
Syrians poured into streets in celebration on Sunday after a stunning rebel advance reached the capital, ending the Assad family’s 50 years of iron rule . Russian state news agencies were reporting that President Bashar Assad and his family had arrived in Moscow and were given asylum. Russia said Assad left the country after negotiations with rebel groups and that he had given instructions to transfer power peacefully. Joyful crowds gathered in central squares in Damascus, waving the Syrian revolutionary flag. Others ransacked the presidential palace and residence. Abu Mohammed al-Golani , a former al-Qaida commander who cut ties with the group years ago leads the biggest rebel faction in Syria and is poised to chart the country’s future. He made his first public appearance since fighters entered the Damascus suburbs Saturday, at the capital’s sprawling Umayyad Mosque, and called himself by his given name, Ahmad al-Sharaa. He said Assad’s fall was “a victory to the Islamic nation.” The rapidly developing events have shaken the region. Lebanon said it was closing all its land border crossings with Syria except for one that links Beirut with Damascus. Jordan closed a border crossing with Syria, too. Israel has issued warnings to villages in southern Syria and its forces seized a buffer zone in the Golan Heights. Here's the Latest: The Israeli military said on Sunday it was reinforcing a barrier along its border with Syria as part of its “enhanced preparedness” in the area following the fall of the Assad regime. Israel released images of the construction, which showed bulldozers digging what appeared to be a trench. The army said in a statement that the barrier was named “New East.” Satellite images analyzed by The Associated Press show that as early as September, Israel began building what could be a new road right along the so-called Alpha Line that separates the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights from Syria . The United Nations confirmed that Israeli troops entered the demilitarized zone during the work. Over the weekend, the Israeli military sent additional troops to the Israeli-annexed Golan Heights to bolster Israel’s presence along the border with Syria. Russian state news agencies reported that ousted Syrian President Bashar Assad has arrived in Moscow with his family and been given asylum. The agencies, Tass and RIA, cited an unidentified Kremlin source. The Associated Press was not immediately able to verify the reports but had contacted the Kremlin for comment. CAIRO — The Arab League on Sunday condemned Israel for taking advantage of Syrian President Bashar Assad's downfall by moving into more Syrian territory. Hours after Assad’s overthrow, Israel announced it had seized a buffer zone in the Golan Heights that was established by a cease-fire agreement with Syria in 1974. In a statement, the Arab League said Israel illegally sought to occupy more territories. But Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the 50-year-old agreement regarding Syrian territory had collapsed and that Syrian troops had abandoned their positions, necessitating Israel taking over as a “temporary defensive position.” UNITED NATIONS — The United Nations secretary-general is marking the “fall of the dictatorial regime” in Syria and says the future of the country is “is a matter for the Syrians to determine.” A statement by Antonio Guterres also called for calm and the protection of the rights of all Syrians as well as of diplomatic and consular facilities in Syria. He said there is much work ahead to ensure an “orderly political transition to renewed institutions,” and he called on the international community to ensure that “any political transition is inclusive and comprehensive and that it meets the legitimate aspirations of the people of Syria, in all their diversity.” KYIV, Ukraine - Ukraine’s top diplomat on Sunday responded to Assad’s ouster by describing him as a “dictator” who relied on Russia to prop up his rule - a reference to the military campaign Moscow has waged in Syria since September 2015, teaming up with Iran to allow Assad’s government to fight armed opposition groups and reclaim control over most of the country. "Assad has fallen. This has always been and will be the case with all dictators who bet on Putin. He always betrays those who rely on him,” foreign minister Andrii Sybiha said in a post on X. In a separate update on the social network, Sybiha said Kyiv was ready to take steps towards restoring relations with Syria, severed months into Russia’s full-scale invasion of the neighboring state. Kyiv broke off diplomatic ties after Damascus in June 2022 recognized Kremlin-occupied parts of eastern Ukraine as independent territories, in a move welcomed by Moscow and decried by the West as a clear violation of Ukrainian sovereignty. JERUSALEM — The Israeli military has issued a warning to residents of five villages and towns in southern Syria to stay inside their homes for their safety. “The fighting in your area is forcing the IDF to act,” the IDF’s Arabic-language spokesman said on X. The military didn’t respond to questions. Earlier, Israel said its troops had seized a buffer zone in the Golan Heights established in 1974, saying it was to protect Israeli residents after Syrian troops abandoned their positions. Defense Minister Israel Katz said on X that the IDF has been instructed