Monthly Archives: August 2020

How the New York Times profits from self-censorship – The Spectator USA

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The recent high-profile departures at theNew York Timesof editorial page editor James Bennet andopinionwriter Bari Weiss have left some on the business side of the news industry scratching their heads.Both exited amid ideological turmoil that Weissdetailedin a letter of resignationtothe Timesspublisher A.G. Sulzberger, describing the hostile work environment she endured at the hands of fellow editors and staffers. They were wholly intolerant, she said, of her role as acentrist at the paper. Bennet, said Weiss, had led the effort after President Trumps election in 2016 to bring in voices that would not otherwise appear in theTimes.

But what of Sulzberger, whose prime duty is toNew York Timesshareholders and therefore to the papers bottom line? How does the top executive justify alienating swathes ofTimes customers and potentialsubscriberswho may be sympathetic to, or even merely curious about, ideas beyond what Weiss described as our 4,000th op-ed arguing that Donald Trump is a unique danger to the country and the world?

Theoverlookedtruth is that there is considerable financial incentive for theTimesto limit the scope of discussion.This business angle may foretell what to expect from theTimesgoing forward.

Its a product of how the business of news has evolved in recent years. Advertising revenue has been hurtling downhill for some time and the COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated that decline. In the first quarter of this year, the Timess ad revenue fell 15.2 percent year-over year. In May,theTimesannouncedthat it expects advertising revenue in the second quarter to fall even more dramatically, bybetween 50 and 55 percent.

And yet the companys stock price continues to climb. It is now priced in the $46per sharerange. Its all time high of $52per share, set in 2002, is within reach. This steady climb marks a remarkable recovery from a low of about $4per sharein 2009.

These strong numbers are a product of theTimesssuccessful digital subscription business, which hasgrownrapidlyin recent years. Last year, the publisher announced the goal of reaching 10 million subscribers by the end of 2025. In February the paper announced it had hit the halfway mark a year early. In the first quarter of this year theTimes added an impressive 587,000 new digital subscribers, bringing its total subscriber base to more than six million, some 85 percent of which are online-only.

In the past, when advertising was the main driver of revenue, the goal was to reach the widest possible audience. Now, though, the business model demands the paper focus on catering to a narrow but passionate segment of the readership base. Thatsegmentincreasingly accounts for the bulk of theTimess income and it prefers a narrow, left-wing editorial line.

A 2017 study of datafrom hundreds of major media sites conducted by Piano, a leading provider of metered paywalls for the news industry,foundthat for most media outlets the bulk of digital subscription revenue isdriven by a small percentage between 2 and 12 percent of readers. Piano calls them super-fans, super-users, direct and dedicated, the invested, and loyalists.

Being able to serve and monetize this relatively small part of the audience now makes all the difference between success and failure,the study concludes.

WhiletheTimessloyal subscriber base grows, its overall readership is growing even faster.The rapid increase in subscriber numbers means that, if anything, an even smaller percentage of the audience is driving the bulk of the revenue, says Mark Thompson, CEO of theTimes.

This relatively small base of loyalists, who are so fundamental to theTimess business model, stand largely on the left of the political spectrum.

TheTimess public editor, Liz Spayd,addressedthe questionof the papers political leanings in a 2016 column. She was unsuccessful in uncovering the official proprietary numbers on the ideological breakdown of theTimess subscriber base, butnotedthat on most days, conservatives occupy just a few back-row seats in this giant liberal echo chamber.

Should the paper write off conservatives and make a hard play for the left and perhaps center left, Spayd asked, or has that already happened?

Spaydnotesa 2014 Pew Research surveywhich found that 65 percent ofTimesreadersleaned to the left, and only 12 percent leaned to the right. Considering the heightened polarization in media today, its likely that those numbers now skew even further left, and that the loyalist subscribers are drawn from that audience. Spayd was on to something.Herjob at theTimeswas subsequently eliminated.

