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Dear Diary: Ardern's new COVID-19 stopper

While Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison has proposed a voluntary contact tracing app, the New Zealand PM has a more homespun method for tracking its citizens.




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British government on the defensive over claims Boris Johnson skipped coronavirus meetings

Current and former cabinet ministers have rushed to defend Prime Minister Boris Johnson in the wake of damning claims.




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A disaster waiting to happen or a bold, evidence-based response? In Sweden, it depends who you ask

As winter fades and spring breaks over Sweden, a high-stakes experiment in self-responsibility is underway.




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Farhan Akhtar donates over 1,000 PPE kits to hospitals all over India amid pandemic

Farhan Akhtar recently won the hearts of fans as a result of his generous donation to hospitals in India




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Lean times during lockdown in cash-strapped Ukrainian zoo

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British rapper Ty dies from coronavirus at 47

British Rapper Ty has died aged 47 after contracting coronavirus. Ty's death was confirmed by his team on Thursday.




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Deadpool 2: Ryan Reynolds' starrer slapped with fine over stuntwoman's death

The stuntwoman died while filming a scene for an actress




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Demi Lovato makes loved-up appearance with Max Ehrich in Ariana Grande's new song

Demi Lovato left fans gushing after she made a PDA-filled appearance with boyfriend Max Ehrich in Ariana Grande and Justin Bieber’s new track




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UN agency for Palestinians launches corona appeal

RAMALLAH: The United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees launched an emergency coronavirus appeal Friday, saying Palestinians across the Middle East were suffering a devastating socio-economic impact.The agency appealed for $93.4 million for the next three months to provide food and cash...




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Malawi court rejects president'sappeal against poll annulment

LILONGWE: Malawi´s top appeals court on Friday rejected President Peter Mutharika´s bid to scrap the annulment of controversial elections last May which he narrowly won, paving the way for a rerun in July. Mutharika had appealed a landmark decision by the Constitutional Court to...




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Malawi court rejects president's appeal against poll annulment

LILONGWE, Malawi: Malawi’s top appeals court on Friday rejected President Peter Mutharika’s bid to scrap the annulment of controversial elections last May which he narrowly won, paving the way for a rerun in July.Mutharika had appealed a landmark decision by the Constitutional Court to...




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Job safety does not happen by accident -- by Kristy Harrison

Health and safety on the jobsite involves more than simply enforcing rules and regulations. A culture of prevention, as well as innovative digital solutions, are needed to keep workers alive and healthy.





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After being kidnapped and threatened, Mozambican YouTuber has his channel suspended

In early February, he was kidnapped for 24 hours, before he was freed by the police. A self-proclaimed prophet named Joe Williams is suspected of ordering the kidnapping.




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Mercedes-Benz Slapped with Record Fine for Emissions Cheating

The Environment Ministry is fining Mercedes-Benz W77.6 billion for illegally tampering with emissions tests, the biggest fine ever for a carmaker here (US$1=W1,225). The ministry on Wednesday said Mercedes-Benz, Nissan and Porsche tampered with the emissions of around 40,000 diesel cars sold in Kore...




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UN appeals for $6.7bn to fight Covid-19 in poor countries

UNITED NATIONS: The United Nations called on governments, companies and billionaires on Thursday to contribute to a $6.7 billion fund for immediate needs in fighting the coronavirus pandemic in vulnerable countries, warning that a failure to help could lead to a hunger pandemic, famine, riots and more conflict.

UN humanitarian chief Mark Lowcock said that Covid-19 has now affected every country and almost every person on the planet. He said the UN’s initial $2 billion appeal unveiled March 25 was being increased because there is already evidence of incomes plummeting and jobs disappearing, food supplies falling and prices soaring, and children missing vaccinations and meals. He added that the peak of the pandemic isn’t expected to hit the worlds poorest countries for three to six months.

Lowcock said in a video briefing launching the new appeal that the poorest countries face a double whammy the health impact of Covid-19 and the impact of the global recession and the domestic measures taken to contain the virus.

