$HAREHOLDER INVESTIGATION: The M&A Class Action Firm Continues to Investigate the Mergers ...
BetMGM College Football Odds: Boise State by 22 1/2. Series record: Boise State leads 17-1. Boise State enters its final conference game of the season with an eight-game winning streak - its longest single-season winning streak since 2014 - and with its sights set on a potential top-four seed in the College Football Playoff. With Boise State in front of BYU, the Broncos became the provisional No. 4 seed in the playoff with two weeks left in the regular season. Despite being mired in a two-win season, Wyoming would love to play the spoiler role against the Broncos. Wyoming’s rushing defense against Heisman Trophy candidate Ashton Jeanty. The junior running back comes into this one leading the nation in several categories, including rushing yards (1,893), rushing touchdowns (26), total touchdowns (27) and all-purpose yards (1,991). The Cowboys rank 116th in the nation in allowing 201.2 yards rushing per game. Boise State: WR Cameron Camper continues to play a pivotal role for the Broncos. As Jeanty draws the attention of opposing defensive units, it creates space in the secondary for Camper to operate. The senior leads the Broncos with 665 yards receiving with 40 catches, including four touchdowns. Wyoming: DE DeVonne Harris has proven to be effective for the Cowboys since missing time earlier this season with an injury. Harris registered a season-high six tackles with a tackle for loss and a fumble recovery at Colorado State and has three tackles for loss this season. Harris could be tasked to slow Jeanty in the running lanes while also applying pressure to Boise State quarterback Maddux Madsen. Boise State and Wyoming are two of the best teams on third downs on both sides of the ball with the Broncos’ offense checking in third nationally in third-down conversion percentage (52.7%) and Wyoming’s defense ranked fifth in the country in third-down conversion percentage against (.285). ... The Broncos, who own the third-best rushing offense in the country with 258.7 yards rushing per game, have run for 200 or more yards in eight games this season. ... Wyoming linebacker Connor Shay ranks second on the team with 62 tackles this season. His 6.2 tackles per game rank 20th in the conference. .. Wyoming has won 65.9% of its games in War Memorial Stadium, though the Cowboys are just 1-4 in Laramie this season. Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here. AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-football .
Forces of deception, divisive politics, family dynasty have been defeated: PMWatch ‘Gabon Uncharted’: Top Kayakers, Vivid Storytelling, Epic LocationIsrael and Lebanon's Hezbollah agree to a ceasefire to end nearly 14 months of fighting JERUSALEM (AP) — Israel has approved a United States-brokered ceasefire agreement with Lebanon’s Hezbollah, setting the stage for an end to nearly 14 months of fighting linked to the ongoing war in the Gaza Strip. Israeli warplanes meanwhile carried out the most intense wave of strikes in Beirut and its southern suburbs since the start of the conflict and issued a record number of evacuation warnings. At least 24 people were killed in strikes across the country, according to local authorities, as Israel signaled it aims to keep pummeling Hezbollah before the ceasefire is set to take hold at 4 a.m. local time on Wednesday. President Joe Biden, speaking in Washington, called the agreement “good news” and said his administration would make a renewed push for a ceasefire in Gaza. What both sides are saying about the ceasefire deal between Israel and Lebanon's Hezbollah A ceasefire deal that could end more than a year of cross-border fighting between Israel and Lebanon’s Hezbollah militant group won backing from Israeli leaders. The truce that is set to take effect early Wednesday raised hopes and renewed difficult questions in a region gripped by conflict. Hezbollah leaders also signaled tentative backing for the U.S.-brokered deal, which offers both sides an off-ramp from hostilities But the deal does little directly to resolve the much deadlier war that has raged in Gaza since Hamas militants attacked southern Israel last October. Trump vows tariffs over immigration. What the numbers say about border crossings, drugs and crime. WASHINGTON (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump is threatening tariffs on Mexico and Canada as he seeks to portray them as responsible for illegal immigration and drug smuggling. Over its tenure, the Biden administration has struggled with growing numbers of migrants arriving at the southern border. But this year, the number of people crossing the border without documents has actually been falling. That's due in part to stricter enforcement by Mexican authorities as well as asylum restrictions announced earlier this year by the Biden administration. When it comes to fentanyl smuggling, much of the deadly supply comes from Mexico though statistics