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Another factor contributing to the late-night rally was a wave of foreign investment flowing into Chinese assets. Global investors, seeking higher returns in a low-interest-rate environment, flocked to Chinese equities and bonds, driving up prices and pushing market indexes to new highs.
As Xue Jianing arrived on set, she was greeted warmly by Zhao Lusi and the rest of the cast and crew. The two actresses embraced, their smiles radiating genuine joy at being in each other's presence once again. Despite their busy schedules and the pressures of fame, their friendship remains a constant source of support and comfort for both women.Dallas Cowboys star guard Zack Martin is doubtful for Sunday's game against the Washington Commanders due to ankle and shoulder injuries. Martin didn't practice at all this week. He also physically struggled during Monday night's loss to the Houston Texas. Martin, who turned 34 on Wednesday, has started all 162 games played in 11 seasons with the Cowboys. He's a nine-time Pro Bowl selection and a seven-time first-team All-Pro. Tight end Jake Ferguson (concussion) and safety Markquese Bell (shoulder) have been ruled out. Neither player practiced this week after being hurt against the Texans. Cornerback DaRon Bland (foot) practiced in full this week and will make his season debut. He was injured in August. Star wideout CeeDee Lamb (back/foot) was a full practice participant on Friday and is good to go. Cornerback Trevon Diggs (groin/knee) and receiver Brandin Cooks (knee) are among six players listed as questionable. The others are offensive tackle Chuma Edoga (toe), guard Tyler Smith (ankle/knee), defensive end Marshawn Kneeland (knee) and linebacker Nick Vigil (foot). --Field Level Media
As we celebrate the success of Dr. Zhang and Dr. Li, it is important to reflect on the importance of supporting and fostering the next generation of scientific talent. By investing in education, research, and innovation, we can ensure that China continues to produce world-class scientists who will make important contributions to the advancement of human knowledge and the betterment of society.Chloroprene Rubber Market In 2024: Developing Innovations Like Chloroprene Latex FormulationsPony, a well-known figure in the online community, is revered for her wisdom, eloquence, and impartiality. With a reputation for being a voice of reason and a symbol of fairness, users have turned to her to mediate on an issue that has sparked controversy and divided opinions.
Through sheer hard work and resilience, the couple managed to scale up their operation, expanding their product line to include a variety of radish-based dishes and snacks. Their dedication to quality and innovation earned them a reputation as pioneers in the local food industry, setting a new standard for creativity and excellence in culinary craftsmanship.The rationale behind traders’ decision to accumulate long-term bonds lies in their desire to secure higher yields on their investments. With central banks across the globe maintaining accommodative monetary policies, yields on shorter-term bonds have dwindled to minimal levels, prompting investors to seek higher returns elsewhere. By focusing on long-term debt securities, traders are positioning themselves to benefit from the potential for higher yields over an extended period, even as interest rates remain subdued.
The highly anticipated movie "Wish to See You Again" has just unveiled its final trailer, sending waves of excitement through the hearts of eager fans. Starring the charming duo of Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling, this romantic drama promises to tug at the heartstrings and enchant audiences with its poignant storytelling and unforgettable performances.
In conclusion, the new preview of "Bleach: Soul Awakening" featuring Sosuke Aizen is a tantalizing glimpse into the world of Soul Reapers and the machinations of one of anime's most captivating villains. With its stunning animation, compelling storytelling, and unforgettable characters, this series is sure to leave a lasting impression on fans old and new alike. Stay tuned for the release of "Soul Awakening" and prepare to be swept up in the epic journey that awaits!
Celebrations are in order as two Chinese scientists have been named among the top 10 scientific figures by the prestigious journal Nature. This honor is a testament to their groundbreaking contributions to the field of science and their tireless dedication to advancing human knowledge and understanding.
