8k8 com download In trailers for Prime Video’s Secret Level , we’re shown a glimpse of its Armored Core episode that evokes Michelangelo’s The Creation of Adam : With a massive, outstretched metal finger, a godlike mech gingerly reaches out to an injured human pilot, seemingly ready to rescue it from its broken machine. While watching those trailers, I rolled my eyes at what seemed like a tired visual cliche. (In my defense, said trailer is set to M83’s highly played-out “Outro,” after all.) But after watching Secret Level ’s Armored Core episode, “Asset Management,” and seeing that creation scene in context, I feel like I owe the show’s creators an apology. The shot I balked at is one of the best moments in Secret Level . “Asset Management” stars Keanu Reeves as an Armored Core pilot living on a hellish frozen world and who appears on the brink of a mental or physical collapse. Maybe both. But as core pilots go, he’s still the best of the best, which Secret Level ’s animators showcase via some intense core-on-core action. Reeves’ unnamed pilot takes on multiple opposing mechs in fight scenes that play out authentically to the games. Favoring smart tactics and up-close killing blows, Reeves’ pilot proves that he’s atop the Armored Core food chain by staying two steps ahead of the competition; he knows when his enemies are trying not to kill him, but rather wear him down. He smartly uses his environment and stealthy attacks to hold his own against superior firepower. He’s basically the John Wick of AC pilots. In addition to a flurry of engrossing, high-speed mech fights, we also get a look at the inner workings of an Armored Core, something rarely seen in FromSoftware’s games. The action in the games always takes place outside of the mech, but the episode shows the physical toil that Reeves’ pilot undergoes to synchronize with his giant suit of armor. It’s not pleasant, but it is fascinating to watch a digital Keanu endure the grueling act of piloting an AC. The games only hint at how physically taxing it is to survive as a pilot; “Asset Management” literally shows the blood, sweat, and tears the job requires. Joining Reeves in “Asset Management” is actor Erin Yvette, Ayre from Armored Core 6: Fires of Rubicon , doing another turn as the voice inside a pilot’s head; though she’s not explicitly credited as Ayre, it’s a casting choice that fans of the game will appreciate. Star Wars’ Temuera Morrison also makes a brief appearance, but the 11-minute episode is really a showcase for Reeves, who should probably be doing more mech piloting in FromSoftware’s gritty sci-fi universe. Ultimately, “Asset Management” isn’t just an entertaining jolt of action for mech-action fans, it’s a pretty good commercial for Armored Core 6 . The on-screen action from Secret Level feels true to the game, so if you want to be a suffering pilot like Reeves, we highly recommend the game as one of 2023’s best . The first eight episodes of Secret Level are now streaming on Prime Video. The last seven drop on Dec. 17. Entertainment Impressions TV Armored Core 6: Fires of RubiconTrump vows to block Japanese steelmaker from buying US Steel, pledges tax incentives and tariffs

While loneliness is a year-round problem for older adults, it can be exacerbated during the holiday season as the air resounds with the sights, sounds and smells of celebration when many older adults are missing the social connections they once had or wish they had. Loneliness influences health more than being obese. Statistically, it's more harmful than smoking more than 15 cigarettes a day or alcoholism. Studies have found that the effects of loneliness are more influential on health than being an alcoholic, being physically inactive and being obese combined, says Regenstrief Institute Research Scientist Monica Williams-Farrelly, Ph.D., a life course health researcher. Lonely older adults are less likely to be physically active, to eat nutritious foods and to do things that lead to or maintain better health. They are more likely to experience depression and anxiety. Evidence suggests that when older adults experience loneliness, overall quality of life declines. Countering the holiday blues "Loneliness can be especially challenging around holidays for those who are missing social connections —especially if they have had a recent loss," says Dr. Williams-Farrelly. "The pandemic increased our ability to interact with others virtually. We shouldn't discount the importance of hopping on Zoom or doing Face Time with an older adult you can't be with physically to counter their holiday blues. "Older adults may need some help with the technology part, so If there is someone a bit tech savvy around who can help an older adult connect with friends and family, not only is the door open to communication with those near and distant, a new social connection has been made, it's a win-win for diminishing social isolation and loneliness." A former social worker, she also suggests clinicians screen their patients for loneliness and offer age-appropriate resources. Older adults more likely to experience loneliness than other age groups Whether they live alone or not, older adults are more prone to loneliness than other age groups due to the changing nature of social interactions as one ages. Often their children have moved out of the house and, along with grandchildren, may live far away. Older adults are more likely to be retired with few, if any, interactions with coworkers. Also, older adults are more likely to have spouses or partners who are no longer living or to have lost other family members , such as parents or siblings, who would have been sources of social interaction. In a study published earlier this year, Dr. Williams-Farrelly and colleagues found that 53% of older adults experience loneliness . Lonely older adults are less likely to be physically active and less likely to eat in a healthy manner, contributing to poor health outcomes.Stock market today: Wall Street drifts lower as it waits for inflation dataLara Adejoro The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof Muhammad Pate, has announced that no fewer than 70 new healthcare manufacturing companies with robust projects are set to execute 22 large-scale initiatives in Nigeria. Pate disclosed this in a message posted on his X handle on Friday. He also revealed that more than 10 value chain verticals have been established within the country, highlighting that these milestones align with President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to transforming the health sector from a consumption-driven model to one that creates jobs and enhances economic value. In October 2023, President Tinubu launched the Presidential Initiative to Unlock the Healthcare Value Chain and appointed Dr Abdu Mukhtar as the National Coordinator. The initiative aims to increase the local manufacturing of pharmaceutical products to at least 70 per cent of national consumption by 2030 and expand the workforce in the life sciences manufacturing sub-sector to at least 50,000 full-time employees from the current estimated 20,000, among other objectives. Since the initiative’s establishment, Pate noted that the President has signed an executive order to stimulate domestic production of pharmaceuticals, test kits, medical textiles, and consumables. “While it is important to acknowledge that some initial implementation challenges occurred, these have now been collaboratively resolved with all key stakeholders. I am pleased to report that this policy is now positioned to achieve its intended objectives,” Pate stated. He highlighted substantial progress, including securing investment commitments. “To date, we have a line of sight to significant investments, including financing from the European Investment Bank and a $1 billion Memorandum of Understanding with Afreximbank to support both incoming and domestic manufacturers in the health and life sciences sectors.” Pate added that the Presidential