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World War II didn’t start on Dec. 7, 1941. That was the day, though, that the war finally became more than an abstraction for America. There already was full-blown fighting in Europe, with Germany and Italy vs. the Soviet Union (eventually) and Great Britain, and in Asia, with Japan vs. China. But for some — or many — U.S. citizens in 1939, 1940 and most of 1941, that probably seemed remote, such as when Russia invaded Ukraine in February, 2022, or when fighting continued to amp up in the Middle East this year. Ask yourself this question: Did Americans worry about Adolf Hitler, or Japanese Prime Minister Hideki Tojo, or both in 1941? Did Americans think their world could be rocked the way it was? They probably worried some. But I seriously doubt that many of them realized just how bad it would get. Those who lived through World War I might have seen the signs. But while that conflict, at that point known as the Great War, was brutally bloody, it wasn’t a world war in the ways of World War II, sprawling across Europe, Asia and Africa. The advance of the weaponry, along with the fanaticism of the Nazis and Japanese, made for hitherto unthinkable violence. And remember, 23 years had passed since the end of The Great War in 1918. Those years were filled with a deadly pandemic, the Roaring ‘20s, the stock market crash and then the Depression. That was a lot to take in/deal with, and it served to cloud the memory of war. It’s been nearly 80 years since the end of World War II. If you count 25 years as a generation, that’s three of them, and a fifth of another one. That’s a lot of time to forget, and a lot of differences to absorb. The Americans of 1945 didn’t have interstate highways, many still didn’t have indoor plumbing or even electricity, and a good many had left their farms for the first time to fight in the war or to work in the war industry. Think of all the changes since, so many that it’d take an entire newspaper, and probably even more, to name. Those who lived through World War II, or at least the ones who can remember much of it, are either dead or in their twilight years. While history doesn’t repeat itself, at least not exactly, it does have a tendency to demolish humanity’s hopes and dreams every so often. That happens when people forget the basics, such as the Golden Rule and the universal idea that killing other people is a craven crime, and put first their avarice. The fallout always has been devastating, dating back to the tens of millions killed in China’s Three Kingdoms War and even beyond. World War II was the deadliest of all, though. Hopefully humanity won’t have to learn this lesson again. But don’t count on it. Because remember: Even with much of the world engulfed in war in late 1941, only a handful of Americans saw the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor coming. It’s great to shop local. Online shopping is a necessity, I guess, because it’s just about impossible to find some things in West Virginia, and especially in the more rural parts of the Mountain State. But shopping in person is another chance to interact with people. That seems like something we ought to not want to give up, but maybe that’s just me seeing the world through yesterday’s glasses. There’s one other reason to shop local: It’s a lot easier to return something in person. And this is especially true when buying something large online. At least make sure that if you have to return that heavy, or bulky, online item, that return shipping will be paid, or at least most of it will be. Otherwise, that’s an expensive mistake. Finally, if you’re buying something that’s going to need maintenance, buy it from a small business owner who will provide it.Feminist clarity begins at home
The history of Thanksgiving started on a positive note, where refugees were welcomed by locals and were provided with shelter and a new place to start their lives. Fundamentally, Thanksgiving is a time to express appreciation, a quality that is strongly reflected in spiritual teachings from many different religions including Islam. Gratitude is a deep understanding of the divine kindness that permeates every part of our lives, not just a polite acknowledgment of benefits. Gratitude is the currency that creates a spiritual bond between people. The way our world leaders are rushing toward World War 3, we should come together and think about the things that we have around us. More than ever, this year we should actively come together to celebrate love and show kindness to our neighbors, family, friends, coworkers, and the world at large. The Thanksgiving holiday is for honoring the blessings in one’s life and as we think about that, we should always keep our less fortunate friends in mind and help them as much as possible. People should search for ways to serve their community and do good deeds throughout the season. Charities such as soup kitchens and shelters usually can use plenty of volunteers. When a person demonstrates a great change in his attitude to his neighbor it is as if he demonstrates a miracle and this leaves a lasting impact on the neighbor. Zeeshan Virk, Franklin A man purchased a gun (along with 3 million others) which was not used, but the purchase was made illegal because of his status of being addicted (along with many millions and now cured, along with not as many millions). This crime is being considered as equal to a