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AP Business SummaryBrief at 1:32 p.m. ESTIn a move to streamline public events and enhance accountability, the Chandigarh Police have placed the responsibility for safety and traffic management squarely on the shoulders of event organisers. Whether it’s a political rally, musical concert or religious procession, organisers must now ensure the smooth execution of their gatherings, taking charge of everything from crowd control to traffic diversions. Under the newly formed “SoP guidelines for permissions for public event”, organisers are required to take proactive steps to manage crowd safety and traffic disruptions. This includes deploying trained volunteers to assist with traffic regulation and crowd control, particularly for large-scale events. Compliance with safety regulations is mandatory, with requirements such as installation of CCTV cameras, proper signage and availability of safety equipment at event venues. Organisers will bear full responsibility for any accidents or incidents occurring during their events. To ensure transparency, organisers must conduct videography or photography of the event and submit copies to the Chandigarh Police upon request for investigative purposes. They are also required to prepare clear and tested evacuation and emergency response plans. For larger gatherings, these plans must be shared with local authorities to ensure readiness for any unforeseen situations. Additionally, event layouts, entry and exit points, and estimated crowd sizes must be submitted at the time of application to facilitate effective monitoring. In a notable shift, organisers are now responsible for arranging traffic diversions, ensuring road safety measures, and installing necessary signage to guide attendees. Processions are required to adhere to specific rules, such as keeping to the left and occupying no more than one-third of the road width. Pedestrian and cycling paths must remain unobstructed, and vehicles must be parked in authorised areas to avoid congestion. As per the guideline, organisers must inform the public about event permissions and rules through press releases and social media platforms, ensuring compliance and awareness among attendees. IGP to grant permissions Previously, the process for obtaining event permissions involved forwarding applications to multiple departments, including the SSP (Law & Order), SSP (Traffic & Security), chief fire officer and municipal corporation, with the deputy commissioner’s office granting the final approval. Now, the inspector general of police (IGP) will serve as the nodal officer for the permission-granting process. The IGP will oversee approvals and ensure adherence to all stipulated guidelines. After a thorough assessment, the IGP will formally decide on the permission. All permissions granted, conditions imposed and post-event reports will be recorded for future audits and evaluations.
By REBECCA SANTANA, Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — The picture of who will be in charge of executing President-elect Donald Trump’s hard-line immigration and border policies has come into sharper focus after he announced his picks to head Customs and Border Protection and also the agency tasked with deporting immigrants in the country illegally. Trump said late Thursday he was tapping Rodney Scott, a former Border Patrol chief who’s been a vocal supporter of tougher enforcement measures, for CBP commissioner. As acting director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Trump said he’d nominate Caleb Vitello, a career ICE official with more than 23 years in the agency who most recently has been the assistant director for firearms and tactical programs. They will work with an immigration leadership team that includes South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem as head of the Department of Homeland Security ; former acting Immigration and Customs Enforcement head Tom Homan as border czar ; and immigration hard-liner Stephen Miller as deputy chief of staff. Customs and Border Protection, with its roughly 60,000 employees, falls under the Department of Homeland Security. It includes the Border Patrol, which Scott led during Trump’s first term, and is essentially responsible for protecting the country’s borders while facilitating trade and travel. Scott comes to the job firmly from the Border Patrol side of the house. He became an agent in 1992 and spent much of his career in San Diego. When he joined the agency, San Diego was by far the busiest corridor for illegal crossings. Traffic plummeted after the government dramatically increased enforcement there, but critics note the effort pushed people to remote parts of California and Arizona. San Diego was also where wall construction began in the 1990s, which shaped