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NBA's Christmas Day ratings skyrocket, even going up against NFL gamesSyria President Assad, his family arrive in Moscow after Russia grants them asylum: Reports
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The Reds ultimately left St James’ Park with only a point after Fabian Schar snatched a 3-3 draw at the end of a pulsating encounter, but Salah’s double – his 14th and 15th goals of the season – transformed a 2-1 deficit into a 3-2 lead before the Switzerland defender’s late intervention. The 32-year-old Egypt international’s future at Anfield remains a topic of debate with his current contract running down. Asked about Salah’s future, Slot said: “It’s difficult for me to predict the long-term future, but the only thing I can expect or predict is that he is in a very good place at the moment. “He plays in a very good team that provides him with good opportunities and then he is able to do special things. “And what makes him for me even more special is that in the first hour or before we scored to make it 1-1, you thought, ‘He’s not playing his best game today’, and to then come up with a half-hour or 45 minutes – I don’t know how long it was – afterwards with an assist, two goals, having a shot on the bar, being a constant threat, that is something not many players can do if they’ve played the first hour like he did. “That is also what makes him special. If you just look at the goals, his finish is so clinical. He’s a special player, but that’s what we all know.” Salah did indeed endure a quiet opening 45 minutes by his standards and it was the Magpies who went in at the break a goal to the good after Alexander Isak’s stunning 35th-minute finish. Slot said: “The shot from Isak, I don’t even know if Caoimh (keeper Caoimhin Kelleher) saw that ball, as hard as it was.” Salah set up Curtis Jones to level five minutes into the second half and after Anthony Gordon has restored the hosts’ lead, levelled himself from substitute Trent Alexander-Arnold’s 68th-minute cross. He looked to have won it with a fine turn and finish – his ninth goal in seven league games – seven minutes from time, only for Schar to pounce from a tight angle in the 90th minute. Newcastle head coach Eddie Howe was delighted with the way his team took the game to the Reds four days after their disappointing 1-1 draw at Crystal Palace. Howe, who admitted his surprise that VAR official Stuart Attwell had not taken a dimmer view of a Virgil van Dijk shoulder barge on Gordon, said: “It’s mixed emotions. “Part of me feels we should have won it – a big part of me – but part of me is pleased we didn’t lose either because it was such a late goal for us. “Generally, I’m just pleased with the performance. There was much more attacking output, a much better feel about the team. “There was much better energy, and it was a really good performance against, for me, the best team we’ve played so far this season in the Premier League, so it was a big jump forward for us.”NEW YORK (AP) — Brian Thompson led one of the biggest health insurers in the U.S. but was unknown to millions of people his decisions affected. Then Wednesday's targeted fatal shooting of the UnitedHealthcare CEO on a midtown Manhattan sidewalk thrust the executive and his business into the national spotlight. Thompson, who was 50, had worked at the giant UnitedHealth Group Inc for 20 years and run the insurance arm since 2021 after running its Medicare and retirement business. As CEO, Thompson led a firm that provides health coverage to more than 49 million Americans — more than the population of Spain. United is the largest provider of Medicare Advantage plans, the privately run versions of the U.S. government’s Medicare program for people age 65 and older. The company also sells individual insurance and administers health-insurance coverage for thousands of employers and state-and federally funded Medicaid programs. The business run by Thompson brought in $281 billion in revenue last year, making it the largest subsidiary of the Minnetonka, Minnesota-based UnitedHealth Group. His $10.2 million annual pay package, including salary, bonus and stock options awards, made him one of the company's highest-paid executives. The University of Iowa graduate began his career as a certified public accountant at PwC and had little name recognition beyond the health care industry. Even to investors who own its stock, the parent company's face belonged to CEO Andrew Witty, a knighted British triathlete who has testified before Congress. When Thompson did occasionally draw attention, it was because of his role in shaping the way Americans get health care. At an investor meeting last year, he outlined his company's shift to “value-based care,” paying doctors and other caregivers to keep patients healthy rather than focusing on treating them once sick. “Health care should be easier for people,” Thompson said at the time. “We are cognizant of the challenges. But navigating a future through value-based care unlocks a situation where the ... family doesn’t have to make the decisions on their own.” Thompson also drew attention in 2021 when the insurer, like its competitors, was widely criticized for a plan to start denying payment for what it deemed non-critical visits to hospital emergency rooms. “Patients are not medical experts and should not be expected to self-diagnose during what they believe is a medical emergency,” the chief executive of the American Hospital Association wrote in an open letter addressed to Thompson. “Threatening patients with a financial penalty for making the wrong decision could have a chilling effect on seeking emergency care.” United Healthcare responded by delaying rollout of the change. Thompson, who lived in a Minneapolis suburb and was the married father of two sons in high school, was set to speak at an investor meeting in a midtown New York hotel. He was on his own and about to enter the building when he was shot in the back by a masked assailant who fled on foot before pedaling an e-bike into Central Park a few blocks away, the New York Police Department said. Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny said investigators were looking at Thompson's social media accounts and interviewing employees and family members. “Didn’t seem like he had any issues at all,” Kenny said. "He did not have a security detail.” AP reporters Michael R. Sisak and Steve Karnowski contributed to this report. Murphy reported from Indianapolis. Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Get the latest in local public safety news with this weekly email.
