Matt Gaetz says he won’t return to Congress next year after withdrawing name for attorney generalThe collapse of the government of Bashar al Assad in Syria has shocked the world, including many in Massachusetts. Syrian rebels continue to free hundreds from military prisons Monday after the collapse of Assad's government Sunday. Videos posted on social media showed dozens of prisoners running in celebration after they were freed from the Sednaya Prison, just outside of Damascus, which was one of the most notorious prisons operated by the Syrian military. Among the prisoners still missing is American journalist Austin Tice. The United States government said there is a negotiator in Lebanon to gather information on his location. Meanwhile, Syrian-Americans living in Greater Boston said they are both excited and nervous about what happens next in their homeland. Over the weekend, Syrian-Americans gathered at Copley Square to wave flags and celebrate a day many thought would never come. "So the fact that this happened so quickly, it's like, 'wow', I can actually take my kids there to visit soon," Saeed Aryda said. Aryda has not been home to Syria since 2007 and said he feels "like an insane heavy weight just got lifted." Mahmoud Elsayed keeps a photo of his great-grandfather on the wall of his Syrian restaurant in Allston. "The name of my restaurant is Tarboosh. Tarboosh means the red fez, which is what he is wearing," Elsayed said, pointing to his great-grandfather's photo. Elsayed said he hasn't been back to Syria since the civil war broke out in 2011. "For all these dreamers, I think this is kind of a like the beginning of our big dream," Elsayed said. Local Syrians now dream of a new country where the various ethnic and religious groups live in peace and perhaps even democracy. However, they said they also worry about the rebel groups now running the country, including some the United States still considers terrorists. "Once the airport opens, I'm going to be there," said Omar Salem. Salem, an orthodontist, said that could be as early as next month. He said he already knows what he will do when he arrives. "The first thing I'm going to do is I'm going to go visit my father's grave," Salem said. Dr. Salem said he regrets not being able to be with his father when he died about a year and a half ago in Syria. According to the United Nations, since 2011, more than 14 million people in Syria have left the country.Amidst the chaos and despair, rumors and speculation run rampant, with theories ranging from a viral outbreak to a curse plaguing the valley. As investigations continue and experts work tirelessly to unlock the mysteries behind the illness, one thing remains clear: the Medicine Valley, once a symbol of hope and healing, now stands as a somber reminder of the fragility of life and the relentless march of adversity.Johns Hopkins University (JHU) has set a new benchmark in the realm of graphic rendering technology with the unveiling of the first 3D Graphics System (3DGS) capable of rendering High Dynamic Range (HDR) scenes with a remarkable 1000x speed increase. This groundbreaking achievement not only revolutionizes the rendering process but also delivers a level of visual fidelity that surpasses all existing standards in the industry.
I n the two years since its formation, Ukraine ’s 13th National Guard Brigade – called “Khartiya” – has gained a reputation not only for prowess in battle but also for its culture of respect and innovative approach to technology. Khartiya helped to halt Russian forces who launched a surprise incursion last May that threatened to overwhelm Kharkiv , from where many of its original members come. The brigade was deployed to confront the Russian incursion around the village of Lyptsi, north of Ukraine’s second-largest city, last June; the forested area has since been a pivotal battleground. And it was there last week that the Khartiya announced it had fought a battle for the first time using only drones – both unmanned aerial vehicles and robotic ground vehicles that sprayed the enemy using remote-control machine guns and laid anti-tank mines, inflicting large casualties and preventing a Russian attack without the loss of a single Ukrainian life. The brigade’s spokesperson, Sergeant Volodymyr Dehtyarev, said Khartiya is committed to creating a “new Ukrainian army” using Nato standards of training that, unlike the Soviet-style hierarchical structures that still linger in many parts of the Ukrainian military, show respect for every member of the fighting force and use education and discussion to cultivate, rather than suppress, individual initiative. He said that the brigade had particularly benefited from British training that emphasised the need for every soldier, of whatever rank, to be able to take part in the planning of a mission or battle and, if necessary, to take over leadership from