8 pa lyrics Annual Gulf Studies Forum kicks offJustin Baldoni's PR and legal team claim texts in Blake Lively's lawsuit lack 'critical context'Honda and Nissan to officially enter merger talks

Jennifer Abel, the publicist for Justin Baldoni , has broken her silence on the lawsuit against her client as Baldoni's lawyer shared his thoughts on texts mentioned in the suit. This weekend, Blake Lively filed a sexual harassment lawsuit against Baldoni and cited his actions on the set of the film adaptation of Colleen Hoover's book It Ends With Us. Also in the lawsuit, Lively claimed that the actor tried to create a smear campaign against her. The lawsuit included text messages sent between Baldoni and his team, including Abel. One message Abel allegedly sent claimed Baldoni "wants to make sure she [Lively] can be buried." Blake Lively accuses Justin Baldoni of sucking on her lips during filming in latest lawsuit Blake Lively sues Justin Baldoni for sexual harassment amid It Ends With Us feud In now-deleted Facebook posts, which The Hollywood Reporter has confirmed are real, Abel wrote: "What the cherry picked messages don’t include, although not shockingly as it doesn’t fit the narrative, is that there was no ‘smear’ implemented. No negative press was ever facilitated, no social combat plan, although we were prepared for it as it’s our job to be ready for any scenario." "But we didn’t have to implement anything because the internet was doing the work for us," she continued, referencing how many on the internet turned on Lively as old interviews resurfaced. Lively was also dragged on the internet when a social media clip of her went viral during the promotion of It Ends With Us. In the video, Lively told fans: "Grab your friends, wear your florals, and head out to see it," which many thought was insensitive as the film is about domestic violence. Abel further defended her and her client, claiming they "talked about" possible negative press against Lively and "rejoiced and joked in the fact that fans were recognizing our clients heart and work without us having to do anything but keep our heads down and focus on positive interviews for our client.” "As the texts show, we sophomorically reveled and again, joked, privately to each other about the internets feedback to the woman whose team was making our lives incredibly difficult over the course of the campaign. I’m human," she explained, "The long hours, months of preparation, on top of my day to day scope ... it felt good to see that although we were prepared, we didn’t have to do anything over the top to protect our client.” Bryan Freedman, Baldoni's lawyer, addressed the text messages in a statement to Us Weekly : "TAG PR operated as any other crisis management firm would when hired by a client experiencing threats by two extremely powerful people with unlimited resources." Freedman slammed The New York Times in his statement as well, as they were the first to report on Lively's lawsuit. The statement continued: "It’s ironic that the New York Times, through their effort to ‘uncover’ an insidious PR effort, played directly into the hands of Lively’s own dubious PR tactics by publishing leaked personal text exchanges that lack critical context — the very same tactics she’s accusing the firm of implementing." Click here to follow the Mirror US on Google News to stay up to date with all the latest news, sport and entertainment stories. DAILY NEWSLETTER: Sign up here to get the latest news and updates from the Mirror US straight to your inbox with our FREE newsletter.

