How to watch Tyler Perry’s ‘Assisted Living’ new episodes free Nov. 26A new company called Nations Royalty Corp. began trading on the TSX Venture Exchange in June. With minimum fanfare, the new company quietly hit a milestone on the road to Indigenous economic reconciliation in this country, becoming the only mining royalty company in the world that is majority-owned by Indigenous people. Backed by billionaire Canadian mining financier Frank Giustra, Nations Royalty aims to lure investors with the promise of , which company executives say is the last untapped pool in Canada. For the Nisga’a Nation — the self-governing B.C.-based First Nation that owns 77 per cent of the company — Nations Royalty is also a key part of the path to . “One of the goals of our nation is financial independence,” said Charles Morven, secretary-treasurer for the Nisga’a Nation. “We still haven’t broken away from the Indian Act, like we would like to ... We want to be accountable to ourselves. (Nations Royalty) will allow us to manage our own wealth, instead of relying on government funding.” The concept is simple. Virtually all mining projects in Canada are . For reasons that include legal requirements as well as corporate social responsibility, mining companies seeking licence to operate in a region typically sign “benefit agreements” with affected First Nations. In most cases, these benefit agreements include royalties — a regular payment the mining company commits to making to the First Nation based on the mine’s production or net profit. Ken Coates, director of the Indigenous program at the Macdonald-Laurier Institute and a professor emeritus at the University of Saskatchewan, called the concept of Nations Royalty “interesting and original.” He said he particularly admires the Nisga’a’s aim to reach out to other Indigenous groups in Canada to pool their resources and increase their economic heft through economies of scale. “It’s a really good example of Indigenous collective enterprise,” he said. By pooling multiple royalties into a single publicly-traded, dividend-paying company, Nations Royalty aims to give investors diversified exposure to the Canadian mining space and create a revenue stream for its Indigenous owners and shareholders. “We do have a vision to build a top-five royalty company, and the path is there — because the number and scale of Indigenous royalties across Canada are very impressive,” Nations Royalty chief executive Rob McLeod said. Nations Royalty holds Nisga’a-owned royalties from five different mining projects within B.C.’s “Golden Triangle” in its current portfolio, but McLeod said there are more than 400 individual benefit agreements between mining companies and First Nations across Canada. He said the Nisga’a are currently seeking other First Nations royalty-holders to join them and become shareholders in the new venture. Typically, mining royalty companies appeal to investors because they’re less risky than investing in a single mining project. And for the royalty-holders themselves — in this case, Indigenous royalty holders — these companies are a way to monetize royalty agreements that have been signed but aren’t generating any revenue yet, such as in cases where the mine has not yet entered production. “Particularly for the Indigenous groups that might just have one mine on their lands ... there’s a reason to be in the collective,” McLeod said. In its final report released in 2015, Canada’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission defined the concept of “economic reconciliation,” saying Indigenous people, businesses, and communities must have the opportunity to fully participate in the Canadian economy. Coates said as a country, we are not there yet — but as an Indigenous-owned investment vehicle trading on the TSX Venture Exchange, Nations Royalty shows how far we’ve come. “In the 1970s and ’80s, if an Indigenous community bought a gas station in a small town, that was considered to be a major, major achievement,” Coates said. “So it’s an amazing transition that we’ve gotten to this point.” Nearly all members of Nations Royalty’s board of directors and executive team are Indigenous. McLeod, the CEO, is not, but he said he will be an interim leader until one with a First Nations background can be found. Morven, of the Nisga’a Nation, said in addition to building wealth, the Nisga’a want to use Nations Royalty to build up their financial capacity to access capital markets in the future. Shareholders will be able to use their blocks of stock as a securitized asset to access loans and invest in other projects, which Indigenous communities have struggled historically to do. “We’ve seen that there is racism within the capital markets. One of the biggest royalty companies in the world, when we went to them to see if they would like to invest, they said we were a risk,” Morven said. “So this is going to build the Nisga’a’s capacity to develop people with experience in the capital markets. We will not only build that financial capital, but we’ll also be building the capacity to be able to manage it ourselves in future.”