a superior trank. On Christmas Eve, The Independent was taken in a four-wheel-drive vehicle to one of Khartiya’s drone units covering a section of the brigades’s trenches and bunkers in the Lyptsi area. After leaving the highway northwards from Kharkiv, our vehicles headed along country roads and largely deserted villages cloaked in fog as the temperature dipped toward freezing. Along the way, we visited two bases where Khartiya brigade members were resting for a few days before returning to the front lines. As in many other European countries, Ukrainians have their main festive meal on Christmas Eve rather than 25 December. Dinner traditionally consists of 12 dishes, one for each of the disciples. All 12 courses were not a practical proposition in the spartan conditions of the village houses being used by the resting soldiers. But the brigade provided some dishes while the soldiers themselves prepared others. An essential ingredient of the traditional Ukrainian Christmas meal is kutia, an ancient sweet dish of grains, honey and poppyseed. Dehtyarev, accompanying The Independent , distributed some. The mood was subdued but not sad. A company commander with the call sign “Czech” said: “Of course tonight everybody is thinking about the families they have left behind. I have a wife and a girl aged 18 and a boy 14 years old. I miss them and this is the third Christmas I will not be with them. But I have to be here as long as is needed and I know my family understands that.” Czech said he and his men spent seven days at the front followed by seven days rest. Many of the Ukrainian soldiers have occupied trenches and tunnel networks abandoned by Russians they have driven out. Others they have dug themselves. In a pattern repeated everywhere along the front lines, small groups of Russians, sometimes brought close to Ukrainian lines in armoured personnel carriers, or riding off-load bikes or quad vehicles, try to press forward despite horrendous losses. Ukrainian and western sources estimate Russia ’s daily losses are at 1,200 dead and 1,500 wounded. Russian leader Vladimir Putin and his generals are indifferent to the high losses because Putin has eliminated all opposition voices so there is no political blowback for him. Czech said: “The fighting is intense and the enemy is sometimes only 25 or 50m away. We can see them. There is no let up and after seven days everyone needs a rest. “On a night like this, we’re also thinking about our comrades that have been killed and will never see their families again or those who have been badly wounded.” One of the brigade’s chaplains, protestant Pastor Oleksandr, visited the bases talking with those who wanted to speak with him and leading a short prayer meeting. A family of four, dressed in traditional costumes, also visited the bases to sing carols. Moving along narrow roads that had been turned to mud, Dehtyarev drove The Independent to a concealed location that is home to a drone unit. As the fairy lights on the Yuletide tree in their bunker twinkled in the closing minutes of Christmas Eve, two soldiers, working above ground, adorned a large “Vampire” drone with a deadly 20-pound bomb intended to deliver a lethal greeting behind the Russian lines. The black, lorry wheel-sized drone with six propellers is called Vampire because it is equipped with a thermal imaging camera allowing it to operate by night. The two soldiers worked using red lights that are less visible for an enemy to spot and which bathed the scene in a bizarre, almost festive glow. Controlled by a third member of their unit, the Vampire’s propellers churned the air generating a surprisingly loud, intimidatory clatter as it lifted off the ground, momentarily hovered, and then swung toward its target in the battlegrounds around the village of Lyptsi. Inside the bunker, everyone watched as the lorry wheel-sized Vampire was guided by an operator called Sova – owl, in Ukrainian – using a tiny joystick to keep the drone on course, plotted in blue on one of three screens. Two other screens showed a different version of the map with information about the drone’s height and speed. The drones are called Vampires because they are equipped with thermal imaging cameras enabling them to “see” at night. But the skies over Lyptsi this Christmas Eve were murky with low clouds and fog. The target was a Russian bunker, spotted earlier by another unit operating reconnaissance drones. However, the camera showed the flashes of tracer bullets as the Russians, alerted by the noise of the Vampire’s propellers, tried to down the unmanned craft with machine gun fire. Sova released the bomb around 20 minutes past midnight and into Christmas Day as the monitors showed the drone was precisely above its target. This is only the second Christmas since Ukraine adopted the modern Gregorian calendar that celebrates Christmas on 25 December rather than 