++The COVID-19 pandemic underlines the need for versatile diagnostic strategies. Here, we have designed and developed toehold RNA-based sensors for direct and ultrasensitive SARS-CoV-2 RNA detection. In our assay, isothermal amplification of a fragment of SARS-CoV-2 RNA coupled with activation of our biosensors leads to a conformational switch in the sensor. This leads to translation of a reporter-protein e.g. LacZ or Nano-lantern that is easily detected using color/luminescence. This response can be visualized by the human eye, or a simple cell phone camera as well as quantified using a spectrophotometer/luminometer. By optimizing RNA-amplification and biosensor-design, we have generated a highly-sensitive diagnostic assay; with sensitivity down to attomolar (100 copies of) SARS-CoV-2 RNA. Finally, this PHAsed NASBA-Translation Optical Method (PHANTOM) efficiently detects the presence of viral RNA in human patient samples, with clear distinction from samples designated negative for the virus. The biosensor response correlates well with Ct values from RT-qPCR tests and thus presents a powerful and easily accessible strategy for detecting Covid infection. +
++Perinatal transmission of COVID-19 is poorly understood and many neonatal intensive care units9 (NICU) policies minimize mother-infant contact to prevent transmission. We present our unit9s approach and ways it may impact neonatal microbiome acquisition. We attending COVID-19 positive mothers9 deliveries from March-August 2020. Delayed cord clamping and skin-to-skin were avoided and infants were admitted to the NICU. No parents9 visits were allowed and discharge was arranged with COVID-19 negative family members. Maternal breast milk was restricted in the NICU. All twenty-one infants tested negative at 24 and 48 hours and had average hospital stays of nine days. 40% of mothers expressed breastmilk and 30% of infants were discharged with COVID-19 negative caregivers. Extended hospital stays, no skin-to-skin contact, limited maternal milk use, and discharge to caregivers outside primary residences, potentially affect the neonatal microbiome. Future studies are warranted to explore how ours and other centers9with similar policies influence this outcome. +
++Background: Population mobility is closely associated with coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) transmission, and it could be used as a proximal indicator to predict future outbreaks, which could inform proactive non-pharmaceutical interventions for disease control. South Carolina (SC) is one of the states which reopened early and then suffered from a sharp increase of COVID-19. Objective: To examine the spatial-temporal relationship between population mobility and COVID-19 outbreaks and use population mobility to predict daily new cases at both state- and county- levels in SC. Methods: This longitudinal study used disease surveillance data and Twitter-based population mobility data from March 6 to November 11, 2020 in SC and its top five counties with the largest number of cumulative confirmed cases. Daily new case was calculated by subtracting the cumulative confirmed cases of previous day from the total cases. Population mobility was assessed using the number of users with travel distance larger than 0.5 mile which was calculated based on their geotagged twitters. Poisson count time series model was employed to carry out the research goals. Results: Population mobility was positively associated with state-level daily COVID-19 incidence and those of the top five counties (i.e., Charleston, Greenville, Horry, Spartanburg, Richland). At the state-level, final model with time window within the last 7-day had the smallest prediction error, and the prediction accuracy was as high as 98.7%, 90.9%, and 81.6% for the next 3-, 7-, 14- days, respectively. Among Charleston, Greenville, Horry, Spartanburg, and Richland counties, the best predictive models were established based on their observations in the last 9-, 14-, 28-, 20-, and 9- days, respectively. The 14-day prediction accuracy ranged from 60.3% to 74.5%. Conclusions: Population mobility was positively associated with COVID-19 incidences at both state- and county- levels in SC. Using Twitter-based mobility data could provide acceptable prediction for COVID-19 daily new cases. Population mobility measured via social media platform could inform proactive measures and resource relocations to curb disease outbreaks and their negative influences. +
++Limited initial supply of SARS-CoV-2 vaccine raises the question of how to prioritize available doses. Here, we used a mathematical model to compare five age-stratified prioritization strategies. A highly effective transmission-blocking vaccine prioritized to adults ages 20-49 years minimized cumulative incidence, but mortality and years of life lost were minimized in most scenarios when the vaccine was prioritized to adults over 60 years old. Use of individual-level serological tests to redirect doses to seronegative individuals improved the marginal impact of each dose while partially addressing existing inequities in COVID-19 impact. While maximum impact prioritization strategies were broadly consistent across countries, transmission rates, vaccination rollout speeds, and estimates of naturally acquired immunity, this framework can be used to compare impacts of prioritization strategies across contexts. +
++Introduction The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has become a major public health issue worldwide. Developing and evaluating rapid and easy-to-perform diagnostic tests is an absolute priority. The current prospective study was designed to assess diagnostic performances of an antigen-based rapid detection test (COVID-VIRO) in a real-life setting. Methods Two nasopharyngeal specimens of symptomatic or asymptomatic adult patients hospitalized in the Infectious Diseases Department or voluntarily accessing the COVID-19 Screening Department of the Regional Hospital of Orleans, France, were concurrently collected. COVID VIRO diagnostic specificity and sensitivity were assessed in comparison to real-time reverse transcriptase quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) results. A subgroup of patients underwent an additional oropharyngeal and/or a saliva swab for rapid testing. Results 121 patients already having a confirmed infection and 127 patients having no evidence of recent or ongoing infection were enrolled, for a total of 248 couple of nasopharyngeal swab specimens. Overall COVID-VIRO sensitivity was 96.7% (IC: 93.5%-99.9%). In asymptomatic patients, patients having symptoms for more than 4 days and those having a RT-qPCR Cycle threshold value >32, sensitivity was of 100%, 95.8% and 96.9% respectively. The concordance between RT-qPCR and COVID VIRO rapid test was 100% for the 127 patients with no SARS-CoV-2 infection. Conclusion COVID-VIRO test had 100% specificity and above 95% sensitivity, better than WHO recommendations (specificity ≥97-100%, sensitivity ≥80%). These rapid tests are particularly interesting for large-scale screening in Emergency Department, low resource settings and airports. +
+Dendritic Cell Vaccine to Prevent COVID-19 - Condition: COVID-19
Intervention: Biological: AV-COVID-19
Sponsors: Indonesia-MoH; Aivita Biomedical, Inc.; PT AIVITA Biomedika Indonesia; National Institute of Health Research and Development, Ministry of Health Republic of Indonesia; RSUP Dr. Kariadi Semarang, indonesia; Faculty of Medicine University of Diponegoro, Indonesia
Recruiting
A Study to Evaluate MVC-COV1901 Vaccine Against COVID-19 in Adult - Condition: Covid19 Vaccine
Interventions: Biological: MVC-COV1901(S protein with adjuvant); Biological: MVC-COV1901(Saline)
Sponsor: Medigen Vaccine Biologics Corp.