Initiative has inspired five development finance institutions to collaborate on dedicated financing platforms to unlock Nigeria’s healthcare value chain. He also noted that over 70 healthcare manufacturing companies with solid business cases are in active discussions to execute 22 large-scale projects. “More than 10 value chain verticals have been established in-country, including the manufacturing of rapid diagnostic test kits. This effort is exemplified by our MoU with South Africa-based Abbott Diagnostics, which is already producing in Lagos,” he said. Pate confirmed that Abbott has agreed to establish a plant in Nigeria to manufacture rapid test kits for malaria and other diseases. Additionally, he highlighted investments in medical oxygen through a partnership with the Global Gases Group, which is establishing a cryogenic air separation plant in Nigeria. He also referenced a recent agreement with Siemens Healthineers to establish an ultrasound assembly plant in the country. Copyright PUNCH All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express written permission from PUNCH. Contact: health_wise@punchng. com Tags Health Minister Healthcare firms Professor Muhammad Ali Pate

An online debate over foreign workers in tech shows tensions in Trump's political coalition

ST. ALBANS CITY — Can you hear the silent sound of turkey’s wings? Thanksgiving must be in the air. Or at least it was during the second episode of the latest podcast released Friday by the Messenger. Functioning as a kind of political palette cleanser, the 40-minute audio piece asks some of the nicest people in St. Albans how to be good to each other during the Thanksgiving season. The episode’s guests are Sunni Tipper, the food programs coordinator at the Fairfield Community Center; Arleigh Young, downtown manager with the City of St. Albans; Joe Halko, former communications director at Northwestern Counseling & Support Services; and KarenMarie Peltier, Back Inn Time owner. Topics covered include some useful tips on how to best set up your space to be welcoming this season, along with a few food prep ideas. Guests also cover the importance of “listening” to a person’s words, body language and culture cues to understand how to make someone feel comfortable, no matter their political persuasion. “Sometimes you have some new individuals who haven't been with the group before, and I think one of the very first things that we need to be cognizant of is to get them involved in being conversational,” Halko said. “So they don't feel like they're an outsider in a group that knows one another pretty well.” Gearing up for gravy The second episode of the “Saint Albans Message” starts off in the Fairfield Community Center’s kitchen before moving forward with a discussion of the spaces we make, the relationships we form and the ways we communicate. Guests also gave a few helpful tips on how to best engage with your loved ones, as many prepare for family traditions centered around Thanksgiving this upcoming weekend. Halko, for example, explained how listening is often much more than passively reacting to vocal cues as it requires people to really take the time to absorb what someone is saying and how they might be saying it. As for the trick to continuing any conversation? Three words. “Tell me more.” “Tell me more. Those three words will help carry conversations that may seem like they’re going to get dormant or stale,” Halko said. “What you’re really saying is, you really do want to hear what they have to say.” The best interactions have respect behind them, Peltier said. As the owner of Back Inn Time, she said she’s worked with some people who aren’t always aware, and they can run roughshod over people when they don’t notice. In some cases, the largest personalities can even dominate a room, making everyone else feel uncomfortable and pushing them to seek out the exits. “That was like a mental workout, trying to bring other people into the conversation, but eventually some of us just kind of meandered off to a different room,” Peltier said. “Sometimes people are not self aware, and so we have to make space.” “We call it reading the room,” Young said. “And there’s a lot to that, and there are a lot of people that aren’t good at reading the room.” Forming family This episode’s podcast guests also came with plenty of useful tips to prevent any potential mishaps around family members. Sometimes, humor can be a strong tool, Tipper said, as it sets the guidelines while making feel comfortable to know they can laugh in a space. “If you’ve set a precedent with your own attitude and you feel comfortable navigating people out of those conversations, it becomes easier than you think,” Tipper said. Setting up a big table helps, too, as it helps bring people together physically, Young added, while good smells can bring a comfortable vibe. But even with all those preparations, Thanksgiving could still turn a corner, Peltier said. She emphasized the need for grace to be able to let things go when someone might say or do something hurtful. “I think it’s more important to look at the long view when I have differences with family members,” Peltier said. “10 years from now, this person is probably not even going to realize the damage they just did.” Alcohol use, or cannabis use, could even exacerbate the issue if it's a part of the family tradition. As Young reminded the group, a bad outcome is always within the realm of possibility. “Sometimes things aren’t going to go 100% alright. And that doesn’t mean it was a bad day,” Young said. “It just means that there was a situation that you couldn’t do anything about. And that happens.” The latest episode can be heard by visiting https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6M4m672bngwChromite is one of the most important resources you can get in Palworld , and it’s essential to complete several schematics that are part of the new update. The Feybreak update has introduced a new location, Pals, and plenty of more content. When it comes to crafting, you can build plenty of new items, weapons, and more. Some of them will often require something called Hexolite, and you’ll need a lot of Chromite, along with a few other resources, to farm this item. Let’s take a look at how to consistently get Chromite in Palword following the launch of the Feybreak update. Best location to farm Chromite in Palworld As you might have already figured out by now, Chromite is exclusive to Feybreak Island . The first thing to do is to reach the island. It’s an endgame island, so make sure to level up to 50 or higher to be on the safe side of things. You’ll also need a Metal Detector. This new schematic has been added as part of the update and unlocks at Technology level 56. You’ll also require the Nightstar Sand to produce this item; once you’ve the Detector, it will beep and change from blue to red if you’re close to Chromite. This resource is found in nodes, and each node usually will land you between 80-90 Chromite. A great area to find a lot of Chromite is at the coordinates (-1200, -1100). This specific region has a cave that offers three to four nodes, and you can easily farm a lot of Chromite in a quick time. Make sure to enter using the entrance, and you should be good to go. Make sure to use the Metal Detector to find the nodes easily. A new Pal named Smokie can also help you find Chromite and mark the spot for you. Smokie’s passive is perfect when it comes to mining Chromite, as it increases the amount of resources you get by mining every node. Once Smokie marks a location for you, it will be shown on your map with a small flag symbol. If you don’t want to use your Detector every time, you can always look for regions with red-colored areas. Typically, such locations will have higher chances of having Chromite nodes. You’ll require a lot of this specific resource to create Hexolite Ores, so mine as much as possible. To mine the resource, you can use your standard Pickaxe.

