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axiebet88 slot game Hunter animal pounds and shelters are full and facing growing wait-lists for surrenders as a government inquiry details the dire "rehoming crisis" crippling the state. Login or signup to continue reading A NSW government inquiry into pounds released a report in October with 24 recommendations to improve animal welfare. The inquiry found that NSW was facing an "animal rehoming crisis" with pounds and rescues severely underfunded and over-capacity with heavy reliance on rescue and rehoming organisations. Dog ownership has skyrocketed since the pandemic. Government data shows there were 105,168 microchipped dogs in Lake Macquarie, 48,335 in Maitland and 64,054 in Newcastle in the July-September quarter of 2024. This is up from 102,108 in Lake Macquarie, 46,364 in Maitland and 61,899 in Newcastle the previous year, and a major increase from 88,698 in Lake Macquarie, 38,620 in Maitland and 54,316 in 2020. Dog Rescue Newcastle founder Sue Barker said the number of dogs needing homes was higher than ever. "It's out of control," she said. "I've been doing rescue since 1984 formally and it's worse than it's ever been." The Newcastle rescue saved 851 dogs from either private surrenders or overflowing pounds and found homes for 857 over the course of 2024. Ms Barker said animals were passed onto rescue groups after pounds were increasingly becoming full. Pound data from 2023-24 shows Newcastle council had 158 incoming dogs and 11 cats. Of those, 90 dogs and nine cats were released to rescue and rehoming organisations. Lake Macquarie council had 278 incoming dogs and 96 cats, with 79 dogs and 73 cats released to organisations for re-homing. In Maitland, 413 dogs and 106 cats were reported with 104 dogs and 92 cats released to organisations for re-homing. Maitland is in the top 12 local government areas in the state for dogs in its facilities. Maitland council director city planning Matt Prendergast said the Maitland Animal Management Facility serviced Maitland, Cessnock and Dungog. "As a result, there is pressure from the community and a growing waitlist for surrenders, with rental housing issues, homelessness, cost of living and domestic violence commonly cited as reasons for requiring to surrender an animal," Mr Prendergast said. "We take a proactive approach to managing companion animals in the Maitland LGA, and despite high incoming animal numbers, there is a very high return to home rate - last month, this was over 90 per cent." Ms Barker reported similar factors as the cause of the issue. "A lot of it is because of the housing crisis and out of control breeding," she said. "Also people can't get rentals with their dogs - there's a break-up in families and neither party can take the dog. "It's a crisis - I don't sleep." The inquiry committee has recommended the NSW government urgently introduce legislation to ensure tenants can rent with animals and implement puppy farming reform. The NSW government announced on October 25 it will introduce legislation to parliament to make it easier to have pets in rentals, with landlords only able to decline on certain grounds. The inquiry also found a large number of animals were still being killed in NSW pounds, which is "unacceptable". "Animals are being killed simply because of space, " Ms Barker said. "This shouldn't be happening in this day and age." While Hunter councils have lower euthanasia rates than some other areas of NSW, dogs and cats have been put down in the region's pounds for various reasons. According to 2023-24 pound data, Newcastle had 11 dogs euthanised that were unable to be rehomed; two dogs euthanised at the owner's request; one dog euthanised after being deemed dangerous, restricted or other and two cats put down due to being feral or infant. Three dogs in Maitland were euthanised due to illness or injury and six dogs were euthanised due to being dangerous, restricted or other. Four cats were euthanised due to being feral or infant. Lake Macquarie had more animals euthanised than the other two councils, including 36 dogs deemed unsuitable for re-homing and eight cats that were feral or infant. Four dogs and three cats were euthanised due to illness or injury, eight dogs were euthanised as they were unable to be rehomed and one dog was euthanised due to being dangerous, restricted or other. Mr Prendergast said Maitland council did not euthanise animals unless there was "an overwhelming need due to significant medical or behavioural issues". The committee found that many pound facilities were sub-standard, not fit for purpose, and failed to meet community expectations for animal welfare. Ms Barker said council pounds she had dealt with were "totally inadequate for the numbers coming in". The inquiry has recommended the government provide increased funding for council pounds and provide ongoing grant funding to rescue services. The City of Newcastle spokesperson said a 2022 amendment to the Companion Animals Act had increased management costs for councils, as impounded animals often stayed longer while arrangements with rehoming organisations were made. "City of Newcastle