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<title>03 July, 2023</title>
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<title>Covid-19 Sentry</title><meta content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0" name="viewport"/><link href="styles/simple.css" rel="stylesheet"/><link href="../styles/simple.css" rel="stylesheet"/><link href="https://unpkg.com/aos@2.3.1/dist/aos.css" rel="stylesheet"/><script src="https://unpkg.com/aos@2.3.1/dist/aos.js"></script></head>
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<h1 data-aos="fade-down" id="covid-19-sentry">Covid-19 Sentry</h1>
<h1 data-aos="fade-right" data-aos-anchor-placement="top-bottom" id="contents">Contents</h1>
<ul>
<li><a href="#from-preprints">From Preprints</a></li>
<li><a href="#from-clinical-trials">From Clinical Trials</a></li>
<li><a href="#from-pubmed">From PubMed</a></li>
<li><a href="#from-patent-search">From Patent Search</a></li>
</ul>
<h1 data-aos="fade-right" id="from-preprints">From Preprints</h1>
<ul>
<li><strong>“Lessons from the COVID War”: An incomplete analysis of U.S. COVID-19 policies</strong> -
<div>
A new book, “Lessons from the COVID War”, attempts to analyze reasons for the failure to contain the SARS-CoV-2 virus in the United States. Based primarily on interviews with government officials and advisors, it neglects the quantitative studies of virus spread and containment associated with testing, tracing, and quarantine. More successful policies of several countries that had a fraction of the U.S. COVID-19 death rate are ignored.
</div>
<div class="article-link article-html-link">
🖺 Full Text HTML: <a href="https://osf.io/9x3jy/" target="_blank">“Lessons from the COVID War”: An incomplete analysis of U.S. COVID-19 policies</a>
</div></li>
<li><strong>Prothrombotic factors associated with COVID-19 complications: A systematic review preprint.</strong> -
<div>
BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic caused deaths and severe clinical complications associated with thrombosis and hypercoagulability, motivating this literature review. OBJECTIVE: To analyze the scope of scientific publications that demonstrate an association of thromboembolism with complications of COVID-19. METHOD: A systematic literature review was performed to identify clinical complications associated with thrombosis in people exposed to SARS-CoV-2 infection. The articles were selected from MEDLINE database after being screened and filtered to extract the methodologies used and the evidence of clinical complications by compromised organs or systems and pathology description. The evidence was extracted in Cohort Studies for statistical analysis and hypothesis testing (t-test). RESULTS: A total of 208 studies were selected. Observational Studies were predominant, corresponding to 64% of the total, and other methodologies corresponded to 9% in the inclusion. Review articles were excluded and corresponded to the remaining 27% of the selected articles. Subsequently, 150 articles were screened, and 121 were filtered. Among these, 11 Cohort Studies were extracted as the sample, which were eligible for analysis and subsequent Hypothesis Test. This test showed a Mean Difference of 4.74 [Ha (μ=8.08 Exposure) &gt; (μ=3.33 No exposure)], with a p-value of 0.096 for a 95% confidence interval. Despite the numerical value of the difference in the means due to the influence of variance, the test result was not statistically significant due to the small number of the sample of Cohort studies. CONCLUSION: It was observed that prothrombotic conditions were present and translated by hypercoagulability in the evaluated articles. Individuals exposed to SARS-CoV-2 infection have been shown to experience complications caused by thrombosis more often than the unexposed. It is suggested to conduct a Meta-analysis with a larger sample of Cohort Studies to further analyze this association.
</div>
<div class="article-link article-html-link">
🖺 Full Text HTML: <a href="https://osf.io/nakmq/" target="_blank">Prothrombotic factors associated with COVID-19 complications: A systematic review preprint.</a>
</div></li>
<li><strong>Knowledge graphs and wikidata subsetting</strong> -
<div>
Knowledge graphs have successfully been adopted by academia, governement and industry to represent large scale knowledge bases. Open and collaborative knowledge graphs such as Wikidata capture knowledge from different domains and harmonize them under a common format, making it easier for researchers to access the data while also supporting Open Science. Wikidata keeps getting bigger and better, which subsumes integration use cases. Having a large amount of data such as the one presented in a scopeless Wikidata offers some advantages, e.g., unique access point and common format, but also poses some challenges, e.g., performance. Regular wikidata users are not unfamiliar with running into frequent timeouts of submitted queries. Due to its popularity, limits have been imposed to allow for fair access to many. However this suppreses many interesting and complex queries that require more computational power and resources. Replicating Wikidata on one’s own infrastructure can be a solution which also offers a snapshot of the contents of wikidata at some given point in time. There is no need to replicate Wikidata in full, it is possible to work with subsets targeting, for instance, a particular domain. Creating those subsets has emerged as an alternative to reduce the amount and spectrum of data offered by Wikidata. Less data makes more complex queries possible while still keeping the compatibility with the whole Wikidata as the model is kept. In this paper we report the tasks done as part of a Wikidata subsetting project during the Virtual BioHackathon Europe 2020 and SWAT4(HC)LS 2021, which had already started at NBDC/DBCLS BioHackathon 2019 in Japan, SWAT4(HC)LS hackathon 2019, and Virtual COVID-19 BioHackathon 2019. We describe some of approaches we identified to create subsets and some susbsets from the Life Sciences domain as well as other use cases we also discussed.
</div>
<div class="article-link article-html-link">
🖺 Full Text HTML: <a href="https://biohackrxiv.org/wu9et/" target="_blank">Knowledge graphs and wikidata subsetting</a>
</div></li>
<li><strong>Prosocial behavior in emergencies: Evidence from blood donors recruitment and retention during the COVID-19 pandemic</strong> -
<div>
The impact of COVID-19 represents a specific challenge for voluntary transfusional systems sustained by the intrinsic motivations of blood donors. In general, health emergencies can stimulate altruistic behaviors. However, in this context, the same prosocial motivations, besides the personal health risks, could foster the adherence to social distancing rules to preserve collective health and, therefore, discourage blood donation activities. In this work, we investigate the consequences of the pandemic shock on the dynamics of new donors exploiting the individual-level longitudinal information contained in administrative data on the Italian region of Tuscany. We compare the change in new donors’ recruitment and retention during 2020 with respect to the 2017-2019 period, considering donors’ and their municipalities of residence characteristics. Our results show an increment of new donors, with higher growth for older donors. Moreover, we demonstrate that the quality of new donors, as proxied by the frequency of subsequent donations, increased with respect to previous years. Finally, we show that changes in extrinsic motivations, such as the possibility of obtaining a free antibody test or overcoming movement restrictions, cannot explain the documented improvement in performances.
</div>
<div class="article-link article-html-link">
🖺 Full Text HTML: <a href="https://psyarxiv.com/6t72b/" target="_blank">Prosocial behavior in emergencies: Evidence from blood donors recruitment and retention during the COVID-19 pandemic</a>
</div></li>
<li><strong>COVID-related anthropause highlights the impact of marine traffic on breeding little penguins</strong> -
<div>
The COVID-19 pandemic and its lock-down measures have resulted in periods of reduced human activity, known as anthropause. While this period was expected to be favorable for the marine ecosystem, due to a probable reduction of pollution, shipping traffic, industrial activity and fishing pressure, negative counterparts such as the increased use of disposable plastic and reduced fisheries surveillance and enforcement could counterbalance these positive effects. Simultaneously, on-land pressure due to human disturbance and tourism should have drastically decreased, potentially benefiting land-based marine breeders such as seabirds. Thus, long-term datasets became crucial to differentiate between historical trends and any evident changes resulting from the anthropause. We analyzed 11 years of data on several biological parameters of little penguins (Eudyptula minor) from the Penguin Parade (R), a popular tourist attraction at Phillip Island, Australia. We investigated the impact of anthropogenic activities on penguin behavior during the breeding season measured by (1) distribution at sea, (2) colony attendance, (3) isotopic niche (4) chick meal mass, and (5) offspring investment against shipping traffic and number of tourists. The 2020 lock-downs resulted in a near absence of tourists visiting the Penguin Parade (R), which was otherwise visited by 800,000+ visitors on average per year. However, our long-term analysis showed no effect of the presence of visitors on little penguins' activities. Surprisingly, the anthropause did not triggered any changes in maritime traffic intensity and distribution in the region. While we found significant inter- and intra-annual variations for most parameters, we detected a negative effect of marine traffic on the foraging efficiency. Our results suggest that environmental variations have a greater influence on the breeding behavior of little penguins compared to short-term anthropause events. Our long-term dataset was key to test whether changes in anthropogenic activities affected the wildlife during the COVID-19 pandemic.
</div>
<div class="article-link article-html-link">
🖺 Full Text HTML: <a href="https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2023.06.30.547199v1" target="_blank">COVID-related anthropause highlights the impact of marine traffic on breeding little penguins</a>
</div></li>
<li><strong>Preclinical and Human Phase 1 Studies of Aerosolized Hydroxychloroquine: Implications for Antiviral COVID-19 Therapy</strong> -
<div>
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Based on early reports of the efficacy of hydroxychloroquine sulfate (HCQS) to inhibit SARS-CoV-2 viral replication in vitro, and since severe pulmonary involvement is the major cause of COVID-19 mortality, we assessed the safety and efficacy of aerosolized HCQS (aHCQS) therapy in animals and humans. In a Phase 1 study of aHCQS in healthy volunteers, doses up to 50 mg were well tolerated and estimated epithelial lining fluid concentrations immediately after inhalation (&gt;2,000 uM) exceeded the in vitro concentrations needed for suppression of viral replication (&gt;=119 uM). A study in rats comparing HCQS solution administered orally (13.3 mg/kg) and by intratracheal installation (IT 0.18 mg/kg, &lt;5% of oral dose) demonstrated that at 2 minutes, IT administration was associated with 5X higher mean hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) concentrations in the lung (IT: 49.5 +/- 6.5 ug HCQ/g tissue, oral: 9.9 +/- 3.4; p&lt;0.01). A subsequent study of IT and intranasal HCQS in the Syrian hamster model of SARS-CoV-2 infection, however, failed to show clinical benefit. We conclude that aHCQS alone is unlikely to be effective for COVID-19, but based on our aHCQS pharmacokinetics and current viral entry data, adding oral HCQS to aHCQS, along with a transmembrane protease inhibitor, may improve efficacy.