In a heartwarming display of generosity and community spirit, an Igbo man Somto Monanu, popularly known as Pino Vibes, has single-handedly renovated a community school, Oluwo Ikija Community School, in Ogun State, entirely free of charge. Veteran journalist and former Special Adviser to President Muhammadu Buhari on Political Matters, Babafemi Ojudu, shared the inspiring story in a Facebook post on Monday. Ojudu noted that, despite belonging to a different ethnic group, the Igbo man’s (Somto Monanu) efforts were met with warm acceptance by the community leaders, exemplifying an admirable lack of prejudice. He revealed that the renovated school now features air-conditioned facilities, creating a more conducive learning environment for students. Related News Take part in politics, Ojudu urges students Ekiti 2022: Ojudu tasks Buni on credible, violence-free APC primaries I sacrificed ambition to help resolve APC crisis, Ojudu claims Highlighting the significance of the Somto’s selfless act, Ojudu wrote: “An Igbo man single-handedly renovated a community school in Ogun State, transforming its outlook and installing air conditioners—completely free of charge! “The community leaders welcomed his efforts without hesitation, showing no prejudice despite his Igbo heritage. What more can one say? This remarkable act reminds us that embracing our shared humanity is far greater than fueling tribal rivalries. May God bless this man abundantly.” Click the link below to watch the video: https://x.com/MobilePunch/status/1871287500595204551?t=yhyS6e0xQyXtvDH8cfZVPA&s=19Morgan Rogers looked to have given Emery’s side another famous win when he slammed a loose ball home in stoppage time, but referee Jesus Gil Manzano ruled Diego Carlos to have fouled Juve goalkeeper Michele Di Gregorio and the goal was chalked off. Contact seemed minimal but VAR did not intervene and Villa had to settle for a point in a 0-0 draw. “With the last action, it is the interpretation of the referee,” the Spaniard said. “In England, 80 per cent of those is given a goal and it’s not a foul. It’s very soft. “But in Europe, it could be a foul. We have to accept. “Everybody will know, in England the interpretation is different. The England referees, when actions like that the interpretation is a clear no foul but in Europe that interpretation is different. “They have to be working to get the same decision when some action like that is coming. I don’t know exactly why but we knew before in the Premier League that it is different. A very controversial finish at Villa Park 😲 Morgan Rogers' late goal is ruled out for a foul on Juventus goalkeeper Michele Di Gregorio and the match ends 0-0 ❌ 📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/MyYL5Vdy3r — Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) November 27, 2024 “In Europe for example we are not doing a block like in England and we are not doing in front of the goalkeeper in offensive corners the same situations like in England. “When the action happened, I was thinking here in Europe it’s a foul. In England not, but in Europe I have to accept it. “At first, I thought the referee gave us a goal. In cases like that, it’s confusing because he has to wait for VAR. I don’t know what happened but I think so (the referee changed his mind with VAR).” It was a disappointment for Villa, who remain unbeaten at home in their debut Champions League campaign and are still in contention to qualify automatically for the last 16. “We were playing a favourite to be in the top eight and usually a contender to win this competition,” Emery added. “We are a team who for a long time didn’t play in Europe and the Champions League and this year is very important. “We wanted to play competitive and we are in the right way. Today to get one point is very good, we wanted to win but wanted to avoid some mistakes we made in previous games. “We have 10 points and we’re happy.” Before the game Emery called Juventus one of the “best teams in the world, historically and now”, but this was an Italian side down to the bare bones. Only 14 outfield players made the trip from Turin, with striker Dusan Vlahovic among those who stayed behind. Juve boss Thiago Motta, whose side are 19th but still in contention to reach the top eight, said: “There’s just three games left to qualify. The next home against Man City, then Brugge, then Benfica. “One at a time, as we always did with the goal to qualify for the next round. “In the end we will try and reach our goal which is to go to the next round.”