LONDON & NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec 23, 2024-- Vertical Aerospace Ltd. (“Vertical” or the “Company”) (NYSE: EVTL; EVTLW), a global aerospace and technology company that is pioneering electric aviation, has entered into definitive documents and received shareholder approval for a transaction that includes up to $50 million in new committed funding. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241223436920/en/ Vertical Aerospace's VX4 prototype, which is currently under going piloted flight tests at its Flight Test Centre. (Photo: Business Wire) Today’s announcement marks the significant advancement of the agreement in principle, announced in November , aimed at strengthening Vertical’s balance sheet by approximately $180 million and accelerating the Company’s Flightpath 2030 strategy . Stuart Simpson, CEO at Vertical, said: “Ending this momentous year with a finalised funding commitment and strong shareholder backing is a tremendous milestone. This moment sets us up perfectly for our biggest year yet - with new investment, piloted testing progress and major technological developments all on the cards." Jason Mudrick, Founder and Chief Investment Officer at Mudrick Capital Management, said: “Vertical is revolutionizing how the world moves, and we are proud to play a pivotal role in positioning the company for success. We look forward to continuing to partner with Vertical’s exceptional team and contributing capital market and other expertise in helping to bring their groundbreaking product offering to reality.” Today’s announcement includes: Notes to Editors About Vertical Aerospace Vertical Aerospace is a global aerospace and technology company pioneering electric aviation. Vertical is creating a safer, cleaner and quieter way to travel. Vertical’s VX4 is a piloted, four passenger, Electric Vertical Take-Off and Landing (eVTOL) aircraft, with zero operating emissions. Vertical combines partnering with leading aerospace companies, including GKN Aerospace, Honeywell and Leonardo, with developing its own proprietary battery and propeller technology to develop the world’s most advanced and safest eVTOL. Vertical has c.1,500 pre-orders of the VX4, with customers across four continents, including American Airlines, Japan Airlines, GOL and Bristow. Headquartered in Bristol, the epicentre of the UK’s aerospace industry, Vertical was founded in 2016 by Stephen Fitzpatrick, founder of the OVO Group, Europe’s largest independent energy retailer. Vertical’s experienced leadership team comes from top tier automotive and aerospace companies such as Rolls-Royce, Airbus, GM and Leonardo. Together they have previously certified and supported over 30 different civil and military aircraft and propulsion systems. Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 that relate to our current expectations and views of future events. We intend such forward-looking statements to be covered by the safe harbor provisions for forward-looking statements as contained in Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the Exchange Act. Any express or implied statements contained in this press release that are not statements of historical fact may be deemed to be forward-looking statements, including, without limitation, statements regarding completion of the committed funding from Mudrick Capital and use of proceeds therefrom, the sufficiency of the proceeds from the committed funding to meet the Company’s more immediate capital expenditure requirements, the Company’s satisfaction of all closing conditions to the committed funding, our ability and plans to raise additional capital to fund our operations, statements regarding the design and manufacture of the VX4, our future results of operations and financial position and expected financial performance and operational performance, liquidity, growth and profitability strategies, business strategy and plans and objectives of management for future operations, including the building and testing of our prototype aircrafts on timelines projected, selection of suppliers, certification and the commercialization of the VX4 and our ability to achieve regulatory certification of our aircraft product on any particular timeline or at all, our plans to mitigate the risk that we are unable to continue as a going concern, our plans for capital expenditures, the expectations surrounding pre-orders and commitments, the features and capabilities of the VX4, the transition towards a net-zero emissions economy, as well as statements that include the words “expect,” “intend,” “plan,” “believe,” “project,” “forecast,” “estimate,” “may,” “should,” “anticipate,” “will,” “aim,” “potential,” “continue,” “are likely to” and similar statements of a future or forward-looking nature. Forward-looking statements are neither promises nor guarantees, but involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected, including, without limitation: our limited operating history without manufactured non-prototype aircraft or completed eVTOL aircraft customer order; our potential inability to raise additional funds when we need or want them, or at all, to fund our operations; our limited cash and cash