Scott’s belief that barriers work. He was named San Diego sector chief in 2017. When he was appointed head of the border agency in January 2020, he enthusiastically embraced Trump’s policies. “He’s well known. He does know these issues and obviously is trusted by the administration,” said Gil Kerlikowske, the CBP commissioner under the Obama administration. Kerlikowske took issue with some of Scott’s past actions, including his refusal to fall in line with a Biden administration directive to stop using terms like “illegal alien” in favor of descriptions like “migrant,” and his decision as San Diego sector chief to fire tear gas into Mexico to disperse protesters. “You don’t launch projectiles into a foreign country,” Kerlikowske said. At the time Scott defended the agents’ decisions , saying they were being assaulted by “a hail of rocks.” While much of the focus of Trump’s administration may be on illegal immigration and security along the U.S.-Mexico border, Kerlikowske also stressed the importance of other parts of Customs and Border Protection’s mission. The agency is responsible for securing trade and international travel at airports, ports and land crossings around the country. Whoever runs the agency has to make sure that billions of dollars worth of trade and millions of passengers move swiftly and safely into and out of the country. And if Trump makes good on promises to ratchet up tariffs on Mexico, China and Canada, CBP will play an integral role in enforcing them. “There’s a huge amount of other responsibility on trade, on tourism, on cyber that take a significant amount of time and have a huge impact on the economy if it’s not done right,” Kerlikowske said. After being forced out under the Biden administration, Scott has been a vocal supporter of Trump’s hard-line immigration agenda. He has appeared frequently on Fox News and testified in Congress. He’s also a senior fellow at the Texas Public Policy Foundation. In a 2023 interview with The Associated Press, he advocated for a return to Trump-era immigration policies and more pressure on Mexico to enforce immigration on its side of the border.Arizona State routed Iowa State 45-19 in the Big 12 championship game Saturday. The victory caught the attention of former alumni from both schools, including San Francisco 49ers teammates Brandon Aiyuk and Brock Purdy. More News: 49ers' Nick Bosa Game Status Revealed as Talanoa Hufanga Returns from IR Aiyuk, a former receiver for Arizona State, took to social media to call out Purdy, a former quarterback for the Cyclones after ASU won its first conference title since 1996. "Brock, my brother, let me get that brother," Aiyuk said in a video posted to his Instagram story . "Let me get that, all blue ,please. Make sure it's all there too. Thank you." Based on Aiyuk's comments, it can be inferred the 49ers offensive duo had made a bet on which of their alma maters would take home the Big 12 championship trophy. Following the dominant victory by Arizona State, the Sun Devils will now wait for their College Football Playoff seeding fate to be revealed. The bracket and seeds for the 12-team tournament will be unveiled Sunday. ASU put up 464 total yards of offense against the Cyclones. Star running back Cam Skattebo rushed for 170 yards and two touchdowns. Freshman quarterback Sam Leavitt completed 12 of 17 passes for 219 yards and three scores. Arizona State scored 35 unanswered points in the program's lights-out victory against ISU. While the Sun Devils have had an unforgettable season in Kenny Dillingham's second year as head coach of the program, a series of unfortunate events have transpired for the 49ers. Aiyuk landed a blockbuster contract extension after the saga of the offseason finally came to an end just days before San Francisco's season opener. The star receiver signed a four-year, $120 million contract. By no fault of his own, Aiyuk's lengthy hold-in was just the tip of the iceberg for the 49ers this season. Star running back Christian McCaffrey then missed the first half of the season after his Achilles tendinitis unfurled into a severe injury. The gravity of McCaffrey's injury was serious enough to send McCaffrey to see a specialist in Germany. As the McCaffrey injury saga continued, Aiyuk sustained a season-ending ACL/MCL injury in Week 7. Since then, McCaffrey returned for just four games before returning to injured reserve. Running back Jordan Mason, who played in 12 games this season, also hit the IR. Purdy also dealt with an unexpected shoulder injury that sidelined him in Week 12, but he is expected to play this Sunday against the Chicago Bears. Although the 49ers have endured a trying season, the team camaraderie is evident with Aiyuk's jest toward Purdy following the Big 12 championship game. For more on the NFL and NCAA, visit Newsweek Sports .
