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Undergraduate occupational and environmental health and safety programs at Utah State University, Brigham Young University, the University of Utah and Weber State University have formed a first-of-its-kind partnership to collectively promote their degrees and career opportunities. The partnership’s effort has included hosting informational sessions for prospective students featuring all four universities, a unified marketing campaign and collaborative management. The occupational and environmental health and safety field focuses on protecting the health, safety and well-being of workers by identifying, assessing and managing workplace and environmental risks. From 2018-2022, the most recent five-year data available from the U.S Bureau of Labor Statistics, 257 people died in occupational fatalities in Utah and 161,400 people suffered workplace injuries Reducing both numbers by producing well-trained graduates is a core objective of all four of the partner occupational and environmental health and safety programs. Academic advisor for USU’s Public Health program , Carl Farley, said the Occupational and Environmental Health field has incredibly high job placement, and starting salaries for bachelor’s-level professionals range from $68,000 to $100,000. Farley said they could easily double the number of program graduates and still have 100% job placement, but attracting students has always been a challenge. “Unfortunately, it’s the best kept secret. And we’re trying to change that,” Farley said. He said most of their students find out about the program by word of mouth, which is how USU senior Ethan Fullmer found the program. Fullmer is a pre-dental student from Hyde Park. He said he started as a human biology major, which is common for pre-medical students, but a student in the public health program recommended it to him. “I talked to Farley, and it seemed like a degree with lots of career options, smaller class sizes and opportunities to get my hands dirty outside of the classroom,” Fullmer said. He said he likes that the program is so hands on, and every student has to do an internship, so they get real world experience. The field encompasses a range of disciplines, such as industrial hygiene, ergonomics, occupational health psychology, occupational medicine, occupational health nursing, occupational safety and mining safety. “We’ve had graduates work in every field from oil and gas to hospitals and technology,” said program director Scott Bernhardt. “We’ve had students work at Intel, Amazon, Tesla, you name it.” Program lecturer John Flores said for incoming freshmen interested in STEM, public health is a good place to start. “If they decide they don’t like it, the foundation they will have from entry level classes will meet any other science requirements,” Flores said. Tori Joy, who is leading the partnership as the occupational and environmental health and safety pathways coordinator at Weber State, said students don’t often learn about these types of jobs in high school or grade school. She said they want students to learn about the field, get excited about it and enroll in one of these programs, no matter which university they choose to go to. “The enthusiastic involvement of all four undergraduate programs — which ostensibly compete against one another — sends a rare and powerful message,” Joy said. “It speaks to the importance of what we’re doing and our shared commitment to both students and workers. The graduates of our programs literally save lives and positively impact hundreds of thousands of Utahns — and they’re rewarded with meaningful, fulfilling careers.” To learn more about any of the programs in the partnership, go to rmcoeh.com/undergraduate-degrees .
MLB Notes: Red Sox trade ex-UVa catcher Teel, others for CrochetEllis announces candidacy for Assembly special election to fill Fong's old seat
NoneUS defender Carter-Vickers scores own goal with no-look pass for Celtic in Champions League
AP News Summary at 6:20 p.m. EST
