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( MENAFN - The Conversation) The Australian government recently passed legislation that bans social media for anyone under 16 . Prime Minister Anthony Albanese hailed the legislation for putting “the onus on social media platforms - not young people or their parents” - for protecting youth from online harms. Australia is the first country in the world to pass a nationwide ban of social media for teens, set to take effect in a year . But other measures have been enacted or considered here in Canada and elsewhere. In the United States, it will be illegal for children under 14 in Florida to have social media accounts starting Jan. 1, 2025. Beginning in 2024, Québec began banning cellphones in classrooms . This fall, with the start of the 2024–2025 academic year, Ontario also began banning cell phones in schools . This follows a lawsuit filed by four school boards in Ontario against social media companies for disrupting youth learning. Québec is reportedly considering a social media ban - following Australia's lead - that would limit social media use for teens under 16. Provincial governments recognize that social media and cellphones can be problematic for youth, and they're not waiting on the federal government to take action. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau recently announced that the proposed Online Harms Act (Bill C-63) , originally introduced in February 2024 , will be separated into two bills . The idea is to pass the part of the bill focused on child protection to address problems like sextortion , image-based sexual abuse, revenge porn and other forms of online sexual violence. Since the Online Harms Act is still being debated, MPs in Canada may look to other countries, like Australia, for guidance on protecting youth from these online harms. Some people in Canada approve of Australia's social media ban and see it as a potential solution , including some teens . This idea has received a lot of traction in public discourse too, including with the book The Anxious Generation that argues social media should be banned until age 16 . Many of us may recall the stories of Rehtaeh Parsons , Amanda Todd and more recently a boy in British Columbia who died by suicide after being cyberbullied and sextorted. Some studies have shown that social media use is related to anxiety and depression among adolescents . Bans or regulations raise important questions about how we, as a society, should respond to social media use among youth and deal with online harms. We are a team of researchers who study technology-facilitated sexual violence among youth aged 13–18 in Canada. We have conducted 26 focus groups with 149 youth from across the country, and launched a nationally representative survey of around 1,000 youth to learn about their experiences with online harms, what they know about the law and which resources work - and which ones don't. Our initial findings show that youth experience a range of harms as they use digital platforms and social media. We also found that algorithms are fueling harms. Youth have emphasized they want tailored supports and resources to help them have safe, healthy and enjoyable experiences with technology. A full ban of social media is not realistic, in part because social media companies have no idea how to implement it . Some ideas are to use facial recognition technology or check someone's age using credit cards . Another idea is to upload government IDs to third-party platforms for age verification. However a ban is implemented, it will almost certainly gather more user data, which raises questions about youth data privacy and security . These measures may also drive youth towards other platforms that are less regulated, such as on the dark web. This could actually make it harder to protect youth from online harms. Bans also don't actually solve the problem . For example, abstinence-based interventions don't work when it comes to sex education . It is unlikely that an abstinence-based approach would work with social media . Furthermore, technology is increasingly integrated into our daily lives, and youth need to be taught about healthy and responsible online interactions. Youth are learning how to become digital citizens . Kicking the problem down the road until they're 16 or older will postpone the consequences, not solve them. This could cause more harm than a ban intends to solve . A ban also frees social media companies, governments and parents from any accountability. Rather than meaningfully addressing the harmful content and their impacts, a ban removes any and all responsibility from the people and institutions whose job it is to protect youth. Technology companies need to develop their products with kids in mind , rather than prioritizing their profits and putting child safety and health second. Kids need guidance and support , and a ban does nothing to remove harmful content or resolve its negative impacts. Rather than bans, we suggest implementing holistic interventions that emphasize digital citizenship and youth rights and responsibilities so people of all ages learn how to have safe and healthy interactions with technology. This requires a consolidated effort across various sectors of society, including schools , community organizations and, importantly, both tech companies and government agencies. While there are resources available for educators, parents and youth about how to have safe and healthy online interactions , we need to act now. Rather than resorting to blanket bans, we should prioritize comprehensive societal changes that address the root causes of these harms. By doing so, we can promote youth safety and help our communities confront online harms. MENAFN22122024000199003603ID1109021834 Legal Disclaimer: MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.jilibet bonus 。

