Did SMU's pony really kill another mascot?WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden's decision to break his word and pardon his son Hunter has spurred a broader discussion about what else he should be doing with the broad clemency powers of the presidency before he leaves office in January, including whether he should be pardoning Donald Trump. Biden on Tuesday ducked questions about his son, ignoring calls for him to explain his reversal as he was making his first presidential trip to Angola . He dismissed shouted questions about the matter with a laugh during a meeting with Angolan President João Lourenço at the presidential palace, telling the Angolan delegation: “Welcome to America.” Biden was not scheduled to take questions from the press during his trip to Africa, and he has largely avoided interactions with reporters since President-elect Trump’s victory last month. Biden’s decision to offer his son a blanket pardon for actions over the past 11 years has sparked a political uproar in Washington, after the president repeatedly had said he would not use his extraordinary powers for the benefit of his family. Biden claimed that the Justice Department had presided over a “miscarriage of justice” in prosecuting his son, using some of the same language that Trump uses to describe his own legal predicaments. Biden's reversal drew criticism from many Democrats , who are working to calibrate their approach to Trump as he prepares to take over the Oval Office in seven weeks. There is concern the pardon — and Biden's claims that his son was prosecuted for political reasons — will erode their ability to push back on the incoming president’s legal moves. And it has threatened to cloud Biden's legacy as he prepares to leave office on Jan. 20. Hunter Biden is the closest presidential relative ever to be granted clemency, but other leaders have pardoned family members and close friends. Bill Clinton pardoned his brother Roger for drug charges after Roger Clinton had served his sentence. By the time Trump left office after his first term, he had issued 144 pardons, which included Charles Kushner , the father of his son-in law, Jared Kushner. He also pardoned fervent supporters Steve Bannon, Roger Stone, Paul Manafort, Michael Flynn and other people convicted in special counsel Robert Mueller’s Russia investigation. In the months after the 2020 election, Trump and his allies were trying to overturn his loss, a failed effort that culminated in the violent riot by his supporters at the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. There were discussions at the time over whether Trump would preemptively pardon some of those involved in the effort — and maybe even himself — before he left office. But that never happened. Now, Democrats are having similar discussions about preemptive pardons on their side because of Trump's rhetoric on the campaign trail. He's made no secret of his desire to seek revenge on those who prosecuted him or crossed him. He talks about "enemies from within." He's circulated social media posts that call for the jailing of Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, former Vice President Mike Pence and Sens. Mitch McConnell and Chuck Schumer. He's also taken aim at Liz Cheney, a conservative Republican who campaigned for Harris, promoting a social media post that suggested he wanted military tribunals to punish her because she was guilty of treason. Sen. Ed Markey, a Massachusetts Democrat, said last week on Boston Public Radio that Biden might consider broad pardons to protect people against whatever wrath Trump may seek, but also as a way to move the country past this acrimonious and divided time. “I think that without question, Trump is going to try to act in a dictatorial way, in a fascistic way, in a revengeful first year at least of his administration toward individuals who he believes harmed him,” Markey said. Presidents enjoy expansive pardon powers when it comes to federal crimes . That includes granting clemency to people who have not yet been charged, as President Gerald Ford did in 1974 when he pardoned his predecessor, Richard Nixon, over the Watergate scandal. The decision at the time caused an uproar but has been seen in the ensuing decades as a move that helped restore order. Markey cited Ford's pardon as a way for the country “just to close that chapter and move on to a new era.” Biden could do the same, Markey said, to help the country move on “to an agenda that deals with the ordinary families.” Sen. Joe Manchin, the Democrat-turned-independent from West Virginia, took it a step further and suggested Biden should even pardon Trump for his efforts to overturn the 2020 election, federal charges that are now evaporating with Trump's upcoming return to the White House. “Why don't you go ahead and pardon Donald Trump for all his charges?" he said in an interview with CNN. “It would have gone down a lot more balanced. I'm just saying, wipe them out.” At the same time, Democratic lawmakers and criminal justice reformers are pushing Biden to grant pardons to broad groups of Americans. Democrats Ayanna Pressley, Jim Clyburn and Mary Gay Scanlon wrote to Biden on Nov. 20, asking him to use his clemency powers to "address longstanding injustices in our legal system, and set our nation on the path toward ending mass incarceration.” The letter, also signed by 61 others, suggested Biden could use his powers to send a powerful message of criminal justice reform and "rectify unjust and unnecessary criminal laws passed by Congress and draconian sentences given by judges.” “We encourage you to use your clemency powers to help broad classes of people and cases, including the elderly and chronically ill, those on death row, people with unjustified sentencing disparities, and women who were punished for defending themselves against their abusers,” they wrote. So far, Biden has pardoned 25 people. Most presidents tend to grant a flurry of clemency requests at the end of their terms, and it's likely Biden will do the same. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre has said Biden is “thinking through that process very thoroughly.” Weissert reported from Luanda, Angola.
