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Pete Hegseth's mother says The New York Times made 'threats' by asking her to comment on a storyConnecticut Sun fans will have one chance to see Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever play at Mohegan Sun Arena next season. The other ‘home’ game will be in Boston. The 2025 WNBA regular season schedule was released on Monday, and the Sun announced that the team’s July 15 game against the Fever will take place at TD Garden in Boston, where the franchise hosted the first-ever WNBA game in that city this past season. Clark and the Fever will play at Mohegan Sun Arena on August 17, and twice in Indiana, on May 30 and June 17. The Sun sold out TD Garden , home to the Boston Celtics and Bruins, last season for a game against the Los Angeles Sparks. The announced attendance of 19,156 was hailed as the highest in franchise history. The Sun said presale tickets for the game against the Fever in Boston this season will be on sale exclusively on the Connecticut Sun mobile app, and tickets for all regular season games will be available on Ticketmaster at a date to be announced. The 2025 WNBA season will feature a league-record 44 games from mid-May through early September. The Sun will tip off the season on Sunday, May 18 at 1 p.m. against the Washington Mystics at Mohegan Sun Arena. The team’s annual Camp Day game will be held Wednesday, July 9 at 11 a.m. against the Seattle Storm. Sun 2025 Opponent Breakdown: Atlanta Dream: Home: June 6, September 1, September 10; Away: May 25, September 8 Chicago Sky: Home: June 15, August 13; Away: August 23, September 3 Dallas Wings: Home: May 27, June 20; Away: August 27 Golden State Valkyries: Home: July 27; Away: June 22, August 11 Indiana Fever: Home: July 15*, August 17; Away: May 30, June 17 Las Vegas Aces: Home: May 20, July 6; Away: June 25, August 10 Los Angeles Sparks: Home: July 24; Away: July 13, August 7 Minnesota Lynx: Home: August 30; Away: May 23, June 29 New York Liberty: Home: August 1, August 3; Away: June 1, August 25 Phoenix Mercury: Home: June 18, September 6; Away: August 5 Seattle Storm: Home: July 9, July 28; Away: June 27, July 11 Washington Mystics: Home: May 18, August 21; Away: June 8, August 19 *Game to be played at TD Garden.
Qatar tribune Tribune News Network Doha The Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT), Google Cloud and Qatar Free Zones Authority (QFZ) announced the official opening of the Google Cloud Centre of Excellence (CoE) at the Business Innovation Park in Ras Bufontas Free Zone. The milestone reflects the successful, long-standing collaboration between MCIT, Google Cloud and QFZ to further accelerateQatar’s digital innovation, cloud adoption, and skills development. The Google Cloud Center of Excellence will play a pivotal role in building digital capacity within the State of Qatar. The Center of Excellence was officially inaugurated by Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad bin Faisal Al Thani, CEO of Qatar Free Zones Authority (QFZ); Reem Al-Mansoori, Assistant Undersecretary of Digital Industry Affairs at the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT); and Ghassan Costa, Regional Country Manager of Google Cloud, in a ceremony attended by several high-profile dignitaries and distinguished guests.The ceremony featured keynote remarks, a ribbon-cutting, and a tour of the new Center of Excellence. The CoE builds on the launch of the Doha Google Cloud Region last year, which brought Google Cloud’s state-of-the-art technology to Qatar to enhance cloud adoption across industries and allow businesses to access powerful data analytics, machine learning, and AI capabilities. The CoE further amplifies Qatar’s digital transformation journey by providing world-class cloud training, supporting startups in scaling their businesses, and facilitating cutting-edge research on cloud-based solutions. In addition to these offerings, the Center will serve as an incubator for high-potential startups and a hub for cloud innovation, positioning Qatar as a regional leader in digital transformation, and supporting its efforts to build a knowledge-based economy in alignment with Qatar National Vision 2030. Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad bin Faisal Al Thani, CEO of Qatar Free Zones Authority (QFZ), said: “This marks a true milestone in Qatar’s digital capability-building journey. Our years of collaboration with MCIT and Google Cloud have culminated in this achievement. What makes the Center of Excellence particularly significant is its role as an enabler, localizing technology and building human capital that goes beyond utilizing cutting-edge technologies to actively creating and innovating with them. Qatar is emerging as the premier hub for digital innovation in the MENA region, a transformation that reflects the collective commitment of government and private stakeholders who believe in our nation’s vision. As momentous as today’s announcement is, I want to emphasize that this is just one step in our ongoing journey. QFZ will continue to attract world industry leaders to Qatar, further cementing our position as a global technology destination.” On the occasion,Reem Al-Mansoori, Assistant Undersecretary of Digital Industry Affairs, at the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT), said: “The launch of the Google Cloud Center of Excellence is a further step in our journey towards transforming Qatar into a regional leader in cloud computing and digital innovation. This collaboration aligns with Qatar’s National Vision 2030 and our Digital Agenda 2030, enabling us to upskill our workforce, provide further meaningful support to startups in Qatar, and foster sustainable economic growth. The Google Cloud CoE in Qatar will provide a new benchmark for the region in driving innovative technological advancements.” Ghassan Kosta, Regional Country Manager of Google Cloud, said: “Google Cloud is proud to partner with Qatar Free Zones Authority and the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology and to launch this state-of-the-art Center of Excellence. Our goal is to equip individuals and businesses with the tools they need to succeed in the digital age. Through the CoE, we will provide training, support, and resources that will help foster a community of cloud innovators, ultimately contributing to becoming a leader in digital transformation across the region.” The collaboration between MCIT, QFZ, and Google Cloud dates back to before 2020 when Google Cloud first announced that it would launch a cloud region in Doha, the first such facility in the GCC and North Africa region. This collaboration deepened in 2021 with the agreement to develop the Center of Excellence, followed by a supplementary Memorandum of Understanding between QFZ and Google Cloud in 2022 to further support the CoE’s establishment and operations. The same year saw MCIT and Google Cloud sign a framework agreement aimed at accelerating digital transformation initiatives and adoption of digital and cloud technologies. In May of 2023, the Doha Google Cloud Region was officially launched. The Google Cloud Center of Excellence is set to play a key role in Qatar’s digital transformation efforts, providingessential cloud-based training and support to businesses and individuals alike. This initiative underscores the commitment of MCIT, QFZ and Google Cloud to building a future-ready, innovation-driven economy. Through this collaborative effort, the CoE will foster a new era of growth, digital innovation, and technological excellence in Qatar and beyond. Copy 03/12/2024 10Provident Bancorp, Inc. Adopts Stock Repurchase ProgramFor the second time in as many days, Missouri flipped the commitment a four-star recruit. On Sunday night, it was Kentucky running back commit Marquise Davis. On Monday, DaMarion Fowlkes — a wide receiver out of Maryland — announced that he was joining Mizzou's 2025 class. He joins Donovan Olugbode and Shaun Terry as receivers who have pledged to the Tigers. Fowlkes had been committed to Pittsburgh since June, but Mizzou extended the receiver an offer Friday and had him in town for a visit for the Tigers' regular-season finale against Arkansas. He is the 230th-ranked player and the 22nd-ranked receiver in his class, according to 247Sports. Fowlkes held offers from Boston College, Indiana and Wake Forest, among others. The 5-foot-10, 175-pound receiver out of Good Counsel High School in Olney, Maryland, caught 47 passes for 761 yards and five touchdowns this season, and his elite, breakaway speed also made him a dangerous return man. He added five punt return touchdowns and one kick return touchdown, totaling 11 TDs and 1,247 all-purpose yards this season. Fowlkes was named to the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference first team as a receiver and returner. Five-star OT Rogers decommits from Mizzou On Monday afternoon, hours after Fowlkes joined the 2025 class, Mizzou saw firsthand that flip season goes both ways. Five-star offensive tackle Lamont Rogers announced on his X account that he was decommiting from the Tigers. Rogers, who had been committed to the Tigers since early July, has taken multiple game-day visits to College Station, Texas, this fall, leading many to assume the five-star offensive tackle will end up at Texas A&M. He played his high school ball at Mesquite Horn in Mesquite, Texas, which is roughly three hours from College Station. He visited Texas A&M on Oct. 5 and saw the Aggies' 41-10 rout of the Tigers in person. Mizzou