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bet365 germany Lucknow: Leading cardiologists from across India, including head of cardiology department at SGPGIMS Prof Aditya Kapoor, have come up with a Revive CPR mobile app to bolster the battle against sudden cardiac deaths. Prof Kapoor said over 15 lakh people die of sudden cardiac arrest annually in India. Only less than 1% can be saved as there is lack of availability of timely CPR. "Doctors felt that covering the entire country was a mammoth task, and there was a need for technological aid to bridge the gap. Their effort was strengthened by the fact that India is the second-largest user of smartphones, with over 700 million users (including 425 mn are in rural areas)," he said. The app is available on both Android and iOS platforms. "It provides step-by-step audio-visual guidance for performing CPR. It provides expert's insights about how timely CPR can save lives, besides explaining key issues like the difference between heart attack and cardiac arrest, along with simple audio/visual cues for accurate identification for timely intervention," Kapoor said. The app allows one-touch calling to 108 ambulance service, a nearby automated external defibrillator (AED) locator app with automatic AED detection and usage guidance, and linkage to a nationwide trained volunteer network. TNN Stay updated with the latest news on Times of India . Don't miss daily games like Crossword , Sudoku , and Mini Crossword .

An Israeli airstrike flattened a multistory building in central Gaza, killing at least 25 people and wounding dozens more, according to Palestinian medical officials, after strikes Thursday across the Gaza Strip killed at least 28 others. The latest deadly strike hit the urban Nuseirat refugee camp just hours after U.S. President Joe Biden’s national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, told reporters in Jerusalem that the recent ceasefire in Lebanon has helped clear the way for a potential deal to end the war in Gaza between Israel and Hamas. The Israeli military did not immediately comment on the deadly strike in Nuseirat. Israel says it is trying to eliminate Hamas, which led the attack on southern Israel in October 2023 that sparked the war in Gaza . The Israeli military says Hamas militants hide among Gaza’s civilian population. The fighting has plunged Gaza into a severe humanitarian crisis, with experts warning of famine in some of the hardest-hit parts of the territory. Israel’s offensive has killed over 44,800 Palestinians in Gaza, more than half of them women and children, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, which does not say how many were combatants. The Israeli military says it has killed over 17,000 militants, without providing evidence. The Oct. 7, 2023 attack by Hamas killed some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and around 250 others were taken hostage. Some 100 hostages are still inside Gaza, at least a third of whom are believed to be dead. Here's the latest: DAMASCUS, Syria — Mohammad Salim Alkhateb, an official with the National Coalition of Syrian Revolution and Opposition Forces — an internationally backed group of the opposition in exile — said his group wants to see a transitional government formed via a United Nations-backed process in the wake of Bashar Assad ouster. It is not yet clear if Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, the main rebel group now in control of Syria, will pursue such a process. The insurgents have said an interim government headed by Mohammad al-Bashir, who is also the head of the “salvation government” of HTS in its former stronghold in northern Syria, will oversee the country until March but have not made clear how the transition to a new, fully empowered government would take place. “The transitional governing body should be formed in Geneva to have international legitimacy,” said Alkhateb, who is now in Damascus. “The transitional governing body, whatever its form, whether it is the ‘salvation government’ or any other, what matters is that it has international recognition.” Alkhateb said that the unexpectedly rapid fall of Damascus and departure of Assad after opposition forces launched their offensive had created confusion and a governance vacuum. A day before the insurgents pushed into Damascus, diplomats from countries including Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Turkey, Iran and Russia met in Qatar to discuss the situation in Syria. Alkhateb said that they had discussed a scenario in which the rebels would halt their advance, keeping the territory they had captured so far in the north — including Syria’s largest city, Aleppo — and the opposition and Assad’s government would go to Geneva for talks on a political settlement to the conflict. However, he noted, “there were no Syrians in that meeting.” Assad fled to Russia before the rebel forces arrived in Damascus but has not officially announced his resignation, which is “why we are living in a vacuum rather than a political transition,” Alkhateb said. He added that creating a professional army should be a priority of the transitional government. “We do not want a civilian who was trained during the revolution to carry military weapons to become the military,” he said. Israel bombed hundreds of military sites in Syria this week in a wave of airstrikes that destroyed “most of the strategic weapons stockpiles” in the country. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the wave of airstrikes in neighboring Syria was necessary to keep the weapons from being used against Israel following the Syrian government’s stunning collapse . WASHINGTON — White House press secretary Karine Jean-Peirre says Austin Tice, an American journalist missing in Syria for 12 years, “is a top priority for this president.” During a briefing with reporters on Thursday, Jean-Pierre said of Tice, “There is no indication that he is not alive. There’s also no indication about his location or condition.” “What our goal is, is to bring him home. And so, we hope certainly that he is alive and, as we have stated many times before, we are talking through this with the Turks and we want to do everything we can to bring him home,” she said. BEIRUT — Amnesty International said Thursday that four Israeli airstrikes between September and October that killed at least 49 civilians in Lebanon “must be investigated as war crimes.” The rights organization said in a new report that the four strikes targeted homes in the Bekaa Valley, northern and eastern Lebanon, and municipal offices in the south. “These four attacks are emblematic of Israel’s shocking disregard for civilian lives in Lebanon and their willingness to flout international law,” said Amnesty International’s Erika Guevara Rosas, Senior Director for Research, Advocacy, Policy and Campaigns. The rights group said this report was part of its ongoing investigation into violations of the laws of war in Lebanon. Amnesty International investigated four Israeli airstrikes, including one on Sept. 29 in al-Ain that killed all nine members of the same family. On Oct. 21, a strike in Baalbek city in eastern Lebanon killed six members of the same family. Another on Oct. 14 in the village of Aitou in northern Lebanon killed 23 displaced people, including a 5-month-old baby. A fragment from the attack site in Aitou was identified by an Amnesty weapons expert as likely part of a Mk-80 series aerial bomb, weighing at least 500 pounds. These munitions are primarily supplied to Israel by the United States, Amnesty said. The fourth strike Amnesty investigated was the strike that hit the municipal headquarters in Nabatiyeh, southern Lebanon, on Oct. 16, killing 11 civilians including the mayor. “The air strike took place without warning, just as the municipality’s crisis unit was meeting to coordinate deliveries of aid, including food, water and medicine, to residents and internally displaced people who had fled bombardment in other parts of southern Lebanon,” Amnesty said. The rights group said it interviewed survivors and witnesses, examined evidence, and found no military targets near the sites of the four strikes. The Israeli military gave no warnings and did not respond to Amnesty’s inquiries, the group said. DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip — An Israeli airstrike hit the central Gaza Strip on Thursday, killing at least 25 Palestinians and wounding dozens more, Palestinian medics said, just hours after President Joe Biden’s national security adviser raised hopes about a ceasefire deal to end the war in Gaza. Photos from the scene of the blast that circulated on social media showed a completely collapsed building with people walking through its mangled and charred remains, smoke rising from piles of belongings strewn over the rubble. Officials at two hospitals in the Gaza Strip, al-Awda Hospital in the north and al-Aqsa Hospital in central Gaza, reported they received a combined total of 25 bodies from an Israeli strike on a multistory residential building in the urban Nuseirat refugee camp. Palestinian medics also reported that over 40 people, most of them children, were receiving treatment at the two hospitals. The al-Aqsa Hospital said that the Israeli attack also damaged several nearby houses in Nuseirat. There was no immediate comment from the Israeli military on the deadly strike. Israel is trying to eliminate Hamas, which led the attack on southern Israel in October 2023 that sparked the war in Gaza . The Israeli military says Hamas militants hide among Gaza’s civilian population. Israel’s war against Hamas has killed over 44,800 Palestinians in Gaza, more than half of them women and children, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, which does not say how many were combatants. The Israeli military says it has killed over 17,000 militants, without providing evidence. The fighting has plunged Gaza into a severe humanitarian crisis, with experts warning of famine. Israel says it allows enough aid to enter and