Byhre 0-3 0-0 0, Barnstable 3-11 3-4 10, Blue 4-11 2-2 11, Dobbs 6-10 3-4 16, Minessale 2-5 0-0 4, Bjerke 2-4 2-2 8, Oosterbaan 1-3 1-2 4, Nau 1-2 2-2 5, Dufault 1-3 2-2 4, Lafferty 1-1 0-0 3. Totals 21-53 15-18 65. Duffy 1-2 0-0 2, Stillwell 7-13 6-10 22, Fulks 2-6 5-7 9, McKee 4-11 1-3 9, Pullian 3-5 0-0 7, Franklin 6-10 1-2 15, Lovelace 2-5 0-0 5, Pippa-White 0-1 0-0 0, Davis 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 25-54 13-22 69. Halftime_Milwaukee 32-22. 3-Point Goals_St. Thomas (MN) 8-28 (Bjerke 2-3, Lafferty 1-1, Nau 1-2, Oosterbaan 1-3, Dobbs 1-4, Blue 1-5, Barnstable 1-6, Byhre 0-2, Minessale 0-2), Milwaukee 6-17 (Stillwell 2-2, Franklin 2-5, Lovelace 1-2, Pullian 1-2, Davis 0-1, Fulks 0-1, Pippa-White 0-1, McKee 0-3). Fouled Out_Minessale. Rebounds_St. Thomas (MN) 23 (Blue, Dobbs 5), Milwaukee 36 (Stillwell, Franklin 8). Assists_St. Thomas (MN) 8 (Dobbs 5), Milwaukee 13 (Fulks 8). Total Fouls_St. Thomas (MN) 24, Milwaukee 15. A_1,669 (10,783).The AP Top 25 men’s college basketball poll is back every week throughout the season! Get the poll delivered straight to your inbox with AP Top 25 Poll Alerts. Sign up here . BOISE, Idaho (AP) — LeJuan Watts had 20 points in Washington State’s 74-69 victory against Boise State on Saturday night. Watts had 11 rebounds and six assists for the Cougars (8-2). Dane Erikstrup scored 14 points while shooting 6 for 10 (2 for 5 from 3-point range) and 0 of 3 from the free-throw line. Isaiah Watts had 12 points and shot 5 for 9, including 2 for 5 from beyond the arc. Andrew Meadow led the Broncos (6-3) in scoring, finishing with 21 points and seven rebounds. Tyson Degenhart added 18 points for Boise State. Alvaro Cardenas Torre also had 10 points, six rebounds, five assists and two steals. Isaiah Watts scored nine points in the first half for Washington State, who led 44-24 at the break. LeJuan Watts led Washington State with 12 points in the second half as their team was outscored by 15 points over the final half but hung on for the victory. ___ The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .
Trump taps forceful ally of hard-line immigration policies to head Customs and Border Protection
Lightspeed Commerce Inc. is slashing jobs for the second time in a year as it continues a strategic review. The latest cut announced Monday culls about 200 jobs from the Montreal-based company known for selling point-of-sale software. The company positioned the layoffs as part of "a strategic reorganization" meant to set it up for further growth and unlock savings. "Since I returned as CEO, Lightspeed has been working harder to deliver on our profitable growth strategy," a statement from Dax Dasilva, Lightspeed's co-founder and chief executive who returned to the company's top job in February, said. "Today's announcement reaffirms our commitment to building an organization that can fulfil its true potential." Savings from the job cuts will be diverted to other areas of Lightspeed's business, said spokesperson Ryan Tessier in an email to The Canadian Press. Those areas will likely be the company's "higher capital efficient growth segments" like North American retail and European hospitality, National Bank analyst Richard Tse hypothesized in a note to investors. Though the company cut staff, Tessier said, "wherever possible, we have shifted roles and responsibilities to minimize disruption." In fact, Lightspeed is currently hiring in the product and technology area of its business and for "go-to-market" roles, which help the company expand its reach. Lightspeed has been working to refocus the company since at least September, when media reports claimed it was exploring a possible sale. Lightspeed eventually admitted it is conducting a review of its operations designed to help it with "realizing its full potential." It said that Monday's cut "does not affect, or inhibit, the ongoing strategic review process." Dasilva has said that review has "no presupposed outcome" and he's "open to every option," whether that be remaining a standalone company or otherwise. "All I can say is that it's business as usual at Lightspeed," he told The Canadian Press last month. But since Dasilva returned to the company, it's been clear change is in the air. Under his leadership, Lightspeed cut roughly 280 jobs in April, which represented about eight per cent of its workforce. The company also shifted its sales summit from an in-person format to a virtual event, reduced how many days staff work from the company's offices in order to decrease bills associated with feeding employees and promised to accelerate software revenue growth and advance the adoption of Lightspeed’s financial services products. "In our view, we see a balanced risk-to-reward profile in Lightspeed," analyst Tse said. Lightspeed expects that the majority of the restructuring charges as a result of Monday's move will be incurred in the third quarter of its 2025 financial year. It also reaffirmed its revenue and adjusted EBITDA financial outlook it released Nov. 7. The news pushed Lightspeed's shares down more than eight per cent, or $2.16, to $24.09 on Monday. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 2, 2024.1 Spectacular Growth Stock Investors Should Have on Their Radar in December