running back commit Jamarion Morrow is another recruit who might be looking elsewhere. The four-star prospect visited Georgia for the Bulldogs' 31-17 win over Tennessee and was at Texas A&M on Saturday to watch the Aggies' 17-7 loss to Texas. Morrow has yet to decommit, but if he does end up going elsewhere, Mizzou may have another option to turn to. Brendon Haygood, a three-star running back out of Sachse, Texas, visited Columbia for the Arkansas game and decommitted from Boise State shortly before kickoff. Haygood confirmed to the Columbia Missourian that he is announcing his commitment at 8:45 p.m. Tuesday on his Instagram account and will choose between Mizzou and Texas Tech. With the addition of Fowlkes and the loss of Rogers, Mizzou currently sits at 16 commits in the Class of 2025. The Tigers' class is ranked No. 19 in the country, according to 247Sports.Zscaler Reports First Quarter Fiscal 2025 Financial Results
(BPT) - The kitchen is the heart of the home. It's where you gather with loved ones for meals and conversations and make memories and traditions. To achieve these connections (while still making delicious meals), warmth and welcome are key. If you're worried about being out of step with the modern and minimalist design trends of the past few years, consider this: experts have seen a desire among clients for cozier and warmer designs. Are you interested in changing your kitchen and staying in style? Here are four 2025 upcoming trends from design experts across the country who can help you step into the new year on trend. 1. Luxury through personalization While homeowners are seeking a luxury feel for their kitchens, they don't want them to be exactly like that of their neighbors, friends and family members. Instead, there is a desire among clients for personalization while still maintaining a luxe style. "I am seeing a shift toward extremely personal customization," said Jennifer Hutton, Creative Director and Principal Designer at Grau Design Studio. "That's anything from bespoke storage options to specialized cabinet interiors to an emphasis on personal hobbies like creating craft cocktails, baking or even using certain types of cooking equipment." Andrea Harvey, founder of ASH Interiors and Design, has also noted that homeowners want to add personal lifestyle details to their kitchen design. "As always, luxury is about personalization," said Harvey. "Luxury clients want their spaces to be uniquely theirs. They want details that are all about how they live. They would prefer to be 'the only one' than feel they are copying their neighbor or friend." 2. A return to color and warmth Gone are the days of bright whites and cold neutrals. More and more clients are seeking to infuse color and warmth into their kitchen space. "No more gray!" said Ariana Lovato, Founder + Principal Designer of Honeycomb Home Design. "Warm tones and oak finishes will still prevail next year, but people are not shying away from color when it comes to an island or perimeter cabinetry." Hutton has also had clients ask for a darker, warmer aesthetic with textural and colorful interest. "I see luxury kitchen trends taking a turn to a deeper, moodier style, a far cry from the bright white, pristine kitchens from a few years ago," said Hutton. "My clients are looking for unique marbles, lots of texture, organic materials and rich colors." 3. Multiple zones Recent home kitchen designs have mimicked the style and function of professional kitchens that have all you need in one place. However, homes are already departing from this modern trend. "We anticipate our luxury clients' desire for 'multiple zones' to continue to strongly impact 2025 kitchen design," said Linda Engler, founder of Engler Studio. "By multiple zones, I mean specific function areas beyond a primary kitchen: coffee and beverage stations, prep kitchens, sculleries and baking centers." Engler goes on to say that the multiple-zone approach uses a variation of materials and finishes to visually distinguish these stations from the primary kitchen. Because of these zones, designers and clients should expect an increase in appliances, as each zone will require its own package. Another aspect of multiple zones is that homeowners are rediscovering the kitchen as a gathering place. "It's an exciting time in kitchen design because we're starting to see a shift from the super sterile modern kitchen," said Lovato. "Clients want islands that have wrap-around seating for casual conversations and built-in seating options like a nook or a custom banquette attached to the back of an island." 