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TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — The dramatic downfall of Syrian President Bashar Assad presents possible danger, and an opening, for neighboring Israel. After fighting wars on multiple fronts for months, Israel is now concerned that unrest in Syria could spill over into its territory. Israel also views the end of the Assad regime as a chance to disrupt Iran's ability to smuggle weapons through Syria to the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah. The Israeli military over the weekend began seizing control of a demilitarized buffer zone in Syria created as part of a 1974 ceasefire between the countries. It said the move was temporary and meant to secure its border. But the incursion sparked condemnation, with critics accusing Israel of violating the ceasefire and possibly exploiting the chaos in Syria for a land grab. Israel still controls the Golan Heights that it captured from Syria during the 1967 Mideast war and later annexed — a move not recognized by most of the international community. Here’s a look at recent developments along the Syrian frontier. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Sunday that Israeli forces were moving to control a roughly 400-square-kilometer (155-square-mile) demilitarized buffer zone in Syrian territory. The buffer zone between Syria and the Israeli-controlled Golan Heights was created by the U.N. after the 1973 Mideast war. A U.N. force of about 1,100 troops has patrolled the area since then. On a visit Sunday to a Golan Heights hilltop overlooking Syria, Netanyahu said that because Syrian troops had abandoned their positions, Israel's move into the buffer zone was necessary as a "temporary defensive position.” “The peacekeepers at (the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force, or UNDOF) informed the Israeli counterparts that these actions would constitute a violation of the 1974 disengagement agreement, that there should be no military forces or activities in the area of separation,” said U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric. He added that the buffer zone was calm and UNDOF peacekeepers remained in their position. The Security Council is scheduled to meet for special consultations called by Russia to discuss the buffer zone issue. The rebels who ousted Assad and now control much of Syria are led by a former senior al-Qaida militant , although he severed ties with the extremist group years ago and has promised representative government and religious tolerance. On Monday evening, Netanyahu said Assad’s fall is the “direct result of the heavy blows we landed on Hamas, on Hezbollah and on Iran.” He added that Israel would occupy the summit of Mount Hermon, which is within the buffer zone on the Syria-Lebanon border, and at 2,814 meters (9,232 feet) is the highest peak in the eastern Mediterranean coast. Israel has sent both ground and air troops into the buffer zone, including on the Syrian side of snow-dusted Mount Hermon, which is divided between the Golan Heights, Lebanon, and Syria. Only the United States recognizes Israel's control of the Golan Heights. Israeli troops began moving into the buffer zone Saturday. Also on Saturday, armed men attacked U.N. forces near the border with Israel, according to Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar. “(The Israeli military) took targeted and temporary control of certain areas near the border to prevent an Oct. 7 scenario from Syria,” Saar said, referring to Hamas' surprise 2023 attack into Israel from the Gaza Strip. Many in the region condemned the move. The Egyptian Foreign Ministry accused Israel of “exploiting the power vacuum ... to occupy more Syrian territories and create a fait accompli in violation of international law.” This isn’t the first time Israel has entered the buffer zone this year. An Associated Press report last month examining satellite imagery found that Israel had been working on a construction project, possibly a new road, along the border with Syria from as early as July, and had in some cases entered the buffer zone during construction. Following the AP report, U.N. forces warned that the Israeli military has committed “severe violations” of its ceasefire deal with Syria. Israeli political and military leaders have stressed that the seizure of the buffer zone is temporary and not a prelude to entering other parts of Syrian territory. “The plan at the moment is that this is a temporary step to make sure stability is kept in the border, making sure the buffer zone is kept, and the U.N. forces can stay,” said a military official, who spoke on condition of anonymity in line with military guidelines. The official noted that in 2014, U.N. peacekeepers fled the buffer zone after al-Qaida-linked Syrian rebels attacked their encampments. After armed men attacked U.N. forces over the weekend, Israel wanted to ensure the situation did not repeat itself, the official said. Israel isn’t currently trying to change the border