</p>
</div>
<div class="article-link article-html-link">
🖺 Full Text HTML: <a href="https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2023.06.22.23291702v1" target="_blank">Preclinical and Human Phase 1 Studies of Aerosolized Hydroxychloroquine: Implications for Antiviral COVID-19 Therapy</a>
</div></li>
<li><strong>Community Antibiotic Prescribing in Patients with COVID-19 Across Three Pandemic Waves: A Population-Based Cohort Study</strong> -
<div>
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Background: Reported changes in antibiotic prescribing during the COVID-19 pandemic have focused on hospital prescribing or community population trends. Community antibiotic prescribing for individuals with COVID-19 are less well described. Methods: Data covering a complete geographic population (~800,000) were utilized. SARS-CoV-2 virus test results from February 1, 2020- March 31, 2022 were included. Anonymized data were linked to prescription data +/-28 days of the test, GP data for high-risk comorbidities, and demographic data. Multivariate binary logistic regression examined associations between patient factors and the odds of antibiotic prescription. Results: Data included 768,206 tests for 184,954 individuals, identifying 16,240 COVID-19 episodes involving 16,025 individuals. There were 3,263 antibiotic prescriptions +/-28 days for 2,385 patients. 35.6% of patients had a prescription only before the test date, 52.5% patients after, and 11.9% before and after. Antibiotic prescribing reduced over time: 20.4% of episodes in wave one, 17.7% in wave two, and 12.0% in wave three. In multivariate logistic regression, being female (OR 1.31, 95% CI 1.19,1.45), older (OR 3.02, 95% CI 2.50, 3.68 75+ vs &lt;25 years), having a high-risk comorbidity (OR 1.45, 95% CI 1.31, 1.61), a hospital admission +/-28 days of an episode (OR 1.58, 95% CI 1.42, 1.77), and health board region (OR 1.14, 95% CI 1.03, 1.25, board B versus A) increased the odds of receiving an antibiotic. Conclusion: Community antibiotic prescriptions in COVID-19 episodes were uncommon in this population and likelihood was associated with patient factors. The reduction over pandemic waves may represent increased knowledge regarding COVID-19 treatment and/or evolving symptomatology.
</p>
</div>
<div class="article-link article-html-link">
🖺 Full Text HTML: <a href="https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2023.06.29.23291797v1" target="_blank">Community Antibiotic Prescribing in Patients with COVID-19 Across Three Pandemic Waves: A Population-Based Cohort Study</a>
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<li><strong>Polymerized type I collagen down-regulates STAT-1 phosphorylation through engagement to LAIR-1 in M1-macrophages avoiding long COVID</strong> -
<div>
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Background: The polymerized type I collagen (PTIC) is a g-irradiated mixture of pepsinized porcine type I collagen and polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP). It has immunomodulatory properties. However, the receptor and signaling pathway through which it exerts its therapeutic effects has not yet been identified. Aim: To evaluate LAIR-1 as a potential receptor for PTIC and the signaling pathway evoked by ligand-receptor binding. Methods: LAIR-1 binding assay was performed by incubating various concentrations of recombinant human LAIR-1 with native type I collagen or PTIC. Macrophages M1-derived from THP-1 cells were cultured with 2-10% PTIC for 24 h. Cell lysates from THP-1, monocytes-like cells (MLCs), M1, M1+IFN-γ, M1+LPS, and 2 or 10% PTIC treated M1 were analyzed by western blot for the transcription factors NF-κB (p65), p38, STAT-1, and pSTAT-1. Cytokines, Th1 cells, and M1/M2 macrophages were analyzed by luminometry and flow cytometry from blood samples of symptomatic COVID-19 outpatients on treatment with intramuscular administration of PTIC. Results: PTIC binds LAIR-1 with a similar affinity to native collagen. This binding decreases STAT-1 signaling IFN-γ-induced and IL-1β expression in M1 macrophages by down-regulating STAT-1 phosphorylation. Moreover, intramuscular PTIC treatment of symptomatic COVID-19 outpatients decreased at statistically significant levels the percentage of M1 macrophages and cytokines (IP-10, MIF, eotaxin, IL-8, IL-1RA, and M-CSF) associated with STAT-1 transcription factor and increased M2 macrophages and Th1 cells. The downregulation of inflammatory mediators was related to better oxygen saturation and decreased dyspnea, chest pain, cough, and chronic fatigue syndrome in the acute phase of infection and the long term. Conclusion: PTIC is an agonist of LAIR-1 and down-regulates STAT-1 phosphorylation. PTIC could be relevant for treating STAT-1-mediated inflammatory diseases, including COVID-19 and long COVID.
</p>
</div>
<div class="article-link article-html-link">
🖺 Full Text HTML: <a href="https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2023.07.01.23292108v1" target="_blank">Polymerized type I collagen down-regulates STAT-1 phosphorylation through engagement to LAIR-1 in M1-macrophages avoiding long COVID</a>
</div></li>
<li><strong>Genome-wide Association Study of Long COVID</strong> -
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Infections can lead to persistent or long-term symptoms and diseases such as shingles after varicella zoster, cancers after human papillomavirus, or rheumatic fever after streptococcal infections(1,2). Similarly, infection by SARS-CoV-2 can result in Long COVID, a condition characterized by symptoms of fatigue and pulmonary and cognitive dysfunction(3-5). The biological mechanisms that contribute to the development of Long COVID remain to be clarified. We leveraged the COVID-19 Host Genetics Initiative(6,7) to perform a genome-wide association study for Long COVID including up to 6,450 Long COVID cases and 1,093,995 population controls from 24 studies across 16 countries. We identified the first genome-wide significant association for Long COVID at the FOXP4 locus. FOXP4 has been previously associated with COVID-19 severity(6), lung function(8), and cancers(9), suggesting a broader role for lung function in the pathophysiology of Long COVID. While we identify COVID-19 severity as a causal risk factor for Long COVID, the impact of the genetic risk factor located in the FOXP4 locus could not be solely explained by its association to severe COVID-19. Our findings further support the role of pulmonary dysfunction and COVID-19 severity in the development of Long COVID.
</p>
</div>
<div class="article-link article-html-link">
🖺 Full Text HTML: <a href="https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2023.06.29.23292056v1" target="_blank">Genome-wide Association Study of Long COVID</a>
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<li><strong>Intention to be vaccinated against COVID-19 in Benin and Senegal: a structural equation modelling (SEM)</strong> -
<div>
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Vaccination is considered one of the solutions to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, a small proportion of the population was fully vaccinated in Benin (20.9%) and Senegal (7.6%) by December 2022. This study explores the determinants of intent to vaccinate. This was a cross-sectional, descriptive, and analytical study of 865 Beninese and 607 Senegalese aged 18 years and older. Marginal quota sampling by age, gender and region was adopted. Data collection, using a survey instrument based on the Random Digit Dialing (RDD) method, was conducted from December 24, 2020, to January 16, 2021, in Senegal and from March 29 to May 14, 2021, in Benin. The questionnaire used the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) and the Health Belief Model (HBM). The influence of factors was tested using a structural equation model. All analyses were conducted in R.        Results show that a good perception of the benefits of vaccination ( =0.33<strong><em>; =0.12</em></strong>), a positive attitude (=0.22<strong><em>; =0.20</em></strong>), and sensitivity to subjective norms ( =0.19<strong><em>; =0.32</em></strong>) positively influence the intention to vaccinate. Low trust in health care providers (=-0.40<strong><em>; =-0.36</em></strong>) amplifies the perceived risk of vaccination (=-0.14<strong><em>; =-0.25</em></strong>), which negatively impacts intention to vaccinate. Perceived vaccine efficacy was affected by perceived risk (=-0.12<strong><em>; =-0.05</em></strong>) of the disease and improved by good apprehension of the benefits of vaccination (=0.60<strong><em>; =0.13</em></strong>). Aspects related to behavioral control, vaccine information seeking, efficacy, or fairness did not appear as correlates of vaccine intention (P&gt;0.05).       Beninese and Senegalese public health authorities could develop additional intervention strategies to improve immunization coverage by considering these influencing factors, the basis of which could be better understood through subsequent qualitative studies.
</p>
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<div class="article-link article-html-link">
🖺 Full Text HTML: <a href="https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2023.06.29.23292061v1" target="_blank">Intention to be vaccinated against COVID-19 in Benin and Senegal: a structural equation modelling (SEM)</a>
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<li><strong>Pre-pandemic activity on a myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome support forum is highly associated with later activity on a long COVID support forum for a variety of reasons: a mixed methods study.</strong> -
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Encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) and long COVID share some clinical and social characteristics. We predicted that this would lead to an increased interaction between pre-pandemic members of a ME/CFS online support community and a long COVID community. We performed a mixed-methods retrospective observational study of the Reddit activity of 7,544 users active on Reddit9s long COVID forum. From among 1600 forums, pre-pandemic activity specifically on a ME/CFS forum is the top predictor of later participation on the long COVID forum versus an acute COVID support forum. In the qualitative portion, motives for this co-participation included seeking mutual support and dual identification with both conditions. Some of this effect may be explained by pre-existing ME/CFS possibly being a risk factor for long COVID and/or SARS-CoV-2 infection being a cause of ME/CFS relapse. The high rate of ME/CFS patients seeking mutual support on a long COVID forum speaks to the long-suffering experience of these patients not feeling heard or respected, and the hope of some ME/CFS patients to gain legitimacy through the public9s growing recognition of long COVID.
</p>
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<div class="article-link article-html-link">
🖺 Full Text HTML: <a href="https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2023.06.30.23292087v1" target="_blank">Pre-pandemic activity on a myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome support forum is highly associated with later activity on a long COVID support forum for a variety of reasons: a mixed methods study.</a>
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<li><strong>Patterns in Repeat Reinfections: Pre and Post Omicron Emergence</strong> -
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Our understanding of SARS-CoV-2 reinfection patterns remains limited. We conducted a longitudinal study using Qatar national SARS-CoV-2 data from February 28, 2020 to June 11, 2023 to investigate incidence of reinfections both prior to and after omicron emergence. The latter analysis excluded individuals with pre-omicron infections. Before omicron introduction, the proportion of incident infections classified as reinfections gradually increased but remained minimal, reaching 1.8% just before omicron emerged. During the first omicron wave, this proportion reached 9.0%, a 5-fold increase. After the conclusion of the first omicron wave, the proportion of incident infections identified as reinfections rapidly increased, reaching 43.3% towards the end of the study. In the pre-omicron era, a total of 3,131 reinfections were documented, of which 99.6% were first reinfections and 0.4% were second reinfections. Meanwhile, a total of 20,962 reinfections were documented after an omicron primary infection of which 99.0% were first reinfections, 1.0% were second reinfections, and 0.01% were third reinfections. Reinfections were rare before omicron9s emergence but became widespread during the omicron era, including among individuals previously infected with omicron. Our findings may indicate accelerated viral evolution in the omicron era aimed at evading population immunity, but with minimal impact on COVID-19 severity, or potentially suggest immune imprinting effects that require further investigation.
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🖺 Full Text HTML: <a href="https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2023.06.29.23292041v1" target="_blank">Patterns in Repeat Reinfections: Pre and Post Omicron Emergence</a>
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<li><strong>Distinct and overlapping immunological responses to SARS-CoV-2 and Mycobacterium tuberculosis identified by single-cell RNA-seq of co-infected whole blood</strong> -
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Introduction: COVID-19 and tuberculosis (TB) exhibit similar symptomatic presentation and clinical parameters. Common underlying immunological mechanisms also highlight potential routes of immunopathogenic interaction between these diseases during co-infection. To explore immunological similarities, differences and interactions, single-cell RNA-seq (scRNA-seq) was performed on whole blood infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb), SARS-CoV-2, or both pathogens. Methods: Whole blood from four healthy adults, were subjected to ex vivo infection with Mtb and/or SARS-CoV-2 ancestral strain, or were maintained in an uninfected state, for 24 or 96 hours. At each timepoint, for each condition, the four biological replicates were captured, fixed and cryopreserved to be processed for scRNA-seq as a single batch. Following quality control filtering, genotype-based demultiplexing was performed to obtain data from each biological replicate for pseudobulk differential expression analysis. Results: Thirteen distinct clusters of cells were identified based on marker gene expression. Profound differences in the proportions of monocytes, T cells and neutrophils were observed between infection conditions and timepoints. The greatest divergence between pathogen responses occurred within myeloid cells at early timepoints of infection. Co-infection had the greatest synergistic effect 24 hours post-infection with 238 immunological pathways uniquely enriched, including IFN-γ and TNF production, whilst by 96 hours post-infection there was a large overlap of 182 shared pathways between Mtb, SARS-CoV-2 and co-infection. SARS-CoV-2-only infection resulted in widespread cell death by 96 hours post-infection, while Mtb-only and co-infected samples remained enriched for monocyte, T cell and NK cell signatures, sharing negative regulation of extrinsic apoptotic signalling. Distinct from Mtb, SARS-Co-V-2 had unique regulating of αβ T cell activation and differentiation at both time points. Conclusion: These data provide a high-resolution characterisation of distinct and overlapping immunological responses generated by SARS-CoV-2 and Mtb when a single infection or co-infection occurs. This sheds light on the potential effects of novel or existing host-directed therapies that target these pathways, which is particularly crucial for settings where dual presentation is common.