equivalents and recurring losses from our operations raise significant doubt (or raise substantial doubt as contemplated by PCAOB standards) regarding our ability to continue as a going concern; our potential inability to produce or launch aircraft in the volumes or timelines projected; the potential inability to obtain the necessary certifications for production and operation within any projected timeline, or at all; the inability for our aircraft to perform at the level we expect and may have potential defects; our history of losses and the expectation to incur significant expenses and continuing losses for the foreseeable future; the market for eVTOL aircraft being in a relatively early stage; any accidents or incidents involving eVTOL aircraft could harm our business; our dependence on partners and suppliers for the components in our aircraft and for operational needs; the potential that certain strategic partnerships may not materialize into long-term partnership arrangements; all of the pre-orders received are conditional and may be terminated at any time and any predelivery payments may be fully refundable upon certain specified dates; any circumstances; any potential failure to effectively manage our growth; our inability to recruit and retain senior management and other highly skilled personnel; we have previously identified material weaknesses in our internal controls over financial reporting which if we fail to properly remediate, could adversely affect our results of operations, investor confidence in us and the market price of our ordinary shares; as a foreign private issuer we follow certain home country corporate governance rules, are not subject to U.S. proxy rules and are subject to Exchange Act reporting obligations that, to some extent, are more lenient and less frequent than those of a U.S. domestic public company; and the other important factors discussed under the caption “Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 20-F filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on March 14, 2024, as such factors may be updated from time to time in our other filings with the SEC. Any forward-looking statements contained in this press release speak only as of the date hereof and accordingly undue reliance should not be placed on such statements. We disclaim any obligation or undertaking to update or revise any forward-looking statements contained in this press release, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, other than to the extent required by applicable law. View source version on businesswire.com : https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241223436920/en/ CONTACT: Justin Bates, Head of Communications justin.bates@vertical-aerospace.com +44 7878 357 463 Samuel Emden, Head of Investor Affairs samuel.emden@vertical-aerospace.com +44 7816 459 904 KEYWORD: NEW YORK EUROPE UNITED STATES UNITED KINGDOM NORTH AMERICA INDUSTRY KEYWORD: ENGINEERING AIR TRANSPORT MANUFACTURING SOURCE: Vertical Aerospace Ltd. Copyright Business Wire 2024. PUB: 12/23/2024 04:37 PM/DISC: 12/23/2024 04:37 PM http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241223436920/enNone

The city of Las Vegas, Nevada, has honoured star with a special ceremony. Las Vegas mayor Brian Knudsen proclaimed December 16 as Billy Gibbons Day and welcomed Gibbons to City Hall to mark the event. Addressing Gibbons, alongside the musician's wife and a Las Vegas showgirl, Mayor Knudsen said: "We, the Mayor and members of Las Vegas City Council, do hereby take great pride in proclaiming December 16, 2024, as Billy Gibbons Day." The mayor's official proclamation reads: "Billy Gibbons is an American rock musician, best known as the guitarist and primary vocalist for 'That Little Ol Band From Texas' – ZZ Top. "Billy began his canter in Moving Sidewalks and was the . "Billy Gibbons formed ZZ Top in late 1969 and released ZZ Top's first album in early 1971, They are known for their live performances, sly and humorous lyrics, and the matching appearances wearing sunglasses, hats and long beards. "Billy has supported Las Vegas entertainment and the local community through his musical appearances for the past 55 years." Sign up below to get the latest from Classic Rock, plus exclusive special offers, direct to your inbox! You can watch the proclamation in the social media post below. Recalling that support slot his teenaged group the Moving Sidewalks performed for Hendrix in Texas in 1968, they boldly covered two Hendrix songs in their set. He said: "To try and wrap your head around those compositions, it was something so new you didn’t quite know where to begin. "We were fortunate to be able to interpret our versions of and . They were Texas interpretations. "On leaving the stage I was grabbed by the shoulders and there was Hendrix smiling. He said: ‘I got to meet you. You got a lot of nerve! I like it.'" Stef wrote close to 5,000 stories during his time as assistant online news editor and later as online news editor between 2014-2016. An accomplished reporter and journalist, Stef has written extensively for a number of UK newspapers and also played bass with UK rock favourites Logan. His favourite bands are Pixies and Clap Your Hands Say Yeah. Stef left the world of rock'n'roll news behind when he moved to his beloved Canada in 2016, but he started on his next 5000 stories in 2022.After a heart-wrenching 42 hours fearing her teenage daughter was dead, Amy Walsh has received the best Christmas present of all: "I have my girl". 