or prepare for an invasion into Syria, said Carmit Valensi, a senior researcher at the Institute for National Security Studies, a Tel Aviv think-tank. “Right now, it’s a tactical operation, not a long-term strategy, in response to the dynamic situation in Syria,” she said. With the collapse of the Syrian army, Israel wants to protect its borders until the situation stabilizes, she said. Israel says its immediate goal is to prevent the instability in Syria from spreading into the border region. Defense Minister Israel Katz on Monday laid out Israel’s plans for the border area. He said that after completing the takeover of the buffer zone, Israel would create a “security zone” beyond it by destroying heavy artillery across Syria and preventing Iran from smuggling weapons through Syria into Lebanon. Foreign Minister Saar said Monday that Israel has struck multiple sites holding chemical weapons and long-range missiles to prevent them from falling into the hands of hostile actors. Saar did not say when the strikes occurred. Analysts said Israel is likely to continue carrying out strikes against targets across Syria. Israel is planning outreach to Syria’s Druze population , a close-knit religious minority that also lives in Israel, Jordan and Lebanon and has maintained some ties across borders. Israel is also trying to open lines of communication with Syrian rebel groups, to help ensure Iranian-backed factions don’t reclaim any territory, according to Valensi. For many years, Israel quietly provided food, medicine, clothing and other assistance to war-ravaged southern Syria through “Operation Good Neighbor,” which ended in 2018. More than 4,000 wounded and sick Syrians received medical treatment in Israel or in Israeli field hospitals, and those non-diplomatic connections could now prove crucial. Associated Press writer Edith M. Lederer contributed from the United Nations.
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Scouted selects products independently. If you purchase something from our posts, we may earn a small commission. Whether you’re looking to treat your fur family to some holiday gifts of their own or are downright stumped on what to get for a certain someone on your list who has everything (and stubbornly swears they don’t want anything), opting for a gift for pets is always a safe bet. Plus, since both the pet and its owner will surely enjoy the gift you gave them, it’s basically a two-for-one package. There are an endless amount of gift options for pets and pet parents besides the cliche go-tos like holiday outfits and simple Santa stockings filled with the same treats they already get year-round. Nowadays, you can find pet-specific subscription boxes, luxe oversized pet beds with human-grade memory foam cushioning, and even AI-powered pet portraits. ADVERTISEMENT Whether the giftee has a puppy, cat, rabbit, or anything in between, there are plenty of cute gifts for pets that will delight both animal and human this holiday—or any time of the year. So yes, regardless of whether you just needed another excuse to spoil your own fur baby or need a gift idea for someone who’s notoriously difficult to shop for, opting for a gift for pets is the foolproof route.OnePlus Open 2 Will Launch Later Than Previously RumoredIt has taken new Michigan coach Dusty May just nine games to guide the Wolverines into the Top 25. May and the Wolverines enter the poll at No. 14 and strive to continue their strong start when they face Arkansas in the Jimmy V Classic on Tuesday night in New York. Michigan (8-1) has reeled off seven straight wins to crack the rankings for the first time in nearly 25 months. "All this stuff doesn't matter to me," May said of the rankings. "It does change the complexion of what we think about and things like that. Overall, I like where we are. We have guys who work well together and they put in the time." The Wolverines look to remain hot against the Razorbacks (7-2). John Calipari's first Arkansas squad has won its past two games. Calipari spent the previous 15 seasons as coach of Kentucky and claims he's excited to be in Arkansas. "I'm not bitter about anything. I'm not," Calipari said. "This is the first page of the first chapter of a new book. The timing for me and my career and my life, this is perfect. And I appreciate the fans and everybody giving me the opportunity to do that." The Razorbacks will be searching for their initial milestone victory under Calipari during their first visit to Madison Square Garden since 1997. Their losses this season are to then-No. 8 Baylor and Illinois on neutral courts. Calipari grabbed several players out of the transfer portal in the offseason, including guard Johnell Davis, one of the stars of the Florida Atlantic team that reached the 2023 Final Four. That squad was coached by May. One of the other Florida Atlantic starters was center Vladislav Goldin, who followed May to Michigan after the coach was hired in the offseason. Goldin has strung together three straight solid games, including a season-best 