Opposition fighters are at Damascus' gates. Who are they and what now?None
LA Galaxy wins record 6th MLS Cup
CARSON, Calif. — Joseph Paintsil and Dejan Joveljic scored in the first half, and the LA Galaxy won their record sixth MLS Cup championship with a 2-1 victory over the New York Red Bulls on Saturday. After striking twice in the first 13 minutes of the final with goals from their star forwards, the Galaxy nursed their lead through a scoreless second half to raise their league's biggest trophy for the first time since 2014. MLS' most successful franchise struggled through most of the ensuing decade, even finishing 26th in the 29-team league last year. But the Galaxy turned everything around this season with a high-scoring new lineup that finished second in the Western Conference and then streaked through the playoffs with a whopping 18 goals in five games to win another crown. Sean Nealis scored for the seventh-seeded Red Bulls, whose improbable charge through the playoffs ended one win shy of its first Cup championship. With the league's youngest roster, New York fell just short of becoming the lowest-seeded team to win MLS' playoff tournament under first-year German coach Sandro Schwarz. Galaxy goalkeeper John McCarthy made four saves to win his second MLS title in three seasons. He was the MVP of the 2022 MLS Cup Final for the Galaxy's crosstown rival, Los Angeles FC. The Galaxy won this title without perhaps their most important player. Riqui Puig, the playmaking midfielder from Barcelona who ran their offense impressively all season long, tore a ligament in his knee last week in the Western Conference final. Puig watched the game in a suit, but his teammates hadn't forgotten him: After his replacement, Gastón Brugman, set up LA's opening goal with a superb pass, Paintsil held up Puig's jersey to their fans during the celebration. Paintsil put the Galaxy ahead in the ninth minute when he ran onto that sublime pass from Brugman and pounded home his 14th MLS goal — including four in the playoffs — in the Ghanaian forward's outstanding first season. Just four minutes later, Joveljic sprinted past four New York defenders and chipped home the 21st goal of his outstanding year as the Galaxy's striker. Nealis got New York on the scoreboard in the 28th minute when he volleyed home a ball that got loose in LA's penalty area after a corner. The Galaxy's usually shaky defense gave up another handful of good chances before reaching halftime with a tenuous lead. The second half was lively, but scoreless. Red Bulls captain Emil Forsberg hit the outside of the post in the 72nd minute, while Gabriel Pec and Galaxy substitute Marco Reus nearly converted chances a few moments later. The ball got loose again in the Galaxy's penalty area in the third minute of extra time, but two Red Bulls couldn't finish. The Galaxy bench rushed onto the field and prematurely celebrated a victory in the seventh minute of injury time, only to be herded back off for another 30 seconds of play. The Galaxy finished 17-0-3 this season at their frequently renamed suburban stadium, where the sellout crowd of 26,812 for the final included several robust cheering sections of traveling Red Bulls supporters hoping to see their New Jersey-based club's breakthrough on MLS' biggest stage. The Galaxy's Greg Vanney became the fourth coach to win an MLS title with two clubs. The former Galaxy player also won it all with Toronto in 2017. The club famous for employing global stars from David Beckham and Zlatan Ibrahimovic to Robbie Keane and Javier "Chicharito" Hernández rebuilt itself this season with lesser-known young talents from around the world. The Galaxy signed Pec from Brazil and the Ghanaian Paintsil out of Belgium, and the duo combined with incumbent Serbian striker Joveljic to form a potent attack that could outscore almost any MLS opponent. But the Galaxy also relied heavily on Puig, their Catalan catalyst and one of MLS' best players. Puig stayed in last week's game after injuring his knee, and he even delivered the decisive pass to Joveljic for the game's only goal. Get local news delivered to your inbox!