to “seize the buffer zone and control points to ensure the protection of all Israeli communities in the Golan Heights – Jewish and Druze – so that they are not exposed to threats from the other side.” Israel captured the Golan in the 1967 Mideast war and later annexed it. The international community, except for the United States, views it as occupied. BEIRUT - The leader of the largest insurgent group in Syria visited the Syrian capital’s sprawling Umayyad Mosque and declared that the victory against President Bashar Assad “is a victory to the Islamic nation.” Ahmad al-Sharaa, who was formerly known as Abu Mohammed al-Golani, made his first public appearance and remarks since fighters entered Damascus. He told hundreds of people at the historic mosque that Assad had made Syria “a farm for Iran’s greed.” He added that Assad made Syria a base for the illegal amphetamine Captagon that brought cash to Assad’s circles. Al-Sharaa, the leader of the jihadi Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, or HTS, said Sunday that the victory was achieved because of “God and the blood of martyrs.” He said that he left Syria 20 years ago and since then his heart has longed for this movement. AMMAN, Jordan — The vast majority of the Jordanian people are welcoming the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime and the success of the Syrian revolution. “There is no doubt that I felt overwhelming joy at the fall of the Assad regime," said Badi Al-Rafaia, Engineer, union activist and member of the Islamic Action Front. "There is no doubt that we are happy with what happened in Syria, happy with the success of the revolution, happy with the Syrian people getting rid of an oppressor and criminal who treated the Syrian people and made the Syrian state a failed state.” Al-Rafaia said that Jordan is benefiting from what happened in Syria, and "we hope that Jordan will help the revolution succeed and not work against it.” Amman resident Muhab al-Majali said the fall of the Assad regime is “The end of every unjust and tyrannical rule, and more than that, it mortgaged the country and its people to the Iranians, who abandoned it in minutes... I believe that the future is beautiful and prosperous for the Syrians.” BERLIN — The International Committee of the Red Cross is calling for safe humanitarian access and protection of civilians in Syria after the fall of Bashir Assad’s government. “Our teams in Syria, including in Damascus, have been closely monitoring the fast-evolving security and humanitarian situation in coordination with the Syrian Arab Red Crescent,” the ICRC’s head of delegation in Syria, Stephan Sakalian, said in a written statement Sunday. The ICRC is “responding wherever possible, with further efforts underway, as hundreds of thousands of people need care and humanitarian assistance,” he said. Sakalian called “on all parties to urgently enable safe and unhindered access for medical and humanitarian workers to reach those in need, to protect civilians, and to uphold their obligations under international humanitarian law.” BAGHDAD — The Iraqi government said in a statement Sunday that it “supports all international and regional efforts seeking to open a dialogue” for Syria “leading to the adoption of a pluralistic constitution that preserves the human and civil rights of Syrians, and supports cultural, ethnic and religious diversity.” The statement from government spokesperson Bassem al-Awadi, said that Iraq understands “the necessity of respecting the free will of all Syrians, and stresses that the security of Syria, the unity of its territories, and the preservation of its independence are of utmost importance, not only for Iraq but also for its connection to the security and stability of the region.” It cautioned against “interfering in Syria’s internal affairs, or supporting one party for the benefit of another.” Iraq, which has a close relationship with Iran - once a strong ally of former Syrian President Bashar Assad - has taken in some 2,000 Syrian army soldiers who fled the country amid the advance of armed opposition groups. CAIRO — The head of Yemen’s internationally recognized government welcomed the fall of the government of President Bashar Assad of Syria. “It’s a historic moment,” Rashad al-Alimi, who chairs the ruling presidential council, wrote on X platform of Assad’s downfall. “It’s time for the Iranian regime to stop meddling in Yemen, respect its sovereignty and identity.” Al-Alimi, who is backed by Saudi Arabia, was referring to Iran’s support of Houthi rebels who are at war with Yemen’s internationally recognized government for a decade. DAMASCUS — Families wandered through the high-ceilinged halls of the presidential palace in Damascus on Sunday, along with some armed men. Some paused to take family portraits or selfies on the few remaining couches against the backdrop of mosaiced walls, while others walked out with chairs and other items under their arms. On the massive parking lot out front, cars drove in circles honking ecstatically. In central Damascus’ Umayyad Square, drivers passing by also honked jubilantly, while young men piled onto a tank abandoned in the square. But for some the celebration was bittersweet. “I am very happy, but this happiness will not be completed until I can see my son out of the prison and know where is he is,” said Damascus resident Bassam Masr. “I have been