The Cincinnati Bearcats men's basketball team has gotten off to a fast start this season in more ways than one. The No. 16 Bearcats have raced to a 5-0 record while outscoring their opponents by more than 31 points per game, with just one team (Northern Kentucky) coming within 16 points. Cincinnati is averaging a robust 87 points per game with one of the more efficient offenses in college basketball. Cincinnati will look to continue that hot streak when it plays host to Alabama State in nonconference action Wednesday evening. Cincinnati has punished opposing defenses in a variety of ways this season. Despite being the No. 14 offense in the nation in Ken Pomeroy's efficiency ratings, the Bearcats aren't among the nation's leaders in pace. Still, they take advantage of those opportunities when they are there. "Us playing fast is something we want to do," Cincinnati forward Dillon Mitchell said. "When I was being recruited here, that was something Coach (Wes) Miller wanted to do. "There could be games where we're not making shots or something is off, but one thing is we're gonna push the ball, play hard and play fast. That's something he preaches. We'll be in shape and get rebounds." Mitchell is fresh off a double-double with 14 points and 11 rebounds in Cincinnati's 81-58 road win at Georgia Tech Saturday. He is one of four Bearcats to average double figures in scoring this season. That balance was on display once again against the Yellow Jackets, with Connor Hickman and Jizzle James also scoring 14 points each and Simas Lukosius contributing 12 points. In that game, Cincinnati sank 51.6 percent of its shots while regularly getting out into transition with 16 fastbreak points, while winning the rebounding battle 36-29. "Any time you get a road win over a quality, Power 4 team, you're gonna feel good about it," Miller said. "I was pleased with our effort." Lukosius is scoring 16.6 points per game, while James is at 14.0 points, followed by Mitchell at 12.4, while he also grabs a team-best 8.6 rebounds. Alabama State (3-3) has a tough task ahead, especially when considering its 97-78 loss at Akron Sunday, which ended a three-game winning streak. The Hornets allowed the Zips to shoot 46.4 percent from the field and were 53-32 in the rebounding battle. Alabama State gave up a season high in points, after playing the likes of LSU and UNLV earlier this season. Akron standout Nate Johnson lit up Alabama State for 25 points, as the game got away from the Hornets in the second half to keep them winless in true road games. Alabama leading scorers CJ Hines and TJ Madlock still got theirs against Akron, scoring 19 and 17 points, respectively. They were joined in double figures by reserve Tyler Mack (18 points), but recent history says they'll need more help to keep up with the Bearcats. Hines leads the Hornets with 15.7 points per game, while Madlock contributes 14.5 points. In previous Akron Basketball Classic wins last week against Omaha and Lamar, Alabama State featured at least four double-digit scorers in each game. --Field Level Media
SYDNEY--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov 21, 2024-- BoomiTM , the intelligent integration and automation leader, today announced that Australian precious metals and jewellery company Pallion Group has bolstered resilience and customer experience (CX) across its brands, and laid a foundation for generative AI using the Boomi Enterprise Platform as the baseline for its data strategy. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241121138990/en/ Pallion Group Welds Resilience and Customer Experience Into Dynamic Gold and Jewellery Business With Boomi (Graphic: Business Wire) Sydney-headquartered Pallion comprises six brands that source, manufacture, distribute, sell, and provide secure storage for gold, silver, and custom jewellery to organisations and individuals in Australia, Hong Kong, and China. The company implemented Boomi’s integration platform as a service (iPaaS) to simplify and improve connectivity between its technology systems and establish visibility over highly sensitive financial, commercial, and product supply data. “Pallion supplies high-value precious metals and jewellery subject to dynamic, fast-changing pricing, with strict compliance requirements around them. We’re handling people’s and companies’ money after all – that includes banks, superannuation funds and major retailers,” said Simon Smith, Group Chief Information Officer (CIO) at Pallion Group. “This means we need consistent uptime of and between our systems so that data flows back and forth in real time, while giving our teams a consolidated view of customer information on one screen. Boomi powers our data strategy by giving us a clean, hub-and-spoke integration framework to connect business-critical platforms and centralise data to make this possible.” Pallion implemented the Boomi Enterprise Platform in February 2024 to support the foundations of its digital transformation and replace a “spaghetti mess” of hundreds of outdated point-to-point integrations, according to Smith. The Boomi platform has already been used to connect Pallion’s Microsoft Dynamics 365 enterprise resource planning (ERP) stack, and its finance and human resources (HR) systems, and the company affirms its use of iPaaS will scale up as its digital transformation strategy