27 January. Even without direct sight of the bunker, Sova was confident some of the Russians 130ft below the drone would not live to see the remainder of Ukrainian Christmas Day, let alone the Russian one. The unit’s commander, with the call-sign Makalatura, explained there had been unusually fierce battles raging all day on Christmas Eve as waves of Russian troops accompanied the Khartiya Brigade section he is responsible for protecting. He said that usually, his unit launched planned attacks against targets that had been spotted by reconnaissance drones and scheduled for bombing days or even weeks before by the Khartiya Brigades headquarters. But on Christmas Eve he had sent Vampire drones on three unplanned flights in support of his fellow Khartiya brigade members whose positions had been in danger of falling to Russian forces. In between lethal bombing runs, Makalatura said they use the Vampires to fly food, water and other supplies to their comrades in outposts where deliveries by vehicles on the ground are suicidally vulnerable to the Russians’ own formidable drone forces. The third member of the unit calls himself “Bandera”. Like the other two, he is in his early twenties and like them was thinking of family and friends far away. He said: “My wife and I had a child three and a half months ago, a girl. I’ve only seen her briefly once.” And like most of the Ukrainian soldiers The Independent spoke to, Bandera longs for the war to end but only on terms that guarantee Ukrainian independence and security. “We have to make sure that my child and her generation don’t face another future Russian war.” A few hours after The Independent returned to Kharkiv on Christmas morning the city was hit by at least six missiles as part of an intense aerial attack affecting much of Ukraine. The Ukrainian air force said Moscow had launched more than 180 missiles and drones which caused many casualties and had targeted energy-generating facilities. Moscow said it had “carried out a massive strike with long-range precision weapons and strike drones.”Is Outlook down? Thousands of Microsoft 365 users report outage issuesTEMPLEGATE tackles Friday's racing confident of banging in a winner or two. Scroll down for all his selections. The only place to get Templegate's tips first - and at the best prices - is by joining Sun Racing's brilliant Members Enclosure. Sign up now for just £1* to be part of racing's best winning team and get... Become a member today for just £1* *For the first month then £3 per month thereafter. SIGN UP NOW 18+ Ts and Cs apply. First month membership £1, then £3 per month unless you cancel at least 7 days before your next billing date. For more information contact help@thesun.co.uk STUZZIKINI (2.50 Chepstow, nap) He looked a National type when winning the Troytown for Gordon Elliott at Navan last time. He wasn’t stopping at the end of three miles there and shapes like a real stayer. It’s relatively early days and he can improve past his handicap mark. BOOTHILL (2.30 Kempton, nb) He fell in this race 12 months ago and ran his best race since when second to Jonbon in the Shloer at Cheltenham last time. He pushed that class act to within two lengths and will appreciate these conditions. A repeat of that effort would be good enough. DR TJ ECKLEBURG (3.25 Chepstow, treble) He seemed to have plenty left in the tank when winning at Haydock last time and a 7lb rise in the weights won’t put the brakes on. Templegate's verdicts CHEPSTOW 1.05 NOCTE VOLATUS has a cracking record at Chepstow and saw off a big field over this trip here in October. He then ran another decent race at Ascot when staying on strongly in the closing stages. He’s back from the same handicap mark with every chance again. Lowry’s Bar got the best of a battle when landing his first chase victory at Exeter 21 days ago. He’d ideally like it softer but is improving and looks a major threat. Le Milos has dropped to 5lb below his last winning mark but he hasn’t been seeing out his races for a little while. It would be no surprise to see him bounce back for the Skeltons. Venetia Williams may not quite be in the form of a couple of weeks ago but her Georges Saint is still a threat. He didn’t fire at Ludlow last time after a couple of decent wins over this trip. He could still be ahead of the handicapper. Fidelio Vallis was pulled up after a year off at Newbury last time and showed he was better than that when scoring at Musselburgh on New Year’s Day. 1.40 NIETZSCHE HAS boasts some fancy form in France where he was beaten just over a length in an Auteuil Grade 1 last month. He has plenty of pace for this trip and likes cut in the ground. He should be capable of better. Opec had eight lengths in hand when winning a Newbury Listed contest last month. She had the race won a long way out and gets the valuable mares’ allowance which only boosts her chances. This is hotter company but she should be up to it. Static has moved to Olly Murphy from France and was a distant third in a Cheltenham Grade 2 latest. He’ll need to raise his game but this is just his third run for current connections. Hot Fuss was a fair handicapper on the level and landed his first hurdles victory at Sandown earlier this month. This is a much hotter contest but he could hit the frame under Harry Cobden. Melon clocked a fair time when scoring on hurdles debut at Donny just 14 days ago. He’ll have to take another step up in this company. 