Syrian opposition fighters have reached the suburbs of the capital, Damascus, and government forces are withdrawing from the strategic city of Homs as the rebels' surprising offensive picks up speed and President Bashar Assad's whereabouts are unknown. Homs is an important intersection between Damascus and Syria’s coastal provinces that are the Syrian leader’s base of support. In Damascus, residents described a city on edge, with security forces on the streets and many shops running out of staple foods. 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. Eight key countries gathered with the U.N. special envoy on Syria on the sidelines of the Doha Summit for two hours of discussions Saturday night, and more will follow. The U.N. envoy seeks urgent talks in Geneva to ensure an “orderly political transition.” Here's the Latest: Two officials with Iran-backed Iraqi militias in Syria say the militias are monitoring the situation and have not made a decision to enter in support of Iran’s ally, Syrian President Bashar Assad. One of the officials said Iranian militias had withdrawn to Iraq from their positions in Syria. “All the militias are waiting to see what Bashar Assad will do in Damascus. If he resists and does not allow Damascus to fall, it is possible that the Iraqi factions will intervene for the purpose of support,” he said. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly about the matter. -- Qassim Abdul-Zahra in Baghdad Multi-country discussions on Syria have ended on the sidelines of the Doha Summit. Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein says the countries will issue a statement, and there will be follow-up talks “taking into consideration the practical and real situation on the ground.” He said the talks, which lasted over two hours Saturday evening, focused on how to stop the fighting. Eight key countries including Saudi Arabia, Russia, Egypt, Turkey and Iran gathered with the U.N. special envoy for Syria, Geir Pedersen. When asked where Syrian President Bashar Assad is, Iraq's foreign minister replied, “I don’t know.” He declined to speculate on whether Assad would be overthrown. Opposition fighters have reached the Damascus suburbs. BEIRUT — Lebanon’s Health Ministry says two Israeli airstrikes in southern Lebanon on Saturday killed six people and wounded five others. The ministry said an airstrike on the village of Beit Leif killed five people and wounded five, while a drone strike on the village of Deir Serian killed one person. Israel’s military said it was looking into the report. Despite a ceasefire that went into effect on Nov. 27 to end the 14-month fighting between Israel and Lebanon-based Hezbollah militants that had escalated into all-out war, violations of the truce have continued. The director of Kamal Adwan Hospital in northern Gaza says the facility came under heavy Israeli bombardment again on Saturday and three medical staff were killed. Dr. Hussam Abu Safia in a statement posted by Gaza’s Health Ministry said the hospital was hit by over 100 projectiles and bombs, and electricity was cut off. He said the surgery department and neonatal unit were hit, and he pleaded for “immediate coordination for repair operations.” Kamal Adwan is one of the last remaining hospitals in northern Gaza. Israeli forces are pressing an offensive that has almost completely sealed off the area from humanitarian aid for two months. Israel’s military said it wasn’t aware of any attack Saturday. The hospital director on Friday said Israeli strikes had killed at least 29 people including four medical staff. Israeli Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi says the military is monitoring the Syrian border to make sure that “local factions do not direct actions towards us,” adding that Israel is not intervening in the events in Syria. Israel’s military has said it is reinforcing its deployment along the border with Syria. Halevi said if “confusion” arises and actions are directed toward Israel by “local factions” taking control of parts of Syria, Israel has a strong “offensive response.” The United Nations humanitarian coordinator in Syria says the U.N. is relocating non-critical staff outside the country. Adam Abdelmoula in a statement Saturday called it a precautionary measure to protect U.N. teams. “Let me emphasize—this is not an evacuation and our dedication to supporting the people of Syria remains unwavering,” Abdelmoula said. The statement did not say how many U.N. staffers were leaving Syria as opposition fighters reached the suburbs of Syria’s capital, Damascus. The statement said the fighting in Syria has displaced over 370,000 people as the humanitarian situation deteriorates, “with many seeking refuge in the northeast and others trapped in frontline areas, unable to escape.” Foreign ministers and senior diplomats from eight key countries including Saudi Arabia, Russia, Egypt, Turkey and Iran have gathered on the sidelines of the Doha Summit along with the U.N. special envoy for Syria, Geir Pedersen, to discuss the situation in Syria. The talks continued late Saturday and no details were immediately available. Qatar, Jordan and Iraq also were part of the discussions as opposition fighters closed in on the Syrian capital, Damascus. BAGHDAD — An Iraqi government spokesperson says about 2,000 Syrian army soldiers have crossed into Iraq seeking refuge as opposition forces advance in Syria. Bassem al-Awadi said the soldiers’ equipment and weapons were registered and taken into custody by the Iraqi army. “We dealt with them according to the principle of good neighborliness and humanity,” he said Saturday. Al-Awadi also said Iraqi officials are concerned about the security of the al-Hol camp and other facilities in northeast Syria where suspected Islamic State group members and their families are detained. The facilities are guarded by U.S.-backed Kurdish forces. Al-Awadi said there is “high security coordination” between Iraqi officials and those forces to “prevent the prisoners from escaping.” Syria's army says it is fortifying its positions in the suburbs of Damascus and in the country’s south, as opposition fighters close in on the capital. The army statement on Saturday also asserted that Syria is being subjected to a “terrorist” and propaganda campaign aiming to destabilize and spread chaos. The statement also said the military is continuing with operations in areas including the central provinces of Hama and Homs, and that it has killed and wounded hundreds of opposition fighters. At least two people were wounded in a car-ramming attack in the West Bank on Saturday, according to the Israeli army and rescue services. The army said the attack took place in the area of the Fawwar refugee camp, near the city of Hebron. It said a soldier was severely wounded, and security forces were looking for the attacker. Israel’s Magen David Adom rescue service said another man in his 40s suffered light injuries from shrapnel. The West Bank has seen a surge in violence since Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023 attack out of Gaza sparked the war there. Israel has intensified its military raids in the West Bank, targeting what it says are militants planning attacks, and there has also been a rise in Palestinian attacks on Israelis. The Israeli military says it is helping United Nations forces to head off an attack on a U.N. position in Syria close to the Israeli border. The army said in a statement Saturday that an attack was carried out by “armed individuals” on a U.N. post near the Syrian town of Hader and it was “assisting U.N. forces in repelling the attack.” On Friday, Israel’s military said it would reinforce its forces in the Golan Heights and near the border with Syria, where civil war has reignited between the government and