Very intense clashes between Syrian rebels and Assad regime forces in Hama city now.

Meanwhile South China Sea: Chinese sailors continue to harass Filipinos.

NOW: Heavy clashes in Hama.

#BREAKING Syrian opposition forces have entered Arbain neighborhood in central Hama.

#BREAKING French government lost the no-confidence motion, the government has collapsed.

Russian Su-25 attack aircraft strikes in northern Hama with rockets in a dive attack.

Given that Syrian opposition forces have now more advanced capabilities than MANPADS, it appears that Russians are taking risks.

Hama front: Al-Mazarib, Al-Sawaiq, and Al-Erbain neighborhoods in Hama have officially been secured by Syrian opposition forces.

Syrian regime deploys traffic police to defend Hama as Rebel forces advance into the city.

NEW: Internet networks are now down in Hama city.

#BREAKING: Syrian rebels reportedly capture Mount Zain al-Abidin, overlooking Hama city.

Syrian rebel night armed drone strike targets a large group of Assad forces gathering.

Explosions heard in Tartus as Russian warships in the port launch missile strikes on targets in Syria.

NEW: The "Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Treaty" agreed by the leaders of North Korea and Russia in June came into force on yesterday with the exchange of "ratification instruments" in Moscow, the North's KCNA news agency reported.

It "will serve as a strong driving force accelerating the establishment of independent and just multi-polarized world order without domination, subjugation and hegemony," KCNA said.

Source: Reuters

NEW: French government collapse raises questions over Ukraine support

The fall of France's government on Wednesday and the failure to pass a budget could make it difficult for Paris to ramp up its support for Ukraine despite President Emmanuel Macron's repeated promises to help Kyiv for as long as necessary.

France in November completed the training of some 2,000 Ukrainians, including providing armoured vehicles for troop movements and reconnaissance, Caesar howitzers, anti-tank missile units, surface-to-air missiles and battlefield radars.

However, Defence Minister Sebastien Lecornu, a potential future prime minister, already said in October that France would fall short of a 3 billion euro ($3.16 billion) pledge for 2024 with the figure being above 2 billion euros.

Source: Reuters

NEW: China’s shift to local chips gains momentum from latest US export controls

Four government-backed industry associations, representing the bulk of China’s semiconductor demand, issued coordinated statements this week urging member companies to rethink purchases of American silicon that three of them deemed as “no longer safe or reliable”.

“Be cautious when purchasing US chips,” the four associations said, urging their members to look for Chinese or other foreign suppliers instead.

The directives came amid the latest tit-for-tat salvo between Beijing and Washington over the foundational technology, an exchange that has laid bare their intensifying competition and added momentum to the development of increasingly separate international supply chains.

Source: FT

Russian Chief of General Staff Valery Gerasimov called U.S. Army Chief Charles Brown on November 27 after Russia’s Oreshnik MRBM strike on Dnipro.

According to Brown’s spokesperson, the call, initiated by Russia, came with a request not to announce it beforehand.

Gerasimov claimed Oreshnik strike was planned well before the U.S. approved Ukraine’s use of long-range weapons against Russia.

Source: NYT

NEW: Ukraine opens talks with Trump team on halting war with Russia

Ukrainian officials are engaging in high-level talks with the incoming Trump administration to address differences in achieving a settlement for the war with Russia. Andriy Yermak, a top adviser to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, met with key Trump aides, including Keith Kellogg (special envoy for Russia and Ukraine), Mike Waltz (incoming national security adviser), and vice president-elect JD Vance.

The Trump team, while supportive of continuing Biden's policy of rushing weapons to Ukraine to strengthen leverage over Moscow, has shown little interest in Ukraine's NATO membership, which Zelensky considers critical for security. Yermak is building ties with Trump's team and met with Susie Wiles, the incoming White House chief of staff. Ukraine aims to signal readiness for peace but emphasizes the need for a stable and sustainable agreement rather than a temporary solution.

Source: WSJ

Very interesting: Syrian opposition forces secured an agreement with Salamiyah’s Ismaili (branch of Shiism) leaders, through Prince Karim Aga Khan, to protect the city peacefully without conflict.

Salamiyah, home to Nizari Ismailis, is led by Prince Karim Aga Khan, a Pakistan-born leader based in France.

Syrian revolutionaries approached him to request that his community in Salamiyah lay down their weapons to prevent bloodshed, a proposal he accepted.

Biden administration is urging Türkiye to curb its support for certain Syrian rebel groups, Israeli state-owned KAN reports.

Despite labeling Assad as a “brutal dictator,” the U.S. seems to prefer his regime’s stability over the chaos of uncontrolled armed factions, KAN notes.

Footage shows UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson being shot from behind in New York.

The killer of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson inscribed “deny,” “defend,” and “depose” on the bullet casings.

The shooter managed to escape, no clear motive yet.

Assad regime soldier hears armed rebel drones above him, then starts praying.