progresses. Meanwhile, data ingested by Pallion’s systems is already centralised in Boomi DataHub. “Boomi has fostered an environment we know we can trust to get data across to the right people and places securely with no downtime – spanning production operations through to the websites our customers use to buy precious metals and jewellery,” said Smith. “This has amplified CX, as the information buyers and our teams see is always accurate. If there are ever any issues, Boomi’s integration model allows us to rapidly pinpoint and resolve the issue – a process that could formerly take days is now completed in a few hours.” Pallion has also seen dramatic productivity gains as Boomi helped the company strip away countless hours previously spent maintaining and fixing point-to-point integrations. In addition, the Boomi Enterprise Platform serves as an “abstraction layer,” said Smith, ensuring new technology investments are rapidly and seamlessly integrated into the group of companies, with data readily available through Boomi DataHub. This will be pivotal in Pallion’s strategic roadmap, with the company planning to introduce generative AI for its employees to query the company’s data using natural language, and ultimately expedite internal processes and customer service. David Irecki, Chief Technology Officer, APJ at Boomi, said, “Pallion Group serves some of the most prolific retail brands – from Tiffany & Co to Michael Hill Jewellery – as well as Australian financial institutions and citizens. It has even worked on the Melbourne Cup and Australian Open trophies, and Queen Elizabeth II’s Coronation Carriage. Its clientele expect seamless experiences when making significant purchasing decisions. Boomi has helped Pallion establish a reliable and resilient technology environment across its brands to optimise CX, all the while supporting the stringent compliance obligations under which the group operates.” Additional Resources About Boomi Boomi, the intelligent integration and automation leader, helps organizations around the world automate and streamline critical processes to achieve business outcomes faster. Harnessing advanced AI capabilities, the Boomi Enterprise Platform seamlessly connects systems and manages data flows with API management, integration, data management, and AI orchestration in one comprehensive solution. With a customer base exceeding 20,000 companies globally and a rapidly expanding network of 800+ partners, Boomi is revolutionizing the way enterprises of all sizes achieve business agility and operational excellence. Discover more at boomi.com . © 2024 Boomi, LP. Boomi, the ‘B’ logo, and Boomiverse are trademarks of Boomi, LP or its subsidiaries or affiliates. All rights reserved. Other names or marks may be the trademarks of their respective owners. View source version on businesswire.com : https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241121138990/en/ CONTACT: Media: Jasmine Ee Head of Influencer Relations, APJ jasmine.ee@boomi.com KEYWORD: AUSTRALIA/OCEANIA AUSTRALIA ASIA PACIFIC INDUSTRY KEYWORD: JEWELRY LUXURY RETAIL TECHNOLOGY ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE SOURCE: Boomi Copyright Business Wire 2024. PUB: 11/21/2024 05:00 PM/DISC: 11/21/2024 05:01 PM http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241121138990/en
By JILL COLVIN NEW YORK — He’s making threats, traveling abroad and negotiating with world leaders. Donald Trump has more than a month and a half to go before he’s sworn in for a second term. But the Republican president-elect is already moving aggressively not just to fill his Cabinet and outline policy goals, but to achieve those priorities . Trump has threatened to impose a 25% tariff on goods from Canada and Mexico, prompting emergency calls and a visit from Canada’s prime minister that resulted in what Trump claimed were commitments from both U.S. allies on new border security measures. The incoming president has warned there will be “ALL HELL TO PAY” if, before his inauguration on Jan. 20, 2025, Hamas does not release the hostages being held in Gaza . He has threatened to block the purchase of U.S. Steel by a Japanese company, warning “Buyer Beware!!!” French President Emmanuel Macron, center, poses with President-elect Donald Trump, left, and Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the Elysee Palace, Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024 in Paris. (AP Photo/Aurelien Morissard) Canada Prime Minister Justin Trudeau walks through the lobby of the Delta Hotel by Marriott, Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024, in West Palm Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster) Argentina’s President Javier Milei arrives to speak before President-elect Donald Trump during an America First Policy Institute gala at his Mar-a-Lago estate, Thursday, Nov. 14, 2024, in Palm Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon) French President Emmanuel Macron welcomes President-elect Donald Trump as he arrives at the Elysee Palace, Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024 in Paris. (AP Photo/Aurelien Morissard) In this photo provided by the Press Service Of The President Of Ukraine on Nov. 19, 2024, from left Head of Ukrainian Presidential Office Andriy Yermak, Head of Foreign Intelligence Service of Ukraine Oleksandr Lytvynenko