opposition fighters. Hamas has released a video showing Israeli hostage Matan Zangauker making an emotional plea for his release and describing the conditions he and other hostages face in Gaza after being seized in the Oct. 7, 2023 attack on Israel. His mother, Einav, has become a symbol of the fight to bring back the hostages and is an outspoken critic of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government. Matan Zangauker, speaking under duress, appealed to the public to protest in front of Netanyahu’s home and “not let him sleep even for a minute.” Zangauker also referred to 420 days of being held by Hamas militants. “We want to return before we go crazy. Isolation is killing us, and the darkness here is frightening,” he said, describing having little food and medicine and “undrinkable” water. President-elect Donald Trump has made his first extensive comments on dramatic advances by opposition fighters in Syria, saying the besieged President Bashar Assad didn’t deserve U.S. support to stay in power. “THIS IS NOT OUR FIGHT,” Trump posted on the Truth Social platform on Saturday. Syrian opposition activists and regional officials have been watching closely for any indication from both the Biden administration and the incoming Trump administration of how the U.S. would handle the sudden advances against Syria’s Russian- and Iranian-allied leader. Trump condemned the overall U.S. handling of the 13-year civil war in Syria, but spoke favorably of the routing of Assad and Russian forces. ISTANBUL — Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Saturday that there was “now a new reality in Syria” following the rapid advance of rebel forces. Speaking in Gaziantep, a city less than 30 miles (48 kilometers) from the Syrian border, Erdogan said that “increasing attacks on civilians” in Syria’s northwest Idlib province “triggered the latest events like the straw that broke the camel’s back.” It was not possible for Turkey to ignore developments in a country with which it shares a lengthy border and it would not allow any threats to its national security, he added in a televised speech. “Our wish is for our neighbor Syria to attain the peace and tranquility it has been longing for for 13 years,” he told a rally of supporters. “We want to see a Syria where different identities live side by side in peace. We hope to see such a Syria in the very near future.” Erdogan claimed President Bashar Assad had erred in rebuffing Turkey’s previous efforts to establish relations, saying Damascus “could not appreciate the value of the hand Turkey extended.” Ankara has supported anti-Assad rebel groups since the early months of the conflict and hosts 3 million refugees dislodged by the fighting. While Turkey lists HTS, the group leading the latest offensive, as a terrorist organization, the Turkey-backed Syrian National Army has worked alongside it. BEIRUT — A resident of the Syrian capital of Damascus says the city is very tense as troops and members of security agencies are deployed on main streets and intersections. The resident told The Associated Press that many shops are closed and those that are open have run out of main commodities such as sugar. He added that if food products are available, some shops are selling them for a price three times higher than usual. “The situation is very strange. We are not used to that,” the resident said on condition of anonymity, fearing retributions. “People are worried whether there will be a battle (in Damascus) or not.” — Bassem Mroue in Beirut DOHA, Qatar — Russia’s foreign minister says he has met his Turkish and Iranian counterparts in Doha and that all three countries were calling for an “immediate end to hostile activities” in Syria. Russia and Iran are the chief supporters of Syria’s government, while Turkey backs opposition fighters trying to remove President Bashar Assad from power. Speaking at the annual Doha Forum, Sergey Lavrov said Russia continues to help the Syrian army confront insurgents, military via airstrikes. Asked whether Assad’s rule is threatened by the fast-moving rebel offensive, he said, “We are not in the business of guessing what’s gong to happen.” He blamed the United States and the West for the events in Syria and said, “We are very sorry for the Syrian people who became a subject of another geopolitical experiment. “We are doing everything we can not to make terrorists prevail, even if they say they are not terrorists,” Lavrov said, referring to the de facto leader of the Syrian insurgents, Abu Mohammed al-Golani, who says he has cut links with al-Qaida. His group, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, is listed as a terrorist organization by the U.S. and United Nations. He said Russia, Iran and Turkey want the full implementation of a U.N. resolution, which endorsed a road map to peace in Syria. Resolution 2254 was adopted unanimously in December 2015. The measure called for a Syrian-led political process, starting with the establishment of a transitional governing body, followed by the drafting of a new constitution and ending with U.N.-supervised elections. Lavrov also downplayed reports that Moscow had withdrawn ships from Russia’s base in Syrian city of Tartus, saying that the vessels had left to take part in naval exercises in the Mediterranean. DOHA, Qatar — The U.S. envoy who brokered the ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah says the deal has created a new opportunity for Lebanon to reshape itself. Amos Hochstein told the Doha Forum that the weakness of Hezbollah after nearly 14 months of fighting along, along with blows to its Syrian and Iranian allies, give the Lebanese military and government a chance to reassert itself. “Now is the moment with this ceasefire to rebuild Lebanon again for a much more prosperous future and stronger state institutions,” Hochstein told The Associated Press on the sidelines of the conference. He said Lebanon needs “to do its part” by rebuilding its economy, choosing a president after years of delays and strengthening its central government to attract investors. “And the international community has a requirement and a responsibility to support Lebanon after this devastating conflict and after years of Hezbollah control,” he said. Hochstein told the conference that the turning point in ceasefire efforts was Hezbollah dropping its pledge to keep fighting as long as the war in Gaza continues. He said the change in position was the result of the heavy losses inflicted on Hezbollah, and Lebanese public opinion in favor of delinking the two conflicts. He said key tests for the ceasefire will be whether Israel carries out its promised phased withdrawal from southern Lebanon over the coming two months and whether the Lebanese army is able to move into those areas. BEIRUT — Insurgents and a war monitor say opposition fighters are taking over military posts evacuated by Syrian government forces in the country’s south, bringing them closer to the capital, Damascus. An insurgent official known as Maj. Hassan Abdul-Ghani posted on the Telegram messaging app that opposition fighters are now in the town of Sanamein, about 20 kilometers (12 miles) from the southern outskirts of Damascus, President Bashar Assad’s seat of power. Rami Abdurrahman, who heads the Britain-based opposition Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, said insurgents have entered the town of Artouz, which is about 10 kilometers (6 miles) southwest of Damascus. Opposition fighters have captured wide parts of Syria, including several provincial capitals, since they began their offensive on Nov. 27. BEIRUT — Lebanon’s government has approved a plan to deploy more troops along the border with Israel, part of the ceasefire deal that ended the Israel-Hezbollah war. In a rare Cabinet meeting outside of Beirut, held Saturday at a military base in the southern port city of Tyre, the government also approved a draft law to reconstruct buildings destroyed during the Israel-Hezbollah war that broke out in October 2023 and ended with a U.S.