Syrians poured into streets in celebration on Sunday after a stunning rebel advance reached the capital, ending the Assad family’s 50 years of iron rule . Russian state news agencies were reporting that President Bashar Assad and his family had arrived in Moscow and were given asylum. Russia said Assad left the country after negotiations with rebel groups and that he had given instructions to transfer power peacefully. Joyful crowds gathered in central squares in Damascus, waving the Syrian revolutionary flag. Others ransacked the presidential palace and residence. Abu Mohammed al-Golani , a former al-Qaida commander who cut ties with the group years ago leads the biggest rebel faction in Syria and is poised to chart the country’s future. He made his first public appearance since fighters entered the Damascus suburbs Saturday, at the capital’s sprawling Umayyad Mosque, and called himself by his given name, Ahmad al-Sharaa. He said Assad’s fall was “a victory to the Islamic nation.” The rapidly developing events have shaken the region. Lebanon said it was closing all its land border crossings with Syria except for one that links Beirut with Damascus. Jordan closed a border crossing with Syria, too. Israel has issued warnings to villages in southern Syria and its forces seized a buffer zone in the Golan Heights. Here's the Latest: The Israeli military said on Sunday it was reinforcing a barrier along its border with Syria as part of its “enhanced preparedness” in the area following the fall of the Assad regime. Israel released images of the construction, which showed bulldozers digging what appeared to be a trench. The army said in a statement that the barrier was named “New East.” Satellite images analyzed by The Associated Press show that as early as September, Israel began building what could be a new road right along the so-called Alpha Line that separates the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights from Syria . The United Nations confirmed that Israeli troops entered the demilitarized zone during the work. Over the weekend, the Israeli military sent additional troops to the Israeli-annexed Golan Heights to bolster Israel’s presence along the border with Syria. Russian state news agencies reported that ousted Syrian President Bashar Assad has arrived in Moscow with his family and been given asylum. The agencies, Tass and RIA, cited an unidentified Kremlin source. The Associated Press was not immediately able to verify the reports but had contacted the Kremlin for comment. CAIRO — The Arab League on Sunday condemned Israel for taking advantage of Syrian President Bashar Assad's downfall by moving into more Syrian territory. Hours after Assad’s overthrow, Israel announced it had seized a buffer zone in the Golan Heights that was established by a cease-fire agreement with Syria in 1974. In a statement, the Arab League said Israel illegally sought to occupy more territories. But Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the 50-year-old agreement regarding Syrian territory had collapsed and that Syrian troops had abandoned their positions, necessitating Israel taking over as a “temporary defensive position.” UNITED NATIONS — The United Nations secretary-general is marking the “fall of the dictatorial regime” in Syria and says the future of the country is “is a matter for the Syrians to determine.” A statement by Antonio Guterres also called for calm and the protection of the rights of all Syrians as well as of diplomatic and consular facilities in Syria. He said there is much work ahead to ensure an “orderly political transition to renewed institutions,” and he called on the international community to ensure that “any political transition is inclusive and comprehensive and that it meets the legitimate aspirations of the people of Syria, in all their diversity.” KYIV, Ukraine - Ukraine’s top diplomat on Sunday responded to Assad’s ouster by describing him as a “dictator” who relied on Russia to prop up his rule - a reference to the military campaign Moscow has waged in Syria since September 2015, teaming up with Iran to allow Assad’s government to fight armed opposition groups and reclaim control over most of the country. "Assad has fallen. This has always been and will be the case with all dictators who bet on Putin. He always betrays those who rely on him,” foreign minister Andrii Sybiha said in a post on X. In a separate update on the social network, Sybiha said Kyiv was ready to take steps towards restoring relations with Syria, severed months into Russia’s full-scale invasion of the neighboring state. Kyiv broke off diplomatic ties after Damascus in June 2022 recognized Kremlin-occupied parts of eastern Ukraine as independent territories, in a move welcomed by Moscow and decried by the West as a clear violation of Ukrainian sovereignty. JERUSALEM — The Israeli military has issued a warning to residents of five villages and towns in southern Syria to stay inside their homes for their safety. “The fighting in your area is forcing the IDF to act,” the IDF’s Arabic-language spokesman said on X. The military didn’t respond to questions. Earlier, Israel said its