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WASHINGTON (AP) — After several weeks working mostly behind closed doors, Vice President-elect returned to Capitol Hill this week in a new, more visible role: Helping try to get his most contentious Cabinet picks to confirmation in the Senate, where Vance has served for the last two years. Vance arrived at the Capitol on Wednesday with former Rep. Matt Gaetz and spent the morning sitting in on meetings between Trump’s choice for attorney general and key Republicans, including members of the Senate Judiciary Committee. The effort was for naught: amid scrutiny over sex trafficking allegations and the reality that he was unlikely to be confirmed. Thursday morning Vance was back, this time accompanying Pete Hegseth, the “Fox & Friends Weekend” host whom Trump has tapped to be the next secretary of defense. Hegseth also has faced allegations of sexual assault that he denies. Vance is expected to accompany other nominees for meetings in coming weeks as he tries to leverage the two years he has spent in the Senate to help push through Trump’s picks. Vice President-elect JD Vance, still a Republican senator from Ohio, walks from a private meeting with President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee to be attorney general, former Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., at the Capitol in Washington, Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2024. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee to be attorney general, former Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., center, and Vice President-elect JD Vance, left, walk out of a meeting with Republican Senate Judiciary Committee members, at the Capitol in Washington, Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2024. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis) FILE – Sen. JD Vance, R-Ohio, departs the chamber at the Capitol in Washington, March 15, 2023. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File) FILE – Sen. JD Vance, R-Ohio, center speaks during a Senate Banking Committee hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington, March 7, 2023. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik, File) FILE – Sen. JD Vance, R-Ohio, right, speaks with Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, before testifying at a hearing, March 9, 2023, in Washington. (AP Photo/Kevin Wolf, File) FILE – Sen. JD Vance, R-Ohio, arrives for a classified briefing on China, at the Capitol in Washington, Feb. 15, 2023. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File) FILE – Sen. JD Vance, R-Ohio, arrives for a vote on Capitol Hill, Sept. 12, 2023 in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein, File) FILE – Sen. JD Vance R-Ohio speaks during a news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington, Feb. 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana, File) Vice President-elect JD Vance, still a Republican senator from Ohio, walks from a private meeting with President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee to be attorney general, former Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., at the Capitol in Washington, Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2024. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) The role of introducing nominees around Capitol Hill is an unusual one for a vice president-elect. Usually the job goes to a former senator who has close relationships on the Hill, or a more junior aide. But this time the role fits Vance, said Marc Short, who served as Trump’s first director of legislative affairs as well as chief of staff to Trump’s first vice president, Mike Pence, who spent more than a decade in Congress and led the former president’s transition ahead of his first term. ”JD probably has a lot of current allies in the Senate and so it makes sense to have him utilized in that capacity,” Short said. Unlike the first Trump transition, which played out before cameras at Trump Tower in New York and at the president-elect’s golf club in Bedminster, New Jersey, this one has largely happened behind closed doors in Palm Beach, Florida. There, a small group of officials and aides meet daily at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort to run through possible contenders and interview job candidates. The group includes Elon Musk, the billionaire who has spent so much time at the club that Trump has joked he can’t get rid of him. Vance has been a constant presence, even as he’s kept a lower profile. The Ohio senator has spent much of the last two weeks in Palm Beach, according to people familiar with his plans, playing an active role in the transition, on which he serves as honorary chair. Vance has been staying at a cottage on the property of the gilded club, where rooms are adorned with cherubs, oriental rugs and intricate golden inlays. It’s a world away from the famously hardscrabble upbringing that Vance documented in the memoir that made him famous, “Hillbilly Elegy.” His young children have also joined him at Mar-a-Lago, at times. Vance was photographed in shorts and a polo shirt playing with his kids on the seawall of the property with a large palm frond, a U.S. Secret Service robotic security dog in the distance. On the rare days when he is not in Palm Beach, Vance has been joining the sessions remotely via Zoom. Though he has taken a break from TV interviews after months of constant appearances, Vance has been active in the meetings, which began immediately after the election and include interviews and as well as presentations on candidates’ pluses and minuses. Among those interviewed: Contenders , as Vance wrote in a since-deleted social media post. Defending himself from criticism that he’d missed a Senate vote