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A recent survey conducted by the Pew Research Center has shed light on the shifting social media landscape among teenagers, with nearly half of them reporting being online almost constantly. Teens are moving away from X/Twitter and Facebook as they continue to embrace China’s TikTok as their platform of choice. The Pew Research Center’s latest survey , which involved nearly 1,400 teens aged 13 to 17, has revealed some interesting trends in social media usage among the younger generation. The most striking finding is that almost half of the participants reported being online almost constantly, a significant increase from just a quarter five years ago. This trend highlights the growing concern among parents and experts about the potential impact of excessive internet use on teenagers. Despite the overall increase in internet usage, the survey also showed that traditional social media platforms are losing their appeal among teens. YouTube, which remains the most popular platform, saw a decline in its user base from 95 percent in 2022 to 90 percent this year. However, it still maintains a strong lead over other platforms, with TikTok coming in second at 63 percent. Interestingly, the survey revealed a gender divide in platform preferences. Teen girls are more likely to use TikTok almost constantly, while boys tend to favor YouTube. This difference in usage patterns may be attributed to the distinct content and features offered by each platform, catering to the varying interests and preferences of the two genders. Instagram, which ranks third in popularity among teens at 61 percent, has seen a slight increase in its user share compared to last year. Snapchat follows closely behind, with 55 percent of teens using the platform. However, the once-dominant Facebook has been steadily losing its teenage user base over the years. In 2014-2015, 71 percent of teens reported using Facebook, but the platform has now been labeled as an app for “old people,” resulting in a significant exodus of younger users. Despite this, Facebook has managed to maintain its 32 percent share of teen users for the past two years. WhatsApp, another Meta-owned platform, has experienced a notable increase in popularity among teens, rising from 17 percent in 2022 to 23 percent this year. This growth suggests that large group chats and messaging services are starting to replace traditional social media as the preferred means of communication for teenagers. On the other hand, X (formerly known as Twitter) has been rapidly losing its teen user base. A decade ago, when it was still called Twitter, the platform was used by 33 percent of teenagers. However, its popularity has now declined to just 17 percent, with a five percent drop in the last two years alone. The survey also revealed that 95 percent of teenagers own a smartphone, while 88 percent have access to a desktop or laptop computer at home. These figures underscore the ubiquity of digital devices in the lives of young people and the importance of addressing the potential risks associated with excessive screen time and online activity. Lucas Nolan is a reporter for Breitbart News covering issues of free speech and online censorship.
Trump asks Supreme Court to delay TikTok ban so he can weigh in after he takes officeA 9th telecoms firm has been hit by a massive Chinese espionage campaign, the White House saysReverend Richard Coles left gagging as he struggles to swallow a fish eye alongside Tulisa in I’m A Celeb trial
Auto-crash claims 13 lives, injures one in OndoBut the City boss has vowed to stay on and lift the club back to the top even if they are sent all the way down to the National League. Guardiola ended speculation over his immediate future this week by extending his contract, which had been due to expire at the end of the season, through to the summer of 2027. That has given the club some stability at a time of great uncertainty as they fight 115 charges related to alleged breaches of the Premier League’s financial regulations. City have denied all wrongdoing but their punishment if found guilty could be severe, with demotion even a possibility. Guardiola has strongly defended the club in the past and is happy to continue doing so. The Spaniard said: “I don’t enjoy it, I prefer not to be in that position, but once it’s there I love it because, when you believe in your club, and the people there – I believe what they say to me and the reasons why. “I cannot say yet because we’re awaiting the sentence in February or March – I don’t know when – but at the same time, I like it. “I read something about the situation and how you need to be relegated immediately. Seventy-five per cent of the clubs want it, because I know what they do behind the scenes and this sort of stuff. “I said when all the clubs accused us of doing something wrong, (and people asked) what happens if we are relegated, (I said) I will be here. “Next year, I don’t know the position of the Conference they are going to (put) us, (but) we are going to come up and come up and come back to the Premier League. I knew it then and I feel it now.” The immediate priority for Guardiola, who said his contract negotiations were completed in “just two hours”, is to arrest a run of four successive defeats in all competitions. Yet, ahead of their return to action against Tottenham at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday, the champions continue to grapple with a lengthy injury list. Mateo Kovacic is their latest casualty after sustaining a knock on international duty that could keep him out for up to a month. On the positive side, defenders Nathan Ake, John Stones and Manuel Akanji could feature and Jack Grealish is also closing in on a return after a month out. Much to Guardiola’s frustration, Grealish was called up by England for their recent Nations League games, although he later withdrew. Guardiola said: “I want the best for Jack and I want the best for Jack with the national team but the doctor said to me that he was not ready to play. “I know (England) want him but they have 200 players to select from and Jack was not fit. He had to recover from many things.” Kyle Walker played for England against both Greece and the Republic of Ireland despite limited game time since suffering injury in the October international break. Guardiola said: “If he is fit I like him to play in the national team. It is not a problem, don’t misunderstand me. “Kyle has a dream to make 100 caps for the national team. Do I want to cancel this dream? Absolutely not. “But if you are not fit, if you cannot play here, you cannot play for the national team. It is quite obvious.”