Trump selects longtime adviser Keith Kellogg as special envoy for Ukraine and RussiaLouisville scores 52 second-half points to race past No. 14 Indiana 89-61 in the Battle 4 Atlantis

In the first article of this two-part analysis, we looked at who owns the code created by AI chatbots like ChatGPT and explored the legal implications of using AI-generated code. Part I: Who owns the code? If ChatGPT's AI helps write your app, does it still belong to you? Now, we'll discuss issues of liability and exposure. Functional liability To frame this discussion, I turn to attorney and long-time Internet Press Guild member Richard Santalesa . With his tech journalism background, Santalesa understands this stuff from both a legal and a tech perspective. (He's a founding member of the SmartEdgeLaw Group .) "Until cases grind through the courts to definitively answer this question, the legal implications of AI-generated code are the same as with human-created code," he advises. Keep in mind, he continues, that code generated by humans is far from error-free. There will never be a service level agreement warranting that code is perfect or that users will have uninterrupted use of the services. Also: ChatGPT and the new AI are wreaking havoc on cybersecurity in exciting and frightening ways Santalesa also points out that it's rare for all parts of a software to be entirely home-grown. "Most coders use SDKs and code libraries that they have not personally vetted or analyzed, but rely upon nonetheless," he says. "I think AI-generated code -- for the time being -- will be in the same bucket as to legal implications." Send in the trolls Sean O'Brien, a lecturer in cybersecurity at Yale Law School and founder of the Yale Privacy Lab , points out a risk for developers that's undeniably worrisome: The chances that AI prompts might output proprietary code are very high, if we're talking about tools such as ChatGPT and Copilot, which have been trained on a massive trove of code of both the open source and proprietary variety. We don't know exactly what code was used to train the chatbots. This means we don't know if segments of code output from ChatGPT and other similar tools are generated by the AI or merely echoed from code it ingested as part of the training process. Also: 5 ways to explore the use of generative AI at work If you're a developer, it's time to brace yourself. Here's O'Brien's prediction: I believe there will soon be an entire sub-industry of trolling that mirrors patent trolls, but this time surrounding AI-generated works. As more authors use AI-powered tools to ship code under proprietary licenses, a feedback loop is created. There will be software ecosystems polluted with proprietary code that are the subject of cease-and-desist claims by enterprising firms. As soon as O'Brien mentioned the troll factor, the hairs on the back of my neck stood up. This is going to get very, very messy. Canadian attorney Robert Piasentin , a partner in the technology group at Canadian business law firm McMillan LLP, also points out that chatbots could have been trained on open-source work and legitimate sources, alongside copyrighted work. All of that training data might include flawed or biased data (or algorithms) as well as corporate proprietary data. Also: AI scholar Gary Marcus makes a strong case for an AI regulatory agency Piasentin explains: "If the AI draws on incorrect, deficient or biased information, the output of the AI tool may give rise to various potential claims, depending on the nature of the potential damage or harm that the output may have caused (whether directly or indirectly)." Here's another thought: Some will attempt to corrupt the training corpora (the sources of knowledge that AIs use to provide their results). One of the things humans do is find ways to game the system. So not only will there be armies of legal trolls trying to find folks to sue, but there will be hackers, criminals, rogue nation states, high school students, and crackpots -- all attempting to feed erroneous data into every AI they can find, either for the lulz or for much more nefarious reasons. Perhaps we shouldn't dwell too much on the dark side. Who is at fault? None of the lawyers, though, discussed who is at fault if the code generated by an AI results in some catastrophic outcome. For example: The company delivering a product shares some responsibility for, say, choosing a library that has known deficiencies. If a product ships using a library that has known exploits and that product causes an incident that results in tangible harm, who owns that failure? The product maker, the library coder, or the company that chose the product? Usually, it's all three. Also: ChatGPT's latest challenger: The Supreme Court Now add AI code into the mix. Clearly, most of the responsibility falls on the shoulders of the coder who chooses to use code generated by an AI. After all, it's common knowledge that the code may not work and needs to be thoroughly tested. In a comprehensive lawsuit, will claimants also go after the companies that produce the AIs and even the organizations from which content was taken to train those AIs (even if done without permission)? As every attorney has told me, there is very little case law thus far. We won't really know the answers until something goes wrong, parties wind up in court, and it's adjudicated thoroughly. We're in uncharted waters here. My best advice, for now, is to test your code thoroughly. Test, test, and then test some more. You can follow my day-to-day project updates on social media. Be sure to follow me on Twitter at @DavidGewirtz , on Facebook at Facebook.com/DavidGewirtz , on Instagram at Instagram.com/DavidGewirtz , and on YouTube at YouTube.com/DavidGewirtzTV . How to use ChatGPT to write Excel formulas How to use ChatGPT to write code ChatGPT vs. Bing Chat: Which AI chatbot should you use? How to use ChatGPT to build your resume How does ChatGPT work? How to get started using ChatGPTLAPO: We disbursed N1.9bn to 1,466 Poultry Farmers in 3 yearsTrump selects longtime adviser Keith Kellogg as special envoy for Ukraine and Russia