24 points in a 67-64 road win over then-No. 11 Wisconsin on Dec. 3. He followed that up with 20 points and a season-high 11 rebounds in Saturday's 85-83 home win over Iowa. "He's just been a guy that you can see when he's really locked in and focused there's a different level of play," said May, "and I think now he's finding that level of play." Goldin is part of a balanced attack. Roddy Gayle Jr. averages a team-best 12.2 points per game, followed by Tre Donaldson and Danny Wolf at 12.1 and Goldin at 12.0. Wolf averages a team-best 10 rebounds per game. Arkansas is coming off a 75-60 home victory over UTSA on Saturday. Adou Thiero excelled by matching his career high of 26 points to go with 10 rebounds. Thiero scored 17 points in the second half when the Razorbacks overcame a five-point halftime deficit to outscore the Roadrunners by 20. "We've been seeing that the whole summer," Arkansas forward Trevon Brazile said of Thiero's strong play. "Him dominating. Dominating in practice and (Calipari) pushing him. This is just a reflection of the work he's done this summer and him trusting the coaches." Thiero leads the Razorbacks with averages of 18.6 points and 6.1 rebounds. Boogie Fland is averaging 15 points and Zvonimir Ivisic is scoring 12 per game. Davis (9.3) started slow with just two double-digit outings in the first seven games before averaging 12.5 over the last two games. Michigan holds a 4-3 edge in the all-time series. The Wolverines recorded an 80-67 home victory on Dec. 8, 2012 in the most recent meeting. --Field Level Media
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BOCA RATON, Fla. (AP) — Deshawn Purdie threw a 47-yard touchdown pass to O'Mega Blake for the go-ahead score and Charlotte defeated Florida Atlantic 39-27 on Saturday in a game that matched two new interim coaches. Charlotte (4-7, 3-4 American Athletic Conference) fired Biff Poggi on Monday and Tim Brewster took over. FAU (2-9, 0-7) fired Tom Ferman, also on Monday, with Chad Lunsford taking charge. After Blake's third touchdown catch of the game that came with 5:25 left, the 49ers extended their lead when Tyriq Starks was strip-sacked by Ja'Qurious Conley and 335-pound Katron Kevans carried it 22 yards into the end zone. Blake made five catches for a career-high 205 yards, including a 75-yard touchdown. Purdie was 16 of 30 for a career-best 396 yards passing with the three scores plus an interception. The 49ers only rushed for 46 yards. Stephen Rusnak kicked four field goals. Starks was 12-of-23 passing for 179 yards including a 65-yard score to Omari Hayes in the final minute of the third quarter to get FAU within six of the 49ers. CJ Campbell rushed 58 yards to score early in the fourth quarter and the Owls had a 27-26 lead. Campbell finished with 150 yards on 21 carries. AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-football . Sign up for the AP’s college football newsletter: https://apnews.com/cfbtop25
By Eugene Lee It has been a while since I've touched upon Central Asia, so this one is due. Moreover, even if I write about Central Asia in general, this time I'll write about a country I rarely mention: Uzbekistan. Some will say what is important about it, as we already know much about it. Plus, it is one of the countries that Korea has been working most closely with in Central Asia. Well, not everything has been properly mentioned, especially what Uzbekistan is doing, which is an example of unequivocal importance to Korea. First of all, let's look at Uzbekistan's recent history. Between former Soviet republics, it is one that has been developing most steadily, and it is primarily due to the choices that the government, led by President Karimov, made several decades ago. If his choices came after studying Korea's development experience, namely planned development, then today the current administration, led by President Mirziyoyev, is looking even further at what should and shouldn't be a part of the plan. One standout feature of these choices is the emphasis on comprehensive strategic planning. For example, the 2030 Strategy, enacted in 2023, lays out specific targets for education, health care, environmental sustainability and economic diversification, ensuring accountability and, most importantly, measurable progress. The current administration took the matter further by adjusting the plan from 5 years to 7 years, and now the country is also preparing to align the length of the presidential term with it. That means energizing its development by annual assessments reported directly to the people by the president himself at the end of each year. Uzbekistan's approach in its commitment to decentralization and local governance simply echoes the traditional social structure of Korean villages in the past. By empowering local councils and community organizations, Uzbekistan seeks to create solutions to regional needs and strengthen grassroots participation. Uzbekistan's focus on economic diversification is another area of interest. This strategy emphasizes transitioning to