8bet casino

CECO Environmental Announces Expiration of HSR Waiting Period

None

Beirut: Insurgents’ stunning march across Syria gained speed on Saturday (Sunday AEDT) with news that they had reached the suburbs of the capital Damascus and with the government forced to deny rumours that President Bashar al-Assad had fled the country. The lightning rebel advance suggests that Assad’s government could fall within the next week, US and other Western officials said. A giant portrait of Syrian president Bashar Assad sets on a building, as empty streets seen in Damascus, Syria, on Saturday. Credit: AP 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 up in places where the rebellion had long seemed over. The twin threats to the strategically vital city of Homs and the capital, Damascus, now pose an existential danger to the Assad dynasty’s five-decade reign over Syria and the continued influence there 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. 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 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. 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. People arrive at the Jordanian side of the border as others wait in their cars, after a ban on crossings into Syria, on December 7, 2024 in Jaber, Jordan. Credit: Getty Images 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, 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. Loading Many shops in the capital 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. Syrian President Bashar al-Assad: Backed by Russia and Iran – both of which are bogged down in separate conflicts. Credit: Saudi Press Agency/AP Assad rumours Syria’s state media denied social media rumours that President Assad had left the country, saying he 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 yearlong conflict with Israel. Iran has seen 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. Pedersen said a date for talks in Geneva on the implementation a UN 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 UN-supervised elections. A Syrian opposition fighter holds a rocket launcher in front of the provincial government office. Credit: AP 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 on Saturday to discuss the situation. 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. 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. 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-Qaeda, ditching hardline officials and vowing to embrace pluralism and religious tolerance. Syrian rebel leader Abu Mohammed al-Golani. Credit: Al Jazeera 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 said insurgents entered Palmyra on Friday, 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. Loading 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 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 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 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, 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 . Save Log in , register or subscribe to save articles for later. World politics Syria Bashar al-Assad Syria United Nations Most Viewed in World LoadingIn response to the incidents, the Zhengzhou government has issued a statement emphasizing the importance of maintaining proper ventilation systems and conducting regular safety checks to prevent carbon monoxide leaks. Bath center owners are being reminded to prioritize the safety and well-being of their patrons by ensuring that proper ventilation and air quality standards are met.

Team GB track cyclist Katy Marchant taken to hospital after dramatic crashIn a shocking revelation that has sparked outrage among netizens, images and videos of an alleged physical abuse incident within a suspected scam call center have emerged online. The footage was captured by vigilant internet users from across the river, providing a glimpse into what appears to be a disturbing and illegal activity taking place within the confines of the facility.

Navy gets 95-yard TD run from Horvath and stops 2-point try to beat Oklahoma in Armed Forces BowlNearmap As the new year is approaching, normally, this is the time of the year I'm making new resolutions and beginnings. Within this context, I introduce to you the ShipTrack 15, my new model portfolio comprised of shipping stocks, across the dry bulk, oil tanker, container, LPG and Analyst’s Disclosure: I/we have a beneficial long position in the shares of SBLK either through stock ownership, options, or other derivatives. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article. Seeking Alpha's Disclosure: Past performance is no guarantee of future results. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. Any views or opinions expressed above may not reflect those of Seeking Alpha as a whole. Seeking Alpha is not a licensed securities dealer, broker or US investment adviser or investment bank. Our analysts are third party authors that include both professional investors and individual investors who may not be licensed or certified by any institute or regulatory body.