blames U.N. agencies for not distributing it. The U.N. says Israeli restrictions, and the breakdown of law and order after Israel repeatedly targeted the Hamas-run police force, make it extremely difficult to operate in the territory. UNITED NATIONS – The U.N. food agency is trying to deal with massive needs in Syria not only from escalating war-related food insecurity and an upsurge in displaced people fleeing Lebanon but also the dramatically new environment following the ouster of Bashar Assad, a senior U.N. official says. “It’s a triple crisis and the needs are going to be massive,” said Carl Skau, deputy executive director of the World Food Program, in an interview with The Associated Press late Wednesday. The WFP estimated that 3 million people in Syria were “acutely food insecure” and very hungry. However, that estimate was made before the Israel-Hezbollah war in Lebanon pushed many Syrian refugees back to their home country, plus the instability caused by the overthrow of Assad. Due to funding cuts, the WFP had been targeting only 2 million of those people, he said. Because WFP has been working in Syria during the 13-year civil war, he said, it has pre-positioned food in the country. It has 500 staff in seven offices nationwide and has operated across conflict lines, across borders, and with all different parties, he said. Skau said Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, the main rebel group now in control of Syria, has promised to provide security for WFP warehouses. Humanitarian aid supplies had been looted at U.N. warehouses in the disorder after Assad fell. “We’re not really up and running in Damascus because of the continued kind of uncertainty there,” he said. WFP initially thought of relocating non-essential staff but the situation in Aleppo, Syria’s largest city, has been “quite calm and orderly," he said. In the short term, Skau said, “what we’re seeing is that markets are disrupted, the value of the currency dropped dramatically, food prices are going up, transport lines don’t work,” and it’s unclear who will stamp required papers for imports and exports. This means that a bigger humanitarian response is needed initially, he said, but in the next phase, the U,N. will be looking at contributing to Syria’s recovery, and ultimately the country will need reconstruction. Skau said he expects a new funding appeal for Syria and urged donors to be generous. JERUSALEM — President Joe Biden’s national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, told reporters in Jerusalem on Thursday that Israel’s ceasefire in Lebanon has helped clear the way for another deal to end the war in Gaza. He plans to travel next to Qatar and Egypt — key mediators in the ceasefire talks — as the Biden administration makes a final push on negotiations before Donald Trump is inaugurated. Sullivan said “Hamas’ posture at the negotiating table did adapt” after Israel decimated the leadership of its ally Hezbollah in Lebanon and reached a ceasefire there. “We believe it puts us in a position to close this negotiation,” he said. Sullivan dismissed speculation that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was waiting for Trump to take office to finalize a deal. He the U.S. believes there are three American hostages still alive in Gaza, but it’s hard to know for sure. He also said “the balance of power in the Middle East has changed significantly” since Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack on Israel, especially with the overthrow of former Syrian President Bashar Assad, a key ally of Hezbollah and Iran. “We are now faced with a dramatically reshaped Middle East in which Israel is stronger, Iran is weaker, its proxies decimated, and a ceasefire that is new and will be lasting in Lebanon that ensures Israel’s security over the long term,” he said. KHIAM, Lebanon — An Israeli strike killed at least one person Thursday in the Lebanese border town of Khiam, the Health Ministry said, less than a day after Israeli troops handed the hilltop village back to the Lebanese army in coordination with U.N. peacekeepers, Khiam is the first Lebanese town Israel has pull out of since a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah militants began two weeks ago, and marks an important test of the fragile truce . Lebanon's Health Ministry and state news agency did not provide details on who was killed, and did not report airstrikes elsewhere on Thursday. The Israeli military said the airstrike in Khiam targeted Hezbollah fighters. Lebanese troops deployed in the northern section of the town on Thursday morning and were coordinating with U.N. peacekeepers to finalize Israel’s withdrawal before fully entering into other neighborhoods. An Associated Press reporter who visited Khiam on Thursday observed widespread destruction, with most houses reduced to rubble. Entire neighborhoods were flattened, with collapsed walls and debris scattered across the streets. Lebanon’s caretaker prime minister, Najib Mikati, sharply criticized Israel for striking the town less than 24 hours after the Lebanese army returned, saying it was “a violation of the pledges made by the parties that sponsored the ceasefire agreement, who must act to curb Israeli aggression.” The truce was brokered by the U.S. and France. Israel has previously said the ceasefire deal allows it to use military force against perceived violations. Near-daily attacks by Israel during the ceasefire, mostly in southern Lebanon, have killed at least 29 people and wounded 27 others. Khiam, which sits on a ridge less than 3 miles (5 kilometers) from the border with Israel, saw some of the most intense fighting during the war. The Lebanese army was clearing debris and reopening roads in the northern section of the town. Civilian access to other areas remained challenging as the army clears roads and works alongside the U.N. peacekeepers to ensure the area is free of unexploded ordnance. AQABA, Jordan -- U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is urging the many players in Syria to avoid taking any steps that could lead to further violence. Blinken spoke to reporters in Jordan on Thursday shortly after meeting King Abdullah II as he opened a trip in the region to discuss Syria's future after former President Bashar Assad's ouster. Blinken will next visit Turkey, a NATO ally and a main backer of Syrian rebel groups. Blinken called this “a time of both real promise but also peril for Syria and for its neighbors.” He said he was focused on coordinating efforts in the region “to support the Syrian people as they transition away from Assad’s brutal dictatorship” and establish a government that isn’t dominated by one religion or ethnic group or outside power. Blinken was asked about Israel’s incursion into a buffer zone that had been demilitarized for the past half century. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says the move is temporary and defensive, but also indicated Israel will remain in the area for a long time. Blinken declined to say whether the U.S. supports the move, but said the U.S. would be speaking to Israel and other partners in the region. “I think, across the board, when it comes to any actors who have real interests in Syria, it’s also really important at this time that, we all try to make sure that we’re not sparking any additional conflicts,” he said. ANKARA, Turkey — Turkey’s intelligence chief, Ibrahim Kalin, arrived in Damascus on Thursday, according to Turkish media reports. Kalin was seen arriving at the Umayyad Mosque to pray, surrounded by a large crowd, according to video shown on Turkish television. The visit is highly symbolic. Turkish officials, who supported the opposition against Syria’s government, had predicted at the start of the civil war in 2011 that President Bashar Assad’s government would fall, allowing them to pray at the Umayyad Mosque. JERUSALEM — Paraguay reopened its embassy in Jerusalem Thursday, becoming one of a small handful of nations to recognize the city as Israel’s capital and marking a diplomatic victory for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Israel’s international isolation has increased as the war in Gaza drags on, and Paraguay was the first country to move its embassy to Jerusalem since the Oct. 7, 2023 Hamas attack that kickstarted the war. The United States, Honduras, Guatemala, Kosovo, and Papua New Guinea are among the few countries with Jerusalem embassies. Israel annexed east Jerusalem in 1967 but it wasn’t recognized by the international community, and most countries run their embassies out of Tel Aviv. Spirits were high at the ceremony marking the embassy’s inauguration Thursday, with Netanyahu and Israel’s Foreign Minister Gideon Saar lavishing praise on Paraguayan President Santiago Pena. “My good friend Santiago,” said Netanyahu, addressing Pena. “We’re a small nation. You’re a small nation. We suffered horrible things but we overcame the odds of history...we can win and we are winning.” Paraguay had an embassy in Jerusalem in 2018, under Former President Horacio Cartes. That embassy was moved back to Tel Aviv by Cartes’ successor, Mario Abdo Benitez, prompting Israel to close its embassy in Asuncion. Saar said Israel and Paraguay shared a “friendship based not only on interests but also values and principles.” He and the Paraguayan foreign minister, Rubén Ramírez Lezcano, signed a series of bilateral agreements and Saar said he would soon visit Asunción with a delegation from the Israeli private sector. “Israel is going to win and the countries we are standing next to Israel, we are going to win," Pena said. AQABA, Jordan — U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is renewing calls for Syria’s new leadership to respect women and minority rights, prevent extremists from gaining new footholds in the country and keeping suspected chemical weapons stocks secure as he makes his first visit to the Mideast since the weekend ouster of Syrian President Bashar Assad . Making his 12th trip to the Middle East since the Israel-Hamas