Prospera Financial Services Inc lessened its stake in shares of Marathon Petroleum Co. ( NYSE:MPC – Free Report ) by 2.7% during the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 7,614 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock after selling 209 shares during the quarter. Prospera Financial Services Inc’s holdings in Marathon Petroleum were worth $1,241,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in MPC. Tranquility Partners LLC raised its position in Marathon Petroleum by 3.5% during the third quarter. Tranquility Partners LLC now owns 10,107 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock valued at $1,646,000 after acquiring an additional 345 shares in the last quarter. Joseph Group Capital Management grew its holdings in Marathon Petroleum by 23.0% in the 3rd quarter. Joseph Group Capital Management now owns 13,955 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock valued at $2,273,000 after buying an additional 2,609 shares in the last quarter. Capital City Trust Co. FL boosted its holdings in Marathon Petroleum by 0.5% in the 3rd quarter. Capital City Trust Co. FL now owns 31,103 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock valued at $5,067,000 after purchasing an additional 167 shares during the last quarter. Islay Capital Management LLC grew its holdings in shares of Marathon Petroleum by 3.8% during the 3rd quarter. Islay Capital Management LLC now owns 7,284 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock worth $1,187,000 after purchasing an additional 266 shares during the period. Finally, Aljian Capital Management LLC purchased a new stake in Marathon Petroleum in the third quarter valued at approximately $464,000. 76.77% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Marathon Petroleum Trading Up 0.1 % Marathon Petroleum stock opened at $159.49 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.94, a quick ratio of 0.76 and a current ratio of 1.23. The business’s 50-day simple moving average is $158.88 and its 200-day simple moving average is $167.81. The firm has a market capitalization of $51.26 billion, a PE ratio of 12.64, a PEG ratio of 2.76 and a beta of 1.38. Marathon Petroleum Co. has a 52 week low of $140.98 and a 52 week high of $221.11. Marathon Petroleum announced that its board has authorized a stock repurchase plan on Tuesday, November 5th that authorizes the company to repurchase $5.00 billion in outstanding shares. This repurchase authorization authorizes the oil and gas company to purchase up to 10% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock repurchase plans are generally an indication that the company’s management believes its stock is undervalued. Marathon Petroleum Increases Dividend The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, December 10th. Investors of record on Wednesday, November 20th will be given a $0.91 dividend. This is a boost from Marathon Petroleum’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.83. This represents a $3.64 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.28%. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, November 20th. Marathon Petroleum’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 26.15%. Analysts Set New Price Targets MPC has been the topic of several analyst reports. Citigroup reduced their price objective on Marathon Petroleum from $172.00 to $167.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, October 10th. Barclays decreased their price objective on Marathon Petroleum from $168.00 to $159.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research note on Monday, November 11th. Morgan Stanley reduced their target price on shares of Marathon Petroleum from $196.00 to $182.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a report on Monday, September 16th. Mizuho lowered their price target on shares of Marathon Petroleum from $198.00 to $193.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a report on Monday, September 16th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. dropped their target price on shares of Marathon Petroleum from $172.00 to $171.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, October 9th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, six have assigned a hold rating, nine have assigned a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $185.07. Check Out Our Latest Stock Report on MPC About Marathon Petroleum ( Free Report ) Marathon Petroleum Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, operates as an integrated downstream energy company primarily in the United States. The company operates through Refining & Marketing, and Midstream segments. The Refining & Marketing segment refines crude oil and other feedstocks at its refineries in the Gulf Coast, Mid-Continent, and West Coast regions of the United States; and purchases refined products and ethanol for resale and distributes refined products, including renewable diesel, through transportation, storage, distribution, and marketing services. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Marathon Petroleum Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Marathon Petroleum and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .The Chinese State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) confirmed the initiation of the antitrust probe into NVIDIA, focusing on the company's business practices, market dominance, and potential violations of fair competition regulations. The investigation comes amid growing concerns over the power wielded by tech behemoths and their impact on market competition and consumer rights.However, the flip side of the coin reveals a potential mismatch between Alibaba's core strengths and the requirements of the gaming industry. While Alibaba excels in e-commerce, cloud computing, and digital services, its platform DNA may not be inherently aligned with the dynamics of content innovation, particularly in the gaming sector. Gaming thrives on creativity, originality, and the ability to push boundaries—traits that may not be fully accommodated within Alibaba's existing framework.