The phenomenon of leftward drift and loyalists came starkly to light after President Trumps election in 2016, which triggered a new surge in subscriptions. In 2017, Times executive editor Dean Baquet acknowledged in a CNN interview the impact Trump has on revenue. Every time he tweets, it drives subscriptions wildly, Baquet said. In 2018, the Financial Times reportedthat theTimeswas still riding the high of the so-called Trump Bump.

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The President often belittles the paper as the failingNew York Times. The Timesoften returns fire.TheVox columnistJeff Guodescribed this approachas a great way to pile even more liberals onto the Timess subscriber bandwagon.

In recent years Thompsonhastried to push back against the contention that subscriptions are driven by opposition to Trump, citing diversification among subscribers geographically and also in terms of race and ethnicity. But he has provided no evidence of any political diversification.

Inherresignation letter,Bari Weissconfirms that stories arechosen and told in a way to satisfy the narrowest of audiences.Sulzbergers apparent comfort with the departures of Weiss and Bennet affirms why this is the case.FortheNew York Times, what Weisscallsself-censorship has been good for business. As long as the stock price and paid subscriber numbers keep rising, expect that newspapers ideological transformation to proceed apace.

Dovid Efune is editor-in-chief and CEO of theAlgemeiner, the international Jewish newspaper.

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How the New York Times profits from self-censorship - The Spectator USA

Some Facebook mods support the ads boycott, call for more censorship – Reclaim The Net

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As the US got engulfed in civil unrest after the death of George Floyd, the internet became consumed by new waves of cancel culture.

On one hand, some of the ire was directed toward Facebook as the largest social media network that was not doing enough to moderate and censor content that Black Lives Matter supporters disapproved of as hate speech and on the other, individuals, small businesses and corporations became aware of the importance of not finding themselves on the wrong side of this tidal wave of activist outrage.

Thats how the Facebook boycott campaign was born, as a way for companies, big and small, to punish the platform by depriving it of some of its advertising dollars. But although joined by true behemoths like Disney, Unilever, and Volkswagen, it was limited in duration to just one month, and therefore looked like a performative, good press-seeking ploy, rather than a case of authentic wokeness.

As the boycott is expiring, The Guardian is looking at what it really means and ways in which its participants could prove their action is anything but a PR stunt.

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One way would be to expand the boycott, and the paper has found several past and current (anonymous) content moderators that spoke in favor of this. One said that Facebooks lost revenue due to the boycott was negligible, and that while they supported scrutinizing Facebooks policies in this way, the giant was now retrenching, making it hard to say what, if any, long-term results the campaign will have.

These moderators are employees of third-party companies that Facebook outsources to do its dirty work not just in terms of having to act as censors, but also because they are not allowed to censor as much as some believe they should.

When it comes to our mental health, we would feel much better if we could delete more. One of the stressing factors is that we have to leave on the platform things that we think are harmful and plain evil, said one current moderator.

The accusation that Facebook isnt taking proper action to protect mental well-being and improve working conditions for workers of companies it hires as contractors, has been present for a while.

Former moderator Chris Gray, who is suing Facebook because he says he developed PTSD, had this to say about the one-month boycott:

Millions and millions of small businesses are going to have to pay for adverts: thats all they can do. Mark Zuckerberg doesnt care. Hes on record as saying theyll be back. So Ive got no faith that it will achieve anything.

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Some Facebook mods support the ads boycott, call for more censorship - Reclaim The Net

South Park: Why Episodes "200" and "201" Were Banned – Screen Rant

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South Park is well known for its crude and controversial material, however, some episodes have caused such an uproar that they are now banned.

South Park is well known for its crude and controversial material;however, there are some episodes that have caused suchan uproar that they are now banned from Comedy Central, South Park Studios website, and any streaming platform that airs the show. While there are five episodes banned in total, season 14 episodes "200" and "201" sparked an enormous outcry from Middle-Eastern terrorism groups over their planned depiction of the Prophet Muhammad.

Released in 1997,South Park became known for its crude animation and subject matter, before pivoting to more political, current-events-based satire. Still, despite its offensive material, the show has earned itself an array of awards and accolades, such as Primetime Emmy Awards, and its success has not waivered, remaining one of Comedy Central's most-watched shows.