welcomes any increases in funding from the NSW Government to assist with its legislated animal management obligations, to support the safe management of animals within the Newcastle Local Government Area," the spokesperson said. "City of Newcastle has faced delays in receiving nominated funding from the Office of Local Government related to animal registrations within Newcastle. This impacts the operational costs of managing our community services related to companion animals in Newcastle." Mr Prendergast said Maitland council would "fully support" increased opportunities for grant funding to help alleviate the strain currently placed by the pound system. Mr Poulton said there was "no doubt there is high demand on rehoming services and we see some of the recommendations in the recent report as key to supporting their ongoing work". Councils say they aim to take a proactive approach to animal management and encourage responsible pet ownership and microchipping. A City of Newcastle spokesperson said the council engaged daily with re-homing organisations, locally and across the country. "We have one of the highest rehoming rates in Australia, with 95 per cent of animals taken into care last year able to be returned to their owner or rehomed," the spokesperson said. "Our team has facilitated re-homing 12 animals to interstate locations since taking over the management of impounded animals (6 in the 2023/24 financial year and 6 so far in the 2024/25 financial year)." Lake Macquarie council manager environmental regulation and compliance Derek Poulton said over the past four years increased number of animals have been returned to their owners in the field before entering the facility due to improved animal registration programs. "We've actually seen a reduction in animals entering our facility and more stable animal numbers being surrendered and requiring rehoming via our 16 possible rehoming rescue partners," he said. "There have been several occasions over the years that our facility has reached capacity. Fortunately, this is a very rare event that has only ever occurred for a short period." Maitland council is also undertaking a feasibility study to determine what more permanent expansion options of its pound could look like. Sage Swinton is a news reporter who was born and bred in the Hunter. She has been with the Newcastle Herald since June 2020. Sage Swinton is a news reporter who was born and bred in the Hunter. She has been with the Newcastle Herald since June 2020. DAILY Today's top stories curated by our news team. Also includes evening update. WEEKDAYS Grab a quick bite of today's latest news from around the region and the nation. WEEKLY The latest news, results & expert analysis. WEEKDAYS Catch up on the news of the day and unwind with great reading for your evening. WEEKLY Get the editor's insights: what's happening & why it matters. WEEKLY Love footy? We've got all the action covered. 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Share Tweet Share Share Email Investors are increasingly exploring opportunities beyond traditional stocks and bonds. This strategy, known as non-traditional asset investment, offers a way to diversify portfolios, mitigate risks, and tap into alternative sources of returns. As markets grow more complex, understanding these unique investment avenues becomes crucial for both novice and seasoned investors . What Are Non-Traditional Assets? Non-traditional assets encompass a broad range of investments outside the standard equity and fixed-income securities. These assets can include real estate, commodities, private equity, hedge funds, collectibles, cryptocurrencies, and more. Unlike traditional assets, these alternatives often exhibit lower correlation with mainstream markets, making them valuable for diversification. Key Characteristics of Non-Traditional Assets Illiquidity: Many alternative investments, like real estate or private equity, are not easily sold or converted to cash. Unique Risk-Reward Profiles: These assets may carry higher risk but also offer the potential for greater returns. Limited Market Transparency: Non-traditional investments often lack the level of public information available for traditional securities. Specialized Knowledge Required: Investing in alternatives often demands a deep understanding of the asset class and its dynamics. Benefits of Diversifying with Non-Traditional Assets Diversification remains a cornerstone of prudent investing. Incorporating non-traditional assets into a portfolio can deliver several benefits: Risk Mitigation Non-traditional assets often move independently of stock and bond markets. For instance, during periods of equity market downturns, investments in gold or real estate may hold their value or even appreciate, acting as a hedge. Enhanced Returns Alternative investments can outperform traditional markets, especially in niche areas like private equity or venture capital. These sectors provide opportunities to capture higher returns through innovative business models and under-the-radar growth. Inflation Protection Certain non-traditional assets, such as commodities and real estate, are excellent hedges against