troops had seized a buffer zone in the Golan Heights established in 1974, saying it was to protect Israeli residents after Syrian troops abandoned their positions. Defense Minister Israel Katz said on X that the IDF has been instructed to “seize the buffer zone and control points to ensure the protection of all Israeli communities in the Golan Heights – Jewish and Druze – so that they are not exposed to threats from the other side.” Israel captured the Golan in the 1967 Mideast war and later annexed it. The international community, except for the United States, views it as occupied. BEIRUT - The leader of the largest insurgent group in Syria visited the Syrian capital’s sprawling Umayyad Mosque and declared that the victory against President Bashar Assad “is a victory to the Islamic nation.” Ahmad al-Sharaa, who was formerly known as Abu Mohammed al-Golani, made his first public appearance and remarks since fighters entered Damascus. He told hundreds of people at the historic mosque that Assad had made Syria “a farm for Iran’s greed.” He added that Assad made Syria a base for the illegal amphetamine Captagon that brought cash to Assad’s circles. Al-Sharaa, the leader of the jihadi Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, or HTS, said Sunday that the victory was achieved because of “God and the blood of martyrs.” He said that he left Syria 20 years ago and since then his heart has longed for this movement. AMMAN, Jordan — The vast majority of the Jordanian people are welcoming the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime and the success of the Syrian revolution. “There is no doubt that I felt overwhelming joy at the fall of the Assad regime," said Badi Al-Rafaia, Engineer, union activist and member of the Islamic Action Front. "There is no doubt that we are happy with what happened in Syria, happy with the success of the revolution, happy with the Syrian people getting rid of an oppressor and criminal who treated the Syrian people and made the Syrian state a failed state.” Al-Rafaia said that Jordan is benefiting from what happened in Syria, and "we hope that Jordan will help the revolution succeed and not work against it.” Amman resident Muhab al-Majali said the fall of the Assad regime is “The end of every unjust and tyrannical rule, and more than that, it mortgaged the country and its people to the Iranians, who abandoned it in minutes... I believe that the future is beautiful and prosperous for the Syrians.” BERLIN — The International Committee of the Red Cross is calling for safe humanitarian access and protection of civilians in Syria after the fall of Bashir Assad’s government. “Our teams in Syria, including in Damascus, have been closely monitoring the fast-evolving security and humanitarian situation in coordination with the Syrian Arab Red Crescent,” the ICRC’s head of delegation in Syria, Stephan Sakalian, said in a written statement Sunday. The ICRC is “responding wherever possible, with further efforts underway, as hundreds of thousands of people need care and humanitarian assistance,” he said. Sakalian called “on all parties to urgently enable safe and unhindered access for medical and humanitarian workers to reach those in need, to protect civilians, and to uphold their obligations under international humanitarian law.” BAGHDAD — The Iraqi government said in a statement Sunday that it “supports all international and regional efforts seeking to open a dialogue” for Syria “leading to the adoption of a pluralistic constitution that preserves the human and civil rights of Syrians, and supports cultural, ethnic and religious diversity.” The statement from government spokesperson Bassem al-Awadi, said that Iraq understands “the necessity of respecting the free will of all Syrians, and stresses that the security of Syria, the unity of its territories, and the preservation of its independence are of utmost importance, not only for Iraq but also for its connection to the security and stability of the region.” It cautioned against “interfering in Syria’s internal affairs, or supporting one party for the benefit of another.” Iraq, which has a close relationship with Iran - once a strong ally of former Syrian President Bashar Assad - has taken in some 2,000 Syrian army soldiers who fled the country amid the advance of armed opposition groups. CAIRO — The head of Yemen’s internationally recognized government welcomed the fall of the government of President Bashar Assad of Syria. “It’s a historic moment,” Rashad al-Alimi, who chairs the ruling presidential council, wrote on X platform of Assad’s downfall. “It’s time for the Iranian regime to stop meddling in Yemen, respect its sovereignty and identity.” Al-Alimi, who is backed by Saudi Arabia, was referring to Iran’s support of Houthi rebels who are at war with Yemen’s internationally recognized government for a decade. DAMASCUS — Families wandered through the high-ceilinged halls of the presidential palace in Damascus on Sunday, along with some armed men. Some paused to take family portraits or selfies on the few remaining couches against the backdrop of mosaiced walls, while others walked out with chairs