war erupted lasted year but amid fresh concerns about security following the upheaval in Syria, Blinken emphasized Thursday to Jordan’s King Abdullah II U.S. “support for an inclusive transition that can lead to an accountable and representative Syrian government chosen by the Syrian people,” the State Department said. Blinken also repeated the importance the outgoing Biden administration puts on respect for human rights and international law, the protection of civilians and stopping terrorist groups from reconstituting. Blinken met with the monarch and Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi in Aqaba before traveling to Turkey for talks with Turkish officials on the situation in Syria and the urgency of securing a long-elusive deal to release hostages and end the fighting in Gaza that has devastated the Palestinian territory since October 2023. Abdullah told Blinken that “the first step to reach comprehensive regional calm is to end the Israeli war on Gaza." GENEVA — The U.N. envoy for Syria is calling on authorities to save evidence from detention centers that were a hub of “unimaginable barbarity” that Syrians have faced for many years and cooperate with international investigators looking into such crimes. Geir Pederson referred to new images from the notorious Saydnaya military prison north of the capital, Damascus, after President Bashar Assad fled Syria as armed groups stormed in to overthrow his government over the weekend. “The images from Saydnaya and other detention facilities starkly underscore the unimaginable barbarity Syrians have endured and reported for years,” Pedersen said in a statement. Documentation and testimonies “only scratch the surface of the carceral system’s horrors,” he added. Pedersen urged authorities to cooperate with U.N. bodies like an independent Commission of Inquiry on Syria, which was created in 2011, and an independent group known as the IIIM that was set up five years later to also compile evidence of crimes. ROME — Leaders of the Group of 7 industrialized nations offered their full support for an inclusive political transition in Syria and invited all parties to preserve the country’s territorial integrity. In a message released by Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni’s office, the leaders said they were ready to support a transition that “leads to a credible government, inclusive and not sectarian, that guarantees respect for the state of law, universal human rights, including rights for women, (and) the protection of all Syrians, including religious and ethnic minorities.” The leaders also underlined the importance that ousted President Bashar Assad’s government is held responsible for crimes, citing “decades of atrocities.” They said they would also cooperate with groups working to prohibit chemical weapons “to secure, declare and destroy” remaining chemical arms in Syria. Italy currently holds the rotating presidency of the G-7, which also includes Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Japan and the United States. JERUSALEM — The Israeli military says it struck Hamas militants in two locations in the southern Gaza Strip who planned to hijack aid convoys. Palestinian Health officials had earlier said that the two strikes killed 15 men who were part of local committees established to secure aid deliveries. The committees have been organized in cooperation with the Hamas-run Interior Ministry in Gaza. It was not possible to independently confirm either account of the strikes, which occurred overnight into Thursday. Israel has long accused Hamas of hijacking humanitarian aid deliveries, while U.N. officials have said there is no systemic diversion of aid . U.N. agencies and aid groups say deliveries are held up by Israeli restrictions on the entry of aid and movement within Gaza, as well as the breakdown of law and order more than 14 months into the war between Israel and Hamas. Israel has repeatedly targeted the Hamas-run police force, which maintained internal security before the war. The United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees, the main aid provider in Gaza, said a U.N. convoy of 70 trucks carrying humanitarian aid in southern Gaza “was involved in a serious incident,” resulting in just one of the trucks reaching its destination. It did not provide further details on the incident but said the same route had been used successfully two days earlier. Israel’s offensive, launched after Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023, attack, has caused vast destruction and displaced around 90% of Gaza’s population of 2.3 million, leaving the territory heavily reliant on international food aid. DAMASCUS, Syria — An American who turned up in Syria on Thursday says he was detained after crossing into the country by foot on a Christian pilgrimage seven months ago. Travis Timmerman appears to have been among thousands of people released from the country’s notorious prisons after rebels reached Damascus over the weekend, overthrowing President Bashar Assad and ending his family’s 54-year rule. As video emerged online of Timmerman on Thursday, he was initially mistaken by some for Austin Tice, an American journalist who went missing in Syria 12 years ago. In the video, Timmerman could be seen lying on a mattress under a blanket in what appeared to be a private house. A group of men in the video said he was being treated well and would be safely returned home. The Biden administration is working to bring Timmerman home, Secretary of State Antony Blinken told reporters in Aqaba, Jordan, without offering details, citing privacy. Timmerman later gave an interview with the Al-Arabiya TV network, saying he had illegally crossed into Syria on foot from the eastern Lebanese town of Zahle seven months ago, before being detained. He said he was treated well in detention but could hear other men being tortured. AQABA, Jordan — U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has arrived in Jordan on his 12th visit to the Mideast since the Israel-Hamas war erupted last year and his first since the weekend ouster of Syrian President Bashar Assad that has sparked new fears of instability in a region wracked by three conflicts despite a ceasefire agreement in Lebanon. Blinken was meeting in Aqaba with Jordan’s King Abdullah II and Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi on Thursday before traveling to Turkey for talks with Turkish officials on Friday. The meetings will focus largely on Syria but also touch on long-elusive hopes for a deal to end the fighting in Gaza that has devastated the Palestinian territory since October 2023. Blinken is the latest senior U.S. official to visit the Middle East in the five days since Assad was deposed as the Biden administration navigates more volatility in the region in its last few weeks in office and as President-elect Donald Trump has said the U.S. should stay out of the Syrian conflict. Other include national security adviser Jake Sullivan and a top military commander who traveled there as the U.S. and Israel have launched airstrikes to prevent the Islamic State militant group from reconstituting and prevent materiel and suspected chemical weapons stocks from falling into militant hands. Blinken “will discuss the need for the transition process and new government in Syria to respect the rights of minorities, facilitate the flow of humanitarian assistance, prevent Syria from being used as a base of terrorism or posing a threat to its neighbors, and ensure that chemical weapons stockpiles are secured and safely destroyed,” the State Department said. The U.S. would be willing to recognize and fully support a new Syrian government that met those criteria. U.S. officials say they are not actively reviewing the foreign terrorist organization designation of the main Syrian rebel group, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, known as HTS, which was once an al-Qaida affiliate, but stressed they are not barred from speaking to its members. JERUSALEM — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says Israeli forces will remain in a Syrian buffer zone until a new force on the other side of the border can guarantee security. After the overthrow of Syrian President Bashar Assad, Israeli forces pushed into a buffer zone that had been established after the 1973 Mideast war. The military says it has seized additional strategic points nearby. Israeli officials have said the move is temporary, but Netanyahu’s conditions could take months or even years to fulfill as Syria charts its post-Assad future, raising the prospect of an open-ended Israeli presence in the country. Netanyahu’s office said in a statement Thursday that Assad’s overthrow by jihadi rebels created a vacuum on the border. “Israel will not permit jihadi groups to fill that vacuum and threaten Israeli communities on the Golan Heights with October 7th style attacks,” it said, referring to Hamas’ 2023 attack out of Gaza, which ignited the war there. “That is why Israeli forces entered the buffer zone and took control of strategic sites near Israel’s border.” The statement added that “this deployment is temporary until a force that is committed to the 1974 agreement can be established and security on our border can be guaranteed.” The buffer zone is adjacent to the Golan Heights, which Israel captured from Syria in the 1967 Mideast war and later annexed. The international community, except for the United States, views the Golan as occupied Syrian territory. JERUSALEM — Israel’s military said Thursday that the attacker who fatally shot a 12-year-old Israeli boy in the occupied West Bank overnight turned himself in to authorities. The attacker opened fire on a bus near the Israeli settlement of Beitar Illit, critically wounding the boy, who hospital authorities pronounced dead in the early morning. Three others were wounded in the attack, paramedics said. The shooting took place just outside Jerusalem in an area near major Israeli settlements. JAKARTA, Indonesia — The Indonesian