show more than 86% of those sentenced for fentanyl trafficking crimes in the 12 months ending September 2023 were U.S. citizens. AP finds that a Pentagon-funded study on extremism in the military relied on old data Early this year, Pete Hegseth told a Fox News audience a new, Pentagon-funded study proved that the number of military service members and veterans involved in the Jan. 6 insurrection did not indicate a wider problem in the armed forces. Hegseth, Donald Trump's pick to head the Department of Defense, wasn’t alone. The Wall Street Journal’s opinion page highlighted the same report as evidence that extremists in military communities were “phantoms” created by a “false media narrative.” The X account for Republicans on the House Armed Services Committee posted that the study showed the focus on extremism in the military was a “witch hunt.” But The Associated Press has found that the study relied on old data, misleading analyses and ignored evidence that pointed to the opposite conclusion. How Trump's bet on voters electing him managed to silence some of his legal woes WASHINGTON (AP) — Special counsel Jack Smith move to abandon two federal cases accusing Trump of endangering American democracy and national security does away with the most serious legal threats Trump was facing as he returns to the White House. It was the culmination of a monthslong defense effort to delay the proceedings at every step and use the criminal allegations to Trump's political advantage, putting the final word in the hands of voters instead of jurors. The move just weeks after Trump’s victory over Vice President Kamala Harris underscores the immense personal stake Trump had in the campaign in which he turned his legal woes into a political rallying cry. Walmart's DEI rollback signals a profound shift in the wake of Trump's election victory NEW YORK (AP) — Walmart’s sweeping rollback of its diversity policies is the strongest indication yet of a profound shift taking hold at U.S. companies that are revaluating the legal and political risks associated with bold programs to bolster historically underrepresented groups in business. The risk associated with some of programs crystalized with the election of former President Donald Trump, whose administration is certain to make dismantling diversity, equity and inclusion programs a priority. Brazil’s Bolsonaro planned and participated in a 2022 coup plot, unsealed police report says SAO PAULO (AP) — Brazil’s former far-right President Jair Bolsonaro was fully aware of and actively participated in a coup plot to remain in office after his defeat in the 2022 election, according to a Federal Police report that has been unsealed. Brazil’s Federal Police last Thursday formally accused Bolsonaro and 36 other people of attempting a coup. They sent their 884-page report to the Supreme Court, which lifted the seal. Bolsonaro called a meeting in December 2022, during which he presented a draft decree to the commanders of the three divisions of the armed forces, that would have declared the vote fraudulent, to justify a possible military intervention. Bolsonaro has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing. Biden proposes Medicare and Medicaid cover costly weight-loss drugs for millions of obese Americans WASHINGTON (AP) — Millions of obese Americans would be eligible to have popular weight-loss drugs like Wegovy or Zepbound covered by Medicare or Medicaid under a new rule the Biden administration proposed Tuesday morning. The proposal, which would not be finalized until after President-elect Donald Trump takes office, could cost taxpayers as much as $35 billion over the next decade. It would give millions of people access to weekly injectables that have helped people shed pounds so quickly that some people have labeled them miracle drugs. New rule allows HIV-positive organ transplants People with HIV who need a kidney or liver transplant will be able to receive an organ from a donor with HIV. That's according to a new rule announced Tuesday by U.S. health officials. Previously, such transplants could be done only as part of research studies. The new rule takes effect Wednesday. It's expected to shorten the wait for organs for all, regardless of HIV status, by increasing the pool of available organs. The practice is supported by a decade of research, during which 500 transplants of kidneys and livers from HIV-positive donors have been done in the U.S. Surveillance tech advances by Biden could aid in Trump's promised crackdown on immigration President-elect Donald Trump will return to power next year with a raft of technological tools at his disposal that would help deliver his campaign promise of cracking down on immigration — among them, surveillance and artificial intelligence technology that the Biden administration already uses to help make crucial decisions in tracking, detaining and ultimately deporting immigrants lacking permanent legal status. One algorithm, for example, ranks immigrants with a “Hurricane Score,” ranging from 1-5, to assess whether someone will “abscond” from the agency’s supervision.None