Recruiting
The Safety and Efficacy of Pyronaridine-artesunate (Pyramax® or Artecom®)in COVID-19 Patients - Condition: Covid19
Interventions: Drug: Artecom® (pyronaridine-artesunate); Drug: Placebo
Sponsor: Shin Poong Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd.
Not yet recruiting
Safety and Immunogenicity of Two Different Strengths of the Inactivated COVID-19 Vaccine ERUCOV-VAC - Condition: COVID-19 Vaccine
Interventions: Biological: ERUCOV-VAC; Other: Placebo Vaccine
Sponsors: Health Institutes of Turkey; TC Erciyes University
Recruiting
The Effect of Deep Breathing Exercise on Dyspnea, Anxiety and Quality of Life in Patients Treated for COVID-19 - Condition: COVID-19
Intervention: Behavioral: Deep Breathing Exercise with Triflo
Sponsor: Ankara University
Not yet recruiting
Study in Adults to Determine the Safety and Immunogenicity of AZD1222, a Non-replicating ChAdOx1 Vector Vaccine, Given in Combination With rAd26-S, Recombinant Adenovirus Type 26 Component of Gam-COVID-Vac Vaccine, for the Prevention of COVID-19. - Condition: COVID-19
Interventions: Biological: AZD1222; Biological: rAd26-S
Sponsors: R-Pharm; AstraZeneca
Not yet recruiting
Surgical Face Mask Effects in Patients With COVID-19 - Condition: Covid19
Intervention: Other: Sit-To-Stand test
Sponsor: Cliniques universitaires Saint-Luc- Université Catholique de Louvain
Not yet recruiting
Efficacy of Favipiravir in Treatment of Mild & Moderate COVID-19 Infection in Nepal - Condition: Covid19
Interventions: Drug: Favipiravir; Drug: Placebo; Drug: Remdesivir
Sponsor: Nepal Health Research Council
Recruiting
Dendritic Cell Vaccine, AV-COVID-19, to Prevent COVID-19 Infection - Condition: COVID-19
Interventions: Biological: AV-COVID-19; Other: GM-CSF
Sponsors: Aivita Biomedical, Inc.; PT AIVITA Biomedika Indonesia; Indonesia Ministry of Health; National Institute of Health Research and Development, Ministry of Health Republic of Indonesia
Recruiting
A Real World Study of Bamlanivimab in Participants With Mild-to-moderate Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) - Condition: COVID-19
Intervention: Drug: Bamlanivimab
Sponsors: Eli Lilly and Company; AbCellera Biologics Inc.
Not yet recruiting
Effect of Tenofovir/Emtricitabine in Patients Recently Infected With SARS-COV2 (Covid-19) Discharged Home - Condition: Covid19
Intervention: Drug: tenofovir disoproxil and emtricitabine
Sponsor: University Hospital, Caen
Recruiting
RescuE pLAsma eXchange in Severe COVID-19 - Conditions: Therapeutic Plasma Exchange; Covid19
Intervention: Other: Therapeutic plasma exchange
Sponsor: Heidelberg University
Recruiting
Efficacy of Ramdicivir and Baricitinib for the Treatment of Severe COVID 19 Patients - Conditions: Covid19; Covid-19 ARDS
Interventions: Drug: Remdesivir; Drug: Baricitinib; Drug: Tocilizumab
Sponsors: M Abdur Rahim Medical College and Hospital; First affiliated Hospital Xi'an Jiaoting University
Recruiting
Dräger COVID-19 Antigen Test Clinical Performance Study - Condition: Covid19
Intervention: Diagnostic Test: Dräger Antigen Test SARS-CoV-2
Sponsor: Drägerwerk AG & Co. KGaA
Not yet recruiting
COVID-19 Preventive Behavior in African Americans - Conditions: Covid19; Health Behavior
Intervention: Behavioral: Sm-EMA
Sponsors: Johns Hopkins University; National Institute on Aging (NIA)
Not yet recruiting
Computational drug repurposing strategy predicted peptide-based drugs that can potentially inhibit the interaction of SARS-CoV-2 spike protein with its target (humanACE2) - Drug repurposing for COVID-19 has several potential benefits including shorter development time, reduced costs and regulatory support for faster time to market for treatment that can alleviate the current pandemic. The current study used molecular docking, molecular dynamics and protein-protein interaction simulations to predict drugs from the Drug Bank that can bind to the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein interacting surface on the human angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (hACE2) receptor. The study...
