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The central city of Hama, which has been the scene of numerous atrocities for antigovernment troops, was within six kilometers of Syrian rebel forces on Wednesday. Syria's fourth-largest city may be an even bigger boost than Aleppo's unexpected conquest last week, the nation's most populated city in the war's biggest onslaught in years. Since 2011, the map of Syria has been changed numerous times, although Hama has never been under opposition control. According to the Associated Press, the city was less than 10 miles from insurgents and fighters supported by Turkey who resisted Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's regime. Senior rebel commander Lt. Col. Hassan Abdul-Ghani refuted government assertions that his soldiers had been repulsed in the vicinity of the city.Note: Every piece of conten...

One noticeable omission from President-elect Donald Trump's Cabinet and top staff for his second term is his children. During his first term, Trump's daughter Ivanka and her husband, Jared Kushner, were everywhere, occupying offices in the West Wing and frequently given credit for (or blame for) his choices. Ivanka Trump and Kushner retreated to the sidelines in Florida for the 2024 campaign, while Trump's sons took on more significant positions in the political process. Donald Trump Jr. has established himself during the transition and strongly urged his father to select Sen. JD Vance of Ohio as his vice presidential running mate, with the help of his younger brother Eric. Additionally, Barron, Trump's youngest son, contributed to the development of the campaign's podcast-heavy approach, ...

The French government is in danger of collapsing, just as the Notre-Dame cathedral in Paris rises from the ashes. While viewing the repaired Paris landmark that was destroyed by fire in 2019, President Emmanuel Macron put on a brave front. His administration celebrated the reconstruction as a testament to French resilience and solidarity. However, an unexpected alliance of leftist and far-right opponents might collapse his shaky parliamentary coalition on Wednesday. Finance Minister Antoine Armand told French television on Tuesday that the nation is at a turning moment and urged its leaders to avoid causing confusion. It's the most recent chapter in the political unrest sweeping France and Europe, where far-right populists and nationalists—many of whom are Donald Trump's supporters—are tak...

There has been a lot of criticism of President Joe Biden's decision to pardon his son Hunter, and the majority of it—including the severe criticism with partisan overtones—has valid points. Beyond this, there is no other justification for the pardon: He is a father, and what parent wouldn't utilize whatever authority they had to assist their children in need? I won't act as though I wouldn't have chosen to do whatever it takes to safeguard my child in a similar situation, even if it meant destroying my own legacy. That's what complicates criticism of Biden's choice. This has a human component that is terrible in a lot of ways. It really does suit the criteria of Shakespearean, which is a term that is overused in today's society yet is ideal for this occasion. Biden must be in a lot of angu...

According to a person familiar with the talks, Trump transition officials are considering the prospect of constructing immigration detention facilities on a piece of land along the Rio Grande that the state of Texas recently purchased. According to the individual with knowledge of the conversations, Texas Governor Greg Abbott discussed last week the use of military forces to assist in transporting migrants to the site and the construction of facilities with Tom Homan, President-elect Donald Trump's incoming "border czar." The next Trump administration may declare a national emergency to use the site, diverting cash intended for infrastructure development and funding troops for a border operation. According to the source, the National Guard or active-duty military could perform the work, an...

Washington As it considers whether states can limit gender transition care for kids, the conservative-majority Supreme Court delves into the culture war debate surrounding transgender rights on Wednesday. Throughout the just-concluded election, President-elect Donald Trump and his supporters consistently promoted an anti-transgender rights message. When he enters office in January, he has promised to reimpose limits on transgender individuals serving in the military and limit access to gender-affirming healthcare, among other things. Democrats have pushed for more protections for transgender individuals, including the Biden administration in the current court case. The Biden administration, transgender youth, and their families have challenged a newly passed Tennessee legislation before ...

The stakes for Sunday's Week 13 game between Tampa Bay and Carolina were fairly low based just on the standings. The records of both teams were losing. However, few games this season have provided a greater perspective on one of the most important NFL questions: How patient should a team be with its young quarterback? This made the game much more interesting than it initially seemed. Less than two seasons into his career, Bryce Young has already gone from being selected first overall in the draft to being benched after just eighteen games. Sunday's fourth quarter saw the Panthers take a 23–20 lead with seconds remaining, and Young used his legs and arm to lead the team on what looked to be a game-winning drive. After that, Baker Mayfield, the quarterback for Tampa Bay, began his own heroic...

President-elect Donald Trump's choice to head the Drug Enforcement Administration, Chad Chronister, announced on Tuesday that he will not be running for the position. Three days after Trump made the announcement, Chronister, the sheriff of Hillsborough County, Florida, declared he would decline his proposed nomination as the next DEA administrator. After former Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., withdrawn his candidacy for attorney general last month, he is the second Trump administration pick to remove his name from consideration. The father-in-law of Chronister, a veteran of the Florida police force, is Edward DeBartolo Jr., the former owner of the San Francisco 49ers. Republicans in Florida, including Governor Ron DeSantis, mostly applauded the selection. However, Chronister encountered a number ...