the people of Syria, in all their diversity.” KYIV, Ukraine - Ukraine’s top diplomat on Sunday responded to Assad’s ouster by describing him as a “dictator” who relied on Russia to prop up his rule - a reference to the military campaign Moscow has waged in Syria since September 2015, teaming up with Iran to allow Assad’s government to fight armed opposition groups and reclaim control over most of the country. "Assad has fallen. This has always been and will be the case with all dictators who bet on Putin. He always betrays those who rely on him,” foreign minister Andrii Sybiha said in a post on X. In a separate update on the social network, Sybiha said Kyiv was ready to take steps towards restoring relations with Syria, severed months into Russia’s full-scale invasion of the neighboring state. Kyiv broke off diplomatic ties after Damascus in June 2022 recognized Kremlin-occupied parts of eastern Ukraine as independent territories, in a move welcomed by Moscow and decried by the West as a clear violation of Ukrainian sovereignty. JERUSALEM — The Israeli military has issued a warning to residents of five villages and towns in southern Syria to stay inside their homes for their safety. “The fighting in your area is forcing the IDF to act,” the IDF’s Arabic-language spokesman said on X. The military didn’t respond to questions. Earlier, Israel said its troops had seized a buffer zone in the Golan Heights established in 1974, saying it was to protect Israeli residents after Syrian troops abandoned their positions. Defense Minister Israel Katz said on X that the IDF has been instructed to “seize the buffer zone and control points to ensure the protection of all Israeli communities in the Golan Heights – Jewish and Druze – so that they are not exposed to threats from the other side.” Israel captured the Golan in the 1967 Mideast war and later annexed it. The international community, except for the United States, views it as occupied. BEIRUT - The leader of the largest insurgent group in Syria visited the Syrian capital’s sprawling Umayyad Mosque and declared that the victory against President Bashar Assad “is a victory to the Islamic nation.” Ahmad al-Sharaa, who was formerly known as Abu Mohammed al-Golani, made his first public appearance and remarks since fighters entered Damascus. He told hundreds of people at the historic mosque that Assad had made Syria “a farm for Iran’s greed.” He added that Assad made Syria a base for the illegal amphetamine Captagon that brought cash to Assad’s circles. Al-Sharaa, the leader of the jihadi Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, or HTS, said Sunday that the victory was achieved because of “God and the blood of martyrs.” He said that he left Syria 20 years ago and since then his heart has longed for this movement. LONDON — British Prime Minister Keir Starmer welcomed the end of Assad’s rule as he called for peace and the protection of civilians. “The Syrian people have suffered under Assad’s barbaric regime for too long and we welcome his departure,” Starmer said. He said the U.K. was focused on a political solution to restore peace and stability. “We call on all sides to protect civilians and minorities and ensure essential aid can reach the most vulnerable in the coming hours and days,” he said. AMMAN, Jordan — The vast majority of the Jordanian people are welcoming the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime and the success of the Syrian revolution. “There is no doubt that I felt overwhelming joy at the fall of the Assad regime," said Badi Al-Rafaia, Engineer, union activist and member of the Islamic Action Front. "There is no doubt that we are happy with what happened in Syria, happy with the success of the revolution, happy with the Syrian people getting rid of an oppressor and criminal who treated the Syrian people and made the Syrian state a failed state.” Al-Rafaia said that Jordan is benefiting from what happened in Syria, and "we hope that Jordan will help the revolution succeed and not work against it.” Amman resident Muhab al-Majali said the fall of the Assad regime is “The end of every unjust and tyrannical rule, and more than that, it mortgaged the country and its people to the Iranians, who abandoned it in minutes... I believe that the future is beautiful and prosperous for the Syrians.” BERLIN — The International Committee of the Red Cross is calling for safe humanitarian access and protection of civilians in Syria after the fall of Bashir Assad’s government. “Our teams in Syria, including in Damascus, have been closely monitoring the fast-evolving security and humanitarian situation in coordination with the Syrian Arab Red Crescent,” the ICRC’s head of delegation in Syria, Stephan Sakalian, said in a written statement Sunday. The ICRC is “responding wherever possible, with further efforts underway, as hundreds of thousands of people need care and humanitarian assistance,” he said. Sakalian called “on all parties to urgently enable safe and unhindered access for medical and humanitarian workers to reach those in need, to protect civilians, and to uphold their obligations under international humanitarian law.” BAGHDAD — The Iraqi government said in a statement Sunday that it “supports all international and regional efforts seeking to open a dialogue” for Syria “leading to the adoption of a pluralistic constitution that preserves the human and civil rights of Syrians, and supports cultural, ethnic and religious diversity.” The statement from government spokesperson Bassem al-Awadi, said that Iraq understands “the necessity of respecting the free will of all Syrians, and stresses that the security of Syria, the unity of its territories, and the preservation of its independence are of utmost importance, not only for Iraq but also for its connection to the security and stability of the region.” It cautioned against “interfering in Syria’s internal affairs, or supporting one party for the benefit of another.” Iraq, which has a close relationship with Iran - once a strong ally of former Syrian President Bashar Assad - has taken in some 2,000 Syrian army soldiers who fled the country amid the advance of armed opposition groups. CAIRO — The head of Yemen’s internationally recognized government welcomed the fall of the government of President Bashar Assad of Syria. “It’s a historic moment,” Rashad al-Alimi, who chairs the ruling presidential council, wrote on X platform of Assad’s downfall. “It’s time for the Iranian regime to stop meddling in Yemen, respect its sovereignty and identity.” Al-Alimi, who