Kobe Sanders tied a season high with 27 points as Nevada claimed fifth place in the Charleston Classic with a 90-78 victory over Oklahoma State Sunday afternoon in South Carolina. Sanders helped the Wolfpack (6-1) earn a second win following one-possession games against Vanderbilt and VCU. After hitting the decisive 3-pointer with five seconds left in Friday's 64-61 win over VCU, Sanders made 7 of 10 shots, hit three 3s and sank 10 of 13 free throws Sunday. Nick Davidson added 223 points as Nevada led by as many as 19 and shot 58.9 percent. Brandon Love contributed 11 on 5-of-5 shooting as the Wolfpack scored 46 points in the paint and scored at least 85 for the fourth time this season. Marchelus Avery led the Cowboys (4-2) with 15 points and Arturo Dean added 13. Robert Jennings and Abou Ousmane added 11 apiece but leading scorer Bryce Thompson was held to seven points on 1-of-9 shooting as Oklahoma State shot 42 percent and 73.2 percent (30-of-41) at the line. After Avery's 3 forged a 12-12 tie with 13:41 remaining, Nevada gradually gained separation. The Wolfpack took a 24-15 lead on Chuck Bailey's jumper in the paint with 8:28 left but the Cowboys inched back, getting within 33-31 on a dunk by Avery with 4:11 left. Another Bailey jumper staked Nevada to a 40-33 lead by halftime. Nevada began pulling away early in the second half as it scored eight in a row for a 52-40 lead on a basket by Love with 16:44 left. A 3 by Sanders opened a 62-43 lead with 14:06 remaining before Oklahoma State charged back. After Nevada made eight straight shots, the Cowboys countered with 11 straight points and trailed 62-54 with 11:19 left on a 3-pointer by Avery. Thompson made his first basket by sinking a jumper with 10:37 left to get Oklahoma State within 64-56 left, and Keller's triple cut the margin to 70-64 nearly three minutes later. The Cowboys were within 78-72 on a basket by Avery with 3:56 remaining, but he fouled out about a minute later and the Wolfpack outscored Oklahoma State 12-6 the rest of the way as Sanders sank five free throws. --Field Level Media
Plymouth Argyle came up with yet another last-gasp Home Park goal, this time from striker Andre Gray, as they twice fought back from behind to draw 2-2 with Watford. The Championship match was into the sixth minute of added time, with the Pilgrims on the brink of just a second home defeat of the season, when Gray, playing against one of his former clubs, scored with a superb curling shot. The ball flew into the net in front of the Devonport End, with Watford goalkeeper Daniel Bachmann rooted to the spot, and the Green Army exploded into noise. No sooner had referee Andy Davies restarted the game than he blew for full-time and Argyle had clinched a point which had seemed beyond them for most of the match. Watford striker Vakoun Bayo had opened the scoring early on but Gray equalised out of the blue with a tremendous first time volley in the 23rd minute. The visitors restored their advantage late in the first half through defender Ryan Porteous and they rarely looked like losing it until Gray came up with his moment of magic for his third goal in five games for the Pilgrims. Defender Lewis Gibson returned to action for Argyle against Watford after missing the previous four matches due to a thigh injury, and also captained the side as well. There was one other change to the starting line-up from the 1-1 draw away to Derby County, which had been before the third international break of the season on November 9 as Gray made just his second start for Argyle. Mustapha Bundu and Callum Wright dropped down to the bench while Ryan Hardie, who was a second half substitute against Derby was missing from the matchday squad. Gibson played as the left-sided central defender as Argyle lined up in a 3-4-1-2 formation, with Julio Pleguezuelo and Kornel Szucs alongside him. Matty Sorinola and Bali Mumba were the wing-backs with Darko Gyabi and Adam Randell in central midfield. Morgan Whittaker was in the number 10 role behind the two strikers of Gray and Michael Obafemi. There was a yellow card for Mumba within the first minute after a foul on Moussa Sissoko and the resulting free-kick into the Argyle box was put over his own crossbar by Gray. Watford had all of the possession in the early stages of the game and it was no surprise when they took the lead in the eighth minute. Yasser Larouci put in a low cross from the left which Pleguezuelo could not cut out and Bayo bundled the ball into the net from a couple of yards out. There was a brief moment of silence inside the stadium with both sets of supporters not quite realising the deadlock had been broken, before the Watford fans in the Barn Park End at the opposite end of the pitch started to celebrate. Sorinola had one threatening cross into the Watford box which was headed behind for a corner by Mattie Pollock but, otherwise, it was the visitors who did all of the attacking. Larouci beat the Argyle offside trap in the 17th minute and got to the by-line and cut the ball back to Kwadwo Baah, who could not make a clean contact with his