The morning of Sept. 5, 1972, began like any other for producer Geoffrey Mason and his ABC Sports team in Munich: another day of capturing the "thrill of victory and the agony of defeat" at the Summer Olympic Games. But as dawn broke, the control room received word that something was terribly wrong. Details emerged. Members of the Palestinian militant group Black September had taken 11 Israeli athletes hostage, demanding the release of hundreds of prisoners held in their country's jails. Inside the cramped ABC control room, instead of covering athletic triumphs, members of the ABC Sports team suddenly found themselves reporting on a life-or-death crisis playing out in real time a few hundred meters away, as the world watched in horror. "At one point, the doors of the control room busted open and the German police came in, armed with machine guns, and told us to turn the camera off," Mason, now 84 and the only surviving member of the core ABC team, recalled on a recent afternoon over Zoom from his home in Naples, Florida. "That was a seminal moment because we realized what we were doing was having real impact." Hours later, the situation reached a tragic climax when a failed rescue attempt at a nearby airfield led to the deaths of all the hostages , along with five of the attackers and a West German police officer. Now, more than 50 years later, the gripping period thriller "September 5" (in limited release Dec. 13, nationwide Jan. 17) brings these tense moments — the first time a terrorist attack had ever been covered on live TV around the world — back to life. While earlier films like the Oscar-winning 1999 documentary "One Day in September" and Steven Spielberg's 2005 "Munich" have chronicled the events from a broader perspective, director Tim Fehlbaum confines the entire story to the claustrophobic control room, with John Magaro and Peter Sarsgaard heading up the ensemble cast as Mason and ABC Sports president Roone Arledge, respectively, as the ABC team grapples with unprecedented ethical dilemmas and technical hurdles under intense pressure. "I liked the challenge of telling the story just from that room with the cameras as the only eye to the outside world," says the Swiss-born Fehlbaum, who previously helmed the 2021 sci-fi thriller "Tides." "I would never compare myself with Hitchcock, but it's almost like 'Rear Window.' Ultimately, it became a movie about the power of images." "September 5," which has earned strong buzz since its back-to-back premieres at the Venice and Telluride film festivals, has only become more timely in the wake of last year's Oct. 7 Hamas terror attacks on Israel that sparked the ongoing war in Gaza. But the film itself steers clear of overt politics, focusing instead on the media's role in covering real-time crises and shaping public perception. "That [Israeli-Palestinian] situation has been going on since 1948 and, you could argue, for thousands of years before that," says Magaro. "This is a story about the media and our responsibility as citizens in how we consume it. Is showing violence on TV helping us make better decisions as voters? I don't know the answer to that, but maybe the film can open up discussions with people who are in different camps." Amid escalating conflict in the Middle East and heightened political sensitivities, it remains to be seen how audiences will receive a film that revisits a tragedy that still haunts many today. (Families of the slain Israeli athletes reached a deal in 2022 for $28 million in compensation from the German government, which acknowledged its failures in handling the crisis.) Some might welcome the film's nuanced look at the responsibilities of the media, while others may find it difficult to separate its historical focus from the emotionally charged realities of the current moment. While "September 5" has assumed new, and not entirely welcome, resonance since Oct. 7, its meticulous production was years in the making. Fehlbaum, who co-wrote the script with Moritz Binder and Alex David, relied heavily on the insights and recollections of Mason, who played a crucial role as a consultant. "As we began to re-create the story, I would be reminded of things that I hadn't thought of in years," says Mason, who arranged for Fehlbaum and Magaro to spend time in a CBS control room for research. "At the time, there were so many things happening at once out of nowhere, we didn't really have time to think, 'I wonder how we're doing with this?' We knew the trust we had in each other and we knew how to cover events live. We were just doing what we were hired to do: Tell stories not about ice skates or about baseball bats but about human beings." Shooting in Munich near where the actual events took place, Fehlbaum, inspired by claustrophobic films like Wolfgang Petersen's 1981 submarine drama "Das Boot," sought to maintain an atmosphere of gritty verisimilitude on the set. "A lot of times in period movies, the clothes look pressed and everything is very clean," says Sarsgaard. "We were drenched in sweat the entire time. There was never enough sweat for Tim. The lived-in clothing, the ashtrays — it all creates a physical reality." In their dedication to authenticity, Fehlbaum and his production team sourced period-accurate equipment from old television stations and collectors, much of it still working, to re-create the analog control-room setup as faithfully as possible. Adding to the documentary-style realism, the film weaves in actual footage from the ABC broadcast that day, to which Mason helped secure the rights shortly before filming began. "I had always said to the