-brokered ceasefire last week. Information Minister Ziad Makary told reporters after the meeting that the committee whose job is to monitor the ceasefire that went into effect on Nov. 27 will hold its first meeting on Monday. The committee is made up of military officials from the U.S., France, Israel and Lebanon as well as the U.N. peacekeeping force deployed along the border. As part of the ceasefire deal, during the first 60 days Israeli troops will have to withdraw from Lebanon, while Hezbollah will have to pull its heavy weapons away from the border area to north of the Litani river. The Lebanese army said this week it will begin recruiting more soldiers, apparently to deploy them along the border with Israel. BEIRUT — The Syrian army withdrew from much of southern Syria on Saturday, leaving more areas of the country, including two provincial capitals, under the control of opposition fighters, the military and an opposition war monitor said. The redeployment away from the provinces of Daraa and Sweida came as Syria’s military sent large numbers of reinforcements to defend the key central city of Homs, Syria’s third largest, as insurgents approached its outskirts. The rapid advances by insurgents are a stunning reversal of fortunes for Syria’s President Bashar Assad , who appears to be largely on his own, with erstwhile allies preoccupied with other conflicts. His chief international backer, Russia, is busy with its war in Ukraine, and Lebanon’s powerful Hezbollah, which at one point sent thousands of fighters to shore up his forces, has been weakened by a yearlong conflict with Israel. Iran, meanwhile, has seen its proxies across the region degraded by Israeli regular airstrikes. JERUSALEM — Israeli security forces killed a Palestinian man after he attacked them at a border crossing in the Israeli-occupied West Bank on Saturday morning, police said. The man shot firecrackers at security forces at the checkpoint and threatened them with a knife, the police statement said. The man wore a t-shirt emblazoned with a symbol of the Islamic State militant group, according to an Associated Press reporter Israeli fire has killed at least 700 Palestinians in the West Bank since the Israel-Hamas war began last year, Palestinian health officials said. In that time, Palestinian militants have launched a number of attacks on soldiers at checkpoints and within Israel. DOHA, Qatar — The prime minister of Qatar says he has seen new momentum in Gaza ceasefire efforts since the U.S. presidential election, with the incoming Trump administration seeking an end to the conflict before it takes office. Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, a key mediator in the ceasefire efforts, declined to give specifics of the negotiations but told an international conference in Doha that the gaps between the sides are not large. Qatar, which has served as a mediator throughout the 14-month war, suspended its efforts last month in frustration over the lack of progress. But Sheikh Mohammed said his government has re-engaged in recent days after determining a new willingness by both parties to reach a deal. ’We have sensed after the election that the momentum is coming back,” he told the Doha Forum on Saturday. He said has been in touch with both the outgoing Biden administration and the incoming Trump administration and found that while there are some differences in approach, both are committed to the same goal of ending the war. ’We have seen a lot of encouragement from the incoming administration in order to achieve a deal, even before the president comes to the office,” Sheikh Mohammed said. He declined to discuss details, saying he wanted to “protect the process,” but expressed hope for a deal “as soon as possible.” ’If you look at the gaps and the disagreements, they are not something substantial that really affects the agreement,” he said. CAIRO — At least 29 people were killed, including four medical staff, when Israeli strikes pummeled the area around one of the last remaining hospitals in northern Gaza, Palestinian officials said. The situation in and around the Kamal Adwan hospital is “catastrophic,” according to Dr. Hussam Abu Safia, the director of the hospital. The dead included five children and five women, according to the hospital casualty list, which was obtained by The Associated Press. Friday’s strikes also wounded 55 people including six children and the five women, according to the hospital. Kamal Adwan Hospital in Beit Lahiya is one of the few hospitals still partially operating in the Gaza’s northernmost province , where Israeli forces are pressing an offensive that has almost completely sealed off the area from humanitarian aid for two months. Israel’s military denied that its forces had struck the hospital or operated inside it. The army said that in the past few weeks, “coordinated efforts with international organizations have been underway in order to transfer patients, companions, and medical staff to other hospitals.” An Indonesian medical team which had been assisting in Kamal Adwan for the past week was forced to evacuate on foot after the area was surrounded by Israeli soldiers, according to a statement from the team. The Israeli military did not immediately comment on the medical team’s expulsion. Dr. Rik Peeperkorn, the World Health Organization representative in the Palestinian territories, said an Israeli tank approached the hospital at around 4 a.m. Friday. Although no official Israeli evacuation order was issued, “people started to climb the wall to escape, and this panic attracted IDF (Israeli) fire,” he said. He spoke by video from Gaza to journalists in Geneva. Kamal Adwan Hospital has been struck multiple times over the past two months since Israel launched a fierce military operation in northern Gaza against Hamas militants. In October, Israeli forces raided the hospital, saying that militants were sheltering inside and arrested a number of people, including some staff. Hospital officials denied the claim. MANAMA, Bahrain — Saudi Arabia’s foreign minister has reiterated the kingdom’s call for an end to the war in the Gaza Strip. Prince Faisal bin Farhan described Israel as acting with “impunity and is getting away without punishment” in its war on Hamas there. The prince said that any permanent solution requires a two-state solution, with the Palestinians having east Jerusalem as their capital. After the speech, Prince Turki al-Faisal, a prominent royal in the kingdom who led Saudi intelligence for more than two decades and served as ambassador to the U.S. and Britain, took the stage. He harshly criticized Israel’s conduct in the wars. “Israel has become an apartheid, colonial and genocidal state,” Prince Turki said. “It is about time for the world to address that issue and take the necessary steps to bring those who are thus charged by the International Criminal Court to justice.” Israeli officials could not be immediately reached for comment on Prince Turki’s remarks. The Saudis spoke at the International Institute for Security Studies’ Manama Dialogue in Bahrain.