government has evacuated 37 citizens from Syria following the fall of the Bashar al-Assad government, officials said Thursday. The evacuees were taken by land from Damascus to Beirut, where they boarded three commercial flights to Jakarta, said Judha Nugraha, director of citizen protection at the Foreign Affairs Ministry. The Indonesian Embassy in Damascus said all 1,162 Indonesian citizens in Syria were safe. Indonesian Ambassador to Syria Wajid Fauzi said the situation in Syria has gradually returned to normal. “I can say that 98% of people’s lives are back to normal, shops are open, public transportation has started running,” Fauzi said, adding that most Indonesian nationals living in Syria had chosen to stay. DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip — Palestinian medical officials say Israeli airstrikes have killed at least 28 people in the Gaza Strip, including seven children and a woman. One of the strikes overnight and into Thursday flattened a house in the built-up Nuseirat refugee camp, according to the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in the nearby city of Deir al-Balah, where the casualties were taken. An Associated Press reporter saw the bodies at the hospital’s morgue. Two other strikes killed 15 men who were part of local committees established to secure aid convoys . The committees were set up by displaced Palestinians in coordination with the Hamas-run Interior Ministry. The Nasser Hospital in the southern city of Khan Younis received the bodies and an AP reporter counted them. The hospital said eight were killed in a strike near the southern border town of Rafah and seven others in a strike 30 minutes later near Khan Younis. The war in Gaza began when Hamas-led militants attacked southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, killing some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and abducting around 250 people. Some 100 hostages are still inside Gaza, at least a third of whom are believed to be dead. Israel’s offensive has killed over 44,800 Palestinians in Gaza, more than half of them women and children, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, which does not say how many were combatants. The Israeli military says it has killed over 17,000 militants, without providing evidence. The fighting has plunged Gaza into a severe humanitarian crisis, with experts warning of famine. Israel says it allows enough aid to enter and blames U.N. agencies for not distributing it. The U.N. says Israeli restrictions, and the breakdown of law and order after Israel repeatedly targeted the Hamas-run police force, make it extremely difficult to operate in the territory. UNITED NATIONS — The U.N. General Assembly overwhelmingly approved resolutions Wednesday demanding an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and backing the U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees that Israel has moved to ban . The votes in the 193-nation world body were 158-9 with 13 abstentions to demand a ceasefire now and 159-9 with 11 abstentions to support the agency known as UNRWA. The votes culminated two days of speeches overwhelmingly calling for an end to the 14-month war between Israel and the militant Hamas group . General Assembly resolutions are not legally binding, though they reflect world opinion. There are no vetoes in the assembly. Israel and its close ally, the United States, were in a tiny minority speaking and voting against the resolutions.By Alec Lewis, Kevin Fishbain, Adam Jahns and Amos Morale III John Parker Romo ’s 29-yard overtime field goal gave the Minnesota Vikings a 30-27 win over the Chicago Bears on Sunday. Romo’s kick capped a 10-play, 68-yard drive that featured big connections from Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold to T.J. Hockenson , Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison , who finished with a career-high 162 yards and a touchdown. Advertisement Chicago forced overtime behind a wild final minute in the fourth quarter, as the Bears scored a touchdown, converted a 2-point conversion, and then recovered an onside kick. In the final seconds of regulation, quarterback Caleb Williams found D.J. Moore for a 27-yard gain to set up Cairo Santos’ game-tying 48-yard field goal. The Bears got the ball first in overtime but were forced to punt, leaving Minnesota with the chance to win on a field goal. VIKINGS WIN IN OVERTIME pic.twitter.com/2KieGMIIbq — NFL (@NFL) November 24, 2024 Addison goes off Last week, Jefferson, the Vikings’ superstar wide receiver, was asked how he’d defend himself. His reply? Shut him down, make the other Vikings receivers beat them. That’s the approach the Bears took Sunday afternoon at Soldier Field, and Vikings No. 2 receiver Addison torched them. The second-year receiver finished with his career-high yardage on eight catches. He also hauled in his fourth touchdown pass of the season. Jefferson, meanwhile, only caught one pass for seven yards during regulation. Addison displayed his entire skillset with the Bears focused on Jefferson. He snatched a 45-yard pass with Bears safety draped all over his back. His touchdown grab was also a highly-contested catch. In the second half, Darnold found Addison on a crossing route, and Addison tightroped his way down the sideline for a 69-yard gain. He supplied the same level of explosiveness, route-running and ball-tracking ability that Vikings fans have become accustomed to watching with Jefferson. — Alec Lewis, Vikings beat writer Darnold shows toughness Darnold delivered when the Vikings needed him most. He completed all six of his attempts in overtime and found Hockenson for a game-sealing 29-yard pass down the field. Darnold had exited in the fourth quarter after getting rolled up on his ankle following a pass. Advertisement In overtime, he was also shaking his hand. The toughness was emblematic of his entire season; Darnold has been on the injury report for multiple weeks with knee and foot injuries. The outing was also pretty emblematic of his career. He threw for 330 yards and two touchdowns on 22-of-34 passing, stringing together his second straight impressive game. It’s not all perfect. Inaccuracies surfaced at times, and he threw the ball into harms way over the middle of the field. All in all, though, Darnold produced when the Vikings needed him to, which is a theme in Minnesota’s 9-2 season. — Lewis Chicago’s unlucky streak continues The Bears have to lead the league in heart-breaking losses this season. A week after losing to the Green Bay Packers on a blocked field goal as time expired, the Vikings won on Romo’s 29-yard field goal in overtime. They’ve lost five games in a row, starting with the Hail Mary loss against the Washington Commanders . The Bears defense couldn’t stop Darnold in overtime. He found Hockenson wide open for a 29-yard gain to set up Romo’s game-winner. It was a wild game for the Bears. Safety Tarvarius Moore recovered an onside kick. But the Vikings also blocked kicker Santos’ 48-yard field goal attempt in the second quarter, while returner D’Andre Carter also muffed a punt. Two pass inference penalties were called on cornerback Jaylon Johnson against Jefferson. Add it all up and the Bears are only good enough to scare their division rivals right now. — Adam Jahns, Bears beat writer Another good day for Williams The talk all week was about how the rookie quarterback Williams would handle Brian Flores’ defense. He passed the test, including a 27-yard strike to help set up overtime. The series in overtime included Williams’ worst play — taking a 12-yard sack — but overall, this was a good sign of progress. Advertisement This season has quickly turned into Williams’ development and progress being the priority, with playoffs virtually out of the picture. For the second week in a row, Bears fans can feel better about the future because of Williams. He got the ball out quick. He made some big-time throws on third down. He seemed calm in the hectic pocket. And he protected the football. The Bears would prefer to see his positive performance come in wins, but in a season like this, they’ll take a game like he had Sunday. Williams finished 32-of-47 passing for 340 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions. — Kevin Fishbain, Bears beat writer Required reading (Photo: Luke Hales / Getty Images)

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I’M a Celebrity star Coleen Rooney is poised to bag a mega-money deal that could see her become the new Holly Willoughby — if she continues to perform well in the jungle. Her every move is being closely observed by bosses at ITV as they eye her up to be a presenter on a new batch of lucrative shows backed by big-spending advertisers. 