By MICHELLE L. PRICE WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — An online spat between factions of Donald Trump’s supporters over immigration and the tech industry has thrown internal divisions in his political movement into public display, previewing the fissures and contradictory views his coalition could bring to the White House. The rift laid bare the tensions between the newest flank of Trump’s movement — wealthy members of the tech world including billionaire Elon Musk and fellow entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy and their call for more highly skilled workers in their industry — and people in Trump’s Make America Great Again base who championed his hardline immigration policies. The debate touched off this week when Laura Loomer , a right-wing provocateur with a history of racist and conspiratorial comments, criticized Trump’s selection of Sriram Krishnan as an adviser on artificial intelligence policy in his coming administration. Krishnan favors the ability to bring more skilled immigrants into the U.S. Loomer declared the stance to be “not America First policy” and said the tech executives who have aligned themselves with Trump were doing so to enrich themselves. Much of the debate played out on the social media network X, which Musk owns. Loomer’s comments sparked a back-and-forth with venture capitalist and former PayPal executive David Sacks , whom Trump has tapped to be the “White House A.I. & Crypto Czar.” Musk and Ramaswamy, whom Trump has tasked with finding ways to cut the federal government , weighed in, defending the tech industry’s need to bring in foreign workers. It bloomed into a larger debate with more figures from the hard-right weighing in about the need to hire U.S. workers, whether values in American culture can produce the best engineers, free speech on the internet, the newfound influence tech figures have in Trump’s world and what his political movement stands for. Trump has not yet weighed in on the rift, and his presidential transition team did not respond to a message seeking comment. Musk, the world’s richest man who has grown remarkably close to the president-elect , was a central figure in the debate, not only for his stature in Trump’s movement but his stance on the tech industry’s hiring of foreign workers. Technology companies say H-1B visas for skilled workers, used by software engineers and others in the tech industry, are critical for hard-to-fill positions. But critics have said they undercut U.S. citizens who could take those jobs. Some on the right have called for the program to be eliminated, not expanded. Born in South Africa, Musk was once on an a H-1B visa himself and defended the industry’s need to bring in foreign workers. “There is a permanent shortage of excellent engineering talent,” he said in a post. “It is the fundamental limiting factor in Silicon Valley.” Related Articles National Politics | Should the U.S. increase immigration levels for highly skilled workers? National Politics | Trump threat to immigrant health care tempered by economic hopes National Politics | In states that ban abortion, social safety net programs often fail families National Politics | Court rules Georgia lawmakers can subpoena Fani Willis for information related to her Trump case National Politics | New 2025 laws hit hot topics from AI in movies to rapid-fire guns Trump’s own positions over the years have reflected the divide in his movement. His tough immigration policies, including his pledge for a mass deportation, were central to his winning presidential campaign. He has focused on immigrants who come into the U.S. illegally but he has also sought curbs on legal immigration , including family-based visas. As a presidential candidate in 2016, Trump called the H-1B visa program “very bad” and “unfair” for U.S. workers. After he became president, Trump in 2017 issued a “Buy American and Hire American” executive order , which directed Cabinet members to suggest changes to ensure H-1B visas were awarded to the highest-paid or most-skilled applicants to protect American workers. Trump’s businesses, however, have hired foreign workers, including waiters and cooks at his Mar-a-Lago club , and his social media company behind his Truth Social app has used the the H-1B program for highly skilled workers. During his 2024 campaign for president, as he made immigration his signature issue, Trump said immigrants in the country illegally are “poisoning the blood of our country” and promised to carry out the largest deportation operation in U.S. history. But in a sharp departure from his usual alarmist message around immigration generally, Trump told a podcast this year that he wants to give automatic green cards to foreign students who graduate from U.S. colleges. “I think you should get automatically, as part of your diploma, a green card to be able to stay in this country,” he told the “All-In” podcast with people from the venture capital and technology world. Those comments came on the cusp of Trump’s budding alliance with tech industry figures, but he did not make the idea a regular part of his campaign message or detail any plans to pursue such changes.