1 of 1 2 of 1 Get the best of Vancouver in your inbox, every Tuesday and Thursday. Sign up for our free newsletter . UBC’s Phil Lind Initiative is bringing its speaker series back to the Chan Centre for the Performing Arts in 2025. The theme—What It Means to Be “American”: Navigating Identity in a Changing Nation—examines the complexities of identity in the United States amid the political and social upheaval of a second Trump presidency. Focusing on historical legacies, cultural narratives, and current events, the series confronts the evolving definition of what it means to belong in America today. From provocative art installations to insightful talks, the lineup includes thought leaders and creators tackling issues such as systemic inequality, technology’s power, and colonialism’s lasting effects. Here are the lineup details. The Bomb by Smriti Keshari and Eric Schlosser Kicking off the series is an immersive multimedia experience by filmmaker Smriti Keshari and writer Eric Schlosser. This installation uses archival footage, animation, and an electronic score to explore the precarious realities of nuclear weapon systems. When: January 16, 6:30pm Tickets: Available December 19 Adam Kinzinger Former congressman Adam Kinzinger will offer a firsthand look at the fractures within the GOP. As one of only two Republicans on the January 6th Select Committee, Kinzinger has become a prominent voice against Trumpism. When: February 13, 6:30pm Tickets: Available January 9 Ziwe Comedian, writer, and cultural commentator Ziwe brings her bold satire to the stage. Known for her provocative interviews and viral moments, Ziwe confronts uncomfortable truths about race, power, and identity in America. When: March 13, 6:30pm Tickets: Available January 30 Raven Chacon Composer Raven Chacon challenges narratives of colonialism through music and visual art. His Pulitzer Prize-winning composition Voiceless Mass underscores the erasure of Indigenous voices, while his use of nontraditional instruments like axes and rifles powerfully comments on history and place. When: March 27, 6:30pm Tickets: Available February 13 Heather Cox Richardson Historian Heather Cox Richardson concludes the series with insights from her daily newsletter, Letters from an American . Her latest book, Democracy Awakening , explores the threats to American democracy historically, offering a timely perspective on the nation’s challenges. When: April 10, 6:30pm Tickets: Available February 27
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CHECK OUT: Don't let unemployment hold you back. Start your digital marketing journey today. The top US securities regulator, a skeptic towards cryptocurrency who was appointed by President Joe Biden, announced Thursday he will step down in January when Donald Trump takes office. Gary Gensler, chair of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), said he will resign on January 20, the same day Trump assumes the presidency. The move clears the way for the president-elect to pick Gensler's successor. The news comes as bitcoin hit a fresh record, trading above $99,000 and nearing the symbolic $100,000 level. Gensler's five-year term does not end until 2026, but agency chairs customarily step down when the party of presidential administration turns over. During the election campaign, Trump promised to fire him. Gensler took office in April 2021 shortly after the so-called "meme stock" frenzy in January 2021 prompted massive volatility in GameStop and a handful of other stocks. A former mergers and acquisitions partner at Goldman Sachs, Gensler led rulemaking proposals intended to improve efficiency in capital markets. Read also Stock markets retreat ahead of Nvidia earnings PAY ATTENTION: Legit.ng Needs Your Help! Take our Survey Now and See Improvements at LEGIT.NG Tomorrow But his future in Washington looked precarious in light of the SEC's confrontational approach to cryptocurrency throughout the Biden years. Gensler referred to crypto as "the Wild West." During the campaign, Trump drew heavy financial support from cryptocurrency backers, some of whom are also close to the Republican's close ally, Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk. In the absence of clear regulations, Gensler took an aggressive stance toward digital currencies, treating them like traditional financial securities such as stocks and bonds. The approach has prompted SEC lawsuits against major trading platforms including Binance , Coinbase, and Kraken, along with various smaller startups. Legislation currently in Congress would shift oversight of cryptocurrency supervision to the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, known for its lighter-touch approach to regulation. Gensler thanked Biden and fellow commissioners, saying in a statement, "The SEC has met our mission and enforced the law without fear or favor." Read also Asian markets struggle as traders weigh geopolitical tensions But the SEC's announcement drew cheers from the crypto industry . The Blockchain Association posted a waving hand emoji on