Digital Arrest: Woman Stripped On Video Call By Fake Cops For 'Body Verification'; Scammed Of Rs 1.78 LakhThrivent Financial for Lutherans raised its holdings in Dell Technologies Inc. ( NYSE:DELL – Free Report ) by 529.6% in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 14,008 shares of the technology company’s stock after buying an additional 11,783 shares during the quarter. Thrivent Financial for Lutherans’ holdings in Dell Technologies were worth $1,661,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently modified their holdings of DELL. Accordant Advisory Group Inc purchased a new position in Dell Technologies during the second quarter worth approximately $28,000. Clean Yield Group acquired a new position in Dell Technologies in the third quarter valued at $25,000. Nemes Rush Group LLC purchased a new stake in Dell Technologies during the second quarter valued at about $33,000. Crewe Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in Dell Technologies during the second quarter worth about $34,000. Finally, Kimelman & Baird LLC purchased a new position in shares of Dell Technologies in the 2nd quarter worth about $37,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 38.10% of the company’s stock. Insider Activity In other news, CFO Yvonne Mcgill sold 8,000 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction on Friday, November 22nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $143.24, for a total transaction of $1,145,920.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief financial officer now owns 236,419 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $33,864,657.56. The trade was a 3.27 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website . Also, CEO Michael S. Dell sold 221,460 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Friday, September 6th. The stock was sold at an average price of $102.07, for a total transaction of $22,604,422.20. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 20,190,781 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,060,873,016.67. This trade represents a 1.08 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here . Over the last ninety days, insiders sold 17,962,112 shares of company stock valued at $2,114,595,059. 46.70% of the stock is currently owned by insiders. Analysts Set New Price Targets View Our Latest Stock Report on DELL Dell Technologies Trading Up 2.6 % Shares of NYSE DELL opened at $127.59 on Friday. The company has a market capitalization of $89.62 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 22.54, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.31 and a beta of 0.89. Dell Technologies Inc. has a twelve month low of $67.51 and a twelve month high of $179.70. The business has a 50 day simple moving average of $127.41 and a 200-day simple moving average of $126.91. Dell Technologies ( NYSE:DELL – Get Free Report ) last released its earnings results on Tuesday, November 26th. The technology company reported $2.15 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.83 by $0.32. Dell Technologies had a net margin of 4.36% and a negative return on equity of 184.20%. The firm had revenue of $24.37 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $24.67 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm earned $1.62 earnings per share. The firm’s revenue for the quarter was up 9.5% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, equities analysts predict that Dell Technologies Inc. will post 6.93 earnings per share for the current year. Dell Technologies Dividend Announcement The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, November 1st. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, October 22nd were paid a $0.445 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, October 22nd. This represents a $1.78 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.40%. Dell Technologies’s payout ratio is currently 31.45%. Dell Technologies Profile ( Free Report ) Dell Technologies Inc designs, develops, manufactures, markets, sells, and supports various comprehensive and integrated solutions, products, and services in the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and internationally. The company operates through two segments, Infrastructure Solutions Group (ISG) and Client Solutions Group (CSG). Featured Stories Five stocks we like better than Dell Technologies Investing In Preferred Stock vs. Common Stock The Latest 13F Filings Are In: See Where Big Money Is Flowing What Are Dividend Achievers? An Introduction 3 Penny Stocks Ready to Break Out in 2025 Breakout Stocks: What They Are and How to Identify Them FMC, Mosaic, Nutrien: Top Agricultural Stocks With Big Potential Receive News & Ratings for Dell Technologies Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Dell Technologies and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .
Getting from one end of Lake Tahoe to another could soon become easier, as the first electric hydrofoil ferry in the United States is expected to debut at the popular tourist destination. The “flying” ferry, which uses computer controlled hydrofoil wings to lift its hull above the water, is a joint venture of Swedish tech company Candela and U.S. operator FlyTahoe. A similar launch took place in Stockholm last month. The Candela P-12 ferry will make the north-south trip across the lake in just 30 minutes, saving passengers a drive around the lake that typically takes about three hours. Millions make the drive around Lake Tahoe each year—admiring its beauty while at the same time polluting it, said Ryan Meinzer, founder and CEO of FlyTahoe. “This road sediment isn’t just causing damage to lungs and the air, but it’s also ending up [in] the lake,“ he told The Epoch Times. ”Essentially, Lake Tahoe is a large watershed, and in fact, this is one of the largest contributors to the degradation of the clarity of the famous blue cobalt lake that we love.” There were over 15 million visitors to Tahoe last year, and about 20,000 trips a day between the north and south of the lake, Meinzer said. “This is why FlyTahoe has decided to focus its primary efforts on that particular route.” In an announcement on Nov. 21, Candela said the hydrofoil ferry is the world’s fastest electric vessel at 25 knots, or about 30 miles an hour, with a range of about 40 nautical miles. It cuts energy consumption by 80 percent compared to other vessels due to the design of its wings, which lift the hull above the water and reduce drag. This, in combination with technology and sensors to balance the vessel, provides “a silent and smooth ride,” the announcement said. “It basically works like a jet fighter, which is constantly balanced using ailerons. The principle of the P-12 is the same, except our wings fly in water instead of air,” said Gustav Hasselskog, CEO and founder of Candela. Ailerons are small hinged sections on the outboard portion of an aircraft’s wing. Meinzer hopes to have a fleet of electric hydrofoil ferries traversing Lake Tahoe in the future, but for now, the company is under contract for just one. Meinzer says one of his biggest challenges is working with local laws and complying with federal regulations like the Jones Act, which regulates maritime commerce in U.S. waters. “We, of course, need to make sure that we’re complying with all safety standards and inspection standards, because at the end of the day, this is a vessel that is flying across a lake,” he said. Meinzer also cited infrastructure considerations such as charging. “This electrification of waterways is relatively new,” he said, and while there are some electric boat charging stations in and around Lake Tahoe, “we need more.” “A rising tide lifts all boats. In that respect, the more electric chargers are installed around the marinas of the lake, the better it is for anyone who has electric boats in the lake, not just FlyTahoe.” Meinzer explained that if the ferry’s range is 40 miles fully charged and the lake is about 20 miles across, it can make a round trip on one charge. The cost for a one-way trip across the lake is expected to be about $50, Meinzer said. Eventually, he hopes to lower the price with government grants. The hydrofoil will be able to ferry up to 30 people across the lake per trip, and is wheelchair accessible, with storage for snowboards, skis, and bikes. FlyTahoe has not finalized pickup and drop-off destinations, boat storage, or parking options yet, Meinzer said. A spokesperson for Candela told The Epoch Times that the hydrofoil ferry is expected to begin operations in late 2025 or the first half of 2026.