has said its name can be pronounced with either an “aitch” or a “haitch” because it respects “diversity” and different accents. The UK’s tax, payments and customs authority declared itself agnostic over the pronunciation of the letter H, in a move that will fuel a long-standing linguistic debate. Recent HMRC adverts have featured actors deploying both pronunciations of the letter while referring to the tax body. HMRC told The Telegraph this was because it respects different speech habits, adding that the government department has no official policy on how to pronounce its name. A spokesman said: “At HMRC we respect diversity, and this extends to idiolect, accent and pronunciation.” It puts the tax body at odds with the Cambridge Dictionary, whose online pronunciation guide advises that the word HMRC should be said with an “aitch”. Both the Cambridge Dictionary and the Oxford English Dictionary’s websites also feature audio clips ruling that the letter H is pronounced the same way. Discussion over how to pronounce the letter H in the English language has long rendered it the most contentious letter in the alphabet. “Aitch” is the standard British English pronunciation, and traditionalists insist it remains the correct one despite signs that have broadened variation. Earlier this year, Amol Rajan, host of University Challenge, relented in line with convention after a lifetime of saying “haitch” following complaints from viewers. The TV presenter found himself at the centre of a linguistic storm, later writing in an article for the BBC that he was incorrect to have been adding emphasis on the letter. “All my life I’ve pronounced it ‘haitch’, dimly aware that I was getting it ‘wrong’. Everyone I grew up with says ‘haitch’. My mates say ‘haitch’. But, dear reader, I’m here to tell you: it’s ‘aitch’,” wrote Mr Rajan. The linguistic history of the letter H is disputed, but the Oxford English Dictionary says it can be traced through the . It adds that in more modern times, the treatment of the letter has come to be regarded as a “kind of shibboleth of social position” or background. In Northern Ireland, for example, Catholics typically pronounce it with an aspirated H while Protestants usually say “aitch”. A British Library project in 2010 that asked volunteers to record a chapter from the Mr Men book Mr Tickle also suggested that young people in Britain are now increasingly likely to say “haitch”. Experts have claimed this may be a form of “hypercorrection” in accents that often drop the letter H when used at the beginning of words. Ironically, while referring to the letter itself as “aitch” has typically been associated with the middle- and upper-classes, H-dropping at the start of words is considered one of the standard markers of a cockney accent. The “distinctly aspirated” H at the start of words fell out of favour for a while following the Middle English period, according to the Oxford English Dictionary, explaining why Americans still drop it for some words such as “herb”. Recent defendants of pronouncing the letter H as “haitch” claim it may be useful for children. Kate Burridge, a professor of linguistics at Monash University, and Catherine McBride, a University of Freiburg fellow, said in a 2018 article for The Conversation that referring to the letter as “haitch” means children have an “easier time learning its correspondence as they learn to read”. Others have suggested it makes it simpler to spell out things like car registrations over the phone, with “haitch” less easily confused with the number eight. There is no reliable data about how widespread the “haitch” pronunciation is across Britain, but linguists have claimed it appears to be growing – especially among young people. HMRC videos that used social media influencers to raise awareness about filing tax claims were more likely to say “haitch” rather than “aitch”. But some young people appear to be bucking the trend towards “haitch”, including 25-year-old , who goes by the stage name Aitch. He said in a recent interview that it was “just American people” that mispronounce his name, but that “some people write Haitch sometimes”. Aitch added: “My aunty Gina, she gave me that nickname and she’s the one that spelt it like that for me”.Judge rules NYC is in contempt over jail violence, moves Rikers Island closer to federal takeover

Israel said Tuesday it had bombed more than 350 military sites in Syria during the previous 48 hours, targeting “most of the strategic weapons stockpiles” in the country. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the wave of airstrikes in neighboring Syria was necessary to keep the weapons from being used against Israel following the Syrian government’s stunning collapse . Israel also acknowledged its troops were pushing into a border buffer zone inside Syria, which was established after the 1973 Mideast war. However, Israel denied its forces were advancing Tuesday toward the Syrian capital of Damascus. Life in the capital was slowly returning to normal after jihadi-led Syrian insurgents ousted President Bashar Assad over the weekend. People celebrated for a third day in a main square, and shops and banks reopened. The United States said Tuesday it would recognize and support a new Syrian government that renounces terrorism, destroys chemical weapons stocks and protects the rights of minorities and women. Syria's nearly 14-year civil war killed nearly half a million people and displaced half of the country’s prewar population of 23 million, becoming a proxy battlefield for regional and international powers. Here's the Latest: SAYDNAYA, Syria — Tens of thousands came to Saydnaya Prison from all over Syria after the fall of former President Bashar Assad to search for their loved ones. The place so notorious for its horrors was long known as “the slaughterhouse.” For the past two days, all have been looking for signs of loved ones who disappeared years or even decades ago into the secretive, sprawling prison just outside Damascus. But hope gave way to despair Monday. People opened the heavy iron doors lining the hallways to find cells inside empty. With sledgehammers, shovels and drills, men pounded holes in floors and walls, looking for what they believed were secret dungeons, or chasing sounds they thought they heard from underground. They found nothing. Insurgents freed dozens of people from the Saydnaya military prison on Sunday when Damascus fell. Since then, almost no one has been found. “Where is everyone? Where are everyone’s children? Where are they?” said Ghada Assad, breaking down in tears. An estimated 150,000 people were detained or went missing in Syria since 2011 — and tens of thousands of them are believed to have gone through Saydnaya. WASHINGTON — The top U.S. military commander for the Middle East was on the ground in Syria on Tuesday, meeting with a Kurish-led, U.S.