and other items under their arms. On the massive parking lot out front, cars drove in circles honking ecstatically. In central Damascus’ Umayyad Square, drivers passing by also honked jubilantly, while young men piled onto a tank abandoned in the square. But for some the celebration was bittersweet. “I am very happy, but this happiness will not be completed until I can see my son out of the prison and know where is he is,” said Damascus resident Bassam Masr. “I have been searching for him for two hours - he has been detained for 13 years.” TEL AVIV, Israel – Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Sunday that Israeli forces have seized a buffer zone in the Golan Heights established by a 1974 ceasefire agreement with Syria. He spoke from an overlook near the border between Syria and the Israeli-annexed Golan Heights, after Syrian rebels tore through the country and dramatically ended Assad’s rule on Sunday morning. Netanyahu said the 50-year-old agreement had collapsed and that Syrian troops had abandoned their positions, necessitating the Israeli takeover as a “temporary defensive position.” Israel captured the Golan Heights in the 1967 Mideast war and annexed it. The international community, except for the United States, views it as occupied Syrian territory. Satellite images analyzed by the Associated Press show that as early as September, Israel began construction of what could possibly be a new road right along the so-called Alpha Line that separates the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights from Syria . The United Nations confirmed that Israeli troops entered the demilitarized zone during the work. The United Nations maintains a peacekeeping force in the demilitarized zone called the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force, or UNDOF, with around 1,100 peacekeepers from Fiji, India, Kazakhstan, Nepal, and Uruguay. After the 1973 Mideast war, the U.N. Secretary Council voted to create UNDOF to patrol a roughly 400 square kilometer (155 square mile) demilitarized zone and maintain the peace there. DAMASCUS, Syria — An Associated Press journalist in Damascus reported airstrikes in the area of the Mezzeh military airport, southwest of the capital Sunday. The airport has previously been targeted in Israeli airstrikes, but it was not immediately clear who launched Sunday's strike. The Israeli military refused to comment on the airport strike. Israel often does not publicly claim responsibility for attacks in Syria. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a UK-based war monitor, reported that Israeli warplanes also targeted warehouses belonging to the Syrian army’s Fourth Division and another former military site outside of Damascus Sunday. On Saturday and Sunday, the Israeli military sent additional troops to the Israeli-annexed Golan Heights to bolster Israel’s presence along the border between Israel and Syria. Agricultural areas along the border were declared closed military zones and some schools shifted to online classes in anticipation of unrest.
Steve Sarkisian Reveals True Reason He Didn't Use Arch Manning Earlier This SeasonNone
3 Stocks to Watch as China Tightens Control Over Antimony Exports (MILIF, PPTA, UAMY) 12-06-2024 12:08 AM CET | Business, Economy, Finances, Banking & Insurance Press release from: ABNewswire The U.S.-China trade conflict has reached a new level of intensity, with Beijing banning exports of critical minerals like gallium, germanium, and antimony to the United States. These materials, essential for advanced technologies and military applications, are now being leveraged as geopolitical tools in an escalating economic confrontation. Antimony in particular has drawn significant attention. This often-overlooked mineral plays a critical role in the defense sector, powering ammunition, infrared missile systems, and advanced batteries. Historically, antimony proved vital in World War II, hardening lead for bullets and enabling the production of tungsten steel. Today, it remains indispensable for national security and technological innovation. The stakes are high: China controls nearly 50% of global antimony mining and 80% of its production. With Beijing tightening exports, the United States faces a precarious reliance on foreign sources. This disruption is already rippling through supply chains, with antimony prices surging over 200% this year. For defense contractors like Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT), the implications are profound. As the largest defense contractor globally, Lockheed relies on stable access to advanced materials for key programs, including the F-35 fighter jet and missile defense systems. The current situation underscores the urgent need to diversify supply chains and reduce dependency on adversarial nations. Amid this crisis, several companies are stepping up efforts to secure alternative sources of antimony and other critical minerals. Let's examine a few key players addressing this challenge. Military Metals Corp. (OTCQB: MILIF) (CSE: MILI) Military Metals Corp. is emerging as a promising force in the critical minerals sector, strategically positioned