Stock Market Today: Stocks Pause Near Highs Ahead of Jobs Friday
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.
NoneAccording to an unnamed Kremlin source cited by the Russian news agency Interfax, Assad and his family have arrived in Moscow. The source stated: "President Assad of Syria has arrived in Moscow. Russia has granted them (him and his family) asylum on humanitarian grounds." New Delhi: Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and his family have been granted asylum in Russia, according to reports from Russian news agencies on Sunday. The development comes after Islamic rebels advanced into the capital, forcing Assad to flee Syria. The Russian news agency Interfax, citing an unnamed Kremlin source, confirmed that Assad and his family arrived in Moscow. The source stated: “President Assad of Syria has arrived in Moscow. Russia has granted them (him and his family) asylum on humanitarian grounds.” Assad’s era ends Earlier, the Russian Foreign Ministry said that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad had left Syria following discussions with rebel factions and had issued instructions for a peaceful transfer of power. This marks the end of Assad’s 24-year leadership and his family’s over 50-year rule in the country. In the same statement, Assad expressed his willingness to allow a peaceful transition of authority to the opposition. Also, the Russian Ministry’s post on Telegram had not specified Assad’s location at time and said that Russia had not been involved in the negotiations regarding his departure. The statement also expressed deep concern over the unfolding situation in Syria. “The result of talks between Assad and several factions engaged in the Syrian conflict was his decision to step down from the presidency and leave the country, while ensuring a peaceful transition of power,” the ministry said. Russia urges calm in Syria Moscow expressed grave concern over the events in Syria and called for all parties to avoid violence. “We urge all sides to refrain from using force and to address governance issues through peaceful political solutions,” the statement continued. “In this regard, the Russian Federation maintains communication with various Syrian opposition groups.” The ministry also mentioned that Russian forces in Syria have been placed on high alert. However, as of Sunday afternoon, there was “no significant threat” to the security of Russia’s military bases in the region. Russia’s enduring presence in Syria Since September 2015, Russia has been conducting a military operation in Syria, working alongside Iran to support Assad’s regime in its battle against armed opposition groups and to regain control of most of the country. While Russia has shifted much of its military focus to Ukraine, it continues to maintain a strategic presence in Syria, keeping troops stationed at its bases there. Click for more latest World news . Also get top headlines and latest news from India and around the world at News9. Prabhakar Jha is currently working as Chief Copy Editor at News9 Digital. He has over eight years of experience in this field. He has a keen interest in politics and world affairs. Latest News
Judge says lawsuit over former NFL player Glenn Foster Jr.'s jail death can proceedA homeless man on George St in Sydney. File photo: Getty Nationwide, rough sleeping increased by 22 percent with New South Wales, the hardest-hit state, witnessing a 51 percent surge since 2020, according to a landmark report released by the Australian Homelessness Monitor on Monday. The proportion of employed people accessing homelessness services jumped from 11 percent to 15.3 percent in the five years to 2022-23, which experts said showed the housing crisis had made sleeping rough no longer confined to the most vulnerable. Older Australians make up the fastest-growing cohorts of those affected by homelessness. People aged 55 to 64 jumped by 15 percent in the past six years, while persons aged 65 or older spiked by 31 percent. Under-the-pump homelessness agencies have seen a 12 percent rise in their monthly caseloads since 2019-20, and three-quarters of those services reported it was significantly harder to find housing for clients than just a year before. Lead report author Hal Pawson said unaffordable rent prices were heaping pressure on to services while forcing more people to sleep rough. Of those needing homelessness services in the three years to 2023-24, 36 percent cited housing affordability. "Median rents have increased 51 percent since the pandemic and there has been only a marginal expansion of social housing," Professor Pawson said. "Many support agencies are at a breaking point. Staff are operating in a completely clogged system. People exit support services into the same homelessness they were trying to escape." NSW's surge in rough sleeping has been driven by an increase in regional communities, the authors found. Homelessness Australia CEO Kate Colvin called for more investment in homelessness prevention, along with more funding for housing programs. "Homelessness is no longer confined to the most vulnerable ... with the housing crisis forcing working families into homelessness, this should be a wake-up call for action," she said. "Funding for homelessness services has failed to rise to meet demand ... governments need to take immediate action and deliver an emergency homelessness investment so that when people reach out for homelessness support there is someone there to help them."
