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.

#BREAKING: Syrian rebels say they begin advancing into Hama city amid fierce battles with Assad’s militias.

Massive Joint Force convoy of Syrian National Army (SNA) reached the outskirts of Hama to help liberate the city from Assad regime & Iranian militias.

Syrian opposition forces commander Lt. Col. Hassan Abdulghani:

We are advancing on multiple fronts inside Hama, moving toward the city center.

VERY FAST: Footage from the liberation of Khattab town in Hama countryside by Syrian opposition forces.

Assad regime's MoD:

Our forces operating in the countryside of Hama are engaged in fierce clashes against armed groups, inflicting heavy casualties.

Better than Mad Max: Syrian opposition assault in Hama.

NEW: Special helicopters landed on the outskirts of western Hama to evacuate Assad militia officers fleeing the city, fearing capture by Syrian opposition forces.

The helicopters departed to an unknown location, leaving the remaining troops to their fate.

New footage shows Syrian opposition Shaheen kamikaze UAVs targeting Assad militia positions.

Turkish MoD:

Our forces are taking all necessary measures to maintain stability in Syria and continue close coordination with counterparts.

We uphold agreements in northern Syria’s operational zones and expect the same from others.

We will not allow the PKK/YPG, which threatens Syria’s territorial integrity and regional security, to exploit instability.

Footage of clashes in Hama between Syrian opposition forces and Assad regime militias.

RUN: Assad regime forces fleeing Mount Zain al-Abidin, Hama under Syrian opposition assault.

#BREAKING Reports claim Assad regime helicopter was hit over Hama by Syrian fighters.

NEW: Reports of ANOTHER Assad regime helicopter shot down by Syrian fighters in Hama.

We're waiting for visual confirmation.