X in response to Gensler's impending exit, while its CEO, Kristin Smith, noted the announcement came the same day as a favorable US court ruling in Texas for cryptocurrency. The Texas ruling constitutes "a fitting turning point of the SEC's harassment campaign of the crypto industry, and the beginning of a new era," Smith said on X. Smith warned Gensler against "sneak" last-minute enforcement and called for a "better-functioning" SEC that avoids overreach and is willing to work "with industry to find fit-for-purpose solutions." Hailey Lennon, a partner at law firm Brown Rudnick who was formerly general counsel at Coinbase, said the SEC under Gensler "played gatekeeper and stalled innovation." Citing Gensler's departing comments, she wrote on X that "saying the SEC has regulated without fear or favor is insane gaslighting." PAY ATTENTION : Legit.ng Needs Your Opinion! That's your chance to change your favourite news media. Fill in a short questionnaire Source: AFP
Si-TPV dynamically vulcanised thermoplastic silicone-based elastomers for healthy baby growth 12-11-2024 09:02 PM CET | Associations & Organizations Press release from: ABNewswire In recent years, with the upgrading of family childcare consumption, the mother and baby market has been developing rapidly, and the situation is promising. At the same time, along with the rise of the younger generation, young people's consumer attitudes and habits are showing a new trend, they have a strong brand awareness, but also more concerned about the quality of life and safety and health. For children in daily life frequent contact with plastic toys, bottles, cutlery, spoons, washbasins, bath tubs, teethers and other maternal and child supplies, focusing on safety and environmental protection of young parents to select these supplies is no longer price and style-based, the environmental protection of the material itself and the safety of their choice of key indicators. In the field of mother and baby products, the choice of materials is crucial to ensure the safety, comfort and health of mothers and babies. Types of skin-friendly materials for mother and baby products - what you need to know are 1. Medical grade silicone: Safe and versatile Medical grade silicone is an environmentally friendly, non-toxic and safe product that is non-toxic, resistant to high temperatures, oxidation, flexibility and transparency. It is commonly used in baby products such as pacifiers, teething toys and breast pumps. Silicone is gentle on baby's gums and minimises the risk of allergic reactions. 2. Food-grade silicone: soft and comfortable, with a wide range of temperature resistance Food-grade silicone is soft, comfortable and elastic, giving a comfortable touch, will not be deformed, and a wide range of temperature resistance, long service life, designed for contact with food, does not contain harmful chemicals, easy to clean, long use, non-yellowing, ageing-resistant, and is the ideal choice for baby feeding products. Image: https://www.si-tpv.com/uploads/bb-plugin/cache/%E4%BC%81%E4%B8%9A%E5%BE%AE%E4%BF%A1%E6%88%AA%E5%9B%BE_17334694687556-circle.png 3. Thermoplastic Elastomer (TPE): Soft and flexible TPE materials are widely used in baby products such as bottle nipples, straw cups, cutlery, bowls and toys, etc. TPE materials are soft, elastic, pliable and easy to wipe, etc. Many baby feeding utensils and cutlery are made from TPE. Many baby feeding utensils and cutlery also use a variety of TPE materials, not only soft, durable, and loved by babies. Spoons and bowls are also made of TPE materials, which are soft and flexible, which is very safe for babies who are just learning to use cutlery. Dynamically vulcanised thermoplastic silicone-based elastomers (Si-TPV): long-lasting, silky-smooth skin feel Si-TPV Dynamically Vulcanised Thermoplastic Silicone-based Elastomer [ https://www.si-tpv.com/si-tpv-solution-for-creating-safe-comfortable-and-aesthetically-appealing-products-in-the-maternal-and-baby-market-product/ ] is a non-toxic material for bite-resistant toys Plasticizer-free thermoplastic elastomer and Aesthetically comfortable brightly colored kids' product materialdeveloped by Thermoplastic Elastomer Manufacturer, Silicone Elastomer Manufacturers - SILIKE. It ensures the safety and hygiene of mother and baby products and reduces the potential risk of the products to human beings, so that consumers can use them with peace of mind. The Si-TPV range is a Safe Sustainable Soft Alternative Material [ https://www.si-tpv.com/si-tpv-solution-for-creating-safe-comfortable-and-aesthetically-appealing-products-in-the-maternal-and-baby-market-product/ ] to PVC and silicone or traditional plastics, and a ground-breaking innovation in the field of thermoplastic elastomers. Unlike traditional plastics, elastomers and materials, the Si-TPV range is an Eco-friendly soft touch material with an excellent soft touch feel, no additional processing or coating steps, is environmentally safer, anti-allergenic and provides enhanced comfort for mum and baby. It enables manufacturers to create unique products that are visually appealing, aesthetically pleasing, comfortable, ergonomic, colourful, non-migratory, non-sticky surfaces, and more resistant to bacteria, dust and other contaminants than other materials, making it a novel solution for products for mothers, babies and children. Applications for Si-TPV include handles for baby bath tubs, non-slip mats on children's toilet lids, cots, prams, car seats, high chairs, playpens, rattles, bath toys or grip toys, non-toxic baby play mats, soft-sided feeding spoons, and other baby products. For more details, visit www.si-tpv.com or Email: amy.wang@silike.cn [mailto:amy.wang@silike.cn]. Media Contact Company Name: Chengdu Silike Technology Co.,Ltd. Email:Send Email [ https://www.abnewswire.com/email_contact_us.php?pr=sitpv-dynamically-vulcanised-thermoplastic-siliconebased-elastomers-for-healthy-baby-growth ] Country: China Website: https://www.si-tpv.com/ This release was published on openPR.SMITHFIELD, R.I. (AP) — Malik Grant rushed for 204 yards and three touchdowns and Rhode Island beat Bryant 35-21 on Saturday to capture its first league title in 39 years. Rhode Island (10-2, 7-1 Coastal Athletic Association) secured the program's seventh title, with each of the previous six coming in the Yankee Conference. The Rams tied a program record for total wins in a season with 10, first set in 1984 and matched in 1985. Hunter Helms threw for 209 yards with one touchdown and one interception for Rhode Island. Grant also added his first touchdown reception of the season. Grant rushed for 47 yards on the first snap of the second half. He ran for 56 yards on the drive that ended with his 4-yard touchdown catch for a 20-14 lead. An interception by Braden Price on the ensuing Bryant possession set up another Grant rushing touchdown. Bryant scored in the fourth quarter to make it a one-score game, but a 15-play, 72-yard drive ended with a 3-yard touchdown run by Grant. Grant's 13 rushing touchdowns are tied for Rhode Island's single-season record set last season by Ja’Den McKenzie. Brennan Myer threw for 189 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions for Bryant (2-10, 0-8). Dylan Kedzior rushed for 80 yards and a touchdown, and Landon Ruggieri caught eight passes for 105 yards and a score. Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here . AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-footballIrish-language film Kneecap has won seven British Independent Film Awards (BIFA), including the top honor - Best British Independent Film. Kneecap, which is based on a semi-fictionalised account of how the west Belfast rap trio was formed, also took Best Debut Screenwriter for Rich Peppiatt and Best Joint Lead for trio Liam Óg Ó Hannaidh, Naoise Ó Cairealláin and JJ Ó Dochartaigh. The film dominated the awards with 14 nominations. The winners of the 27th British Independent Film Awards were announced during a ceremony in London's Roundhouse on Sunday evening. Rap group Kneecap was formed in 2017 by three friends who go by the stage names of Mo Chara, Móglaí Bap and DJ Próvaí. The three-piece have faced disapproval for their politically-charged lyrics and ease with controversy - they've previously admitted they like "to get people riled up". The idea for a film was first conceived in 2019 when director Rich Peppiatt watched the group perform in Belfast. Filmed in Belfast and Dundalk, Peppiatt previously told BBC News NI: "It's definitely more controversial than the usual movies that come out of Northern Ireland." Set in west Belfast in 2019, the film is a dramatised, comedic account of how the group was formed. It became the first Irish-language film to premiere at the Sundance Film Festival, where it won the NEXT audience award. The film met rave reviews upon its premiere , external with The Hollywood Reporter describing it as "gleefully irreverent". The Irish Film & Television Academy has selected Kneecap to represent Ireland in the International Feature Film category at the upcoming 97th annual Academy Awards.