We must be prepared for a rise in conflict, hunger, poverty and disease as economies contract, export earnings, remittances and tourism disappear, and health systems are put under strain, he warned. Lockdowns and economic recession may mean a hunger pandemic ahead for millions.

The executive director of the World Food Programme, David Beasley, said there are two keys to averting the possibility of 265 million people being on the brink of famine by the end of the year: providing money and keeping supply chains running smoothly.

The UN appeals to wealthy nations for funding all the time, he said, but the pandemic is a one-time phenomena, a catastrophe were hitting, so its not unreasonable to ask the wealthiest people and the wealthiest companies to give.

I don’t mean just a few million. I’m talking about hundreds of millions of dollars, billions, Beasley said.

He also urged action to address the breakdown of supply chains globally. Nations must ensure that we don’t have export-import bans, restrictions at borders, shutdown of ports, shutdown of distribution points, he said, saying that some countries have already imposed export bans that are having ripple effects on food supplies.

As an example, Beasley said that if young people in urban areas in Africa lose their jobs as a result of the economic impact of the pandemic, they don’t have bank accounts to fall back on. And if they don’t have food, you’re going to have protests, riots, unrest and destabilisation. Its going to cost the world a hundredfold more to react after the fact, he warned.

He said that if the world doesn’t respond with sufficient funding, it will be catastrophic.

Were facing famine of biblical proportions,” he said. We can avert famine if we act and we act now.

The UN’s initial $2 billion appeal has so far raised $1 billion, including a lot from Europe Germany, Britain, the European Commission with contributions also from Japan, Persian Gulf countries, Canada and others, Lowcock said.

The updated appeal adds nine vulnerable countries to the 54 nations covered in the initial appeal Benin, Djibouti, Liberia, Mozambique, Pakistan, the Philippines, Sierra Leone, Togo and Zimbabwe.

Lowcock said more countries are being monitored for possible addition to the list.

Published in Dawn, May 9th, 2020




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UNWRA launches coronavirus appeal

The United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) launched an emergency coronavirus appeal Friday, saying Palestinians across the Middle East were suffering a devastating socio-economic impact.




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Want A Truly Custom Audio Experience Everywhere You Go? Personi-Fi Can Make It Happen

The desire to get things ‘my way’ is innately human. From suggested playlists on Spotify to personalized recommendations on Netflix, consumers love it when things are tailored to their own preferences. The concept of personalization isn’t new but the...




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Thousands of Amazon Shoppers Are Raving About This Palm-Sized Waterproof Speaker




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U.S. graduates turn regalia into PPE: Wear the cap, donate the gown

In this year's mostly virtual commencement ceremonies, thousands of American graduates are adorning their mortarboards with the slogan "Gowns 4 Good" after donating their gowns to healthcare workers...




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Man raised alongside chimps says it should never happen again

Nick Lehane's performance piece, Chimpanzee, in London for the first time, reveals how tragedy stalked the amazing achievement of raising chimps in human families




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Albatrosses strapped with sensors help spy on illegal fishing boats

Attach a radar sensor to an albatross and you have a bird spy. Researchers deployed 169 of them in the Indian Ocean and found that a quarter of fishing vessels may be operating illegally




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Tiny birdlike dinosaur species identified from skull trapped in amber

A new species of dinosaur has been named from a skull measuring only 1.4 centimetres across. The dinosaur was smaller than any living bird today




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U.S. stock funds see third inflow in a row, high-yield corporate bond funds see record: Lipper

Investors sent record inflows to high-yield corporate bonds and broke a six-week losing streak for investment-grade debt in the week that ended Wednesday as market volatility from the coronavirus...




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U.S. stock funds shed $10.8 million in week: Lipper

U.S.-based stock funds posted $10.8 billion in outflows in the week ended ON Wednesday, according to Lipper.