‘Biggest Heist Ever’ ending explained: where are Ilya Lichtenstein and Heather Morgan now?United States-based veteran activist Freeman Chari, who is also a Biomedical Scientist and Software Engineer, torched off a storm when he launched into an analysis of what he felt were the shortcomings of opposition leader Nelson Chamisa and his CCC party at the time. Shortly after Chari launched his no-holds barred critique, UK based lawyer Brighton Mutebuka also gave a detailed response. We publish both their contributions separately. Below is the response from Mutebuka. So yesterday (01 December 2024), the situation eventually came to a head and Freeman Chari decided that it was time that he parted ways with the opposition movement after serving decades in the trenches. It is clear that the cause of his disengagement is his frustration after he consistently felt that his counsel was either ignored or not valued by Nelson Chamisa. In the lead up to that monumental development, Freeman had consistently publicly dished out tweets laden with fierce criticism of Chamisa’s leadership in general and more specifically centring on the stolen August 2023 Zimbabwean elections. I waded into the matter, focusing more particularly on what I considered to be Freeman’s misdiagnosis of the political significance of his interaction with Prof Welshman Ncube over what he cited as a 72 hour period during the election period. This is against the backdrop of Freeman and I having what I considered to be a deep, robust, respectful and long established relationship. My intervention was respectful and issue driven – highlighting key factors which I deemed to be indicative of fundamental failings in Freeman’s assessment of the situation. Freeman’s response was hard hitting, no holds barred and featured a dose of demeaning personal insults inconsistent with the kind of relationship that I thought we had. This suggested that I had no agency and was in the business of boot licking Chamisa – effectively reducing the entirety of my contribution to that motive. I later saw other Tweets from him referring to “running dogs” having been “sent” more in the context of hired political merchants having been deployed by Chamisa to carry out a hatchet job on him. I consider Freeman to be a highly combustible character prone to shooting from the hip, just like the late nationalist and ZANU PF SG Edgar Tekere was. Chari fearlessly guards his independence and appears to prefer the lone ranger or rebel with a cause approach to politics. A gifted and innovative scientist who has been at the centre of a number of crucial opposition initiatives over the past few decades to unseat ZANU PF from power, he tends to speak without a filter, thereby offending many. He appears unfazed by the consequences of his straight shooting approach to politics, which has resulted in him regularly falling out with some of his colleagues over the years – before returning to the fold – and going through it all over again. In the current situation, Chari has appeared to struggle to interpret events around the stolen August 2023 election. He appears to want to pin the entire blame for the consequences of that stolen election on Nelson Chamisa. The fallout has stemmed from the fact that Chari has appeared to heap praise on figures such as Prof Welshman Ncube – primarily due to the latter’s outstanding Administrative efficiency in disbursing funds to candidates ahead of the election – in comparison to other opposition leaders. When I tried to challenge Chari’s position, – respectfully it must be said, rather than tussling it out with me intellectually and civilly to try and persuade me, he was quick to dismiss my contribution as being motivated by sycophancy – without any attempt to engage with the actual objective points that had been raised on their own merits. Thus, without any hint of irony, Chari was unable to embrace divergent views made in a comradely fashion – the very failing that he repeatedly chides Chamisa for. It was also alarming & unfortunate that – rather than critically engaging with the actual contents of what had been raised, Chari exhibited a propensity of wanting to seek to achieve supremacy in the exchange by invoking or roping in past conversations which would have been made in confidential or intimate settings. I did not sense any awareness of the existence of an overriding duty / responsibility to safeguard privileged information that would have been obtained in confidential settings – a hallmark of mature, principled leadership & sound judgment. In further exchanges with others from the opposition movement – it was clear that Chari was obstinately clinging to the idea that only his judgment & viewpoint was supreme – that hammering home Chamisa’s culpability & unwillingness to work with others. He was generously doling out insults to any contrary view, literally erasing agency in scenes inconsistent with a veteran of the democratic movement. I later tried to engage him behind the scenes but, regrettably, I was unsuccessful in persuading him otherwise. I consider yesterday to have been a dark day in the opposition movement as we literally saw a highly revered figure for many years essentially pressing the self-destruct button & rupturing his well earned & deserved reputation as a fearless & inspirational democrat. What was tragic is that I was unable to see a conscious attempt at social regulation / damage limitation / kusiya pehukama. The “running dogs” jibe is as inflammatory as it is highly damaging. It’s the type of language that is normally the preserve of cold, cruel & insensitive regime apologists normally deployed at opposition activists. In the end, it appears to me that while Chari rightly feels entitled to criticise Chamisa & pass judgment over what he considers to be the latter’s weaknesses, Chari himself appears unable or unwilling to accept being subjected to the same scrutiny – thereby opening himself to charges of hypocrisy. I am also of the view that Chari’s understanding / mastery of key past & current political events appears dubious at best & woeful at worst – especially events surrounding FAZ, Tshabangu’s role as ED’s proxy & his interaction with the ex PDP cabal, Welshman & others. It is difficult to understand why Chari would be unwilling to re-evaluate the full gamut of his dealings with Ncube in the lead up to the stolen elections, particularly in light of what has emerged since. After all, George Charamba’s boastful pre-election Tweet about an impending palace coup plot brewing in the opposition movement dovetails with the subsequent Tshabangu fronted insurgency, roping in Biti, Phulu and Doink via the “anga achapera ega” audio clip & several aborted Tshabangu published documents purporting to appoint Biti & Ncube – to joint leadership positions. Even now, it is clear that Welshman Ncube is behaving like a captured or co-opted opposition leader, as he is offering zilch resistance to ED – while Doink, from the same faction, has joined the opposition hall of infamy via graduating from the ZANU PF school of indoctrination, the Herbert Chitepo School of Ideology – and recently upped the ante on the opposition hall of infamy spectrum via dishing out stratospheric levels of pro-ED bootlicking live on TV! Given the above, Chari’s positive appraisal of Ncube, even within the limited context he highlighted, – was ill-judged & amounted to political suicide. What made it worse is that, it was juxtaposed with withering criticism of Chamisa’s leadership & none in respect of Ncube & his crew, despite their chequered history & recent shameful shenanigans, suggesting the prevalence of bias / absence of parity / balance. That opened Chari to charges of being consistently biased against Chamisa to the point of holding open hostility / contempt. It is striking that a mere 72 hours worth of interaction with Ncube appears to have been so decisive in shaping Chari’s views on the subject to the point of being unwilling even to re-evaluate the situation in light of subsequent events. Another point worth noting is that, when I tried to push Chari on the importance of avoiding the use of intemperate language, he appeared unable or unwilling to accept that this could be potentially damaging