-allied force at several bases in the country's east, U.S. Central Command said. Army Gen. Erik Kurilla visited with U.S. military commanders and troops as well as the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces. It wasn’t clear if he met with SDF leader Mazloum Abdi, and U.S. Central Command did not respond to a request for details about his visit or with whom he met. U.S. officials said they did not know what his message to the SDF was. The U.S has about 900 troops in Syria, including forces working with Kurdish allies in the northeast to prevent any resurgence of the Islamic State group. In a press release, Central Command said Kurilla received an “assessment of force protection measures, the rapidly evolving situation, and ongoing efforts to prevent ISIS from exploiting the current situation.” Kurilla then went on to Iraq where he met with leaders in Baghdad. UNITED NATIONS – The United Nations says it still getting reports about the looting of warehouses with humanitarian aid in a number of areas in Syria, including around the capital Damascus. U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric told reporters Tuesday that U.N. agencies and their partners are working to identify the extent of looting at the warehouses, including those of U.N. agencies and the Syrian Arab Red Crescent. Dujarric said U.N. aid officials report that “the humanitarian situation remains volatile across Syria, with reports of people continuing to be displaced.” Humanitarian officials reported that 25 trucks carrying U.N. aid crossed from Turkey to northwest Syria, which the situation is now relatively calm, the U.N. spokesman said. All 11 receptions opened in Idlib in the northwest to host newly displaced families were empty as of Monday, Dujarric said. In the northeast, he said, authorities report that as of Tuesday 100,000 people have been displaced due to fighting in Tal Rifaat and other parts of Aleppo governorate. Dujarric said the U.N.’s partners report that “reception centers in Tabqa and Raqqa have reached full capacity, and more than 200 sites – including municipal buildings, schools, mosques, and stadiums – are being used to accommodate newly displaced people.” BEIRUT — The Lebanese army said Tuesday that “unidentified gunmen” crossed the border from Syria into eastern Lebanon's Bekaa province and approached a Lebanese border post. In a statement, the army said the gunmen fired into the air and seized equipment from an evacuated Syrian army post in the outskirts of Kfar Fouq, near Rashaya al-Wadi, in the western part of Bekaa province. Lebanese army personnel responded with warning shots, forcing the group to retreat back into Syrian territory. The Lebanese army did not report any injuries or provide further details about the identity of the gunmen. WASHINGTON — Yemen’s Houthi rebels launched multiple drones and a missile at three commercial ships being escorted in the Gulf of Aden by U.S. Navy ships, a U.S. official said Tuesday. There was no damage and no injuries. The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss military operations, said U.S. Navy destroyers, and Navy helicopter and a French Air Force aircraft shot down four of the drones and the missile. The three U.S. affiliated flagged ships were sailing east toward Djibouti. The Iran-backed Houthis have targeted shipping through the key waterway for more than a year, attacks they say are meant to force an end to Israel’s war against Hamas in Gaza. JERUSALEM — Israel’s military said it bombed more than 350 sites in Syria during the previous 48 hours, targeting “most of the strategic weapons stockpiles” in the country. There is concern that, with the sudden collapse of the Syrian government, weapons stockpiles could be seized by jihadi militants. Warplanes hit what Israel said were Syrian air defense systems, military airfields, missile depots, and dozens of weapons production sites in the cities of Damascus, Homs, Tartus, Latakia, and Palmyra, the Israeli army statement said. In naval operations overnight Monday, Israeli missile ships struck two Syrian navy facilities simultaneously — Al-Bayda port and Latakia port — where the army said 15 Syrian naval vessels were docked. Israeli did not specify how many Syrian naval vessels were hit. The private security firm Ambrey said it had seen evidence that at least six Soviet-era Syrian navy missile ships were hit. Israeli officials said earlier that Israel also targeted alleged chemical weapons sites. JERUSALEM — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed Tuesday that his country’s military launched a wave of airstrikes across Syria to destroy the toppled government’s leftover “military capabilities,” and said Israel wants relations with the new government emerging Syria. Hours after Israeli warplanes pounded Syria, Netanyahu said Israeli doesn’t want to meddle in Syria’s internal affairs, but would take necessary steps to protect Israel's security and prevent jihadi militants from seizing the Syrian army assets. He warned that if the new Syrian government “allows Iran to re-establish itself in Syria or allows the transfer of Iranian weapons or any other weapons to Hezbollah, or attacks us -- we will respond forcefully and we will exact a heavy price from it.” He spoke in a video statement recorded at the Kirya military headquarters in Tel Aviv, after his first day of testimony in his corruption trial. DAMASCUS, Syria — In Umayyad Square in Damascus, Syrians celebrated the fall of President Bashar Assad for the third day on Tuesday despite Israeli airstrikes across the country. Insurgents who recently took control of the capital city tried to impose a new rule banning the celebratory gunfire. There were a few violators, and much less deafening gunfire. Protesters climbed the square's central monument to wave the Syrian revolutionary flag. On the ground, crowds chanted: “Out with Bashar! Out with Bashar!” Assad fled to Russia over the weekend after a lightning rebel offensive toppled his brutal police state. Demonstrators from different provinces marched in the square in groups, celebrating Assad's fall. Men on motorcycles and horses paraded into the square. One woman from Idlib province shouted that the Israeli strikes ruined the joy of ousting Assad. “Why are you striking us? We just deposed a tyrant,” she said. “Give us peace. Leave us alone,” said Ahmed Jreida, 22, a dentist student, when asked about the Israeli airstrikes. Hamzeh Hamada, 22, said this was the first time he had gone out to a demonstration. “We want the country to get better, to live in dignity and be like other countries that respect citizens’ rights and where there are no bribes,” he said. “We have suffered a lot from bribes. ... We had to bribe people for very minor things; things that should be our right.” Abdul-Jalil Diab was taking a stroll with his brothers in another square in western Damascus. He said he came back from Jordan the day Damascus fell. He was there studying German to prepare to move to Germany and said he is now reconsidering his plans. He was ecstatic, saying words can’t describe how he feels. “We are happy to get rid of the corrupt regime that was based on bribes. The whole country feels better. Everyone is happy and celebrating,” Abdul-Jalil Diab said. QAMISHLI, Syria — Residents of northeast Syria in the area around Qamishli airport said Tuesday they heard