in which one of President Joe Biden’s judicial nominees was confirmed, Vance wrote that he was meeting at the time “with President Trump to interview multiple positions for our government, including for FBI Director.” “I tend to think it’s more important to get an FBI director who will dismantle the deep state than it is for Republicans to lose a vote 49-46 rather than 49-45,” Vance added on X. “But that’s just me.” While Vance did not come in to the transition with a list of people he wanted to see in specific roles, he and his friend, Trump’s eldest son, Donald Trump Jr., who is also a member of the transition team, were eager to see former Democratic Rep. Tulsi Gabbard and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. find roles in the administration. Trump ended up , a powerful position that sits atop the nation’s spy agencies and acts as the president’s top intelligence adviser. And he chose Kennedy to , a massive agency that oversees everything from drug and food safety to Medicare and Medicaid. Vance was also a big booster of Tom Homan, the former acting director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, In another sign of Vance’s influence, James Braid, a top aide to the senator, is expected to serve as Trump’s legislative affairs director. Allies say it’s too early to discuss what portfolio Vance might take on in the White House. While he gravitates to issues like trade, immigration and tech policy, Vance sees his role as doing whatever Trump needs. Vance was spotted days after the election giving his son’s Boy Scout troop a tour of the Capitol and was there the day of leadership elections. He returned in earnest this week, first with Gaetz — arguably Trump’s most divisive pick — and then Hegseth, of sexually assaulting a woman in 2017, according to an investigative report made public this week. Hegseth told police at the time that the encounter had been consensual and denied any wrongdoing. Vance hosted Hegseth in his Senate office as GOP senators, including those who sit on the Senate Armed Services Committee, filtered in to meet with the nominee for defense secretary. While a president’s nominees usually visit individual senators’ offices, meeting them on their own turf, the freshman senator — who is accompanied everywhere by a large Secret Service detail that makes moving around more unwieldy — instead brought Gaetz to a room in the Capitol on Wednesday and Hegseth to his office on Thursday. Senators came to them. Vance made it to votes Wednesday and Thursday, but missed others on Thursday afternoon. Vance is expected to continue to leverage his relationships in the Senate after Trump takes office. But many Republicans there have longer relationships with Trump himself. Sen. Kevin Cramer, a North Dakota Republican, said that Trump was often the first person to call him back when he was trying to reach high-level White House officials during Trump’s first term. “He has the most active Rolodex of just about anybody I’ve ever known,” Cramer said, adding that Vance would make a good addition. “They’ll divide names up by who has the most persuasion here,” Cramer said, but added, “Whoever his liaison is will not work as hard at it as he will.” Cramer was complimentary of the Ohio senator, saying he was “pleasant” and ” interesting” to be around. ′′He doesn’t have the long relationships,” he said. “But we all like people that have done what we’ve done. I mean, that’s sort of a natural kinship, just probably not as personally tied.” Under the Constitution, Vance will also have a role presiding over the Senate and breaking tie votes. But he’s not likely to be needed for that as often as was Kamala Harris, who since Republicans will have a bigger cushion in the chamber next year.
( MENAFN - AFP) Asia Stocks mostly fell in thin holiday trade on Monday after tech losses killed off the traditional year-end lift on Wall Street at the end of last week. The "Santa Claus rally" got off to a good start but US stocks then fell across the board on Friday, with the S&P 500 and the nasdaq both dropping more than one percent. Tech stocks led the way, with Elon Musk's electric car giant Tesla closing around five percent lower and AI chipmaker Nvidia shedding around two percent. Weighing on investor sentiment were worries about the pace of US interest rate cuts and possible higher import tariffs under incoming US president Donald Trump. "As US stock markets concluded with a downturn on Friday, Asia-Pacific markets are bracing for a slippery penultimate trading day of 2024," said Stephen Innes at SPI Asset Management. "With US (bond) yields climbing and liquidity essentially non-existent, there's always the potential for outsized moves. This comes during a critical phase of year-end rebalancing, intensified by hefty equity positions across portfolios," Innes said in a note. In Tokyo, the Nikkei was down 0.75 percent at 40,020.00 points on the last day of trading until January 6. The yen was little changed after hitting 158.08 against the dollar on Thursday, the lowest in almost six months. That came after Bank of Japan governor Kazuo Ueda failed to give a clear signal on a possible interest rate increase next month. In Seoul, Jeju Air shares tumbled more than eight percent after one of its planes crashed in South Korea on Sunday, killing all but two of the 181 people on board. South Korea's transport ministry said on Monday it was "reviewing plans to conduct a special inspection on (Boeing) B737-800 aircraft" after the crash. South Korea was also hit with further political turmoil, with authorities issuing an arrest warrant for suspended President Yoon Suk Yeol. Yoon briefly imposed martial law this month and was then impeachment by parliament. Lawmakers also impeached his acting successor Han