Chloroquine/hydroxychloroquine: an inflammasome inhibitor in severe COVID-19? - Chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine belong to the aminoquinoline drugs. Studies revealed that chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine shows antagonism activity against COVID-19 under laboratory conditions. ARDS and ALI are conditions that occur in patients with COVID-19 as the main pathological complications of cytokine storm. Inflammasomes play a key role in the pathogenesis of many diseases associated with destructive inflammation. NLRP3 inflammasome has been shown to play a key role in the...
COVID-19 Curfews: Kenyan and Australian Litigation and Pandemic Protection - Historically and etymologically, curfews are public health measures imposed to guard against risks to health and safety. On occasion they have been deployed oppressively, disproportionately and without proper regard to their ramifications. It is important that they not be used during a pandemic unless there is sufficient medico-scientific reason to conclude that they will serve a constructive purpose and that they are the least restrictive available governmental response. Inevitably, they impact...
Tannic acid suppresses SARS-CoV-2 as a dual inhibitor of the viral main protease and the cellular TMPRSS2 protease - The cell surface protein TMPRSS2 (transmembrane protease serine 2) is an androgen-responsive serine protease important for prostate cancer progression and therefore an attractive therapeutic target. Besides its role in tumor biology, TMPRSS2 is also a key player in cellular entry by the SARS-CoV viruses. The COVID-19 pandemic caused by the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 has resulted in huge losses in socio-economy, culture, and human lives for which safe and effective cures are highly demanded. The main...
Interleukin-38 ameliorates poly(I:C) induced lung inflammation: therapeutic implications in respiratory viral infections - Interleukin-38 has recently been shown to have anti-inflammatory properties in lung inflammatory diseases. However, the effects of IL-38 in viral pneumonia remains unknown. In the present study, we demonstrate that circulating IL-38 concentrations together with IL-36α increased significantly in influenza and COVID-19 patients, and the level of IL-38 and IL-36α correlated negatively and positively with disease severity and inflammation, respectively. In the co-cultured human respiratory...
COVID-19 vaccine candidates based on modified vaccinia virus Ankara expressing the SARS-CoV-2 spike induce robust T- and B-cell immune responses and full efficacy in mice - Vaccines against SARS-CoV-2, the causative agent of the COVID-19 pandemic, are urgently needed. We developed two COVID-19 vaccines based on modified vaccinia virus Ankara (MVA) vectors expressing the entire SARS-CoV-2 spike (S) protein (MVA-CoV2-S); their immunogenicity was evaluated in mice using DNA/MVA or MVA/MVA prime/boost immunizations. Both vaccines induced robust, broad and polyfunctional S-specific CD4+ (mainly Th1) and CD8+ T-cell responses, with a T effector memory phenotype. DNA/MVA...
'BhAVI-23'-A spice-herb based dietary infusion possessing in-vitro anti-viral potential - CONCLUSION: This 'BhAVI-23' infusion displayed prominent in-vitro anti-viral and anti-diabetic potential in different model systems. These attributes have relevance as diabetic patients are more prone to COVID-19 morbidity. 'BhAVI-23' opens the avenue for its potential inclusion as a supportive health care system upon due regulatory approval during the current pandemic.
Higher expression of monocyte chemotactic protein 1 in mild COVID-19 patients might be correlated with inhibition of Type I IFN signaling - CONCLUSION: Higher expression of MCP-1 in mild COVID-19 patients might be correlated with inhibition of IFN signaling. The finding adds to our understanding of the immunopathological mechanisms of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection and provides potential therapeutic targets and strategies.
Identification of potential SARS-CoV-2 M(pro) inhibitors integrating molecular docking and water thermodynamics - The COVID-19 pandemic is an ongoing global health emergency caused by a newly discovered coronavirus SARS-CoV-2. The entire scientific community across the globe is working diligently to tackle this unprecedented challenge. In silico studies have played a crucial role in the current situation by expediting the process of identification of novel potential chemotypes targeting the viral receptors. In this study, we have made efforts to identify molecules that can potentially inhibit the SARS-CoV-2...
Combination therapy of IFNbeta1 with lopinavir-ritonavir, increases oxygenation, survival and discharging of sever COVID-19 infected inpatients - Interferon Beta-1a (IFN-β1-a), an immunomodulatory mediator with antiviral effects, has shown in vivo and in vitro activities especially on coronavirus including SARS-CoV-2. COVID-19 defined as the disease caused by infection with SARS-CoV-2. The virus has been illustrated inhibits the production of IFN-β1-a from inflammatory cells. We conducted a retrospective study of all adult confirmed COVID-19 hospitalized patients who received combination of three doses of 12 million international units of...