63 creative Elf on the Shelf ideas for the 2024 holiday
SA News Don't miss out on the headlines from SA News. Followed categories will be added to My News. When you’re visiting one of South Australia’s incredible wineries you may find yourself wondering “how could this get any better,” as you sip wine in the sunshine. But then, all the sudden, an adorable furry friend comes bounding towards you and now you know that your perfect experience has been made complete. Whether they’re working hard or are simply there for the pats, winery dogs bring the cute factor to cellar doors across the state. Get to seven canines who keep crowds coming back for more at their family wineries. Dave the Groodle Kangarilla Road Wines, Kangarilla Charlie O’Brien, Dave, 7, the Groodle, and Helen O’Brien at Kangarilla Road Wines. Picture: Matt Loxton Dave ready to welcome guests to the cellar door with Charlie and Helen O'Brien. Picture: Matt Loxton Dave joined the Kangarilla Road Wines family seven years ago and has become a major drawcard for those looking enjoy a glass of vino with a side of puppy love. “People come to the cellar door specifically because they have seen pictures of Dave on our website or Instagram,” co-founder Helen O’Brien said. “You often hear ‘Hi Dave!’ when people walk in and they spend time with him before coming down to cellar door.” Helen O'Brien, Dave, 7, the Groodle, and Charlie O’Brien at Kangarilla Road Wines. Picture: Matt Loxton According to Ms O’Brien, his humans did not teach him to do this; it came naturally with Dave’s social butterfly personality. “If he is inside and he hears a car come in he waits impatiently at the door for the people to come in so he can say welcome,” she said. “He is very happy to be cuddled and stroked and generally adored.” Some guests have fallen so in love with Dave that they have decided to get their own groodle from the same breeder. “We know at least two couples who have bought a Groodle from Rivergum Puppies because of their love of Dave,” Ms O’Brien said. “His presence has added to our bottom line!” Arnold the German Shorthaired Pointer Mr Riggs, McLaren Flat Ben Riggs and his dog, Arnold from Mr Riggs. Picture: Supplied Mr Riggs now owns three German short-haired pointer’s including Arnold whose love for eating leftovers and “goofy” personality secured him the jobs of vineyard manager and head of waste management. “Arnold has a strong passion for running around the vineyard, chasing kangaroos, and jumping bails of netting – how could we not get him involved?” he said. This big friendly giant brings a “healthy sprinkle of chaos” to the McLaren Flat winery and continues to win people over with his “kind, dopey nature”. Frankie the Golden Retriever Home of Plenty, Currency Creek Frankie from Home of Plenty. Picture: Supplied After having two litters with eleven puppies in each, Frankie had officially retired from mum-life and now enjoys her days at Home of Plenty which opened in December 2023. The location not only provides a cellar door experience but also on-site accommodation and a wedding venue with Frankie quickly becoming a common appearance in visitors’s photographs, “People (have booked) a wedding based on seeing her and also loving the visits from her when staying in our BnBs,” owner, Natalie Shaw said. “She is often mentioned above anything else people enjoy about our property.” With her payment coming in the form of pats and attention, this happy girl is the perfect guest at any table. Bandit the Border Collie Fernfield Wines, Eden Valley Bandit from Fernfield Wines. Picture: Supplied Bandit’s life did not start out easy, after he was rejected as a puppy from sheepdog breeders for his non-traditional look. But 11 years later and Bandit is now a thriving member of the Fernfield Wines family. “We were lucky enough to find out about him just a month after we arrived at Fernfield,” owner, Bec Barr said. “We of course loved his unusual look and took him home straight away.” Bandit learnt the ropes of being a winery dog from the family’s older dog, Dexter and officially took over the job of head of welcoming committee once Dexter retired. “He is also lead tour guide when we head off on tours of the vineyard and winery – as a clever little Border Collie he knows immediately where we’re going and trots off in front to guide our guests,” Mrs Barr said. “His favourite thing in the world is to meet new people, he sometimes gets so excited that he cries when it’s time to head to the cellar door.” Bandit is a favourite with visitors with many of Fernfield Wine’s Google reviews making mention of the popular pup. “We’ve had occasions where he’s been missing – most likely on house arrest for rolling in something