WASHINGTON , Dec. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Shield AI, the defense technology company building autonomy for the world, has announced it is expanding its work with Palantir Technologies Inc. (NASDAQ: PLTR), a leading provider of AI systems, to develop and deliver large-scale command and control of autonomous uncrewed systems, including operations in GPS- and communications-denied environments. With Warp Speed, Palantir's manufacturing OS for American re-industrialization, Shield AI is doubling down on its commitment to delivering scalable, AI-powered solutions to protect service members and civilians. By leveraging Shield AI's advanced Hivemind software development kit, along with Palantir's suite of powerful software solutions—including enterprise resource planning, geospatial intelligence, and operational decision-making tools—the partnership combines the strengths of both companies to address the most critical defense challenges. "Shield AI and Palantir have both built technology products proven in the most demanding environments," said Brandon Tseng , Shield AI's President, Co-founder, and former Navy SEAL. "Our partnership is about bringing together Palantir's software dominance and Shield AI's expertise in autonomy to deliver the best possible outcomes for customers. It's exciting to scale up what we've been working on together in this next chapter of our partnership." This announcement builds on work Shield AI and Palantir showcased at the Association of the U.S. Army's (AUSA) Annual Meeting and Expo in October, where the companies demonstrated the integration of Shield AI's Hivemind with Palantir's Gaia. This integration created a unified command-and-control system for autonomous systems. Hivemind's proven autonomy capabilities—demonstrated on platforms like the V-BAT , F-16, MQM-178 Firejet, and Nova quadcopter—now seamlessly integrate with Gaia's geospatial intelligence tools, enabling real-time mission execution and precision targeting. "The American Industrial Base needs Warp Speed," said Shyam Sankar , Palantir's Chief Technology Officer and Executive Vice President. "Shield AI stands out in their field, having achieved mission impact and product results where others have struggled. This partnership, and Shield AI's deploying of our newly announced manufacturing OS will enable faster and better delivery to customers, and ultimately aid in the defense of the West." About Palantir Technologies Inc. Foundational software of tomorrow. Delivered today. Additional information is available at https://www.palantir.com . Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These statements may relate to, but are not limited to, Palantir's expectations regarding the amount and the terms of the contract and the expected benefits of our software platforms. Forward-looking statements are inherently subject to risks and uncertainties, some of which cannot be predicted or quantified. Forward-looking statements are based on information available at the time those statements are made and were based on current expectations as well as the beliefs and assumptions of management as of that time with respect to future events. These statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, many of which involve factors or circumstances that are beyond our control. These risks and uncertainties include our ability to meet the unique needs of our customer; the failure of our platforms to satisfy our customer or perform as desired; the frequency or severity of any software and implementation errors; our platforms' reliability; and our customer's ability to modify or terminate the contract. Additional information regarding these and other risks and uncertainties is included in the filings we make with the Securities and Exchange Commission from time to time. Except as required by law, we do not undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future developments, or otherwise. Media Contact Lisa Gordon, media@palantir.com About Shield AI Founded in 2015, Shield AI is a venture-backed defense technology company whose mission is to protect service members and civilians with intelligent systems. In pursuit of this mission, Shield AI is building the world's best AI pilot. Its AI pilot, Hivemind, has flown jets (F-16; MQM-178 Firejet), a vertical takeoff and landing drone (MQ-35 V-BAT), and three quadcopters (Nova, Nova 2, iPRD). The company has offices in San Diego , Dallas , Washington DC and abroad. Shield AI's products and people are currently in the field actively supporting operations with the U.S. Department of Defense and U.S. allies. For more information, visit www.shield.ai. Follow Shield AI on LinkedIn, X and Instagram. Media Contact Lily Hinz , media@shield.ai View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/shield-ai-and-palantir-technologies-deepen-strategic-partnership-and-announce-deployment-of-warp-speed-302324396.html SOURCE Shield AI