explosions overnight after an airstrike hit trucks loaded with rockets and ammunition that were heading to a military base in Tartab. “We don’t know the story. It was only in the morning when we realized they are trucks loaded with ammunition, leftovers of the former army, the regime,” said Ibrahim al-Thalaj, who lives near the base. He said residents assumed that the strikes were Israeli. Israel has carried out a heavy wave of airstrikes across Syria targeting military infrastructure after Syrian insurgents toppled the government of Bashar Assad. However, Turkish security officials said Tuesday that the strike in Qamishli was carried out by Turkey, targeting weapons and ammunition that were abandoned by the Syrian army and seized by Syrian Kurdish militants. The explosions lasted for over 20 minutes after the strike, and many houses in the surrounding area were damaged as a result, residents of the area said. “We just felt a strike hitting. It hit the first one (truck) and we saw the other trucks retreating back, and from there rockets and shells started flying over,” said Hamid al-Asaad, an eyewitness from Qub al-Zeki village in Qamishli. “We were sitting when these explosions started to hit the house,” said Mahmoud Hamza of Tartab. “It was hitting randomly and we didn’t know where it was coming from. ... Once we got out of our house, a rocket hit the house.” There were no details released by the local Kurdish administration regarding the explosions, but members of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces blocked the road to the base. BRUSSELS — The European Union’s top diplomat is concerned that Syria might violently fall apart like neighboring Iraq, or Libya and Afghanistan if its territorial integrity and the rights of minorities are not protected. “The transition will present huge challenges in Syria and in the region,” EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas told European lawmakers on Tuesday during a special hearing. “There are legitimate concerns about the risks of sectarian violence, extremist resurgence and the governance vacuum, all of which must be averted. We must avoid a repeat of the horrific scenarios of Iraq, Libya and Afghanistan,” she said. “The rights of all Syrians, including those of many minority groups, must be protected,” she said. “It is crucial to preserve the territorial integrity of Syria, and to respect its independence, its sovereignty, as well as the state institutions.” Kallas also said the collapse of the government has shown that Assad’s backers in Russia and Iran “could neither afford to do it any longer, nor had any interest of being present in the aftermath.” “They are weakened, distracted and overstretched in other theaters in the broader Middle East, but also in Ukraine,” she said. ANKARA, Turkey — Turkey’s intelligence agency, MIT, has attacked a convoy of trucks that was allegedly carrying missiles, heavy weapons and ammunition that were abandoned by the Syrian government and reportedly seized by Syrian Kurdish militias, Turkish security officials said Tuesday. The officials said 12 trucks, two tanks and two ammunition depots were “destroyed” in aerial strikes in the city of Qamishli, near the border with Turkey in northeast Syria. The officials provided the information on condition of anonymity in line with Turkish regulations. They did not say when the attack occurred. The officials said the intelligence agency detected that weapons left by the Syrian government forces were being moved to warehouses belonging to the Syrian Kurdish People’s Defense Units, or YPG. Turkey views the group as a terrorist organization because of its links to the banned Kurdish militants that have led a decadeslong insurgency in Turkey. According to the officials, he group was allegedly planning to use the equipment and supplies against Turkish security forces. By Suzan Fraser WASHINGTON — The White House is signaling its approval of Israel’s strikes against Syrian military and alleged chemical weapons targets and the seizure of a buffer zone in the Syrian Golan Heights after the fall of the Assad government. “These are exigent operations to eliminate what they believe are imminent threats to their national security,” White House national security spokesman John Kirby said Tuesday, saying the U.S. would leave it up to the Israelis to discuss details of their operations. “They have as always the right to defend themselves,” Kirby said. He declined to detail and U.S. intelligence cooperation with the Israelis that went into the strikes. Kirby said the White House was reasserting its support of the 1974 Golan Heights disengagement agreement, but didn’t criticize the Israeli seizure of the demilitarized zone. Israel has a long history of seizing territory during wars with its neighbors and occupying it indefinitely , citing security concerns. Israel captured the Golan Heights from Syria in the 1967 Mideast war and annexed it in a move not recognized internationally, except by the United States. WASHINGTON — The Biden administration says it will recognize and support a new Syrian government that renounces terrorism, destroys chemical weapons stocks and protects the rights of minorities and women. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement Tuesday that the U.S. would work with groups in Syria and regional partners to ensure that the transition from President Bashar Assad’s deposed government runs smoothly. He was not specific about which groups the U.S. would work with. Blinken says Syrians should decide their future and that other countries should “support an inclusive and transparent process” and not interfere. “The United States will recognize and fully support a future Syria government that results from this process,” he said. “We stand prepared to lend all appropriate support to all of Syria’s diverse communities and constituencies.” DAMASCUS, Syria — Jihad Mustafa Shibani was taking his new motorcycle for a spin with a friend around the house of the deposed Syrian president in western Damascus on Tuesday. Shibani was released from prison a week before the capital Damascus fell, after he served two years on charges of buying his motorcycle using foreign currency on accusations he was dealing in dollars. He was tortured for 15 days and and given a quick trial where he was sentenced for two years, he said. He was released the day Aleppo fell to the insurgents. “Everything was banned in Syria. The (Assad loyalists) only could use it,” Shibani said. He said he has never been to this neighborhood, because it was taken over by Assad, his family and supporters. “For 50 years, my family’s house is near here, and we don’t know anything about it. ... The Syrian people had been oppressed, you can’t imagine.” Shibani said he has no fear of the rebel newcomers who have taken control of the country. “We are not afraid. There can be no one more unjust than Bashar. Impossible.” BEIRUT — Lebanon’s prime minister is in contact with security and judicial officials to follow up on reports that senior members of President Bashar Assad’s government have fled to Lebanon. Najib Mikati’s