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🖺 Full Text HTML: <a href="https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2023.05.24.23290499v2" target="_blank">Distinct and overlapping immunological responses to SARS-CoV-2 and Mycobacterium tuberculosis identified by single-cell RNA-seq of co-infected whole blood</a>
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<li><strong>Reverse engineering of a pathogenic antibody reveals the molecular mechanism of vaccine-induced immune thrombotic thrombocytopenia</strong> -
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The massive COVID-19 vaccine roll-out campaign illuminated a range of rare side effects, the most dangerous of which - vaccine-induced immune thrombotic thrombocytopenia (VITT) - is caused by adenoviral (Ad)-vectored vaccines. VITT occurrence had been linked to production of pathogenic antibodies that recognize an endogenous chemokine, platelet factor 4 (PF4). Mass spectrometry (MS)-based evaluation of the ensemble of anti-PF4 antibodies obtained from a VITT patient's blood indicates that its major component is a monoclonal antibody. Structural characterization of this antibody reveals several unusual characteristics, such as the presence of an N-glycan in the Fab segment and high density of acidic amino acid residues in the CDR regions. A recombinant version of this antibody (RVT1) was generated by transient expression in mammalian cells based on the newly determined sequence. It captures the key properties of VITT antibodies, such as their ability to activate platelets in a PF4-dependent fashion. Homology modeling of the Fab segment reveals a well-defined polyanionic paratope, and the docking studies indicate that the polycationic segment of PF4 readily accommodates two Fab segments, cross-linking the antibodies to yield polymerized immune complexes. Their existence was verified with native MS by detecting assemblies as large as (RVT1)3(PF4)2, pointing out at FcGammaRIIa-mediated platelet activation as the molecular mechanism underlying VITT clinical manifestations. In addition to high PF4 affinity, RVT1 readily binds other polycationic targets, indicating a polyreactive nature of this antibody. This surprising polyspecificity not only sheds light on VITT etiology, but also opens up a range of opportunities to manage this pathology.
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🖺 Full Text HTML: <a href="https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2023.06.30.547300v1" target="_blank">Reverse engineering of a pathogenic antibody reveals the molecular mechanism of vaccine-induced immune thrombotic thrombocytopenia</a>
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<li><strong>Use of antimicrobials during the COVID-19 pandemic: a qualitative study among stakeholders in Nepal</strong> -
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Introduction The COVID-19 pandemic was a major public health threat and posed tremendous pressure to develop a cure for it. Apart from ongoing efforts in developing vaccines, a lot of empirical treatments were recommended, that may have expedited the use of antimicrobials. The main objective of this study was to explore if and how the pandemic posed pressure on antimicrobials in Nepal using semi-structured interviews (SSIs) among patients, clinicians and drug dispensers. Methods A total of 30 stakeholders (10 each among clinicians, dispensers and COVID-19 patients) were identified purposively and were approached for SSIs. Clinicians and dispensers working in three tertiary hospitals in Kathmandu were first approached and were asked for their support to reach out to COVID-19 patients who were on follow-up at their out-patient department. SSIs were audio recorded, translated and transcribed into English, and were analyzed for thematic synthesis. Results Over-the-counter (OTC) uses of antibiotics was widespread during the pandemic, and were mostly rooted to patients attempts to halt the potential severity due to respiratory like illnesses, and the fear of being identified as a COVID-19 patients. Being identified as a COVID-19 patient was feared because of the stigmatization and social isolation. Patients who visited the drug shops and physicians were reported to make demands on specific medicines including antibiotics that may have added pressure among physicians and dispensers. Clinicians reported a degree of uncertainty related to treatment and that may have added pressure to prescribe antimicrobials. All stakeholders, although mostly patients and dispensers with limited understanding of what constitutes antimicrobials and the mechanisms underpinning it reported that the pressure during the pandemic may have added to the adversities such as antimicrobials resistance. Conclusions COVID-19 added a pressure to prescribe, dispense and overuse antimicrobials and may have accentuated the pre-existing OTC use of antimicrobials. Future pandemics including infectious disease outbreaks are major public health incidents that warrant a special caution on inappropriate pressure on antimicrobials. Strict policies related to the use of antimicrobials are urgent to redress their use during normal and pandemic situations.
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<div class="article-link article-html-link">
🖺 Full Text HTML: <a href="https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2023.06.23.23291835v2" target="_blank">Use of antimicrobials during the COVID-19 pandemic: a qualitative study among stakeholders in Nepal</a>
</div></li>
</ul>
<h1 data-aos="fade-right" id="from-clinical-trials">From Clinical Trials</h1>
<ul>
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Probiotic and Colchicine in COVID-19</strong> - <b>Condition</b>:   COVID-19<br/><b>Interventions</b>:   Drug: Colchicine 0.5 MG;   Dietary Supplement: Probiotic Formula;   Other: Standard protocol<br/><b>Sponsor</b>:   Ain Shams University<br/><b>Completed</b></p></li>
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>A Clinical Trial of Recombinant COVID-19 Bivalent (XBB+Prototype) Protein Vaccine (Sf9 Cell) in Booster Vaccination</strong> - <b>Condition</b>:   COVID-19<br/><b>Interventions</b>:   Biological: Recombinant COVID-19 Bivalent (XBB+Prototype) Protein Vaccine (Sf9 Cell) (WSK-V101C);   Biological: Recombinant COVID-19 vaccine(Sf9 Cell) (WSK-V101)<br/><b>Sponsor</b>:   WestVac Biopharma Co., Ltd.<br/><b>Not yet recruiting</b></p></li>
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>A Phase Ⅲ Clinical Trial of Recombinant COVID-19 Trivalent (XBB+BA.5+Delta) Protein Vaccine (Sf9 Cell) in Booster Vaccination</strong> - <b>Condition</b>:   COVID-19<br/><b>Interventions</b>:   Biological: High dose of Recombinant COVID-19 Trivalent (XBB+BA.5+Delta) Protein Vaccine (Sf9 Cell);   Biological: Low dose of Recombinant COVID-19 Trivalent (XBB+BA.5+Delta) Protein Vaccine (Sf9 Cell);   Biological: control group;   Biological: Placebo group<br/><b>Sponsor</b>:   WestVac Biopharma Co., Ltd.<br/><b>Not yet recruiting</b></p></li>
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>LUSZ Treatment Efficacy in Hospitalized COVID-19 Patients</strong> - <b>Conditions</b>:   COVID-19;   Hospitalized COVID-19 Patients<br/><b>Interventions</b>:   Drug: Lopinavir / Ritonavir;   Drug: Remdesivir (RDV);   Drug: Tocilizumab;   Other: Corticosteroid Therapy-enhanced Standard Care (CTSC)<br/><b>Sponsors</b>:   Lebanese University;   Hospital Saydet Zgharta University Medical Center<br/><b>Recruiting</b></p></li>
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Impact Of Sensory Re-Education Paradigm On Sensation And Quality Of Life In Patients Post-Covid 19 Polyneuropathy</strong> - <b>Condition</b>:   Post-COVID-19 Syndrome<br/><b>Interventions</b>:   Other: sensory re-education training;   Other: traditional treatment<br/><b>Sponsor</b>:   Cairo University<br/><b>Not yet recruiting</b></p></li>
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Comprehensive Imaging Exam of Convalesced COVID-19 Patients</strong> - <b>Conditions</b>:   COVID-19;   COVID Long-Haul<br/><b>Interventions</b>:   Other: Magnetic Resonance Imaging;   Other: Ultra-High Resolution Computed Tomography (CT) Scan<br/><b>Sponsors</b>:   Johns Hopkins University;   Canon Medical Systems, USA<br/><b>Enrolling by invitation</b></p></li>
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>UNAIR Inactivated COVID-19 Vaccine as Heterologue Booster (Immunobridging Study)</strong> - <b>Conditions</b>:   COVID-19 Pandemic;   COVID-19 Vaccines<br/><b>Interventions</b>:   Biological: Vaksin Merah Putih - UA SARS-CoV-2 (Vero Cell Inactivated) 5 µg;   Biological: CoronaVac Biofarma COVID-1 9 Vaccine 3 µg<br/><b>Sponsors</b>:   Dr. Soetomo General Hospital;   Indonesia-MoH;   Universitas Airlangga;   Biotis Pharmaceuticals, Indonesia<br/><b>Recruiting</b></p></li>
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Evaluate the Safety and Immunogenicity of Different Booster Dose Levels of Monovalent and Bivalent SARS-CoV-2 rS Vaccines in Adults ≥ 50 Years</strong> - <b>Condition</b>:   COVID-19<br/><b>Interventions</b>:   Biological: NVX-CoV2540 (5, 10, 25 μg);   Biological: NVX-CoV2373 (5 μg);   Biological: Bivalent BA.4/5 Omicron subvariant<br/><b>Sponsor</b>:   Novavax<br/><b>Not yet recruiting</b></p></li>
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Evaluating the Efficacy of Remdesivir for Long COVID Following a Confirmed COVID-19 Infection.</strong> - <b>Conditions</b>:   SARS-CoV-2 Infection;   COVID-19<br/><b>Intervention</b>:   Drug: Remdesivir<br/><b>Sponsors</b>:   University of Derby;   University of Exeter;   Peninsula Clinical Trials Unit;   University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust<br/><b>Not yet recruiting</b></p></li>
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>The Effect of Smart Sensor Combined With APP for Individualized Precise Exercise Training in Long Covid-19</strong> - <b>Conditions</b>:   Coronavirus Disease;   COVID-19;   Long Covid-19;   Telerehabilitation<br/><b>Interventions</b>:   Device: KNEESUP smart knee assistive device + KNEESUP care APP;   Device: KNEESUP care APP;   Behavioral: Healthy consulation<br/><b>Sponsor</b>:   Shang-Lin Chiang<br/><b>Recruiting</b></p></li>
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Open Label Extension of Efgartigimod in Adults With Post-COVID-19 POTS</strong> - <b>Condition</b>:   Post-COVID Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome<br/><b>Intervention</b>:   Drug: Efgartigimod<br/><b>Sponsors</b>:   argenx;   Iqvia Pty Ltd<br/><b>Recruiting</b></p></li>
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Digital Interventions to Understand and Mitigate Stress Response</strong> - <b>Conditions</b>:   Distress, Emotional;   Stress Response Among Nursing Professionals During the COVID-19;   Stress Reaction; Acute<br/><b>Intervention</b>:   Behavioral: Digital Intervention Group<br/><b>Sponsors</b>:   Unity Health Toronto;   Toronto Metropolitan University;   University of Toronto;   University of Ontario Institute of Technology;   Boston University;   University of Ottawa;   Western University, Canada;   Centre for Addiction and Mental Health<br/><b>Recruiting</b></p></li>
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>PREPARE-iVAC Trial</strong> - <b>Conditions</b>:   COVID-19 Vaccines;   Varicella Zoster Vaccine;   Vaccine Response;   Immunosuppression<br/><b>Intervention</b>:   Biological: COVID-19 vaccination<br/><b>Sponsors</b>:   University Medical Center Groningen;   Academisch Medisch Centrum - Universiteit van Amsterdam (AMC-UvA);   Radboud University Medical Center;   Erasmus Medical Center;   UMC Utrecht;   Leiden University Medical Center;   Maastricht University Medical Center;   ZonMw: The Netherlands Organisation for Health Research and Development<br/><b>Not yet recruiting</b></p></li>
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>NC Testing in LC &amp; POTS</strong> - <b>Conditions</b>:   Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome;   Post Acute Sequelae of SARS CoV 2 Infection<br/><b>Intervention</b>:   Other: IV normal saline (1 Litre)<br/><b>Sponsor</b>:   University of Calgary<br/><b>Not yet recruiting</b></p></li>
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>To Investigate Efficacy, Pharmacodynamics, and Safety of BC 007 in Participants With Long COVID</strong> - <b>Condition</b>:   Long Covid<br/><b>Intervention</b>:   Drug: BC 007 or matching placebo<br/><b>Sponsor</b>:   Berlin Cures GmbH<br/><b>Recruiting</b></p></li>
