Syrian Regime Bypasses 'Southern Truce'...Reaches Jordanian Border

Children walk past the rubble of damaged buildings in Ein Tarma in the Damascus suburb of Eastern Ghouta, Syria, July 19, 2017.  (photo by REUTERS/Bassam Khabieh)
Children walk past the rubble of damaged buildings in Ein Tarma in the Damascus suburb of Eastern Ghouta, Syria, July 19, 2017. (photo by REUTERS/Bassam Khabieh)
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Syrian Regime Bypasses 'Southern Truce'...Reaches Jordanian Border

Children walk past the rubble of damaged buildings in Ein Tarma in the Damascus suburb of Eastern Ghouta, Syria, July 19, 2017.  (photo by REUTERS/Bassam Khabieh)
Children walk past the rubble of damaged buildings in Ein Tarma in the Damascus suburb of Eastern Ghouta, Syria, July 19, 2017. (photo by REUTERS/Bassam Khabieh)

Beirut- Syrian regime forces and their allies managed to capture on Thursday areas at the borders of Souweida province with Jordan, a movement considered as bypassing the west southern truce signed under a US-Russian-Jordanian patronage, including the countryside of Deraa.

“The Syrian regime-linked Team 15 in addition to Iran’s Revolutionary Guards and members of Lebanon’s Hezbollah have already reached the Syrian-Jordanian borders and controlled the areas of Bi’r Saboun-Tal Assada, reaching the entire Abu Sharshouh border crossing and border posts,” the German news agency quoted sources in the countryside of Souweida as saying.

Also, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said on Thursday that the advancement made by the Syrian regime forces and their allies has ended the presence of opposition factions at the Syrian-Jordanian border, inside the administrative borders of the Souweida province.

According to the Observatory, “With this advancement, the factions are now left with no external access in east and southeast of Syria, except for a border strip on the southeast border of the Damascus countryside with Jordan, in addition to a border strip with Iraq extending over the provinces of Damascus countryside and Homs, which includes al-Tanf border crossing between Syria and Iraq.”

Meanwhile, regime forces intensified their attacks on the Jobar neighborhood in Damascus and other areas in the Ghouta area using surface-to-surface missiles despite an agreement ratified last month in Cairo under an Egyptian-Russian brokerage to involve the city of Deraa.

The Observatory also spoke about regime forces airstrikes in the areas of al-Manasher, Zhahab, Taldo and Kfarlaha in addition to other areas in the Houla region.

“Warplanes targeted at least two villages in the Houla area causing material damage, without information about casualties, in the first such strike on the northern countryside of Homs since the Egyptian-Russian truce was put in effect last Aug. 3.”

Meanwhile, opposition-linked websites reported that several civilians were killed by the intensified regime forces shelling on the region of Houla in the countryside of north Homs, despite an announced truce in the area.



Auction House to Sell Gene Hackman’s Golden Globes, Watch and Paintings He Collected and Created 

Gene Hackman accepts his Oscar for best actor at the 44th Academy Awards in Los Angeles, April 10, 1972. (AP) 
Gene Hackman accepts his Oscar for best actor at the 44th Academy Awards in Los Angeles, April 10, 1972. (AP) 
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Auction House to Sell Gene Hackman’s Golden Globes, Watch and Paintings He Collected and Created 

Gene Hackman accepts his Oscar for best actor at the 44th Academy Awards in Los Angeles, April 10, 1972. (AP) 
Gene Hackman accepts his Oscar for best actor at the 44th Academy Awards in Los Angeles, April 10, 1972. (AP) 

An auction house plans to sell off a variety of actor Gene Hackman’s possessions in November, including Golden Globe statues, a wristwatch and paintings he collected and created himself.

Hackman died at age 95 at his home in Santa Fe, New Mexico, after transitioning from an Oscar-winning career in film to a life in retirement of painting, writing novels and collecting.

Auction items include a still-life painting of a Japanese vase by Hackman and Golden Globe awards from roles in “Unforgiven” and “The Royal Tenenbaums.” There are annotated books from Hackman's library, scripts, posters, movie memorabilia and high-brow art including a bronze statue by Auguste Rodin and a 1957 oil painting from modernist Milton Avery.

Anna Hicks of Bonhams international auction house said the sales “offer an intimate portrait of Hackman’s private world.”

Listings start as low as $100 for Hackman's everyman Winmau dart board or $600 for a shot at his Seiko diver's wristwatch.

The catalog includes a likeness of Hackman from portrait artist Everett Raymond Kinstler, who painted US presidents and drew for comic books.

Hackman and his wife, Betsy Arakawa, were found dead inside their home on Feb. 26, sending shock waves through a high-desert city refuge for famous actors and authors seeking to escape the spotlight.

Authorities determined that Hackman died of heart disease with complications from Alzheimer’s disease about a week after Arakawa, 65, died of hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, a rare but potentially fatal disease spread by the droppings of infected rodents.

Hackman made his film debut in 1961's “Mad Dog Coll” and went on to appear in a range of movie roles, including as “Superman” villain Lex Luthor and as a basketball coach finding redemption in the sentimental favorite “Hoosiers.” He was a five-time Oscar nominee who won best actor in a leading role for “The French Connection” in 1972 and best actor in a supporting role for “Unforgiven” two decades later.