to capitalize on the growing global demand for antimony, copper, and gold. Based in British Columbia, the company focuses on acquiring and developing mineral-rich properties in stable jurisdictions across Europe and North America. With recent acquisitions, a stronger leadership team, and a portfolio of high-potential projects, Military Metals is poised to make a significant impact on the critical minerals market. A notable development in late 2024 was the appointment of Mark Saxon to Military's Board of Directors. Saxon's 30 years of experience in exploration geology and leadership roles in Canadian and Australian public companies brings valuable technical and operational expertise to the team. CEO Scott Eldridge expressed enthusiasm for Saxon's addition, citing his track record with high-profile discoveries and his expertise in critical metals supply chains. Saxon's involvement with projects like the Sunday Creek antimony-gold discovery further strengthens Military's capacity to advance its asset base. The company also made a bold move in November with the acquisition of three brownfield mineral projects in Slovakia: Trojarova, Tienesgrund, and Medvedi. These properties, rich in antimony and gold, align with Military Metals' focus on critical resources essential for the defense, energy, and advanced manufacturing industries. Trojarova, the flagship project, features extensive historical exploration, including over 14,000 meters of drilling and substantial underground development. While past resource estimates were classified using the Soviet-era Russian system, they indicate strong potential for antimony and gold mineralization. Military Metals intends to modernize these estimates under NI 43-101 standards to validate the project's true value. Tienesgrund, another antimony-gold property in Slovakia, has a long history of mining activity dating back to the Middle Ages. Reports from the Soviet era document significant antimony grades alongside gold, with promising exploration upside confirmed by limited modern sampling. Military Metals is preparing to unlock the full potential of this underexplored property, which stretches over 13 square kilometers. In North America, the company has expanded its presence with the Last Chance antimony-gold property in Nevada. Located near Kinross' Round Mountain gold mine, Last Chance benefits from a mineralized system surrounded by favorable geology. Military Metals recently completed additional claim staking to secure control over this prospective area, with exploration plans set to begin in 2025. These acquisitions come at a pivotal moment for the antimony market. China's export restrictions, which escalated into a full ban on December 3, 2024, have sent antimony prices soaring by 228% this year alone. As the West grapples with supply chain disruptions for critical minerals, Military Metals' portfolio positions it as a reliable future supplier of antimony, a material vital to military applications, energy storage, and advanced manufacturing. Eldridge emphasized the company's role in addressing the West's dependency on adversarial nations for essential resources, underscoring the urgency of developing secure domestic supplies. With its seasoned leadership, well-timed acquisitions, and a focus on high-demand minerals, Military Metals Corp. is making strides toward becoming a key player in the critical minerals sector. As global tensions and supply chain pressures reshape resource markets, the company offers investors a compelling opportunity to gain exposure to a rapidly evolving and strategically vital industry. Perpetua Resources Corp. (Nasdaq: PPTA) is advancing the Stibnite Gold Project in central Idaho, a critical initiative focused on the exploration, site restoration, and redevelopment of gold-antimony-silver deposits. The Stibnite Gold Project is one of the highest-grade open-pit gold deposits in the U.S., and uniquely, it's the only domestic source of mined antimony capable of meeting U.S. defense requirements for small arms, munitions, and missile systems. Perpetua is committed to a modern, sustainable mining approach, with plans to restore an abandoned mine site and produce both gold and antimony, vital for national security. To further this mission, the company has secured a $59.2 million Technology Investment Agreement under the Defense Production Act. This funding is intended to support the construction readiness and permitting of the project, which is expected to play a key role in strengthening U.S. defense and energy infrastructure. The project will be powered by one of the lowest carbon emissions grids in the U.S., aligning with Perpetua's environmental, social, and governance (ESG) commitments. Additionally, a portion of the antimony produced will be supplied to Ambri, a U.S.