Duck-soo last week. Chinese stocks also opened lower on Monday, with the benchmark Shanghai Composite Index down 0.09 percent at 3,397.12. China's purchasing managers' index (PMI) for manufacturing was due on Tuesday. The reading was expected to stay at 50.3, above the 50 line dividing expansion and contraction, according to Bloomberg. - Key figures around 0300 GMT - Tokyo - Nikkei 225: DOWN 0.75 percent at 40,020.00 points Hong Kong - Hang Seng Index: DOWN 0.40 percent at 20,001.00 Shanghai - Composite: DOWN 0.1 percent at 3,397.12 Euro/dollar: DOWN at $1.0423 from $1.0429 on Friday Pound/dollar: DOWN at $1.2577 from $1.2579 Dollar/yen: DOWN at 157.82 yen from 157.89 yen Euro/pound: UP at 82.88 pence from 82.87 pence West Texas Intermediate: UP at $70.63 per barrel Brent North Sea Crude: UP at $74.23 per barrel MENAFN29122024000143011026ID1109040187 Legal Disclaimer: MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.Taliban leader bans windows overlooking women's areasFive takeaways from the Miami Heat’s 104-100 win over the Houston Rockets on Sunday night at Toyota Center to close its three-game trip at 2-1 and reach the 30-game mark at 16-14. The Heat now returns to Miami to begin a three-game homestand on Wednesday against the New Orleans Pelicans: The Heat, short-handed and playing on the second night of a back-to-back, earned a gutsy road win over a quality Rockets team behind another excellent performance from Tyler Herro. But the game ended with an unfortunate moment for both teams. The Heat and Rockets went back and forth in a first half that included seven lead changes and five ties before Miami entered halftime with a narrow 53-50 lead. The second half was also a battle, even after the Rockets opened the third quarter on a 23-8 run to turn a three-point deficit into a 12-point lead midway through the period. That’s because the Heat responded with a run of its own, closing the third quarter on a 20-9 spurt to trim the deficit to one point by the end of the period. That set up for a tight finish, with the game decided in the final seconds. The Rockets led by one point with 2:47 to play, but the Heat won the game behind a strong finish just one day after wilting at the end of Saturday’s loss to the Hawks in Atlanta. Herro hit a contested midrange jumper to give the Heat a one-point advantage with 1:56 left. Then after two defensive stops, the Heat pulled ahead by four points on a clutch three-pointer from Nikola Jovic 47.4 seconds to play. The Rockets, which entered with the third-best record in the Western Conference, never regained their footing or composure. Rockets guard Fred VanVleet was ejected from the game for arguing with an official after committing a five-second violation on an side out-of-bounds situation. Then with the Heat ahead by five points and with possession of the ball in the final seconds of the game, Herro and Rockets forward Amen Thompson exchanged words before Thompson grabbed Herro’s jersey and threw him down to the court. Players and coaches from the Heat and Rockets immediately rushed over, as a brief skirmish unfolded before officials took control and separated the two teams. After a review of the incident, six were ejected with 35.7 seconds left in the fourth quarter. For the Heat, Terry Rozier and Herro were ejected. For the Rockets, Jalen Green and Thompson were ejected. Rockets head coach Ime Udoka and assistant coach Ben Sullivan were also ejected. Despite being thrown out of the game after being thrown to the court in the final seconds, Herro was the star of the night. Herro led the Heat to the win with 27 points on 10-of-17 shooting from the field and 3-of-7 shooting from three-point range, six rebounds and nine assists. Heat center Bam Adebayo contributed another double-double with 12 points, 10 rebounds and three steals. The Heat’s defense was also impressive down the stretch, limiting the Rockets to 18 points on 6-of-25 (24 percent) shooting from the field in the fourth quarter. The Heat improved to 9-0 this season when holding its opponent to 100 points or fewer. There’s a new Heat injury to monitor, but the hope is it’s not a long-term issue. After scoring 16 points in 38 minutes during Saturday’s loss in Atlanta, Robinson missed Sunday’s game against the Rockets because of right foot inflammation. It marked just the second game that Robinson has missed this season, as he also was unavailable for the Heat’s Nov. 2 win over the Wizards in Mexico City because of personal reasons. Robinson hurt his foot during Saturday’s game loss to the Hawks, but kept playing to finish the contest. After Robinson underwent treatment on the injury Sunday, the determination was made to hold him out against the Rockets. “I don’t have a timeline,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said Sunday when asked about Robinson’s status. “But he really wanted to try to go today, just didn’t really pass his protocols. So we don’t think it would be a long-term thing.” The Heat also remained without Jimmy Butler (return to competition reconditioning), Josh Richardson (right heel inflammation) and Dru Smith (left Achilles surgery) on Sunday. Butler, who has been at the center of trade speculation this month, missed his fifth straight game after battling a flu-like illness over the last 10 days. The Heat expects Butler to return for its next game — Wednesday against the Pelicans at Kaseya Center. The Rockets were without two rotation players on Sunday, as Tari Eason (left leg injury management) and Jae’Sean Tate (illness) did not play against the Heat. With Butler and Robinson out, the Heat moved Rozier and Kevin Love back into the starting lineup. The Heat opened Sunday’s game with a lineup of Rozier, Tyler Herro, Haywood Highsmith, Love and Bam Adebayo. It marked