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Bashar al-Assad’s long-standing reign. The capture of the Syrian capital comes after rebels seized northern Aleppo last week and rapidly advanced southwards, overrunning key cities like Homs. The takeover severed Damascus from the Alawite-dominated coastal regions, long considered Assad’s stronghold. Two senior Syrian military officials confirmed that Assad fled the capital aboard a plane on Sunday. Flightradar24 data showed a Syrian Air aircraft departing Damascus but abruptly vanishing from radar. Speculation abounds about whether the plane’s transponder was deactivated or if it was downed. “It disappeared off the radar, possibly the transponder was switched off, but I believe the bigger probability is that the aircraft was taken down,” a source stated, speaking anonymously.

Subscribe to enjoy similar stories. As demand for hotel rooms in India is expected to outpace supply in the coming years, Lemon Tree Hotels is readying itself to leverage its brand identity and capture a more premium pricing. The company’s chairperson, Patanjali G.

Subscribe to enjoy similar stories. Krishna Tanna, a Mumbai-based writer and strategist, recalls a moment when intuition led her to a seemingly spontaneous but deeply fulfilling experience. Without concrete plans or logistical preparation, Tanna and her sister decided on a whim to visit Rishikesh, staying at the Osho Ashram and exploring without an itinerary.

Donald Trump's win in last month's US election, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rushed to congratulate the president-elect: «History's greatest comeback!» he gushed. If Trump's staunchly pro-Israel first term and his nominations for top administration positions are any indication, Netanyahu's glee is justified. But much has transpired since Trump left office in early 2021. The wars in the Middle East, the lofty ambitions of Netanyahu's far-right governing coalition and Netanyahu's personal relationship with him could dampen that enthusiasm and complicate what on the surface looks like a seamless alliance. «For Bibi, this is his dream. He wanted this,» said Mazal Mualem, an Israeli journalist and Netanyahu biographer, referring to the Israeli leader by his nickname. «For Bibi, it's too good to be true.»

IPO market is set to be bustling next week, with 11 companies like Vishal Mega Mart, TPG Capital-backed Sai Life Sciences and fintech firm One Mobikwik Systems gearing up to launch their initial share sales, collectively aiming to raise nearly Rs 18,500 crore. Other mainboard IPOs to be launched during this period are Inventurus Knowledge Solutions Ltd and Blackstone-owned diamond grading firm International Gemmological Institute (India) Ltd. Alongside the five main-board IPOs, six SMEs are preparing to float their maiden public issues next week to garner over Rs 150 crore collectively.

Israeli military said Sunday it also sent troops to «other places necessary for its defence,» and that the force deployment was meant to provide security for residents of the Israeli-controlled Golan Heights. It added it was «not interfering with the internal events in Syria.» Israel captured that territory from Syria in the 1967 Mideast war and later annexed it, a move not recognized by much of the international community, which views the territory as occupied. A later ceasefire agreement created a demilitarised buffer zone between the two countries' territories, prohibiting military presence or activity from either side in the area. United Nations peacekeepers have patrolled the area since 1974.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) reported on Sunday that Assad may have fled Syria, citing sources that claim he departed via Damascus International Airport after a series of rapid and surprising territorial losses to advancing rebel forces. This information, however, has not been independently verified by international agencies, deepening the mystery surrounding Assad’s current location and the stability of his regime.

space, having almost finished a full orbit of the sun. The NASA astronauts have now officially spent six months in space, with just two more to go in their lengthy journey after becoming stranded in space back in June due to a malfunction with their Starliner craft, as quoted in a report by E! News. After leaving Earth this summer, the colleagues had planned their June mission to last only eight days, but they are now stuck at the International Space Station (ISS) due to a propulsion-related leak in their Boeing aircraft.

Online sales have surged 25-30% in the past one year, said Manish Gupta, chief executive of Titan's Fragrances and Fashion Accessories Division, triggering a sudden spike in a market that he estimates is now worth ₹4,500 crore. «The hockey-stick curve is starting now in the perfume category,» Gupta said, highlighting the rapid market evolution from basic deodorants to sophisticated fragrances.

Bashar Assad was in serious trouble was 10 years ago, at the height of the country's civil war, when his forces lost control over parts of the largest city, Aleppo, and his opponents were closing in on the capital, Damascus. Back then, he was rescued by his chief international backer, Russia, and longtime regional ally Iran, which along with Lebanon's powerful Hezbollah militia helped Assad's forces retake Aleppo, tipping the war firmly in his favor. Now, as insurgents pursue a shock offensive that quickly captured not just Aleppo, but other key cities across the country's northwest and in the south, reaching the suburbs of the capital Damascus, the Syrian leader appears to be largely on his own.

Mamata Banerjee’s recent remarks regarding her role in the opposition INDIA alliance have sparked a flurry of reactions from allies within the bloc. Speaking on a television channel, the West Bengal Chief Minister expressed frustration over the leadership and coordination of the coalition. “I had formed the INDIA bloc, now it is up to those leading the front to manage it. If they can’t run the show, what can I do? I would just say that everyone needs to be taken along,” Banerjee stated. When asked why she had not taken charge of the alliance herself, Banerjee clarified, “If given the opportunity I would ensure its smooth functioning. I don’t want to go outside West Bengal, but I can run it from here.” This statement quickly led to speculation about Banerjee’s potential leadership of the INDIA bloc, which she helped establish to challenge the dominance of the BJP.

