Panic gripped Damascus after fast-advancing rebels said on Saturday they had begun operations to surround Syria's capital, residents said, with many scrambling to stock up on vital supplies. Protests spread like wildfire in neighbouring provinces, with anti-government demonstrators toppling statues of late president Hafez al-Assad in the Jaramana suburb of Damascus and in the southern city of Daraa. Damascus resident Rania, who is in her eighth month of pregnancy, said she could not find desperately needed medicine anywhere as shops and pharmacies had closed early. "I'm very scared, for me and for my unborn daughter," she told AFP. "I've been trying to buy medicine since this morning but I cannot find what I need." Rania said she had to come home empty-handed after her husband demanded that she return. "The situation was not like this when I left my house this morning... suddenly everyone was scared," she said. Rebels said earlier onSaturday they had begun operations to encircle the government-held capital after seizing nearby towns. Syria's defence ministry denied the army had fled positions near the city. Residents spoke to AFP of a state of panic as traffic jams clogged central Damascus and people sought supplies and queued to withdraw money from ATM machines. Three residents, who requested anonymity for security reasons, said they struggled to find food or medicines as stores had shut. Rumours that President Bashar al-Assad had fled the country added to the anxiety, although his office denied the reports and said he was still in Damascus. Assad last appeared in public on Sunday during an official visit by Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. Security forces and the army were deployed in the Mazzeh neighbourhood, which is home to embassies, United Nations offices and security headquarters. Interior Minister Mohammed al-Rahmoun told state television that security forces had imposed an impenetrable cordon around the city, while he toured the capital in a bid to "reassure" citizens. The mood was starkly different a few kilometres (miles) away, in the southern Damascus suburb of Jaramana where anti-government protesters toppled a statue of Assad's father, witnesses told AFP. Statues were also toppled in Hama, seized by rebels within days of snatching the second city Aleppo -- in scenes reminiscent of the mass anti-government protests that swept the country in 2011. In Jaramana, which is home to mostly Druze, Christians and families displaced by more than a decade of civil war, video footage verified by AFP showed young men chanting: "Syria is ours, it doesn't belong to the Assad family." One witness said by phone that he saw "dozens of protesters" tear down the statue of Assad's father in a main square in Jaramana that bears the former president's name. Another witness who passed through the square later said the statue had been smashed. Damascus resident Mohammed, 35, told AFP he felt "a mix of shock, fear and worry about the future". "Nothing compares to what we're going through today. But I think we're witnessing days that will go down in history," he added. You can unsubscribe at any time by clicking the link in the footer of our emails. We use as our marketing platform. By subscribing, you acknowledge that your information will be transferred to Mailchimp for processing.Heron Therapeutics Announces Corporate Headquarters Relocation to Cary, North Carolina
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TransDigm Group Stock: Is TDG Outperforming the Industrial Sector?Defence Minister Israel Katz on Monday acknowledged that Israel had killed former Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran earlier this year, as he warned the military would “decapitate” the leadership of Yemen’s Huthi rebels. “We will strike hard at the Huthis... and decapitate their leadership — just as we did with Haniyeh, (Yahya) Sinwar, and (Hassan) Nasrallah in Tehran, Gaza, and Lebanon, we will do so in Hodeida and Sanaa,” Katz said. His remarks at an event at the defence ministry mark the first public acknowledgement that Israel was behind the late July killing of Haniyeh in the Iranian capital. “Anyone who raises a hand against Israel will have his hand cut off, and the long arm of the IDF (Israeli military) will strike him and hold him accountable,” Katz said, according to a statement issued by the ministry. Until now Israel had never admitted to killing Haniyeh, but Iran and Hamas had blamed it for the Hamas political leader’s death. Related News Tinubu flags off 2024 Christian pilgrimage to Israel, Jordan Israel conducted 300 strikes on Syria since Assad's fall- War monitor Adesanya to headline first Saudi UFC event Haniyeh, who was seen as leading Hamas’s negotiation efforts for a ceasefire in Gaza, was killed in a guesthouse in Tehran on July 31, reportedly by an explosive device that had been placed by Israeli operatives weeks before. A day earlier, Haniyeh had attended the inauguration of Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian. On September 27, Israel killed Nasrallah in a Beirut bombing, which was followed by the killing of Haniyeh’s successor Sinwar on October 16 in Gaza. Israeli officials say Sinwar masterminded the October 7, 2023 attack by Hamas on Israel, which sparked the ongoing war in the Gaza Strip. AFP