4 Coleen Rooney is poised to bag a mega-money deal that could see her become the new Holly Willoughby Credit: Rex 4 Coleen, pictured with husband Wayne, has previously presented for ITV on a sporadic basis Credit: Getty 4 Coleen could become the new Holly Willoughby if she continues to perform well in the jungle Credit: Rex 4 A TV insider said: 'Coleen already brings with her the Midas touch when it comes to endorsing the kinds of products which ITV’s advertisers sell' Credit: Getty They also want to tap into the “Coleen Effect”, which sees thousands copy her purchases — such as the £1,000 silk pyjamas the 38-year-old Wag wore to fly to Australia and have now virtually sold out. A TV insider said: “Coleen already brings with her the Midas touch when it comes to endorsing the kinds of products which ITV’s advertisers sell. “She has over a million followers on Instagram alone, and most of them scan her pictures and observe everything she wears and buys. “The more glamorous Love Islanders and some soap stars also have large online followings and hugely influence what social media users spend their money on. Read More on TV SOAP SWAP EastEnders legend joins rival soap 20 years after quitting show and the country COBBLE COMEBACK? I'm A Celeb's Helen Flanagan speaks out on Coronation Street return “But Coleen has the girl-next-door charm of someone like Holly to connect with millions of ordinary shoppers in a way that few other stars do. “But they’ll also be watching her time in the jungle to see how she fares and just what the public reaction is to her. “There are vast sums of money at stake with the deals for the new batch of ITV shows which they are considering her up for.” She could now appear in shows bankrolled by some of Britain’s biggest firms. Most read in I’m A Celebrity 2024 FAMILIAR FACE Maura Higgins breaks her silence on awkwardly sharing a camp with ex’s dad SILENT TREATMENT Here’s why I'm A Celeb won’t get money’s worth out of £1.5m Coleen GUT PUNCH I'm A Celeb's Dean in swipe at Ant in awkward moment as he quits another trial sussed out I’m A Celeb fans work out ‘real reason’ Dean broke major show rule The channel is set to introduce more advertiser funded programmes (AFPs), where companies not only sponsor shows but also pay the costs of creating them. Recent examples include ITV’s Cooking with the Stars, hosted by Emma Willis, and M&S: Dress for Less with AJ Odudu and Vernon Kay. Coleen Rooney boasts to I’m A Celeb campmates how husband Wayne often does VERY 'special' gesture Both were paid for by M&S, but more are in the pipeline with other big companies involved. Mum-of-four Coleen, wife of former England footie skipper Wayne Rooney, has previously presented for the channel on a sporadic basis. She co-hosted on a 2006 episode of Tonight with Trevor McDonald and on 2008’s Coleen’s Real Women, when she looked for females to front ad campaigns. Last year she was seen in a Disney+ documentary, Coleen Rooney: The Real Wagatha Story, which chronicled her courtroom clash with rival Rebekah Vardy. It was a huge hit for the streaming platform. But she has been brought firmly back into the ITV arena by signing up for the jungle, with reports she may also now be regarded as a potential panellist on the hit daytime talk show Loose Women. Read more on the Scottish Sun COMIC'S CASTLE Still Game star takes £150,000 hit to offload luxury £4m Scots castle HITTING THE HIGH NOTES Much-loved pub named best music bar in Scotland A spokeswoman for ITV and Coleen declined to comment. I'm A Celebrity 2024 i'm A Celebrity is back for its 24th series, with a batch of famous faces living in the Aussie jungle. The Sun's Jake Penkethman takes a look at the stars on the show this year.. Coleen Rooney - Arguably the most famous name in the camp, the leading WAG, known for her marriage to Wayne Rooney , has made a grand return to TV as she looks to put the Wagatha Christie scandal behind her. The Sun revealed the mum-of-four had bagged an eye-watering deal worth over £1.5million to be on the show this year making her the highest-paid contestant ever. Tulisa - The popstar and former X Factor judge has made her triumphant TV comeback by signing up to this year's I'm A Celeb after shunning TV shows for many years. Known for being a member of the trio, N-Dubz, Tulisa became a household name back in 2011 when she signed on to replace Cheryl on ITV show The X Factor in a multi-million pound deal. Alan Halsall - The actor, known for playing the long-running role of Tyrone Dobbs on ITV soap opera Coronation Street, was originally signed up to head Down Under last year but an operation threw his scheduled appearance off-course. Now he has become the latest Corrie star to win over both the viewers and his fellow celebrities. Melvin Odoom - The Radio DJ has become a regular face on TV screens after rising to fame with presenting roles on Kiss FM, BBC Radio 1 and 4Music. Melvin has already been for a spin on the Strictly dancefloor and co-hosted The Xtra Factor with Rochelle Humes in 2015 but now he is facing up to his biggest challenge yet - the Aussie jungle . GK Barry - The UK's biggest social media personality, GK, whose real name is Grace Keeling, has transformed her TikTok stardom into a lucrative career. Aside from her popular social media channels, she hosts the weekly podcast, Saving Grace, and regularly appears on ITV talk show, Loose Women. She has even gone on to endorse popular brands such as PrettyLittleThing, KFC and Ann Summers. Dean McCullough - A rising star amongst this year's bunch of celebs , Dean first achieved notability through his radio appearances on Gaydio and BBC Radio 1. He was chosen to join the BBC station permanently in 2021 and has featured prominently ever since. He has enjoyed a crossover to ITV over the past year thanks to his guest slots on Big Brother spin-off show, Late & Live. Oti Mabuse - The pro dancer has signed up to her latest TV show after making her way through the biggest programmes on the box. She originally found fame on Strictly Come Dancing but has since branched out into the world of TV judging with appearances on former BBC show The Greatest Dancer as well as her current role on ITV's Dancing On Ice . Danny Jones - The McFly star was drafted into the programme last minute as a replacement for Tommy Fury. Danny is the second member of McFly to enter the jungle , after Dougie Poynter won the show in 2011. He is also considered a rising star on ITV as he's now one of the mentors on their Saturday night talent show, The Voice , along with bandmate Tom Fletcher. Jane Moore - The Loose Women star and The Sun columnist is braving the creepy crawlies this year. The star is ready for a new challenge - having recently split from her husband . It will be Jane's first foray into reality TV with the telly favourite having always said no to reality shows in the past. Barry McGuigan - Former pro boxer Barry is the latest fighting champ to head Down Under following in the footsteps of Tony Bellew and Amir Khan. It comes after a tough few years for Irish star Barry, who lost his daughter Danika to bowel cancer . He told The Late Late Show in 2021: "She was such an intrinsic part of the family that every day we ache." Maura Higgins - The Irish TV beauty first found fame on Love Island where she found a brief connection with dancer Curtis Pritchard . Since then, she has competed on Dancing On Ice as well as hosting the Irish version of the beauty contest, Glow Up. Since last year, she has been working on building up her career in the US by being the social media correspondent and host of Aftersun to accompany Love Island USA. She even guest hosted an episode of the spin-off, Love Island Games, in place of Maya Jama last year. Rev. Richard Coles - Former BBC radio host the Rev Richard Coles is a late arrival on I’m A Celebrity , and he's ready to spill the beans on his former employer. The former Communards and Strictly star , said the BBC did not know its a**e from its elbow last year. An insider said: "Rev Coles will have a variety of tales to tell from his wild days as a pop star in the Eighties, through to performing on Strictly and his later life as a man of the cloth."Kentucky ends Mizzou volleyball's season in Sweet 16Cox Market Vice President Chanelle Hawken Hopes to Bring ‘Connectivity’ to Customers

The surging Memphis Grizzlies are a far different team than the one that lost twice to the Brooklyn Nets in the first two weeks of the season. Winners of nine of their last 10, the Grizzlies look to maintain their momentum when they face the visiting Nets on Friday. Both teams are playing on four days' rest after failing to qualify for the final rounds of the NBA Cup. Brooklyn has lost four of its last five and will be hard-pressed to slow down Memphis, which has scored at least 115 points in 10 straight games. Memphis drew high praise from opposing coaches last weekend following wins over the Boston Celtics and Washington Wizards. Memphis star Ja Morant scored 32 points in the Grizzlies' 127-121 victory at Boston last Saturday. "If you don't defend them in transition, it's going to be extremely difficult to beat them," Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla said. "They're a good team, well-coached and have great players. You have to control what you can control, don't turn the ball over and get back on defense so you can withstand when their talent takes over." Morant (back soreness) and Desmond Bane (left toe soreness) each missed the Grizzlies' 140-112 road win over the Wizards on Sunday, but both are expected to be available against Brooklyn. Santi Aldama is averaging 13.2 points and 7.5 rebounds while shooting 52.5 percent from the field for the Grizzlies, who have led for almost 370 of a possible 480 minutes over their last 10 games. "We are making progress and developing right now, and I'm definitely excited where this group has trended the past couple weeks," Memphis coach Taylor Jenkins said. "Are we going to maintain our pace? We've been committed to relying on our depth. "Defensively, we've had progress in our pick-and-roll coverages and our one-on-one defense has improved. But it's all about consistency. That's the thing we've talked with the team about over this stretch." Memphis was held to an average of 105 points in its two earlier losses to Brooklyn, but the Nets' defense has faltered in recent weeks. Brooklyn lost 118-113 to Milwaukee on Sunday after blowing a 12-point lead in the third quarter. The Bucks emerged with the win after scoring 23 points in the final six minutes of the game. "No defense to finish that third quarter. No defense to finish the fourth," Brooklyn coach Jordi Fernandez said. "That's how you win and lose games in the NBA. You look at the offensive line, it's pretty good. It's just our defense was worse than bad." Dennis Schroder had 34 points and 11 assists, while Cam Johnson scored 26 points. Center Nic Claxton, who had a season-high 21 points along with 10 rebounds, four assists, three steals and two blocks, praised Fernandez for his candor after the game. "That's what really good coaches do. They hold you accountable. They hold you to a high standard. They're straightforward," Claxton said. "They tell you what they expect from you. That's what we need, especially with a younger team. We definitely feed off of that." Nets