inflation. As prices rise, so does the value of these tangible assets, preserving purchasing power. Popular Types of Non-Traditional Assets Real Estate Investing in real estate, whether residential, commercial, or industrial, offers tangible value and consistent income through rent. Real estate investment trusts (REITs) provide a more liquid way to access this market. Commodities Commodities like gold, silver, oil, and agricultural products offer an effective hedge against market volatility and inflation. Their value often rises when equity markets falter. Private Equity Private equity involves investing in private companies, often through venture capital or buyout funds. These investments can yield significant returns but require a long-term commitment and higher risk tolerance. Hedge Funds Hedge funds employ diverse strategies to generate returns, such as short selling, leveraging, and arbitrage. While they can deliver substantial gains, they’re typically accessible only to accredited investors due to their complexity and risks. Cryptocurrencies Digital currencies like Bitcoin and Ethereum have emerged as a new frontier for investment. While highly volatile, they offer opportunities for substantial gains and diversification from traditional markets. Collectibles and Art Items like fine art, rare coins, vintage cars, and wine are gaining traction as investment vehicles. These tangible assets combine aesthetic value with the potential for financial appreciation. Challenges of Investing in Non-Traditional Assets Illiquidity Many non-traditional assets cannot be quickly sold, which can pose challenges during financial emergencies. High Fees Alternative investments often come with higher fees for management, transaction, and performance compared to traditional investments. Complexity Understanding the nuances of non-traditional assets requires specialized knowledge. Without it, investors risk making poor decisions. Regulatory Risks Some non-traditional assets, like cryptocurrencies, operate in regulatory gray areas. This uncertainty can add to the risk profile. How to Get Started with Non-Traditional Investments Assess Your Risk Tolerance: Understand your financial goals and appetite for risk before venturing into alternatives . Research Thoroughly: Gain a deep understanding of the asset class you’re interested in. Consult experts or leverage resources like financial advisors. Start Small: Begin with a modest allocation to non-traditional assets to minimize risk. Diversify Within Alternatives: Just as with traditional investments, spread your investments across different non-traditional assets to further reduce risk. Leverage Technology: Platforms and apps now make it easier to invest in alternatives like real estate crowdfunding or cryptocurrency trading. The Future of Non-Traditional Investments With advances in technology and globalization, the landscape for alternative investments is expanding. Blockchain technology, for instance, is transforming the art and real estate markets through tokenization, making these assets more accessible. Similarly, the rise of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) investing is reshaping alternative markets, as investors seek opportunities that align with their values. Conclusion Non-traditional asset investment offers a compelling path to diversify portfolios and achieve financial goals. While these investments come with challenges, the potential rewards—ranging from enhanced returns to risk mitigation—make them an attractive option. By approaching them with caution, research, and a clear strategy , investors can unlock the benefits of this dynamic and advancing sector. Related Items: Beyond Stocks and Bonds , Non-Traditional Asset Investment , Real Estate Investment Share Tweet Share Share Email Recommended for you Tokenized Real Estate Investment: Digital Ownership of Property The Housing Crisis in Silicon Valley: Causes and Solutions Optimize Your Gains with High Dividend Yields Comments

The fall of the Assad regime in Syria continues to reshape the country and the greater Middle East. In Damascus, leaders of the armed group HTS have retained most services of the civilian government but vowed to dissolve Assad’s security forces and shut down Assad’s notorious prisons. “People have this sense of regained freedom,” says Syrian architect and writer Marwa al-Sabouni in Homs. Still, she warns oppression in the country has left the populace weakened and vulnerable. “Syria is up for grabs now. ... We are completely disarmed.” In northeast Syria, more than 100,000 people have been displaced due to fighting between Turkish-backed forces and U.S.-backed Kurdish forces. Israel continues to seize more land in the Golan Heights and has carried out over 480 airstrikes on Syria since Sunday. Swiss Syrian left-wing activist and scholar Joseph Daher explains how civil society is attempting to rebuild democracy through “struggle from below,” and how that could unleash popular support for Palestine. “Israel wanted a weak Assad and is not happy with the fall of this regime,” says Daher. “A democratization process in the Middle East is the biggest threat for Israel.” This is a rush transcript. Copy may not be in its final form. NERMEEN SHAIKH: We begin today’s show looking at the toppling of the Assad regime in Syria and how it could reshape the Middle East. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has arrived in Jordan for emergency talks on Syria. He heads to Turkey next. This comes as celebrations continue in Syria over the fall of Bashar al-Assad, but many are concerned about what might happen next. In northeast Syria, more than 100,000 people have been displaced due to fighting between Turkish-backed forces and U.S.-backed Kurdish forces. Israel has carried out over 480 airstrikes on Syria since Sunday. Israeli troops have also seized part of the Syrian Golan Heights. In Geneva, the U.N. special rapporteur on human rights, Ben Saul, criticized Israel’s actions in Syria. AMY GOODMAN: Meanwhile, in Damascus, the head of the armed group HTS that led the coalition against Assad has vowed to dissolve Assad’s security forces and shut down his notorious prisons, including Sednaya, which has been described as a “human slaughterhouse.” We begin today’s show with two guests. Joseph Daher, a Swiss Syrian left-wing activist and scholar, author of Hezbollah: The Political Economy of the Party of God , as well as Syria After the Uprisings: The Political Economy of State Resilience , he’s in Geneva, Switzerland. And in Homs, Syria, we’re joined by Marwa al-Sabouni, award-winning Syrian architect, urban thinker and writer, author of two internationally acclaimed books, The Battle for Home and Building for Hope . We welcome you both to Democracy Now! Marwa, let’s begin with you in Homs. Just describe the scene there after the fall of Assad. MARWA AL-SABOUNI: Well, thank you for having me, Amy. The general atmosphere is an atmosphere of relief, of joy, of celebration, like you mentioned in your report. But also there’s this background of apprehension, of uncertainty, of observing what — the strikes that Israel has been conducting since the first moment of the Assad’s fall. NERMEEN SHAIKH: And, Marwa, could you talk about your piece for Middle East Eye ? You wrote, “Syrians have flown the cage. We must not lose our freedom again.” If you could elaborate on the points you make in the piece? MARWA AL-SABOUNI: Well, primarily, we were, for now over 50 years, under one oppressional regime that, you know, was denying Syrians from all liberties. And now with the lift of this regime, people have this sense of regained freedom. But like I mentioned in the piece, there are a number of dangers around us, mainly by the foreign powers, which are looking at the map of Syria, proposing division, also planning the future of Syria, mostly by the vacuum and the absence of Syrians from the political scene due to the oppressional regime. You have something that is rarely on the news, that is the control of the U.S. over the petrol in the eastern part of Syria, where the Kurdish forces, backed by the U.S., do the guarding effort for that. And for the past 14 years, even under the Assad regime, we were denied as Syrian citizens from access to fuel, from access to electricity. We don’t have electricity. Imagine living, you know, and having two hours of electricity within the 24 hours. So, it’s each six hours, you had half an hour of electricity. And imagine how this will reflect on the economy, on health sector, on production and all of that. Also you don’t have heating. You don’t have fuel for commuting. So, each car has access to only 20 liters of fuel every 15 days. So, the U.S., you know, just grabbed this piece of resource and put its hand, while the regime was here, and continues to do that until now. And so, mainly, Syria is up for grabs now. You have all those powers who can have access to those resources. And now, like your report mentioned, we are completely disarmed. We are in a sitting duck position. And God knows what could happen to the Syrians afterwards. NERMEEN SHAIKH: So, I’d like to bring in Joseph Daher into the conversation. If you could respond to what Marwa said? You’ve followed Syrian politics for decades. You wrote a book called Syria After the Uprisings: The Political Economy of State Resilience . Your response to, you know, first of all, the fall of the Assad regime, what you see happening in Syria, the celebrations across the country, Assad statues being toppled and so on, Hafez al-Assad’s tomb being burned? Your response to what’s happened, and then, also, the role of foreign powers in his fall? In particular, you’ve focused on Turkey. Joseph? JOSEPH DAHER: Thank you. Good morning. I think the key issues to understand, first of all, following the overthrow of the regime, is how little and small the popular base of the regime was. It fell just like a house of cards. It was weakened structurally, politically, militarily, economically, and was basically surviving because of the assistance of Russia and Iran. And when these two forces were themselves weakened, this allowed the opportunity for the fall of this regime, which had, first of all, initially, a military dynamic which remained dominant, but, as we can see throughout the process, people started to go