4. Transitional design Are you stuck between designing a modern or traditional kitchen? You can have the best of both worlds by aiming for a transitional design aesthetic. The term "transitional design" can be difficult to nail down, but you can generally think of it as a style that incorporates modern elements like clean, sleek lines with traditional details that are homey and welcoming. "I view transitional design as the bridge that connects traditional and modern," said Engler. "It's the middle ground between two extremes." A simple yet effective way to combine modern and traditional kitchen design is through careful hardware and appliance choices. "Things like faucet style, hardware and light fixtures are examples of elements that can read as transitional and can be switched out over time if needed," said Hutton. "Appliance style also plays a role here. Very professional, grand pieces tone down the modern style and add an 'old school' flair which can neutralize the ultramodern aesthetic." Appliances from luxury brand Signature Kitchen Suite's new Transitional Series are perfect for homeowners seeking clean lines with timeless charm. The series includes wall ovens, induction cooktops, insert hoods, traditional and undercabinet refrigerators, dishwashers and built-in wine columns. These panel-ready units feature satin stainless steel panel and handle kits as well as leading-edge True to Food technology. Not only do they look good, but they allow home chefs to show others their passion for the culinary arts. Opening your home's heart to style and comfort Using these four trends, you can say goodbye to a purely clean and functional aesthetic and hello to a cozy kitchen you and your loved ones will want to spend time in. To learn about more design trends and how you can achieve them in the new year, visit SignatureKitchenSuite.com .
VinFast whistleblower Hazar Denli has filed whistleblower complaints with U.S. whistleblower award programs at the Securities Exchange Commission (SEC) and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). As reported by BBC , Denli has raised concerns about safety issues in the engineering of VinFast electric cars. “We are proud to be representing Mr. Denli, who has demonstrated immense bravery in coming forward with information about critical safety issues,” says Kohn, Kohn & Colapinto (KKC) founding partner Michael Kohn , who is representing Denli in his complaints with U.S. regulators. “We hope that authorities will respond accordingly to such a serious and pressing matter.” “Mr. Denli has found egregious safety issues in VinFast cars that are being sold in the United States,” adds KKC’s Benjamin Calitri , who is representing Denli alongside Kohn. “This case shows the transnational power of U.S. whistleblower laws, as a foreign whistleblower can provide information on an international company that is harming Americans.” Denli was a mechanical engineer and module leader at Tata Technologies Ltd, which is owned by Tata Group, between September 2022 and May 2023. During this time, Denli was “seconded,” along with 300-500 other engineers from Tata Technologies, to work as a contractor at VinFast to engineer their electric cars. During their experience at VinFast, Denli found significant engineering and safety issues with VinFast cars. He raised these issues he found internally, along with solutions to these issues, but was told that the fixes would not be made in order to not delay production. In January 2024, Denli began work at Jaguar Land Rover, which is also owned by Tata Group. After seeing examples of incidents with VinFast cars, including the death of a family of four in California who died in a VinFast VF 8, Denli made an anonymous post on Reddit on May 30, 2024 that explained the engineering issues he found with VinFast cars. VinFast and Tata Group later uncovered that Denli was responsible for this post, and he was fired in July 2024. Denli went public with this information on December 18, 2024 in a series of articles published by BBC News. These articles resulted almost immediately in VinFast cars being retracted from use as taxis in Vietnam. Prior to the publication of these articles, Denli filed whistleblower reports with the SEC Whistleblower Program and the NHTSA Whistleblower Program . The SEC Whistleblower Program offers monetary awards and protections to whistleblowers who disclose securities violations while the NHTSA Whistleblower Program offers awards and protections to those reporting auto safety issues. The NHTSA program was established in 2015 but just adopted final rules in December 2024 . Denli, while located in the United Kingdom, is utilizing U.S. whistleblower award laws as they have been proven to be more effective and offer monetary awards to whistleblowers. The effectiveness of U.S. award laws, and their pull for U.K. whistleblowers, was recently documented in a landmark report by the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI).