and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine General Oleksandr Syrskyi listen a speech of Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at Verkhovna Rada in Kyiv, Ukraine. (Press Service Of The President Of Ukraine via AP) FILE – Steve Witkoff speaks on the final night of the Republican National Convention, July 18, 2024, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File) French President Emmanuel Macron, center, sits with President-elect Donald Trump, left, and Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the Elysee Palace, Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024 in Paris. (AP Photo/Aurelien Morissard) FILE – Rep. Mike Waltz, R-Fla., speaks during a hearing on Capitol Hill, July 22, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Rod Lamkey, Jr., File) FILE – Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum gives a media briefing from the National Palace in Mexico City, Oct. 2, 2024, the morning after her inauguration. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano, File) French President Emmanuel Macron, center, poses with President-elect Donald Trump, left, and Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the Elysee Palace, Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024 in Paris. (AP Photo/Aurelien Morissard) And this weekend, Trump was returning to the global stage, joining a host of other foreign leaders for the reopening of the Notre Dame Cathedral five years after it was ravaged by a fire. On Saturday, he met with French President Emmanuel Macron — joined at the last minute by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy — and had plans to see Britain’s Prince William also in Paris. Absent in Paris: lame duck President Joe Biden, who has largely disappeared from headlines, except when he issued a pardon of his son , Hunter, who was facing sentencing for gun crimes and tax evasion. First lady Jill Biden is attending in his place. “I think you have seen more happen in the last two weeks than you’ve seen in the last four years. And we’re not even there yet,” Trump said in an over-the-top boast at an awards ceremony Thursday night . For all of Trump’s bold talk, though, it is unclear how many of his efforts will bear fruit. The pre-inauguration threats and deal-making are highly unusual, like so much of what Trump does, said Julian Zelizer, a political historian at Princeton University. “Transitions are always a little complicated in this way. Even though we talk about one president at a time,” he said, “the reality is one president plus. And that plus can act assertively sometimes.” Zelizer said that is particularly true of Trump, who was president previously and already has relationships with many foreign leaders such as Macron, who invited both Trump and Biden to Paris this weekend as part of the Notre Dame celebration. “Right now he’s sort of governing even though he’s not the president yet. He’s having these public meetings with foreign leaders, which aren’t simply introductions. He’s staking out policy and negotiating things from drug trafficking to tariffs,” Zelizer said. Trump already has met with several foreign leaders, in addition to a long list of calls. He hosted Argentinian President Javier Milei in Florida at his Mar-a-Lago club in November. After the tariff threat, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau made a pilgrimage to Mar-a-Lago for a three-hour dinner meeting. Canadian officials later said the country is ready to make new investments in border security, with plans for more helicopters, drones and law enforcement officers. Last Sunday, Trump dined with Sara Netanyahu, wife of the Israeli prime minister. Incoming Trump aides have also been meeting with their future foreign counterparts. On Wednesday, several members of Trump’s team, including incoming national security adviser Mike Waltz, met with Andriy Yermak, a top aide to Zelenskyy, in Washington, as Ukraine tries to win support for its ongoing efforts to defend itself from Russian invasion, according to a person familiar with the meeting. Yermak also met with Trump officials in Florida, he wrote on X . That comes after Trump’s incoming Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, traveled to Qatar and Israel for high-level talks about a cease-fire and hostage deal in Gaza, according to a U.S official familiar with the efforts, meeting with the prime ministers of both countries. The official was not authorized to publicly discuss the matter and spoke on condition of anonymity. There is no prohibition on incoming officials or nominees meeting with foreign officials, and it is common and fine for them to do so — unless those meetings are designed to subvert or otherwise impact current U.S. policy. Trump aides were said to be especially cognizant of potential conflicts given their experience in 2016, when interactions between Trump allies and Russian officials came under scrutiny. That included a phone call in which Trump’s incoming national security adviser, Michael Flynn, discussed new sanctions with Russia’s ambassador to the United States, suggesting things would improve after Trump became president. Flynn was later charged with lying to the FBI about the conversation. Trump’s incoming press secretary Karoline Leavitt said that, “All transition officials have followed applicable