searching for him for two hours - he has been detained for 13 years.” TEL AVIV, Israel – Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Sunday that Israeli forces have seized a buffer zone in the Golan Heights established by a 1974 ceasefire agreement with Syria. He spoke from an overlook near the border between Syria and the Israeli-annexed Golan Heights, after Syrian rebels tore through the country and dramatically ended Assad’s rule on Sunday morning. Netanyahu said the 50-year-old agreement had collapsed and that Syrian troops had abandoned their positions, necessitating the Israeli takeover as a “temporary defensive position.” Israel captured the Golan Heights in the 1967 Mideast war and annexed it. The international community, except for the United States, views it as occupied Syrian territory. Satellite images analyzed by the Associated Press show that as early as September, Israel began construction of what could possibly be a new road right along the so-called Alpha Line that separates the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights from Syria . The United Nations confirmed that Israeli troops entered the demilitarized zone during the work. The United Nations maintains a peacekeeping force in the demilitarized zone called the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force, or UNDOF, with around 1,100 peacekeepers from Fiji, India, Kazakhstan, Nepal, and Uruguay. After the 1973 Mideast war, the U.N. Secretary Council voted to create UNDOF to patrol a roughly 400 square kilometer (155 square mile) demilitarized zone and maintain the peace there. DAMASCUS, Syria — An Associated Press journalist in Damascus reported airstrikes in the area of the Mezzeh military airport, southwest of the capital Sunday. The airport has previously been targeted in Israeli airstrikes, but it was not immediately clear who launched Sunday's strike. The Israeli military refused to comment on the airport strike. Israel often does not publicly claim responsibility for attacks in Syria. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a UK-based war monitor, reported that Israeli warplanes also targeted warehouses belonging to the Syrian army’s Fourth Division and another former military site outside of Damascus Sunday. On Saturday and Sunday, the Israeli military sent additional troops to the Israeli-annexed Golan Heights to bolster Israel’s presence along the border between Israel and Syria. Agricultural areas along the border were declared closed military zones and some schools shifted to online classes in anticipation of unrest.What to budget before you ‘BTO’ with would-be spouseLumo Therapy Launches High-Energy Light Therapy MoodlightAmericans agree more than they might think − not knowing this jeopardizes the nation’s shared values
BANGKOK (AFP): New Vietnamese internet rules requiring Facebook and TikTok to verify user identities and hand over data to authorities came into force on Wednesday, in what critics say is the latest attack on freedom of expression. Under “Decree 147”, all tech giants operating in Vietnam must verify users’ accounts via their phone numbers or Vietnamese identification numbers and store that information alongside their full name and date of birth. They must provide that data to authorities on request and remove any content the government regards as “illegal” within 24 hours. The new rules came into force on Wednesday, state media VNExpress said. All social media sites had been given 90 days to provide data on “the total number of regular visits from Vietnam” and the number of regular users per month to authorities, the website said. “Decree 147 will be used to publicly suppress those with different viewpoints,” said activist Dang Thi Hue, who writes about politics and social issues on her Facebook account, which has 28,000 followers. The decree was “the latest sign of infringement of basic freedoms... with a vague line between what is legal and what is not,” said former political prisoner Le Anh Hung. “No one wants to go to jail, so of course some activists will be more cautious and afraid of this decree.” Vietnam’s hardline administration generally moves swiftly to stamp out dissent and arrest critics, especially those who find an audience on social media. In October, blogger Duong Van Thai — who had almost 120,000 followers on YouTube, where he regularly recorded livestreams critical of the government — was jailed for 12 years on charges of publishing anti-state information. Decree 147 builds on a 2018 cybersecurity law that was sharply criticised by the United States, European Union and internet freedom advocates who said it mimics China’s repressive censorship of the internet. ‘Just keep playing’ The decree also says that only verified accounts can livestream, impacting the exploding number of people earning a living through social commerce on sites such as TikTok. Aside from the ramifications for social media firms, the new laws also include curbs on gaming for under-18s, designed to prevent addiction. Game publishers are expected to enforce a time limit of an hour per game session and not more than 180 minutes a day for all games. Just over half of Vietnam’s 100 million population regularly plays such games, says data research firm Newzoo. A large proportion of the population is also on social media, with the Ministry of Information and Communications estimating the country