producers, 'I'm not going to do the movie if you can't license the footage,'" Fehlbaum says. As "September 5" was in postproduction, the Oct. 7 attacks reignited the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, adding an unexpected relevance to the film. Though the events it depicts took place more than a half-century ago, Sarsgaard anticipates that some moviegoers will bring their own feelings about the current situation in the Middle East to the theater. "You can't control how people are going to react to things," he says. "I can't anticipate how the audience will feel about this tragic situation," Fehlbaum says. "On the other hand, the conflict was never solved. It has just tragically escalated again. But we chose to focus on the media's perspective, and the film is a reflection on how we consume these stories." For Mason, it took time to fully grasp the significance of what his team had accomplished that day. "Whether it was on a mountainside in Innsbruck or in a figure skating hall in Hungary, we knew how to tell stories about people, good and bad, and that's what we did — and as it turns out, we did it well," he says. "Since that day, I have been filled with an immense pride about how well we used the resources we had, under Arledge's guidance, and what positive impact it had on the level of coverage of live events, sports or news, in our industry." In the immediate aftermath of the tragedy, after nearly 21 hours of nonstop, adrenaline-fueled broadcasting, Mason and his ABC colleague Don Ohlmeyer returned to the Sheraton Munich hotel, where they were staying in adjoining rooms. "We built ourselves a giant cocktail, sat on the side of the bed and cried like babies," Mason remembers. "It was the first time we were able to touch that emotion. We'd been too busy telling the story to feel it." ©2024 Los Angeles Times. Visit latimes.com . Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC Copyright 2024 Tribune Content Agency. Get local news delivered to your inbox!2. Using Generators Indoors: Using a generator indoors, such as in a garage, basement, or enclosed space, can lead to carbon monoxide buildup. Generators should always be used outside and placed at least 20 feet away from the home to prevent CO exposure.
Stock market today: Wall Street’s rally stalls as Nasdaq pulls back from its recordOhio politician proposes bill to make flag planting a felony after fight in Michigan rivalry gameAn Ohio teacher is suing her school district after she was reprimanded and ultimately suspended for having books with LGBTQ characters in her classroom. Karen Cahall, an elementary school teacher, filed a federal case against the school board, Superintendent Tracey Miller and board members Todd Wells, Tim DuFau, Robert Wooten, Jonathan Zimmerman and Amy Story, The Cincinnati Enquirer reported Friday. "Cahall maintains sincere and deeply rooted moral and religious beliefs that all children, including children who are LGBTQ+ or the children of parents who are LGBTQ+, deserve to be respected, accepted, and loved for who they are," her lawsuit reads . So far, the school district won't comment. ALSO READ: A mysterious group of Republicans is secretly rewriting the Constitution The report said there is no policy specifically regarding book bans, only a blanket "controversial issues" rule . It says that topics "likely to arouse both support and opposition in the community" are allowed to be taught in classrooms so long as they are related to the class's instructional goals, encourage open-mindedness, and teachers don't "tend to indoctrinate or persuade students to a particular point of view." Anything outside the curriculum has to be approved by a principal. Cahall called the rule unconstitutional and said it was the reason she was suspended without pay. Four books with LGBTQ characters were on the shelf in her classroom, along with about 100 other books available to students. The lawsuit noted they weren't prominently displayed and she never read from or taught them, nor required students to read them. They were simply on the shelf. The lawsuit also said there's no sexual activity in the books, rather their characters "are coming to terms with feeling different and excluded." Parent Kayla Shaw complained. Cahall has taught in the school district for more than 30 years. Conservatives have used their faith to censor books in the past, The Interfaith Alliance noted in September ahead of new congressional legislation. “Censorship is a religious freedom issue — book banning is a political strategy that could silence diverse religious voices and traditions that are a major part of the rich social fabric of America,” said Interfaith Alliance president, Rev. Paul Brandeis Raushenbush. “Sadly, many who want to ban books use religion as their excuse to target LGBTQIA+ voices, communities of color, and many others. In fact, most people of faith and conscience in this country oppose these harmful efforts – and stand firmly behind the right to read.” The superintendent said Cahall knew the books were banned because her request was denied to include them in the library. "You subsequently placed the books in your classroom library without putting them through the established approval process," a disciplinary letter Miller sent to Cahall said. "It is my sincere hope that you will internalize the discipline you are receiving and that you will reflect upon this in order to change," Miller continued. "However, if you continue to behave in this manner in the future, you will be subjected to more severe discipline up to and including termination of your employment."