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U.S. graduates turn regalia into PPE; Wear the cap, donate the gown

Gowns 4 Good, a charity started by frontline physician assistant Nathaniel Moore, is asking graduates to donate their gowns to more than 77,000 frontline responders on Gowns4Good.net.




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Biodiversity in crisis: Earth’s giant construction projects mapped out

The planet’s largest areas of undisturbed wilderness in Siberia and tropical rainforests are under threat from huge waves of development. Here’s what it looks like




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Climate change means nearly all glaciers in the Alps may disappear

A study of what will happen to glaciers in the Alps under various climate scenarios suggests they will almost completely disappear if we keep pumping out carbon dioxide




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U.S. women's soccer team file to appeal equal pay ruling

The U.S. women's soccer team have filed to appeal a district court decision handed down last week that dismissed their claims for equal pay, a spokesperson for the team said on Friday.




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U.S. graduates turn regalia into PPE; Wear the cap, donate the gown

Gowns 4 Good, a charity started by frontline physician assistant Nathaniel Moore, is asking graduates to donate their gowns to more than 77,000 frontline responders on Gowns4Good.net.




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Buon appetito! Italy's pizzerias reopen

Pizzerias were finally able to open their doors again this week after almost two months in lockdown - and Italians were savouring every bite.




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Trump contradicts nurse who says PPE has been 'sporadic'

At a ceremony honoring nurses at the White House on Wednesday, U.S. President Donald Trump contradicted a New Orleans nurse who said the availability of personal protective equipment has been 'sporadic.'




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Trump contradicts nurse who says PPE has been 'sporadic'

At a ceremony honoring nurses at the White House on Wednesday, U.S. President Donald Trump contradicted a New Orleans nurse who said the availability of personal protective equipment has been 'sporadic.'




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U.S. women's soccer team file to appeal equal pay ruling

The U.S. women's soccer team have filed to appeal a district court decision handed down last week that dismissed their claims for equal pay, a spokesperson for the team said on Friday.




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Drinking coffee appears to cause epigenetic changes to your DNA

Coffee has been linked to changes on our DNA that affect how active certain genes are. The finding may help explain some of coffee's touted health benefits




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Covid-19 shows why an infodemic of bad science must never happen again

Once the coronavirus pandemic is over, we must work out how to stop the spread of poor information that has helped make a bad situation that much worse




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Laughter Can Stimulate a Dull Appetite

Title: Laughter Can Stimulate a Dull Appetite
Category: Health News
Created: 4/26/2010 2:10:00 PM
Last Editorial Review: 4/27/2010 12:00:00 AM




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Cayenne Pepper May Burn Calories, Curb Appetite

Title: Cayenne Pepper May Burn Calories, Curb Appetite
Category: Health News
Created: 4/28/2011 11:01:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 4/28/2011 12:00:00 AM




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Upper-Body Strength Key for NASCAR Drivers

Title: Upper-Body Strength Key for NASCAR Drivers
Category: Health News
Created: 4/27/2012 6:06:00 PM
Last Editorial Review: 4/30/2012 12:00:00 AM




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Nipple-Preserving Mastectomies Appear Safe for High-Risk Women: Study

Title: Nipple-Preserving Mastectomies Appear Safe for High-Risk Women: Study
Category: Health News
Created: 4/25/2016 12:00:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 4/26/2016 12:00:00 AM




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U.S. Motorcycle Deaths Dropped 6 Percent Last Year

Title: U.S. Motorcycle Deaths Dropped 6 Percent Last Year
Category: Health News
Created: 5/4/2018 12:00:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 5/4/2018 12:00:00 AM




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Many Cardiologists Ill-Equipped to Treat Heart Disease in Cancer Survivors

Title: Many Cardiologists Ill-Equipped to Treat Heart Disease in Cancer Survivors
Category: Health News
Created: 4/29/2019 12:00:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 4/30/2019 12:00:00 AM




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Burger King to Sell 'Veggie' Whopper Nationwide