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The BMW X3 is one of the most successful models in BMW history , especially as it rides on the popularity of the SUV in the American market and combines it with the luxury and comfort that BMW is known for. It's even one of the cars getting a redesign for 2025 , meaning you'll get a fresh new look if you're in the market for one now. However, this also means that the BMW X3 is one of the pricier choices if you're looking for a brand-new luxury compact SUV. The base BMW X3 30 xDrive would set you back $49,950 — and that doesn't include the destination and handling fees. Furthermore, if you want a different color (aside from white) and a few extras, you'll soon find the dollars piling up in the quote. Those who aren't satisfied with a four-banger would also need to spend about $15,000 more for the sportier BMW X3 M50 xDrive. This comes with a twin-turbo 3.0-liter inline-6 motor, but you'll have to shell out at least $64,700. So, let's check out your options if you're in the market for a luxury compact SUV but aren't quite ready to spend over $50,000 for a new car. Of course, there are many cheaper alternatives out there, like the Honda CR-V or Hyundai Tucson , but we're sticking to brands that could deliver the same experience and prestige as a BMW. The Volvo XC60 Core is one of the great options for a luxury compact SUV. It's not as flashy as a BMW, but you're getting a car from a brand known for its reliability and safety. A starting price of $47,050 means you're not really saving much over the BMW X3, but it also comes with a lot of included extras you have to pay for if you go for the German brand. For example, you get eight color options for no additional cost and the panoramic roof comes standard, whereas you have to pay at least $2,000 extra if you want a panoramic roof and a different color with the X3. The XC60's powertrain is a 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-4 with a mild-hybrid system. This is similar to what the BMW offers, except that it only has one blower (compared to the X3's two). Still, it's a fun drive with its 247 horsepower and 266 lb-ft of torque and can hit 0-60 in just 6.5 seconds. It might be slower than the base X3's 255 horsepower and 6-second 0-60 time, but would that really matter for a daily driver like this? Aside from that, one of the things that many buyers are looking for nowadays is the digital experience. BMW offers this with its BMW Digital Premium package, which, again, is an optional extra that will cost you. On the other hand, Volvo includes a digital services package as standard with the car, giving you a four-year subscription without asking you to pay more than the sticker price. This compact SUV first arrived on the market back in 2016 , and it offers a unique and exotic look. Since we're looking at car prices that fall under $50,000, we're sticking with the base model of the 2024 Stelvio — the Sprint — and not the outgoing 2024 Alfa Romeo Quadrifoglio which sports a Ferrari-sourced 2.9-liter twin-turbo V6 engine. The Stelvio Sprint starts at just $45,950, although this will jump by $2,000 to $47,950 if you pick the AWD option. Despite being more affordable, you get a more powerful 2.0-liter turbo four-cylinder that outputs 280 horsepower and 306 lb-ft of torque mated to an eight-speed automatic. This means it can hit a 0-60 time of 5.5 seconds and has a claimed top speed of 144 mph. Alfa Romeo also says that the Stelvio has a near-perfect 50:50 weight distribution, meaning this is going to be a fun car to drive. You also get just about all the tech you would expect from a luxury car with the base Sprint variant, like advanced driver assistance systems, an 8.8-inch touchscreen infotainment system, and compatibility with Android Auto and Apple Car Play. If want to make your daily drive a little bit more dynamic while saving yourself a few thousand bucks, the 2024 Alfa Romeo Stelvio Sprint is definitely a good pick. The 2025 Mercedes-Benz GLB 250 is a bit smaller than the X3 and has less power at just 221 horsepower. Originally launched in 2019 for the 2020 model year , the 2025 model starts at just $45,800 and is still as luxurious as what BMW offers. If you live in a state where it snows a lot, consider paying $2,000 more for the 4MATIC variant, which gives you AWD. And if you have a large family or love taking your friends on trips, you could get an optional third row for just $850. The GLB 250 doesn't have the included features you'd find on the Volvo XC60, nor does it have the performance of the Alfa Romeo Stelvio Sprint. But for more than $4,000 less than the base BMW X3, you're still getting the premium experience of a luxury car. Besides, if you're not a fan of the panoramic roof and tons of chrome on your car, then you're better off not paying for them in the first place. Genesis is relatively new to the luxury car game, having been launched by Hyundai as its luxury division in 2015. Despite being less than 10 years in the industry, though, the Genesis GV70 2.5T AWD stands as a great alternative to the BMW X3. It has a starting price of just $45,700 for the 2.5-liter turbocharged inline-four model that outputs 300 horsepower and 311 lb-ft of torque and comes standard with AWD. If you want more power, Genesis also offers the GV70 with a 3.5-liter twin-turbo V6 with 375 horsepower and 391 lb-ft of torque starting at $58,300. You're definitely getting a lot more car for a lot less money with the GV70. And although the Genesis name doesn't carry the same weight as BMW or Mercedes-Benz, what's more important is the experience you get when you're inside the vehicle. The GV70 gives you everything you expect in terms of tech and safety as standard, like