Amidst the swirling rumors and allegations, a sense of unease and unrest settled over the village. Long-standing friendships were tested, and divisions among the villagers became starkly apparent. Accusations and counter-accusations flew back and forth, heightening tensions and sowing distrust among the community.The international community has also expressed alarm at the Israeli military’s aggressive tactics, with many world leaders calling for restraint and urging both sides to seek peaceful resolution to their differences. The United Nations has issued a statement condemning the airstrikes and calling for dialogue and diplomacy to prevent further escalation of hostilities.
The revelation of the graduate's betrayal has not only tarnished their reputation but has also raised questions about the vetting process for individuals working in sensitive positions. How could someone with such promising prospects and a bright future succumb to the temptation of selling out their own country for personal gain?Lebanon is closing all its land border crossings with Syria except for a main one that links Beirut with the Syrian capital Damascus, the General Security Directorate said Friday. The decision came hours after an Israeli airstrike damaged a border crossing in northern Lebanon just days after it was reopened. Separately, Jordan’s interior minister said the Naseeb border crossing with Syria had been closed because of the security situation on the Syrian side. He spoke after Syrian opposition activists said insurgents had captured the main border crossing with Jordan, forcing the Syrian authorities to leave. Israel’s military said it planned to reinforce its positions in the Israeli-annexed Golan Heights and near the border with Syria. Israel said it was “monitoring developments and is prepared for all scenarios, offensive and defensive alike.” Meanwhile, Syrian insurgents entered the central towns of Rastan and Talbiseh early Friday just north of the central city of Homs, bringing them closer Syria’s third largest city, an opposition war monitor and pro-government media both reported. The breakthrough came a day after jihiadi-led opposition fighters captured the central city of Hama , Syria’s fourth largest. In other developments, a Hamas official said international mediators have resumed negotiations with the Palestinian militant group and Israel over a ceasefire in Gaza, and he was hopeful a deal to end the 14-month war is within reach. Israel's war against Hamas has destroyed vast areas of Gaza and displaced 90% of the population of 2.3 million, often multiple times. The war began when Hamas-led militants stormed into southern Israel in October 2023, killing some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and taking around 250 people hostage . Israel’s blistering retaliatory offensive has killed at least 44,600 Palestinians , more than half of them women and children, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry, which does not say how many of the dead were combatants. Israel says it has killed over 17,000 militants, without providing evidence. ___ Here's the Latest: DEIR AL-Balah, Gaza Strip — An Israeli strike hit a residential building in central Gaza's Nuseirat refugee camp on Friday evening, killing at least 12 people, including six children and four women, according to officials at Awda Hospital. The strike wounded at least 46 others, including 13 children and 12 women, and damaged several neighboring houses, the hospital said. Israel’s offensive has killed over 44,600 Palestinians in Gaza, mostly women and children, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, which does not say how many were combatants. The Israeli military says it has killed over 17,000 militants, without providing evidence. CAIRO — Israel said Friday that “thousands of food packages and sacks of flour” were delivered to the isolated northernmost reaches of Gaza, where hunger experts warn famine could be underway. The delivery would mark one of the first successful convoys to the area, which is besieged by Israeli troops that have mounted a fierce offensive in Gaza’s north since early October. COGAT, the Israeli military agency that controls the border crossings into Gaza, said the aid was delivered to the town of Beit Hanoun. Israeli authorities did not publicly say who delivered the aid, and did not provide details on the exact amount of aid involved. COGAT released photos of flatbed trucks driving past rubble, some carrying what appeared to be 25-kilogram (55 pound) sacks of aid and others with cargo covered under tarps. The U.N. has struggled to deliver aid to the area in recent weeks. Alia Zaki, a spokesperson for the World Food Program, told The Associated Press that nearly no food has entered the area for two months, and that the agency’s daily requests to enter the area have been denied by Israel. Of two missions that have been approved since Oct. 6, Zaki said, only two trucks of aid were delivered to a shelter that Israeli soldiers ordered to evacuate soon after and then burned. The situation in northern Gaza has prompted hunger experts to warn that famine is either near or may already be underway. BEIRUT — A Kurdish-led force in Syria