Subscribe to enjoy similar stories. PARIS—The limestone facade of Notre Dame Cathedral is radiant. Its ornate gargoyles and angels show no signs of the smoke and flames that once billowed from the church.

Notre Dame Cathedral, the iconic Parisian landmark nearly lost to a devastating fire in April 2019, reopened on Saturday, marking a historic moment of achievement and resilience. The event attracted dignitaries from across the globe, including US President-elect Donald Trump, Britain’s Prince William, and First Lady Jill Biden, alongside French President Emmanuel Macron, who championed the ambitious five-year restoration timeline. The reopening ceremony began with Archbishop of Paris Laurent Ulrich symbolically tapping the cathedral’s grand wooden doors three times with a staff crafted from charred remnants of the original roof. This act, steeped in tradition, officially declared the cathedral open for worship. Hymns, prayers, and the resonating tones of the restored 8,000-pipe organ followed, reawakening a sacred space silenced for years.

President Yoon Suk Yeol declared martial law, citing threats from North Korea and accusing the National Assembly of obstructing government functions. This marked the first such declaration since 1980. Though rescinded within six hours, the move shocked the nation and drew widespread condemnation, both domestically and internationally. The streets surrounding the National Assembly in Seoul became the epicentre of dissent, with an estimated 150,000 protesters demanding Yoon’s impeachment. Banners with messages like «Impeach Yoon» and «Insurrection Criminal» were held high, while chants of «South Korea is a democratic republic» reverberated through the crowd. The protests, which included families with young children and groups singing protest songs, carried a festival-like atmosphere but turned sombre as parliament debated Yoon’s political fate. Protester Jo Ah-gyeong, a 30-year-old Seoul resident, expressed resolve: “I’m neither discouraged nor disappointed because we’ll get it eventually. I’ll keep coming here until we do.”

Quant Small Cap Fund, the largest fund managed by Quant Mutual Fund, added 10 stocks to its portfolio in November. Of these 10, five were PSU stocks including SBI, HUDCO, Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders, MOIL, and ONGC. Apart from these five PSU stocks, the smallcap fund added Cochin Shipyard, Welspun Corp, Welspun Enterprise, Om Infra, and Punjab Alkalies and Chemicals. Also Read | Explainer: What are different types of SIPs available for mutual fund investors and who should use them

Venue : Sylhet International Cricket Stadium, Sylhet Bangladesh Women squad - Murshida Khatun, Sharmin Akhter, Sobhana Mostary, Taj Nehar, Mst Ritu Moni, Shorna Akter, Dilara Akter, Nigar Sultana Joty, Fahima Khatun, Fariha Trisna, Jahanara Alam, Jannatul Ferdus, Nahida Akter, Rabeya, Sanjida Akter Meghla Ireland Women squad - Gaby Lewis, Leah Paul, Rebecca Stokell, Sarah Forbes, Una Raymond-Hoey, Arlene Kelly, Laura Delany, Orla Prendergast, Amy Hunter, Christina Coulter Reilly, Aimee Maguire, Alana Dalzell, Ava Canning, Cara Murray, Freya Sargent Bangladesh Women vs Ireland Women Match Details 2nd T20I of Ireland Women tour of Bangladesh, 2024 between Bangladesh Women and Ireland Women to be held at Sylhet International Cricket Stadium, Sylhet at 01:30 PM.

CISF has set up a quality control unit to «enhance» the «operational efficiency» of its aviation security wing that provides a counter-terrorist cover to 68 civil airports of the country. An spokesperson for the paramilitary force said on Saturday that the Internal Quality Control Unit (IQCU) will play a «crucial» role in establishing «world-class» security procedures and technology for the airports that are used by lakhs of domestic and international passengers every day. The initiative is in compliance with the National Civil Aviation Security Quality Control Programme (NCASQCP) of 2024 issued by the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) and the Aircraft (Security) Rules of 2023, he said. The BCAS, under the civil aviation ministry, frames security policies for the Indian civil aviation sector.

economic growth rate, the markets maintained a positive bias throughout the week. Further, a positive turnaround from FIIs to India in expectation of a dovish monetary policy by RBI supported the sentiment. During the week, as many as 89 smallcap stocks have delivered double-digit weekly returns with eight of them offering gaining over 25%.

Subscribe to enjoy similar stories. ON December 5th a Long March 6a rocket blasted off from Taiyuan Satellite Centre, in Shanxi province in northern China. Aboard was the third batch of satellites for the Qianfan, or “SpaceSail" network, which aims to deploy a “mega-constellation" of thousands of satellites to beam fast internet access to users anywhere in the world.

1. Battery PerformanceEffect: Lithium-ion batteries commonly used in smartphones, laptops, and wearables perform poorly in cold temperatures. The chemical reactions inside the battery slow down, leading to reduced capacity and faster draining.

Formula 1 on Friday announced a five-year extension with the Chinese Grand Prix that will see the Shanghai International Circuit remain on the calendar through the 2030 season. As per a release from F1, the extension follows Formula 1's successful return to China in 2024 after a five-year absence, where 200,000 passionate fans attended the race to see Max Verstappen take victory in both the Sprint and the Grand Prix. In the 20 years since its first race, the 5.45km Shanghai International Circuit has established itself as a favourite of drivers and fans alike. The drivers relish the unique challenge the circuit provides, including the ever-tightening Turns 1 and 2, and high g-force Turns 7 and 8, and fans come to enjoy incredible racing and the vibrant culture of the city of Shanghai.