forward Dorian Finney-Smith returned to face Milwaukee after missing four games with an ankle injury, posting nine points and four rebounds in 31 minutes. --Field Level MediaReid Hoffman, co-founder at LinkedIn and Inflection AI, shared his expectations for the incoming Trump administration in an opinion piece for the Financial Times. And while he appears hopeful that President-Elect Donald Trump could clear the way for more competition and faster innovation in the technology industry, Hoffman also expressed concerns around Trump providing certain individuals and companies with favored status in a way that could harm American innovation. One individual with his hands in several technological pies that Hoffman says could gain from Trump’s ascendance is Elon Musk , the CEO of Tesla, SpaceX, and xAI , and owner of The Boring Company, Neuralink, and X. Musk, alongside Vivek Ramaswamy, will also head up a planned advisory commission called the Department of Government Efficiency ( DOGE ). Hoffman called Musk’s ownership in xAI in particular “a serious conflict of interest.” “Using his position to favor xAI in any way, such as awarding it government contracts, encouraging federal agencies to unfairly target AI companies, or imposing new regulations that limit exports will come at the expense of U.S. technological, economic and cultural security, and competitiveness,” Hoffman wrote. Tesla, SpaceX, and Neuralink are all also in highly regulated sectors, the agencies governing which could experience layoffs or other influence from Musk in his role at DOGE. Hoffman, who backed VP Kamala Harris’s nomination and has been an outspoken critic of Trump’s presidency, also highlighted the potential benefits and drawbacks to Trump’s support of crypto. He said that “ending arbitrary enforcement policies against the cryptocurrency industry” as seen under the Biden administration could create a “more stable environment for blockchain innovation.” But he questioned whether Trump will “use his new embrace of crypto, and his regulatory authority over it, as a way to privilege a few favored coins?” Trump has his own crypto venture, World Liberty Financial, with a native token that launched in October, and is reportedly working on a new stablecoin that can serve as a stand-in for the U.S. dollar. There have also been reports this week that Trump Media, the president-elect’s social media company, is in advanced talks to acquire cryptocurrency trading platform Bakkt. Hoffman’s concerns that Trump might play favorites are not unfounded. As he noted in his piece, in Trump’s first term, the president-elect “targeted a number of iconic U.S. companies for personal and political reasons, creating constant chaos and uncertainty.” For example, Trump frequently criticized Amazon and its CEO Jeff Bezos, accusing the company of unfairly benefitting from USPS rates , which led to policies scrutinizing Amazon’s deals. Bezos, who owns The Washington Post, now appears to be amenable to Trump , and has defended his decision to withhold the newspaper’s endorsement of Harris. Musk also has a reputation for publicly challenging and criticizing competitors and people he disagrees with. The path to his acquisition of Twitter , now X, was littered with public critiques of the platform’s leadership and business model. Hoffman — who helped fund E. Jean Caroll’s rape case against Trump, criticized him as a “convicted felon and pathological liar,” and has expressed fears that the president-elect would retaliate against him and others in business — ended on an upbeat note despite his skepticism. “I very much hope that Trump succeeds wildly in enabling US entrepreneurship and innovation, increasing wages for workers and creating a country where every American is free to pursue their ambitions with dignity, purpose and a sense of belonging,” Hoffman wrote. “That’s why I will continue to do everything I can to build the next generation of companies that bring life-changing opportunities for individuals and society.”The blue blur returns — and explores. Few video game characters are as well-known as Sonic, the notoriously smart-mouthed chili dog-eating hedgehog. Sonic has been around for decades, and in that time his games have been a lot of things — side-scrollers, pinball games, kart racers, fighting games, and more. You’d think the blue blur had done everything by this point, but in 2022 the series managed to break new ground yet again, by going entirely open world. Sonic Frontiers is a fascinating Sonic experience, one with some clear flaws that still manages to set itself apart from the flood of open world games out there. Its sense of speed and almost zen-like exploration is more than worth the price of entry for any fan, and luckily if you’re a PlayStation Plus member , that price is now zero. If you need some Sonic to scratch the itch after watching Sonic the Hedgehog 3 , you can’t go wrong with Frontiers . Frontiers is essentially a self-contained game, one separated from almost all of the other story lines and settings. The exception, of course, is that the game assumes you have some familiarity with characters like Tails, Robotnik, Knuckles, and Amy Rose. There are some references to past games and events, but you’ll be mostly fine going in blind. An open world that manages to set itself apart from the flood of open world games out there is a feat in itself. At the beginning of Frontiers , Doctor Eggman travels to the mysterious Starfall Islands to steal ancient technology, once again trying to hatch one of his ludicrous plots. He uploads an artificial intelligence named Sage into a portal on the island, and inadvertently wakes up its defense system and gets drawn into another dimension called Cyber Space. As Sonic and his friends investigate they start to see visions about the Ancients, an extraterrestrial race that lives on the island and was destroyed by an entity simply known as “The End.” The storytelling in Sonic games isn’t usually incredibly complex, but Frontiers opts for a different approach by looping its narrative into exploration and leaving a lot of things cryptic and up for interpretation. Playing as Sonic, you essentially explore a sequence of islands, with each one growing more complex in the way its puzzles and open areas work. The islands are littered with ancient ruins and structures that act as both platforming challenges and puzzles, along with plenty of enemies to fight. An upgrade system even lets you pump up Sonic’s speed, attack, defense, ring capacity, and boost. Little wrinkles and gimmicks in later islands keep things interesting, as well as new skills Sonic unlocks. Frontiers has so many little puzzles and places to explore, that it’s easy to get “into the zone.” Frontier’s open world is, bizarrely, most comparable to Breath of the Wild — in the way that it hyper-focuses on exploration and discovery. This isn’t an experience that guides you by hand but rather wants you to poke around the islands on your own, find little puzzles to solve, creatures to save, and a boatload of secrets. The world isn’t as well put-together as Breath of the Wild , and the gameplay itself, particularly Sonic’s movement, can feel janky, imprecise, and rough around the edges. But what’s remarkable about Frontiers is the kind of calming effect playing it has. The world almost reminds you of one of those weird ‘90s animation concepts meant to showcase the power of CG — a dreamlike place that doesn’t obey the laws of reality. There’s no pressure to do anything in a timely manner in Frontiers , and simply running around the world spin-dashing and grinding on rails is delightful. It just feels good to exist in this world. Frontier’s bombastic boss battles are a sight to behold. The extra wrinkle here, however, is how that quiet reverie is occasionally, intentionally, broken by the game’s over-the-top boss battles. Each boss has you transforming into Super Sonic and engaging in what is essentially a Dragon Ball Z fight, filled with explosive moves and crazy combos. Sonic Frontiers is a fascinating game, with contemplative quiet spoiled abruptly with in-your-face action. It’s experimental and drastically different from anything Sonic has seen before, but that’s another part of its charm. While we wait to see what Sonic’s future looks like, Frontiers might just give you a little glimpse. Video Games PlayStation Xbox

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Let your little ones glide with the best kids’ ski boots

Summary: LOS ANGELES , Dec. 9, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- VCA Animal Hospitals , a leader in comprehensive veterinary services and Antech , a leader in veterinary diagnostics, today published its Six-Step Framework for Companion Animal Public Health Collaboration, detailing how One Health organizations can integrate pets into a nationwide health response. This innovative framework outlines the necessary considerations and steps to quickly activate this response lever as part of public safety efforts. It emphasizes the importance of collaboration between veterinary professionals, public health officials, and diagnostic experts to create a seamless and effective response system. Prior to the outset of the COVID-19 pandemic, approaches to understand the impacts of infectious disease outbreaks such as SARS-CoV-2, the virus responsible for COVID-19, on pets were limited and fragmented. A recent VCA study published in Viruses highlights the effectiveness of this new six-step framework in action with VCA and Antech working together to implement rapid-response monitoring and disease detection protocols. This collaboration enabled swift identification and management of COVID-19 cases, demonstrating the potential of the framework to address a critical knowledge gap bridging human and pet health during an emerging public health pandemic. "Traditionally, pets have largely been ignored in public health surveillance, but we want to change that," said Anne Kimmerlein DVM, MPVM, DACVPM, Veterinary Epidemiologist for VCA