smelly – and guests have been visibly disappointed to be met by just (me) or Scott,” Mrs Barr said. Rosie the Blue Heeler Australian cattle dog Seabrook Wines, Vine Vale Rosie from Seabrook Wines. Picture: Supplied “She has the perfect calm and friendly temperament to welcome kids, other dogs, and, of course, wine lovers,” owner, Hamish Seabrook said. Rosie keeps herself busy as the winery’s Vineyard supervisor and safety manager, waste disposal specialist, customer service superstar, office administrator and risk manager. “Rosie wears many hats (or should we say collars?) in her role at the winery,” Mr Seabrook said. “Her support is invaluable during paperwork marathons as she snoozes under the desk (and her) thunder-detection skills are top-notch, and she keeps us alert when storms are brewing — though she insists on extra cuddles during the thunderclaps.” Originally nicknamed Princess, Rosie has continued to ensure that her royal title is respected, particularly while she was recovering from a serious car accident earlier last year. “She was treated like royalty, and now she expects no less! She’s a princess through and through,” Mr Seabrook said. Leo the Australian Shepherd Alpha Box & Dice, McLaren Vale Ball-obsessed, Leo brings an extra touch of “majesty and beauty” to his winery family at Alpha Box a& Dice. Head winemaker, Sam Berketa with Leo from Alpha Box & Dice. Picture: Supplied While he can be “super-sassy” at times, there’s no denying that this canine is the best buddy someone could ask for. “His roles at the winery include (but aren’t limited to): maître-d’ at the cellar door, bung chaser, bird scarer and grape sniffer,” head winemaker, Sam Berketa said. “He’s not overly into wine, but his favourite food pairing is twiggy sticks and the oak from a Chardonnay barrel.” When he’s not chasing his ball, Leo can be found “posing with noble expression on his face as the wind blows majestically through his flowing locks”. What a cutie! Aggie the Hungarian Vizsla Deviation Road, Longwood Aggie has her whole world on her doorstep with her home, winery and cellar door all located on the same property. Aggie from Deviation Road. Picture: Supplied This is perfect for the seven-year-old canine who loves to fulfilling her role as a member of the Deviation Road team. While she is nearly always up for greeting anyone and everyone who visits the winery, like all of us she values her alone time and sometimes prefers to sit in the sun and watch from afar. “She can be selective who she decides to spend time with, so the customers who get her attention always feel a bit special,” general manager, Anna Trowse said. Aggie is also handy for helping staff find the location’s owner and winemaker, Kate Laurie as her “permanent shadow”. “If Aggie by herself, it generally means Kate is off-site,” Ms Trowse said. More Coverage I was seriously injured walking the dog and he saved me Ruby Stewart Listed: South Aussie dogs to watch on Instagram Ruby Stewart Originally published as Inside the lives of 7 wine pups: Where you can meet and pat South Australia’s winery dogs More related stories SA News Five young people in hospital after horror day on SA roads The five young people hospitalised after a horror crash in St Kilda on Saturday have been identified, with police continuing to investigate the circumstances of the smash. Read more NSW Taxpayers slugged $50k as ACCC bosses fly overseas Taxpayers have been slugged close to $50k so the bosses of the ACCC could go on all-expenses paid international jaunts to Europe and South America. See the itineraries here. Read more
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BEIRUT (AP) — A Syrian opposition war monitor and a pro-government media outlet say government forces have withdrawn from much of the central city of Homs. The pro-government Sham FM reported that government forces took positions outside Syria’s third-largest city, without elaborating. Rami Abdurrahman who heads the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, said Syrian troops and members of different security agencies have withdrawn from the city, adding that rebels have entered parts of it. Losing Homs is a potentially crippling blow for Syria’s embattled leader, Bashar Assad. The city stands at an important intersection between Damascus and Syria’s coastal provinces of Latakia and Tartus — the Syrian leader’s base of support and home to a Russian strategic naval base. Its capture is a major victory for insurgents, who have already seized the cities of Aleppo and Hama , as well as large parts of the south, in a lightning offensive that began Nov. 27. Analysts said Homs falling into rebel hands would be a