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden's administration is urging Ukraine to quickly increase the size of its military by drafting more troops and revamping its mobilization laws to allow for the conscription of those as young as 18. A senior Biden administration official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss the private consultations, said Wednesday that the outgoing Democratic administration wants Ukraine to lower the mobilization age to 18 from the current age of 25 to help expand the pool of fighting-age men available to help a badly outnumbered Ukraine in its nearly three-year-old war with Russia. The official said “the pure math” of Ukraine's situation now is that it needs more troops in the fight. Currently Ukraine is not mobilizing or training enough soldiers to replace its battlefield losses while keeping pace with Russia's growing military, the official added. The White House has pushed more than $56 billion in security assistance to Ukraine since the start of Russia's February 2022 invasion and expects to send billions more to Kyiv before Biden leaves office in less than months. But with time running out, the Biden White House is also sharpening its viewpoint that Ukraine has the weaponry it needs and now must dramatically increase its troop levels if it's going to stay in the fight with Russia. The official said the Ukrainians believe they need about 160,000 additional troops, but the U.S. administration believes they probably will need more than that. More than 1 million Ukrainians are now in uniform, including the National Guard and other units. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has been hearing concerns from allies in other Western capitals as well that Ukraine has a troop level problem and not an arms problem, according to European officials who requested anonymity to discuss the sensitive diplomatic conversations. The European allies have stressed that the lack of depth means that it may soon become untenable for Ukraine to continue to operate in Russia’s Kursk border region . The situation in Kursk has become further complicated by the arrival of thousands of North Korean troops , who have come to help Moscow try to claw back the land seized in a Ukrainian incursion this year. The stepped-up push on Ukraine to strengthen its fighting ranks comes as Ukraine braces for President-elect Donald Trump to take office on Jan. 20. The Republican said he would bring about a swift end to the war and has raised uncertainty about whether his administration would continue the vital U.S. military support for Ukraine. “There are no easy answers to Ukraine’s serious manpower shortage, but lowering the draft age would help,” said Bradley Bowman, senior director of the Center on Military and Political Power at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies. "These are obviously difficult decisions for a government and society that has already endured so much due to Russia’s invasion.” Ukraine has taken steps to broaden the pool of draft-eligible men, but the efforts have only scratched the surface against a much larger Russian military. In April, Ukraine’s parliament passed a series of laws, including one lowering its draft-eligible age for men from 27 to 25, aimed at broadening the universe of men who could be called on to join the grinding war. Those laws also did away with some draft exemptions and created an online registry for recruits. They were expected to add about 50,000 troops, far short of what Zelenskyy said at the time was needed. Zelenskyy has consistently stated that he has no plans to lower the mobilization age. A senior Ukrainian official, who was not authorized to comment publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity, said Ukraine does not have enough equipment to match the scale of its ongoing mobilization efforts. The official said Ukrainian officials see the push to the lower the draft age as part of an effort by some Western partners to deflect attention from their own delays in providing equipment or belated decisions. The official cited as an example the delay in giving Ukraine permission to use longer-range weapons to strike deeper into Russian territory. The Ukrainians do not see lowering the draft age to recruit more soldiers as a substitute for countering Russia’s advantage in equipment and weaponry, the official said. Conscription has been a sensitive matter in Ukraine throughout the war. Russia’s own problems with adequate troop levels and planning early in the war prevented Moscow from taking full advantage of its edge. But the tide has shifted and the U.S. says the Ukrainian shortage can no longer be overlooked. Some Ukrainians have expressed worry that further lowering the minimum conscription age and taking more young adults out of the workforce could backfire by further harming the war-ravaged economy. The senior Biden administration official added that the administration believes that Ukraine can also optimize its current force by more aggressively dealing with soldiers who desert or go absent without leave. AP White House correspondent Zeke Miller and AP writer Hanna Arhirova in Kyiv contributed to this report.