Intel CEO Pat Gelsinger has retired, the struggling chipmaker said Monday in a surprise announcement. Two company executives, David Zinsner and Michelle Johnston Holthaus, will act as interim co-CEOs while the company searches for a replacement for Gelsinger, who also stepped down from the company's board. The departure of Gelsinger, whose career spanned more than 40 years, underscores the turmoil at Intel. The company was once a dominant force in the semiconductor industry but has been eclipsed by rival Nvidia, which has cornered the market for chips that run artificial intelligence systems. Gelsinger started at Intel in 1979 and was its first chief technology officer. He returned to the company as chief executive in 2021. Gelsinger said his exit was “bittersweet as this company has been my life for the bulk of my working career,” he said in a statement. “I can look back with pride at all that we have accomplished together. It has been a challenging year for all of us as we have made tough but necessary decisions to position Intel for the current market dynamics.” Zinsner is executive vice president and chief financial officer at Intel. Holthaus was appointed to the newly created position of CEO of Intel Products, which includes the client computing, data center and AI groups. Frank Yeary, independent chair of Intel's board, will become interim executive chair. “Pat spent his formative years at Intel, then returned at a critical time for the company in 2021,” Yeary said in a statement. "As a leader, Pat helped launch and revitalize process manufacturing by investing in state-of-the-art semiconductor manufacturing, while working tirelessly to drive innovation throughout the company.” Gelsinger's departure comes as Intel’s financial woes have been piling up. The company posted a $16.6 billion loss and halted its dividend in the most recent quarter, and its shares have fallen by about 60% since he took over as CEO. Gelsinger announced plans in August to slash 15% of its huge workforce — or about 15,000 jobs — as part of cost-cutting efforts to to save $10 billion in 2025. Nvidia’s ascendance, meanwhile, was cemented earlier this month when it replaced Intel on the Dow Jones Industrial Average. Unlike some of rivals, Intel manufactures chips in addition to designing them. Under Gelsinger, the company has been working to build up its foundry business making semiconductors in the U.S. designed by other firms, in a bid to compete with rivals such as market leader Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. or TSMC. Intel has benefited from tens of billions of dollars that the administration has pledged to support construction of U.S. chip foundries and reduce reliance on Asian suppliers, which Washington sees as a security weakness. After taking over as CEO, Gelsinger unveiled plans to build a $20 billion chipmaking facility in central Ohio , and poured billions more into expanding in Europe , where leaders were also worried about dependence on Asia. The Biden administration had said it would give Intel up to $8.5 billion in federal funding for semiconductor plants around the country, but last week it trimmed that amount , according to three people familiar with the grant who spoke on the condition of anonymity. Shares of the Santa Clara, California, company jumped in early trading Monday but ended the day down 0.5%. AP Business Writer Kelvin Chan contributed to this report from London.