2.10 DANS LE VENT has tumbled to almost a stone below his last winning hurdles mark and showed some promise at Haydock last month. He has plenty of stamina for this trip and looks a big price to make the placings at least for Welsh trainer Evan Williams. Woodie Flash seems to have improved for being held up on his past two runs, with a win at Ffos Las followed by a close second in decent company at Lingfield last time. A 5lb rise for that looks fair over his favourite distance. Madaket finished a place behind Woodie Flash latest and he’s 3lb better off at the weights today. Phantomofthepoints could do with more rain as he loved the mud when going close at Haydock last month. He is a thorough stayer who will go from the front and could hold on for a place. Bill Baxter enjoyed coming back to hurdles when second at Uttoxeter latest and has an each-way chance from this reduced mark. Tune In A Box landed a big pot at Punchestown in April and ran his best race since when a close-up fourth at Cheltenham latest. He has a chance over an ideal trip. 2.50 STUZZIKINI looked a National type when winning the Troytown for Gordon Elliott at Navan last time. He wasn’t stopped at the end of three miles there and shapes like a real stayer. It’s relatively early days and he can improve past his handicap mark. Elliott has another good chance with Where It All Began under Sean Bowen. He was far from disgraced when eighth in the Irish National and comes here fresh. Galia Des Liteaux has been laid out for this and ran a decent race in the Coral Cup at Newbury last time. He would ideally like the ground a bit softer but should be right there. Iron Bridge was a distant third in this 12 months ago but is 6lb lower in the handicap today so has every chance of matching that effort. Monbeg Genius was a good second at Haydock on comeback and has run well around here before. He will enjoy this test of stamina. Fontaine Collonges has a big weight but he was impressive when beating Monbeg Genius at Haydock latest. He’s up 8lb but should be competitive although softer ground would be ideal for the Venetia Williams runner. Sam Thomas pair 2021 winner Iwilldoit and Jubilee Express both have place claims but would also like more rain. KEMPTON 1.20 LARCHMONT LASS found 2m4f on the sharp side when a still-decent third at Sandown last time out. She was much happier tackling a stiffer stamina test at Wetherby scoring on comeback and she looks capable of better for Nicholls and Cobden. Fortuna Ligna looks an each-way price and was far from disgraced at Ascot latest. She can make mistakes but has a decent engine. Pawpuri was understandably rusty on his her first hurdles outing for almost a year here last month. She went well for a long way and just got tired in the closing stages. This longer trip should be fine and she’s a threat. West Balboa is in danger of becoming disappointing and she has more talent than she’s been showing lately. She is capable of better than we saw at Doncaster last time and her rider takes off a valuable 7lb. Della Casa Lunga was a solid second in Listed company here latest and has had a wind op since. She needs to find her very best. 1.55 This should be an absolute cracker and chase debutant SIR GINO can just get the better of Ballyburn. Nicky Henderson has been waxing lyrical about Sir Gino’s schooling at home and he showed himself in peak form when winning the Grade 1 Fighting Fifth over hurdles at Newcastle last month. His best form has all been over this distance and he’s got a course win on his CV which is a major plus. The decent ground just tips things in his favour as Ballyburn has only run with plenty of give underfoot. Willie Mullins’ hope will be a tough nut to crack though and he looked a natural when winning his chase debut at Punchestown last time by 13 lengths. He won a Grade 1 over hurdles at this trip but he shapes as though a longer distance would be perfect. If would be a surprise if Rubaud can figure on his chase debut although he was more than decent over timber too. He took Listed honours over course and distance in October but this is tougher. 