Clinical and regulatory success in 2024 expected to drive value in 2025 CRANFORD, N.J. , Dec. 27, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Citius Pharmaceuticals, Inc. ("Citius Pharma" or the "Company") (Nasdaq: CTXR), a biopharmaceutical company dedicated to the development and commercialization of first-in-class critical care products today reported business and financial results for the fiscal full year ended September 30, 2024 . Fiscal Full Year 2024 Business Highlights and Subsequent Developments Achieved U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval of LYMPHIRTM (denileukin diftitox-cxdl), an immunotherapy for the treatment of adults with relapsed or refractory cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL); Advanced manufacturing, marketing and sales activities in preparation for commercial launch of LYMPHIR in the first half of 2025; Completed the merger of Citius Pharma's oncology subsidiary with TenX Keane to form Citius Oncology, Inc., a standalone publicly traded company which began trading on the Nasdaq exchange under the ticker symbol CTOR on August 13, 2024 ; Supported two investigator-initiated trials to explore LYMPHIR's potential as an immuno-oncology combination therapy being conducted at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center and the University of Minnesota ; Shared interim trial results with the clinical community at the Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer Conference (SITC) of University of Pittsburgh Medical Center's Phase I trial of LYMPHIR with checkpoint inhibitor pembrolizumab; and, Met primary and secondary endpoints in the Phase 3 Pivotal Trial of Mino-Lok ® , demonstrating a statistically significant improvement in time to catheter failure of infected catheters compared to other physician-selected anti-infective lock solutions. Financial Highlights Cash and cash equivalents of $3.3 million as of September 30, 2024 ; R&D expenses were $11.9 million for the full year ended September 30, 2024 , compared to $14.8 million for the full year ended September 30, 2023 ; G&A expenses were $18.2 million for the full year ended September 30, 2024 , compared to $15.3 million for the full year ended September 30, 2023 ; Stock-based compensation expense was $11.8 million for the full year ended September 30, 2024 , compared to $6.6 million for the full year ended September 30, 2023 ; and, Net loss was $39.4 million , or ($5.97) per share for the full year ended September 30, 2024 compared to a net loss of $32.5 million , or ($5.57) per share for the full year ended September 30, 2023 . "In fiscal year 2024 we drove tremendous progress in our pipeline. It was a transformative year, marked by our first FDA approval and significant clinical milestones. The approval of LYMPHIRTM and the positive Phase 3 results for Mino-Lok® underscore our commitment to developing innovative therapies. Our team successfully responded to FDA comments related to the biologics license application for LYMPHIR and ultimately gained FDA approval. Productive engagement with the FDA regarding the positive results of our Phase 3 Mino-Lok® trial and Phase 2 Halo-Lido trial clarified our next steps for both programs. We anticipate continued engagement with the agency in the coming year and look forward to their guidance. Additionally, we are exploring strategic partnerships and licensing opportunities to maximize the potential of our portfolio and bring these important therapies to market efficiently," stated Leonard Mazur , Chairman and CEO of Citius Pharma. "Looking ahead, our priorities for fiscal year 2025 include launching LYMPHIRTM through our majority-owned subsidiary, Citius Oncology, driving the clinical and regulatory strategies for Mino-Lok® and Halo-Lido, fortifying our financial position, and applying a disciplined approach to resource allocation. We expect to launch LYMPHIR in the first half of 2025 and distribute CTOR shares to Citius Pharma shareholders by the end of the year, pending favorable market conditions. Our goal remains to deliver value for patients, healthcare providers, and shareholders. With a clear vision and a strong team, we are well-positioned to execute on our mission of bringing innovative therapies to market," added Mazur. FULL YEAR 2024 FINANCIAL RESULTS: Liquidity As of September 30, 2024 , the Company had $3.3 million in cash and cash equivalents. As of September 30, 2024 , the Company had 7,247,243 common shares outstanding, as adjusted for the 1-for-25 reverse stock split of the Company's common stock, effected on November 25, 2024 . During the year ended September 30, 2024 , the Company received net proceeds of $13.8 million from the