out in the street, attack symbols of the regime. And we can see in the past few days a large majority of the Syrian people were opposed to this regime, in all its sects, ethnicities. We saw statues being brought down in Kurdish-majority inhabited areas, but also in the coastal areas, Damascus, Aleppo, Suwayda. So, this is the first thing to say, that for the first time in decades, Syrians have a hope for the future, to build a more equal, democratic, social society. Obviously, there is fear, but fear was existing for the past five decades. But at least there’s an opportunity to be seized. With this opportunity to be seized, a lot of challenges exist. First of all, I think, internally, the groups, the armed opposition groups, such as Hayat Tahrir al-Sham or the Syrian National Army, are far from being democratic. Quite the opposite, they’ve shown the authoritarian behavior, policies in the past. Therefore, there will be a need to rebuild, you know, democratic movement, new popular organizations, trade unions, feminist organizations, and to rebuild basically struggle from below, to build the possibility of an alternative political structure, you know, social structure. Again, there’s another kind of threat. There’s also the ethnic division between Arabs and Kurds that must be tackled. It must be tackled. And unfortunately, Turkey is playing a very negative role by pushing, you know, SNA forces, Syrian National Army, which is acting as a proxy of Turkey to attack Kurdish-held areas. Just to precise something, autonomous administrative areas, where you have the majority of oil production, sold part of its oil to the regime. But even if, you know, the same unity came back and they had access to all the oil in the northeast, it won’t be enough for internal consumption. The vast majority of oil was imported from Iran, was provided from Iran. And after, I want to speak about the external threat. Obviously, Turkey, I talked about it, but Israel, as well. Israel has no interest to see a democratization process in Syria, just as in the larger Middle East, because it knows it will bring more solidarity with the Palestinian cause. And this is why the day after, the actor that was the regime, the Assad regime, protecting the road with Israel for the past 40 years, preventing any form of resistance, attacked all the military infrastructure’s capacity, so at least a large majority of them, throughout the country to destroy them, to make the future Syrian state weaker and also send a political message to the future people that will be in power in Syria, that any kind of hostile and belligerent position towards Israel will be attacked by Israel and could create instability. So, these are the two main threats, internal and external, as well. AMY GOODMAN: So, if you can talk about these Israeli attacks? There have been hundreds and hundreds, well over 500, attacks, as you just began. You have the U.N. the envoy, special envoy for Syria, Geir Pedersen, condemning Israel’s assault. What Israel is trying to accomplish right now in this massive bombing campaign of Syria? And you’ve written a book called Hezbollah . Where that fits into this at this point? JOSEPH DAHER: Well, I think what we’ve seen in the past few days is this demonstration that as soon as the Assad regime fell — and again, it’s important to remind the auditors that contrary to some commentators that saw the Assad regime as a resistant actor against Israel, Israel had to intervene now to bomb massively the military structures, infrastructures of the Syrian state, because it was scared that the main actor protecting its borders for the past 40 years disappeared, and, again, sending a message, a clear message, to the future forces that will be in power in Syria that any hostile position could be punished directly. Similarly, I think there’s another thing to take into consideration, is that Israel wanted a weak Assad and is not happy with the fall of this regime. Moreover, there have been increasingly documents that have been leaked showing that Assad regime was collaborating, in a way or another, with the Israeli state. In this perspective, more largely, I think, definitely, Iran and Hezbollah are the great loser of the fall of the regime. But no resistance against Israel can be built with supporting authoritarian regimes or participating in the repression of people struggling for democracy, freedom and social justice. So, the weakening of Hezbollah and Iran is definitely the result also of Israel’s war on Lebanon and attacks in Syria against a pro-Iranian position, pro-Hezbollah position. But more largely, we have seen that these actors have not acted largely in the interests of the liberation of the region, of the popular classes, but, moreover, of the Palestinians. And one other indicator in this direction is the latest statements of Hamas and Islamic Jihad. I personally don’t disagree with — I personally disagree with their politics, while supporting the right of resistance. But they saluted the liberation of the Palestinian people — or, the Syrian population from the dictatorship of Assad. That shows us that, basically, the key importance for a future