Justus McNair's midcourt 3-pointer at the buzzer gives Valparaiso a 76-73 win over Western MichiganPredictions to take sting out of bluebottle invasions
Property Management Market to grow by USD 11.3 Billion (2024-2028), driven by compliance with industry regulations, with AI transforming the landscape - TechnavioCaitlin Clark honored as AP Female Athlete of the Year following her impact on women's sports Caitlin Clark has been named the AP Female Athlete of the Year after raising the profile of women’s basketball to unprecedented levels in both college and the WNBA. She led Iowa to the national championship game, was the top pick in the WNBA draft and captured rookie of the year honors in the league. Fans packed sold-out arenas and millions of television viewers followed her journey on and off the court. Clark's exploits also put other women's sports leagues in the spotlight. A group of 74 sports journalists from AP and its members voted on the award. Other athletes who received votes included Olympic gold medalist Simone Biles and boxer Imane Khelif. Clark’s only the fourth women’s basketball player to win the award since it was first given in 1931. Soprano Angel Blue sings her first Metropolitan Opera 'Aida' in a new production Angel Blue, one of the most admired singers of her generation, is headlining the Metropolitan Opera’s first new production of Verdi’s “Aida” in 36 years. The 40-year-old takes on the title role of the enslaved Ethiopian princess torn between love for an Egyptian warrior and loyalty to her country. It’s a part that comes weighted with history, especially for a Black soprano at the Met, where Leontyne Price embodied the role from her first performance in 1961 until her retirement in 1985. Blue tells The Associated Press she’s long looked up to Price, and directors who have worked with her say the singer is ready for the challenge. Blue’s Met debut in ‘Aida’ will happen New Year’s Eve. Centuries-old angels uncovered at Boston church made famous by Paul Revere BOSTON (AP) — Conservators have uncovered eight angels in a historic Boston church that counted Paul Revere as a bell ringer and played a pivotal role in the Revolutionary War. The angels were painted in the early 18th century but painted over in 1912 as part of a renovation of the Old North Church. Inspired by research showing the existence of at least 20 angels, conservators for the past four months have been removing the white paint that covered the eight angels located on the balcony's arches in the church sanctuary. The public is now able to view them. Swiss Olympic snowboarder Sophie Hediger dies in avalanche, aged 26 Swiss Olympic snowboarder Sophie Hediger has died following an avalanche at a mountain resort. The country's skiing federation says the incident took place at the Arosa resort in Switzerland. The 26-year-old Hediger competed at the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics in the women’s snowboard cross and the mixed team version of the same event. Hediger achieved her first two World Cup podium finishes in the 2023-24 season. Her best result was a second place in St. Moritz in January. NFL on Netflix: Christmas Day games are a 1st for streaming giant Netflix will have one of its biggest days since the site launched in 1998 when it carries two NFL games for the first time on Christmas. “NFL Christmas Gameday on Netflix” kicks off with a two-hour pregame show at 11 a.m., before Pittsburgh hosts Kansas City. Baltimore faces Houston in the second game. The streaming giant agreed to a three-year contract in May to carry Christmas Day games. Magic and lights draw crowds to an alpine village in Washington state for Christmas LEAVENWORTH, Wash. (AP) — Freshly baked pretzels, shining tree lights and sleds in the snow lend a ruddy warmth to an unlikely collection of Bavarian-themed chalets in the mountains of Washington state. Decades ago, the town of Leavenworth was a near ghost town, one of the poorest parts of the Pacific Northwest. The mines and the sawmill had closed, and even the railroad left. That’s when desperate business owners took a serious gamble -- reinventing the community in the vision of an alpine village. More than half a century later, the result brings tourists from near and far -- especially during the holidays, when Leavenworth takes on the flavor of a German Christmas market. Bill Clinton is hospitalized with a fever but in good spirits, spokesperson says WASHINGTON (AP) — Former President Bill Clinton was admitted Monday to MedStar Georgetown University Hospital in Washington after developing a fever. The 78-year-old was admitted in the “afternoon for testing and observation,” Angel Urena, Clinton’s deputy chief of staff, said in a statement. “He remains in good spirits and deeply appreciates the excellent care he is receiving,” Urena said. Packers clinch playoff berth with 1st shutout in NFL this season, 34-0 over Saints GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — Josh