Related:Why Winnie The Pooh Is Banned In China

Censorship was at the heart of episodes "200" and "201," with series creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone taking a strong stance against it. The episodes upon airing, however, were censored; even the dialogue at the end of "201" was completely bleeped. The creators weren't happy with the network's decision (as per a statement South Park Studios released), which was no doubt increased by the fact that an image of Muhammad had already aired in 2001 during season 5 episode 3's "Super Best Friends."

Ross Douthat of The New York Timesstated thatthe move to censorSouth Park was a result of the Danish newspaper,Jyllands-Posten,running unflattering images of the Prophet Muhammad in 2005, which lead to global riots and death threats. In Islam traditions, the Prophet is not allowed to be depicted in any way. Despite this, the newspaper ran the images, and even with outcries from several prominent Muslim groups, the paper did not back down.

In the United States, tensions were high between the West and Islamic people due to the 9/11 terrorist attack. While US news outlets covered the controversy, they did not reprint any of the depictions of Muhammad, even though the US values freedom of speech and the press. For the US, religious sensitivity along with a larger population of people of the Islamic faith was a more important factor.

Episodes "200" and "201" revolve around pastSouth Parkepisodes, storylines, and controversies, with Trey Parker and Matt Stone pushing the boundaries of censorship, especially in the case of Muhammad. Irritated that they could show Jesus and other religious icons, the inability to display Muhammad becomes a focal point of the episode. Throughout the story, past celebrities, angered by the town of South Park for continually ridiculing and mocking them, want to steal the powers Muhammad has to not be shown or insulted.

Related:South Park: Every Celebrity Guest Star

After episode "200" aired, threats were leveled against both creators of the show and Comedy Central if they depicted the image of Muhammad further. Revolution Muslim, a group known for advocating the end of western imperialism, had an author post to Twitter wishing death and Hell for both Trey Parker and Matt Stone. Additional threats and veiled references were made comparing the creators to Dutch director Theo Van Gogh, who was murdered after a film he made portrayed violence against women in some Islamic societies.

While Trey Parker and Matt Stone continued to advocate against censorship and defended their work, Comedy Central heavily censored the episode in order to protect its employees. Further, they went back and removed "Super Best Friends" from the South Park lineup, as well as censored "Cartoon Wars Parts 1 and 2." WhileSouth Park has released episodes in the past that have pushed the boundaries enough to warrantcensorship, episodes "200" and "201" are notable due to their focused plot points, as well as the threats that were leveled against both show creators before the episodes even aired.

More:Is South ParkOn Netflix, Hulu Or Prime? Where To Watch Online

Agents of SHIELD Has Wiped Itself Out Of The MCU's Timeline

Jeff lives and breathes TV shows, movies, and video games. He's built his own media/gaming PC to house all of his media. Trained as a Screenwriter, Jeff dreams of being a Showrunner one day. His encyclopedic knowledge of TV shows allows him to write on a wide array of topics. Recently, he's been exploring Screenwriting for Virtual Reality. He draws from his love of science fiction, horror, drama, fantasy, and real-world politics/religion to craft his stories. In addition to writing, he has a passion for teaching, as well as Technology, Science, and Space Exploration.

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South Park: Why Episodes "200" and "201" Were Banned - Screen Rant

Free speech risk as university staff feel need to censor pro-Brexit views – The Scotsman

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EducationAcademic freedom within British universities could be in danger as academics with right-leaning or pro-Brexit views feel they have to censor what they teach, research and discuss, a report has warned.

Monday, 3rd August 2020, 7:30 am

The Policy Exchange think-tank argues that higher education institutions and government must do much more to ensure that all lawful speech is protected on university campuses.

The paper, entitled Academic freedom in the UK, suggests there is a structural discriminatory effect against the minority of academics at British universities who identify as being on the right politically.

Hostile or just uncomfortable attitudes signal to those subject to such discrimination that they should conceal their views and narrow their research questions to conform to prevailing norms, if they wish to progress and enjoy a positive workplace experience, it warns.

A YouGov poll, of 820 both current and former academics, found more than one in seven said there was a hostile climate towards people with their political beliefs in their department but the figure is higher among those who identify as being right-leaning, or among those who voted to leave the EU.