2.30 BOOTHILL fell in this race 12 months ago and ran his best race since when second to Jonbon in the Shloer at Cheltenham last time. He pushed that class act to within two lengths and will appreciate these conditions. A repeat of that effort would be good enough. Martator showed no signs of ending his winning run when bolting up by 11 lengths at Ascot last month. That was his fifth success in a row for Venetia Williams and he’s right at home over this distance on decent ground. The handicapper has piled another 11lb on his back but that may not be enough to put the brakes on. Edwardstone was behind the tip in the Shloer before falling in the Tingle Creek last time. He was still going well when hitting the deck four out but may struggle to give weight away all round. Sans Bruit was no match for Martator when they met at Ascot last month and there’s no obvious reason why he’ll turn that form around. 3.08 FRERO BANBOU was impressive when winning at Newcastle last time and a 7lb rise isn’t a worry as he’s won off this mark before. We have seen all season how good jockey Charlie Deutsch is on staying chasers and he can land another nice prize for Venetia Williams. Weveallbeencaught will be much happier down at this level after being pulled up at Cheltenham last month. His last run in this grade saw him finish a close second and he looks solid each-way. Dreaming Blue makes the odd mistake but he got everything right when winning over a bit further at Ludlow last time. A 3lb rise in the weights is more than fair. Highstakesplayer was a battling winner over course and distance in April and returned with a good second at Ascot before a flatter effort at Newbury latest. He has his sights lowered here. Golden Son is another who has shown his best at this specialists’ track and will be a lot fitter after his rusty comeback at Newbury last time out. WETHERBY 11.50 Let’s Go Joe Right back to his best when scoring at Doncaster last time. 12.25 Maghlaak Decent on the Flat and been knocking on the door as a hurdler. 1.00 Campaign Trail Expensive buy made a winning start at Doncaster latest. 1.35 Dare To Shout Keeps running well and went close again at Kelso last time. 2.15 Cruden Made a winning hurdling start at Cork and has moved yards since. 2.45 Pay The Piper Has run well on his past two visits to this track. 3.20 Blue Bellamy Good in points and went close at Market Rasen latest. CHEPSTOW 12.00 Julius Des Pictons Game winner last time and few miles on the clock. 12.30 King William Rufus Landed deserved win at Ascot and back under penalty. 1.05 Lowry’s Bar Good win over fences at Exeter and has more to come. 1.40 Nietzsche Has Consistent and went close in French Grade 1 last time. 2.10 Dans Le Vent Looks ready for this step back up to his best distance. 2.50 Stuzzikini (nap) Improving stayer who was in good form at Navan last time. 3.25 Dr TJ Eckleburg (treble) Won well at Haydock latest and form has been franked. KEMPTON 12.45 Nardaran Flat winner who can make winning start for Paul Nicholls. 1.20 Larchmont Lass Can strike again returned to her favoured three miles. 1.55 Sir Gino Class over hurdles and schooling reports have been good. 2.30 Boothill (nb) Has winning form here and good run behind Jonbon latest. 3.08 Frero Banbou Loved testing trip when scoring at Newcastle last time out. 3.38 Willmount Can get his career back on track for Nicky Henderson. WOLVERHAMPTON 4.00 Havana Sky Just keeps winning and this is another excellent chance. 4.30 Enacting Promise on both runs so far with more to come. 5.00 Best Rate Finished strongly into fifth at Lingfield last time out. 5.30 Merchant Improved from debut when second at Newcastle last time. 6.00 Currumbin Good start for this yard when winning at Southwell latest. 6.30 One Night Stand Has shown best form over this course and distance. 7.00 Come On John Keeps running well and another good run last time out. 7.30 Master Of Combat Can land a fifth win here from a fair handicap mark. 8.00 Forever Proud Good second over course and distance last time out. A responsible gambler is someone who: Find our detailed guide on responsible gambling practices here.China Wiretaps Americans in ‘Worst Hack in Our Nation’s History’
So, as the Liverpool faithful travel to Girona to show their unwavering support for the team, they do so with the knowledge that their beloved club is in capable hands. With Van Dijk marshaling the defense, Salah wreaking havoc in attack, and Szoboszlai pulling the strings in midfield, Liverpool have every reason to believe that they can emerge victorious in this crucial away fixture. The stage is set, the players are ready, and the fans are eagerly awaiting what promises to be a thrilling encounter. Liverpool against Girona - let the battle commence.Lebanon's state media said an Israeli air strike targeted the Baalbek region in the east of the country before dawn on Wednesday, branding it a "violation" of the fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah. ET Year-end Special Reads It's all Gucci for Indians' luxury craving even as economy shows wrinkles Investing in 2025: Will domestic funds continue to counter FPI sell-offs amid rising valuations? 