game-changer. THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. AP’s earlier story follows below. BEIRUT (AP) — Insurgents' stunning march across Syria gained speed on Saturday with news that they had reached the suburbs of the capital and with the government forced to deny rumors that President Bashar Assad had fled the country. The rebels' moves around Damascus, reported by an opposition war monitor and a rebel commander, came after the Syrian army withdrew from much of southern part of the country, leaving more areas, including several provincial capitals, under the control of opposition fighters. The advances in the past week were among the largest in recent years by opposition factions, led by a group that has its origins in al-Qaida and is considered a terrorist organization by the U.S. and the United Nations. 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. For the first time in the country's long-running civil war, the government now has control of only four of 14 provincial capitals: Damascus, Homs, Latakia and Tartus. The U.N.’s special envoy for Syria, Geir Pedersen, on Saturday called for urgent talks in Geneva to ensure an “orderly political transition.” Speaking to reporters at the annual Doha Forum in Qatar, he said the situation in Syria was changing by the minute. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, whose country is Assad's chief international backer, said he feels “sorry for the Syrian people.” In Damascus, people rushed to stock up on supplies. Thousands went to Syria's border with Lebanon, trying to leave the country. Many shops in the capital were shuttered, a resident told The Associated Press, and those still open ran out of staples such as sugar. Some were selling items at three times the normal price. “The situation is very strange. We are not used to that,” the resident said, insisting on anonymity, fearing retributions. “People are worried whether there will be a battle (in Damascus) or not.” It was the first time that opposition forces reached the outskirts of Damascus since 2018, when Syrian troops recaptured the area following a yearslong siege. The U.N. said it was moving noncritical staff outside the country as a precaution. Assad's status Syria’s state media denied social media rumors that Assad left the country, saying he is performing his duties in Damascus. He has had little, if any, help from his allies. Russia, is busy with its war in Ukraine . Lebanon’s Hezbollah, which at one point sent thousands of fighters to shore up Assad's forces, has been weakened by a yearlong conflict with Israel. Iran has seen its proxies across the region degraded by regular Israeli airstrikes. U.S. President-elect Donald Trump on Saturday posted on social media that that the United States should avoid engaging militarily in Syria. Pedersen said a date for talks in Geneva on the implementation a U.N. resolution, adopted in 2015, and calling for a Syrian-led political process, would be announced later. The resolution calls for the establishment of a transitional governing body, followed by the drafting of a new constitution and ending with U.N.-supervised elections. Later Saturday, foreign ministers and senior diplomats from eight key countries, including Saudi Arabia, Russia, Egypt, Turkey and Iran, along with Pederson, gathered on the sidelines of the Doha Summit to discuss the situation in Syria. No details were immediately available. The insurgents' march Rami Abdurrahman, who heads the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, an opposition war monitor, said insurgents were in the Damascus suburbs of Maadamiyah, Jaramana and Daraya. Opposition fighters were marching toward the Damascus suburb of Harasta, he added. A commander with the insurgents, Hassan Abdul-Ghani, posted on the Telegram messaging app that opposition forces had begun the “final stage” of their offensive by encircling Damascus. HTS controls much of northwest Syria and in 2017 set up a “salvation government” to run day-to-day affairs in the region. In recent years, HTS leader Abu Mohammed al-Golani has sought to remake the group’s image, cutting ties with al-Qaida, ditching hard-line officials and vowing to embrace pluralism and religious tolerance. Syria’s military, meanwhile, sent large numbers of reinforcements to defend the key central city of Homs, Syria’s third largest, as insurgents approached its outskirts. The shock offensive began Nov. 27, during which gunmen captured the northern city of Aleppo, Syria’s largest, and the central city of Hama , the country’s fourth largest city. Opposition activists said Saturday that a day earlier, insurgents entered Palmyra, which is home to invaluable archaeological sites had been in government hands since