strategy of liberation for Palestine is connected to the liberation of the population of the region. And we have to come back to the statement made by Foreign Minister of Israel Avigdor Lieberman in 2011 following the overthrow of Mubarak in Egypt, that a democratic Egypt is a bigger threat to Israel than Iran. Similarly, a democratization process in the Middle East is the biggest threat for Israel. AMY GOODMAN: I wanted to go — last month, the ICC, the International Criminal Court, decided to indict Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, as well as the Hamas commander Mohammed Deif. The Biden administration rejected the ICC decision, claiming it doesn’t have jurisdiction to try Netanyahu. Well, this week, a reporter asked State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller if the U.S. would support Assad standing in front of the ICC as a war criminal. This begins with Matt Miller, who’s then interrupted by the Associated Press reporter Matthew Lee. AMY GOODMAN: A jurisdictional dispute, Joseph Daher, if you could talk about that? JOSEPH DAHER: Well, who will be surprised that the U.S. has double standards? We’ve seen this continuously and that U.S. has never pushed an agenda for real democratization of the region and has foreign policy according to its own geopolitical interests. So, this is, for me, not a surprise to see the difference in this kind of behavior. We have to remind that the U.S. is the key actor allowing for the continuous genocide of the Palestinians in Gaza, for the continuous annexation of lands in the West Bank. Israel would not have been able to continue its genocidal war without the support of the U.S. Actually, Israel is only the implementer of U.S. politics, according to the Palestinians. Similarly, Israel could not have been leading a war on Lebanon without U.S. support. And finally, Israel informed the U.S. of the invasion of Syrian lands, of the bombing of military infrastructures in Syria, with the support of the U.S., that also are seeking to protect its key ally in the region, Israel. So, it’s not a surprise at all to see these kind of double standards by the U.S. or any kind of Western states. AMY GOODMAN: By the way, Yoav Gallant, who was one of those charged by the ICC, for whom there is an arrest warrant, just met with Brett McGurk in Washington, D.C., this week. NERMEEN SHAIKH: And before we end, Joseph Daher, if you could talk about what you see unfolding in the next weeks in Syria? You spoke earlier a little bit about the different groups, not just HTS, that are now operating in Syria. How do you see this playing out in terms of the plan that they’ve laid out, and, in fact, of their changing political orientation, ideological orientation, as the head of HTS has suggested they will do? JOSEPH DAHER: Well, there’s a clear strategy by the HTS that started in 2016, following its break with al-Qaeda, to present itself as a rational, moderate actor, not only locally but also regionally and internationally. It has, you know, branded itself as would like to participate any kind of counterterrorist campaigns, that it’s not a threat to the West. It’s also sending messages to regional actors. And we’re seeing a change, according to regional, international actors, towards HTS. Does that mean that HTS, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, is a democratic organization? No, far from it. It is an authoritarian organization with an Islamic fundamentalist ideology and that is seeking to basically consolidate its power now in Syria. One of the latest indicators is the nomination of a prime minister that was previously the head of the government of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham in Idlib. Hayat Tahrir al-Sham’s first priority is to consolidate its power in the region it took control over. And this is a challenge for the Syrian democratic and social aspiration of Syrian popular classes in the country. This is why I was saying that we have a lot of — Syrians, in general, have a lot of hope, but also there’s contradictions and challenges in the space that was opened by the fall of the regime. And obviously, there will be a lot of work of rebuilding to do among democratic and progressive sectors of the society to constitute a bloc to challenge the power of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, but also of the Syrian National Army. And the developments in the following weeks and months will depend on the ability of democratic and social groups to develop, and also, according, as I was saying, to regional and international developments, because a lot of the country, despite their differences, also want to see a form of authoritarian stability reimposed on Syria, that basically meaning a damage control for the region. So, again, the hope is back, but there’s a lot of challenges. There’s a lot of obstacles. But at least, for decades, we have the ability as Syrians to think of a better future. Nothing is done yet, but, again, there’s a lot of hope. And it will depend on the balance of forces within the country and the ability to constitute democratic, progressive bloc, challenging the Arabic-Kurdish division, on