</ul>
<h1 data-aos="fade-right" id="from-pubmed">From PubMed</h1>
<ul>
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Design, Synthesis and Structure-Activity Relationship Studies of Protein Kinase CK2 Inhibitors Containing a Purine Scaffold</strong> - Protein kinase CK2 (CK2) is involved in the suppression of gene expression, protein synthesis, cell proliferation, and apoptosis, thus making it a target protein for the development of therapeutics toward cancer, nephritis, and coronavirus disease 2019. Using the solvent dipole ordering-based method for virtual screening, we identified and designed new candidate CK2α inhibitors containing purine scaffolds. Virtual docking experiments supported by experimental structure-activity relationship…</p></li>
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>A fish perspective on SARS-CoV-2: toxicity of benzalkonium chloride on Danio rerio</strong> - SARS-CoV-2 outbreak lead to an increased marketing of disinfectants, creating a potential environmental problem. For instance, pre-pandemic environmental levels of the disinfectant benzalkonium chloride (BAC) ranging from 0.5 to 5 mgL^(-1) in effluents were expected to further increase threatening aquatic life. Our aim was to characterize potential adverse effects after an acute exposure of zebrafish to different concentrations of BAC. An increase in the overall swimming activity, thigmotaxis…</p></li>
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Polyvalent Nano-Lectin Potently Neutralizes SARS-CoV-2 by Targeting Glycans on the Viral Spike Protein</strong> - Mutations in spike (S) protein epitopes allow SARS-CoV-2 variants to evade antibody responses induced by infection and/or vaccination. In contrast, mutations in glycosylation sites across SARS-CoV-2 variants are very rare, making glycans a potential robust target for developing antivirals. However, this target has not been adequately exploited for SARS-CoV-2, mostly due to intrinsically weak monovalent protein-glycan interactions. We hypothesize that polyvalent nano-lectins with flexibly linked…</p></li>
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Fatal outcome of severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) and severe and critical COVID-19 is associated with the hyperproduction of IL-10 and IL-6 and the low production of TGF-β</strong> - Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus (SFTSV) and severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) can cause the hyperproduction of inflammatory cytokines, which have pathological effects in patient including severe or fatal cytokine storms. To characterize the effect of SFTSV and SARS-CoV-2 infection on the production of cytokines in severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) and COVID-19 patients, we performed an analysis of cytokines in SFTS and COVID-19…</p></li>
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Anti-Inflammatory Effects of Dexamethasone in COVID-19 Patients: Translational Population PK/PD Modeling and Simulation</strong> - Dexamethasone (DEX) given at a dose of 6 mg once-daily for 10 days is a recommended dosing regimen in patients with COVID-19 requiring oxygen therapy. We developed a population pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic (popPK/PD) model of DEX anti-inflammatory effects in COVID-19 and provide simulations comparing the expected efficacy of four dosing regimens of DEX. Nonlinear mixed-effects modeling and simulations were performed using Monolix Suite version 2021R1 (Lixoft, France). Published data for…</p></li>
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>The ribosome-inactivating proteins MAP30 and Momordin inhibit SARS-CoV-2</strong> - The continuing emergence of SARS-CoV-2 variants has highlighted the need to identify additional points for viral inhibition. Ribosome inactivating proteins (RIPs), such as MAP30 and Momordin which are derived from bitter melon (Momordica charantia), have been found to inhibit a broad range of viruses. MAP30 has been shown to potently inhibit HIV-1 with minimal cytotoxicity. Here we show that MAP30 and Momordin potently inhibit SARS-CoV-2 replication in A549 human lung cells (IC50 ~ 0.2 μM) with…</p></li>
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Dynamical Nonequilibrium Molecular Dynamics Simulations Identify Allosteric Sites and Positions Associated with Drug Resistance in the SARS-CoV-2 Main Protease</strong> - The SARS-CoV-2 main protease (M^(pro)) plays an essential role in the coronavirus lifecycle by catalyzing hydrolysis of the viral polyproteins at specific sites. M^(pro) is the target of drugs, such as nirmatrelvir, though resistant mutants have emerged that threaten drug efficacy. Despite its importance, questions remain on the mechanism of how M^(pro) binds its substrates. Here, we apply dynamical nonequilibrium molecular dynamics (D-NEMD) simulations to evaluate structural and dynamical…</p></li>
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Restriction of SARS-CoV-2 replication by receptor transporter protein 4 (RTP4)</strong> - Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is subject to restriction by several interferon-inducible host proteins. To identify novel factors that limit replication of the virus, we tested a panel of genes that we found were induced by interferon treatment of primary human monocytes by RNA sequencing. Further analysis showed that one of the several candidates genes tested, receptor transporter protein 4 (RTP4), that had previously been shown to restrict flavivirus replication,…</p></li>
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Characterization of SARS-CoV-2 humoral immune response in a subject with unique sampling: A case report</strong> - CONCLUSION: The findings here provide novel insights into humoral immune response characteristics associated with SARS-CoV-2 breakthrough infections.</p></li>
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Novel Tissue Factor Inhibition for Thromboprophylaxis in COVID-19: Primary Results of the ASPEN-COVID-19 Trial</strong> - CONCLUSIONS: rNAPc2 treatment in hospitalized patients with COVID-19 was well tolerated without excess bleeding or serious adverse events but did not significantly reduce D-dimer more than heparin at day 8.</p></li>
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Endotyping of IgE-mediated polyethylene glycol and/or polysorbate 80 allergy</strong> - CONCLUSION: PEG and PS80 cross-reactivity is determined by IgE recognizing short PEG motifs, whilst PS80 mono-allergy is PEG-independent. PS80 skin test positivity in PEG allergics was associated with a severe and persistent phenotype, higher serum PEG-specific IgE levels and enhanced BAT reactivity. Spherical PEG-exposure via LNP enhances BAT sensitivity through increased avidity. All PEG and/or PS80 excipient allergic patients can safely receive SARS-CoV-2 vaccines.</p></li>
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Hindered visibility improvement despite marked reduction in anthropogenic emissions in a megacity of southwestern China: An interplay between enhanced secondary inorganics formation and hygroscopic growth at prevailing high RH conditions</strong> - The PM(2.5)-bound visibility improvement remains challenging in China despite vigorous control on anthropogenic emissions in recent years. One critical issue could exist in the distinct physicochemical properties especially of secondary aerosol components. Taken the COVID-19 lockdown as an extreme case, we focus on the relationship between visibility, emission cuts, and secondary formation of inorganics with changing optical and hygroscopic behaviors in Chongqing, a representative city…</p></li>
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Anthracyclines inhibit SARS-CoV-2 infection</strong> - Vaccines and drugs are two effective medical interventions to mitigate SARS-CoV-2 infection. Three SARS-CoV-2 inhibitors, remdesivir, paxlovid, and molnupiravir, have been approved for treating COVID-19 patients, but more are needed, because each drug has its limitation of usage and SARS-CoV-2 constantly develops drug resistance mutations. In addition, SARS-CoV-2 drugs have the potential to be repurposed to inhibit new human coronaviruses, thus help to prepare for future coronavirus outbreaks….</p></li>
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Statins: Beneficial Effects in Treatment of COVID-19</strong> - The recent viral disease COVID-19 has attracted much attention. The disease is caused by SARS-CoV-19 virus which has different variants and mutations. The mortality rate of SARS-CoV-19 is high and efforts to establish proper therapeutic solutions are still ongoing. Inflammation plays a substantial part in the pathogenesis of this disease causing mainly lung tissue destruction and eventually death. Therefore, anti-inflammatory drugs or treatments that can inhibit inflammation are important…</p></li>
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>mLST8 is essential for coronavirus replication and regulates its replication through the mTORC1 pathway</strong> - Coronaviruses (CoVs), which pose a serious threat to human and animal health worldwide, need to hijack host factors to complete their replicative cycles. However, the current study of host factors involved in CoV replication remains unknown. Here, we identified a novel host factor, mammalian lethal with sec-13 protein 8 (mLST8), which is a common subunit of mTOR complex 1 (mTORC1) and mTOR complex 2 (mTORC2), and is critical for CoV replication. Inhibitor and knockout (KO) experiments revealed…</p></li>
</ul>
<h1 data-aos="fade-right" id="from-patent-search">From Patent Search</h1>
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<h1 data-aos="fade-down" id="daily-dose">Daily-Dose</h1>
<h1 data-aos="fade-right" data-aos-anchor-placement="top-bottom" id="contents">Contents</h1>
<ul>
<li><a href="#from-new-yorker">From New Yorker</a></li>
<li><a href="#from-vox">From Vox</a></li>
<li><a href="#from-the-hindu-sports">From The Hindu: Sports</a></li>
<li><a href="#from-the-hindu-national-news">From The Hindu: National News</a></li>
<li><a href="#from-bbc-europe">From BBC: Europe</a></li>
<li><a href="#from-ars-technica">From Ars Technica</a></li>
<li><a href="#from-jokes-subreddit">From Jokes Subreddit</a></li>
</ul>
<h1 data-aos="fade-right" id="from-new-yorker">From New Yorker</h1>
<ul>
<li><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>What Does California’s Homeless Population Actually Look Like?</strong> - Politicians and commentators spend a disproportionate amount of time talking about a small subset of the homeless population. - <a href="https://www.newyorker.com/news/our-columnists/what-does-californias-homeless-population-actually-look-like">link</a></p></li>
<li><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>The Next Targets in the Fight Against Affirmative Action</strong> - It won’t be admissions offices at selective schools but institutions and programs that use race as a plus factor in making decisions about who gets contracts, jobs, scholarships, and awards. - <a href="https://www.newyorker.com/news/daily-comment/the-next-targets-in-the-fight-against-affirmative-action">link</a></p></li>
<li><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>The Titan Submersible Implosion Was “an Accident Waiting to Happen”</strong> - Interviews and e-mails with expedition leaders and employees reveal how OceanGate ignored desperate warnings from inside and outside the company. “It’s a lemon,” one wrote. - <a href="https://www.newyorker.com/news/a-reporter-at-large/the-titan-submersible-was-an-accident-waiting-to-happen">link</a></p></li>
<li><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Could Putin Lose Power?</strong> - Regime stability is a funny thing. One day it’s there; the next day, poof—it’s gone. - <a href="https://www.newyorker.com/news/the-weekend-essay/could-putin-lose-power">link</a></p></li>
<li><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Why the Champions of Affirmative Action Had to Leave Asian Americans Behind</strong> - The original concept in pursuit of diversity was vital and righteous. The way it was practiced was hard to defend. - <a href="https://www.newyorker.com/news/our-columnists/why-the-champions-of-affirmative-action-had-to-leave-asian-americans-behind">link</a></p></li>
</ul>