19-year-old Maia Johnston left Walsh's Upper Hutt home on Saturday night, and was found on Monday afternoon in the bushy hills surrounding Totara Park where she had fallen down a waterfall, breaking her leg, multiple ribs, and suffering facial injuries . "Got lost in mountains and fell down [an] almost two storey waterfall, couldn't walk my way out and I'll be in hospital for a while," she posted on social media on Tuesday morning. The search for the missing teen began on Saturday, which Walsh said had started out as "a really great day". Saturday Johnston, her siblings and her best friend Keri had travelled down from Hamilton to celebrate an early whānau Christmas. Johnston and Keri had been to the park in the early evening and sat chatting on the doorstep when they returned, Walsh said. Saturday 21 December 8pm "Maia said to Keri about 8 o'clock, 'I just need some time by myself'," said Walsh. That was not unusual, and Johnston had not been upset, she said. "There was nothing out of character to need a bit of fresh air. So she's walked off with just a vape." Saturday 21 December 8.30pm Keri realised Johnston had left her phone behind, and went looking for her friend in the pouring rain. Saturday 21 December 9pm Walsh got in the car to find what she thought would be "two wet girls" at the park - but only Keri was there. They had no idea where Johnston was - and Johnston did not know the area at all. Saturday 21 December 9.40pm Walsh calls the police and reports her daughter missing. She posts on a local Facebook page too, and locals brave the weather to search the area through the night. Sunday 22 December There's no sign of Johnston, the search continues and a plea goes out for more help. An online group chat is created with people from Totara Park, Upper Hutt, Porirua, Stokes Valley and further afield wanting to join the search, which grows to more than 70 people. They knock on doors throughout Totara Park, and put the call out for CCTV footage, in a bid to piece together Johnston's movements. By midnight, Walsh is exhausted, having searched for 27 hours straight. She finally goes home to sleep so she can continue looking for her daughter on Monday. Some volunteers told RNZ they were out searching until 3am on Monday. Monday 23 December 10am A base is set up at the Totara Park School Hall in an effort to better co-ordinate the search. Organisers Penny Clash and Susan Stevenson spoke with people about where they had been, directed their next search areas, and documented everything on a whiteboard. Dozens of people were in and out of the hall, and after flyers arrived, some were tasked with letterbox drops. Police officers arrive and park up at the hall too, with Clash and Stevenson feeding them any information they get from searchers, including CCTV footage. A police search and rescue team, and volunteers continue searching throughout Totara Park, including the bushy hills surrounding the suburb. Monday 23 December 1.30pm A police search and rescue team finds Johnston in the hills above Cannon Point Road. She had a broken leg and ribs, and a split lip, but was "cracking jokes" with her rescuers, said Walsh. Walsh is at the hall when police deliver the news her daughter has been found alive. She told RNZ she was in disbelief - and other volunteers said when police made the announcement, there was a brief silence before they erupted, sharing tears and hugs. Walsh and whānau headed to the bottom of the hill where Johnston would be brought out. It's a bit of a wait, as a special stretcher had to be delivered from Wellington Hospital. Monday 23 December 3.30pm Maia is stretchered out of the bush and into an ambulance, accompanied by her parents. Her whānau are crying and embracing - just glad Johnston is alive. Tuesday 24 December Walsh posts on social media that her daughter is likely to be in hospital for weeks and needed multiple surgeries - her first was on her spleen overnight, and she was due for her second on Tuesday morning. Her injuries are worse than first thought, but nothing that won't heal, said Walsh. "It's OK. I have my girl." One of the searchers has set up a Givealittle page to assist the family during Johnston's recovery . 