person violating virtually every part of his oath of office, illegally taking and refusing to relinquish hundreds of top secret documents, establishing a long history of tax avoidance (as president, the first to refuse to turn over his history of taxes). Those crimes along with the crimes committed by those who invaded the Capitol, killing officers who were defending the traditional Electoral College are being equated with the purchase of a gun (technically not legal but not used). This growing reality in newspapers and other media is very hard to believe in this highly literate country. This growing “fake” issue is exactly like making the horrific crime of a student playing hooky with the killing of the principal. All these machinations of the T Party are becoming an embarrassment for the traditions of the Republican Party. Howard Moon, Kenosha Alternate parking again? Why do we have to have this? We barely have snow in the winter. I can understand why we do the alternate parking when there is snow. Isn’t there another way we can do the parking? Have alternate parking when there is snow. There are so many streets in Kenosha that don’t have the room to do alternate parking, especially when the cars are parked in the middle of the street in front of a house. Some homes have the problem of parking because they have a business where the customers park on the street making less room to park for the home owners living next to or across from a business, like a restaurant. So let’s do without the alternate parking unless we get a snowfall. Dinese Dam, Kenosha Wouldn’t it be interesting to know what Putin, Trump and Musk talked about in their half a dozen or so reported conversations ? How to Make America Great Again? Yeah, me neither. More likely is an alignment of autocrats. Russia’s M.O. has always been sewing disruption in adversary countries. Is he the one who suggested Gabbard as the Director of Intelligence, someone Russia describes as Russia friendly or, in other terms, an asset? Add to this the fact that Gabbard has absolutely no relevant experience for this position.This is a national security risk of the highest level. Will the 5 Eyes nations still collaborate with us for intelligence sharing not knowing whether or not it leaks to Russia. Trump, when president did, as documented, share top secret Israeli intelligence with the Russian ambassador. Putin was trained in the art of manipulation and Trump is vulnerable to suggestion. Nominating Hegseth (a TV star) as Defense Secretary, is another head-scratcher. He hasn’t run an organization bigger than 50 people and will be in charge of over 2 million (and Hegseth reportedly paid an assault victim off in an NDA). Whose idea is it to put the science denier RFK Jr. in charge of our nation’s health ? Is this some nefarious plot to destroy the health of our nation? At first I was sure these were satirical Onion stories. I only wish. Whereas these aren’t the only bad nominations, they were among those chosen without any relevant expertise. Mark Johnson, Kenosha Get opinion pieces, letters and editorials sent directly to your inbox weekly!KUWAIT CITY, Dec 29: The Public Prosecution has witnessed a notable increase in its caseload, receiving 20,612 cases in the first half of 2024, marking a 21.1 percent rise compared to the same period last year. The criminal cases topped the chart, comprising 28.6 percent of the total, while drug addiction cases were the least frequent, accounting for just 2.4 percent. The statistics, a copy of which has been received by the Al-Seyassah daily, reveal that the Prosecution dealt with 19,544 cases overall, resolving 18,833. The felony and commercial misdemeanor cases stood out as the most prominent categories, making up 30.8 percent and 30.5 percent, respectively, of cases handled. Banking crimes and drug-related offenses were the largest categories among newly received cases, each contributing approximately 29 percent. Despite the general rise in cases, there were notable declines in specific categories. Drug addiction cases fell by 33.6 percent, environmental misdemeanors by 4.3 percent, and juvenile offenses by 2.1 percent. The commercial misdemeanors saw the most dramatic surge, climbing 101.7 percent. The technology-related offenses followed with a 33.1 percent increase, reflecting the growing complexity of cybercrimes. The felony cases and check misdemeanors also rose by 7.9 percent and 9.2 percent, respectively. On the other hand, murder and assault cases experienced a sharp drop of 51.4 percent, while property crimes decreased by 24.7 percent. The cases involving assaults on honor and reputation fell by 15.6 percent and banking crimes decreased by 7.7 percent. The statistics underscore both challenges and achievements for Kuwait’s judicial system. The rise in drug and psychotropic substance crimes by 30.4 percent, along with a 3.1 percent increase in kidnapping and unlawful detention cases, highlights areas needing intensified focus. As Public Prosecution continues to tackle these evolving trends, the significant progress in reducing violent crimes, such as murder and assault, provides a silver lining to an otherwise busy year for law enforcement and judiciary authorities. By Jaber Al-Hamoud/Munif Naif Al-Seyassah/Arab Times Staff