NEW YORK (AP) — Bitcoin topped $100,000 for the first time as a massive rally in the world's most popular cryptocurrency, largely accelerated by the election of Donald Trump, rolls on. The cryptocurrency officially to rose six figures Wednesday night, just hours after the president-elect said he intends to nominate cryptocurrency advocate Paul Atkins to be the next chair of the Securities and Exchange Commission. Bitcoin has soared since Trump won the U.S. presidential election on Nov. 5. The asset climbed from $69,374 on Election Day, hitting as high as $103,713 Wednesday, according to CoinDesk. And the latest all-time high arrives just two years after bitcoin dropped below $17,000 following the collapse of crypto exchange FTX . Bitcoin fell below $102,000 by midday Thursday, but its price is still up nearly 7% over the last day. Even amid a massive rally that has more than doubled the value of bitcoin this year, some experts continue to warn of investment risks around the asset, which has quite a volatile history. Here’s what you need to know. Back up. What is cryptocurrency again? Cryptocurrency has been around for a while now. But chances are you’ve heard about it more and more over the last few years. In basic terms, cryptocurrency is digital money. This kind of currency is designed to work through an online network without a central authority — meaning it’s typically not backed by any government or banking institution — and transactions get recorded with technology called a blockchain. Bitcoin is the largest and oldest cryptocurrency, although other assets like ethereum, XRP, tether and dogecoin have also gained popularity over the years. Some investors see cryptocurrency as a “digital alternative” to traditional money, but the large majority of daily financial transactions are still conducted using fiat currencies such as the dollar. Also, bitcoin can be very volatile, with its price reliant on larger market conditions. Why is bitcoin soaring? A lot of the recent action has to do with the outcome of the U.S. presidential election. Trump, who was once a crypto skeptic, has pledged to make the U.S. “the crypto capital of the planet” and create a “strategic reserve” of bitcoin. His campaign accepted donations in cryptocurrency and he courted fans at a bitcoin conference in July. He also launched World Liberty Financial, a new venture with family members to trade cryptocurrencies. On Thursday morning, hours after bitcoin surpassed the $100,000 mark, Trump congratulated “BITCOINERS” on his social media platform Truth Social. He also appeared to take credit for the recent rally, writing, “YOU’RE WELCOME!!!” Top crypto players welcomed Trump’s election victory last month, in hopes that he would be able to push through legislative and regulatory changes that they’ve long lobbied for — which, generally speaking, aim for an increased sense of legitimacy without too much red tape. Trump made a move in that direction Wednesday when he said he intends to nominate Atkins to chair the SEC. Atkins was an SEC commissioner during the presidency of George W. Bush. In the years since leaving the agency, Atkins has made the case against too much market regulation. He joined the Token Alliance, a cryptocurrency advocacy organization, in 2017. Under current chair Gary Gensler, who will step down when Trump takes office, the SEC has cracked down on the crypto industry — penalizing a number of companies for violating securities laws. Gensler has also faced ample criticism from industry players in the process. One crypto-friendly move the SEC did make under Gensler was the approval in January of spot bitcoin ETFs, or exchange trade funds, which allow investors to have a stake in bitcoin without directly buying it. The spot ETFs were the dominant driver of bitcoin's price before Trump's win — but, like much of the crypto’s recent momentum, saw record inflows postelection. What does bitcoin hitting the $100k mark mean? Could it keep climbing? Bitcoin surpassing the coveted $100,000 mark has left much of the crypto world buzzing. “What we’re seeing isn’t just a rally — it’s a fundamental transformation of bitcoin’s place in the financial system,” Nathan McCauley, CEO and co-founder of crypto asset manager Anchorage Digital, said in a statement — while pointing to the growth of who's entering the market, particularly with rising institutional adoption. Still, others note that the new heights of bitcoin's price don't necessarily mean the asset is going mainstream. The $100,000 level is “merely a psychological factor and ultimately just