-based company developing liquid metal batteries essential for the low-carbon energy transition. In terms of regulatory progress, Perpetua Resources reached a significant milestone in 2024 with the U.S. Forest Service publishing the Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) and issuing a Draft Record of Decision (DROD) for the Stibnite Gold Project. These approvals have moved the project closer to its final Record of Decision (ROD), which is expected by the end of 2024, subject to a 45-day resolution period. The company is also advancing engineering work and securing ancillary permits to ensure smooth progress toward construction. Financially, Perpetua recently raised $35 million through a public offering of 3.4 million common shares. The proceeds will be used for long-lead time materials, detailed engineering, and general corporate purposes, further positioning the Stibnite Gold Project for future success. With its focus on responsible mining, environmental stewardship, and community engagement, Perpetua Resources aims to contribute to both U.S. national security and the clean energy transition while revitalizing a historic mining site. United States Antimony Corporation (NYSE: UAMY) is a key player in processing critical minerals in North America, specializing in antimony products vital for defense, technology, and industrial applications. The company's operations span the U.S. and Mexico, producing antimony oxide, metal, and trisulfide. These materials are used in flame retardants, ammunition primers, batteries, and other high-demand sectors. In addition to antimony, USAC processes zeolite in Idaho and recovers precious metals at its Montana facilities, diversifying its product portfolio to support environmental, agricultural, and industrial needs. USAC recently expanded its presence in Alaska's Tok region, securing 24 additional mining claims covering 3,840 acres. This brings its total holdings in the state to 14,880 acres, positioning the company in an area known for rich antimony and multi-metal deposits. The expansion aligns with USAC's strategy to develop domestic sources of critical minerals, reducing reliance on imports and ensuring a steady supply for U.S. industries. The Tok claims offer not only stibnite-an essential antimony ore-but also access to historically significant gold, silver, and copper deposits. In its third-quarter results for 2024, USAC highlighted substantial operational improvements. The company achieved greater efficiency at its Bear River Zeolite facility and invested in key growth initiatives, including enhanced mining capabilities and expanded mineral processing operations. As the only North American antimony smelter, USAC is actively working to increase its production capacity while continuing its focus on integrating upstream and downstream operations. This strategic approach underlines USAC's commitment to securing critical mineral supplies for military and civilian industries, solidifying its role as a cornerstone in U.S. efforts to strengthen supply chain resilience. The company's integrated business model and expansion initiatives position it to address growing demand effectively while supporting national priorities. Disclaimers: RazorPitch Inc. "RazorPitch" is not operated by a licensed broker, a dealer, or a registered investment adviser. This content is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be investment advice. The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 provides investors a safe harbor in regard to forward-looking statements. Any statements that express or involve discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, goals, assumptions, or future events or performances are not statements of historical fact and may be forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on expectations, estimates, and projections at the time the statements are made that involve a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from those presently anticipated. Forward-looking statements in this action may be identified through the use of words such as projects, foresee, expects, will, anticipates, estimates, believes, understands, or that by statements indicating certain actions & quote; may, could, or might occur. Understand there is no guarantee past performance will be indicative of future results. Investing in micro-cap and growth securities is highly speculative and carries an extremely high degree of risk. It is possible that an investor's investment may be lost or impaired due to the speculative nature of the companies profiled. RazorPitch has been retained and compensated by Military Metals Corp. to assist in the production and distribution of this content. RazorPitch is responsible for the production and distribution of this content. It should be expressly understood that under no circumstances does any information published herein represent a recommendation to buy or sell a security. This content is for informational purposes only; you should not construe any such information or other material as legal, tax, investment, financial, or other advice. Nothing contained in this article constitutes a solicitation, recommendation, endorsement, or offer by RazorPitch or any third-party service provider to buy or sell any securities or other financial instruments. All content in this article is information of a general nature and does not address the circumstances of any particular individual or entity. Nothing in this article constitutes professional and/or financial advice, nor does any information in the article constitute a comprehensive or complete statement of the matters discussed or the law relating thereto. RazorPitch is not a fiduciary by virtue of any persons use of or access to this content. Media Contact Company Name: RazorPitch Contact Person: Mark McKelvie Email:Send Email [ https://www.abnewswire.com/email_contact_us.php?pr=3-stocks-to-watch-as-china-tightens-control-over-antimony-exports-milif-ppta-uamy ] City: NAPLES State: Florida Country: United States Website: https://razorpitch.com/ This release was published on openPR.