A SARS-CoV-2 antiviral therapy score card - The COVID-19 pandemic has unleashed an unprecedented effort to identify efficacious treatments for persons infected with SARS-CoV-2. As of September 2020, more than 750 completed, ongoing, or planned clinical trials of drugs intended to inhibit SARS-CoV-2 replication have been registered on the ClinicalTrials.gov or WHO International Clinical Trials Platform websites. Most of the treatments studied in these trials are repurposed licensed or investigational drugs targeting viral proteins or...
Active vitamin D supplementation and COVID-19 infections: review - SARS-CoV-2, causing the lethal disease COVid-19, is a public health emergency in the 2020 global pandemic. The outbreak and fast spreading of SARS-CoV-2 have a high morbidity and mortality specifically in elder patients with chronic diseases such as diabetes mellitus, arterial hypertension, chronic kidney disease, and organ transplanted patients with immunosuppressive therapy. Preliminary results support different treatments such as chloroquine and convalescent plasma infusion in severe cases,...
Exploration of natural compounds with anti-SARS-CoV-2 activity via inhibition of SARS-CoV-2 Mpro - Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), is a dreaded pandemic in lack of specific therapeutic agent. SARS-CoV-2 Mpro, an essential factor in viral pathogenesis, is recognized as a prospective therapeutic target in drug discovery against SARS-CoV-2. To tackle this pandemic, Food and Drug Administration-approved drugs are being screened against SARS-CoV-2 Mpro via in silico and in vitro methods to detect the best conceivable drug...
Kinins and Chymase: The Forgotten Components of the Renin angiotensin system and their implications in COVID-19 Disease - The unique clinical features of COVID-19 disease present a formidable challenge in the understanding of its pathogenesis. Within a very short time, our knowledge regarding basic physiologic pathways that participate in SARS CoV-2 invasion and subsequent organ damage have been dramatically expanded. In particular, we now better understand the complexity of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) and the important role of angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE)-2 in viral binding. Furthermore,...
Existing antiviral options against SARS-CoV-2 replication in COVID-19 patients - COVID-19 caused by SARS-CoV-2, is an international concern. This infection requires urgent efforts to develop new antiviral compounds. To date, no specific drug in controlling this disease has been identified. Developing the new treatment is usually time consuming, therefore using the repurposing broad-spectrum antiviral drugs could be an effective strategy to respond immediately. In this review, a number of broad-spectrum antivirals with potential efficacy to inhibit the virus replication via...
Covid 19 - Chewing Gum - - link
A traditional Chinese medicine composition for COVID-19 and/or influenza and preparation method thereof - - link
STOCHASTIC MODEL METHOD TO DETERMINE THE PROBABILITY OF TRANSMISSION OF NOVEL COVID-19 - The present invention is directed to a stochastic model method to assess the risk of spreading the disease and determine the probability of transmission of severe acute respiratory syndrome corona virus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). - link
The use of human serum albumin (HSA) and Cannabigerol (CBG) as active ingredients in a composition for use in the treatment of Coronavirus (Covid-19) and its symptoms - - link
The use of human serum albumin (HSA) and Cannabigerol (CBG) as active ingredients in a composition for use in the treatment of Coronavirus (Covid-19) and its symptoms - - link
抑制病毒受体ACE2的COVID-19防治药物及其应用 - 本发明提供了一种抑制病毒受体ACE2的COVID‑19防治药物及其应用。具体地说，本发明提供了中药鹅不食草在制备调节ACE2表达量的药物中的应用。本发明还提供了中药鹅不食草单独或与其它药物组合在制备COVID‑19防治药物中的应用。本发明发现鹅不食草能够使正常肺上皮细胞中ACE2的表达降低，从而降低新型冠状病毒(SARS‑CoV‑2)感染的风险，发挥预防SARS‑CoV‑2感染及治疗COVID‑19的作用。中药鹅不食草成本低，毒副作用小，疗效显著，为COVID‑19的治疗提供了新策略。 - link
"AYURVEDIC PROPRIETARY MEDICINE FOR TREATMENT OF SEVERWE ACUTE RESPIRATORY SYNDROME CORONAVIRUS 2 (SARS-COV-2." - AbstractAyurvedic Proprietary Medicine for treatment of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2(SARS-CoV-2)In one of the aspect of the present invention it is provided that Polyherbal combinations called Coufex (syrup) is prepared as Ayurvedic Proprietary Medicine , Aqueous Extracts Mixing with Sugar Syrup form the following herbal aqueous extract coriandrum sativum was used for the formulation of protek.Further another Polyherbal combination protek as syrup is prepared by the combining an aqueous extract of the medicinal herbs including Emblica officinalis, Terminalia chebula, Terminalia belerica, Aegle marmelos, Zingiber officinale, Ocimum sanctum, Adatoda zeylanica, Piper lingum, Andrographis panivulata, Coriandrum sativum, Tinospora cordiofolia, cuminum cyminum,piper nigrum was used for the formulation of Coufex. - link
제2형 중증급성호흡기증후군 코로나바이러스 감염 질환의 예방 또는 치료용 조성물 - 본 발명은 화학식 1로 표시되는 화합물, 또는 이의 약학적으로 허용가능한 염; 및 글루카곤 수용체 작용제(glucagon receptor agonist), 위 억제 펩타이드(gastric inhibitory peptide, GIP), 글루카곤-유사 펩타이드 1(glucagon-like peptide 1, GLP-1) 및 글루카곤 수용체/위 억제 펩타이드/글루카곤-유사 펩타이드 1(Glucagon/GIP/GLP-1) 삼중 완전 작용제(glucagon receptors, gastric inhibitory peptide and glucagon-like peptide 1 (Glucagon/GIP/GLP-1) triple full agonist)로 이루어진 군으로부터 선택된 1종 이상;을 포함하는 제2형 중증급성호흡기증후군 코로나바이러스 감염 질환 예방 또는 치료용 약학적 조성물을 제공한다. - link
Haptens, hapten conjugates, compositions thereof and method for their preparation and use - A method for performing a multiplexed diagnostic assay, such as for two or more different targets in a sample, is described. One embodiment comprised contacting the sample with two or more specific binding moieties that bind specifically to two or more different targets. The two or more specific binding moieties are conjugated to different haptens, and at least one of the haptens is an oxazole, a pyrazole, a thiazole, a nitroaryl compound other than dinitrophenyl, a benzofurazan, a triterpene, a urea, a thiourea, a rotenoid, a coumarin, a cyclolignan, a heterobiaryl, an azo aryl, or a benzodiazepine. The sample is contacted with two or more different anti-hapten antibodies that can be detected separately. The two or more different anti-hapten antibodies may be conjugated to different detectable labels. - link