a number,” Dan Coatsworth, investment analyst at British investment company AJ Bell, wrote in a Thursday commentary . That being said, bitcoin could keep climbing to more and more all-time highs — particularly if Trump makes good on his promises for more crypto-friendly regulation once in office. If Trump actually makes a bitcoin reserve, for example, supply changes could also propel the price forward. Still, as with everything in the volatile cryptoverse, the future is never promised. Worldwide regulatory uncertainties and environmental concerns around bitcoin “mining" — the creation of new bitcoin, which consumes a lot of energy — are among factors that analysts like Coatsworth note could hamper future growth. And, as still a relatively-young asset with a history of volatility, longer-term adoption has yet to be seen through. Is it too late to invest? What are the risks? Today's excitement around bitcoin may make many who aren't already in the space want to get in on the action, but experts continue to stress caution around crypto “FOMO," or the fear of missing out, especially for small-pocketed investors. “A lot of people have got rich from the cryptocurrency soaring in value this year, but this high-risk asset isn’t suitable for everyone,” Coatsworth noted Thursday. “It’s volatile, unpredictable and is driven by speculation, none of which makes for a sleep-at-night investment.” In short, history shows you can lose money in crypto as quickly as you’ve made it. Long-term price behavior relies on larger market conditions. Trading continues at all hours, every day. Coatsworth points to recent research from the Bank for International Settlements, a Switzerland-based global organization of central banks, which found that about three-quarters of retail buyers on crypto exchange apps likely lost money on their bitcoin investments between 2015 and 2022. At the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, bitcoin stood at just over $5,000. Its price climbed to nearly $69,000 by November 2021, during high demand for technology assets, but later crashed during an aggressive series of rate hikes by the Federal Reserve. And the late-2022 collapse of FTX significantly undermined confidence in crypto overall, with bitcoin falling below $17,000. Investors began returning in large numbers as inflation started to cool — and gains skyrocketed on the anticipation and then early success of spot ETFs, and again, now the post-election frenzy. But lighter regulation from the coming Trump administration could also mean less guardrails. “I would say, keep it simple. And don’t take on more risk than you can afford to,” Adam Morgan McCarthy, a research analyst at Kaiko, previously told The Associated Press — adding that there isn’t a “magic eight ball” to know for certain what comes next. Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. 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Gov.-elect Mike Braun has selected many familiar names, as well as a few new ones, to lead state government agencies when the Republican takes office Jan. 13 as Indiana's 52nd chief executive. The familiar names include unsuccessful 2022 Northwest Indiana congressional candidate Jennifer-Ruth Green, of Crown Point, as director of the Indiana Department of Homeland Security, in addition to her previously announced role as Braun's cabinet-level secretary of public safety. Likewise, Braun Commerce Secretary David Adams will also lead the Indiana Economic Development Corp. (IEDC); former state Rep. Mike Speedy, Braun's secretary of business affairs, will head the Department of Labor; Secretary of Education Katie Jenner will remain in charge of the Indiana Department of Education; and Lisa Hershman will oversee and direct the Office of Management and Budget. Other familiar names are former state agency leaders slotted into new roles, including Kent Abernathy as Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) commissioner, after previously serving as Bureau of Motor Vehicles commissioner; Adam Krupp as director of the Department of Child Services, following his prior tenure as state revenue commissioner; and former state Sen. Pete Miller as executive director of the Indiana Management Performance Hub, after managing the Indiana Distressed Unit Appeals Board (DUAB). Mitch Roob, who led the Family and Social Services Agency (FSSA), as well as the IEDC, under Republican Gov. Mitch Daniels, once again will lead FSSA as Braun looks to pare back state spending on Medicaid and other health and social safety net programs. Meanwhile, state