'Operation Vigilance' checks Yolo sex offenders' compliance
President Emmanuel Macron on Thursday vowed to name a new prime minister in the coming days to prevent France from sliding deeper into political turmoil, rejecting growing pressure from the opposition to resign. Macron adopted a defiant tone in an address to the nation, seeking to limit an escalating political crisis after Prime Minister Michel Barnier's government was ousted in a historic no-confidence vote. Contemporary France's shortest-serving premier, Barnier resigned after Wednesday's parliamentary defeat in a standoff over the budget forced his government to step down, the first such toppling of a French administration in over 60 years. Macron now faces the task for the third time this year of selecting a new prime minister and did not come up with a name in his address. "I will appoint a prime minister in the coming days," he said, adding this person would be charged with forming a "government of general interest" with a priority of passing a budget. He also lashed out at the French far right and hard left for uniting in an "anti-republican front" to bring down the government. He said lawmakers had "knowingly" chosen "to topple the budget and the government just days before the Christmas holidays." The French presidency said earlier that Barnier and his ministers would remain "in charge of daily business until the appointment of a new government". Limiting any impression of political chaos is all the more important for Macron given that on Saturday he will host world leaders -- including US President-elect Donald Trump -- for the reopening of the Notre Dame cathedral in Paris after a devastating 2019 fire. Pointing to how the edifice was rebuilt within the five-year timeline he had set, Macron said: "It's the proof we're able to do great things, that we can do the impossible." In an unusual move, Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot, France's top diplomat for just two-and-a-half months, urged unity in a message on social media, saying "instability is vulnerability" at a time of international uncertainty. A majority of lawmakers on Wednesday supported the no-confidence vote proposed by the hard left and backed by the far right headed by Marine Le Pen. Barnier's ejection in record time came after snap parliamentary elections in June resulted in a hung parliament. No political force was able to form an overall majority and the far right held the key to the government's survival. The trigger for Barnier's ouster was his 2025 budget plan, including austerity measures unacceptable to a majority in parliament, but which he argued were necessary to stabilise France's finances. On Monday he forced through a social security financing bill without a vote, but the ousting of the government means France is still without a budget. New legislative elections cannot be called until a year after the previous ones in summer 2024. But while Macron has more than two years of his presidential term left, some opponents are calling on him to resign to break the deadlock. According to a poll by Odoxa-Backbone Consulting for Le Figaro daily, 59 percent of French want the president to step down, while a survey by Harris for RTL put the figure even higher, at 64 percent. Bur Macron said: "The mandate that you gave to me democratically (in 2022 elections) is a five-year mandate and I will exercise it fully, right up to the end." "The 30 months we have ahead of us must be 30 months of useful action for the country." But he admitted his decision to call snap parliamentary elections this summer that resulted in a hung parliament "was not understood". "Many have blamed me for it and I know, many continue to blame me. It's a fact and it's my responsibility," he said. Hard-left leader Jean-Luc Melenchon said that Macron was the "cause of the problem" in France "and would go due to the force of events" before his term ends. Barnier is Macron's fifth prime minister since coming to power in 2017. Each successive premier has served for a shorter period and, given the composition of the National Assembly, there is no guarantee that Barnier's successor would last any longer. Loyalist Defence Minister Sebastien Lecornu and Macron's centrist ally Francois Bayrou have been touted as possible contenders, as has former Socialist premier and interior minister Bernard Cazeneuve. Bayrou, who leads the MoDem party, had lunch with the president at the Elysee, a source close to him told AFP. sjw/ah/gvMexico scrambles to defend free trade pact amid concerns over Chinese parts