to important relationships & the ability to get your message through. Summing it all up, I will defend Chari when it comes to charges of being compromised. Such charges should be dismissed with the contempt they deserve. Chari is simply another Two Boy Tekere. He lacks diplomatic tact. He’s a volatile character & is prone to being explosive. He is direct & speaks his mind without a filter & worrying about the potential impact & consequences of what he says on others. Such an approach renders one unpredictable, ungovernable, potentially disruptive, upsets team spirit & harmony and is thus unsustainable in the long term. I think he is an awesome Scientist but struggles with making sound political judgments at the highest level – but he is oblivious of this failing. We now know that although he is prone to fiercely criticising others, he is himself unable or unwilling to take similar heat. It is possible that his “rants” against Chamisa are the direct result of failing to convince Chamisa to take his advice. It also possible that owing to his tendency to venture into public outposts / tirades – and disclosing sensitive or confidential conversations and intel, Chamisa would have long distrusted him – and despised the manner of delivery – perhaps with Chari barely able to disguise / contain his contempt when expressing / challenging Chamisa on issues he disagreed with him – thereby sealing the fate of the relationship! There is also the possibility that Chari is perhaps unaware of the constraints that leadership entails – and that it’s possible that there is intel that he might not be privy to – which ultimately sometimes shapes decisions that Chamisa, like any other leader has to make – leaving a trail of disappointed cdes like Chari in his wake. Whatever the basis of how we got here, this is a real tragedy to the broader opposition movement! After all, Chari will always be one of us & a real patriot, regardless of the Piri Piri that he sometimes unleashes with reckless abandon! I hope that in the fullness of time, he will reconsider some of the invective he has directed to so many who revered him, thereby haemorrhaging his reputation as a stalwart of the opposition movement cultivated over many years! I wish him all the best in his future endeavours. Bon Voyage Chari!
After a four-day break from their previous game, the Utah Hockey Club looked refreshed and rejuvenated as they took down the Buffalo Sabres 5-2 on Saturday. It was a game filled with accomplishments and scoring as Utah continues to grow as a team. Here are some takeaways from Saturday afternoon’s win . A Big Day for Michael Kesselring Going into Saturday afternoon’s game, Michael Kesselring was set to play his 100th NHL game against the Sabres. However, it ended up being one of Kesselring’s best this season. Kesselring scored Utah’s first goal of the game with a strong shot from the blue line. His dominance continued as he fought a Sabres player and then later assisted on Nick Schmaltz’s game-winning goal, all of which cumulated in a Gordie Howe hat trick, the first one in Utah franchise history. It wasn’t just offensively where Kesselring shined in Saturday’s game. It was defensively too. He was able to keep the puck out of danger throughout the game and overall, impressed everyone on Utah including his head coach. “He did a great job,” said head coach André Tourigny. “Scored a big goal. He skated well, skated the puck out of trouble a few times. I like the fact that he did not try to complicate his game a lot.” In the absence of John Marino and Sean Durzi , Kesselring has really stepped up his game on the blue line. He has 14 points this season which is good enough for second on the team in defensemen scoring and he is also a plus-11, which leads the whole team. Despite the win, Kesselring knows his team can still do things a bit better. However, he liked how they played and how Utah was able to shut down the Sabres’ offense. “We’re tracking better, we’re managing the puck better,” Kesselring said. “We can still clean it up a little bit, but we did a good job today. We know they’re good off the rush, so we limited them pretty good and took advantage when we got chances.” With the blue line looking shaky a couple of times throughout this season for Utah due to injuries or other issues, the team has always been able to rely on Kesselring to anchor the defense with Mikhail Sergachev . Considering that two of their top four defensemen are currently out with injuries, it might’ve been a blessing in disguise for Utah as Kesselring has blossomed into a consistent top-four defenseman. André Tourigny Gets a Milestone Victory Tourigny started coaching this core back during the 2021-22 season. During that time, the Arizona Coyotes started an extensive rebuild that gutted the team. Fast forward to Tourigny’s fourth season and Utah is starting to form a competitive team that is slowly building towards being a playoff competitor. Throughout the lowest points of the rebuild, Tourigny was the one behind the bench, trying to get the best from his team. It took three straight seasons of being under .500 but with the 5-2 win over the Sabres on Saturday, Tourigny finally recorded his 100th NHL win, all with the Coyotes and Utah. In typical Tourigny fashion, he didn’t focus on his own achievements after the win. Instead, he talked about his team’s recent play and how Saturday’s win was a reward for Utah after playing some good hockey in the past 10 games. “For the last 10 games, I think we’re playing good hockey,” Tourigny said. “We don’t have the result all the time that we wish to have. Today, until the game was tight, I think we played rock solid. For the most part, I liked the way we played.” While it was a great game for a majority of players on Utah’s roster, it is a big win for the organization as well to get Tourigny’s 100th win. While the team is probably hoping his 200th win comes quicker, it’s a big achievement for this group who have played under Tourigny for the past couple of years, and for the head coach himself to get his 100th win, all with one organization. A Great Day for Utah’s Scoring The best part of Utah’s game on Saturday was their scoring. In total, 12 of Utah’s players registered a point. That includes Kesselring, Keller, Sergachev, Alex Kerfoot, Dylan Guenther, Jack McBain, Michael Carcone, Barrett Hayton, Kevin Stenlund, Logan Cooley, Olli Määttä, and last but certainly not least Schmaltz who scored his fourth goal in the past three games and has really exploded after breaking his 20-plus game scoring drought. This stat could be the biggest takeaway from Saturday’s game. Prior to this recent stretch of games, Utah really struggled with depth scoring . At times, it was just the second line of McBain, Cooley, and Guenther producing. At others, Utah’s offense didn’t show up at all. However, slowly but surely, the team’s entire offense has started to score. It was a strong game overall for Utah. There are still some things to work on but it was a complete effort by the whole team. “There were a lot of good things,” McBain said. “We’ve been talking a lot about game management. We wanted to make plays, wanted to be simple and I think we’re continuing to get better. Still a lot to work on but as a group I thought it was good.” Utah has returned to a .500 record, now sitting at 11-11-4. It inches them closer to the Edmonton Oilers and the Calgary Flames who both currently hold the two wild-card spots in the Western Conference. Utah won’t have to wait long to try to get closer to the two teams. They’ll play the Philadelphia Flyers on Sunday. The Flyers are 12-11-4 this season and are coming off a 4-3 overtime loss to the Boston Bruins . This article first appeared on The Hockey Writers and was syndicated with permission.