is backed by Saudi Arabia, was referring to Iran’s support of Houthi rebels who are at war with Yemen’s internationally recognized government for a decade. DAMASCUS — Families wandered through the high-ceilinged halls of the presidential palace in Damascus on Sunday, along with some armed men. Some paused to take family portraits or selfies on the few remaining couches against the backdrop of mosaiced walls, while others walked out with chairs and other items under their arms. On the massive parking lot out front, cars drove in circles honking ecstatically. In central Damascus’ Umayyad Square, drivers passing by also honked jubilantly, while young men piled onto a tank abandoned in the square. But for some the celebration was bittersweet. “I am very happy, but this happiness will not be completed until I can see my son out of the prison and know where is he is,” said Damascus resident Bassam Masr. “I have been searching for him for two hours - he has been detained for 13 years.” TEHRAN, Iran — Iran says the Syrian people should decide their country’s future “without destructive, coercive foreign intervention.” The Foreign Ministry statement issued Sunday marked Iran’s first official reaction to the overthrow of President Bashar Assad, who it had strongly backed through nearly 14 years of civil war. Assad’s government was a close ally of Iran that served as a crucial conduit between it and Lebanon’s Hezbollah. The rebels who toppled Assad view Iran as a hostile foreign influence, and the abandoned Iranian Embassy in Damascus was ransacked as they entered the city. The Foreign Ministry statement said Iran supports Syria’s unity and national sovereignty, and hopes to see “the end of military conflicts, the prevention of terrorist activities and the start of a national dialogue” with the participation of all groups. “It is expected that the wise and farsighted relations of the two nations will continue based on mutual ties and interests,” the statement said. TEL AVIV, Israel – Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Sunday that Israeli forces have seized a buffer zone in the Golan Heights established by a 1974 ceasefire agreement with Syria. He spoke from an overlook near the border between Syria and the Israeli-annexed Golan Heights, after Syrian rebels tore through the country and dramatically ended Assad’s rule on Sunday morning. Netanyahu said the 50-year-old agreement had collapsed and that Syrian troops had abandoned their positions, necessitating the Israeli takeover as a “temporary defensive position.” Israel captured the Golan Heights in the 1967 Mideast war and annexed it. The international community, except for the United States, views it as occupied Syrian territory. Satellite images analyzed by the Associated Press show that as early as September, Israel began construction of what could possibly be a new road right along the so-called Alpha Line that separates the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights from Syria . The United Nations confirmed that Israeli troops entered the demilitarized zone during the work. The United Nations maintains a peacekeeping force in the demilitarized zone called the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force, or UNDOF, with around 1,100 peacekeepers from Fiji, India, Kazakhstan, Nepal, and Uruguay. After the 1973 Mideast war, the U.N. Secretary Council voted to create UNDOF to patrol a roughly 400 square kilometer (155 square mile) demilitarized zone and maintain the peace there. MASNAA, Lebanon — At Lebanon’s Masnaa crossing into Syria, the mood was festive Sunday with some local Lebanese residents handing out congratulatory sweets to Syrians lined up to return to their country. Sami Abdel-Latif, a refugee from Hama who was heading to Syria to join his wife and four children, said while the future in Syria is still uncertain, “anything is better than Bashar.” He said he expected some chaos initially but that eventually the situation would settle down. “Look at Aleppo now,” he said, referring to the first major city taken over by opposition forces more than a week ago, where life has continued more or less as normal. Abdel-Latif, a construction worker, said he is also hoping that there will now be plentiful work in Syria to rebuild. Malak Matar, who was preparing to return to Damascus, said, “This is a feeling we’ve been waiting 14 years for. “You feel yourself psychologically free - you can express yourself,” he said. “The country is free and the barriers have been broken down.” Now, he said, “Syrians have to create a state that is well-organized and take care of their country. It’s a new phase.” DAMASCUS, Syria — An Associated Press journalist in Damascus reported airstrikes in the area of the Mezzeh military airport, southwest of the capital Sunday. The airport has previously been targeted in Israeli airstrikes, but it was not immediately clear who launched Sunday's strike. The Israeli military refused to comment on the airport strike. Israel often does not publicly claim responsibility for attacks in Syria. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a UK-based war monitor, reported that Israeli warplanes also targeted warehouses belonging to the Syrian army’s Fourth Division and another former military site outside of Damascus Sunday. On Saturday and Sunday, the Israeli military sent additional troops to the Israeli-annexed Golan Heights to bolster Israel’s presence along the border between Israel and Syria. Agricultural areas along the border were declared closed military zones and some schools shifted to online classes in anticipation of unrest. MOSCOW — Russia’s Foreign Ministry claimed Sunday that Bashar Assad had left Syria after negotiations with rebel groups, and gave “instructions” to “transfer power peacefully.” In a post on the Telegram messaging app on Sunday, the ministry said Moscow had not directly participated in these talks. It also said it has been following the “dramatic events” in Syria “with extreme concern." It also said Russian troops stationed in Syria have been put on high alert and that as of early afternoon Sunday, there was “no serious threat” to the security of Russia’s military bases there. Russia has waged a military campaign in Syria since September 2015, teaming up with Iran to allow Assad’s government to fight armed opposition groups and reclaim control over most of the country. While Russia now concentrates the bulk of its military resources in Ukraine, it has maintained a military foothold in Syria and keeps troops at its bases there.