advanced driver assistance systems, wireless phone charging, and an absolutely massive 14.5-inch infotainment system that makes it even larger than some laptop screens. Audi is one of the popular three German luxury brands next to Mercedes and BMW, so of course it has to offer a BMW X3 competitor. Thankfully, its offering, the Audi Q5, is more affordable with a starting price of just $45,400 for the Premium variant. This car comes with a 2.0-liter turbo four-cylinder engine with a 7-speed S-tronic transmission that outputs 201 horsepower and 236 pound-feet of torque. This is pretty anemic compared to X3 and even the GLB, but the Premium 45 TFSI variant that outputs 261 horsepower will bump the starting price to $48,800, making it much closer in price to the base BMW X3. Nevertheless, it's still a good option if you're looking for an X3 alternative, especially if you prefer comfort over performance. It comes with a large infotainment system with Android Auto and Apple Car Play that gives acoustic feedback with everything you do on the screen, adaptive cruise control, and advanced driver assistance systems. Aside from that, one of the things that you should know about the Q5 is that it's Audi's best seller in the U.S., so you're in good company if you pick this car as your next ride. If you want a luxurious compact SUV like the BMW X3 but also want the reliability that Japanese brands are known for, then you should look at the Acura RDX. Although the Acura RDX and Honda CR-V are closely related , the former offers a more premium experience with its better technology and more engine power, making it quite comparable to the other luxury SUVs in our list. For example, the RDX has a 2.0-liter turbo four-cylinder with VTEC that outputs 272 horsepower and 280 lb-feet of torque. It also has a 10-speed transmission, ensuring that you're getting great mileage despite the power that it can put down on the road. Aside from that, you're also getting excellent driving dynamics with the RDX, especially as its handling has been finely tuned to ensure that the vehicle responds precisely to your every move. Even at lower price point, you get a lot of standard features with the base RDX. Acura gives you a panoramic moonroof, 19-inch black multi-spoke wheels, a 10.2-inch HD infotainment system, advanced driver assistance systems, adaptive cruise control, and more for no additional charge. This means you get great value from the Acura RDX, especially with its low starting price of $44,700.

Washington recovers from upset, rolls past NJITWASHINGTON — President- elect Donald Trump said Saturday that the United States should avoid engaging militarily in Syria amid an opposition offensive that has reached the capital's suburbs, declaring in a social media post, "THIS IS NOT OUR FIGHT.” Trump's first extensive comments on the dramatic rebel push came while he was in Paris for the reopening of the Notre Dame cathedral . He argued that Syrian President Bashar Assad did not deserve U.S. support to stay in power. Assad's government has been propped up by the Russian and Iranian military, along with Hezbollah and other Iranian-allied militias, in a now 13-year-old war against opposition groups seeking his overthrow. The war, which began as a mostly peaceful uprising in 2011 against the Assad family's rule, has killed a half-million people, fractured Syria and drawn in a more than a half-dozen foreign militaries and militias. The insurgents are led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham , which the United States has designated as a terrorist group and says has links to al-Qaida, although the group has since broken ties with al-Qaida.” The insurgents have met little resistance so far from the Syrian army. The Biden administration has suggested that their fast-moving advances toward Damascus demonstrate just how distracted those countries are by the war in Ukraine and other conflicts, but said that the U.S. is not backing the offensive and has not suggested the U.S. military will intervene. The U.S. has about 900 troops in Syria, including U.S. forces working with Kurdish allies in the opposition-held northeast to prevent any resurgence of the Islamic State group. Gen. Bryan Fenton, the head of U.S. Special Operations Command, said he would not want to speculate on how the upheaval in Syria would affect the U.S. military’s footprint in the country. “It’s still too early to tell,” he said. What would not change is the focus on disrupting IS operations in Syria and protecting U.S. troops, Fenton said Saturday during a panel at an annual gathering of national security officials, defense companies and lawmakers at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in California. Syrian opposition activists and regional officials have nonetheless been watching closely for any indication from both the Biden administration and the incoming Trump administration on how the U.S. would handle the sudden rebel advances against Assad. Robert Wilkie, Trump's defense transition chief and a former secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs, said during the same panel that the collapse of the “murderous Assad regime” would be a major blow to Iran's power. The United Nations' special envoy for Syria called Saturday for urgent talks in Geneva to ensure an “orderly political transition” in Syria. In his post, Trump said Russia “is so tied up in Ukraine” that it “seems incapable of stopping this literal march through Syria, a country they have protected for years.” He said rebels could possibly force Assad from power. The president-elect condemned the overall U.S. handling of the war but said the routing of Assad