Nebraska should be ready in early 2025 to apply for federal permission to revive and complete the 1894 Perkins County Canal from Colorado, the state’s acting top natural resources official said. The canal’s inclusion in the two states’ 1923 South Platte River Compact should help the state navigate the federal bureaucracy more quickly, said Jesse Bradley, interim director of the Nebraska Department of Natural Resources. A one-time wall of the partly dug but abandoned 1894 Perkins County Canal runs right in this January 2022 photo to just under the bare tree. The photo was taken in Sedgwick County, Colorado, between the South Platte River and Interstate 76 between the the latter’s Ovid and Julesburg exits. But Bradley and DNR Perkins canal project engineer Matt Manning acknowledged that Nebraska remains in something of a race to complete the long-abandoned canal before Colorado can siphon off South Platte water its neighbor long has counted on. “They appear to be moving forward with their stated intention to capture as much water as they can before it enters Nebraska,” Manning said. The two Nebraska officials spoke with The Telegraph a month after the end of the annual April 1-Oct. 15 “irrigation season” under the 1923 compact. Statistics from the compact’s official South Platte gage at Julesburg, Colorado, show river flows were lower than the 2023 season but still would have put water into a completed Perkins canal 51% of the time. That’s considerably less often than the previous spring and summer, when flows were high enough to supply a projected canal 86.4% of the time. But that 2023 performance ranked No. 11 for the irrigation season since Congress ratified the two-state compact in 1926. The South Platte since then has exceeded the compact’s stated minimum flows just over 40% of each year, based on Julesburg gage flow records The Telegraph first analyzed in 2023 and continues to update. Since ratification, the South Platte Compact has required Colorado to deliver at least 120 cubic feet per second to Nebraska during the irrigation season. Nebraska also has the right to any “excess flows” that reach Julesburg. During the “nonirrigation season” of Oct. 16 to March 31, the compact requires Colorado to supply Nebraska at least 500 cfs when possible — but only if the Perkins canal is built. Nebraska also would be entitled to any “excess flows” at Julesburg during that period. The Legislature set aside $629 million in 2022 and 2023 to revive the canal. As now conceived, it would cross southern Keith County after following the 1894 canal’s original route from near Ovid, Colorado, across Sedgwick County. But Colorado held December 2022 that Nebraska’s plans by themselves don’t trigger its compact rights to South Platte water, Bradley noted. “Because Nebraska has not constructed the Perkins County Canal, there is no basis for Colorado to administer” Nebraska’s 1921 water right before that point, then-Colorado Division of Water Resources State Engineer Kevin Rein wrote then-Nebraska DNR Director Tom Riley. Evidence that Colorado was mulling multiple projects to use every drop of South Platte water within its borders prompted then-Gov. Pete Ricketts to advocate the Perkins canal’s revival in early 2022. Its first 16 miles from Ovid were dug in 1894 before early Perkins County settlers ran out of funds. After initially downplaying its state’s proposed projects, Bradley said, Colorado’s “message has changed to ‘We are going to do all these things, and we’re going to accelerate them.’” Possible Colorado projects differ in scope, he said. But the largest one remains the Platte Valley Water Partnership’s proposal to tap the South Platte in northeast Colorado and pipe water back west to Parker and other fast-growing suburbs south of Denver. That system’s closest storage reservoir to Nebraska would be built near Iliff, Colorado, less than 40 miles southwest of the Perkins canal’s starting point. It’s also about 25 miles northeast from the South Platte’s “Lower Division” compact boundary at the Logan-Washington county line. Much of the river’s water past there first was used upriver, seeped below the surface and re-entered the South Platte downstream as “return flows.” Even if Colorado disrupts the return flows with more water projects, Bradley said, Nebraska has to secure as much of its historic South Platte supply as it can. “It’s difficult to say what will happen two years from now with a Parker-type project, but we’ll keep an eye on what’s going on up there,” he said. “The whole compact is premised that water will be used and returned for Nebraska’s use.” Bradley estimated it’ll take about two years to win federal officials’ blessing to build the Perkins canal. He said the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has been designated the lead agency for Nebraska’s permit request. The Corps will consult with other interested agencies, including the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Two 1980s explorations of reviving the canal — one by the North Platte-based Twin Platte Natural Resources District, the other by Imperial’s Upper Republican NRD — were choked after several years by state or federal red tape. This time, “we’re obviously talking about a state-run process,” Bradley said. “We want to protect (South Platte) flow and not use it.” Meanwhile, Perkins canal design work by Nebraska DNR engineers is nearing 30% completion. “Elements of the design are coming into pretty good view now,” Bradley said. DNR leaders held an open house in Ogallala last Dec. 17 so Keith County residents could ask questions about the canal. They’re likely to return next month for another update, Bradley said. It’s too early to pinpoint the canal’s precise Keith County route, he said, except that it’ll run south of Interstate 80 and link up with the South Platte before the river enters Lincoln County. The 1923 compact requires Nebraska to build on or close to the canal’s 1894 survey route west of the Colorado line. Nebraska closed as 2023 ended on the first piece of Sedgwick County land it needs. The 1894 route essentially crossed the Interstate 76-U.S. Highway 385 interchange south of Julesburg, then skirted the Julesburg Cemetery south of the interchange before turning north. The two states have “agreed in principle to try to work around today’s infrastructure,” Bradley said. “We’re looking at a local alternative (to) the route where we’d go under the interstate.” Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter.Facebook still silent after suddenly banning then reinstating this popular gun manufacturer