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Madison County Schools superintendent David Gilliam has been working at Madison County since 1992, first starting as a teacher and coach, and for the last six years as the Superintendent. Now, after more than 30 years, Gilliam is retiring. Randy Neely will be the new Madison County Superintendent starting in January. During the Dec. 12th Madison County School Board meeting, Gilliam delivered his final superintendent’s report. In it, he encouraged new Superintendent Neely and the board members to “look beyond those measures that people usually look at at schools.” Instead of enrollment numbers and similar stats, he encouraged the board members to instead look at “the metrics that really make a difference.” He explained that if a school system is working things like the poverty rate, the literacy rate, average household income, and the health index should all improve. “If a school system is doing what it needs to be doing, yeah the state assessment scores will be good, yes attendance will be good, yes our budget will be in line. But we should also see those other pieces move,” said Gilliam. Gilliam told the Richmond Register that he believes that the county’s investment in the Ignite Academies and their attempts to value career and technical education will have a positive impact on local industries for years to come. Gilliam said that industries seeking to move into Richmond and Madison County have spoken with him during his time as Superintendent, and before that as Chief Academic Officer, about the infrastructure that is in place at the local school systems to support the work force. “Not only the career and technical education, but also the quality of our schools in general, so that it’s producing well-rounded, capable, intelligent people,” said Gilliam. While Gilliam encouraged the board to look at other statistics to determine how the school system is doing, Madison County is performing well on state metrics. According to the Kentucky Department of Education’s Report Card for Madison County, the school has seen a drop-out rate of around 1% over the last three years, with an attendance rate of over 91%, and a graduation rate of 94%. These are all in line with averages across the state. The Report Card also states that Madison County overall has high performance on state assessments in reading, mathematics, science, social studies, and writing. “We have seen those numbers improve. But what I was talking about was the bigger picture, the real reason we are doing that,” said Gilliam. “All of those numbers are good, and we can see those immediately. But ultimately, does it really lead to quality jobs in local industry that are high paying and high functioning?” Gilliam said that the creation of the Ignite Academy has at least encouraged students, who before showed little interest in career and technical studies, to explore that education pathway. Gilliam told the Register that he is proud of the creation of the Ignite Academy, of partnerships created with local economy leaders, but that looking back at his tenure with Madison county what he was most proud of was the culture created across the district. “It’s valuing Madison County Schools as an important part of our community. I feel like we have continued to grow that over the last 10, 12 years. and I think that is probably the thing that I feel good about,” said Gilliam. Gilliam said that he hopes that as he leaves this position people look at him and think that he “left it better than he found it.” “That’s what I hope people would be able to say. ‘He came in, he worked hard, and during his time the school improved,” said Gilliam. Gilliam said that despite his retirement as Superintendent, he plans to still be involved some way in education. Though, at the same time, he shared that he has a farm and cows he plans to take care of. “I’m probably going to take some long mornings, and sit on the porch and drink coffee,” said Gilliam.DENVER — Amid renewed interest in the killing of JonBenet Ramsey triggered in part by a new Netflix documentary, police in Boulder, Colorado, refuted assertions this week that there is viable evidence and leads about the 1996 killing of the 6-year-old girl that they are not pursuing. JonBenet Ramsey, who competed in beauty pageants, was found dead in the basement of her family's home in the college town of Boulder the day after Christmas in 1996. Her body was found several hours after her mother called 911 to say her daughter was missing and a ransom note was left behind. The gravesite of JonBenet Ramsey is covered with flowers Jan. 8, 1997, at St. James Episcopal Cemetery in Marietta, Ga. JonBenet was bludgeoned and strangled. Her death was ruled a homicide, but nobody was ever prosecuted. The details of the crime and video footage of JonBenet competing in pageants propelled the case into one of the highest-profile mysteries in the United States. The police comments came as part of their annual update on the investigation, a month before the 28th anniversary of JonBenet's killing. Police said they released it a little earlier due to the increased attention on the case, apparently referring to the three-part Netflix series "Cold Case: Who Killed JonBenet Ramsey." In a video statement, Boulder Police Chief Steve Redfearn said the department welcomes news coverage and documentaries about the killing of JonBenet, who would have been 34 this year, as a way to generate possible new leads. He said the department is committed to solving the case but needs to be careful about what it shares about the investigation to protect a possible future prosecution. "What I can tell you though, is we have thoroughly investigated multiple people as suspects throughout the years and we continue to be open-minded about what occurred as we investigate the tips that come in to detectives," he said. The Netflix