office quoted him as saying that Lebanon abides by international laws regarding people who cross its borders. Rami Abdurrahman of the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, an opposition war monitor, said that several top security officials have entered Lebanon over the past two days. Abdurrahman added that Syria’s former intelligence chief Ali Mamlouk, who is wanted in Lebanon over two bombings in 2012 in the northern city of Tripoli that killed dozens, was allegedly brought to Lebanon by the Hezbollah militant group and was staying in a southern suburb of Beirut where the group has deep support. Lebanon’s Interior Minister Bassam Mawlawi, whose ministry is in charge of border crossings, told reporters Tuesday that no person who is wanted in Lebanon entered the country through legal border crossings. There are dozens of illegal border crossings between Lebanon and Syria where people are usually smuggled in and out of Lebanon, but it was not possible to independently confirm whether Mamlouk had entered Lebanon. GENEVA — The United Nations says humanitarian operations in two major areas in northwestern Syria have resumed, deploying food, medical supplies, fuel and other needed services and supplies. Spokesman Jens Laerke of the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs reported that some health facilities were “overwhelmed” – in part due to staff shortages – and many border crossings have been closed, disrupting supply chains. OCHA said humanitarian operations in some parts of northwestern Syria were put on hold in the early days of the recent escalation, and resumed on Monday. “As of yesterday, all humanitarian organizations in Idlib and northern Aleppo have resumed operations,” Laerke told reporters at a U.N. briefing in Geneva. He said the three border crossings from Turkey used by the U.N. to deliver assistance into Syria remain open and “we are providing assistance in the northwest, including to those who have been newly displaced.” Even before the latest escalation, which led President Bashar Assad to flee the country, nearly 17 million people in Syria needed humanitarian assistance. More than 1 million have been displaced across Idlib, Aleppo, Hama and Homs since the escalation. JERUSALEM — Israel's Defense Minister Israel Katz said Tuesday that Israel's military destroyed Syria’s fleet overnight and intends to establish a demilitarized zone “in southern Syria” to prevent attacks on Israel. He also issued a warning to Syria’s rebels, saying that “whoever follows Assad’s path will end up like Assad — we will not allow an extremist Islamic terrorist entity to act against Israel across its border while putting its citizens at risk.” Speaking at a naval base in Haifa, Katz said the Israeli navy “operated last night to destroy the Syrian fleet and with great success.” Video showing the smoking wreckage of what appeared to be small Syrian naval ships in the port at Latakia was broadcast by Saudi-owned television station Al-Hadath on Tuesday. The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which has closely tracked the conflict since the civil war erupted in 2011, said Israel targeted Syrian warships, military warehouses and an air-defense facility on the coast. Katz added that he had instructed the army to establish a “defense zone free of weapons and terrorist threats in southern Syria, without a permanent Israeli presence, in order to prevent terrorism in Syria from taking root and organizing.” It was unclear if the demilitarized zone would reach beyond the buffer zone that Israel has taken over in the border area. Israel has a long history of seizing territory during wars with its neighbors and occupying it indefinitely , citing security concerns. Israel captured the Golan Heights from Syria in the 1967 Mideast war and annexed it in a move not recognized internationally, except by the United States. DAMASCUS, Syria — Members of the Syrian government under ousted President Bashar Assad will gradually transfer power to a new transitional cabinet headed by Mohammed al-Bashir. The departing government met with al-Bashir for the first time since Assad fled Damascus over the weekend. Al-Bashir had previously led the “salvation government” running the rebel stronghold in northwest Syria. Al-Bashir told reporters after the meeting that the ministers discussed transferring the portfolios to the interim government during the transitional period until the beginning of March. He said that in the coming days the new government will decide on each ministry. DAMASCUS, Syria — Banks and shops are reopening in Damascus after the chaos and confusion of the first two days following the ouster of President Bashar Assad. Sadi Ahmad, manager of Syria Gulf Bank, said life is returning to normal. A customer who came to withdraw money from an ATM was surprised to see it functioning. At the historic Hamadiyeh market, fighters who seized power were still standing guard but shops had reopened — even an ice cream stand. Resident Maysoun Al-Qurabi said she was initially “against what happened,” referring to the insurgency, but changed her mind after seeing footage of rebels releasing inmates from the notorious Saydnaya prison. “People are at ease and secure now,” she said. “Before, people were hungry and scared.” DAMASCUS, Syria — Minority Christians in Syria have been living in a state of uneasy anticipation since insurgents headed by the Islamic militant group Hayat Tahrir Al-Sham took control after ousting President Bashar Assad. Mazen Kalash, a resident of Bab Touma, a Christian neighborhood in Damascus, said he wants to know the plans of the new government that will be formed by the rebels. “The important thing is to feel safe, bring order, law and respect to the citizens,” he said. “We need to be able to work whatever we want and do whatever we want without any interference from anyone.” The insurgents have so far attempted to reassure minorities that they will be protected. Large numbers of Syrian Christians, who made up 10% of the population, fled after the civil war erupted in 2011. Many of those who stayed supported Assad out of fear they might be targeted by Islamist insurgents. TEL AVIV, Israel — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu lashed out at media during testimony at his corruption trial, which involves media moguls. “There has never been such a biased media in any democracy ... as there is in Israel,” Netanyahu told the court, describing his testy relationship with the press. He is accused of exchanging regulatory favors with media bosses for more positive coverage of himself and his family. He has denied wrongdoing. GENEVA — The U.N. envoy for Syria says armed groups that drove out President Bashar Assad have “been sending good messages” about national unity and inclusiveness but acknowledges that a Security Council resolution still counts the leading one as a terrorist group. With Syria’s future and stability still very much in flux since Assad’s departure over the weekend, Geir Pedersen suggested that the international community needs to help the country get through this turbulent