Just over half of respondents said they would feel comfortable sitting with a colleague who is a Leave supporter at lunch, in a meeting or in the staff room.

Meanwhile, more than a third said they would feel comfortable sitting with a colleague who opposes admitting transwomen to womens refuge centres.

But more than four in five said they believed academics who were pro-Remain would feel comfortable expressing their views to colleagues, the poll found.

The report suggests that right-leaning academics are more likely to choose to self-censor compared with colleagues who are centrists or on the left.

Some pro-Leave social sciences and humanities academics said they had refrained from publishing or airing views in research and teaching for fear of consequences to their careers, according to the think-tank paper.

It warns: The challenge today is that a serious threat to academic freedom may now, in addition, arise from within universities.

This internal threat derives from the way that some in the university-both students and faculty members-relate to others on campus, being willing to penalise them on the basis of their perceived or actual political views.

In a foreword to the report, Ruth Smeeth, former Labour MP and chief executive of Index on Censorship, says: It does the country no good if our educators, our academics, our scholars and most importantly our students feel that they cant speak or engage without fear of retribution.

The report calls on the UK government to make it explicit in law that universities have a direct duty to protect academic freedom and freedom of speech.

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Free speech risk as university staff feel need to censor pro-Brexit views - The Scotsman

Rozlytrek, Roche’s first tumour-agnostic therapy, approved in Europe for people with NTRK fusion-positive solid tumours and for people with…

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DetailsCategory: Small MoleculesPublished on Monday, 03 August 2020 13:50Hits: 870

BASEL, Switzerland I August 03, 2020 I Roche (SIX: RO, ROG; OTCQX: RHHBY) today announced that the European Commission has granted conditional marketing authorisation for Rozlytrek (entrectinib) for the treatment of adult and paediatric patients 12 years of age and older with solid tumours expressing a neurotrophic tyrosine receptor kinase (NTRK) gene fusion, who have a disease that is locally advanced, metastatic or where surgical resection is likely to result in severe morbidity, and who have not received a prior NTRK inhibitor, who have no satisfactory treatment options. The European Commission has also approved Rozlytrek for the treatment of adults with ROS1-positive, advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) not previously treated with ROS1 inhibitors.1

We are excited to announce the approval of Rozlytrek in Europe for two indications, bringing patients with NTRK and ROS1 gene fusions a new effective treatment even when their cancer has spread to the brain, said Levi Garraway, M.D., Ph.D., Roches Chief Medical Officer and Head of Global Product Development. This advance represents another important step forward in cancer care by allowing us to treat certain genetic drivers of cancer irrespective of the location of the tumour within the body. Roche is deeply committed to driving personalised healthcare and addressing the high unmet need in patients around the world with rare cancers.

The approval is based on results from the integrated analysis of the pivotal phase II STARTRK-2, phase I STARTRK-1 and phase I ALKA-372-001 trials, and data from the phase I/II STARTRK-NG study. These studies demonstrate that Rozlytrek has durable responses across several NTRK gene fusion-positive solid tumours, including sarcoma, non-small cell lung, salivary MASC, secretory and non-secretory breast, thyroid, colorectal, neuroendocrine, pancreatic, ovarian, endometrial carcinoma, cholangiocarcinoma, gastrointestinal cancers and neuroblastoma, as well as ROS1-positive NSCLC.1 Results showed:

Rozlytrek has been granted Priority Medicines (PRIME) designation by the EMA for the treatment of NTRK fusion-positive, locally advanced or metastatic solid tumours in adult and paediatric patients who have either progressed following prior therapies or who have no acceptable standard therapies.1 NTRK gene fusions have been identified in a range of solid tumour types, and are present in up to 90% of some rare cancer types and less than 1% of other more common tumours, including lung and colorectal.2 ROS1 gene fusions account for 1-2% of NSCLC, the most common type of lung cancer that accounts for up to 85% of all diagnoses.3,4

Biomarker testing for these fusions is the most effective way to identify people who are most eligible for treatment with Rozlytrek. Roche is leveraging its expertise in developing personalised medicines and advanced diagnostics, in conjunction with Foundation Medicine, to develop a companion diagnostic that will help identify people with NTRK and ROS1 gene fusions.