Perhaps Davis won't take a step back after losing four starters from its fifth-place team to graduation last spring. The unbeaten Pirates notched arguably their most impressive win yet Saturday in Richland, knocking off Mount Spokane 55-40. Cesar Hernandez led the way once again with a game-high 26 points against last year's third-place team. Tyson Lee added 13 points and Davis held the Wildcats to their lowest point total since a 70-39 loss to O'Dea in the 2019 state championship game. The Pirates led by eight at halftime and put up 20 points in the third quarter to pull away for good. Davis (4-0) will start league play at Eisenhower next Friday. MABTON 66, KITTITAS 58: At Mabton, Cisco Morena tallied 15 points and Armando Chavez added 14 for the Vikings. Kittitas (1-2) will play at Quincy next Tuesday and Mabton (1-1) will host Cle Elum next Friday. Elsewhere, Cle Elum beat Warden 66-51 and La Salle lost 87-58 at Burbank. KITTITAS — Eli Nash 18, Terry Huber 13, Lowe 8, Varnum 4, Coles 0, Dallon Walker 15, Hutchinson 0, Balverde 0. MABTON — Cisco Moreno 15, Armando Chavez 14, Marco Espinoza 13, Manuel Birueta 10, Zuniga 2, Martinez 8, Carreon 4, Rosales 0, Morrow 0. Kittitas=9=7=27=15=—=58 Mabton=14=11=24=17= —=66 Mabton highlights: Chavez 8 res; Birueta 6 rebs. SCAC West WAPATO 84, WAHLUKE 56: At Wapato, Julian Hamilton's 15 points led five Wolves in double figures as they nearly reached 50 points by halftime. Wapato (1-0 SCAC, 3-0 overall) will play at College Place next Friday. WAHLUKE — Rafael Rodriguez 14, Ziker 8, Perez 5, Ramirez 4, Heslop 2, Rex Buck 15, A. Acevedo 4, J. Acevedo 2, A. Rodriguez 0, Nievez 0. WAPATO — Julian Hamilton 15, AJ Garza 13, Jaywaan Aranda 11, Omar Arizpe 10, McConville 9, Watoyma 10, Bobb 8, Cl. Eneas 6, Ch. Eneas 0. Wahluke=7=12=15=22=—=56 Wapato=28=20=22=14= —=84 Wapato highlights: Mathias McConville 5 rebs, 7 assts, 4 stls; Garza 6 stls, 5 rebs, 4 assts. YAKAMA TRIBALAL 64, PRESCOTT 35: At Yakama Tribal, Jarvis Peters led the Eagles with 26 points and they pulled away early thanks to a 25-point first quarter. Yakama Tribal (2-2) will host Touchet next Friday. PRESCOTT — Garcia 9, Tiedeman 8, Rodriguez 6, Madrigal 0, Ortega 0, Vasquez 7, Reyes 5, Burgas 0. YAKAMA TRIBAL — Jarvis Peters 26, Max Oats 11, Wyena 5, Brice 2, Savala 7, Stahi 7, Holliday 4, Cloud 2, Martelli 0, Visaya 0, Eyle 0. Yakama Tribal=25=11=17=11= —=64 Prescott=9=7=8=11= —=35 SELAH 55, NACHES VALLEY 48: At Selah, Elise Kingston's 15 points helped the Vikings hold on for their first win of the season despite Maddy Jewett's almost triple-double of 19 points, 12 rebounds and eight steals for the Rangers. Naches Valley (1-1) will play at College Place Tuesday and Selah (1-1) will host Grandview next Friday. NACHES VALLEY — Maddy Jewett 19, Ellie Bost 13, Rowe 6, Mendoza 4, St.Martin 3, Vanwagoner 2, Staggs 1, VanAmburg 0, Hahn-Keenan 0. SELAH — Elise Kingston 17, MaKenna Pepper 13, Pendleton 9, St. Mary 6, Coons 4, Keller 6, Phinney 0. Naches Valley=10=17=11=10=—=48 Selah=12=11=14=18=—=55 NV highlights: Jewett 12 rebs, 8 stls. MABTON 51, KITTITAS 31: At Mabton, the Vikings rolled past the Coyotes to stay undefeated. Kittitas (1-3) will travel to Quincy Tuesday and Mabton (3-0) will host Cle Elum next Friday. In Saturday's other nonleague games, Yakama Tribal beat Prescott 61-26 and Cle Elum toppled Warden 61-29. KITTITAS — Elysa Nash 12, Blackmore 8, Weekes 5, Huber 4, Hink 2. MABTON — Scorers not available. SCAC WAPATO 73, WAHLUKE 15: At Wapato, Trinity Wheeler tallied 24 points and Jordyn Bobb added 17 for the Wolves, who allowed only two points in the second half. Wapato (1-0, 1-1) will travel to College Place next Friday. WAHLUKE — Eraza 4, Magaia 3, Harlow 2, Pineda 2, Buck 0, Rodriguez 4. WAPATO — Jordyn Bobb 17, Romero 9, Kenoras 8, Greybull 4, Alvarado 2, Trinity Wheeler 24, Cilla Thomas 10, Blodgett 0. Wahluke=4=9=0=2=—=15 Wapato=15=22=24=13=—=74 Deer Park Invite At Deer Park Local team scores: 5, Prosser 135; 8, Granger 101. Local finalists — 106: Bodey Schweiger (Riverside) d. Bryan Garcia Rosas (Pro), 10-4. 175: Jance Novak (Cash) p. Logan Myers (Pro), 1:12. Local third place — 106: Maddox Taft (MS) d. Dominic Castaneda (Gra), 9-4.. 120: Kaysic Lundquist (Mead) inj. Rene Torres Jr., 2:08.. 138: Julian Joe Torres (Prosser) inj. Wyatt Laney (Lewiston), 0:00. 215: Angel Huizar (Gra) d. Michael Rosas (Pro), 2-1. At Wenatchee Team scores: Selah 358, Prosser 280, Wenatchee 254, East Valley 165, Toppenish 55, Naches Valley 22, Grandview 15. Local winners — 200 medley relay: 1, Selah (De Dios Ramírez, Peace, Strand, Sausen) 1:25.52. 200 free: 1, Gabriel Petroff 1:57.4. 200 IM: 1, James Field (EV) 2:16.0. 50 free: 1, Jake Brandt (EV) 22.81. 100 fly: Petroff (P) 59.5. 100 free: Brandt (EV) 52.08. 500 free: Jacob Goin (S) 5:39.46. 200 free relay: 1, East Valley (Field, Bombard, Alejo, Brandt) 1:42.5. 100 back: 1, De Dios Ramírez 1:02.36. 100 breast: 1, Field 1:09.78. 400 free relay: 1, Selah (De Dios Ramírez, Peace, Strand, Sausen) 3:53.84.