being taken from the Islamic State group in 2017. To the south, Syrian troops left much of the province of Quneitra including the main Baath City, activists said. Syrian Observatory said government troops have withdrawn from much of the two southern provinces and are sending reinforcements to Homs, where a battle loomed. If the insurgents capture Homs, they would cut the link between Damascus, Assad’s seat of power, and the coastal region where the president enjoys wide support. The Syrian army said in a statement that it carried out redeployment and repositioning in Sweida and Daraa after its checkpoints came under attack by “terrorists." The army said it was setting up a “strong and coherent defensive and security belt in the area,” apparently to defend Damascus from the south. The Syrian government has referred to opposition gunmen as terrorists since conflict broke out in March 2011. Diplomacy in Doha The foreign ministers of Iran, Russia and Turkey, meeting in Qatar, called for an end to the hostilities. Turkey is a main backer of the rebels. Qatar's top diplomat, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, criticized Assad for failing to take advantage of the lull in fighting in recent years to address the country’s underlying problems. “Assad didn’t seize this opportunity to start engaging and restoring his relationship with his people,” he said. Sheikh Mohammed said he was surprised by how quickly the rebels have advanced and said there is a real threat to Syria’s “territorial integrity.” He said the war could “damage and destroy what is left if there is no sense of urgency” to start a political process. Karam reported from London. Associated Press writers Albert Aji in Damascus, Syria and Qassim Abdul-Zahra in Baghdad contributed to this report.An ex- Tesco employee has shared some truths that they wish they could say to customers. With Christmas over, people nationwide will have recently been struck with the stress of heading to the supermarket to stock up on festive bits. In fact, many of us will be repeating this painful cycle ahead of New Year's Eve. Retailers like Tesco, Aldi, Sainsbury's and more see a significant increase in footfall during this period, with shoppers ensuring they have all their bits. As such, it's understandable for tensions to rise among both consumers and staff who face immense pressure due to high demand. A former Tesco worker previously told the Mirror what they'd like to tell customers during these challenging times, from disliking asking for ID to the plastic bag charge. Here's what they had to say. The ex-employee said: "You're early, that's great. But unfortunately when we open at 7am, that means 7am. "I'm sorry if it's raining, or you're cold. But looking at me with a face like thunder isn't going to speed this process up." They said: "I'm not deliberately going slow - it's just busy in here." The ex-Tesco worker admitted: "Feel flattered I'm asking you to prove you're old enough to buy that bottle of vodka, because I'm not doing it for fun." They said: "They aren't the most flattering items of clothing to wear, but they are amazingly warm in those chilly winter months." The ex-worker joked: "Those yellow stickers are coming out, and it's like shoppers can smell them a mile off." They said: "We all know those huge cages can get in the way, but getting the products off them is the real task." The ex-worker revealed: "Going on lunch and finding yourself short of a few quid so you opt for that Tesco Everyday Value thick sliced bread that your managers generously left in the staff room." The ex-worker confessed that they let out a sigh when a customer pleads with them to knock some pennies off. "The last box of 10 pack fish fingers has been opened - it's probably just a damaged box but hey, I'll knock 10 per cent off to avoid the drama," said the shop worker. The carrier bag charge is definitely not their fault, as they explained: "Rolling your eyes when a customer blames Tesco for the 5p plastic bag charge - I'm all for saving the planet, but don't take it out on the messenger." They also notice loyal customers' routines, jokingly saying: "That's right, Barbara. I see you doing the weekly shop at 7pm every Wednesday. I saw you last week, and the week before that, and the week before that..." It seems we are not the only ones frustrated with self-service tills, as the former worker admitted: "And impatiently waving your product in front of the scanner isn't going to make my life any easier. "I hold the power to unlock these bad boys, and the red light flashing above you has already told me you need my help." Don't miss the latest news from around Scotland and beyond. Sign up to our daily newsletter .