Jacobs gained 107 yards from scrimmage and scored a touchdown for a sixth straight game as the Green Bay Packers clinched a playoff berth while producing the first shutout of the NFL season, 34-0 over the hapless New Orleans Saints. Green Bay improved to 11-4 and earned its fifth postseason appearance in six years. New Orleans played without injured quarterback Derek Carr and running back Alvin Kamara. Rookie Spencer Rattler started and went 15 of 30 for 153 yards with an interception and a fumble. The Packers have won nine of their last 11 games. Prosecutors withdraw appeal of dismissed case against Alec Baldwin in fatal movie set shooting SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico prosecutors won’t pursue an appeal of a court’s decision to dismiss an involuntary manslaughter charge against Alec Baldwin. The actor had been charged in the death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins during a rehearsal on a movie set outside Santa Fe in October 2021. Special Prosecutor Kari Morrissey withdrew on Monday the appeal of a July decision at trial to dismiss the charge. The decision to drop the appeal solidifies the decision by Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer halfway through trial to dismiss the case on allegations that police and prosecutors withheld evidence from the defense. An all-Filipino crew is set to make history in the Sydney to Hobart yacht race SYDNEY (AP) — There have been plenty of “firsts” in the history of the Sydney to Hobart yacht race which was first held in 1945. An all-Filipino crew of 15 sailors will make it another when the annual ocean classic begins in Sydney Harbor on Thursday. With veteran sailor Ernesto Echauz at the helm, Centennial 7 will embark on the 628-nautical mile race. The boat itself is no stranger to the race. Previously, the TP52 yacht was known as Celestial and claimed the Sydney to Hobart overall handicap victory in 2022 under Sam Haynes after being runner-up the year before.
BEIRUT (AP) — Insurgents' stunning march across Syria gained speed on Saturday with news that they had reached the suburbs of the capital and with the government forced to deny rumors that President Bashar Assad had fled the country. The rebels' moves around Damascus, reported by an opposition war monitor and a rebel commander, came after the Syrian army withdrew from much of southern part of the country, leaving more areas, including two provincial capitals, under the control of opposition fighters. 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. As they have advanced, the insurgents, led by the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham group, or HTS, have met little resistance from the Syrian army. 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. In Damascus, people rushed to stock up on supplies. Thousands rushed the Syria border with Lebanon, trying to leave the country. Many shops in the capital were shuttered, a resident told The Associated Press, and those that remained open ran out of staples such as sugar. Some shops 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 reach the outskirts of Damascus since 2018, when Syrian troops recaptured the area following a yearslong siege. Amid the developments, Syria’s state media denied rumors flooding social media that Assad has left the country, saying he is performing his duties in Damascus. Assad's chief international backer, Russia, is busy with its war in Ukraine . Lebanon’s powerful 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, meanwhile, has seen its proxies across the region degraded by regular Israeli airstrikes. Pedersen said a date for the talks in Geneva on the implementation of U.N. Resolution 2254 would be announced later. The resolution, adopted in 2015, 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. 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 also marching from eastern Syria 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. Syria’s military, meanwhile, sent large numbers of reinforcements to defend the key central city of Homs, Syria’s third largest, as insurgents approached its outskirts. 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. HTS leader Abu Mohammed al-Golani told CNN in an interview Thursday from Syria that the aim is to overthrow Assad’s government. The Britain-based Observatory said Syrian troops have withdrawn from much of the two southern provinces and are sending reinforcements to Homs, where a battle is looming. If the insurgents capture Homs, they would cut the link between Damascus, Assad’s seat of power, and the coastal region where the president enjoys wide support. The Syrian army said in a statement Saturday that it has carried out redeployment and repositioning in Sweida and Daraa after its checkpoints came under attack by “terrorists.” The army said it is 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. After the fall of the cities of Daraa and Sweida early Saturday, Syrian government forces remained in control of five provincial capitals — Damascus, Homs and Quneitra, as well as Latakia and Tartus on the Mediterranean coast. Tartus is home to the only Russian naval base outside the former Soviet Union while Latakia is home to a major Russian air base. In the gas-rich nation of Qatar, the foreign ministers of Iran, Russia and Turkey met to discuss the situation in Syria. 