shot and Mumba was eventually able to clear his lines. Sorinola was caused all sorts of problems by Larouci with his trickery on the ball and clever movement as Watford pressed for a second goal. However, completely against the run of play, Argyle equalised in the 23rd minute. Gibson hit a long diagonal cross into the penalty area and Gray met it on the volley as he scored with a perfectly-placed shot into the corner of the net Argyle almost grabbed a second goal a short while later when the ball was played inside to Whittaker in his central position and he let fly from 25 yards with a strike which flew inches wide. Obafemi also had a good chance when he spun on the edge of the penalty area and sent a low shot narrowly past the outside of Bachmann’s left post. Watford almost regained the lead following a corner when the ball dropped to Porteous about six yards out but the defender could not hit the target from around six yards out. Bayo then sent a right-foot shot flying wide from 20 yards as the visitors continued to provide a real attacking threat with some slick passing. Their efforts were rewarded with a second goal in the 41st minute. Imran Louza played a free-kick from a central position to the right for Mattie Pollock, who put the ball across the face of goal and Porteous got there first before Sorinola to slot home from close range. Argyle had penalty appeals soon afterwards when Obafemi battled to hold the ball up under a challenge from Larouci and went to the ground but Davies allowed play to continue. TV replays indicated that was the correct call. Watford had been much the better side for most of the first half and were good value for their 2-1 lead while Argyle needed to regroup during the break. Gyabi had an early second half shot from distance which flew over the bar but showed some attacking intent from the Pilgrims before Gibson sent a header too high after a long throw-in from Szucs. Watford threatened next with a shot from Baah which was blocked behind for a corner by Gibson, who was booked soon afterwards for a blatant foul on Bayo as the striker looked to run in behind him. Argyle clearly tried to play with more intensity after the interval and take the game to Watford after being on the back foot for so much of the first period. However, the Hornets were still good going forward and Chakvetadze had a curling shot from around 25 yards pushed over the bar by Argyle ‘keeper Dan Grimshaw. Gyabi became more influential for the Pilgrims in the second half as he regularly drove forward from midfield and he had a shot saved by Bachmann by the base of his left post. Whittaker then left the pitch in the 68th minute with what appeared to be a foot injury and was replaced by Wright in Argyle’s first substitution of the match. Moments later, Gray could not quite get on the end of an inviting cross from Sorinola and the ball bounced out of play for a goal kick. Mumba and Sorinola pushed high up the pitch for Argyle, leaving the back three very much on their own as Szucs, Pleguezuelo and Gibson spread out across the pitch. Argyle were almost caught out when Sissoko powered his way past Szucs and played the ball in for Bayo, whose shot on goal forced an excellent save out of Grimshaw as he touched the ball wide. That was followed by a double Argyle substitution in the 79th minute as Freddie Issaka and Bundu were sent on for Sorinola and Obafemi respectively. Wright had a clear sight of goal for Argyle inside the Watford box but his low shot went wide, with the aid of a slight deflection for a corner, Issaka was a straight swap at right wing-back for Sorinola and Bundu played up front alongside Gray but the Pilgrims still found it hard to create clear-cut chances. However, they did not give up and Gray came up with a wonderful curling shot with virtually the last kick of the match to earn the Pilgrims a point. Dan Grimshaw; Julio Pleguezuelo, Kornel Szucs, Lewis Gibson; Matty Sorinola (Freddie Issaka 79 mins), Adam Randell Darko Gyabi, Bali Mumba; Morgan Whittaker (Callum Wright 68 mins), Michael Obafemi (Mustapha Bundu 79 mins); Andre Gray. Substitutes (not used): Marko Marosi, Nathanael Ogbeta, Jordan Houghton, Adam Forshaw, Rami Al Hajj, Victor Palsson. Daniel Bachmann; Ryan Porteous, Mattie Pollock, James Morris (Franciso Sierralta 90 +4 mins); Ryan Andrews, Moussa Sissoko, Imran Louza, Yasser Larouci (Ken Sema 85 mins); Kwadwo Baah (Tom Ince 90 +4 mins), Giorgi Chakvetadze (Edo Kayembe 74 mins); Vakoun Bayo. Substitutes (not used): Jonathan Bond, Rocco Vata, Antonio Tikvic, Mamadou Doumbia, Leo Ramirez-Espain. Andy Davies 16,400 and we want you to join us. Once you sign up for our updates, we'll send all the latest straight to your phone. To join our community, you need to already have WhatsApp. All you need to do is click this link and select 'Join Community'. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the PlymouthLive team. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'Exit group'. 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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.