The New Trend of Hybrid Office: Ricoh China Joins Hands with PConline and Locke Park to Launch ESG "Green Pursuit Movement"

Pisces – (19th February to 20th March) Daily Horoscope Prediction says, Multiple opportunities wait for you Stick to principles at the office and ensure you keep the lover happy in the relationship. Financially you are prosperous today. Keep a watch on your health. Be careful to not annoy the lover today. At the office, utilize the opportunities for growth in your career. Go for big wealth investments today. However, your health may not be perfect. Pisces Love Horoscope Today Do not let love affairs go by ego-related issues. You must spare time for the lover. The second part of the day is good a take on marriage. You should also provide space to the partner and not impose your ideas which may hamper the relationship. Some love affairs will require more communication and this is vital in long-distance affairs. Single male natives would be happy to fall in love today. Meet someone special while traveling or at an official event. You may also propose to get a positive response. Pisces Career Horoscope Today Your approach is crucial today as some profiles will have a minor ruckus. Be careful about office politics which may also hamper your reputation at the workplace. A freelancing opportunity can be a good option to display your talent and when such an option knocks you. Some tasks will require you to visit the client’s office. Some students will clear the interview for their first job. There can be minor productivity issues but your professional life will be good. Pisces Money Horoscope Today Prosperity will come today but your expenditure will also be higher. Cut down the shopping for luxury items and instead care for more savings. Your plan to buy a home may not work out today. However, you will be good to settle all pending dues. Financial success will prompt you to make further investments. You may consider stock, trade, and speculative business as safe options. Pisces Health Horoscope Today Always be cautious about even minor ailments and consult a doctor whenever necessary. Those who have a history of cardiac issues will develop complications. Seniors with breathing issues must avoid dusty areas. You should also start the day with light exercise or jogging at the nearby park for an hour. Do not bring the office stress to home. Spend more time with people with a positive attitude. Pisces Sign Attributes Strength: Conscious, Aesthetic, Kind-hearted Weakness: Sentimental, Indecisive, Unrealistic Symbol: Fish Element: Water Body Part: Blood Circulation Sign Ruler: Neptune Lucky Day: Thursday Lucky Color: Purple Lucky Number: 11 Lucky Stone: Yellow Sapphire Pisces Sign Compatibility Chart Natural affinity: Taurus, Cancer, Scorpio, Capricorn Good compatibility: Virgo, Pisces Fair compatibility: Aries, Leo, Libra, Aquarius Less compatibility: Gemini, Sagittarius By: Dr. J. N. Pandey Vedic Astrology & Vastu Expert Website: www.astrologerjnpandey.com E-mail: djnpandey@gmail.com Phone: 91-9811107060 (WhatsApp Only)

In the competitive world of Italian football, every move and decision made by top clubs like Inter Milan (Internazionale) can have a major impact on their chances of success both domestically and in Europe. Recently, Inter Milan's head coach Simone Inzaghi has expressed his team's ambitions to win the Serie A title and perform well in the UEFA Champions League. However, one team that could potentially pose a significant challenge to Inter Milan's ambitions is SS Lazio (Lazio).As we look ahead to the remainder of the Serie A season, the race for the Scudetto promises to be one of the most exciting and unpredictable in recent memory. The margin for error is slim, and every point gained or dropped could prove crucial in the final reckoning. The white-hot competition at the top of the table is a testament to the quality and competitiveness of Italian football, and fans can expect plenty of drama and excitement in the coming weeks.

Will Joe Burrow Play in Week 17? NFL Injury Status, News & Updates

LA Galaxy strike early, hold off New York Red Bulls 2-1 to win their record sixth MLS Cup championshipTitle: Clear Economic Policy Direction Next Year to Enhance Extraordinary Countercyclical AdjustmentNoneDylan Hernández: MLS deal with Apple TV could be hurting league's efforts to grow its fan base