documentary focuses on the mistakes made by police and the "media circus" surrounding the case. A police officer sits in her cruiser Jan. 3, 1997, outside the home in which 6-year-old JonBenet Ramsey was found murdered Dec. 26, 1996, in Boulder, Colo. Police were widely criticized for mishandling the early investigation into her death amid speculation that her family was responsible. However, a prosecutor cleared her parents, John and Patsy Ramsey, and brother Burke in 2008 based on new DNA evidence from JonBenet's clothing that pointed to the involvement of an "unexplained third party" in her slaying. The announcement by former district attorney Mary Lacy came two years after Patsy Ramsey died of cancer. Lacy called the Ramseys "victims of this crime." John Ramsey continued to speak out for the case to be solved. In 2022, he supported an online petition asking Colorado's governor to intervene in the investigation by putting an outside agency in charge of DNA testing in the case. In the Netflix documentary, he said he advocated for several items that were not prepared for DNA testing to be tested and for other items to be retested. He said the results should be put through a genealogy database. In recent years, investigators identified suspects in unsolved cases by comparing DNA profiles from crime scenes and to DNA testing results shared online by people researching their family trees. In 2021, police said in their annual update that DNA hadn't been ruled out to help solve the case, and in 2022 noted that some evidence could be "consumed" if DNA testing is done on it. Last year, police said they convened a panel of outside experts to review the investigation to give recommendations and determine if updated technologies or forensic testing might produce new leads. In the latest update, Redfearn said that review ended but police continue to work through and evaluate a "lengthy list of recommendations" from the panel. Stay up-to-date on what's happening Receive the latest in local entertainment news in your inbox weekly!Ousted Syrian leader Bashar Assad fled to Moscow and received asylum from his longtime ally, Russian media said Sunday, hours after a stunning rebel advance seized control of Damascus and ended his family’s 50 years of iron rule. Thousands of Syrians poured into streets echoing with celebratory gunfire and waved the revolutionary flag in scenes that recalled the early days of the Arab Spring uprising, before a brutal crackdown and the rise of an insurgency plunged the country into a nearly 14-year civil war. The swiftly moving events raised questions about the future of the country and the wider region. “Our approach has shifted the balance of power in the Middle East," U.S. President Joe Biden said, crediting action by the U.S. and its allies for weakening Syria’s backers — Russia, Iran and Hezbollah. He called the fall of Assad a “fundamental act of justice” but also a “moment of risk and uncertainty,” and said rebel groups are “saying the right things now” but the U.S. would assess their actions. Russia requested an emergency session of the U.N. Security Council to discuss Syria, according to Dmitry Polyansky, its deputy ambassador to the U.N., in a post on Telegram. The arrival of Assad and his family in Moscow was reported by Russian agencies Tass and RIA, citing an unidentified source at the Kremlin. A spokesman there didn't immediately respond to questions. RIA also said Syrian insurgents had guaranteed the security of Russian military bases and diplomatic posts in Syria. Earlier, Russia said Assad left Syria after negotiations with rebel groups and that he had given instructions to transfer power peacefully. The leader of Syria's biggest rebel faction, Abu Mohammed al-Golani, is poised to chart the country’s future. The former al-Qaida commander cut ties with the group years ago and says he embraces pluralism and religious tolerance. His Hayat Tahrir al-Sham group, or HTS, is considered a terrorist organization by the U.S. and the U.N. In his first public appearance since fighters entered the Damascus suburbs Saturday, al-Golani visited the Umayyad Mosque and described Assad's fall as “a victory to the Islamic nation.” Calling himself by his given name, Ahmad al-Sharaa, and not his nom de guerre, he said Assad had made Syria “a farm for Iran’s greed.” The rebels face the daunting task of healing bitter divisions in a country ravaged by war and split among armed factions. Turkey-backed opposition fighters are battling U.S.