laws in their interactions with foreign nationals.” She added: “World leaders recognize that President Trump is returning to power and will lead with strength to put the best interests of the United States of America first again. That is why many foreign leaders and officials have reached out to correspond with President Trump and his incoming team.” Such efforts can nonetheless cause complications. If, say, Biden is having productive conversations on a thorny foreign policy issue and Trump weighs in, that could make it harder for Biden “because people are hearing two different voices” that may be in conflict, Zelizer said. Leaders like Russia’s Vladimir Putin and Netanyahu may also anticipate a more favorable incoming administration and wait Biden out, hoping for more a better deal. It also remains unclear how extensively the Biden administration has been kept apprised of Trump transition efforts. Although there is no requirement that an incoming administration coordinate calls and meetings with foreign officials with the State Department or National Security Council, that has long been considered standard practice. That is, in part, because transition teams, particularly in their early days and weeks, do not always have the latest information about the state of relations with foreign nations and may not have the resources, including interpretation and logistical ability, to handle such meetings efficiently. Still, the Biden and Trump teams have been talking, particularly on the Middle East, with the incoming and outgoing administrations having agreed to work together on efforts to free hostages who remain in held in Gaza, according to a U.S. official, who, like others, was not authorized to comment publicly about the sensitive talks and spoke on condition of anonymity. That includes conversations between Witkoff and Biden’s foreign policy team as well as Waltz and Biden national security adviser Jake Sullivan. Last month, Biden administration officials said they had kept Trump’s team closely apprised of efforts to broker a ceasefire deal between Israel and Hezbollah on the Israel-Lebanon border. “I just want to be clear to all of our adversaries, they can’t play the incoming Trump administration off of the Biden administration. I’m regularly talking to the Biden people. And so, this is not a moment of opportunity or wedges for them,” Waltz said Friday in a Fox Business interview. But when it comes to immigration, Biden administration officials haven’t been entirely in the loop on discussions around how to execute on Trump’s pledge to deport millions of migrants, according to four administration officials with knowledge of the transition who spoke on condition of anonymity. That’s not terribly surprising given how differently the teams view migration. Trump’s team, meanwhile, is already claiming credit for everything from gains in the stock and cryptocurrency markets to a decision by Walmart to roll back diversity, equity and inclusion policies Trump opposes. Related Articles “Promises Kept — And President Trump Hasn’t Even Been Inaugurated Yet,” read one press release that claimed, in part, that both Canada and Mexico have already pledged “immediate action” to help “stem the flow of illegal immigration, human trafficking, and deadly drugs entering the United States.” Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has stopped short of saying Trump mischaracterized their call in late November. But she said Friday that Trump “has his own way of communicating, like when we had the phone call and he wrote that we were going to close the border. That was never talked about in the phone call.” Earlier this week, Mexico carried out what it claimed was its largest seizure of fentanyl pills ever. Seizures over the summer had been as little as 50 grams per week, and after the Trump call, they seized more than a ton. Security analyst David Saucedo said that “under the pressure by Donald Trump, it appears President Claudia Sheinbaum’s administration is willing to increase the capture of drug traffickers and drug seizures that Washington is demanding.” Biden, too, tried to take credit for the seizure in a statement Friday night. Associated Press writers Matthew Lee, Aamer Madhani, Colleen Long and Ellen Knickmeyer in Washington and Mark Stevenson in Mexico City contributed to this report.OLEAN, N.Y. (AP) — Chance Moore scored 16 points as Saint Bonaventure defeated Buffalo 65-55 on Saturday night. Moore shot 5 of 11 from the field, including 0 for 3 from 3-point range, and went 6 for 8 from the line for the Bonnies (9-1). Melvin Council Jr. scored 12 points while shooting 5 for 11, including 2 for 5 from beyond the arc and added three steals. Jonah Hinton had 12 points and shot 3 of 5 from the field, including 2 for 3 from 3-point range, and went 4 for 4 from the line. Ryan Sabol led the way for the Bulls (5-5) with 14 points. Buffalo also got 14 points from Bryson Wilson. Brayden Jackson had 11 points. Saint Bonaventure took the lead with 19:26 remaining in the first half and did not give it up. Hinton led their team in scoring with 10 points in the first half to help put them ahead 32-22 at the break. Saint Bonaventure closed out the victory in the final half, while Moore led the way with a team-high 10 second-half points. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .
Fox News loses bid for Smartmatic voting-tech company's records about Philippines bribery case
DUBAI , UAE , Dec. 14, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Huawei debuts the all-new HUAWEI nova 13 Series during the Dubai HUAWEI Flagship Product Launch on December 12 . Pioneering the new Dynamic Plaid Texture Design, multi-focal portrait capabilities, AI-driven innovations, HUAWEI nova 13 Series ushers in a fresh wave of trends while embodying the creative spirit of the younger generation. HUAWEI nova 13 Series The HUAWEI nova 13 Series introduces a bold leap in design through the interplay of plaid patterns. Staying true to its fashion-forward, minimalist aesthetic, the HUAWEI nova 13 Series brings plaid from clothing and accessories into the world of handheld design, crafting a play of light and shadow. Featuring nano-level precision in the Dynamic Plaid Texture Design, it combines bold, tech-inspired sophistication with a modern touch. The pattern's shading shifts subtly with viewing angles, adding a dynamic visual appeal. The back cover is crafted with a unique upgraded Star Effect finishing, offering a silky satin-like texture that's irresistibly smooth and comfortable to hold. Launching with Loden Green as the flagship colourway, it embodies a lifestyle of ease, spontaneity, and individuality, breaking free from convention. This low-saturation, warm shade is understated yet lively, encouraging a return to self, inviting users to embrace life's realest moments. White and Black colourways are also available, bringing timeless colours that are bound to leave lasting impressions. As a defining fashion element of the nova Series, HUAWEI nova 13 Series elevates its signature Super Star Orbit Ring camera design with a sharper, more refined aesthetic for added sophistication. The 5D glass structure on the back panel enhances the tactile experience while visually minimising the camera's height, creating a sleek, seamless look. HUAWEI nova 13 Series HUAWEI nova 13 Series debuts the AI Best Expression feature. Whether capturing moments with a single person or a group, this tool optimises each expression, scanning through burst shots to allow users to pick out their most natural and lovable expressions from multiple burst shots and adapt it to the best photo composition. AI Best Expression highlights your best self, perfectly capturing cherished moments to be treasured forever. For the first time, HUAWEI nova 13 Series brings support for multi-focal portrait capabilities [1] for both front and rear cameras, delivering portrait shots with a richly artistic atmosphere. HUAWEI nova 13 Pro introduces an upgraded 50 MP Adjustable Aperture Camera with a variable aperture range of F1.4 to F4.0. This intelligent aperture system can recognise scenes and adjust settings accordingly to help users capture stunning moments. Equipped with Optical Image Stabilisation (OIS), the camera improves light sensitivity for clearer results in low-light conditions. Additionally, the 3X Optical Zoom Telephoto Portrait Camera with OIS provides versatile zoom options, perfect for medium to long-distance portrait shots. This allows for detailed, sharp images while maintaining a clean and visually striking composition, whether capturing close-ups or scenic backgrounds. EMUI 14.2: Intelligent, Safe and Efficient Powered by EMUI 14.2, HUAWEI nova 13 Series brings fun, intelligent, safe and efficient device experience for users. With the enhanced, HUAWEI Themes, users can use Symbol Stickers to add cut-out images from your Gallery as stickers into a thematic background, allowing creativity to soar. Using emojis, users can use Emoji Stickers to create their own personalised backgrounds. The home screen also supports personalised Symbol Stickers, giving users a richer canvas for self-expression. Huawei has always considered cyber security and privacy protection as top priority, offering enhanced transparency and control over app permissions and device security status. Support for app tracking management and key control points during app installation and operation adds an extra layer of protection for users. Powerful 100 W HUAWEI SuperCharge Turbo HUAWEI nova 13 Series addresses power needs with the new 100 W HUAWEI SuperCharge Turbo with AI Precision Temperature Control for stable power output, resulting in HUAWEI nova 13 Pro being able to charge to 50% in just 9 minutes [2] , and the HUAWEI nova 13 reaching 50% in 10 minutes [3] , providing a smooth and convenient user experience. HUAWEI nova 13 Series houses a 5000mAh Large Battery [4] , while maintaining a sleek and lightweight body. All-New Dynamic True-Colour Display with 120Hz LTPO With the new Dynamic True-Colour Display, HUAWEI nova 13 Series comes with AI HDR [5] that combines HDR technology with AI algorithms to automatically recognise scenes, results in clearer details in both highlights and shadows, more vivid colours, and a bright, transparent visual experience that enhances the artistic appeal and viewing pleasure of each image. To ensure ease of viewing of display during dimly lit scenarios, HUAWEI nova 13 Series offers an advanced AI Eye Comfort Display [6] , enhancing the eye-care experience from multiple angles. By intelligently sensing ambient lighting, recognising image content, and controlling blue light levels, it ensures a more comfortable and strain-free viewing experience, adapting to the user's environment for optimal eye care. HUAWEI nova 13 Pro features a 120Hz LTPO Adaptive Display, offering smooth, power-efficient