<h1 data-aos="fade-right" id="from-vox">From Vox</h1>
<ul>
<li><strong>It’s pasta salad summer</strong> -
<figure>
<img alt="A bowl of pasta salad featuring fusilli with corn, tomatoes, and feta cheese." src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/aLiNz0GkizgZ8SN7Bg-WzGoR8mU=/334x0:5667x4000/1310x983/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/72422378/GettyImages_1389124765.0.jpg"/>
<figcaption>
It’s not your imagination: pasta salad is taking over social media. | Carlo A/Getty Images
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom">
Here’s why the summer picnic staple is all over TikTok, Instagram, and food publications.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="ZCnRWy">
<em>Welcome to </em><a href="https://www.vox.com/2019/2/1/18205669/design-culture-fashion-home-shopping-trends-movies-tv"><em><strong>Noticed</strong></em></a><em>, Vox’s cultural trend column. You know that thing you’ve been seeing all over the place? Allow us to explain it.</em>
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="Ker8Yu">
<strong>What is it: </strong>Glorious pasta salads. But these are not your random aunt’s mayo-filled macaroni creations you remember from childhood barbeques. These are aesthetically pleasing bowls with interesting noodle shapes (heard of anellini?) and creative ingredients (halloumi, anyone?). They use fresh produce and <a href="https://www.vox.com/instagram-news">Instagram</a>-friendly oil brands, and they sometimes even require cooking rather than just haphazardly chopping items and throwing them together. The dressings? They are homemade.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="Jl7JT9">
<strong>Where is it: </strong>The feeds of food <a href="https://www.vox.com/influencers">influencers</a> on Instagram and <a href="https://www.vox.com/tiktok">TikTok</a>. On the latter platform, the hashtag #pastasaladsummer now has over 31 million views. Some of the prominent purveyors include food influencers <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@grossypelosi?lang=en"><span class="citation" data-cites="GrossyPelosi">@GrossyPelosi</span></a>, <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@babytamago?lang=en"><span class="citation" data-cites="babytamago">@babytamago</span></a>, and <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@cafehailee?lang=en"><span class="citation" data-cites="cafehailee">@cafehailee</span></a>. Of course, there’s also an <a href="https://anewsletter.alisoneroman.com/p/secret-ingredient-pasta-salad-video">Alison Roman pasta salad</a>, and the trend has even made its way to <a href="https://www.goodmorningamerica.com/food/video/pasta-salad-recipes-viral-summer-kicks-off-100475068"><em>Good Morning America</em></a>.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="oWSnXP">
<strong>Why you’re seeing it everywhere: </strong>Nostalgia mixed with aesthetics. It’s a classic summer gathering dish that can be remade into a colorful wonder with fresh ingredients and pantry staples. “Pasta salad’s the kind of perfect mix of a rebranding of a nostalgic thing,” content creator and cookbook author Dan Pelosi, also known as <a href="https://www.instagram.com/grossypelosi/?hl=en">Grossy Pelosi</a>, says.
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Last year, TikToker Katie Zukhovich, a.k.a. the aforementioned <span class="citation" data-cites="babytamago">@babytamago</span>, was looking for a recipe to bring to a barbecue at her Italian American boyfriend’s house. She was always turned off by the idea of pasta salad drenched in bottled Italian dressings. “It kind of just seemed like a mishmash of vegetables, just like everything but the kitchen sink sort of thing,” she says. But then she had an idea: What if she loaded it up with stuff she loved (tomatoes, roasted red peppers, soppressata, mini mozzarella balls, arugula) and dressed it in a simple vinaigrette? She hashtagged <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@babytamago/video/7113202653655485738?lang=en">a video of its creation</a> with #pastasaladsummer on TikTok, adding ABBA’s “Chiquitita” as a soundtrack. It currently has 2.1 million views on the platform.
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<a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@babytamago?refer=embed" target="_blank" title="@babytamago"><span class="citation" data-cites="babytamago">@babytamago</span></a>
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Italian pasta salad goes too hard and its so easyyyyy <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/pastasaladsummer?refer=embed" target="_blank" title="pastasaladsummer">#pastasaladsummer</a> <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/pastasaladrecipe?refer=embed" target="_blank" title="pastasaladrecipe">#pastasaladrecipe</a> <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/italianpastarecipe?refer=embed" target="_blank" title="italianpastarecipe">#italianpastarecipe</a> <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/summerpasta?refer=embed" target="_blank" title="summerpasta">#summerpasta</a>
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<a href="https://www.tiktok.com/music/Chiquitita-7001822966770042881?refer=embed" target="_blank" title="♬ Chiquitita - ABBA">♬ Chiquitita - ABBA</a>
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This year, she doubled down on pasta salad, anointing herself the “Pasta Salad Queen” with a dose of self-deprecation and kicking things off in <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@babytamago/video/7222041716314918187?lang=en">April with a green version</a> where orecchiette is nestled in with asparagus, marinated artichokes, olives, and more good green stuff including a pesto-type dressing. She has also made versions <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@babytamago/video/7237976091439353134?lang=en">with ravioli</a>, <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@babytamago/video/7233559901405023530?lang=en">with fried capers</a>, and <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@babytamago/video/7244246465655164206?lang=en">with grilled peaches</a>. And people are loving it. “I didn’t know there was such a cult following for pasta salad, to be honest,” Zukhovich says. “Because every time I post a video, I’ve never seen anything like it. People are like, ‘oh my god pasta salad pasta salad.’” Her pasta salads are even worth suffering for. Case in point, one person commented on the one featuring peaches, marinated tomatoes, and burrata: “As a member of the lactose sensitive community, I made this and am still recovering 4 days later but I would 10/10 do it again.”
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<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="XwqoKX">
So why has pasta salad taken off? “It’s a really easy vehicle to be creative with, so I feel like that’s why creators and chefs like to make different versions of it,” Hailee Catalano, a.k.a. <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@cafehailee?lang=en"><span class="citation" data-cites="cafehailee">@cafehailee</span></a>, tells me. “You really can put anything in it, honestly.” Catalano’s most <a href="https://cafehailee.com/recipes/chickpea-pasta-salad/">recent </a> involves circular pasta known as anellini with chickpeas, sun-dried tomatoes, and feta, among other goodies. She likes the idea that the pasta’s hole could cradle the chickpea when you eat it.
</p>
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Most versions are not that hard to make — you chop, you whisk, maybe you do a bit of grilling or marinating — and they look nice, which, as Catalano adds, is good for internet engagement as well. There’s a satisfaction to watching all the disparate parts of the pasta salad come together in shortform video, ultimately resulting in a vibrant medley — no stop in the oven needed. Plus, pasta salad is just a good summer food. It tastes great cold right out of the fridge or even lukewarm after sitting out on a picnic table. It can be made ahead of time. In fact, Pelosi argues that “four days later is when your pasta salad peaks.”
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="JBZBpD">
There is without a doubt a lot of innovation happening in the pasta salad space, but another reason that both Catalano and Zukhovich cite for its popularity is one that often drives online impulses: childhood memories — either good or bad.
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<a href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/CsmfRYsv7Gc/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">A post shared by DAN PELOSI (<span class="citation" data-cites="grossypelosi">@grossypelosi</span>)</a>
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<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="buDCFC">
Pelosi, the author of the upcoming cookbook <em>Let’s Eat</em>, understands that deeply. Unlike the other creators I spoke to, Pelosi grew up with positive associations with pasta salad. <a href="https://www.danpelosi.com/post/pelosi-pasta-salad">In July 2020</a> he posted his family recipe, which, in his words, has “all the elements of an Italian sandwich” mixed up with tri-color rotini. Since then, he’s witnessed the virality of the dish grow. “I’m sort of like, get off my lawn, bitch, stop making pasta salad, but I mean the more pasta salad the better,” he says.
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<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="uXzzGm">
Pelosi doesn’t scorn some of the classic elements of pasta salad the way he finds some others do. He’s fine with mayo, which Zukhovich has banned from her pasta salads, along with penne, which is a no-go as per her <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@babytamago/video/7222041716314918187?lang=en">rules of Pasta Salad Summer</a>. (To be clear: Pelosi praised Zukhovich’s pasta salads in our conversation. They just land on different sides of the mayo debate.) Pelosi also embraces a “pasta-heavy” pasta salad which he feels he has seen going by the wayside. “I think now people are doing things like adding lettuce or a lot of vegetables and sort of shifting the ratio to be like less pasta,” he says. Pelosi, meanwhile, recently revealed a “honey sesame” pasta salad, an ode to a New England chain Joe’s American Bar and Grill, <a href="https://www.danpelosi.com/post/honey-sesame-pasta-salad">a staple of his adolescence</a>.
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Browse #pastasaladsummer and you’ll find all kinds of variations on the theme, many of them gourmet or “healthy,” but some of them old-fashioned and creamy. There are subsets of pasta salad as well, including a host of chicken caesar recipes and a mini-trend involving elote pasta salad. What’s evident is that people are going to continue to make pasta salad. Zukhovich is brainstorming one with couscous or orzo, while Pelosi has new combinations coming in his book. “There’s no end in sight for me and pasta salad,” he says.
</p>
<ul>
<li><strong>What Egyptian hip-hop says about the country a decade after the military coup</strong> -
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/BANEvOu5oZkmasjUvxBp1YGVl5M=/227x0:3491x2448/1310x983/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/72422327/491748673.0.jpg"/>
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A vendor sells T-shirts of presidential candidate and former Defense Minister Abdel-Fattah el-Sisi on the Tahrir Square before the presidential election in Cairo, Egypt, in 2014. | Amru Salahuddien/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images
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<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom">
Yasmine El Rashidi on how politics and art are inseparable in Sisi’s Egypt.
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Ten years ago, the combination of a military coup and a popular uprising overthrew Egypt’s first democratically elected president, Mohamed Morsi.
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<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="pNdiBC">
The Egyptian military had long been the country’s most powerful force behind the scenes. But in its takeover of the government, it stepped out from behind the curtain and has essentially been running the country ever since. There is a Parliament and elections in the country, but there aren’t really politics.