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The San Diego Unified School Board is weighing recommendations to build 1,000 income-restricted apartments on five of its properties across the city, with a goal of housing 10% of its employees within the next decade, in what would mark a significant expansion of the district’s decade-old real estate strategy. “The time has come for us to set some bold but achievable long-term goals together,” Lee Dulgeroff, the district’s facilities executive director, said at a board workshop last week. School districts around California are increasingly pursuing the idea of building affordable housing for employees as a way to improve recruitment and retention amid a worsening housing crisis. That idea has become the hallmark of San Diego Unified’s ongoing real estate strategy , in which it has recruited developers to build housing on district-owned land via joint-occupancy lease agreements. Under the arrangement, the district gets to keep valuable land under its ownership while it collects a share of the developer’s revenue. And the money it collects is unrestricted — the district can use it for any part of its budget, unlike many kinds of federal and state funding. About 50 low-income families of district employees are already living in the district’s mixed-income Livia development in Scripps Ranch, which otherwise contains primarily above-market-rate apartments. And in April, the district accepted a developer’s proposal to build 270 rent-restricted units for low- and moderate-income families of district staff, as well as 57 units for seniors, at the former site of Central Elementary in City Heights. District leaders are hoping to add more units to their housing stock soon. In a recent staff survey of interest in affordable housing, most reported that they had a low to moderate household income, were interested in district-provided housing and struggled to afford housing costs. This week the school board heard housing recommendations drawn up by the LeSar Development Consultants firm that suggest the district could build 1,000 income-restricted apartments at five district-owned sites, all of which currently house administrative buildings or vacant land. Those sites are: —Eugene Brucker Center in University Heights: 13.5-acre property that could have 375 moderate-income units and 125 low-income units —Ballard Center in Old Town: 4.4-acre property that could have 234 moderate-income units —Revere Center in Linda Vista: 6.2-acre property that could have 90 low-income units —Instructional Media Center in Serra Mesa: 1.9-acre property that could have 81 moderate-income units —2101 Commercial Street property in Logan Heights: a 0.4-acre property that could have 101 low-income units The moderate-income units would be for district employees whose families have household incomes between 80% and 120% of San Diego County’s area median income, which is $100,400 for an individual and $143,400 for a family of four, according to Craig Adelman, senior principal at LeSar Development Consultants. The low-income units would be for employees with household incomes of up to 80% of the area median income, or up to $84,900 for an individual or $121,250 for a family of four. But realistically, to compete for affordable housing aid, families would actually need to make no more than 60% of the area median income, or up to $63,680 for an individual and $90,940 for a family of four, Adelman said. Adelman also suggested two example models for financing the district’s housing. One would primarily use low-income tax credits, plus long-term bank mortgage and state and local funding, to build low-income housing. That plan could come out to a development cost of about $719,000 per unit. The other model would mostly be financed through a permanent loan and could cost about $430,000 per unit to build. The district has also set aside about $206 million in bond funding from its Measure U, which voters passed two years ago, just for housing. Planning for district housing is complex, Adelman said, because funding sources such as public affordable housing programs and the district’s bond funding cannot always be mixed to fund the same projects. He also said it’s difficult to mix low- and moderate-income housing because of strings attached to low-income housing aid programs. Adelman added that there have been “extreme” increases in construction costs in recent years that exceed the pace of inflation. The affordable housing programs available are mainly focused on low-income families and don’t really offer housing help for moderate-income families, which is a major need in San Diego Unified. And affordable housing programs, such as tax-exempt affordable housing bonds, have become very competitive in California, Adelman added. LeSar’s plans only discussed housing for employees — but student school board Trustee Quinton Baldis said the district should also consider housing for students and their families. Many students’ families are experiencing housing insecurity or leaving the district because it’s too expensive. “I truly feel like providing homes and affordable housing for our students is aligned more with our goals and guardrails as a district,” Baldis said. In response, Dulgeroff suggested the district could consider housing for students and families in the future. He also suggested that housing could even be built on existing school properties. Board Trustee Cody Petterson said he is concerned about the idea of segregating the district’s housing developments by income, with some developments entirely for low-income families — primarily non-teacher employees — in certain neighborhoods and projects for higher-earning families in others. “That to me is, for lack of a better word, toxic,” Petterson said. Jennifer LeSar, CEO of the LeSar firm, instead urged the board to move forward with the plans and see what developers propose. “We have a really smart development community in San Diego and in California,” LeSar said. “I would say you should start with what you want and not solve all the problems. And the developers will tell you.” ©2024 The San Diego Union-Tribune. Visit sandiegouniontribune.com . Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.DAMASCUS, Syria — 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,” 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. 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. 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. RECOMMENDED • silive .com Syrian government appears to have fallen in stunning end to 50-year rule of Assad family Dec. 8, 2024, 12:26 a.m. NYC high school applications are due Wednesday: Here’s what to know when applying Dec. 4, 2024, 8:00 a.m. 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.