Animal Hospitals. "Thanks to the participation of our Associates and their pets, we were able to show the impact that the private veterinary sector can have when we come together to address an emerging public health threat. Based on that initial work, we've created a framework for continued and expanded One Health collaboration." The study involved a nationwide approach, focusing on households with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infections in humans. Pets in these households were monitored for clinical signs consistent with SARS-CoV-2, and samples were collected for PCR and serological testing. The study included 747 dogs and 253 cats. The study highlighted the significance of being watchful of close human-animal contact and preventive measures to reduce transmission risks. The results indicated that pets can contract SARS-CoV-2, primarily through close contact with infected humans. While most pets showed mild or no symptoms, the study nonetheless underscored the recommendation for preventive measures such as good hand hygiene around pets to minimize transmission risks. The findings also demonstrated the potential for pets to seroconvert and develop antibodies, indicating exposure to the virus. "The results of this study show a significant step in advancing our understanding of how closely human and animal health are intertwined – and it was only possible through close collaboration between VCA and our team at Antech," said Christian Leutenegger , Dr. Med. Vet., Ph.D., FHV, Vice President of R&D, Assay Development at Antech Diagnostics . "The research provides a blueprint for continued ongoing collaboration to examine other types of infectious diseases that could impact our pets." VCA and Antech's six-step framework for One Health collaboration sets a new standard for integrating pets into nationwide health responses. By fostering collaboration and leveraging advanced diagnostic tools, this approach helps deliver a swift and effective response to public health crises. The success of the COVID-19 study serves as a testament to the potential of this innovative strategy. "Our commitment to One Health principles has never been stronger," said Marie Kerl , DVM, MPH, MBA, DACVIM, DACVECC and Chief Medical Officer for VCA Animal Hospitals. "By integrating pets into our nationwide health response, we can ensure a more comprehensive approach to public safety and health." To learn more about this groundbreaking framework, visit " Six-Step Framework for Companion Animal Public Health Collaboration ." About VCA Animal Hospitals A leader in veterinary care, VCA Animal Hospitals is committed to caring for the future of veterinary medicine. We are a family of hometown animal hospitals determined to positively impact pets, people, and our communities. From general practice to emergency and specialty care, VCA delivers world-class medicine to more than four million pets each year. Our national network of hospitals invests in cutting-edge tools, training and technology that enables our Associates to lead the industry today and into tomorrow. Among our talented 35,000 Associates are nearly 7,000 veterinarians – including 430 who are board-certified specialists – nearly 4,000 credentialed veterinary technicians and more than 10,000 veterinary assistants – all dedicated to giving pets the very best in medical care. As part of the Mars Petcare family of businesses, VCA is committed to its Purpose: A BETTER WORLD FOR PETS. To learn more about VCA, visit vca.com . About Mars Veterinary Health Mars Veterinary Health is a global division of Mars Petcare dedicated to delivering high-quality pet healthcare to further its collective Purpose: A BETTER WORLD FOR PETS. Mars Veterinary Health's 70,000 Associates across 3,000 global veterinary clinics put pets, people, and the planet first. The Mars Veterinary Health family includes Associates at AniCura, Banfield, BluePearl, Creature Comforts, Gentle Oak, Hillside, Linnaeus, Mount Pleasant, Tai Wai , VCA, VES, and VSH who demonstrate compassion and expertise while enabling 35 million pet visits each year. Learn more at marsveterinaryhealth.com . About Antech Antech is a leader in veterinary diagnostics, driven by our passion for innovation that delivers better animal health outcomes. Our products and services span 90+ reference laboratories around the globe; in-house diagnostic laboratory instruments and consumables, including rapid assay diagnostic products and digital cytology services; local and cloud-based data services; practice information management software and related software and support; veterinary imaging and technology; veterinary professional education and training; and board-certified specialist support services. As part of the Mars Petcare family of businesses, Antech is committed to its Purpose: A BETTER WORLD FOR PETS. Learn more at AntechDiagnostics.com . View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/vca-animal-hospitals-and-antech-advocate-for-more-comprehensive-pet-data-in-public-health-reporting-recommend-six-step-framework-for-one-health-collaboration-302326701.html SOURCE VCA Animal Hospitals

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Your child’s ski boots can impact their overall skiing experience and may even undermine their love for the sport if they find the boots awkward fitting and uncomfortable. In addition to comfort, the ability to retain warmth and be breathable are important qualities your kid’s ski boot should have. If your child is ready to hit the slopes and you’re looking for the ideal pair of boots, ensure you choose one that provides comfort and inspires confidence, such as our top pick, Fischer Junior/Kids RC4 60 Thermoshape Alpine On/Off-Piste Ski Boots . There are several types of ski boots for kids, such as rear-entry and front-entry designs as well as performance and adjustable boot options. Rear-entry boots allow your child to slip in their feet from the back, while front entry includes a tongue that opens forward and allows the child to slide in their foot from the top. Another type is performance boots, which are made for older kids who want a better performance from their footwear. The adjustable ski boot is another option, and it is a great choice for kids who grow out of their footwear quickly. It’s easy to think your child’s boots are too small because they feel stiff and tight, but some boots are designed to be stiff. To avoid making a mistake with the sizing, take your child with you to the ski shop to get them sized. You can speak to a ski technician to learn more about the fit process. Let your child try on the boot with the liner while wearing socks. If the liner is tight, then the boots may be too small. If your child is just starting with skiing and is only confident skiing on green runs, they are considered a beginner. Their category is intermediate if they can ski confidently on the blue square terrains. However, they are advanced if they can ski anything on the mountain. Kids’ ski boots usually come with ratings depending on their experience level. The boots with a lower flex rating are designed for beginners and are comfortable to wear but deliver less on performance. Those with a higher rating are usually less comfortable but provide better performance. Some children may end up abandoning skiing because they’d rather be doing something else other than constantly taking their boots on and off. Front-entry and rear-entry ski boots are easy to wear, so choose either of these options for a fussy child. Your child’s boots should grip the floor properly to minimize their chance of falling when skiing. This feature is known as slip resistance and is often determined by the type of material used to fabricate the outsole of the boots. Generally, slip-resistant soles are textured and made of rubber. Waterproof ski boots are made of nonporous materials and can keep your child’s feet dry even when submerged in water. There are water-resistant boots designed to repel water, but these won’t prevent your child’s feet from getting wet in heavy rain or snow. Most kids’ ski boots cost $25-$40. Some expensive options are made with high-quality waterproof material, costing up to $60. A. Ski boots have a different sizing for shoes, called Mondo sizing, which measures the inside of the foot. To get the right size for your child, use a tape measure to measure the length of their feet, then check the size chart to get the correct size. A. If your child is just starting with skiing, choose a pair of boots that can easily flex, like front-entry ski boots. Fischer Junior/Kids RC4 60 Thermoshape Alpine On/Off-Piste Ski Boots What you need to know: These ski boots are an excellent choice for beginner skiers thanks to their soft flex design and thermoformable technology. What you’ll love: These Soma-Tec boots are designed to enable maximum control and prevent the ankle and knee joints from twisting when skiing. They also include a micro-adjustable buckle system for quick and easy adjustment. They feature a thermoformable boot liner designed to give an adapted fit. What you should consider: Some users mentioned that the sizing isn’t accurate. Salomon T3 RT Ski Boots What you need to know: These ski boots come in three unique colors and are suitable for both boys and girls. What you’ll love: These boots are made with polyurethane, which gives them unique durability. They are also easy to put on or off and include micro-adjustments in the buckle to ensure a custom fit. What you should consider: They might run small for children with big feet. Rossignol Comp J4 Ski Boots Kid’s What you need to know: These ski boots are designed with comfort in mind thanks to their comfort liners and unique diagonal buckles. What you’ll love: They include liners that are made with soft materials and designed to give optimal comfort and all-day cushioning. They also feature diagonal buckles that offer a more natural foot wrapping and excellent heel support. What you should consider: The buckles are made of thin metal wire, which might not be very durable. Prices listed reflect time and date of publication and are subject to change. Check out our Daily Deals for the best products at the best prices and sign up here to receive the BestReviews weekly newsletter full of shopping inspo and sales. BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. BestReviews and its newspaper partners may earn a commission if you purchase a product through one of our links.General Motors To Shut Down Autonomous Car Developer Cruise Despite $10 Billion Spend Robotics & Automation News