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In June 2013, <a href="https://www.jadaliyya.com/Details/29558">Morsi</a> had only been in office a year to the day — his election followed the 2011 uprising that overthrew longtime dictator Hosni Mubarak. The revolution sparked tremendous hope in Egypt and around the world. But now, the country is <a href="https://www.vox.com/world/2022/11/9/23447942/egypt-prominent-political-prisoner-alaa-hunger-strike-copt27-climate">more repressive than ever</a>. The military’s takeover in July 2013 was met by a protest movement of Morsi’s supporters from the Muslim Brotherhood as well as other political activists. Egyptian security forces crushed their protest camps that summer; the most catastrophic date was <a href="https://www.newyorker.com/news/news-desk/the-writing-on-egypts-walls">August 14, 2013</a>, when over a thousand demonstrators were massacred. Human Rights Watch said it likely constituted <a href="https://www.hrw.org/report/2014/08/12/all-according-plan/raba-massacre-and-mass-killings-protesters-egypt">crimes against humanity</a>. Hundreds of others were sentenced to death, and Morsi himself ultimately <a href="https://prospect.org/world/mohamed-morsi-postscript/">died as a prisoner</a> of what could only be called negligence at the hands of the Egyptian state, collapsing after speaking in court in 2019.
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Today, the former general Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, who served as Morsi’s defense minister, is the president. He won a basically <a href="https://prospect.org/world/egypt-s-new-president-life/">uncontested election</a> in 2018 with 97.08 percent of the vote, and a <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/apr/23/sisi-wins-snap-egyptian-referendum-amid-vote-buying-claims">constitutional referendum</a> extended his rule to 2030.
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The military has arrested some <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2022/08/08/world/middleeast/egypts-prisons-conditions.html">60,000 political prisoners</a>, according to human rights monitors, but sources have told me that the number may be considerably higher.
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<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="1Fx0s4">
Yet political expression endures, and Egyptians have carved space in other realms beyond electoral<strong> </strong>politics. <a href="https://rollingstone.com/culture/culture-features/inside-the-strange-saga-of-a-cairo-novelist-imprisoned-for-obscenity-117295/">Literature</a> is a tool of rebellion, <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/books/2023/01/19/shubeik-lubeik-deena-mohamed-review/">graphic novels</a> capture social change, and <a href="https://prospect.org/world/egypt-president-stomps-press-mada-masr/">brave journalists</a> continue their important work.
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In her new book <a href="https://globalreports.columbia.edu/books/laughter-in-the-dark/"><em>Laughter in the Dark: Egypt to the Tune of Change</em></a>, the Cairo journalist Yasmine El Rashidi documents how a young generation of musicians have persevered. She profiles <a href="https://www.vox.com/23144329/marvel-moon-knight-cairo-egypt-underground-mahraganat-rap-world">mahraganat artists</a> who mix hip-hop culture, rap, and Egyptian music to tell their own stories.
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“In a political environment as fraught and oppressive as Egypt, it is always a risk for people to speak openly about their opinions and experiences,” she writes. “Politics and art collapse into one for the Egyptian citizen. They become inseparable.”
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<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="ASZw5a">
El Rashidi writes regularly for the <a href="https://www.nybooks.com/contributors/yasmine-rashidi/">New York Review of Books</a> and authored the 2016 novel <a href="https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/221006/chronicle-of-a-last-summer-by-yasmine-el-rashidi/"><em>Chronicle of a Last Summer</em></a>. I reached her by phone in Cairo, and our conversation has been lightly edited and condensed.
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<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="JUCaeF">
<strong>You begin the book by rehashing the history of the 2011 revolution and the 2013 coup, but you ended up focusing on music. Why is that?</strong>
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<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="TWoK2b">
For everyone who lived through the revolution of 2011, there is a sense of failure and defeat. If one is to step a little bit outside of that and look at the everyday happening in Cairo where I live, objectively, this idea that the revolution is dead, that the people are quiet — I could see that that wasn’t the case.
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There was something happening with the youth, but not in the political sphere. Just eavesdropping on conversations of young people on the streets, on the public bus, and the metro, I could see there was a generation coming of age that seemed to have a very different mindset and mentality to that of my generation. They seemed much freer in their expression. I don’t necessarily mean politically, but even in talking of sexuality, or in their openness to fashion, like when you looked at young boys on the streets, how they were beginning to dress or do their hair. They were obviously influenced by what they were seeing in the West, but they didn’t seem as pressured to conform in the way that certainly my generation did.
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<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="Sk6ntM">
This genre of music that I ended up writing about, mahraganat, was something that I was aware of in 2011, but at the time, we didn’t call it mahraganat. But the form was already there, which was that it was kind of rap or hip-hop. You were beginning to hear these young people in the square and beyond, you know, rapping about life.
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In 2011, I met Sadat and Amr Haha, two of the people I write about in the book, and was drawn into that sphere of music. But the book didn’t come together until several years later, when the genre began to have more of a following. You began to hear it much more frequently. People started to talk about it.
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<img alt=" " src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/sibRU5gtJ01J3vsXsuHEdkTVLgA=/800x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24764119/474592225.jpg"/> <cite>Mohammed Elshamy/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images</cite>
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A street wedding in the Dar El Salaam district of Cairo, featuring mahraganat music, in 2014.
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It was around that time that these two things came together for me: the observation about this young generation that I felt were quite different to my own, and quite uninhibited. And this music that was growing in popularity, that I was beginning to realize that more and more young people were listening to. It was an expression of what they were thinking and feeling.
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<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="LxEB9M">
And as the political atmosphere grew more and more repressive, the genre only seemed to grow, which ran contrary to our beliefs, or to previous patterns in our political history, and then we’ve always reverted to silence when the fear of crackdown increases. In this case, it seemed to be the opposite.
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<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="geJDlr">
<strong>I was taken with the clarity with which you said that “Egypt is at its most oppressive point in its modern history.” But you’re also describing this social and societal change that’s happened. How do you reconcile that? Is that just the work of counterculture — and a countercultural music genre entering the mainstream of the country?</strong>
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<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="alCBvW">
I raised this as a question in every conversation I have, here with friends, with sources, with contacts, especially with all the government is doing to try to keep this population contained, in terms of the anti-protest laws, or cracking down and arresting people who speak up against their economic conditions.
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<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="pthAaG">
I know a craftsman, who sews in the tentmakers’ market, who put a video on Facebook last November talking about the prices of things and how difficult life has become, and he was taken from his home at four in the morning and disappeared for a few weeks, and was in prison for months. The stories are constant.
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For all that the government is doing to try to keep that at bay, I’m constantly surprised that they are not addressing — and I’m going to say the “problem,” because I think it is a problem, I think it’s a time bomb — the problem of our enormous youth population.
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<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="QRY1gk">
Young people are extremely frustrated. And they’re uninhibited. I feel that they have no fears. They roam the streets with a lot of energy. And the government is doing nothing to address their needs. They’re not offering public spaces that they can be in, they’re not offering the kind of jobs that are going to entice them. The government is not addressing their needs and their energies.
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<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="aLWvpt">
I don’t think that they’re politically engaged or aware in the way that we were taking to the streets in protest of our circumstances. But they definitely have an energy that can unravel into something that will cause a political instability of sorts. I’m constantly surprised that the government doesn’t look at them and think, “Well, we have to do something, and do something in terms of actually creating opportunities for them, create public space that will engage them.” To be honest, it’s a big question mark for me.
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<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="SJJ7ya">
<strong>In the book, you talk about the red lines and how they’ve changed over time, and how this genre of hip-hop challenges the red lines. How do you see the red lines today? And do any of these rappers talk about Sisi or the government directly?</strong>
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="cYsXlF">
Not directly in their lyrics. There’s so much that’s said that isn’t overtly political, but it is political. When you talk about economic circumstances and the sense of feeling very stifled by the country — when you speak about those things, you can’t really separate them from politics, even if you’re not directly addressing the government.
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<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="TfM4N5">
Going back to red lines: you tread carefully. I think much more about what I am putting out now than I ever did. It’s gotten to a point where anyone who does speak out, or is active on social media, is a little bit wary, because you don’t know.
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<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="stOBd4">
On the one hand, we know that there are things that upset the government. On the other hand, it’s also quite arbitrary. It’s arbitrary in terms of who are they going to decide to make an example of next. It’s arbitrary in terms of who knows when their next post or tweet is going to go viral, Because those things irk the authorities.
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<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="eKf7GJ">
After the experience of 2011 and the years since, it’s impossible to switch off from the politics of the country. You can’t just. It’s become a part of how we live and breathe, in a way that for some of us it wasn’t before pre-2011.
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<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="8VnBME">
But I’ve been advised several times by friends, “You should really delete this post.” Or I’ve been around people who are politically active and thought twice or three times about the wording of something they’re going to put out, because you don’t know anymore.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="Z2SpbG">
The difference between Sisi and Mubarak is, under Mubarak, it was pretty clear what you could and couldn’t say. With this government, there’s a lot of gray areas. You just don’t know if you’re gonna say something that crosses a new red line, because those red lines are shifting, according to what’s happening in the day to day.
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<ul>
<li><strong>Panic about overhyped AI risk could lead to the wrong kind of regulation</strong> -
<figure>
<img alt="A nameplate reading Mr. Samuel Altman in the foreground. Altman is seen in the background. " src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/C0sRl9sRJrAeYG0V3gVOmVYmYSI=/222x0:3778x2667/1310x983/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/72422265/GettyImages_1255249339.0.jpg"/>
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Sam Altman, chief executive officer and co-founder of OpenAI, during a Senate Judiciary Subcommittee hearing in Washington, DC, on May 16, 2023. | Eric Lee/Bloomberg via Getty Images
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There’s something missing in the heart of the conversation about AI.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="JKmuGS">
Recently, a number of viral stories — including <a href="https://www.vox.com/future-perfect/2023/6/2/23745873/artificial-intelligence-existential-risk-air-force-military-robots-autonomous-weapons-openai">one by Vox</a> — described an Air Force simulation in which an autonomous drone identified its operator as a barrier to executing its mission and then sought to eliminate the operator. This story featured everything that prominent individuals have been sounding the alarm over: misaligned objectives, humans outside of the loop, and an eventual killer <a href="https://www.vox.com/robots">robot</a>. The only problem? The “simulation” never happened — the Air Force official who related the story <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/4a33gj/ai-controlled-drone-goes-rogue-kills-human-operator-in-usaf-simulated-test">later said</a> that it was only a “thought exercise,” not an actual simulation.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="ruGN6e">
The <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-40790258">proliferation of sensationalist narratives</a> surrounding <a href="https://www.vox.com/2023/4/28/23702644/artificial-intelligence-machine-learning-technology">artificial intelligence</a> — fueled by interest, ignorance, and opportunism — threatens to derail essential discussions on AI governance and responsible implementation. The demand for AI stories has created a perfect storm for misinformation, as self-styled experts peddle exaggerations and fabrications that perpetuate sloppy thinking and flawed metaphors. Tabloid-style reporting on AI only serves to fan the flames of hysteria further.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="x0ewb8">
These types of common exaggerations ultimately detract from effective policymaking aimed at addressing both immediate risks and potential catastrophic threats posed by certain AI technologies. For instance, one of us was able to <a href="https://outrider.org/nuclear-weapons/articles/could-chatbot-teach-you-how-build-dirty-bomb">trick</a> ChatGPT into giving precise instructions on how to build explosives made out of fertilizer and diesel fuel, as well as how to adapt that combination into a dirty bomb using radiological materials.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="UVLlKL">
If machine learning were merely an academic curiosity, we could shrug this off. But as its potential applications extend into government, education, medicine, and national defense, it’s vital that we all push back against hype-driven narratives and put our weight behind sober scrutiny. To responsibly harness the power of AI, it’s essential that we strive for nuanced regulations and resist simplistic solutions that might strangle the very potential we’re striving to unleash.