A Tale of Two DavidsExperts shed light on what new PTI move would mean for economy KARACHI: The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) plans to initiate a civil disobedience movement, encouraging overseas Pakistanis to limit their remittances, could hurt the economy, say experts. Former Prime Minister Imran Khan, who has been imprisoned since August 2023 on multiple charges, has threatened to launch a nationwide civil disobedience campaign from December 14 if party demands are not met. As part of this movement, overseas Pakistanis will be encouraged to reduce their remittances and participate in a boycott campaign. “If the PTI launches a civil disobedience movement, it could have serious consequences for Pakistan’s economy. Remittances, which bring in over $30 billion annually, might drop if people are encouraged to use informal channels like hawala instead of official banking systems,” said Saad Hanif, head of research at Ismail Iqbal Securities. “Political instability might scare off investors, weaken the rupee further, and drive up inflation, making life harder for ordinary people. Overall, it could disrupt the government’s plans and push the economy deeper into crisis,” he added. Awais Ashraf, director research at AKD Securities Limited, does not believe that potential civil disobedience will significantly impact remittance flows, as people send this money to support their families and some flows are earnings of freelancers. Remittances to Pakistan have increased to $11.8 billion in July-October FY25, up 34.7 per cent from the same period last year, providing crucial support to the external account. Both the government and the central bank anticipate that remittances will reach historic levels of $35 billion in FY25, averaging $2.9 billion per month so far. These significant inflows will strengthen the reserves, offering a much-needed boost to the economy. A senior banker said that we need to observe how Pakistani expatriates respond to the planned call. In reality, Pakistan regularly receives significant remittance inflows from its migrants working abroad, most of whom belong to the lower and middle classes and typically engage in blue-collar jobs in Gulf countries, particularly Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, he said. However, the expatriates who may have acquired nationality in their host countries often send funds back home during occasions such as Eid festivals, for Hajj, for charity, and for making investments in Pakistan. Khan’s latest announcement comes at a time when the nation’s struggling economy is on the mend, largely thanks to a bailout from the International Monetary Fund. As a result, inflation has decreased, dropping to 4.9 per cent in November. The current account balance shifted to a surplus of $218 million in the first four months of the fiscal year 2025, compared to a deficit of $1.528 billion in the same period last year. As of November, the foreign exchange reserves held by the State Bank of Pakistan amounted to $12 billion, which is sufficient to cover more than two months of imports. Interest rates have also fallen, decreasing by 700 basis points to 15 per cent since June. Moreover, Pakistan’s benchmark stock index has performed well, surpassing 100,000 points. If the economy suffers as a result of the political unrest, the IT industry, which is already suffering from slow speed, is likely to experience more difficulties. The consistent internet disruptions and its slow speed are detrimental to the national economy in general and IT sector in particular, which will further affect adversely the economic activities and damage the reputation of the country if the situation persists, said Saad Shah, an IT exporter. As far as the IT sector is concerned, various IT companies are facing challenges to complete their projects on time despite their multiple efforts of working extra hours due to the prevailing internet situation. Large IT companies having annual contracts with local and foreign clients may survive through managing their work from offshore offices, but medium and small players including freelancers could not have options but to lose projects and clients, Shah added Hanif also expressed that “[civil disobedience] would reduce the country’s foreign exchange reserves. The government could also struggle to collect taxes and utility bills, worsening its financial problems and delaying important projects,” Hanif said. In a message posted on X, Khan announced the formation of a five-member negotiation team. This team is tasked with discussing two key demands with the government: the release of under-trial prisoners and the establishment of a judicial commission to investigate the incidents that occurred on May 9, 2023 and November 26, 2024 -- dates that saw significant protests from Khan’s supporters, which were met with a crackdown from the government and security forces.