New St. Michael addition brings learning under one roofPolice arrested a “strong person of interest” Monday in the brazen Manhattan killing of UnitedHealthcare’s CEO after a quick-thinking McDonald’s employee in Pennsylvania alerted authorities to a customer who was found with a weapon and writings linking him to the ambush. The 26-year-old man had a gun believed to be the one used in the killing and writings suggesting his anger with corporate America, police officials said. He was taken into custody after police got a tip that he was eating at a McDonald’s in Altoona, Pennsylvania, NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch said at a news conference. Police identified the suspect as Luigi Mangione. Mangione was born and raised in Maryland, has ties to San Francisco, and his last known address is in Honolulu, Hawaii, Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny said at a news briefing. Here's the latest: In an email to parents and alumni, Gilman headmaster Henry P.A. Smyth said it “recently” learned that Mangione, a 2016 graduate, was arrested in the CEO’s killing. “We do not have any information other than what is being reported in the news,” Smyth wrote. “This is deeply distressing news on top of an already awful situation. Our hearts go out to everyone affected.” Mangione, a high school valedictorian from a Maryland prep school, earned undergraduate and graduate degrees in computer science in 2020 from the University of Pennsylvania, a spokesman told The Associated Press on Monday. He had learned to code in high school and helped start a club at Penn for people interested in gaming and game design, according to a 2018 story in Penn Today, a campus publication. His posts also suggest that he belonged to the fraternity Phi Kappa Psi. They also show him taking part in a 2019 program at Stanford University, and in photos with family and friends in Hawaii, San Diego, Puerto Rico, the New Jersey shore and other destinations. Police said the suspect arrested Monday had a ghost gun , a type of weapon that can be assembled at home from parts without a serial number, making them difficult to trace. The critical component in building an untraceable gun is what’s known as the lower receiver. Some are sold in do-it-yourself kits and the receivers are typically made from metal or polymer. Altoona police say officers were dispatched to a McDonald’s on Monday morning in response to reports of a male matching the description of the man wanted in connection with the United Healthcare CEO’s killing in New York City. In a news release, police say officers made contact with the man, who was then arrested on unrelated charges. The Altoona Police Department says it’s cooperating with local, state, and federal agencies. “This just happened this morning. We’ll be working, backtracking his steps from New York to Altoona, Pennsylvania,” Kenny said. “And at some point we’ll work out through extradition to bring him back to New York to face charges here, working with the Manhattan district attorney’s office,” NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny said. “As of right now, the information we’re getting from Altoona is that the gun appears to be a ghost gun that may have been made on a 3D printer, capable of firing a 9 mm round,” NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny said at a news briefing. The document suggested the suspect had “ill will toward corporate America,” police added. Mangione, 26, was born and raised in Maryland, has ties to San Francisco, and his last known address in Honolulu, Hawaii, Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny said at a news briefing. Police have arrested a 26-year-old with a weapon “consistent with” the gun used in the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson , New York City’s police commissioner says. Thompson , 50, died in a dawn ambush Wednesday as he walked to the company’s annual investor conference at Manhattan hotel. Thompson had traveled from Minnesota for the event. A man being questioned Monday in the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson had writings that appeared to be critical of the health insurance industry, a law enforcement official told The Associated Press. The man also had a gun thought to be similar to the one used in the killing, the official said. Police apprehended the man after receiving a tip that he had been spotted at a McDonald’s near Altoona, Pennsylvania, about 233 miles (375 kilometers) west of New York City, said the official, who wasn’t authorized to discuss details of the investigation and spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity. Along with the gun, police found a silencer and fake IDs, according to the official. — Michael R. Sisak That’s also according to the law enforcement official. — Michael R. Sisak That’s according to a law enforcement official. — Michael R. Sisak New York City Mayor Eric Adams is expected to address this development at a previously scheduled afternoon news briefing in Manhattan. While still looking to identify the suspect, the FBI has offered a $50,000 reward for information leading to his arrest and conviction. That’s on top of a $10,000 reward offered by the NYPD. That included footage of the attack, as well as images of someone at a Starbucks beforehand. Photos taken in the lobby of a hostel on Manhattan’s Upper West Side showed the person grinning after removing his mask, police said. NYPD dogs and divers returned to New York’s Central Park today while the dragnet for Thompson’s killer stretched into a sixth day. Investigators have been combing the park since the Wednesday shooting and searching at least one of its ponds for three days, looking for evidence that may have been thrown into it. Police say the shooter used a 9 mm pistol that resembled the guns farmers use to put down animals without causing a loud noise. Police said they had not yet found the gun itself. Ammunition found near Thompson’s body bore the words “delay,” “deny” and “depose,” mimicking a phrase used by insurance industry critics . A man with a gun thought to be similar to the one used in the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson was taken into police custody Monday for questioning in Pennsylvania, a law enforcement official told The Associated Press. The man is being held in the area of Altoona, Pennsylvania, about 233 miles (375 kilometers) west of New York City, the official said. The official was not authorized to discuss details of the ongoing investigation and spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity. The development came as dogs and divers returned Monday to New York’s Central Park while the dragnet for Thompson’s killer stretched into a sixth day. — Michael R. SisakThe vote counting for the 2024 Jharkhand Assembly elections begins on Saturday, with all eyes on the Dhanwar constituency, a key battleground in the Giridih district. The seat, traditionally a stronghold of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), is witnessing a fierce contest, making it uncertain who will emerge victorious in this high-stakes race. The election concluded with a statewide voter turnout of 68.01%, while Dhanwar saw a participation rate of 62.38%. Voting took place from 7 am to 6 pm, marking the end of a significant electoral process in the state. Former Chief Minister of Jharkhand and senior leader of the Jharkhand Vikas Morcha (Prajatantrik) (JVM(P)), Babulal Marandi is seeking re-election to the Dhanwar seat. In the 2019 elections, Marandi secured a comfortable win with 52,352 votes, leading the BJP's Laxman Prasad Singh by over 18,000 votes. His political experience and leadership make him a strong contender for the seat. Raj Kumar Yadav, representing the Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist) Liberation (CPI(ML)L), previously won the seat in 2014 with 50,634 votes. His influence remains strong among certain voter segments, but it remains to be seen if he can regain the seat against formidable rivals like Marandi. Contesting on behalf of the Jharkhand Loktantrik Congress Morcha (JLKM), Rajdesh Ratan is likely to split the vote share, particularly among non-BJP voters, though his impact on the final outcome is expected to be minimal. The BJP has raised concerns about alleged infiltration by Bangladeshi nationals into the tribal areas of Santhal Pargana, claiming that the state government has failed to address this issue, which they believe is a threat to the region's tribal demographic. The ruling Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) government faces accusations of corruption, with the BJP focusing on allegations of mismanagement and failure in implementing welfare and developmental programs. Local voters are also concerned about the delivery of welfare benefits, particularly the monthly cash transfer scheme introduced by the JMM government. While supporters argue it is a vital initiative for the poor, critics claim it is politically motivated. In the 2019 Assembly elections, Babulal Marandi (JVM(P)) secured the Dhanwar seat with 52,352 votes, defeating BJP’s Laxman Prasad Singh by a margin of over 18,000 votes. Raj Kumar Yadav (CPI(ML)L) came third with 32,245 votes. The 2014 election had seen a significant shift, with Raj Kumar Yadav (CPI(ML)L)) winning the seat with 50,634 votes, defeating Babulal Marandi (JVM(P)), who had received 39,922 votes. This victory marked a rare win for CPI(ML)L in a traditionally BJP-dominated area.