About the integrated analysisThe approval in Europe is based on an integrated analysis including data from 74 people with locally advanced or metastatic NTRK fusion-positive solid tumours (14 tumour types) and 161 people with ROS1-positive NSCLC from the phase II STARTRK-2, phase I STARTRK-1 and phase I ALKA-372-001 trials.1 It is also based on data from the phase I/II STARTRK-NG study in paediatric patients. The studies enrolled people across 15 countries and more than 150 clinical trial sites. Safety was assessed from an integrated analysis of 504 people across these four trials.1

About NTRK fusion-positive cancer NTRK fusion-positive cancer occurs when the NTRK1/2/3 genes fuse with other genes, resulting in altered TRK proteins (TRKA/TRKB/TRKC) that can activate signalling pathways involved in the proliferation of certain types of cancer.5 NTRK gene fusions are present in tumours irrespective of site of origin. These fusions have been identified in a broad range of solid tumour types, including sarcoma, non-small cell lung, salivary MASC, secretory and non-secretory breast, thyroid, colorectal, neuroendocrine, pancreatic, ovarian, endometrial carcinoma, cholangiocarcinoma, gastrointestinal cancers and neuroblastoma.1

About ROS1-positive NSCLCROS1 is a tyrosine kinase, which plays a role in controlling how cells grow and proliferate. When a ROS1 gene fusion occurs, cancer cells grow and proliferate in an uncontrolled manner. Blocking this abnormal signalling can cause tumour cells to shrink or die.3ROS1 gene fusions account for 1-2% of NSCLC.3 Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related death across the world.6 Each year, more than one and a half million people die as a result of the disease globally, equating to more than 4,000 deaths every day.6 NSCLC is the most common type of lung cancer and accounts for up to 85% of all lung cancer diagnoses.4 While the ROS1 gene fusion can be found in any patient with NSCLC, young never-smokers with NSCLC have the highest incidence of ROS1 gene fusions.3

About RozlytrekRozlytrek (entrectinib) is a tumour-agnostic once-daily oral medicine for the treatment of locally advanced or metastatic solid tumours that harbour NTRK1/2/3 or ROS1 gene fusions. It is a selective tyrosine kinase inhibitor designed to inhibit the kinase activity of the TRKA/B/C and ROS1 proteins, whose activating fusions drive proliferation in certain types of cancer.7,8 Rozlytrek can block NTRK and ROS1 kinase activity and may result in the death of cancer cells with NTRK or ROS1 gene fusions.7,8

Rozlytrek was granted accelerated approval in August 2019 by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), following receipt of Breakthrough Therapy designation, for the treatment of adult and paediatric patients 12 years of age and older with solid tumours that have a NTRK gene fusion without a known acquired resistance mutation, are metastatic or where surgical resection is likely to result in severe morbidity, and have progressed following treatment or have no satisfactory alternative therapy, and was approved for the treatment of adults with ROS1-positive, metastatic NSCLC. In June 2019, Japans Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) also approved Rozlytrek for the treatment of adult and paediatric patients with NTRK fusion-positive, advanced recurrent solid tumours, and later approved Rozlytrek in ROS1-positive NSCLC in February 2020. Rozlytrek has also received approvals by health authorities in Australia, Canada, Hong Kong, Israel, New Zealand, South Korea and Taiwan.

About Roche in lung cancerLung cancer is a major area of focus and investment for Roche, and we are committed to developing new approaches, medicines and tests that can help people with this deadly disease. Our goal is to provide an effective treatment option for every person diagnosed with lung cancer. We currently have five approved medicines to treat certain kinds of lung cancer and more than ten medicines being developed to target the most common genetic drivers of lung cancer or to boost the immune system to combat the disease.

About RocheRoche is a global pioneer in pharmaceuticals and diagnostics focused on advancing science to improve peoples lives. The combined strengths of pharmaceuticals and diagnostics under one roof have made Roche the leader in personalised healthcare a strategy that aims to fit the right treatment to each patient in the best way possible.