Rep. Alan Morrison, R-Brazil, will give up his Indiana House seat to become director of the Department of Natural Resources, and former state Rep. Lloyd Arnold, who resigned from the House in 2017 to direct DNR law enforcement, will become commissioner of the Department of Correction, where he's recently worked as chief operating officer of the Indiana Correctional Industries job-training program for incarcerated individuals. State agency leaders staying in their roles amid the gubernatorial transition include: Steve Russo, executive director of the Indiana Public Retirement System (INPRS); Holly Lambert, state insurance commissioner; Lindsay Hyer, executive director of the Professional Licensing Agency; Thomas Fite, director of the Department of Financial Institutions; and Dr. Lindsay Weaver, commissioner of the Indiana Department of Health. Also continuing to serve: Dan Huge, a Hobart native, as chairman of the Indiana Finance Authority; Steve Cox, director of the Indiana Broadband Office; Don Lamb, director of the State Department of Agriculture; James Michaels, superintendent of the Indiana School for the Blind; and David Geeslin, superintendent of the Indiana School for the Deaf. Newcomers to top state government posts are: Kevin Garvey, commissioner of the Bureau of Motor Vehicles; Jake Adams, head of the Department of Veterans Affairs; Fred Glynn, executive director of the Office of Community and Rural Affairs; and Brandon Clifton, commissioner of the Indiana Department of Administration. Braun also has named his former top Senate aide, Joshua Kelley, as chief of staff; Jason Johnson, deputy chief of staff for legislative affairs; Jessica Wedgewood, deputy chief of staff for operations; and Patrick Price, as the governor's legal counsel.India News | Farmers Call off 'Jatha' Amid Injuries, Opposition Slams Government's Handling of Protest(Photo by Skitterphoto via Pexels) By Stephen Beech via SWNS Cleaning surfaces every two hours at airports cuts potentially deadly norovirus infections by 83%, according to a new study. Researchers found that airport restaurants had the highest risk of norovirus transmission . But frequently disinfecting surfaces, mask-wearing and antimicrobial surface coatings at the transport hubs can all help prevent the highly contagious illness - also known as the winter vomiting bug - from spreading, say scientists. Study author Professor Nan Zhang, of the Beijing University of Technology in China, said: "Norovirus causes severe vomiting and diarrhea and is responsible for about 685 million cases and 200,000 deaths each year. "The virus is primarily transmitted through surfaces and outbreaks during air travel are especially common, due to the large number of public surfaces in airports." (PLOS Computational Biology via SWNS) To investigate the risk of norovirus infection from surfaces among passengers in different zones of the airport, the research team collected real touch data from 21.3 hours of video, which captured almost 26,000 touches. They developed a model of surface transmission and simulated the risk of infection from norovirus and the effectiveness of various interventions in different airport areas. Zhang said: "The touch data showed that, without any interventions, restaurants at airports had the highest risk of norovirus transmission, with approximately 4.6 out of 51,494 travelers infected. "Disinfecting public surfaces every two hours reduced the risk of norovirus infection per visit to the airport by 83.2%. "In contrast, handwashing every two hours reduced the risk by only 2%, and mask-wearing 50% of the time reduced risk by 48.0%, because masks stop people from touching their face. CDC "Furthermore, using antimicrobial copper or copper-nickel alloy coatings for most public surfaces lowered the infection risk by 15.9% to 99.2%." He says the study, published in the journal PLOS Computational Biology , provides "crucial" insights for developing infection prevention and control strategies specifically tailored for norovirus within airport environments. Zhang noted that the data for the study was collected during the COVID-19 pandemic , so surface-touching behaviors may have been different from normal. But he said that, overall, the simulated results indicated that public surface disinfection, mask-wearing wearing and the use of antimicrobial surfaces are effective ways of controlling the spread of norovirus via surfaces. Zhang added: "Regular surface infection is much more effective than regular handwashing for blocking norovirus transmission via fomite route in airports."