2024 exposed the underbelly of India's Silicon Valley The truce went into effect on November 27 after more than a year of hostilities that began with the outbreak of the war in the Gaza Strip. Both sides have since accused the other of breaching the ceasefire. Wednesday's strike near the town of Tarya did not result in casualties, the state-run National News Agency said, calling the attack the "first violation of the ceasefire agreement" in the Baalbek area. A Lebanese security source, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the strike targeted "warehouses believed to belong to Hezbollah". 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(You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel )BEIRUT (AP) — Insurgents' stunning march across Syria accelerated Saturday with news that they had reached the gates of the capital and that government forces had abandoned the central city of Homs. The government was forced to deny rumors that President Bashar Assad had fled the country. The loss of Homs is a potentially crippling blow for Assad. It stands at an important intersection between Damascus and Syria’s coastal provinces of Latakia and Tartus — the Syrian leader’s base of support and home to a Russian strategic naval base. The pro-government Sham FM reported that government forces took positions outside Syria’s third-largest city, without elaborating. Rami Abdurrahman who heads the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, said Syrian troops and members of different security agencies have withdrawn from the city, adding that rebels have entered parts of it. The capture of Homs is a major victory for insurgents, who have already seized the cities of Aleppo and Hama , as well as large parts of the south, in a lightning offensive that began Nov. 27. Analysts said Homs falling into rebel hands would be a game-changer. The rebels' moves around Damascus, reported by the monitor and a rebel commander, came after the Syrian army withdrew from much of southern part of the country, leaving more areas, including several provincial capitals, under the control of opposition fighters. For the first time in the country’s long-running civil war, the government now has control of only three of 14 provincial capitals: Damascus, Latakia and Tartus. The advances in the past week were among the largest in recent years by opposition factions, led by a group that has its origins in al-Qaida and is considered a terrorist organization by the U.S. and the United Nations. In their push to overthrow Assad's government, the insurgents, led by the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham group, or HTS, have met little resistance from the Syrian army. The rapid rebel gains, coupled with the lack of support from Assad's erstwhile allies, posed the most serious threat to his rule since the start of the war. The U.N.’s special envoy for Syria, Geir Pedersen, on Saturday called for urgent talks in Geneva to ensure an “orderly political transition.” Speaking to reporters at the annual Doha Forum in Qatar, he said the situation in Syria was changing by the minute. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, whose country is Assad's chief international backer, said he feels “sorry for the Syrian people.” In Damascus, people rushed to stock up on supplies. Thousands went to Syria's border with Lebanon, trying to leave the country. Many shops in the capital were shuttered, a resident told The Associated Press, and those still open ran out of staples such as sugar. Some were selling items at three times the normal price. “The situation is very strange. We are not used to that,” the resident said, insisting on anonymity, fearing retributions. “People are worried whether there will be a battle (in Damascus) or not.” It was the first time that opposition forces reached the outskirts of Damascus since 2018, when Syrian troops recaptured the area following a yearslong siege. The U.N. said it was moving noncritical staff outside the country as a precaution. Assad's status Syria’s state media denied social media rumors that Assad left the country, saying he is performing his duties in Damascus. He has had little, if any, help from his allies. Russia, is busy with its war in Ukraine . Lebanon’s Hezbollah, which at one point sent thousands of fighters to shore up Assad's forces, has been weakened by a yearlong conflict with Israel. Iran has seen its proxies across the region degraded by regular Israeli airstrikes. U.S. President-elect Donald Trump on Saturday posted on social media that that the United States should avoid engaging militarily in Syria. Pedersen said a date for talks in Geneva on the implementation a U.N. resolution, adopted in 2015, and calling for a Syrian-led political process, would be announced later. The resolution calls for the establishment of a transitional governing body, followed by the drafting of a new constitution and ending with U.N.