issuance of equity. The Company expects to raise additional capital to support operations. Research and Development (R&D) Expenses R&D expenses were $11.9 million for the full year ended September 30, 2024 , compared to $14.8 million for the full year ended September 30, 2023 . The decrease in R&D expenses primarily reflects the completion of the Halo-Lido trial and completion of activities related to the regulatory resubmission for LYMPHIR, offset by shutdown costs associated with the end of the Phase 3 trial for Mino-Lok. We expect research and development expenses to decrease in fiscal year 2025 as we continue to focus on the commercialization of LYMPHIR through our majority-owned subsidiary, Citius Oncology and because we have completed the Phase 3 trial for Mino-Lok. General and Administrative (G&A) Expenses G&A expenses were $18.2 million for the full year ended September 30, 2024 , compared to $15.3 million for the full year ended September 30, 2023 . The increase was primarily due to costs associated with pre-launch and market research activities associated with LYMPHIR. General and administrative expenses consist primarily of compensation costs, professional fees for legal, regulatory, accounting and corporate development services, and investor relations expenses. Stock-based Compensation Expense For the full year ended September 30, 2024 , stock-based compensation expense was $11.8 million as compared to $6.6 million for the prior year. The increase of $5.2 million is largely due to the grant of options under the Citius Oncology stock plan. Stock-based compensation expense under the Citius Oncology stock plan was $7.5 million during the year ended September 30, 2024 , compared to $2.0 million for the year ended September 30, 2023 , as the plan was initiated in July 2023 . For the years ended September 30, 2024 and 2023, stock-based compensation expense also includes $47,547 and $130,382 , respectively, for the NoveCite stock option plan. In fiscal years 2023 and 2024, we granted options to our new employees and additional options to other employees, our directors, and consultants. Net loss Net loss was $39.4 million , or ($5.97) per share for the year ended September 30, 2024 , compared to a net loss of $32.5 million , or ($5.57) per share for the year ended September 30, 2023 , as adjusted for the reverse stock split. The increase in net loss reflects an increase in operating expense of $5.3 million offset by a decrease of $1.6 million in other income. Operating expense increased due to increases in stock-based compensation and general and administrative expenses, which were offset by decreased research and development expense. About Citius Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Citius Pharma is a biopharmaceutical company dedicated to the development and commercialization of first-in-class critical care products. In August 2024 , the FDA approved LYMPHIRTM, a targeted immunotherapy for an initial indication in the treatment of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma. Citius Pharma's late-stage pipeline also includes Mino-Lok®, an antibiotic lock solution to salvage catheters in patients with catheter-related bloodstream infections, and CITI-002 (Halo-Lido), a topical formulation for the relief of hemorrhoids. A Pivotal Phase 3 Trial for Mino-Lok and a Phase 2b trial for Halo-Lido were completed in 2023. Mino-Lok met primary and secondary endpoints of its Phase 3 Trial. Citius Pharma is actively engaged with the FDA to outline next steps for both programs. For more information, please visit www.citiuspharma.com . Forward-Looking Statements This press release may contain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Such statements are made based on our expectations and beliefs concerning future events impacting Citius Pharma. You can identify these statements by the fact that they use words such as "will," "anticipate," "estimate," "expect," "plan," "should," and "may" and other words and terms of similar meaning or use of future dates. Forward-looking statements are based on management's current expectations and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could negatively affect our business, operating results, financial condition and stock price. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those currently anticipated, and, unless noted otherwise, that apply to Citius Pharma are: our ability to raise additional money to fund our operations for at least the next 12 months as a going concern; our ability to commercialize LYMPHIR through our majority-owned subisity and any of our other product candidates that may be approved by the FDA; the estimated markets for our product candidates and the acceptance thereof by any market; the ability of our product candidates to impact the quality of life of our target patient populations; risks related to research using our assets but conducted by third parties; risks relating to the results of research and development activities, including those from our existing and any new pipeline assets; our ability to maintain compliance with Nasdaq's continued listing standards; our dependence on third-party suppliers; our ability to procure cGMP commercial-scale supply; our ability to obtain, perform under and maintain financing and strategic agreements and relationships; uncertainties relating to preclinical and clinical testing; the early stage of products under development; market and other conditions; risks related to our growth strategy; patent and intellectual property matters; our ability to identify, acquire, close and integrate product candidates and companies successfully and on a timely basis; government regulation; competition; as well as other risks described in our Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") filings. These risks have been and may be further impacted by any future public health risks. Accordingly, these forward-looking statements do not constitute guarantees of future performance, and you are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. Risks regarding our business are described in detail in our SEC filings which are available on the SEC's website at www.sec.gov , including in Citius Pharma's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 2024 , filed with the SEC on December 27, 2024 , as updated by our subsequent filings with the SEC. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date hereof, and we expressly disclaim any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect any change in our expectations or any changes in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based, except as required by law. Investor Contact: Ilanit Allen ir@citiuspharma.com 908-967-6677 x113 Media Contact: STiR-communications Greg Salsburg Greg@STiR-communications.com -- Financial Tables Follow – CITIUS PHARMACEUTICALS, INC. CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS SEPTEMBER 30, 2024 AND 2023 2024 2023 ASSETS Current Assets: Cash and cash equivalents $ 3,251,880 $ 26,480,928 Inventory 8,268,766 — Prepaid expenses 2,700,000 7,889,506 Total Current Assets 14,220,646 34,370,434 Property and equipment, net — 1,432 Operating lease right-of-use asset, net 246,247 454,426 Other Assets: Deposits 38,062 38,062 In-process research and development 92,800,000 59,400,000 Goodwill 9,346,796 9,346,796 Total Other Assets 102,184,858 68,784,858 Total Assets $ 116,651,751 $ 103,611,150 LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY Current Liabilities: Accounts payable $ 4,927,211 $ 2,927,334 License payable 28,400,000 — Accrued expenses 17,027 476,300 Accrued compensation 2,229,018 2,156,983 Operating lease liability 241,547 218,380 Total Current Liabilities 35,814,803 5,778,997 Deferred tax liability 6,713,800 6,137,800 Operating lease liability – non current 21,318 262,865 Total Liabilities 42,549,921 12,179,662 Commitments and Contingencies Stockholders' Equity: Preferred stock - $0.001 par value; 10,000,000 shares authorized; no shares issued and outstanding — — Common stock - $0.001 par value; 16,000,000 shares authorized; 7,247,243 and 6,354,371 shares issued and outstanding at September 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively 7,247 6,354 Additional paid-in capital 271,440,421 253,056,133 Accumulated deficit (201,370,218) (162,231,379) Total Citius Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Stockholders' Equity 70,077,450 90,831,108 Non-controlling interest 4,024,380 600,380 Total Equity 74,101,830 91,431,488 Total Liabilities and Equity $ 116,651,751 $ 103,611,150 Reflects a 1-for-25 reverse stock split effective November 25, 2024. CITIUS PHARMACEUTICALS, INC. CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS FOR THE YEARS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2024 AND 2023 2024 2023 Revenues $ — $ — Operating Expenses: Research and development 11,906,601 14,819,729 General and administrative 18,249,402 15,295,584 Stock-based compensation – general and administrative 11,839,678 6,616,705 Total Operating Expenses 41,995,681 36,732,018 Operating Loss (41,995,681) (36,732,018) Other Income: Interest income, net 758,000 1,179,417 Gain on sale of New Jersey net operating losses 2,387,842 3,585,689 Total Other Income Net 3,145,842 4,765,106 Loss before Income Taxes (38,849,839) (31,966,912) Income tax expense 576,000 576,000 Net Loss (39,425,839) (32,542,912) Net loss attributable to non-controlling interest 287,000 - Deemed dividend on warrant extension (1,047,312) (1,151,208) Net Loss Applicable to Common Stockholders $ (40,186,151) (33,694,120) Net Loss Per Share Applicable to Common Stockholders - Basic and Diluted $ (5.97) (5.57) Weighted Average Common Shares Outstanding