The NBA got viewers for Christmas, even while going up against NFL games. The NBA's five-game Christmas lineup was the league's most-watched in five years, with the games averaging about 5.25 million viewers per game across ABC, ESPN and its platforms, the league said Thursday based on Nielsen's preliminary numbers. It's an 84% rise over the NBA's Christmas numbers from 2023. The Los Angeles Lakers’ 115-113 victory over the Golden State Warriors — a game pitting Olympic teammates LeBron James and Stephen Curry — averaged 7.76 million viewers and peaked with about 8.32 million viewers toward the end of the contest, the league said. Those numbers represent the most-watched NBA regular season game in five years. “I love the NFL,” James said in his televised postgame interview Wednesday night. “But Christmas is our day.” The NBA said all five Christmas games on its schedule — San Antonio at New York in Victor Wembanyama's holiday debut, Minnesota at Dallas, Philadelphia at Boston, Denver at Phoenix and Lakers-Warriors — saw year-over-year viewership increases. Wednesday's numbers pushed NBA viewership for the season across ESPN platforms to up 4% over last season. The league also saw more than 500 million video views on its social media platforms Wednesday, a new record. For the NBA, those are all good signs amid cries that NBA viewership is hurting. “Ratings are down a bit at beginning of the season. But cable television viewership is down double digits so far this year versus last year," NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said earlier this month. “You know, we’re almost at the inflection point where people are watching more programing on streaming than they are on traditional television. And it’s a reason why for our new television deals, which we enter into next year, every game is going to be available on a streaming service.” Part of that new package of television deals that the NBA is entering into next season also increases the number of regular season games broadcast on television from 15 to 75. AP NBA: https://www.apnews.com/hub/NBANBA's Christmas Day ratings skyrocket, even going up against NFL games
Argan, Inc. Reports Third Quarter Fiscal 2025 ResultsThrough a combination of well-executed tactics, bravery on the battlefield, and overall masterful guerrilla warfare, a local resistance group shaped the outcome of the war in the Cumilla region. The Pathaan Bahini, led by Zahirul Haque Pathaan, a Bangalee subedar in the Pakistan Army, operated across a 1,000-square-mile area spanning 13 upazilas in Chandpur, Cumilla, Noakhali, and Lakshmipur. While visiting these districts in June of this year, The Daily Star interviewed over 30 Pathaan Bahini freedom fighters. Initially formed by former personnel and deserters of the Pakistani army, the force eventually grew to over 900 freedom fighters, including members from all walks of life, such as students, youths, and labourers. The force engaged in over 40 battles against Pakistani forces, displaying immense courage and bravery. The details of the war and the heroism of the Pathaan Bahini have been recorded in several books, including "Chandpur Zillar Muktijuddher Itihash" by Shahjahan Kabir, Bir Pratik, and "Muktijuddhe Chandpur" by Dr Delwar Hossain Khan, a Pathaan Bahini member. According to the books, force chief Zahirul was a well-known figure for his role in the 1965 Indo-Pak War, which earned him the "Tamgha-i-Jurat", the fourth highest military award of Pakistan. FORMATION In early 1971, Zahirul, serving under the 1st East Bengal Regiment, was stationed at Jessore Cantonment. In February, he was ordered to transfer to Lahore. However, he instead took a two-month leave to go to his village home in Hajiganj upazila of Chandpur and assess the country's political situation. In March, following Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's call for a non-cooperation movement, a war committee was formed in Chandpur. As per the decision of the committee, a group of 30 young students were recruited for training in the Alipur village of Hajiganj. In the wake of the March 25 massacre, an emergency meeting of the war committee was convened at Paikpara School in Faridganj on April 8. Zahirul was entrusted with the leadership of the Mukti Bahini in Chandpur district. COMMAND STRUCTURE Zahirul initially divided the region surrounding Chandpur into six zones and assigned commanders to each to set up a defensive perimeter. Naik subedar Ali Akbar Patwari was appointed to oversee Hajiganj, Ramganj, Chatkhil, and parts of Raipur. Naik subedar Zahirul Islam was tasked with Matlab upazila; sergeant Joynal Abedin was responsible for Chandpur Sadar and Haimchar; Naik subedar Abdur Rab was assigned to Faridganj, Ramganj, and parts of Raipur; havildar Sirajul Islam was in charge of Kachua upazila; and Nayeb Subedar Mofiz was responsible for the headquarters and Shahrasti upazila. Initially, Paikpara School served as both the headquarters and training camp for the force. However, the headquarters was later relocated to Thakurbari in Pani Ali village of Ramganj upazila in Lakshmipur. The Pathaan Bahini also had an intelligence unit, headed by