+
Mundschutz bestehend aus einem Abdeckteil für den Mund- und gegebenenfalls den Nasenbereich des Gesichts und einem Bandteil mit mindestens einem Halteband, welches mit den Seiten des Abdeckteil verbunden ist und zur Befestigung des Mundschutzes dient, wobei das Halteband am seitlichen Ende des Abdeckteils fixiert ist und eine Schlaufe bildet, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass an der Schlaufe des Haltebands ein Clip befestigt ist.
Georgia, Trump’s Insurrectionists, and Lost Causes - In the name of preserving democracy, the G.O.P. and its febrile leader have actually subverted it—and, thanks to Trump’s unhinged behavior, the world now knows it. - link
What Should We Call the Sixth of January? - What began as a protest, rally, and march ended as something altogether different—a day of anarchy that challenges the terminology of history. - link
Trump Must Be Held Accountable - Impunity has been the defining feature of Trump’s Presidency. If he remains unpunished, his antidemocratic, violent movement will persist in mainstream American culture. - link
An Air Force Combat Veteran Breached the Senate - The Texas-based pilot was with a group that descended on House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s office suite. - link
The World Shook as America Raged - Allies were shocked by the insurrection in the world’s most powerful democracy, while ISIS and Al Qaeda celebrated the chaos at the Capitol. - link
++The company believes Trump’s tweets risk further violence during a critical time for democracy. +
++Twitter permanently suspended President Donald Trump’s social media account on Friday afternoon, citing the risk of further incitement of violence. +
++The decision comes in the wake of Trump’s encouragement of a rally in Washington, DC, that resulted in a mob storming the Capitol building and at least five deaths. For years, the president has used his Twitter account to reach his nearly 90 million now-former followers on the platform as a means to bypass traditional media. Many critics have long argued that Twitter should take a firmer stance against Trump due to his dangerous use of the platform to spread lies and violent rhetoric. While some may see the move as too little, too late, and Trump’s supporters are questioning it entirely, it nevertheless marks a historic exertion of Twitter’s ability to influence politics during a time when the strength of democracy in the US is being seriously tested. +
++“In the context of horrific events this week, we made it clear on Wednesday that additional violations of the Twitter Rules would potentially result in this very course of action,” read a company blog post on Friday explaining the decision. Despite the fact that Twitter has generally allowed world leaders like Trump to post more controversial content than the average user since their tweets are deemed newsworthy, the company said that these accounts are still “not above our rules entirely and cannot use Twitter to incite violence, among other things.” +
++Ahead of the permanent ban, Twitter had previously temporarily suspended Trump’s tweets on Wednesday for violating its policies on civic integrity and violence, and warned that it may permanently suspend him if he continued to violate its policies. Now, users can no longer see Trump’s tweets, and the president is unable to post on his account. +
++++After close review of recent Tweets from the @realDonaldTrump account and the context around them we have permanently suspended the account due to the risk of further incitement of violence.https://t.co/CBpE1I6j8Y +
+— Twitter Safety (@TwitterSafety) January 8, 2021 +
+The move comes as hundreds of Twitter’s own employees urged CEO Jack Dorsey to suspend Trump permanently, according to a report by the Washington Post. +
++The day before Twitter’s permanent suspension, Facebook blocked Trump’s account on its platform, which has tens of millions of followers, from posting and emphasized that the ban would be in place for at least two weeks until President-elect Joe Biden’s inauguration. +
++Twitter’s official explanation for why it permanently blocked Trump’s account was that his last two tweets violated the company’s Glorification of Violence policy and were part of a broader pattern of encouraging violence during the transition of presidential powers. Twitter specifically cited a concern that Trump’s followers seemed to interpret his announcement about not attending Biden’s inauguration as a signal that it would be a “safe” target for violent acts. +
++The first tweet that pushed Trump past Twitter’s tipping point stated that he would not attend Joe Biden’s inauguration. The second declared that the “75,000,000 great American Patriots” who voted for Trump would not be “disrespected or treated unfairly in any way, shape or form!!!” +
++Twitter said that, when read in the broader context of the recent violence in DC and how Trump’s tweets can be mobilized by his followers to incite further violence, those two tweets impelled the platform to suspend his account. +
++In the past week, a growing chorus of leaders in the political and tech communities have been placing more pressure than ever on social media companies to permanently ban Trump. Their concerns correspond with fears that Trump is encouraging his followers to stage some sort of coup by forcefully rejecting the certified results of the presidential election declaring Biden the next president. +