WASHINGTON (AP) — Working-class voters helped Republicans make steady election gains this year and expanded a coalition that increasingly includes rank-and-file union members, a political shift spotlighting one of President-elect Donald Trump’s latest Cabinet picks: a GOP congresswoman, who has drawn labor support, to be his labor secretary. Oregon Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer narrowly lost her bid for a second term this month, despite strong backing from union members, a key part of the Democratic base but gravitating in the Trump era toward a Republican Party traditionally allied with business interests. “Lori’s strong support from both the Business and Labor communities will ensure that the Labor Department can unite Americans of all backgrounds behind our Agenda for unprecedented National Success - Making America Richer, Wealthier, Stronger and more Prosperous than ever before!” Trump said in a statement announcing his choice Friday night. For decades, labor unions have sided with Democrats and been greeted largely with hostility by Republicans. But with Trump's populist appeal, his working-class base saw a decent share of union rank-and-file voting for Republicans this year, even as major unions, including the AFL-CIO and the United Auto Workers , endorsed Democrat Kamala Harris in the White House race. Trump sat down with the International Brotherhood of Teamsters union leadership and members this year, and when he emerged from that meeting, he boasted that a significant chunk of union voters were backing him. Of a possible Teamsters endorsement, he said, “Stranger things have happened.” The Teamsters ultimately declined to endorse either Trump, the former president, or Harris, the vice president, though leader Sean O’Brien had a prominent speaking slot at the Republican National Convention. Kara Deniz, a Teamsters spokesperson, told the Associated Press that O’Brien met with more than a dozen House Republicans this past week to lobby on behalf of Chavez-DeRemer. “Chavez-DeRemer would be an excellent choice for labor secretary and has his backing,” Deniz said. The work of the Labor Department affects workers’ wages, health and safety, ability to unionize, and employers' rights to fire employers, among other responsibilities. On Election Day, Trump deepened his support among voters without a college degree after running just slightly ahead of Democrat Joe Biden with noncollege voters in 2020. Trump made modest gains, earning a clear majority of this group, while only about 4 in 10 supported Harris, according to AP VoteCast, a sweeping survey of more than 120,000 voters nationwide. Roughly 18% of voters in this year's election were from union households, with Harris winning a majority of the group. But Trump's performance among union members kept him competitive and helped him win key states such as Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin. Chavez-DeRemer was one of few House Republicans to endorse the “Protecting the Right to Organize” or PRO Act, which would allow more workers to conduct organizing campaigns and add penalties for companies that violate workers’ rights. The measure would weaken “right-to-work” laws that allow employees in more than half the states to avoid participating in or paying dues to unions that represent workers at their places of employment. Trump's first term saw firmly pro-business policies from his appointees across government, including those on the National Labor Relations Board. Trump, a real estate developer and businessman before winning the presidency, generally has backed policies that would make it harder for workers to unionize. During his recent campaign, Trump criticized union bosses, and at one point suggested that UAW members should not pay their dues. His first administration did expand overtime eligibility rules, but not nearly as much as Democrats wanted, and a Trump-appointed judge has since struck down the Biden administration’s more generous overtime rules. He has stacked his incoming administration with officials who worked on the Heritage Foundation’s “Project 2025” blueprint, which includes a sharp swing away from Biden’s pro-union policies. “Chavez-DeRemer’s record suggests she understands the value of policies that strengthen workers’ rights and economic security,” said Rebecca Dixon, president and CEO of National Employment Law Project, which is backed my many of the country’s major labor unions. “But the Trump administration’s agenda is fundamentally at odds with these principles, threatening to roll back workplace protections, undermine collective bargaining, and prioritize corporate profits over the needs of working people. This is where her true commitment to workers will be tested.” Other union leaders also issued praise, but also sounded a note of caution. “Educators and working families across the nation will be watching ... as she moves through the confirmation process,” the president of the National Education Association, Becky Pringle, said in a statement, “and hope to hear a pledge from her to continue to stand up for workers and students as her record suggests, not blind loyalty to the Project 2025 agenda.” AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler welcomed the choice while taking care to note Trump's history of opposing polices that support unions. "It remains to be seen what she will be permitted to do as secretary of labor in an administration with a dramatically anti-worker agenda,” Shuler said.Trump says US shouldn't intervene in Syria as opposition forces gain groundTrump says US shouldn't intervene in Syria as opposition forces gain ground