-allied Kurdish forces in the north, and the Islamic State group is still active in remote areas. Syrian state television broadcast a rebel statement saying Assad had been overthrown and all prisoners had been released. They urged people to preserve the institutions of “the free Syrian state,” and announced a curfew in Damascus from 4 p.m. to 5 a.m. An online video purported to show rebels freeing dozens of women at the notorious Saydnaya prison, where rights groups say thousands were tortured and killed. At least one small child was seen among them. “This happiness will not be completed until I can see my son out of prison and know where is he,” said one relative, Bassam Masr. "I have been searching for him for two hours. He has been detained for 13 years.” Rebel commander Anas Salkhadi appeared on state TV and sought to reassure religious and ethnic minorities, saying: “Syria is for everyone, no exceptions. Syria is for Druze, Sunnis, Alawites, and all sects.” “We will not deal with people the way the Assad family did," he added. Celebrations in the capital Damascus residents prayed in mosques and celebrated in squares, calling, “God is great.” People chanted anti-Assad slogans and honked car horns. Teenage boys picked up weapons apparently discarded by security forces and fired into the air. Soldiers and police fled their posts and looters broke into the Defense Ministry. Families wandered the presidential palace, walking by damaged portraits of Assad. Other parts of the capital were empty and shops were closed. “It’s like a dream. I need someone to wake me up," said opposition fighter Abu Laith, adding the rebels were welcomed in Damascus with “love.” Rebels stood guard at the Justice Ministry, where Judge Khitam Haddad said he and colleagues were protecting documents. Outside, residents sought information about relatives who disappeared under Assad. The rebels “have felt the pain of the people,” said one woman, giving only her first name, Heba. She worried about possible revenge killings by the rebels, many of whom appeared to be underage. Syria’s historically pro-government newspaper al-Watan called it “a new page for Syria. We thank God for not shedding more blood.” It added that media workers should not be blamed for publishing past government statements ordered from above. A statement from the Alawite sect that formed the core of Assad's base called on young Syrians to be “calm, rational and prudent and not to be dragged into what tears apart the unity of our country.” The rebels mainly come from the Sunni Muslim majority in Syria, which also has sizable Druze, Christian and Kurdish communities. In Qamishli in the northeast, a Kurdish man slapped a statue of the late leader Hafez Assad with his shoe. Calls for an orderly transition The rebel advances since Nov. 27 were the largest in recent years, and saw the cities of Aleppo, Hama and Homs fall within days as the Syrian army melted away. The road to Damascus from the Lebanese border was littered with military uniforms and charred armored vehicles. Russia, Iran and Hezbollah, which provided crucial support to Assad, abandoned him as they reeled from other conflicts. The end of Assad’s rule was a major blow to Iran and its proxies, already weakened by conflict with Israel. Iran said Syrians should decide their future “without destructive, coercive, foreign intervention.” The Iranian Embassy in Damascus was ransacked after apparently having been abandoned. Hossein Akbari, Iran’s ambassador to Syria, said it was “effectively impossible” to help the Syrian government after it admitted the insurgents' military superiority. Speaking on Iranian state media from an undisclosed location, he said Syria's government decided Saturday night to hand over power peacefully. “When the army and the people could not resist, it was a good decision to let go to prevent bloodshed and destruction,” Akbari said, adding that some of his colleagues left Syria before sunrise. Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, speaking on state TV, said there were concerns about the “possibility of civil war, disintegration of Syria, total collapse and turning Syria into a shelter for terrorists.” Syrian Prime Minister Mohammed Ghazi Jalali has said the government was ready to “extend its hand” to the opposition and turn its functions over to a transitional government. A video on Syrian opposition media showed armed men escorting him from his office to a hotel. The U.N.’s special envoy for Syria, Geir Pedersen, has called for urgent talks in Geneva to ensure an “orderly political transition.” The Gulf nation of Qatar, a key regional mediator, hosted an emergency meeting of foreign ministers and top officials from eight countries with interests in Syria late Saturday, including Iran, Saudi Arabia, Russia and Turkey. Majed al-Ansari, Qatar’s Foreign Ministry spokesman, said they agreed on the need “to engage all parties on the ground," including the HTS, and that the main concern is “stability and safe transition.” Meanwhile, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israeli troops had seized a buffer zone in the Golan Heights established in 1974, saying it was to protect Israeli residents after Syrian troops abandoned positions. Israel’s military later warned residents of five southern Syria communities to stay home for their safety, and didn’t respond to questions. Israel captured the Golan in the 1967 Mideast war and later annexed it. The international community, except for the U.S., views it as occupied, and the Arab League on Sunday condemned what it called Israel’s efforts to take advantage of Assad’s downfall to occupy more territory. Associated Press writers Bassem Mroue, Kareem Chehayeb in Beirut; Samar Kassaballi, Omar Sanadiki and Ghaith Alsayed in Damascus; Jon Gambrell in Manama, Bahrain; Josef Federman in Doha, Qatar; and Tia Goldenberg in Jerusalem, contributed.