</p>
<aside id="SPAHwc">
<div>
</div>
</aside>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="uN7NoD">
But what we are seeing too often is a calorie-free media panic where prominent individuals — including scientists and experts we deeply admire — keep showing up in our push alerts because they vaguely liken AI to nuclear weapons or the future risk from misaligned AI to pandemics. Even if their concerns are accurate in the medium to long term, getting addicted to the news cycle in the service of prudent risk management gets counterproductive very quickly.
</p>
<h3 id="ZwcDlv">
AI and nuclear weapons are not the same
</h3>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="VcfKWN">
From ChatGPT to the proliferation of increasingly realistic AI-generated images, there’s little doubt that machine learning is progressing rapidly. Yet there’s often a striking lack of understanding about what exactly is happening. This curious blend of keen interest and vague comprehension has fueled a torrent of chattering-class clickbait, teeming with muddled analogies. Take, for instance, the pervasive comparison likening AI to nuclear weapons — a trope that continues to sweep through <a href="https://fortune.com/2023/05/08/henry-kissinger-ai-nuclear-weapons-warning-risk/">media outlets</a> and <a href="https://www.bostonglobe.com/2023/05/24/opinion/seth-moulton-ai-autonomous-weapons/">congressional chambers</a> alike.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="tNDVOO">
While AI and nuclear weapons are both capable of ushering in consequential change, they remain fundamentally distinct. Nuclear weapons are a specific class of technology developed for destruction on a massive scale, and — despite some ill-fated and short-lived Cold War attempts to use nuclear weapons for <a href="https://st.llnl.gov/news/look-back/plowshare-program">peaceful construction</a> — they have no utility other than causing (or threatening to cause) destruction. Moreover, any potential use of nuclear weapons lies entirely in the hands of nation-states. In contrast, AI covers a vast field ranging from social media algorithms to <a href="https://www.vox.com/defense-and-security">national security</a> to advanced medical diagnostics. It can be employed by both governments and private citizens with relative ease.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="kcF00P">
As a result, regulatory approaches for these two technologies take very different forms. Broadly speaking, the frameworks for nuclear risk reduction come in two distinct, and often competing, flavors: pursuing complete elimination and pursuing incremental regulation. The former is best exemplified by the <a href="https://disarmament.unoda.org/wmd/nuclear/tpnw/">Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons</a>, which entered into force in 2021 and effectively banned nuclear weapons under international law. Although it is unlikely to yield tangible steps towards disarmament in the short term — largely because no current nuclear powers, including the US, <a href="https://www.vox.com/russia">Russia</a>, or <a href="https://www.vox.com/china">China</a>, have signed on — the treaty constitutes a defensible use case for a wholesale ban on a specific existential technology.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="KtYkBz">
In contrast, the latter approach to nuclear regulation is exemplified by New START — the last remaining bilateral US-Russia nuclear arms control agreement — which limited the number of warheads both sides could deploy, but in doing so enshrined and validated both countries’ continued possession of nuclear weapons.
</p>
<div class="c-float-right">
<aside id="OdI9YE">
<q>If we draw lessons from the decades of nuclear arms control, it should be that transparency, nuance, and active dialogue matter most</q>
</aside>
</div>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="BW7wrJ">
The unfortunate conflation of AI and nuclear weapons has prompted some advocates to suggest that <em>both</em> of these approaches could potentially be adapted to the regulation of AI; however, it is only the latter approach that translates cleanly. Given the ubiquity of artificial intelligence and its wide range of practitioners, its regulation must focus on the <em>application</em> of such a technology, rather than a wholesale ban. Attempting to regulate artificial intelligence indiscriminately would be akin to regulating the concept of nuclear fission itself. And, as with most tools, AI is initially governed by the ethical frameworks and objectives imposed by its developers and users (though pursuing misaligned objectives could lead to divergence from human-intended goals): The technology is neither inherently good nor evil; in contrast, philosophers, ethicists, and even the <a href="https://www.armscontrol.org/act/2020-05/features/papal-vision-beyond-bomb">pope</a> have argued that the same could not necessarily be said about nuclear weapons, because their mere possession is an inherent threat to kill millions of people.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="3OZVXt">
In contrast to a wholesale ban, the most tangible risk reduction efforts surrounding nuclear weapons over the past several decades have come through hard-won negotiations and international agreements surrounding nuclear testing, proliferation, and export controls. To that end, if we draw lessons from the decades of nuclear arms control, it should be that transparency, nuance, and active dialogue matter most to meaningful risk reduction.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="6N7Pk8">
Others call attention to potential extinction-level risks, asking that these be taken just as seriously as those from nuclear weapons or pandemics. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, for example, along with his fellow CEOs from <a href="https://www.vox.com/google">Google</a> DeepMind and Anthropic and several prominent AI researchers, signed a <a href="https://www.theverge.com/2023/5/30/23742005/ai-risk-warning-22-word-statement-google-deepmind-openai">recent open letter</a> warning that “mitigating the risk of extinction from AI should be a global priority alongside other societal-scale risks such as pandemics and nuclear war.”
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="D5wWhW">
While it is essential not to dismiss those genuinely worried about catastrophic risks altogether, leveraging such towering claims in every conversation distracts from the grounded conversations necessary to develop well-informed <a href="https://www.vox.com/policy">policies</a> around AI governance. There are genuine catastrophic risks surrounding AI that we might encounter: rogue actors using large AI models to dismantle cybersecurity around critical infrastructure; political parties using disinformation at scale to destabilize fragile democratic governments; domestic terrorists using these models to learn how to build homemade weapons; and dictatorial regimes using them to surveil their populations or build dystopian social credit systems, among others.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="GZ0RZL">
But by labeling AI as an “extinction-level” threat, the conversation around such risks gets mired in unprecedented alarmism rather than focusing on addressing these more proximate — and much more likely — challenges.
</p>
<h3 id="kPiAWl">
Do we <em>really</em> need — or want — a “Manhattan Project” for AI safety?
</h3>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="ZGU6kd">
These existential concerns have <a href="https://twitter.com/GaryMarcus/status/1641823446308122624">provoked</a> <a href="https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2023/05/08/manhattan-project-for-ai-safety-00095779">calls</a> for a Manhattan Project-like undertaking to address the “alignment problem,” the fear that powerful AI models might not act in a way we ask of them; or to address mechanistic interpretability, the ability to understand the function of each neuron in a neural network.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="nU5IiU">
“A Manhattan Project for X” is one of those clichés of American politics that seldom merit the hype. And AI is no exception. Many people have called for large-scale governmental research projects targeting potential existential risks resulting from an alignment problem. Such projects demand vast investments without offering concrete solutions and risk diverting resources from more pressing matters.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="G1hHNW">
Moreover, the “Manhattan Project”-like approach is a wholly inappropriate analogy for what we actually need to make AI safer. As historian Alex Wellerstein has <a href="https://blog.nuclearsecrecy.com/2012/04/02/do-we-want-another-manhattan-project/">written</a>, the Manhattan Project was undertaken with virtually zero external oversight in near-complete secrecy, such that only a handful of people had a clear view of the goal, while thousands of the individuals actually doing the hands-on work didn’t even know what it was they were building. While the Manhattan Project did ultimately accomplish its goal, hindsight obscures the fact that the project itself was a tremendous financial and technological gamble with far-reaching consequences that could not have been foreseen at its inception.
</p>
<div class="c-float-right">
<aside id="EYwywg">
<q>Another problem with a Manhattan Project-like approach for “AI safety,” though, is that ten thousand researchers have ten thousand different ideas on what it means and how to achieve it</q>
</aside>
</div>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="nkzyXY">
Furthermore, while the Manhattan Project’s ultimate goal was relatively singular — design and build the atomic bomb — AI safety encompasses numerous ambiguities ranging from the meaning of concepts like “mechanistic interpretability” to “value alignment.” Mastering a thorough understanding of these terms requires academia’s exploratory capabilities rather than an exploitation-oriented mega-project.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="G6so5T">
Another problem with a Manhattan Project-like approach for “AI safety,” though, is that ten thousand researchers have ten thousand different ideas on what it means and how to achieve it. Proposals for centralized government-backed projects underestimate the sheer diversity of opinions among AI researchers. There is no one-size-fits-all answer to what exactly defines “interpretability” or how to achieve it; discussions require meticulous consideration rooted in diverse perspectives from ethicists and engineers to policymakers themselves. Bureaucracy-laden mega-projects simply cannot offer the freedom of exploration needed to surmount current theoretical challenges.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="ND4Kll">
While pouring funds into government-backed research programs may seem advantageous in theory, real progress demands nuance: Academic institutions boast a wealth of expertise when it comes to exploring and iterating novel concepts, fine-tuning definitions, and allowing projects to evolve organically. This mode of exploration is especially appropriate given that there exists no consensus concerning what the end goal for such AI safety projects ought to be; therefore, funneling funds toward top-down, singular-aim initiatives seems disproportionate, if not outright detrimental.
</p>
<h3 id="OEeSS2">
The path forward
</h3>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="MM7sJM">
The prevailing alarmist sentiment is inadvertently diverting attention from efforts to enhance our capacity for <a href="https://www.hsgac.senate.gov/wp-content/uploads/Testimony-Matheny-2023-03-08.pdf">responsible technological governance</a>. Instead of dystopian nightmares à la the Terminator, a wiser approach would prioritize creating stringent risk management frameworks and ethical guidelines, fostering transparent operations, and enforcing accountability within AI applications. Some open letters propose genuine concerns but suffer from overly dramatic language — and dampen innovation in the process.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="NvhICW">
Acknowledging these issues while steering clear of speculation would promote a more precise understanding of AI in the public conversation. But what it would not generate is clicks, likes, and retweets.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="YoVRwd">
Various <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/divyanshkaushik/2023/04/17/congress-can-shape-ai-governance-without-stifling-innovation-heres-how/?sh=53cb6959135b">recommendations</a> have already been outlined for responsible governance of AI: instituting stronger risk management frameworks and liability regimes; implementing export controls; increasing investments in standard-setting initiatives; and deploying skilled talent within the government, among others.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="i2sFfu">
Building on these suggestions, there are several additional measures that could effectively bolster AI governance in the face of emerging risks.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="JY2Esm">
First, the government must limit abuse across applications using existing laws, such as those governing <a href="https://www.vox.com/privacy">data privacy</a> and discrimination. Then it should establish a comprehensive “compute governance” framework to regulate access to the infrastructure required to develop powerful models like GPT-4, though it is important to balance that framework with the needs of open source development.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="qKJhGH">
Second, it is paramount that we implement retention and reproducibility requirements for AI research. By doing so, researchers and technology users will not only be able to reproduce study findings in an academic context, but could also furnish evidence in litigation arising from misuses or negligent applications of AI systems.