NFL fans go wild for Panthers quarterback Bryce Young's electric play READ MORE: Vikings stars flawlessly execute famous dance By JAKE NISSE Published: 23:37 GMT, 8 December 2024 | Updated: 23:54 GMT, 8 December 2024 e-mail View comments Bryce Young wowed fans with a highlight-reel play on Sunday as the Panthers quarterback continued his resurgence following his benching earlier this season. The 2023 No. 1 overall pick lost his starting job to veteran Andy Dalton from Weeks 3 to 7, but has looked more composed since in the last six games. And against the Eagles, Young showed the latest sign that he was rounding a corner as he epically escaped a sack to keep Carolina alive late in the game. With the Panthers trailing 22-16 and facing a 3rd-and-11 deep inside their own territory, Young took the snap from inside the end zone, juked out Jalen Carter and shook off Josh Sweat as the linebacker tried to wrap up his leg. The Alabama product then delivered an inch-perfect pass to Xavier Legette to keep his team's drive going with roughly two-and-a-half minutes remaining. While the drive ultimately stalled out at the Eagles' 37-yard-line - leading to a Panthers loss - Young was lauded online for his game-extending play. Bryce Young wowed fans with an incredible play in the fourth quarter vs. the Eagles He escaped pressure from Philadelphia in his own end zone before delivering a perfect pass Bryce Young SHEESH 📺: #CARvsPHI on FOX 📱: https://t.co/waVpO909ge pic.twitter.com/t2kW0MnfRx — NFL (@NFL) December 8, 2024 'WHO DOESNT LOVE A BRYCE YOUNG COMEBACK,' one fan wrote . 'Houdini back there! That’s Alabama Bryce,' another added . And a third said , 'So glad Bryce is starting to find his groove.' Young has certainly shown improvement in the six starts since he returned from his benching, as he's averaging 212.1 passing yards per game, up from 173.4 yards per contest in his 18 starts before. Young has also tossed seven touchdowns in his last six games, as compared with just 11 in the 18 prior. And perhaps most notably, Young is getting rid of the ball quicker, as he's taken just 8 sacks in the last six games. That number was a whopping 68 across his first 18 starts - nearly four per game - as he struggled with his decision-making throughout his rookie season. The Panthers dropped to 3-10 following their narrow loss to the 11-2 Eagles, though they'll be encouraged by Young's continued growth. Matchups against the Cowboys, Cardinals, Buccaneers and Falcons remain for him to show he is the team's quarterback of the future. Carolina Panthers Philadelphia Eagles Share or comment on this article: NFL fans go wild for Panthers quarterback Bryce Young's electric play e-mail Add comment
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A local community dance studio has landed championship titles in Plymouth-staged dance event. Ocean City hosted the British Dance Organisation (BDO) event on November 10, the first of event of its kind in the city for over 10 years. Local community dance studio Rhythm City CIC brought approximately 18 dancers to the event, making them one of the smallest studios in attendance. Despite their size, Rhythm City performed secured multiple championship titles and top-three placements throughout the day. Two of Rhythm City's dance teams competed, with one of them - CRC - taking second place in the 16 and under Intermediate division. The second team, RCG, wasmade up of retired dancers from past Rhythm City crews, including Soul Groovers, Incranium, Atomic, and Beat-Breakers. This group came together for fun and, in just 10 hours of practice over eight weeks, managed to win the Over 16 Advanced division. RCG not only won the title but also scored the highest in the team competition, stealing the show. Individual dancers from Rhythm City who placed included Ollie Jessop, who won the Over 16 Advanced Solo Championship. Sam Holland was crowned the Over 16 All Styles Champion. Chris Gilchrist, founder of Rhythm City, said: "Having this competition in Plymouth was amazing. We usually have to travel to compete, so having it at home meant a lot. "It was a fantastic day, and many of our dancers performed incredibly well - not just by winning trophies, but by overcoming anxiety and entering the solo competitions for the first time. For some, simply stepping onto the floor was a victory, and the fact that they went on to win was just the icing on the cake." Rhythm City will soon be holding auditions for new members to join their team. They will also host their end-of-year celebration show on December 14, with tickets available now. For more information, visit or check out their social media channels.