The Columbus Blue Jackets have traded polarizing defenseman David Jiricek to the Minnesota Wild in a big trade on Saturday afternoon. It was a big shakeup on Saturday as David Jiricek found himself traded to the Minnesota Wild for a package that includes Daemon Hunt, and several draft picks. The trade was announced by Elliotte Friedman on X who often breaks this deals. This was later confirmed as Jiricek was sent to Minnesota shortly after. It was a much needed trade for both teams, as Jiricek was having trouble finding a spot in Columbus meanwhile Minnesota gets a chance to upgrade their defense with a young prospect who could break out in a big way. Full Details of Blue Jackets-Wild Trade Minnesota Receives: (D) David Jiricek 2025 5th Round Pick Columbus Receives: (D) Daemon Hunt 2025 1st Round Pick 2027 2nd Round Pick 2027 4th Round Pick Who is David Jiricek Jiricek is a 22 year old defenseman who was drafted 6th overall by the Blue Jackets in 2022. He has yet to find a spot on the team and has been subject of trade talks for a little while. The Czech defenseman still has a lot of time to break out and he was not getting the chance with Columbus. Only averaging 11:12 TOI this season, Jiricek has been playing nearly three minutes less than his career average. A decent defender with great vision and standing 6'4, Jiricek is an interesting prospect for GM Bill Guerin to see if they can resurrect his career and bring him the success Columbus couldn't. Jiricek has 11 points in 53 career games with just 1 assist this season. Who is Daemon Hunt? Hunt, a 6'1 offensive defenseman was drafted in the 3rd round by Minnesota in 2020. He is the same age as Jiricek and the potential to add a better playmaker and defensively sound defenseman. He's only got 13 games under his NHL belt but has one assist so far, and was a standout for the Iowa Wild, and had 29 points a season ago. Hunt will give GM Don Waddell a new piece to try and build around, as the Jiricek experiment failed and he wanted to see if he could find a potential suitor for Jiricek down the line. Columbus also receives Minnesota's first-round pick, so they could ideally keep that to draft their next potential piece or be able to flip that if Waddell wants to bring aboard an NHL-ready talent. This article first appeared on Hockey Patrol and was syndicated with permission.Gyre Therapeutics, Inc. ( NASDAQ:GYRE – Get Free Report ) saw unusually-high trading volume on Thursday . Approximately 28,842 shares changed hands during mid-day trading, a decline of 61% from the previous session’s volume of 74,771 shares.The stock last traded at $12.35 and had previously closed at $11.90. Gyre Therapeutics Stock Down 5.2 % The stock has a 50 day simple moving average of $12.71 and a 200-day simple moving average of $12.63. Institutional Investors Weigh In On Gyre Therapeutics Institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. FMR LLC bought a new position in shares of Gyre Therapeutics during the third quarter worth $47,000. Barclays PLC lifted its stake in Gyre Therapeutics by 281.8% in the 3rd quarter. Barclays PLC now owns 9,288 shares of the company’s stock worth $116,000 after purchasing an additional 6,855 shares in the last quarter. State Street Corp boosted its holdings in shares of Gyre Therapeutics by 8.8% during the 3rd quarter. State Street Corp now owns 104,490 shares of the company’s stock valued at $1,310,000 after purchasing an additional 8,412 shares during the last quarter. Rhumbline Advisers purchased a new position in shares of Gyre Therapeutics during the second quarter valued at about $123,000. Finally, Renaissance Technologies LLC bought a new stake in shares of Gyre Therapeutics in the second quarter worth about $166,000. 23.99% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Gyre Therapeutics Company Profile Gyre Therapeutics, Inc, a biopharmaceutical company, primarily focuses on the development and commercialization of Hydronidone for the treatment of Metabolic Dysfunction Associated Steatohepatitis in the United States. Its Hydronidone is also being evaluated for the treatment of liver fibrosis across a spectrum of chronic liver diseases. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Gyre Therapeutics Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Gyre Therapeutics and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .
Imphal, Dec 28 (PTI) Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh on Saturday said the case of 56-year-old Laishram Kamalbabu, who allegedly went missing from the Army camp at Leimakhong on November 25, would be handed over to the CBI. The decision was taken following a meeting of the state cabinet, he said. "Chaired a cabinet meeting at the cabinet hall of my secretariat to deliberate on the means to address the pressing concerns and prevailing situation in the state," he said in a post on X. "The case of Laishram Kamalbabu who had gone missing from the Leimakhong Army camp, will be handed over to the CBI," he added. Kamalbabu, a native of Assam's Cachar district who lived in Khukrul in Imphal West, was a works supervisor for a contractor working with the Military Engineering Services (MES) in Leimakhong Military Station of the 57th Mountain Division, according to the Army. Police had earlier said that over 2,000 security personnel were deployed to search for Kamalbabu, who belongs to the Metei community. Amid protests over his disappearance, state Social Welfare Minister Heikham Dingo had said that all documents related to Kamalbabu were sent to the Prime Minister's Office as well as the offices of Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Home Minister Amit Shah. Meanwhile, the CM said the cabinet also decided that the national flag will be flown at half-mast till January 1 to mourn the death of former PM Manmohan Singh. (This story has not been edited by THE WEEK and is auto-generated from PTI)After more than 50 years of unbroken rule, the Assad family’s grip on power in Syria has come to a dramatic end. Rebel forces, led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), have breached the heart of the Assad regime in Damascus, forcing President Bashar al-Assad to flee and effectively ending the Alawite dynasty’s reign over Syria. A Legacy of PowerThe Assad family's rule began with Hafez al-Assad, who seized control in a 1970 coup. His ascent came amid political instability, marked by a series of failed coups in post-independence Syria. As a member of the Alawite minority, Hafez capitalised on sectarian divisions to consolidate power, making the Alawite community the bedrock of his regime. His rule would be characterised by a ruthless divide-and-rule strategy, placing Alawites in key military and government positions and securing a loyal power base that would ensure the family’s dominance for decades. Hafez's brutal suppression of the Muslim Brotherhood in Hama in 1982 – which saw tens of thousands of deaths – set the tone for his leadership, leaving behind a regime known for its violent crackdowns on dissent. Succession and the Rise of Bashar al-AssadWhen Hafez al-Assad died in 2000, the country expected a period of reform under his son, Bashar al-Assad. Initially hailed as a moderniser, Bashar was groomed for leadership after the death of his older brother Bassel in 1994. His early years in power brought optimism for political and economic reform. However, the hopes of a more open Syria quickly faded as Bashar inherited his father’s authoritarian structures, including a tightly controlled political system and a powerful network of loyalists in the military and intelligence services. Bashar’s inner circle, including his brother Maher and cousin Rami Makhlouf, consolidated vast economic and political power, leading to widespread corruption and growing discontent. By the time the Arab Spring reached Syria in 2011, Bashar’s regime was already struggling with economic mismanagement, poverty, and a growing wealth gap. The regime's violent response to peaceful protests escalated into a full-scale civil war. The Civil War and Assad’s EndgameThe Syrian civil war, which began as peaceful demonstrations in 2011, rapidly devolved into a brutal conflict after Assad’s security forces opened fire on unarmed protesters. This crackdown, which sparked nationwide unrest, was met with military resistance from various rebel factions, and the regime's forces, backed by Russia and Iran, fought to hold on to key areas. Over the years, the conflict has claimed hundreds of thousands of lives and displaced millions. Despite initial optimism that Bashar could bring change, his regime remained entrenched in violence and corruption. The rise of extremist groups such as ISIS, as well as foreign intervention from powers like the US, Russia, and Turkey, complicated the war and prolonged the suffering of the Syrian people. By 2024, a renewed offensive led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) – a faction once linked to al-Qaeda – has dealt a decisive blow to Assad’s rule. HTS, under the leadership of Abu Mohammed al-Jolani, has managed to capture key cities, including Aleppo and Homs, before advancing into Damascus. The regime’s collapse became inevitable as rebel forces finally breached the capital. A Fragile FutureThe Assad family's exit from Syria marks the end of an era, but questions remain about the country’s future. The leadership of HTS, despite its attempts to shed its extremist image, raises concerns about Syria’s stability. The group’s past ties to al-Qaeda and its authoritarian style of governance have sparked fears of further conflict and repression. The fall of the Assad regime has reverberated across the Middle East, signalling the diminishing influence of Russia and Iran, which had supported the regime. Russia’s military focus has been diverted by the war in Ukraine, while Iran’s regional ambitions have been impacted by the weakening of its Syrian ally. The collapse also opens up new power dynamics in the region, particularly in the contest for influence between Israel, Turkey, and Saudi Arabia. As the conflict shifts into a new phase, millions of displaced Syrians, both within the country and abroad, face an uncertain future. The end of the Assad dynasty marks a new chapter in Syria’s turbulent history, but it is far from clear what lies ahead for the war-torn nation. Get Latest News Live on Times Now along with Breaking News and Top Headlines from Middle East, World and around the world.
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