++“Now is the time for Silicon Valley companies to stop enabling this monstrous behavior — and go even further than they have already by permanently banning this man from their platforms,” former first lady Michelle Obama said in a statement Thursday afternoon. +
++In the technology industry, early Twitter investor Chris Sacca and former Facebook chief security officer Alex Stamos similarly called for Twitter to cut off the president’s access to social media. +
++And hundreds of Twitter’s own employees — who have rarely publicly protested the company’s decisions — came out to say that they felt the company had a moral obligation to shut down Trump’s account. +
++“We play an unprecedented role in civil society and the world’s eyes are upon us,” the employees wrote in a letter to Jack Dorsey and Twitter executives. “Our decisions this week will cement our place in history, for better or worse.” +
++People in Trump’s inner circle such as Donald Trump Jr. quickly derided Twitter’s decision, arguing that the company is holding his father to a double standard by not taking down the accounts of Iran’s Ayatollah Khamenei and “numerous other dictatorial regimes.” +
++Trump launched his political career on Twitter spreading racist “birtherism” conspiracy theories about former President Obama. And as he continued to gain political power, he has been a prolific user of the platform, regularly spreading false statements, conspiracy theories, and, at times, what many see as dangerous rhetoric veering on inciting violence. +
++Over the years, the former reality TV star has repeatedly used the platform to retweet conspiracy theorists such as QAnon supporters, spread medical misinformation about Covid-19, suggest potentially shooting into crowds of Black Lives Matter protesters, and at multiple points inched toward potentially provoking a nuclear war via the platform. +
++And for four years, Trump’s incendiary social media posts have largely gone unchecked by Twitter and other major tech companies. That’s because Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, and other companies have repeatedly said they don’t want to interfere in politics but rather act as neutral platforms committed to free speech values. +
++Those limits have been tested by Trump’s repeated attempts to interfere with the integrity of the US elections process via social media. In the months leading up to and following the 2020 presidential election, Trump has endlessly spread baseless conspiracy theories about the election being purportedly “stolen” from him, despite having no substantial proof of any such allegations. His repeated assertion that the election was rigged has also inspired some of his fervent followers to doubt the legitimacy of the US Electoral College, fueling the “Stop the Steal” protests which led to Wednesday’s violence. +
++For some critics of Trump’s Twitter behavior, the company’s actions to limit the president’s tweets are several years overdue. Trump has already built an infrastructure of highly networked social media followers who continue to organize in private groups, alternate social media platforms like Gab and Parler, as well as through the Twitter accounts of other prominent Trump supporters. +
++If Trump tries to start another Twitter account, per Twitter’s ban evasion policy, he’s liable to get kicked off the platform again. +
++However, his administration still has access to two official US government accounts: @POTUS and @WhiteHouse. Those accounts will be handed over to the Biden administration soon, according to Twitter. The company has said it will not suspend those accounts unless it deems that course of action absolutely necessary to alleviate real-world harm. +
++On Friday evening, Trump posted several tweets to the @POTUS criticizing Twitter for suspending his account and alleging without evidence that “Twitter employees have coordinated with the Democrats and the Radical Left in removing my account from their platform.” Twitter quickly deleted the tweets. +
++It’s unclear where Trump will go from here. The natural social media platform for Trump to migrate to, Parler, has fewer rules around content moderation, but those policies are suddenly proving problematic. Around the same time that Twitter permanently suspended Trump, Google banned Parler from its app store, and Apple has warned it may do the same if the platform doesn’t start moderating content more aggressively. +
++Twitter’s action in banning Trump was an unprecedented move by a major tech company to limit the platform of a major political figure in the interest of preserving democratic stability. And there’s a good chance we’ll be seeing more of that from other companies in the future, too. +
+
++It’s time for the world to get more ambitious with its emissions targets. +
++2020 was one of the two warmest years on record, tied only with 2016. +
++According to the European Union’s Copernicus Climate Change Service, in 2020, average temperatures globally were 2.7 degrees Fahrenheit (1.25 degrees Celsius) warmer than preindustrial levels — the point at which scientists agree that human activity, and particularly the burning of fossil fuels, began to accelerate global warming. +
++In nearly every way, 2020 was a record year for climate-related disasters. +
++The impacts of the record heat have been felt both around the globe and in the United States. Historic wildfires burned in California, Colorado, Australia, and the Amazonian rainforest. The Atlantic hurricane season produced a record 30 named storms. +
++Swarms of crop-destroying locusts invaded East Africa, causing devastation to a region already struggling with food insecurity. The Arctic, the area that is currently warming faster than any other place on the planet, saw record declines in ice cover as well as records for how late in the year the ice actually froze. +
++++️2020 has tied with 2016 as the warmest year on record, as well as being the hottest year recorded for Europe, according to our #CopernicusClimate Change Service.