On the 10th February 1947, Prime Minister Clement Atlee made a historic speech to the Commons chamber stating that India would be granted independence by June the following year. He also confirmed the appointment of Viscount Mountbatten as Viceroy whose responsibilities would be to oversee Britain leaving India and facilitate constitutional self-government. Mountbatten had been a naval commander throughout World War 2 but he found the choppy waters of Indian politics more difficult to navigate. Nehru and Jinnah's adherence to the wishes of their respective parties tested his powers of mediation, ultimately leading to his decision to hasten the Government's exit strategy. In a climate of increasing communal violence and repatriation Mountbatten decreed that the transfer of power and the partition to create the states of India and Pakistan would come into effect on the 15th August. He would remain as Governor-General of India for another tumultuous year before returning to the familiar environs of the Admiralty. The 1947 partition of the Subcontinent divided Punjab into two parts – the West Punjab, belonging to Pakistan and the East Punjab, which became part of India. It was associated with massive violence within the six month time frame, large exchanges of population (approximately ten million), and significant involvement of the government in evacuating and protecting the refugees. The enforced movement of the Hindu, Sikh and Muslim populations of Punjab has been described as by the historians ‘on a scale absolutely unparalleled in the history of the world’. Around five-and-a-half million Muslims migrated to West Punjab, and around four-and-a-half million Hindus and Sikhs moved to east Punjab. Violence is regarded as the main cause of the mass migrations that occurred in Punjab and it became notorious in history as the “bloody battlefield of the Partition whereby far the greatest number of massacres of Hindus, Sikhs and Muslims occurred.” According to Ian Talbot, a renowned British historian, "on both sides of the 35-mile-long road between Amritsar and Lahore, there were heaps of corpses. It appeared as if the entire territory had been converted into an extensive graveyard.” Revisiting Lord Mountbatten From A Pakistani Perspective One of the main reasons for the violence was the partition of India into two separate states-India and Pakistan. The issues of transfer of power and partition of India are well known and adequately covered by academic literature. However, it is rarely discussed that what role did the Mountbatten, the last viceroy of India, played in the partition. He, as the viceroy of India was given, the duty to peacefully transfer power to Indians and protect the His Majesty Government’s interests in India. This article looks at how and why he materialised this task. The intimate story of a unique partition not only ends the heights of British glamour and power but also descends into infidelity, manipulation, and disaster through the heart of the twentieth century India. Mountbatten, an instrumental figure behind this unparalleled historical trajectory became the last Viceroy of India, in March 1947, with the mandate to hand over ‘the jewel in the crown’ of the British Empire within one year. Mountbatten worked with Nehru, Gandhi and the leader of the Muslim League, Jinnah, to devise a plan for partitioning the empire into two independent sovereign states; India and Pakistan, on 15 August 1947. Dr Chawla argues that it was spectre of violence and insurmountable communal strife that convinced Mountbatten to withdraw from his idea of unity of India and reluctantly accept the partition. Arguably, the creation of Pakistan cannot be solely attributed to the collaboration between Congress and British authorities Professor Muhammad Iqbal Chawla, one of the finest historians in Pakistan is known as a magnetic historiographer of modern South Asia has explored in his work titled Mountbatten, Cabinet Mission and Provincial Boundaries: Insight and Controversies that what is the true story behind controversies such as Indian Partition, the political relations between Mountbatten, Nehru, and Jinnah? Was Mountbatten one of the outstanding leaders of his generation, or a man over-promoted because of his royal birth, high-level connections, film-star looks and ruthless self-promotion? The main objective of the book, as explained by the author, is to present fresh insight into Mountbatten’s decisions regarding the partition of India and their socio-political impact on the state apparatus and society of the two states-India and Pakistan. The books take into account the significant historical events that took place during Mountbatten’s viceroyalty such as outbreak of violence, partition of India and partition of Punjab and Bengal subsequent Radcliff Award and his actions as Indian Governor General regarding Princely States of Jammu and Kashmir. Lahore As It Once Was: Fortress At The Nerve Centre Of An Empire Professor Chawla offers a candid account of Lord Mountbatten, the last Viceroy of British India, reveals his frank, and often astounding, assessment of the events, personalities and issues of the time. He has utilised revelatory documents, primarily Viceroy’s Personal Reports to the Secretary of State for India, and also other interesting documents such as Jinnah Papers detailing his emotional reaction to the draft plan for transfer