Roche is the worlds largest biotech company, with truly differentiated medicines in oncology, immunology, infectious diseases, ophthalmology and diseases of the central nervous system. Roche is also the world leader in in vitro diagnostics and tissue-based cancer diagnostics, and a frontrunner in diabetes management.

Founded in 1896, Roche continues to search for better ways to prevent, diagnose and treat diseases and make a sustainable contribution to society. The company also aims to improve patient access to medical innovations by working with all relevant stakeholders. More than thirty medicines developed by Roche are included in the World Health Organization Model Lists of Essential Medicines, among them life-saving antibiotics, antimalarials and cancer medicines. Moreover, for the eleventh consecutive year, Roche has been recognised as one of the most sustainable companies in the Pharmaceuticals Industry by the Dow Jones Sustainability Indices (DJSI).

The Roche Group, headquartered in Basel, Switzerland, is active in over 100 countries and in 2019 employed about 98,000 people worldwide. In 2019, Roche invested CHF 11.7 billion in R&D and posted sales of CHF 61.5 billion. Genentech, in the United States, is a wholly owned member of the Roche Group. Roche is the majority shareholder in Chugai Pharmaceutical, Japan. For more information, please visit http://www.roche.com.

All trademarks used or mentioned in this release are protected by law.

References[1] F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd. Data on file.[2] Cocco, E, et al. NTRK fusion-positive cancers and TRK inhibitor therapy. Nat Rev Clin Oncol. 2018; 15:731747[3] Bergethon K, Shaw AT, Ou SH, et al. ROS1 rearrangements define a unique molecular class of lung cancers. J Clin Oncol. 2012; 30(8):863-70.[4] American Cancer Society. What is Non-small Cell Lung Cancer? [Internet; cited 2020 July 8]. Available from: https://www.cancer.org/cancer/lung-cancer/about/what-is.html%5B5%5D Amatu A, Sartore-Bianchi A, Siena S. NTRK gene fusions as novel targets of cancer therapy across multiple tumour types. ESMO Open. 2016;1(2):e000023.[6] GLOBOCAN. Lung Cancer. [Internet; cited 2020 July 8]. Available from: http://gco.iarc.fr/today/data/factsheets/cancers/15-Lung-fact-sheet.pdf%5B7%5D Ahn M-J, Cho BC, Siena S, et al. Entrectinib in patients with locally advanced or metastatic ROS1 fusion-positive non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Presented at: IASLC 18th World Conference on Lung Cancer; October 15-18, 2017; Yokohama, Japan. Abstract 8564.[8] Rolfo C, et al. Entrectinib: a potent new TRK, ROS1, and ALK inhibitor. Expert Opin Investig Drugs. 2015;24(11):1493-500.

SOURCE: Roche

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Rozlytrek, Roche's first tumour-agnostic therapy, approved in Europe for people with NTRK fusion-positive solid tumours and for people with...

Alnylam Pharmaceuticals : Submits CTA Application for ALN-HSD, an Investigational RNAi Therapeutic for the Treatment of Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis -…

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CAMBRIDGE - Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: ALNY), the leading RNAi therapeutics company, announced today that the Company has submitted a clinical trial authorization (CTA) application to The Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) in the United Kingdom to initiate a Phase 1 study of ALN-HSD, an investigational RNAi therapeutic targeting HSD17B13 for the treatment of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH).

The Company plans to initiate a Phase 1 study in late 2020, upon obtaining MHRA approval.

'We are excited to advance our ALN-HSD program to the clinic in partnership with Regeneron, particularly given the mass prevalence and high unmet need in NASH, a progressive disease associated with high morbidity and mortality. Given the genetic validation of the target, we believe ALN-HSD has the potential to change the course of this serious and potentially life-threatening disease for which there are currently no approved pharmacologic treatment options,' said David Erbe, Ph.D., Senior Distinguished Investigator, Program Leader, ALN-HSD program at Alnylam. 'Pending feedback from the MHRA, we look forward to initiating the Phase 1 study to evaluate the safety and preliminary pharmacodynamic activity of ALN-HSD in healthy volunteers and patients with NASH.'