+— Copernicus ECMWF (@CopernicusECMWF) January 8, 2021 +
Follow this thread for more details, or read the full press release on our website➡️https://t.co/aEj53ieM5u pic.twitter.com/qk87x1iKtg +
+Even more troubling, 2020’s high temperatures occurred despite the absence of an El Niño event, which typically has the effect of warming the globe; 2016, the other warmest year on record, had an El Niño. +
++So 2020 being the warmest on record, without an El Niño event, indicates just how much human activity is changing the world around us. +
++Lockdowns due to the coronavirus pandemic and global traffic coming to a halt contributed to a 7 percent drop in emissions. However, the concentration of atmospheric carbon dioxide actually grew to record highs in May. +
++Recently released figures from NOAA found that more than 20 climate- or weather-related events costing $1 billion or more hit the United States last year — from a combined drought and heat wave in Colorado to hailstorms and heat waves that struck parts of Ohio. +
+ <img alt=" " src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/k6Kwd8fcig6lpKK5Sk2UoY6cro8=/800x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/22223231/2020_billion_dollar_disaster_map.png" />
+ <cite>Map by the <a class="ql-link" href="https://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/billions/" target="_blank">National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration</a>, 2021</cite>
+ <figcaption>A record-breaking 22 billion-dollar disasters hit the US in 2020.</figcaption>+According to figures from a report by Munich Re, environmental disasters cost the world $210 billion in 2020. The US alone accounted for $95 billion of that sum, nearly double the cost of damage in 2019. +
++Limiting warming to well below 2 degrees Celsius above preindustrial levels, the fundamental goal of the Paris climate agreement, will require countries worldwide to commit to making a rapid transition away from fossil fuel-intensive practices to renewable energy. +
++The Paris climate pact, which just had its fifth anniversary, contains a mechanism for countries to make even stronger commitments. +
++Yet while many countries in 2020 made headlines for announcing quicker timelines for moving to net-zero emissions, a recent analysis showed that just 45 parties (44 countries, plus the EU’s 27 member states, viewed as one bloc) met the deadline to share their updated targets. That may sound like a large number, but the world’s largest emitters — the United States, China, and India — were noticeably absent from the list. +
++Despite the bleak global outlook, experts say it’s possible to put the US on a 1.5-degree warming path and even cut 70 to 80 percent of emissions by 2035. But achieving rapid decarbonization requires essentially “electrifying everything,” as David Roberts reported for Vox in 2017: swapping out technologies that still run on combustion, like gasoline-powered vehicles, and natural gas heating and cooling with alternatives that run on electricity, like electric vehicles and heat pumps. +
++The ultimate goal is to quickly replace all carbon-heavy forms of energy with cleaner ones. +
++President-elect Joe Biden has announced plans to rejoin the Paris agreement on day one of his presidency, but in addition to rejoining, the US will have to make a more ambitious commitment if it truly wants to lead global efforts against climate change. +
++
++
++
+
++Murkowski is the first Senate Republican who has explicitly called for Trump to leave. +
++Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) on Friday became the first Senate Republican to explicitly call for President Donald Trump’s resignation in the wake of the violent attack at the Capitol earlier this week. +
++“I want him out. He has caused enough damage,” Murkowski said in an interview with the Anchorage Daily News’s James Brooks. “I think he should leave. He said he’s not going to show up. He’s not going to appear at the inauguration.” +
++Murkowski is the first Senate Republican to urge Trump to leave office, in addition to condemning his actions on Wednesday. Trump this week pressed his followers to march to the Capitol and contest the presidential election, fueling a violent storming of the building that led to five deaths. Many Republicans have criticized the violence and destruction that took place, as well as the president’s actions. But few — and before Murkowski, none in Congress — have so directly pushed for him to leave office. +
+ ++Thus far, Sen. Ben Sasse (R-NE) has said he would consider articles of impeachment if the House brought them against Trump, but he did not commit to convicting the president in that scenario. Sen. Mitt Romney (R-UT), a vocal Trump opponent, has also signaled that lawmakers may simply have to “hold [their] breath” until the president leaves on January 20. +
++In addition to her comments about Trump, Murkowski also spoke about her concerns regarding the trajectory of the Republican Party — raising questions about how she intends to align herself in the coming term. +
++“I didn’t have any reason to leave my party in 2010,” she said. “I was a Republican who ran a write-in campaign and I was successful. But I will tell you, if the Republican Party has become nothing more than the party of Trump, I sincerely question whether this is the party for me.” +
++Murkowski is currently a member of the Senate Republican conference, though she has broken with her colleagues in the past on key votes, including one to preserve the Affordable Care Act and one where she declined to confirm Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh. Her interview Friday suggested that she’s evaluating where the party goes from here after this week’s election certification vote signaled many Senate Republicans’ biggest break from Trump yet. +
+Aus vs Ind third Test | Pujara was scared to play shot, played to survive than score runs, says Border - “Credit where credit is due, the bowling has been very good and Australia haven’t allowed them to get away,” Border said.