of power. He argues that the Partition of India was an expedited process that resulted in significant turmoil. Lord Mountbatten had to push for independence, appointing Sir Cyril Radcliffe to draw the boundaries between India and Pakistan. Radcliffe, unfamiliar with the region, was influenced by political pressures, leading to lasting controversy and tragic consequences, affecting millions. Dr Chawla argues that it was spectre of violence and insurmountable communal strife that convinced Mountbatten to withdraw from his idea of unity of India and reluctantly accept the partition. Arguably, the creation of Pakistan cannot be solely attributed to the collaboration between Congress and British authorities. It was, in fact, a response to the prevailing ground realities, which encompassed widespread violence. The author is of the opinion that, amongst others, it was Redcliff Award combined with mass massacres in the result of partition has eventually contributed to the present day rivalry between India and Pakistan relations. Historians hold two divergent perspectives on the role of Mountbatten in the transfer of power process; one group of the historian argues that he implemented the partition plan impartially whereas other group is of the view that he exhibited prejudices against Muslim and engineered an unfair partition plan. Contrary to these two divergent perspectives on the biases of Mountbatten in the transfer of power process, Dr Chawla asserts that Lord Mountbatten tried to become a neutral umpire as he neither exclusively favoured Congress nor vehemently opposed the creation of Pakistan. Further, the author maintains that Mountbatten made sincere efforts, to the best of his abilities, to uphold the position of neutrality without compromising on the economic and political interests of British in South Asia. Tourism: An Industry With Great Potential On communal violence, in contrast to the critics of Mountbatten who portrays Mountbatten as indifferent or ignorant of the pains of violence, Professor Chawla opines that he partially managed to mitigate the riots through Punjab Boundary Force. In other words, he appreciates the role Mountbatten as an overseer of the transfer of power processes. Such appreciation augmented by the documentary evidence differentiates that book from the conventional portrayal of Lord Mountbatten in the nationalist historiography of Pakistan. From British institutional legacy to the South Asian modern politics, from the battlefields of Pakistan Movement to the partition of Indian, Mountbatten, Cabinet Mission and Provincial Boundaries: Insight and Controversies is a rich and classic and a powerful account of Indian partition that reveals the truth behind this historical trajectory. It is first full-length account of the remarkable man, Mountbatten, and the partition legacy. It is useful for all audiences, but voiced towards university students and independent researchers of modern South Asia alike or any citizen who is interested in a concise and authoritative exploration of partition studies.Apple’s UK engineering teams have ‘doubled in size in five years’
Dorocubicel by ExCellThera for Myelodysplastic Syndrome: Likelihood of Approval
BEIRUT (AP) — Insurgents' stunning march across Syria accelerated Saturday with news that they had reached the gates of the capital and that government forces had abandoned the central city of Homs. The government was forced to deny rumors that President Bashar Assad had fled the country. The loss of Homs is a potentially crippling blow for Assad. It stands at an important intersection between Damascus and Syria’s coastal provinces of Latakia and Tartus — the Syrian leader’s base of support and home to a Russian strategic naval base. The pro-government Sham FM reported that government forces took positions outside Syria’s third-largest city, without elaborating. Rami Abdurrahman who heads the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, said Syrian troops and members of different security agencies have withdrawn from the city, adding that rebels have entered parts of it. The capture of Homs is a major victory for insurgents, who have already seized the cities of Aleppo and Hama , as well as large parts of the south, in a lightning offensive that began Nov. 27. Analysts said Homs falling into rebel hands would be a game-changer. The rebels' moves around Damascus, reported by the monitor and a rebel commander, came after the Syrian army withdrew from much of southern part of the country, leaving more areas, including several provincial capitals, under the control of opposition fighters. For the first time in the country’s long-running civil war, the government now has control of only three of 14 provincial capitals: Damascus, Latakia and Tartus. The advances in the past week were among the largest in recent years by opposition factions, led by a group that has its origins in al-Qaida and is considered a terrorist organization by the U.S. and the United Nations. In their push to overthrow Assad's government, the insurgents, led by the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham group, or HTS, have met little resistance from the Syrian army. The rapid rebel gains, coupled with the lack of support from Assad's erstwhile allies, posed the most serious threat to his rule since the start of the war. The U.N.’s special envoy for Syria, Geir Pedersen, on Saturday called for urgent talks in Geneva to ensure an “orderly political transition.” Speaking to reporters at the annual Doha Forum in Qatar, he said the situation in Syria was changing by the minute. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, whose country is Assad's chief international backer, said he feels “sorry for the Syrian people.” In Damascus, people rushed to stock up on supplies. Thousands went to Syria's border with Lebanon, trying to leave the country. Many shops in the capital were shuttered, a resident told The Associated Press, and those still open ran out of staples such as sugar. Some were selling items at three times the normal price. “The situation is very strange. We are not used to that,” the resident said, insisting on anonymity, fearing retributions. “People are worried whether there will be a battle (in Damascus) or not.” It was the first time that opposition forces reached the outskirts of Damascus since 2018, when Syrian troops recaptured the area following a yearslong siege. The U.N. said it was moving noncritical staff outside the country as a precaution. Assad's status Syria’s state media denied social media rumors that Assad left the country, saying he is performing his duties in Damascus. He has had little, if any, help from his allies. Russia, is busy with its war in Ukraine . Lebanon’s Hezbollah, which at one point sent thousands of fighters to shore up Assad's forces, has been weakened by a yearlong conflict with Israel. Iran has seen its proxies across the region degraded by regular Israeli airstrikes. U.S. President-elect Donald Trump on Saturday posted on social media that that the United States should avoid engaging militarily in Syria. Pedersen said a date for talks in Geneva on the implementation a U.N. resolution, adopted in 2015, and calling for a Syrian-led political process, would be announced later. The resolution calls for the establishment of a transitional governing body, followed by the drafting of a new constitution and ending with U.N.-supervised elections. Later Saturday, foreign ministers and senior diplomats from eight key countries, including Saudi Arabia, Russia, Egypt, Turkey and Iran, along with Pederson, gathered on the sidelines of the Doha Summit to discuss the situation in Syria. In a statement issued late Saturday, the participants affirmed their support for a political solution to the Syrian crisis “that would lead to the end of military activity and protect civilians.” They also agreed on the importance of strengthening international efforts to increase aid to the Syrian people. The insurgents' march Rami Abdurrahman, who heads the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, an opposition war monitor, said insurgents were in the Damascus suburbs of Maadamiyah, Jaramana and Daraya. Opposition fighters were marching toward the Damascus suburb of Harasta, he added. A commander with the insurgents, Hassan Abdul-Ghani, posted on the Telegram messaging app that opposition forces had begun the “final stage” of their offensive by encircling Damascus. HTS controls much of northwest Syria and in 2017 set up a “salvation government” to run day-to-day affairs in the region. In recent years, HTS leader Abu Mohammed al-Golani has sought to remake the group’s image, cutting ties with al-Qaida, ditching hard-line officials and vowing to embrace pluralism and religious tolerance. The shock offensive began Nov. 27, during which gunmen captured the northern city of Aleppo, Syria’s largest, and the central city of Hama , the country’s fourth largest city. Opposition activists said Saturday that a day earlier, insurgents entered Palmyra, which is home to invaluable archaeological sites had been in government hands since being taken from the Islamic State group in 2017. To the south, Syrian troops left much of the province of Quneitra including the main Baath City, activists said. Syrian Observatory said government troops have withdrawn from much of the two southern provinces. The Syrian army said in a statement that it carried out redeployment and repositioning in Sweida and Daraa after its checkpoints came under attack by “terrorists." The army said it was setting up a “strong and coherent defensive and security belt in the area,” apparently to defend Damascus from the south. The Syrian government has referred to opposition gunmen as terrorists since conflict broke out in March 2011. Diplomacy in Doha The foreign ministers of Iran, Russia and Turkey, meeting in Qatar, called for an end to the hostilities. Turkey is a main backer of the rebels. Qatar's top diplomat, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, criticized Assad for failing to take advantage of the lull in fighting in recent years to address the country’s underlying problems. “Assad didn’t seize this opportunity to start engaging and restoring his relationship with his people,” he said. Sheikh Mohammed said he was surprised by how quickly the rebels have advanced and said there is a real threat to Syria’s “territorial integrity.” He said the war could “damage and destroy what is left if there is no sense of urgency” to start a political process. ____ Karam reported from London. Associated Press writers Albert Aji in Damascus, Syria; Qassim Abdul-Zahra in Baghdad; and Josef Federman and Victoria Eastwood in Doha, Qatar, contributed to this report. Bassem Mroue And Zeina Karam, The Associated Press
Steelers WR George Pickens returns to practice, hopeful to play against Chiefs