the fifth game that this group has started this season, but the first one since Nov. 17. Sunday also marked Rozier’s first start since Nov. 17. Rozier opened the season in a starting role, but moved to the bench to play as a reserve in 14 straight games before the team’s injury issues pushed him back into the starting lineup on Sunday. For Love, Sunday’s start represented his first game action of any kind since playing three minutes in the Heat’s Dec. 20 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder. He had not played in four straight games — missing the first one because of personal reasons and then receiving three straight DNP-CDs (did not play, coach’s decision) with rookie Kel’el Ware taking over as the Heat’s backup center. Rozier was strong at the start, scoring 12 points on 6-of-11 shooting from the field in the first half. But he cooled off, totaling just two points on 0-of-8 shooting from the field in the second half. Love ended the night with five points on 1-of-7 shooting from the field, six rebounds and one assist 14 minutes. The Rockets grabbed plenty of offensive rebounds, but it wasn’t enough to overcome their inefficient shooting. The Rockets are the best offensive rebounding team in the NBA, entering Sunday with the league’s top offensive rebounding percentage (the percentage of available offensive rebounds a team grabs) for the season. Early on, the Rockets’ dominance on the offensive glass was on display. Houston totaled six second-chance points on six offensive rebounds in the first quarter. The Rockets went on to finish the game 19 offensive rebounds. But all those second-chance opportunities didn’t matter because the Rockets only scored nine second-chance points. That’s because the Rockets struggled to make shots for most of the night, shooting 39.2 percent from the field and 13 of 40 (32.5 percent) on threes in the loss. The Heat, which entered the game with the NBA’s 22nd-ranked offensive rebounding percentage this season, actually finished with more second-chance points than the Rockets. Miami totaled 15 second-chance points on 15 offensive rebounds Sunday. Jovic provided an important spark and Ware continued to contribute quality off the bench for the short-handed Heat. Jovic made his presence felt from the start, recording eight points, three rebounds and three assists in 15 first-half minutes on Sunday. Jovic ended the night with 18 points, seven rebounds and six assists in 31 minutes. Ware recorded seven points, seven rebounds and two asssits in 14 minutes. The Heat outscored the Rockets by five points with Ware on the court, and he now holds a plus/minus of plus 34 while playing in each of the Heat’s last five games. Jovic and Ware were part of a four-man Heat bench rotation that also included Jaime Jaquez Jr. and Alec Burks. The only available Heat players who did not get into Sunday’s game were Pelle Larsson, Josh Christopher, Keshad Johnson and Isaiah Stevens. ©2024 Miami Herald. Visit at miamiherald.com . Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
They are investigating whether his short-lived martial law decree earlier this month amounted to rebellion. The Corruption Investigation Office for High-Ranking Officials, which is leading a joint investigation with police and military authorities into the power grab that lasted only a few hours, confirmed it requested the warrant on Monday. Investigators plan to question Mr Yoon on charges of abuse of authority and orchestrating a rebellion. Mr Yoon has dodged several requests by the joint investigation team and public prosecutors to appear for questioning and has also blocked searches of his offices. It is not clear whether the court will grant the warrant or whether Mr Yoon can be compelled to appear for questioning. Under the country’s laws, locations potentially linked to military secrets cannot be seized or searched without the consent of the person in charge and it is unlikely Mr Yoon will voluntarily leave his residence if he faces detainment. Mr Yoon’s presidential powers were suspended after the National Assembly voted to impeach him on December 14 over his imposition of martial law that lasted only hours but has triggered weeks of political turmoil, halted high-level diplomacy and rattled financial markets. His fate lies with the Constitutional Court, which has begun deliberations on whether to uphold the impeachment and formally remove Mr Yoon from office or reinstate him. Mr Yoon has defended the martial law decree as a necessary act of governance, describing it as a warning against the liberal opposition Democratic Party, which has been bogging down his agenda with its majority in the parliament. Parliament voted last week to also impeach Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, who had assumed the role of acting president after Mr Yoon’s powers were suspended, over his reluctance to fill three Constitutional Court vacancies ahead of the court’s review of Mr Yoon’s case. The country’s new interim leader is Deputy Prime Minister Choi Sang-mok, who is also finance minister.Felton also added eight rebounds for the Pirates (5-1). Joran Riley scored 14 points while going 4 of 11 and 5 of 6 from the free-throw line and added five rebounds. Cam Hayes shot 3 for 7 (2 for 4 from 3-point range) and 5 of 6 from the free-throw line to finish with 13 points. The Hatters (1-5) were led in scoring by Mehki, who finished with 15 points and two steals. Abramo Canka added 14 points for Stetson. Jordan Wood had 12 points. East Carolina led Stetson at the half, 39-33, with Hayes (10 points) its high scorer before the break. East Carolina took the lead for good with 6:56 left in the second half on a free throw from Felton to make it a 60-59 game. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .
Vance takes on a more visible transition role, working to boost Trump’s most contentious picksBeirut: Syrian rebels announced they had gained full control over the key city of Homs early on Sunday after only a day of fighting, leaving President Bashar al-Assad’s 24-year rule dangling by a thread as insurgents marched on the capital, Damascus. Thousands of Homs residents poured onto the streets after the army withdrew from the central city, dancing and chanting “Assad is gone, Homs is free” and “Long live Syria and down with Bashar al-Assad”. A giant portrait of Bashar al-Assad sits on a building in Damascus. Credit: AP Rebels fired guns into the air in celebration, and youths tore down posters of the Syrian president, whose territorial control has collapsed in a dizzying week-long retreat by the military. The fall of Homs gives the insurgents control over Syria’s strategic heartland and a key highway crossroads, severing Damascus from the coastal region that is the stronghold of Assad’s Alawite sect and where his Russian allies have a naval base and air base. Homs’ capture is also a powerful symbol of the rebel movement’s dramatic comeback in the 13-year-old conflict. Swaths of Homs were destroyed by gruelling siege warfare between the rebels and the army years ago. The fighting ground down the insurgents, who were forced out. Hayat Tahrir al-Sham commander Abu Mohammed al-Golani, the main rebel leader, called the capture of Homs a historic moment and urged fighters not to harm “those who drop their arms”. Syrian opposition fighters on a seized Syrian air force fighter plane at the Hama military airport on Friday. Credit: AP Rebels freed thousands of detainees from the city prison. Security forces left quickly after burning their documents. Syrian rebel commander Hassan Abdul Ghani said in a statement early on Sunday that operations continued to “completely liberate” the countryside around Damascus and rebel forces were looking towards the capital. In one suburb, a statue of Assad’s father, the late former president Hafez al-Assad, was toppled and torn apart. The Syrian army said it was reinforcing around Damascus, and state television reported on Saturday that Assad remained in the city. People arrive at the Jordanian side of the border as others wait in their cars on Saturday, after a ban on crossings into Syria. Credit: Getty Images The lightning rebel advance suggests Assad’s government could fall within the next week, US and other Western officials said. Since the rebels’ sweep into Aleppo a week ago , government defences have crumbled at a dizzying speed as insurgents seized a string of major cities and rose in places where the rebellion had long seemed over. The twin threats to Damascus and the strategically vital city of Homs now pose an existential danger to the Assad dynasty’s five-decade reign over Syria and the continued influence in the country of its main regional backer, Iran. The rebels’ moves around Damascus, reported by an opposition war monitor and a rebel commander, came after the Syrian army withdrew from much of the southern part of the country, leaving more areas, including several provincial capitals, under the control of opposition fighters. Syrian President Bashar al-Assad is backed by Russia and Iran, but both are bogged down in separate conflicts. Credit: Saudi Press Agency/AP 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-Qaeda and is considered a terrorist organisation by the US and the United Nations. In their push to overthrow Assad’s government, the insurgents, led by the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham group, or HTS, have met little resistance from the Syrian Army. The UN’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, Pedersen said the situation in Syria was changing by the minute. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, whose country is Assad’s chief international backer, said he felt “sorry for the Syrian people”. In Damascus, people rushed to stock up on supplies. Thousands went to Syria’s border with Lebanon, trying to leave the country. Many shops in the city were shuttered, a resident told the Associated Press, and those still open had run out of staples such as sugar. Some were selling items at three times the normal price. “The situation is very strange. We are not used to that,” the resident said, insisting on anonymity, fearing retributions. “People are worried whether there will be a battle [in Damascus] or not.” It was the first time that opposition forces reached the outskirts of Damascus since 2018 when Syrian troops recaptured the area following a years-long siege. The UN said it was moving non-critical staff outside the country as a precaution. Assad rumours Syria’s state media denied social media rumours that Assad had left the country, saying the president was performing his duties in Damascus. Assad has had little, if any, help from his allies. Russia is busy with its war in Ukraine, and Lebanon’s Hezbollah, which at one point sent thousands of fighters to shore up Assad’s forces, has been weakened by a year-long conflict with Israel. Iran has had its proxies across the region degraded by regular Israeli airstrikes. US President-elect Donald Trump on Saturday posted on social media that the US should avoid engaging militarily in Syria. A Syrian opposition fighter holds a rocket launcher in front of the provincial government office. Credit: AP Pedersen said a date for talks in Geneva on implementing a 2015 UN resolution calling for a Syrian-led political process would be announced later. The resolution calls for the establishment of a transitional governing body, followed by the drafting of a new constitution and ending with UN-supervised elections. Foreign ministers and senior diplomats from eight key countries, including Saudi Arabia, Russia, Egypt, Turkey and Iran, along with Pedersen, gathered on the sidelines of the Doha summit on Saturday to discuss the situation. No details were immediately available. The insurgents’ march Rami Abdurrahman, who heads the UK-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 toward the Damascus suburb of Harasta, he said. An insurgent commander, Hassan Abdul Ghani, posted on the Telegram messaging app that opposition forces had begun the “final stage” of their offensive by encircling Damascus. Syrian rebel leader Abu Mohammed al-Golani. Credit: Al Jazeera HTS controls much of north-west Syria and, in 2017, set up a “salvation government” to run daily affairs in the region. In recent years, HTS leader Abu Mohammed al-Golani has sought to remake the group’s image, cutting ties with al-Qaeda, ditching hardline officials and vowing to embrace pluralism and religious tolerance. 