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. After the fall of the cities of Daraa and Sweida early Saturday, Syrian government forces remained in control of five provincial capitals — Damascus, Homs and Quneitra, as well as Latakia and Tartus on the Mediterranean coast. On Friday, U.S.-backed fighters of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces captured wide parts of the eastern province of Deir el-Zour that borders Iraq as well as the provincial capital that carries the same name. The capture of areas in Deir el-Zour is a blow to Iran’s influence in the region as the area is the gateway to the corridor linking the Mediterranean to Iran, a supply line for Iran-backed fighters, including Lebanon’s Hezbollah. With the capture of a main border crossing with Iraq by the SDF and after opposition fighters took control of the Naseeb border crossing to Jordan in southern Syria, the Syrian government's only gateway to the outside world is the Masnaa border crossing with Lebanon. Karam reported from London. Associated Press writers Albert Aji in Damascus, Syria and Qassim Abdul-Zahra in Baghdad contributed to this report.AP Trending SummaryBrief at 5:52 p.m. ESTTurkey calls for reconciliation between Syria government and opposition to end conflict
General Motors is selling its stake in the nearly completed Ultium Cells battery cell plant in Lansing, Michigan, to its joint venture partner LG Energy Solution (LGES). GM’s step back from the factory comes amid weakening electric vehicle demand and the potential rollback of Biden administration incentives to produce clean energy domestically. GM and LGES initially teamed up in 2019 to form a joint venture to mass-produce battery cells for electric vehicles. Since then, the two have poured billions into three factories: The Lansing facility that LGES is acquiring; a Spring Hill, Tennessee , facility that started production in 2024; and a Lordstown, Ohio, factory that has been producing battery cells since 2022. The cells produced at the Ohio and Tennessee plants power vehicles like the Chevrolet Silverado EV, GMC Sierra EV, Cadillac LYRIQ, Chevrolet Blazer EV, and Chevrolet Equinox EV, as well as the GMC Hummer EV pickup and SUV. In October, GM dropped the Ultium battery brand name as part of a move to embrace new types of cells and chemistries, like lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries. GM helped set the stage for a movement among automakers and battery manufacturers to onshore battery production after the COVID-19 pandemic. President Joe Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act, which he signed in August 2022, included incentives geared toward helping the U.S. reduce reliance on China for batteries and served as a catalyst for a wave of new battery projects . Aside from LGES, GM also announced a joint venture with Samsung SDI to build a new battery plant in the United States in April 2023 and is working with a handful of startups dedicated to fostering new battery technology. The news of GM’s nonbinding agreement with LGES comes a few months after reports that GM and LGES were slowing the buildout of the Lansing plant, which was expected to start production in 2025. LGES did not respond in time to TechCrunch to confirm if that timeline is still accurate, nor whether the company still expects the plant’s capacity to reach 45 GWh at peak production. Neither company shared the acquisition price, but a spokesperson from GM said the company expects to recoup its initial investment. In a statement, GM said it expects the remaining two plants will be sufficient to meet current demand. GM didn’t share how much LGES is buying the factory for, but a spokesperson for the company said GM expects to recoup its initial investment. GM and LGES initially announced a $2.6 billion investment into the plant, but it’s not clear how much each company has spent. GM also announced Monday that it would work with LGES to jointly develop prismatic battery cells. Levy declined to share whether those cells would be produced at one of the remaining joint venture sites, or if they’ll be manufactured in a yet-to-be-announced facility. At the Ohio and Tennessee plants, GM and LGES have focused on making pouch cells, which have the benefit of being more affordable and flexible in shape. Prismatic cells, while heavier and more expensive, have a higher energy density, longer life cycle, and better heat management.Justus McNair's midcourt 3-pointer at the buzzer gives Valparaiso a 76-73 win over Western Michigan
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