Lordship, Star Symbol, Rwanda, Amendment and Bolivia catch the eye - Lordship, Star Symbol, Rwanda, Amendment and Bolivia caught the eye when the horses were exercised here on Saturday (Jan. 9). Outer sand: 600m: Rajpu
‘I love life,’ says the oldest living Olympic champion as she turns 100 - The Holocaust survivor and winner of 10 Olympic has led a life punctuated by achievement, adventure, tragedy and perseverance.
Aus vs Ind third Test | I couldn’t have done anything better than what I was doing, says Cheteshwar Pujara - According to Pujara, his nemesis Patrick Cummins bowled the “ball of the series” about which he couldn’t do anything.
Aus vs. Ind Test | India files racial abuse complaint against spectators in Sydney - India’s cricket team has lodged an official complaint with match referee for racial abuse against its pacers Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj by spec
Vidyajyothi to be extended to city schools too - The district panchayat’s Vidyajyothi programme to boost the pass percentage of students in the SSLC examinations is likely to be extended to students
WhatsApp says latest update does not change its data-sharing practices with Facebook - The company head says that with end-to-end encryption (E2E), it cannot see private chats or calls and neither can Facebook and that WhatsApp remains committed to E2E.
MP-UP close to agreement on Ken-Betwa link project: Union Jal Shakti Minister - Besides irrigating thousands of hectares, the scheme will provide drinking water to 62 lakh people, says Gajendra Singh Shekhawat
NGT to evaluate sand-mining scenario in State - Eight-member panel to check whether mining is in compliance with laws
India developing capabilities for undertaking deep ocean missions, says Harsh Vardhan - The Minister said because of early warning facilities, States and administration were able to take up precautionary measures in protecting the people.
Europe's slow start: How many people have had the Covid vaccine? - As countries look to quickly vaccinate people, BBC reporters explain what's happening across Europe.
Storm Filomena: Spain sees 'exceptional' snowfall - More than half the country is on red alert with more snow expected to fall on Saturday.
Bosnia: Icy struggle for many migrants stuck in freezing tents - Some aid has reached hundreds of migrants in Bosnia, but their conditions are primitive.
Huge sinkhole appears in Italy hospital car park - It's around 50 metres wide and caused a power outage in the Ospedale del Mare in Naples, Italy.
Brexit: M&S temporarily cuts hundreds of products in NI - Criticism of new Brexit trade rules is growing as firms warn of more bureaucracy, higher costs and delays.
What to expect from the first-ever virtual CES - Some big players are missing, along with over half of last year's exhibitors. - link
Twitter takes down China’s “baby-making machines” tweet on Uighur women - Twitter now says the tweet violates a rule against dehumanizing an ethnic group. - link
Google bans Parler from Android app store - Mainstream social media sites have banned Donald Trump and others on the right. - link
Donald Trump has finally earned a permaban from Twitter - Twitter banned Trump's account "due to the risk of further incitement of violence. " - link
Motorola shovels the 2021 Moto G lineup onto the market - They mostly have big batteries, no NFC, and a poor update plan. - link
+Post office +
++Edit: Thanks for all the nice comments, I've been showing it to her, she's chuffed my most popular post on Reddit was hers. Also she's 10, so this probably has been said before but bamboozled me hence the title. +
+ submitted by /u/vulcan_one
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+[removed] +
+ submitted by /u/harsshvvardhan
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+A Pathologist examined the remains of all the crows, and, to everyone's relief, confirmed the problem was NOT Avian Flu. +
++The cause of death appeared to be from vehicular impacts. However, during analysis it was noted that varying colours of paints appeared on the bird's beaks and claws. +
++By analysing these paint residues it was found that 98% of the crows had been killed by impact with motorbikes, while only 2% were killed by cars. +
++The investigators then hired an Ornithological Behaviourist to determine if there was a cause for the disproportionate percentages of motorbike kills versus car kills. +
++The Ornithological (Bird) Behaviourist quickly concluded that when crows eat road kill, they always have a look-out crow to warn of danger. +
++They discovered that while all the lookout crows could shout "Cah", not a single one could shout "bike" +
+ submitted by /u/bolts42
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+He slapped down a $100 bill and asked the Madam of the house for their hottest hooker. +
++She looks down at him and goes, “Aren’t you too young to be he-“ +
++Little Johnny proceeded to slap another one hundred dollar bill onto the table. +
++She asks Little Johnny to follow her, and she leads him to their hottest and most used hooker. +
++They did their business, and when Little Johnny started to leave, she asked him why he was so set on fucking a hooker. +
++“Well if you want the whole story, I knew someone like you would have a bunch of STDs, and after I fucked you, my nanny would molest me back home, and she would get the stds. Then she would sleep with my dad, and then he would sleep with my mom. “ +
++“And when the mailman would come, he would fuck my mom, getting the stds. And that son of a bitch was the one that ran over my frog.” +
+ submitted by /u/Gamer_Cuber358
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+Apparently only they can patent expensive stuff for assholes. +
+ submitted by /u/RAMBOxBAGGINS
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