that's backed by the United States says it has taken positions along the border with Iraq, replacing Syrian government forces. The move by the Syrian Democratic Forces to capture areas on the west bank of the Euphrates River is likely to cut the land line that links Iran with the Mediterranean coast. The SDF said in a statement that its fighters were deployed in the eastern city of Deir el-Zour and west of the Euphrates for the safety of civilians. “Our primary objective is to protect our security and the security of our people,” it said about the deployment. SDF spokesman Farhad Shami told The Associated Press that their fighters are not in control of the Boukamal border crossing with Iraq. Rami Abdurrahman of the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, an opposition war monitor, said Iran-backed fighters have evacuated the border crossing point of Boukamal and the SDF is expected to control it later. The Boukamal border crossing has been a main supply line for Iran-backed fighters, including Lebanon’s Hezbollah, who had opened the corridor that links Iran with the Mediterranean in 2017. The developments come as jihadi-led insurgents in northwestern Syria have made stunning advances over the past week that have so far met little resistance from government troops. KHAN YOUNIS, Gaza Strip — Crowds of displaced Palestinians, some carrying cooking pots and crying children, gathered at an aid kitchen in the southern Gaza city of Khan Younis on Friday, but many left with nothing. “The food ran out,” said Adel Mohammad, who was hoping to get a meal of rice – the only food being served — for his children. “At night they wake up hungry.” After the kitchen shut down, children used their hands to scoop bits of rice left in large empty cooking pots. The World Food Program has warned that the humanitarian response in Gaza is “nearing collapse as famine looms.” The U.N. agency says Israeli restrictions on aid deliveries, along with the breakdown of law and order in Gaza, has made it difficult for aid convoys to reach displaced Palestinians. Concerns are growing with the onset of another winter of war. Hundreds of thousands of Palestinians, many displaced repeatedly by Israeli attacks, are living in tent camps, reliant on international aid. Experts have already warned of famine in northern Gaza, which Israeli forces have almost completely isolated since early October. BEIRUT -- Lebanon’s General Security Directorate said Friday the country is closing all land border crossing with Syria except for a main one that links Beirut with the Syrian capital Damascus. The decision by the security agency in charge of border crossings came hours after an Israeli airstrike damaged the Arida border crossing with Syria in north Lebanon, days after it was reopened. “Border crossings will be closed until further notice for the safety of travelers,” the agency said in a statement posted on X. It said that the only border crossing that will be kept open is Masnaa in Lebanon’s eastern Bekaa Valley. Lebanon’s state news agency said Friday the airstrike on the Arida crossing caused heavy material damage and cut the road. The Israeli military said fighter jets attacked the border crossing between Lebanon and Syria, adding that they were used to transfer munitions for Lebanon’s Hezbollah group. BEIRUT - Syrian opposition activists say insurgents have captured a main border crossing with Jordan forcing Syrian authorities to leave it. Shortly afterward, Jordan’s Interior Minister al-Frayeh said the Naseeb border crossing with Syria had been closed because of the security situation on the Syrian side. Opposition activists posted videos online showing people storming the border crossing with Jordan, which was in rebel hands until government forces regained control of it in 2018. Ahmad al-Masalmeh, an opposition activist based in France who covers events in southern Syria, told The Associated Press that local gunmen have captured the Naseeb crossing as well as several other areas in the southern province of Daraa where the uprising against President Bashar Assad began in March 2011. Syrian troops have evacuated checkpoints in several areas including the villages of Inkhil, Nawa and Jassem, he added. JERUSALEM — Israel’s military said on Friday that it planned to reinforce its forces stationed in the Golan Heights and near the border with Syria, where civil war has reignited between the government and rebel groups. The Israeli military said in a statement that it was “monitoring developments and is prepared for all scenarios, offensive and defensive alike.” After 13 years of civil war, Syrian insurgents are gaining ground, first taking cities in the country’s north and on Friday entering cities in central Syria. It comes as rebel groups mount new challenges to Russia- and Iran-backed Syrian forces, including in Aleppo, the country’s largest city. Since Oct. 7, 2023, Israel has intermittently struck areas in Syria seen as strongholds of Hezbollah, the Lebanese militant group it is at war with in Lebanon. The advances of the Syrian insurgents adds new instability on Israel’s northern border, two months after it invaded neighboring Lebanon. Israel’s defense minister and military