and Russian forces might be for the best. “Syria is a mess, but is not our friend, & THE UNITED STATES SHOULD HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH IT. THIS IS NOT OUR FIGHT. LET IT PLAY OUT. DO NOT GET INVOLVED!” he wrote in Saturday's post. An influential Syrian opposition activist in Washington, Mouaz Moustafa, interrupted a briefing to reporters to read Trump’s post and appeared to choke up. He said Trump’s declaration that the U.S. should stay out of the fight was the best outcome that the the Syrians aligned against Assad could hope for. Rebels have been freeing political detainees of the Assad government from prisons as they advance across Syria, taking cities. Moustafa pledged to reporters Saturday that opposition forces would be alert for any U.S. detainees among them and do their utmost to protect them. Moustafa said that includes Austin Tice , an American journalist missing for more than a decade and suspected to be held by Assad. Hayat Tahrir al-Sham renounced al-Qaida in 2016 and has worked to rebrand itself, including cracking down on some Islamic extremist groups and fighters in its territory and portraying itself as a protector of Christians and other religious minorities. While the U.S. and United Nations still designate it as a terrorist organization, Trump's first administration told lawmakers that the U.S. was no longer targeting the group's leader, Abu Mohammed al-Golani. ___ Associated Press writer Tara Copp in Simi Valley, California, contributed to this report.

BEIRUT — Insurgents’ stunning march across Syria accelerated Saturday with news that they had reached the gates of the capital and that government forces had abandoned the central city of Homs. The government was forced to deny rumors that President Bashar Assad had fled the country. The loss of Homs is a potentially crippling blow for Assad. It stands at an important intersection between Damascus and Syria’s coastal provinces of Latakia and Tartus — the Syrian leader’s base of support and home to a Russian strategic naval base. The pro-government Sham FM reported that government forces took positions outside Syria’s third-largest city, without elaborating. Rami Abdurrahman, who heads the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, said Syrian troops and members of different security agencies have withdrawn from the city, adding that rebels have entered parts of it. The capture of Homs is a major victory for insurgents, who have already seized the cities of Aleppo and Hama , as well as large parts of the south, in a lightning offensive that began Nov. 27. Analysts said Homs falling into rebel hands would be a game-changer. The rebels’ moves around Damascus, reported by the monitor and a rebel commander, came after the Syrian army withdrew from much of southern part of the country, leaving more areas, including several provincial capitals, under the control of opposition fighters. For the first time in the country’s long-running civil war, the government now has control of only three of 14 provincial capitals: Damascus, Latakia and Tartus. 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-Qaida and is considered a terrorist organization by the U.S. 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. The rapid rebel gains, coupled with the lack of support from Assad’s erstwhile allies, posed the most serious threat to his rule since the start of the war. The U.N.’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. Many shops in the capital were shuttered, a resident told The Associated Press, and those still open ran 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 yearslong siege. The U.N. said it was moving noncritical staff outside the country as a precaution. Syria’s state media denied social media rumors that Assad left the country, saying he is performing his duties in Damascus. He has had little, if any, help from his allies. Russia, is busy with its war in Ukraine . 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. U.S. President-elect Donald Trump on Saturday posted on social media that that the United States should avoid engaging militarily in Syria. Pedersen said a date for talks in Geneva on the implementation a U.N. 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 U.N.-supervised elections. Later Saturday, 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 to discuss the situation in Syria. In a statement issued late Saturday, the participants affirmed their support for a political solution to the Syrian crisis “that would lead to the end of military activity and protect civilians.” They also agreed on the importance of strengthening international efforts to increase aid to the Syrian people. 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. A commander with the insurgents, 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-Qaida, ditching hard-line officials and vowing to embrace pluralism and religious tolerance. The shock offensive began Nov. 27, during which gunmen captured the northern city of Aleppo, Syria’s largest, and the central city of Hama , the country’s fourth largest city. Opposition activists said Saturday that a day earlier, insurgents entered Palmyra, which is home to invaluable archaeological sites 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. Syrian Observatory said government troops have withdrawn from much of the two southern provinces. The Syrian army said in a statement that it 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. 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, criticized 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 is 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.