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 on November 27, during which rebel fighters captured the northern city of Aleppo, Syria’s largest, and the central city of Hama, the country’s fourth-largest city. Opposition activists on Friday said insurgents entered Palmyra, which is home to invaluable archaeological sites that had been in government hands since being taken from the Islamic State group in 2017. To the south, Syrian troops left much of the province of Quneitra, including the main Baath City, activists said. The Syrian Observatory said government troops had withdrawn from much of the two southern provinces and were sending reinforcements to Homs, where a battle loomed. If the insurgents were to 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 army said in a statement that it had carried out redeployment and repositioning in Sweida and Daraa after its checkpoints came under attack by “terrorists”. The army said it was setting up a “strong and coherent defensive and security belt in the area”, apparently to defend Damascus from the south. The Syrian government has referred to opposition gunmen as terrorists since the conflict broke out in March 2011. Diplomacy in Doha The foreign ministers of Iran, Russia and Turkey, meeting in Qatar, called for an end to the hostilities. Turkey is the main backer of the rebels. Qatar’s top diplomat, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, criticised 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 was 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. AP, Reuters Get a note directly from our foreign correspondents on what’s making headlines around the world. Sign up for our weekly What in the World newsletter .
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Sir Keir Starmer has used his Christmas address to wish a "better, brighter future for every person" after a year marked by significant challenges for the UK. The Prime Minister highlighted the festive season as a moment to acknowledge the value of "being there for one another", especially during "the more difficult times". He also shared his aspirations for "peace, particularly in the Middle East as the birthplace of the Christmas story", amid ongoing conflicts in the area. The message arrives following a tough initial five months at the helm for the Labour Government, which is navigating through a stagnant economy and escalating inflation rates. The prime minister said: "This Christmas, people will be travelling up and down the country. Heading home, visiting relatives and loved ones to celebrate together the hope and joy of this special season. "It’s a time to remind ourselves what’s really important. Family. Friendship. And fellowship between all people. "Being there for one another – in these celebrations, as well as the more difficult times." In the wake of another politically turbulent year for Britain, which saw the Labour Party secure a decisive victory in an unexpected election called by Rishi Sunak during the summer, the Prime Minister's tone was one of cautious optimism. Since assuming office in July, the new administration has faced criticism over several contentious decisions while grappling with the pressures of overstretched public services and tight government finances. Sir Keir spoke on tackling both the nation's economic legacy and a "broken society", highlighted by this summer's riots following the Southport knife attack. He said: "This Christmas, I will be hoping for peace, particularly in the Middle East as the birthplace of the Christmas story. "I’ll be looking towards a better, brighter future for every person and celebrating the joy and wonder that Christmas brings. "So, from my family to yours, I hope you have a very merry Christmas." Following newly adjusted figures released on Monday, indicating a stagnation in the UK’s GDP in recent months, Downing Street has had to defend its economic track record, with a spokesperson claiming: "We had to take those tough decisions to lay the foundations of growth such that we can then deliver the higher living standards over this Parliament that people want to see." In his message, the Prime Minister also made sure to show gratitude to those who sacrifice their holiday season for the greater good, thanking workers in the NHS and emergency services, armed forces, as well as volunteers in churches and charities. He shared his thoughts for those enduring hardship during the holidays, saying, "I know that this is not an easy time for everyone, and my thoughts are with all those who are lonely this Christmas. "Having a tough time, missing a loved one. You are not alone." Tory leader Kemi Badenoch also chimed in on the seasonal reflections, emphasizing that Christmas provides an opportunity to look back on the past year and "support all of those people who need our assistance." "I want to take this opportunity to say thank you to everyone, not just in the Conservative Party or in my constituency, but across the country," she said. "For all that you have been doing in your communities, supporting each other and helping to keep all our towns, villages and places going. "I think that Christmas is a time for us to reflect on all that’s happened in the year. "Sometimes we have amazing years. "Sometimes, like when I lost my dad, we have difficult years and we’re commiserating, but we do it together. "But it’s a time for us to support all of those people who need our assistance, who need our help, who need our support. She added: "And I’m looking forward to 2025. "I wish you all the very best for the New Year and all of the exciting things to come." Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey said: "This year, I’ve had the chance to spend time with some amazing young carers. "Incredible young people who will spend this Christmas doing what they do all year round; looking after loved ones who are ill or disabled. "Carers embody the Christmas spirit of love, selflessness and generosity. "So I hope we can all take some time to think of them, and keep them in our hearts. "And wish them – and everyone – a Christmas full of peace, joy and love." ChronicleLive is now on WhatsApp and we want you to join our communities. We have a number of communities to join, so you can choose which one you want to be part of and we'll send you the latest news direct to your phone. You could even join them all! To join you need to have WhatsApp on your device. All you need to do is choose which community you want to join, click on the link and press 'join community'. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the ChronicleLive team. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you’re curious, you can read our privacy notice . Join the ChronicleLive Breaking News and Top Stories community Join our Court & Crime community Join the Things to do in Newcastle and the North East community Join our Northumberland community Join our County Durham community Join our Sunderland community Join our NUFC community Join our SAFC community Join our Great North Run community
Seoul: South Korean authorities have sought warrant to detain impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol after he refused a summons to appear for questioning on Sunday, the third time he has defied investigators' demands in two weeks. A former prosecutor, Yoon also failed to attend a hearing he was summoned to last Wednesday, giving no explanation for his absence. The conservative leader was impeached on December 14, following a short-lived martial law declaration that plunged the country into its worst political crisis in decades. Get Latest News Live on Times Now along with Breaking News and Top Headlines from Asia, World and around the world.HARRISONBURG, Va. (AP) — Eddie Ricks III had 13 points in James Madison's 96-64 win over Midway on Sunday night. Ricks added eight rebounds for the Dukes (7-6). Bryce Lindsay scored 13 points, going 5 of 9 (3 for 6 from 3-point range). Elijah Hutchins-Everett went 5 of 10 from the field to finish with 12 points. The Eagles were led by Miguel Shaw, who recorded 19 points and two steals. Robbie Henry added 14 points and five steals for Midway. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .
First Period_1, Chicago, Vlasic 2 (Teravainen, Bedard), 9:01 (pp). 2, Winnipeg, Vilardi 11 (Connor, Stanley), 13:31. 3, Chicago, Martinez 1 (Dickinson, Mikheyev), 19:47. Penalties_Kupari, WPG (Delay of Game), 8:40; Smith, CHI (High Sticking), 13:38. Second Period_4, Winnipeg, Niederreiter 10 (Appleton, Fleury), 13:10. Penalties_Hall, CHI (Slashing), 1:17. Third Period_5, Winnipeg, Scheifele 14 (Connor), 10:18. 6, Winnipeg, Appleton 5, 18:19 (en). Penalties_None. Shots on Goal_Winnipeg 8-9-12_29. Chicago 8-3-3_14. Power-play opportunities_Winnipeg 0 of 2; Chicago 1 of 1. Goalies_Winnipeg, Hellebuyck 17-5-0 (14 shots-12 saves). Chicago, Mrazek 7-11-1 (4-4). A_18,581 (19,717). T_2:18. Referees_Brandon Blandina, Jake Brenk. Linesmen_Kyle Flemington, Julien Fournier. Copyright 2024 Associated Press. All rights reserved. Get local news delivered to your inbox!Capital Increase in Genmab as a Result of Employee Warrant Exercise
David Coote will not appeal against the termination of his contract by referees’ body PGMOL, the PA news agency understands. Coote was sacked earlier this month after the emergence of a video in which he made derogatory remarks about Liverpool and their former manager Jurgen Klopp. Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) said that a thorough investigation had concluded he was “in serious breach of the provisions of his employment contract, with his position deemed untenable”. “Supporting David Coote continues to be important to us and we remain committed to his welfare,” PGMOL’s statement on December 9 added. The video which triggered PGMOL’s investigation into Coote’s conduct first came to public attention on November 11. In it, Coote is asked for his views on a Liverpool match where he has just been fourth official, and describes them as “s***”. He then describes Klopp as a “c***”, and, asked why he felt that way, Coote says the German had “a right pop at me when I reffed them against Burnley in lockdown” and had accused him of lying. “I have got no interest in speaking to someone who’s f****** arrogant, so I do my best not to speak to him,” Coote said. The Football Association opened its own investigation into that video, understood to be centred on that last comment and whether Coote’s reference to Klopp’s nationality constituted an aggravated breach of its misconduct rules. The investigation by PGMOL which led to Coote’s contract being terminated is also understood to have looked at another video which appeared to show Coote snorting a white powder, purportedly during Euro 2024 where he was one of the assistant VARs for the tournament. European football’s governing body UEFA also appointed an ethics investigator to look into the matter.Bill Clinton Hospitalized with Fever: Non-Emergency Situation