chief of staff met to discuss the situation Thursday. Israeli media reported there is concern in the country’s security establishment that the rebels would advance until they reached the Golan Heights, territory occupied by Israel, gaining control of Syrian weapons stockpiles along the way. Writing in the Israeli daily Yedioth Ahoronoth Friday, veteran military correspondent Ron Ben-Yishai wrote that Israel may “prefer” to destroy the weapons storehouses so they won’t fall into the hands of the rebels. Israel seized control of the Golan Heights from Syria in the 1967 Mideast war. Syria has constantly accused Israel of launching attacks against it from territory it occupies in the Golan Heights. Israel has frequently struck Syria over the years. BEIRUT — Syrian insurgents entered two central towns early Friday just north of the central city of Homs, bringing them closer Syria’s third largest city, an opposition war monitor and pro-government media both reported. The break into Rastan and Talbiseh came a day after opposition gunmen captured the central city of Hama , Syria’s fourth largest, after the Syrian army said it withdrew to avoid fighting inside the city and spare the lives of civilians. The insurgents, led by the jihadi Hayat Tahrir al-Sham group, or HTS, have said that they will march to Homs and Damascus, President Bashar Assad’s seat of power. The city of Homs, parts of which were controlled by insurgents until 2014, is a major intersection point between the capital, Damascus, and Syria’s coastal provinces of Latakia and Tartus where Assad enjoys wide support. Homs province is Syria’s largest in size and borders Lebanon, Iraq and Jordan. Insurgents are now 5 kilometers (3 miles) away from Homs, according to the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, an opposition war monitor. “The battle of Homs is the mother of all battles and will decide who will rule Syria,” said Rami Abdurrahman, the Observatory’s chief. MANAMA, Bahrain — Iran said Friday it conducted a successful space launch, the latest for its program the West alleges improves Tehran’s ballistic missile technology. Iran conducted the launch using its Simorgh program , a satellite-carrying rocket that had had a series of failed launches, at Iran’s Imam Khomeini Spaceport in rural Semnan province. That’s the site of Iran’s civilian space program. The Simorgh carried what Iran described as an “orbital propulsion system,” as well as two research systems to a 400-kilometer (250-mile) orbit above the Earth. A system that could change the orbit of a spacecraft would allow Iran to geo-synchronize the orbits of its satellites. Tehran has long sought that ability. Iran also put the payload of the Simorgh at 300 kilograms (660 pounds), heavier than its previous successful launches. There was no immediate independent confirmation the launch was successful. The U.S. military did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The announcement comes as heightened tensions grip the wider Middle East over Israel’s continued war on Hamas in the Gaza Strip and as an uneasy ceasefire holds in Lebanon. MELBOURNE, Australia — Arsonists extensively damaged a Melbourne synagogue on Friday in what Australia’s prime minister condemned as an antisemitic attack on Australian values. The blaze in the Adass Israel Synagogue is an escalation in targeted attacks in Australia since the war began between Israel and Hamas last year. Cars and buildings have been vandalized and torched around Australia in protests inspired by the war. A witness who had come to the synagogue to pray saw two masked men spreading a liquid accelerant with brooms inside the building at 4:10 a.m., officials said. About 60 firefighters with 17 fire trucks responded to the blaze, which police said caused extensive damage. Investigators have yet to identify a motive, but Prime Minister Anthony Albanese blamed antisemitism. “This was a shocking incident to be unequivocally condemned. There is no place in Australia for an outrage such as this,” Albanese told reporters. “To attack a place of worship is an attack on Australian values. To attack a synagogue is an act of antisemitism, is attacking the right that all Australians should have to practice their faith in peace and security,” he added. ISTANBUL — A Hamas official says international mediators have resumed negotiating with the militant group and Israel over a ceasefire in Gaza, and that he was hopeful a deal to end the 14-month war was within reach. Ceasefire negotiations were halted last month when Qatar suspended talks with mediators from Egypt and the United States because of frustration over a lack of progress between Israel and Hamas. But there has been a “reactivation” of efforts in recent days to end the fighting, release hostages from Gaza and free Palestinian prisoners in Israel, according to Bassem Naim, an official in Hamas’ political bureau who spoke with The Associated Press in Turkey on Thursday. Another official familiar with the talks confirmed the return of Qatari mediators. The official spoke Thursday on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the negotiations with the media. Since the talks broke down, there have been significant shifts