Title: Burger King to Sell 'Veggie' Whopper Nationwide
Category: Health News
Created: 4/29/2019 12:00:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 4/30/2019 12:00:00 AM




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In Small Study, Rheumatoid Arthritis Drug Appears to Help COVID-19 Patients

Title: In Small Study, Rheumatoid Arthritis Drug Appears to Help COVID-19 Patients
Category: Health News
Created: 5/7/2020 12:00:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 5/8/2020 12:00:00 AM




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Volunteer Physicians Procure PPE, Build Largest Platform

When pleas for protective equipment failed to produce results, individuals decided to take matters in their own hands and set up a distribution channel, now the most centralized platform in the US.




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COVID-19 Daily: ER Docs Procure PPE, Earlier Pandemic Start

These are the coronavirus stories you need to know about today.




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Menopause May Someday Disappear as Women Postpone Pregnancy: Study

Title: Menopause May Someday Disappear as Women Postpone Pregnancy: Study
Category: Health News
Created: 4/24/2020 12:00:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 4/27/2020 12:00:00 AM




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Erratum for 'The Chalk Group (Upper Cretaceous) of the Northern Province, eastern England - a review, Proceedings of the Yorkshire Geological Society, 62, 153-177




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Toxin-Antitoxin Gene Pairs Found in Tn3 Family Transposons Appear To Be an Integral Part of the Transposition Module

ABSTRACT

Much of the diversity of prokaryotic genomes is contributed by the tightly controlled recombination activity of transposons (Tns). The Tn3 family is arguably one of the most widespread transposon families. Members carry a large range of passenger genes incorporated into their structures. Family members undergo replicative transposition using a DDE transposase to generate a cointegrate structure which is then resolved by site-specific recombination between specific DNA sequences (res) on each of the two Tn copies in the cointegrate. These sites also carry promoters controlling expression of the recombinase and transposase. We report here that a number of Tn3 members encode a type II toxin-antitoxin (TA) system, typically composed of a stable toxin and a labile antitoxin that binds the toxin and inhibits its lethal activity. This system serves to improve plasmid maintenance in a bacterial population and, until recently, was believed to be associated with bacterial persistence. At least six different TA gene pairs are associated with various Tn3 members. Our data suggest that several independent acquisition events have occurred. In contrast to most Tn3 family passenger genes, which are generally located away from the transposition module, the TA gene pairs abut the res site upstream of the resolvase genes. Although their role when part of Tn3 family transposons is unclear, this finding suggests a potential role for the embedded TA in stabilizing the associated transposon with the possibility that TA expression is coupled to expression of transposase and resolvase during the transposition process itself.

IMPORTANCE Transposable elements (TEs) are important in genetic diversification due to their recombination properties and their ability to promote horizontal gene transfer. Over the last decades, much effort has been made to understand TE transposition mechanisms and their impact on prokaryotic genomes. For example, the Tn3 family is ubiquitous in bacteria, molding their host genomes by the paste-and-copy mechanism. In addition to the transposition module, Tn3 members often carry additional passenger genes (e.g., conferring antibiotic or heavy metal resistance and virulence), and three were previously known to carry a toxin-antitoxin (TA) system often associated with plasmid maintenance; however, the role of TA systems within the Tn3 family is unknown. The genetic context of TA systems in Tn3 members suggests that they may play a regulatory role in ensuring stable invasion of these Tns during transposition.




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A large Taenidium burrow from the Upper Carboniferous of Corrie, Isle of Arran, and remarks on the association of Taenidium burrows and Diplichnites trails

Large un-walled backfilled burrows of the Taenidium type are known from Paleozoic deltaic marine environments worldwide where they are often associated with Diplichnites trackways. The latter are generally attributed to arthropleurid myriapods and it may be that the burrows were also made by these animals. Here we describe a Taenidium burrow from the Limestone Coal Formation of the Isle of Arran, a formation that also hosts a well-known example of Diplichnites, supporting the association of the two types of trace fossil and extending their known co-occurrence upward into the Upper Carboniferous.