has around 65 million Facebook users, 60 million on YouTube and 20 million on TikTok. The force of the decree was yet to be felt at a small online gaming cafe in capital Hanoi, where around a dozen young people were glued to their desktop screens. “I don’t know anything about a time limit for the games,” said one 15-year-old boy who said he had skipped class to come and play. “I just keep playing, and as you see, it still works.” “I never have to show an ID or student card to enter a gameshop or for my game account online. I don’t know how (the decree) will work, let’s see.” The owner of the cafe, who charges around 30 cents for an hour of gaming, was similarly nonchalant. “I have no idea what this decree is about. I don’t know if it will work or not.” “My business is still going normally. They pay and we let them use the desktop for their gaming. It’s simple.”Vajpayee played a significant role in India’s growth and development, says Odisha Governor designate Kambhampati Haribabu
Tottenham head coach Ange Postecoglou has said he does not regret his confrontation with supporters at Bournemouth on Thursday, insisting he will never back down from doing "the right thing". Postecoglou exchanged heated words with fans in the away end after full-time of Spurs' 1-0 loss at the Vitality Stadium. The Spurs manager revealed his wife disapproved of his behaviour but, speaking ahead of Sunday's derby against Chelsea , said he had no regrets about the incident. "No, they felt like they needed to give me feedback, so I thought I’d get close enough for them to make sure they were heard," Postecoglou said. "Hopefully after 18 months, you [the media] have realised that I am who I am. I don’t really care. "Whether people think I’m an easy target, soft target. I’m going to shy away from it. I’ve fought my whole life and I’m not going to race down the tunnel because some people feel like they need to give me some direction. It doesn’t bother me, it doesn’t. "From my perspective, what motivates me and what drives me on a daily basis is to continually stay true to my values and what I believe is the right thing to do in every situation. Maybe people thought it wasn’t the right thing to do. My wife certainly didn’t. "So I got some feedback there as well. But that’s ok. I’m not going to change. It’s who I am, mate. I’ve been like that my whole career and I won’t change.” Postecoglou approached fans after his players had received a mixed reception from the travelling support and could be seen pointing to his chest during the exchange. Asked if he was taking responsibility for Spurs' performance and result, he said: "Yeah, [I was saying], 'It’s on me but also whatever you’ve got to direct, direct it at me. And I’m listening. I’m listening, I’m looking, I’m understanding.'" After last season's home game with Chelsea, Postecoglou's side were applauded off after bravely sticking to Postecoglou's high defensive line and attacking principles, despite having two players sent off before the hour and losing two more to injuries. Asked about the connection with fans, Postecoglou admitted that he would have "to find a way" to get the majority of supporters behind him, adding: "That will be dependent on what people see, what people feel. "The only way I can affect that is by what we produce on game days. "I’ve got to concentrate on the controllables, and the controllables are the team, how we prepare, how we play and hopefully through that vehicle we get everyone on board. "I’m sure at other clubs, if you stick to a plan and go through difficult moments, there’s dissension among supporters in these moments. You forget about that when you’re on the other side. Yeah it’s about winning but it’s about belief as well in what you’re doing sometimes. You look beyond the results I think. "That’s what happened at the start of my tenure last year. We lost against Chelsea but there was a sense that we were building something. Obviously it kind of went off the rails after that game. It’s not just about winning, but where we are right now it will certainly help." A depleted Spurs, who were again missing seven players to injuries, illness and suspension, started well against Bournemouth but they were abject after Dean Huijsen ghosted in at the far post to head home a corner after 17 minutes. "It can’t be a physical thing when it happens early in the game, I don’t think," Postecoglou said, when asked what went wrong on the south coast. "It’s not a physical thing. We started the game well. It’s not like we started sluggishly. The first two chances that came fell to Deki and Dom. Two chances where you go: ‘Ok, we’ve started the game really well.’ “And literally the first time they go up, they get a set-piece and they score an unopposed header. That kind of tells you that, nah ... You can’t go into a game like that and allow the opposition then to take control of the game. "We prepared ourselves for a tough game, that was going to be tougher than any other game we were going to face last night. And the disappointing thing is, like I said, that in a game where we started well, we once again allowed the opposition to play the game on their terms by us lacking discipline and conviction in a key moment. And we can’t keep doing that."ONE of Coronation Street's most legendary stars has revealed she is about to become a grandmother for the first time. Sally Lindsay , 51, has shared her excitement while revealing that her stepdaughter Kristabel is expecting her first child. Taking to social media, Sally - who famously played Shelley Unwin in Corrie - shared a sweet picture of herself next to the mum-to-be. Tagging in her husband Steve White, she wrote: "Very proud to announce that me and @whitneydrums are going to be Grandparents." Kristabel's mother Hayley also features in the sweet snap and the grandmothers-to-be look thrilled to be standing next their glowing daughter. Sally added: "Our @kristabelwhite and Louis are having a baby boy very soon. READ MORE ON CORRIE "Here with fellow Nana @hayleyjanemarsh1." Kristabel is the daughter of Sally's husband Steve, who she married in 2013. The couple had got together romantically when Kristabel and her brother Curtis were just seven and nine years old. Love Rat star Sally and Steve also have their own children, twins Victor and Louie, who are now 14. Most read in Soaps Last year, Sally spoke to Brood about juggling motherhood with her acting career. She said: “Well, I’ve never not had kids really, ever since meeting my partner, Steve; he already had two children when we got together – my step children Kristabel and Curtis – they were 7 and 9 when I first met them, they are now 30 and 29 – which is crazy!" Meanwhile, it has been a busy time for Sally of late. Not only is she busy prepping for the arrival of her grandson, but Sally has shot a seven-episode series of The Madame Blanc Mysteries. The new series begins with a Christmas special and Sally takes the lead role of Jean White, an antiques dealer and amateur sleuth. She is the key to solving a slew of killings and mysteries set against the picturesque French village of Sainte Victoire. The series also stars Steve Edge from Benidorm and Sue Vincent from Shameless . Reprising their roles as eccentric married couple Jeremy and Judith Llyod, will be Robin Askwith from Strike and Sue Holderness best known for her role in Only Fools and Horses .
Ruben Amorim tells Man United players they have to 'run like mad dogs' to be winners again as Red Devils look to bounce back from Arsenal defeat against Nottingham Forest United lost for the first time under Amorim as they went down to Arsenal He has encouraged his side to fight during games to become a great team again LISTEN NOW to It's All Kicking Off! : Why can't Chelsea win the league? They made seven changes and still scored five. Do you think Liverpool could do that? By CHRIS WHEELER Published: 22:31 GMT, 6 December 2024 | Updated: 22:31 GMT, 6 December 2024 e-mail View comments Ruben Amorim has ordered his Manchester United stars to run like ‘mad dogs’ if they want to be Premier League title contenders again. Amorim admitted before Saturday’s clash with Nottingham Forest at Old Trafford that United are ‘a massive club but not a massive team’ as he tries to manage the levels of expectation around his new job as head coach. The 39-year-old is adamant that his players will have to run harder and with more intensity if he is to have a chance of taking United back to the pinnacle of English football. ‘If we want to win the Premier League, we have to run like mad dogs. If not, we aren’t going to,’ he admitted. ‘Even with the best starting XI on the planet, without running they will not win nothing, that is very clear. It’s impossible to win the Premier League without a team like that. ‘I think the way we sprint back, the way we sprint forward, the way we fight, we have to be very clear with the team, this is the first point we have to address. Ruben Amorim has told his players they need to run like 'mad dogs' to be successful again United lost for the first time under Amorim against Arsenal in the week and face Nottingham Forest this weekend The Portuguese said that United are 'a massive club but we’re not a massive team' as they look to continue trying to improve ‘They’re making an effort and there’s a lot of room to improve. Changing that you can say is simple because it’s just running, but it’s something in the head of the players. Read More Man United announce plans to pay tribute to much-loved receptionist Kath Phipps this weekend ‘The problem to be fit enough is if they can cope with that. If they are used to it in training, they will do that in games. They’re professional athletes and they will improve in that aspect and then you have something.’ United have dropped to 13th place in the table after Amorim’s first defeat at Arsenal in midweek, and the Portuguese must try to balance the reality of his situation with the expectations of managing one of the world’s biggest clubs. He added: ‘We’re a massive club but we’re not a massive team, and we know it so it is no problem to say it. We want to improve but we are in a different moment to Arsenal. But you could feel it during the game, I think we have to believe more. ‘This club has glories in the past. Our players have to understand that it’s a very difficult position. We’re not one of the best teams in the league, and we have to say and think that clearly, but in the past our club is maybe the best one in the league.’ Match Day Share or comment on this article: Ruben Amorim tells Man United players they have to 'run like mad dogs' to be winners again as Red Devils look to bounce back from Arsenal defeat against Nottingham Forest e-mail Add comment
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