the ability of challenging these authoritarian local forces, but also regional and international forces, because none of them have the best interests of the Syrian popular classes. AMY GOODMAN: We just have 30 seconds, but I just wanted to ask you about the significance of the finding of the corpse of Mazen al-Hamada. Tens of thousands of Syrians in Damascus now are gathering to attend his funeral. JOSEPH DAHER: Well, it’s a tragedy, like thousands, hundreds of thousands, of other disappeared, forcibly disappeared, of political prisoners that we don’t know what happened with them. This is a reflection of the barbarism of what was the Assad regime for the past 54 years, a regime that not only killed Syrians, but attacked Lebanese, occupied Lebanon, attacked Palestinians, Palestinian national movement, and has been really a center of authoritarianism and reactionary politics, not only for the Syrians, but for the whole region. AMY GOODMAN: Joseph Daher, thank you so much for being with us, Swiss Syrian left-wing scholar and activist in Geneva, Switzerland. We’ll link to your recent piece for The New Arab , “From Syria to Palestine, liberation comes from below.” And thanks also to Marwa al-Sabouni, the Syrian architect and writer in Homs, in Syria. We lost our connection with her in the middle of the conversation. When we come back, we’ll speak with Jan Egeland, the head of the Norwegian Refugee Council. He’s just left war-torn Ukraine. Stay with us.The AP Top 25 men’s college basketball poll is back every week throughout the season! Get the poll delivered straight to your inbox with AP Top 25 Poll Alerts. Sign up here . SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — DeMarr Langford Jr. put in the winning points off his offensive rebound at the buzzer and Amar’e Marshall scored 18 points as Albany defeated Kansas City 67-65 on Saturday. Marshall added five steals for the Great Danes (5-1). Langford added 16 points while going 7 of 8 and 2 of 4 from the free-throw line while he also had six rebounds. Justin Neely shot 2 of 4 from the field and 6 for 7 from the line to finish with 10 points. Anderson Kopp led the Roos (3-4) in scoring, finishing with 20 points and four assists. UMKC also got 18 points from Jayson Petty. Kasheem Grady II also had 16 points. ___ The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .

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BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) — Kino Lilly Jr.'s 21 points helped Brown defeat Canisius 83-76 on Saturday. Lilly shot 5 of 13 from the field, including 5 for 9 from 3-point range, and went 6 for 7 from the line for the Bears (3-3). Landon Lewis scored 17 points and added eight rebounds. Lyndel Erold shot 5 for 9 (3 for 6 from 3-point range) and 3 of 3 from the free-throw line to finish with 16 points. Paul McMillan IV finished with 25 points for the Golden Griffins (0-7). Cam Palesse added 22 points for Canisius. Anthony Benard had seven points, eight assists and two steals. The Golden Griffins prolonged their losing streak to seven in a row. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .Real reason Reiss Nelson will not be available for Fulham against Arsenal as fresh injury blow is confirmed

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RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Jaden Green and Geoffrey Jamiel scored on long plays in the fourth quarter and unseeded Lehigh rallied to defeat No. 9 Richmond 20-16 on Saturday in a first-round game of the FCS playoffs. Lehigh advances to a second-round game at eighth-seeded Idaho on Dec. 7. The Mountain Hawks trailed 16-7 early in the fourth quarter after Richmond's Sean Clarke scored on a 7-yard pass from Camden Coleman. Green dashed 65 yards for a touchdown on the next play from scrimmage and Lehigh trailed 16-14 with 10 1/2 minutes remaining. The Mountain Hawks (9-3) forced a three-and-out, then Jamiel and Hayden Johnson connected on a 56-yard pass play for the go-ahead touchdown. The Spiders were stopped short of midfield on their final drive but nearly came up with a huge play when Lehigh's Quanye Veney muffed the punt at his own 14-yard line. Ignatious Williams recovered the loose ball for Lehigh to preserve the win. Johnson completed 14 of 18 passes for 199 yards. Jamiel caught 10 for 137 yards. Coleman was 24-of-37 passing for 199 yards. Zach Palmer-Smith had 107 yards rushing for Richmond (10-3). Richmond had 249 yards of total offense in the first half but managed only three short field goals by Sean O'Haire. The scoring drives were 76, 70 and 64 yards and Richmond controlled the ball for nearly 21 minutes in the first half. Lehigh took a 7-6 lead on Johnson's 7-yard TD pass to Logan Galletta, but the Spiders answered with O'Haire's third field goal for a 9-7 halftime lead. This is 13-time Patriot League champion Lehigh's first playoff appearance since 2017. Lehigh and Richmond will have a rematch in the 2025 season opener at Lehigh. It will be Richmond's debut as a member of the Patriot League. Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here . AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-football