He retired from acting in the early 2000s.


Haaland Scores Again but Gonzalez Injured in Man City’s Win in Champions League 

Manchester's head coach Pep Guardiola (R) and striker Erling Haaland (L) react at the end of the UEFA Champions League match between Villarreal CF and Manchester City at the La Ceramica stadium in Villarreal, Spain, 21 October 2025. (EPA)
Manchester's head coach Pep Guardiola (R) and striker Erling Haaland (L) react at the end of the UEFA Champions League match between Villarreal CF and Manchester City at the La Ceramica stadium in Villarreal, Spain, 21 October 2025. (EPA)
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Haaland Scores Again but Gonzalez Injured in Man City’s Win in Champions League 

Manchester's head coach Pep Guardiola (R) and striker Erling Haaland (L) react at the end of the UEFA Champions League match between Villarreal CF and Manchester City at the La Ceramica stadium in Villarreal, Spain, 21 October 2025. (EPA)
Manchester's head coach Pep Guardiola (R) and striker Erling Haaland (L) react at the end of the UEFA Champions League match between Villarreal CF and Manchester City at the La Ceramica stadium in Villarreal, Spain, 21 October 2025. (EPA)

Another goal for Erling Haaland. Another midfield injury for Pep Guardiola.

Some things never change for Manchester City.

A 2-0 away win over Villarreal in the Champions League on Tuesday proved to be bittersweet for Guardiola, who saw prolific striker Haaland score his 24th goal in 14 games for club and country this season.

The Norway international now has 53 goals in 51 career games in the Champions League and has scored in nine straight games for City in all competitions. Haaland has already said he is in the form of his life.

“He's impossible to defend,” City midfielder Rico Lewis said.

However, a second win in three matches in the competition's expanded league stage came at a cost, with holding midfielder Nico Gonzalez hobbling off with an apparent right knee injury early in the second half.

Gonzalez has been filling in for fellow Spaniard Rodri, who is currently sidelined by a hamstring injury after missing most of last season with ACL damage.

Mateo Kovacic came on as a substitute for Gonzalez in the 56th minute, having only recently returned from an Achilles injury that led to the Croatia midfielder being sidelined for the last five months.

Bernardo Silva also scored for City, whose unbeaten run in all competitions stretched to nine games.

Guardiola's team also ended a run of five away games without a win in the Champions League.

Next up is a trip to Aston Villa on Sunday, when Haaland will look to score for the seventh straight Premier League game.


Arteta Praise for Gyokeres as Arsenal Striker Ends Goal Drought 

Viktor Gyokeres of Arsenal greets the fans during the UEFA Champions League league phase match between Arsenal FC and Atletico Madrid, in London, Britain, 21 October 2025. (EPA)
Viktor Gyokeres of Arsenal greets the fans during the UEFA Champions League league phase match between Arsenal FC and Atletico Madrid, in London, Britain, 21 October 2025. (EPA)
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Arteta Praise for Gyokeres as Arsenal Striker Ends Goal Drought 

Viktor Gyokeres of Arsenal greets the fans during the UEFA Champions League league phase match between Arsenal FC and Atletico Madrid, in London, Britain, 21 October 2025. (EPA)
Viktor Gyokeres of Arsenal greets the fans during the UEFA Champions League league phase match between Arsenal FC and Atletico Madrid, in London, Britain, 21 October 2025. (EPA)

One of the few clouds hanging over Arsenal this season has been the lack of goals from the big-money center forward Viktor Gyokeres but he erased some doubts with a timely return to form by scoring twice in a 4-0 defeat of Atletico Madrid on Tuesday.

Gyokeres, who Arsenal signed for 64 million pounds ($85.89 million) from Sporting, poached his side's third and fourth goals to end a nine-game streak without netting for club and country.

The Swede was all smiles as he was substituted late on and manager Mikel Arteta said the 27-year-old fully deserved the ovation he received from the Arsenal fans.

"I think he deserved it because everything that we were seeing in terms of what he was bringing to the team and how much he was helping the team in many areas, apart from scoring goals in the last few weeks," Arteta told reporters.

"There was no debate about that. It was about keeping that belief in himself, that emotional state that he can enjoy and play freely. I look at his teammates as well, in the picture and the video, they are all so happy for him."

His opening goal was a messy affair as his weak shot dribbled into the net via a deflection while his second came from yet another Arsenal set piece with Gabriel heading a corner into the path of the Sweden international.

"He makes us a much better team. I think we've become much more unpredictable. He's so physical, the way he presses the ball, holds the ball, that's phenomenal," Arteta said.

"He's scored two very different ones today, and hopefully he starts to get some momentum and a good run of goals."

Gyokeres now has five for the season, including three in the Premier League, and was clearly relieved to be back on target.

"(It's reward) for the team, but of course, me as well," he said of the win that maintained Arsenal's 100% start in the Champions League. "I do my best all the time, work hard and contribute with different stuff. It'll come sooner or later."