Asteroid nearly hits Earth in Siberia, with a 2nd massive asteroid passing this week
SPRINGFIELD — Vice President Kamala Harris won Illinois by nearly 11 points as turnout dipped in 2024, according to official election results certified by the State Board of Elections. The board met Monday to certify the results of the 2024 election and released final vote totals for races around the state, including locking in several close legislative races. The results also reflected shifts in turnout and voting behavior. Illinois saw turnout dip in 2024 compared to recent presidential contests. About 5.7 million people participated in this year’s election, representing 70.42% of the state’s 8.1 million registered voters. That’s a decline from 2020, when 72.92% of voters participated in the largest turnout for a presidential election in Illinois since 1992, according to the board. This year’s turnout was the fourth lowest of the last 40 years, according to the board. Turnout was slightly below President-elect Donald Trump’s first victory in 2016, but higher than former President Barack Obama’s victory in 2012. Chicago Board of Election officials reported last month the city saw the second lowest turnout in a presidential race in 80 years. The lower turnout in the November election also followed low turnout in the March primary, which featured uncontested presidential primaries in Illinois after challengers dropped out of the race by the time it was Illinois’ turn to vote. Voting by mail also remained a popular option for many voters, with more than 1 million people casting their ballot in the mail. That’s down from more than 2 million people in 2020, but it represents the third consecutive statewide election in which more than 15% of voters used a mail-in ballot. A greater portion of the electorate cast early in-person ballots this year than ever before, however. Board of Elections data shows 34.65% of votes were cast in-person before Election Day this year, surpassing 2020’s record of 32.89%. This year’s election was the second time most voters did not vote on Election Day. Data shows 46.69% of ballots were cast on Election Day itself, compared to about two-thirds in recent years. Most voters during the pandemic election in 2020 also participated early, either in person or by mail, rather than on Election Day. In the presidential race, Harris received 3,062,863 votes in Illinois, or 54.37% of the vote, to receive Illinois’ 19 electoral votes. That’s 409,052 fewer votes than President Joe Biden received in 2020. Though Harris won Illinois’ electoral votes by nearly 11 points this year, Trump narrowed his margin of defeat in Illinois after losing the state in both 2016 and 2020 by about 17 points. Harris’ 10.9-point victory was the smallest margin of victory for a Democratic presidential candidate since John Kerry won Illinois in 2004 by about 11 points. Trump improved his margin in Illinois on his way to an Electoral College and national popular vote victory for the first time. He received 2,158 more votes in 2024 compared to 2020. Despite Trump’s loss in the state, Republicans said they still believe the election results show a mandate in Illinois for their policies. “I think the people of Illinois, and moreover, the people of this country, have seen what the Democrats have done, especially over the last several years and how woke it has become,” Rep. Adam Niemerg, R-Dieterich, said at a news conference in November. “This is a clear mandate to that ridiculousness that has been going on the last four years.” Further down the ballot, results certified Monday finalized many close races in the Illinois House. The chamber’s balance is unchanged by the election and Democrats will hold a 78-member supermajority when lawmakers are sworn in on Jan. 8. “Democrats won every seat in the General Assembly that it already had, and we won in races that I think people didn’t expect — county board races, taking control of the McLean County Board, for example, coroner races,” Gov. JB Pritzker said last month reacting to the election results. “People clearly bifurcated and made decisions different down the ballot than they did at the top of the ballot, so I’m proud of that. I think that’s a result of the policies Democrats have had in Illinois.” Rep. Martin McLaughlin, R-Barrington Hills, officially eked out a 47-vote victory in the 52nd House District in the Northwest Suburbs of Chicago in a race House Democrats spent millions hoping to flip. Rep. Amy Grant, R-Wheaton, won a fourth term in the 47th House District in DuPage County by 292 votes. And Rep. Brandun Schweizer, R-Danville, was reelected by 269 votes in the 104th House District in Champaign and Vermillion counties. U.S. Rep. Eric Sorensen, D-Moline, defeated former Winnebago County Republican judge Joe McGraw by 8.86 points in the 17th Congressional District, which was considered to be the state’s most competitive federal race. A majority of voters also supported three statewide advisory questions which asked about potential penalties for interfering with an election judge, a tax on millionaires to cover property tax relief and requiring insurance coverage for in vitro fertilization. Gov. J.B. Pritzker and U.S. Sens. Tammy Duckworth and Dick Durbin were among the first to welcome nearly 200 people who took part in a naturalization ceremony Wednesday in Springfield. Get Government & Politics updates in your inbox! Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter.
False hope: Last week's gains just 'dead cat bounce'
BEIRUT (AP) — Insurgents' stunning march across Syria accelerated Saturday with news that they had reached the suburbs of the capital and that government forces had withdrawn from 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. 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. 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 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. No details were immediately available. 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 and Qassim Abdul-Zahra in Baghdad contributed to this report. Bassem Mroue And Zeina Karam, The Associated Press