a more value-added economy by encouraging private sector growth and supporting innovation. Just last month, the government enacted a law supporting start-ups, creating "sandboxes" and innovation "incubators." The most important difference, as I see it, is the government's special emphasis on its young generation. Uzbekistan's vision of the future is for it to be in the hands of educated future generations, so it creates it by modernizing curricula, expanding vocational training and creating public-private partnerships in education. It happens not just domestically but also internationally. You'd be asking what makes this approach different from any other, as there are many countries taking this course. The answer is in the starting point of this education — embedding cultural traditions and the history of the country. The outreach of this education goes all the way to foreign policy — it emphasizes cultural diplomacy and national identity at its core. By promoting its heritage and cultural exports, the goal for Uzbekistan is not just about its image but its global presence. Going beyond societal and economic spheres, Uzbekistan' strategy sets ambitious environmental sustainability goals — water conservation, renewable energy adoption and reforestation — particularly relevant as climate change cataclysms have become more acute in the last decade. So, what is in Uzbekistan's development for Korea? As it was for Uzbekistan a couple of decades ago, Korea needs to learn from it in order to advance — it is an example. A key takeaway from this little glimpse at what Uzbekistan is doing is an incredible vigor and resilience. What Korea took to achieve in several decades, Uzbekistan is trying to compress the time. In some cases, it took almost half of that. Korea needs a comprehensive roadmap for socioeconomic, political and environmental reforms. This ambitious plan, focused on measurable goals across multiple sectors, presents valuable lessons for countries like Korea, which, despite its advanced development, continues to wrangle with issues like regional disparities, low birthrates and an aging population. Korea, already experienced in long-term planning, could refine its strategies further by integrating clearly defined, outcome-based goals in areas such as addressing demographic decline and bolstering regional equity. Uzbekistan's example highlights how clearly articulated objectives can rally public support and focus efforts across sectors. Now, Korea must learn from others — it can adopt similar measures to invigorate its economy and rural areas, many of which are experiencing population decline and economic stagnation. With greater autonomy and resources to local governments and rebalanced regional development must come specially designed solutions to springboard regional resilience. Korea, with its heavy reliance on "chaebols," or large family-owned business conglomerates, could benefit from policies aimed at supporting small and medium-sized enterprises and diversifying economic drivers. Emerging industries like green energy, biotechnology and digital services would strengthen sustainable economic growth while reducing dependency on traditional manufacturing sectors. Yes, Korea's reality and priorities differ significantly, but certain aspects of Uzbekistan's strategy could provide fresh perspectives on addressing its own pressing issues. Korea, already renowned for hallyu or the Korean Wave, could enhance its soft power by diversifying its cultural diplomacy to include traditional arts, literature and historical narratives alongside contemporary pop culture. A balanced cultural promotion strategy could deepen global appreciation for Korea's rich history and traditions. Another compelling lesson from Uzbekistan is its push for regional integration and cooperation. Uzbekistan prioritizes strengthening ties within Central Asia through economic, environmental and cultural collaboration. Korea could benefit from adopting a similar mindset in Northeast Asia, creating regional partnerships in trade, environmental initiatives and cultural exchanges. Expanding cooperative efforts with neighboring countries could stabilize relations with the North and create a foundation for mutual trust in the region. To conclude, Uzbekistan's 2030 Strategy shows how a country can address systemic challenges through planning, governance and forward-looking policies. For Korea, with all its differences, the principles of transparency, sustainability and inclusivity embedded into a similar strategy can strengthen its own policies and become more resilient in the face of the complexities ahead. Eugene Lee (mreulee@gmail.com) is a lecturing professor at the Graduate School of Governance at Sungkyunkwan University in Seoul. Specializing in international relations and governance, his research and teaching focus on national and regional security, international development, government policies and Northeast and Central Asia.Getting smart about car insurance can provide cost savings and peace of mind