-supervised elections. Later Saturday, foreign ministers and senior diplomats from eight key countries, including Saudi Arabia, Russia, Egypt, Turkey and Iran, along with Pederson, gathered on the sidelines of the Doha Summit to discuss the situation in Syria. In a statement issued late Saturday, the participants affirmed their support for a political solution to the Syrian crisis “that would lead to the end of military activity and protect civilians.” They also agreed on the importance of strengthening international efforts to increase aid to the Syrian people. The insurgents' march Rami Abdurrahman, who heads the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, an opposition war monitor, said insurgents were in the Damascus suburbs of Maadamiyah, Jaramana and Daraya. Opposition fighters were marching toward the Damascus suburb of Harasta, he added. A commander with the insurgents, Hassan Abdul-Ghani, posted on the Telegram messaging app that opposition forces had begun the “final stage” of their offensive by encircling Damascus. HTS controls much of northwest Syria and in 2017 set up a “salvation government” to run day-to-day affairs in the region. In recent years, HTS leader Abu Mohammed al-Golani has sought to remake the group’s image, cutting ties with al-Qaida, ditching hard-line officials and vowing to embrace pluralism and religious tolerance. The shock offensive began Nov. 27, during which gunmen captured the northern city of Aleppo, Syria’s largest, and the central city of Hama , the country’s fourth largest city. Opposition activists said Saturday that a day earlier, insurgents entered Palmyra, which is home to invaluable archaeological sites had been in government hands since being taken from the Islamic State group in 2017. To the south, Syrian troops left much of the province of Quneitra including the main Baath City, activists said. Syrian Observatory said government troops have withdrawn from much of the two southern provinces. The Syrian army said in a statement that it carried out redeployment and repositioning in Sweida and Daraa after its checkpoints came under attack by “terrorists." The army said it was setting up a “strong and coherent defensive and security belt in the area,” apparently to defend Damascus from the south. The Syrian government has referred to opposition gunmen as terrorists since conflict broke out in March 2011. Diplomacy in Doha The foreign ministers of Iran, Russia and Turkey, meeting in Qatar, called for an end to the hostilities. Turkey is a main backer of the rebels. Qatar's top diplomat, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, criticized Assad for failing to take advantage of the lull in fighting in recent years to address the country’s underlying problems. “Assad didn’t seize this opportunity to start engaging and restoring his relationship with his people,” he said. Sheikh Mohammed said he was surprised by how quickly the rebels have advanced and said there is a real threat to Syria’s “territorial integrity.” He said the war could “damage and destroy what is left if there is no sense of urgency” to start a political process. ____ Karam reported from London. Associated Press writers Albert Aji in Damascus, Syria; Qassim Abdul-Zahra in Baghdad; and Josef Federman and Victoria Eastwood in Doha, Qatar, contributed to this report. Bassem Mroue And Zeina Karam, The Associated Press
Zheng Qinyu, a rising star in the world of women's tennis, recently found herself at the center of a storm of controversy as she narrowly missed out on the prestigious WTA Player of the Year award. Instead, the title was snatched away by none other than the formidable Sabalenka, sending shockwaves through the tennis world.
The China Economic Roundtable Annual Summit was held recently, bringing together top experts, government officials, and business leaders to discuss strategies for expanding domestic demand and promoting sustainable economic growth. The theme of the summit, "Cultivating a Comprehensive System, Fully Unleashing Potentials," emphasized the importance of building a holistic approach to economic development that can unlock the full potential of China's vast consumer market.People vent frustrations over insurance after UnitedHealthcare CEO’s shooting
In conclusion, the increase in the number of charges against Manchester City in the Premier League has intensified the ongoing saga and raised important questions about the integrity of the sport. As the investigation continues and the legal proceedings unfold, the football world watches with bated breath to see how the case will be resolved. Only time will tell the ultimate outcome of this high-stakes drama that has captivated the football community.
India, Norway to hold discussions on $100 billion investment opportunity