performance with dynamic refresh rate adjustments tailored to your needs. The Always-On Display (AOD) provides a quick glance at essential information, while Splash Touch & Touch Optimisation ensures smooth, accurate interaction, even on wet screens.World News | Department of Energy- Abu Dhabi Wins Visionary Leadership Award as IDRA World Congress 2024 ConcludesOpposition fighters are closing in on Syria’s capital in a swiftly developing crisis that has taken much of the world by surprise. Syria's army has abandoned key cities in the west and south with little resistance. Nervous residents in Damascus describe security forces on the streets. The state news agency has been forced to deny rumors that President Bashar Assad has left the country. Who are these opposition fighters ? If they enter Damascus after taking two of Syria’s largest cities , what then? Here’s a look at the stunning reversal of fortune for Assad and his government in just the past 10 days, and what might lie ahead as Syria’s 13-year civil war reignites . This is the first time that opposition forces have reached the outskirts of the Syrian capital since 2018, when the country’s troops recaptured the area following a yearslong siege. The approaching fighters are led by the most powerful insurgent group in Syria, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham , or HTS, along with an umbrella group of Turkish-backed Syrian militias called the Syrian National Army. Both have been entrenched in the northwest. They launched the shock offensive on Nov. 27 with gunmen capturing Aleppo, Syria’s largest city, and the central city of Hama, the fourth largest. The HTS has its origins in al-Qaida and is considered a terrorist organization by the U.S. and the United Nations. But the group said in recent years it cut ties with al-Qaida, and experts say HTS has sought to remake itself in recent years by focusing on promoting civilian government in their territory as well as military action. HTS leader Abu Mohammed al-Golani told CNN in an exclusive interview Thursday from Syria that the aim of the offensive is to overthrow Assad’s government. The HTS and Syrian National Army have been allies at times and rivals at times, and their aims might diverge. The Turkish-backed militias also have an interest in creating a buffer zone near the Turkish border to keep away Kurdish militants at odds with Ankara. Turkey has been a main backer of the fighters seeking to overthrow Assad but more recently has urged reconciliation, and Turkish officials have strongly rejected claims of any involvement in the current offensive. Whether the HTS and the Syrian National Army will work together if they succeed in overthrowing Assad or turn on each other again is a major question. While the flash offensive against Syria’s government began in the north, armed opposition groups have also mobilized elsewhere. The southern areas of Sweida and Daraa have both been taken locally. Sweida is the heartland of Syria’s Druze religious minority and had been the site of regular anti-government protests even after Assad seemingly consolidated his control over the area. Daraa is a Sunni Muslim area that was widely seen as the cradle of the uprising against Assad’s rule that erupted in 2011. Daraa was recaptured by Syrian government troops in 2018, but rebels remained in some areas. In recent years, Daraa was in a state of uneasy quiet under a Russian-mediated ceasefire deal. And much of Syria's east is controlled by the Syrian Democratic Forces, a Kurdish-led group backed by the United States that in the past has clashed with most other armed groups in the country. Syria’s government now controls just four of 14 provincial capitals. Much depends on Assad’s next moves and his forces' will to fight. A commander with the insurgents, Hassan Abdul-Ghani, posted on the Telegram messaging app that opposition forces have started carrying out the “final stage” of their offensive by encircling Damascus. The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said Syrian troops have withdrawn from much of the two southern provinces and are sending reinforcements to Homs. If that city is captured, the link would be cut between Damascus, Assad’s seat of power, and the coastal region where he enjoys wide support. “Homs to the coastal cities will be a very huge red line politically and socially. Politically, if this line is crossed, then we are talking about the end of the entire Syria, the one that we knew in the past,” said a Damascus resident, Anas Joudeh. Assad appears to be largely on his own as allies Russia and Iran are distracted by other conflicts and the Lebanon-based Hezbollah has been weakened by its war with Israel, now under a fragile ceasefire. The U.N. special envoy for Syria, Geir Pedersen, is calling for urgent talks in Geneva to ensure an “orderly political transition,” saying the situation is changing by the minute. He met with foreign ministers and senior diplomats from eight key countries including Saudi Arabia, Russia, Egypt, Turkey and Iran on the sidelines of the Doha Summit. President-elect Donald Trump in his first extensive comments on the developments in Syria said the besieged Assad didn’t deserve U.S. support to stay in power. “THIS IS NOT OUR FIGHT,” Trump posted on social media.
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No. 16 Iowa State falls short in Big 12 title game again, this time with CFP at stakeTrump not back in office but already pushing his agenda and negotiating with world leaders