in the global and regional landscape. Donald Trump won the U.S. presidential election, and a ceasefire was declared last week between Israel and Hamas ally Hezbollah in Lebanon. Trump is a staunch supporter of Israel, but Naim said he believes the incoming administration could “affect the situation positively” given that Trump had made halting wars in the region part of his campaign platform. Trump this week called for the release of all hostages held in Gaza by the time he takes office on Jan. 20, saying there would be “hell to pay” if that doesn’t happen. WASHINGTON -- Three U.S. service members were being evaluated for potential traumatic brain injuries following an attack near a base in eastern Syria this week, Pentagon press secretary Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder said Thursday. Ryder said U.S. Central Command is still evaluating who was behind the attack near Mission Support Site Euphrates, which prompted the U.S. to conduct counter strikes on Tuesday. At the time, the Pentagon said rockets and mortars had landed in the vicinity of the base. The U.S. has about 900 troops in Syria to conduct missions to counter the Islamic Stage group. ___ By Lolita BaldorTitle: Interpreting the Future Trends of A-shares: Policy Boost to Boost Market ConfidenceIn conclusion, while the top 30 positions in the ITTF world rankings for both men and women remained unchanged, the rise of Doo Hoi Kem to world number 35 is a significant achievement. Her hard work, talent, and dedication have propelled her to new heights in the world of table tennis, and she is poised to continue making her mark on the international stage. Doo Hoi Kem's success serves as an inspiration to aspiring players around the world and a reminder that with passion and perseverance, dreams can become a reality.
With these four new signings in place, Beijing Guoan is poised to launch a strong challenge for the title in the upcoming season. The team's fans can look forward to an exciting brand of football under Setién's guidance, with a blend of flair, creativity, and tactical discipline on display. The stage is set for an intriguing campaign as Beijing Guoan aims to make their mark both domestically and on the continental stage.The Department of Finance (DoF) has secured foreign loans worth $5.67 billion or P333.42 billion for 12 projects this year to improve the country’s transportation, defense, digital technology, healthcare and agriculture. DoF said the government received the total fund under concessional official development assistance (ODA) agreements. With these, the Philippines can pay low or nearly zero interest rates offered by foreign governments and multilateral or bilateral institutions. “That is why we make sure that we enter into partnerships with very trusted partners and that the terms of our agreements are very concessional and cost-effective so we can deliver more projects that create lasting impact for generations,” Finance Secretary Ralph Recto said. 61.3% debt-to-GDP ratio The country’s debt-to-GDP (gross domestic product) ratio stood at 61.3 percent as of the third quarter, which the DoF said remained “manageable” or lower than the International Monetary Fund’s threshold of 70 percent. DoF said the government is mobilizing the loans to construct the Metro Manila Subway Project (Phase 1), the country’s first underground railway system, and the Laguna Lakeshore Road Network Project, a 37.5-kilometer road on the country’s largest lake that will connect trade hubs in Metro Manila to those in nearby provinces such as Subic Bay in Zambales and Clark in Pampanga. The Asian Development Bank (ADB) said job opportunities for 3.47 million residents along Laguna Lake can arise once developers complete its road network in 2027. “The project will help link people to jobs and business opportunities, reduce transport costs and traffic congestion, and improve the efficiency of the overall transport network in Metro Manila and nearby regions,” ADB Country Director for the Philippines Pavit Ramachandran said. The other projects include the Dalton Pass East Alignment Alternative Road Project, the Bataan-Cavite Interlink Bridge Project, the Samar Pacific Coastal Road II Project, the New Dumaguete Airport Development Project, the Maritime Safety Capability Improvement Project Phase III, and the Infrastructure for Safer and Resilient Schools Project. DoF also signed financing agreements to implement the Philippines’ First and Second Digital Transformation Program, the Second Sustainable Recovery Program, and the Build Universal Health Care Program. To mitigate climate change and ensure the livelihood of farmers, who are the most vulnerable group to natural disasters, DoF also secured loans for the Value Chain Innovation for Sustainable Transformation in Agrarian Reform Communities Project, and the Climate Change Action Program Subprogram 2. With these projects, DoF expects production and investment activities in the country to accelerate toward an annual economic growth of 6 to 8 percent until 2028. With increasing government revenues, DoF also projects less reliance on loans at 56 percent debt-to-GDP ratio by 2028 from 61.3 percent as of the third quarter this year.