moment. “We are still in what I would call a very fluid period. Things are not settled,” Pedersen told reporters at U.N. offices in Geneva on Tuesday. “There is a real opportunity for change, but this opportunity needs to be grasped by the Syrians themselves and supported by the U.N. and the international community.” Referring to Israeli military strikes in Syria, Pedersen said it was “extremely important that we now don’t see any action from any international country that destroys the possibility for this transformation in Syria to take place.” The insurgents are led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, or HTS, which grew out of an al-Qaida-affiliate called the Nusra Front that the Security Council listed as a terror group in a 2015 resolution. “This is obviously a complicating factor for all of us,” Pedersen said. “But we also have to be honest, we have to look at the facts and to see what has happened during the last nine years.” “The reality so far is that the HTS and also the other armed groups have been sending good messages to the Syrian people,” he said. “They have been sending messages of unity, of inclusiveness, and frankly speaking, also, we have seen in (the captured cities of) Aleppo and in Hama ... reassuring things on the ground." Ahmad al-Sharaa, previously known by his nom de guerre Abu Mohammed al-Golani, the leader of the insurgency and the founder of both groups Nusra and HTS, cut ties with al-Qaida in 2016 and says he is committed to pluralism and religious tolerance. ANKARA, Turkey — Turkey has “strongly” condemned Israel’s advance into Syrian territory, saying it was in violation of a 1974 agreement on a buffer zone inside Syria. “We strongly condemn Israel’s violation of the 1974 Separation of Forces Agreement, its entry into the separation zone between Israel and Syria, and its advance into Syrian territory,” Turkey’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement. The ministry accused Israel of “displaying a mentality of an occupier” at a time when the possibility of peace and stability had emerged in Syria. The statement also reiterated Turkey’s support to Syria’s “sovereignty, political unity, and territorial integrity.” Israeli troops on Sunday entered the buffer zone that had been established after the 1973 Mideast war and the military said it would deploy in “several other places necessary for (Israel’s’) defense.” TEL AVIV, Israel — Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says he works 17 to 18 hours a day and that he is engulfed in meetings, especially during the past year that Israel has been fighting wars. Netanyahu was testifying in his long-running corruption trial. He has denied charges of fraud, breach of trust and accepting bribes in three separate cases. “If only I could steal away five minutes to enjoy some time with my wife,” he told the court Tuesday. TEL AVIV, Israel — An Israeli military official says troops plan to seize a buffer zone inside Syria as well as “a few more points that have strategic meaning.” The official spoke Tuesday on condition of anonymity in line with regulations. The official dismissed reports of a larger Israeli invasion as “rumors.” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Sunday that Israeli forces were moving to control a roughly 400-square-kilometer (155-square-mile) demilitarized buffer zone in Syrian territory. The buffer zone between Syria and the Israeli-controlled Golan Heights was created by the U.N. after the 1973 Mideast war. Following the overthrow of President Bashar Assad, Israel sent troops into the buffer zone. It said the move was temporary and was aimed at preventing attacks. It said the 1974 agreement establishing the zone had collapsed and that Syrian troops had withdrawn from their positions. Israel has also carried out airstrikes across Syria in recent days targeting what it says are suspected chemical weapons and long-range rockets. Egypt and Saudi Arabia have condemned Israel’s incursion, accusing it of exploiting the disarray in Syria and violating international law. Israel captured the Golan Heights from Syria in the 1967 Mideast war and annexed it in a move not recognized by the international community, except for the United States. The rest of the world views the strategic plateau as occupied Syrian territory. — By Joseph Krauss DAMASCUS, Syria — Israel’s air force has carried out hundreds of airstrikes in different parts of Syria as its ground forces move north of the Golan Heights along the border with Lebanon, according to an opposition war monitor. The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said Tuesday that since the fall of President Bashar Assad’s government, Israel’s air force has carried out more than 300 airstrikes against research centers, arms depots and military infrastructure across Syria, as well as a naval base along the Mediterranean coast. Associated Press journalists in Damascus witnessed intense airstrikes on the city and its suburbs overnight into Tuesday morning. Photographs posted online by activists showed destroyed missile launchers, helicopters and warplanes. Meanwhile, Israeli troops marched along the border with Lebanon and now control a long stretch on the Syrian side facing Lebanon’s Rashaya region, according to the war monitor's head, Rami Abdurrahman, and the Beirut-based Al-Mayadeen TV, which has reporters in Syria. Israeli troops are now about 25 kilometers (15 miles) southwest of Damascus, according to the monitor. DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — Saudi Arabia has condemned Israel’s incursion into a buffer zone in Syria and a wave of Israeli airstrikes launched after the overthrow of President Bashar Assad. The Saudi Foreign Ministry said in a statement Tuesday that “the assaults carried out by the Israeli occupation government, including the seizure of the buffer zone in the Golan Heights, and the targeting of Syrian territory confirm Israel’s continued violation of the principles of international law and its determination to sabotage Syria’s chances of restoring its security, stability and territorial integrity.” Israel sent troops into a buffer zone inside Syria that had been established after the 1973 Mideast war. It said the move was temporary and was taken to prevent any cross-border attacks after Syrian troops withdrew. Israel has also carried out heavy airstrikes that it says are aimed at preventing suspected chemical weapons and long-range rockets from falling into the hands of extremists. Saudi Arabia has been in talks with the United States in recent years over normalizing relations with Israel in exchange for a U.S. defense pact, American assistance in establishing a civilian nuclear program and a pathway to the establishment of a Palestinian state. But the kingdom has also repeatedly condemned Israel’s actions in the Gaza Strip, where it is at war with the Hamas militant group. Last month, Saudi Arabia’s crown prince and day-to-day ruler Mohammed bin Salman accused Israel of committing genocide in Gaza , allegations Israel adamantly rejects.None

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