</p>
<div class="c-float-right">
<aside id="1tcZqV">
<q>We should prioritize targeted regulation for specific applications — recognizing that each domain comes with its own set of ethical dilemmas and policy challenges</q>
</aside>
</div>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="yjhrXv">
Third, addressing data privacy reform is essential. This involves updating existing data protection regulations and adopting new measures that protect user privacy while ensuring responsible AI development and deployment. Such reforms must strike a balance between maintaining data security, respecting individuals’ privacy rights, and fostering innovation.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="kus1Tg">
Fourth, there should be a strategic shift in the allocation of National Science Foundation (NSF) funding toward responsible AI research. Currently, resources are directed primarily toward enhancing capabilities — what if we reversed this investment pattern and prioritized safety-related initiatives that may lead to more sustainable innovations and fewer unintended consequences?
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="8Mq7zC">
Last but not least, the United States must modernize its immigration system to attract and retain top AI talent. China has been explicit in its desire to be the world’s leader in AI by 2030. With the best minds working on AI here, we will be able to design it responsibly and set the rules of the road.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="vim3se">
Developing effective policy measures also depends on strong collaborations between academia and industry partners worldwide. By instituting new frameworks to foster accountability and transparency within these collaborations, we minimize risks while proactively addressing issues as they arise.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="VOksBC">
By refocusing the conversation’s heart to better balance critical considerations and the desire for progress in unexplored areas, we might lay foundations for practical policies that make a difference. We should prioritize targeted regulation for specific applications — recognizing that each domain comes with its own set of ethical dilemmas and policy challenges.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="94Bhou">
Simultaneously, in eschewing sensationalistic rhetoric, we must not dismiss legitimate concerns regarding the alignment problem. While there may not be policy solutions immediately available to tackle this issue, governments still have a critical role to play in spearheading research projects aimed at better understanding the long-term risks involved with AI integration growth.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="HMwetM">
Our organization — the Federation of American Scientists — was founded over 75 years ago by many of the same scientists who built the world’s first atomic weapons. After the devastating bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, they created an organization committed to using science and technology to benefit humanity and to minimize the risks of global catastrophic threats. These individuals understood that true risk reduction was best achieved through collaborative policymaking based on factual and clear-eyed analysis — not sensationalism.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="YPul9I">
By acknowledging that artificial intelligence is an ever-evolving tool imbued with ethical considerations too complex for a top-down, one-size-fits-all solution, we can chart a more robust course toward sustainable progress. To that end, instigating constructive dialogue focused on responsible governance and ethics — rather than fetishizing dystopian conjecture — provides the requisite foundation to harness AI’s tremendous potential as an engine of change guided by sound principles and shared human values.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="aeAxZC">
<a href="https://fas.org/expert/divyansh-kaushik/"><em><strong>Divyansh</strong></em><em> </em><em><strong>Kaushik</strong></em></a><em> is the associate director for emerging technologies and national security at the Federation of American Scientists, and holds a PhD in machine learning from Carnegie Mellon University.</em>
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="XZ92vF">
<a href="https://fas.org/expert/matt-korda/"><em><strong>Matt Korda</strong></em></a><em> is a senior research associate and project manager for the Nuclear Information Project at the Federation of American Scientists, where he co-authors the </em><a href="https://fas.org/publication/nuclear-notebook-russian-nuclear-weapons-2023/"><em>Nuclear Notebook</em></a><em> — an authoritative open source estimate of global nuclear forces and trends. </em>
</p></li>
</ul>
<h1 data-aos="fade-right" id="from-the-hindu-sports">From The Hindu: Sports</h1>
<ul>
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Original Sin, Pharazon, Monteverdi and Made In Heaven shine</strong> -</p></li>
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Successor, Wall Street and Golden Neil catch the eye</strong> -</p></li>
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>India set sights on their ninth SAFF Championship title</strong> - India might just appear to have a slight upper hand in front of a hugely partisan home crowd at the Kanteerava Stadium</p></li>
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Ashes 2023 | MCC suspends 3 members after Lord’s Long Room incident with Australian players</strong> - The MCC had earlier apologised to the Australian team after some of its members allegedly verbally abused several visiting players as they made way to the dressing room</p></li>
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Aussie spinner Nathan Lyon ruled out of Ashes due to calf injury</strong> - Fellow off-spinner Todd Murphy is expected to replace Lyon in the third Test as Cricket Australia has not named any replacements.</p></li>
</ul>
<h1 data-aos="fade-right" id="from-the-hindu-national-news">From The Hindu: National News</h1>
<ul>
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Judge recuses himself from hearing Sivasankar’s bail plea</strong> - Sivasankar seeks three-month interim bail for undergoing medical treatment</p></li>
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Govt. urged to investigate irregularities in releasing compensation under PMFBY</strong> -</p></li>
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Shops in A.P.’s Vizianagaram urged to use only environment-friendly bags</strong> -</p></li>
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Madras HC refuses interim protection to online gaming companies for second time; decides to take up their cases for final hearing on July 13</strong> - Chief Justice S.V. Gangapurwala and Justice P.D. Audikesavalu say the arguments would be the same for both interim as well as final relief and therefore it would be better to commence final hearing</p></li>
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Row over borrowing limit: K. N. Balagopal says Kerala will approach SC</strong> - Centre had fixed the State’s open market borrowing way lower than the ₹32,442 crore – equivalent to 3% of GSDP – projected by the State government</p></li>
</ul>
<h1 data-aos="fade-right" id="from-bbc-europe">From BBC: Europe</h1>
<ul>
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>France riots ease as mayors hold anti-violence rally</strong> - French mayors denounce “extreme violence” of the protests which swept the country for almost a week.</p></li>
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>France riots: Why do the banlieues erupt time and time again?</strong> - The deprived French suburbs erupt time and time again. Why?</p></li>
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Victoria Amelina: Ukrainian writer dies after Kramatorsk strike</strong> - Victoria Amelina, an award-winning writer, was in a pizza restaurant that was hit by a Russian missile.</p></li>
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Ukraine war: The lethal minefields holding up Kyiv’s counter-offensive</strong> - Russia has mined vast swathes of Ukrainian territory its holds, inflicting casualties as Kyiv advances.</p></li>
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Mystery of Holocaust escape girls solved after 84 years</strong> - For more than 80 years the identities of three girls captured in an iconic photograph were unknown.</p></li>
</ul>
<h1 data-aos="fade-right" id="from-ars-technica">From Ars Technica</h1>
<ul>
<li><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Mars has liquid guts and strange insides, InSight suggests</strong> - Wobbles in its rotation are difficult to explain without a liquid core. - <a href="https://arstechnica.com/?p=1951385">link</a></p></li>
<li><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>SpaceX launches groundbreaking European dark energy mission</strong> - SpaceX is filling in for ESA as European rockets face delays. - <a href="https://arstechnica.com/?p=1951456">link</a></p></li>
<li><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Clever DNA tricks</strong> - As cells divide, they must copy all of their chromosomes only once or chaos will ensue. - <a href="https://arstechnica.com/?p=1951322">link</a></p></li>
<li><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Saturn’s rings steal the show in new image from Webb telescope</strong> - Webb turned its gold-coated mirror toward Saturn this week. - <a href="https://arstechnica.com/?p=1951436">link</a></p></li>
<li><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Death toll rises to 7 in fungal meningitis outbreak; cases at 34, 161 at risk</strong> - Anyone exposed should get medical care and testing immediately, even without symptoms. - <a href="https://arstechnica.com/?p=1951425">link</a></p></li>
</ul>
<h1 data-aos="fade-right" id="from-jokes-subreddit">From Jokes Subreddit</h1>
<ul>
<li><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>I saw a butt plug on the street today..</strong> - <!-- SC_OFF --></p>
<div class="md">
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom">
Some asshole must’ve dropped it.
</p>
</div>
<!-- SC_ON -->
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"> submitted by <a href="https://www.reddit.com/user/Dirt_Empty"> /u/Dirt_Empty </a> <br/> <span><a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/Jokes/comments/14p7css/i_saw_a_butt_plug_on_the_street_today/">[link]</a></span> <span><a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/Jokes/comments/14p7css/i_saw_a_butt_plug_on_the_street_today/">[comments]</a></span></p></li>
<li><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>I’ll never forget my grandfather’s last words before he died.</strong> - <!-- SC_OFF --></p>
<div class="md">
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom">
“Are you still holding the ladder?”
</p>
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<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"> submitted by <a href="https://www.reddit.com/user/Zealousideal-Mail353"> /u/Zealousideal-Mail353 </a> <br/> <span><a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/Jokes/comments/14pfxjz/ill_never_forget_my_grandfathers_last_words/">[link]</a></span> <span><a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/Jokes/comments/14pfxjz/ill_never_forget_my_grandfathers_last_words/">[comments]</a></span></p></li>
<li><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>A man is working out with a blonde nearby</strong> - <!-- SC_OFF --></p>
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He gets hot while doing his sets so he takes off his shirt. The blonde winks and says “Wow, you’ve got some nice pecs there.”
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The man smirks and says “100 pounds of pure dynamite, babe.” and returns to his workout. A few minutes go by and he gets hotter so he takes off his pants.
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The blonde winks again and says “Wow, you’ve got some nice calves too.”
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The man smiles and says “100 pounds of pure dynamite, babe.” and returns to his workout.
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After another few minutes he gets so hot that he takes off his underwear. With no hesitation, the blonde screams and runs away. The man chased her down and when he caught up to her, asked “What was that all about? Why did you run away from me like that?”
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Blonde says, “I was afraid to be around all that dynamite when I saw how short the fuse was.”
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<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"> submitted by <a href="https://www.reddit.com/user/RyTheMusicAddict"> /u/RyTheMusicAddict </a> <br/> <span><a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/Jokes/comments/14or6di/a_man_is_working_out_with_a_blonde_nearby/">[link]</a></span> <span><a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/Jokes/comments/14or6di/a_man_is_working_out_with_a_blonde_nearby/">[comments]</a></span></p></li>
<li><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>My wife found out I was cheating after she found the letters I was hiding</strong> - <!-- SC_OFF --></p>
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She got mad and said she is never playing Scrabble with me again!
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<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"> submitted by <a href="https://www.reddit.com/user/testturkey"> /u/testturkey </a> <br/> <span><a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/Jokes/comments/14omgo9/my_wife_found_out_i_was_cheating_after_she_found/">[link]</a></span> <span><a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/Jokes/comments/14omgo9/my_wife_found_out_i_was_cheating_after_she_found/">[comments]</a></span></p></li>
<li><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>I took dick sucking class in college and got an F</strong> - <!-- SC_OFF --></p>
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I sucked so hard at it.
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<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"> submitted by <a href="https://www.reddit.com/user/argonautweekend"> /u/argonautweekend </a> <br/> <span><a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/Jokes/comments/14p0qme/i_took_dick_sucking_class_in_college_and_got_an_f/">[link]</a></span> <span><a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/Jokes/comments/14p0qme/i_took_dick_sucking_class_in_college_and_got_an_f/">[comments]</a></span></p></li>
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