Zahirul and force director Kalim Ullah Bhuiyan. Born on January 8, 1937, Zahirul Haque Pathaan died on January 27, 2024. Kalim Ullah Bhuiyan died on January 5, 2024. He was born in 1925. FIRST AMBUSH According to the book "Chandpur Zillar Muktijuddher Itihash", the force's first engagement of the war took place in the Gazipur union under Chandpur's Haimchar upazila. On April 27, upon learning that a launch carrying arms and ammunition for the Pakistani army was coming to Faridganj from Chandpur, Zahirul planned an ambush. Talking about the operation, freedom fighter Lutfar Rahman told The Daily Star, "As soon as the launch entered our ambush position near Gazipur Bazar, we attacked the Pakistani soldiers on board from three directions. "Several soldiers were killed, and the rest jumped into the river and fled to Dhanua. The launch, damaged by gunfire, sank in the Manikraj river." The following day, the freedom fighters salvaged the sunken launch, and from inside they recovered a large cache of munitions. LCOALS JOIN THE FIGHT The Battle of Khajuria was different from other battles, for it was joined not only by Pathaan fighters but also by local villagers armed with whatever they could find. According to the book, Bangladesher Swadhinota Juddho - Sector Bhittik Itihash (Sector-2)", on the morning of June 20, two platoons of freedom fighters were positioned at Kamta and Galla to counter the advance of Pakistani forces from Hajiganj and Chandpur. Simultaneously, another platoon was deployed at the WAPDA embankment near Khajuria to resist the Pakistani forces approaching from Ramganj and Noakhali. Another platoon was stationed on the road leading to Sonapur in Noakhali. At noon, as the freedom fighters at the WAPDA embankment sprung a surprise attack on the advancing Pakistani soldiers, the remaining platoons quickly rushed towards Khajuria. The local villagers also joined the fight alongside the freedom fighters. Freedom fighter Delwar Hossain said, "As we chased the Pakistani soldiers, we were joined by thousands of villagers from Khajuria Bazar, Rupsa, and Koroitoli, armed with machetes, axes, and other improvised weapons. Fearing for the safety of these civilians, Pathaan Sahib decided to withdraw and pull everyone back to safety. "As the retreating Pakistani army headed towards Gollak, they were ambushed by the freedom fighters from three sides. The attack resulted in the deaths of eight Pakistani soldiers." BATTLE OF SHASIALI Freedom fighter Sirajul Haque said the force used the school grounds in Battala, Nakipur, Kadra, and South Sahebganj as training camps and established positions in Toragarh, Lotra, Ugaria, and Naringpur Bazars. "Towards the end of the war, due to security concerns, we didn't have a fixed training camp. We would prop up makeshift training camps wherever we sought shelter," said Ajit Saha, another freedom fighter. Shasiali Madrasa in Faridganj served as one such training camp of the Pathaan Bahini. It was frequently targeted by Pakistani troops, resulting in several battles between the Pathaan Bahini and the Pakistani army. One such significant engagement took place on July 29, known as the Battle of Shasiali. On July 29, upon receiving intelligence about a Pakistani convoy of 15-16 boats advancing from Faridganj to capture the camp, Pathaan Bahini laid an ambush to intercept the enemy, said Sirajul Haque. "As the Pakistani soldiers entered the ambush, the freedom fighters opened fire. The surprise attack resulted in the deaths of six Pakistani soldiers, including an officer, and eight policemen, including a sub-inspector from Faridganj Police Station." The retreating Pakistani army encountered resistance from freedom fighters in several areas, including Shasiali, Kamalpur, and Patwari Bazar, leading to skirmishes, said Ajit Saha. "Some fleeing Pakistani soldiers hid in a house in Kamalpur. The freedom fighters surrounded the house and engaged in a fierce gun battle with the trapped soldiers. All the Pakistani soldiers were killed in the ensuing firefight, and Farooq, a freedom fighter, was injured." Other battles fought by Pathaan Bahini include the Battle of Thakur Bazar in Shahrasti in early May; the Battle of Ramchandrapur Kheyaghat in Balakhal, Hajiganj on May 17; the Battle of Naringpur in Shahrasti on July 15; the Battle of Hasnabad in Laksham, Cumilla on August 27-28; the Battle of Suchipara Kheyaghat on September 7; the attack on a Pakistani food convoy in Faridganj; and the Battle of Office Chitoshi on September 29. Additionally, the Pathaan Bahini fought against the Pakistani army on the Meghna River at Mohanpur, Matlab, in the first week of December. In October, Zahirul Haque Pathaan visited Kolkata, met with Sector 2 Commander Khaled Mosharraf, and provided a detailed report on the activities of his force. Following this meeting, Pathaan was appointed as the commander of the Chandpur-Madhumati sub-sector. Chandpur was liberated on December 8. Twenty-one days later, on December 29, the Pathaan Bahini surrendered their weapons at Chandpur Technical High School ground. Translated and edited from Bangla by Subrata Roy.
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