About ALN-HSD

ALN-HSD is an investigational, subcutaneously administered RNAi therapeutic targeting HSD17B13 in development in collaboration with Regeneron Pharmaceuticals for the treatment of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis. ALN-HSD utilizes Alnylam's Enhanced Stabilization Chemistry Plus (ESC+) GalNAc-conjugate technology, which enables subcutaneous dosing with increased selectivity and a wide therapeutic index. The safety and efficacy of ALN-HSD have not been evaluated by the FDA, EMA or any other health authority.

About NASH

Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is a highly prevalent chronic liver disease in which inflammation and liver cell injury are caused by accumulation of hepatic fat. NASH is a subset of a group of conditions called nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) that can lead to progressive fibrosis, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma. Comorbidities include obesity, metabolic syndrome, and type 2 diabetes. Approximately 16 million people in the US live with NASH, with prevalence of the disease increasing due to rising rates of obesity. NASH is projected to be the leading indication for liver transplants in developed countries within the next 10 years. There are currently no approved medical therapies for NASH.

About RNAi

RNAi (RNA interference) is a natural cellular process of gene silencing that represents one of the most promising and rapidly advancing frontiers in biology and drug development today. Its discovery has been heralded as 'a major scientific breakthrough that happens once every decade or so,' and was recognized with the award of the 2006 Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine. By harnessing the natural biological process of RNAi occurring in our cells, a new class of medicines, known as RNAi therapeutics, is now a reality. Small interfering RNA (siRNA), the molecules that mediate RNAi and comprise Alnylam's RNAi therapeutic platform, function upstream of today's medicines by potently silencing messenger RNA (mRNA) the genetic precursors that encode for disease-causing or disease pathway proteins, thus preventing them from being made. This is a revolutionary approach with the potential to transform the care of patients with genetic and other diseases.

About Alnylam Pharmaceuticals

Alnylam (Nasdaq: ALNY) is leading the translation of RNA interference (RNAi) into a whole new class of innovative medicines with the potential to transform the lives of people afflicted with rare genetic, cardio-metabolic, hepatic infectious, and central nervous system (CNS)/ocular diseases. Based on Nobel Prize-winning science, RNAi therapeutics represent a powerful, clinically validated approach for the treatment of a wide range of severe and debilitating diseases. Founded in 2002, Alnylam is delivering on a bold vision to turn scientific possibility into reality, with a robust RNAi therapeutics platform. Alnylam's commercial RNAi therapeutic products are ONPATTRO (patisiran), approved in the U.S., EU, Canada, Japan, Brazil, and Switzerland, and GIVLAARI (givosiran), approved in the U.S., EU, and Brazil. Alnylam has a deep pipeline of investigational medicines, including six product candidates that are in late-stage development. Alnylam is executing on its 'Alnylam 2020' strategy of building a multi-product, commercial-stage biopharmaceutical company with a sustainable pipeline of RNAi-based medicines to address the needs of patients who have limited or inadequate treatment options. Alnylam is headquartered in Cambridge, MA.

Alnylam Forward-Looking Statements

Various statements in this release concerning Alnylam's future expectations, plans and prospects, including, without limitation, the potential of investigational RNAi therapeutics, in particular ALN-HSD, Alnylam's filing of a CTA for ALN-HSD and its expectations regarding the anticipated timing for initiation of a Phase 1 study of ALN-HSD, and expectations regarding the continued execution on its 'Alnylam 2020' guidance for the advancement and commercialization of RNAi therapeutics, constitute forward-looking statements for the purposes of the safe harbor provisions under The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Actual results and future plans may differ materially from those indicated by these forward-looking statements as a result of various important risks, uncertainties and other factors, including, without limitation: the direct or indirect impact of the COVID-19 global pandemic or a future pandemic, such as the scope and duration of the outbreak, government actions and restrictive measures implemented in response, material delays in diagnoses of rare diseases, initiation or continuation of treatment for diseases addressed by Alnylam products, or in patient enrollment in clinical trials, potential supply chain disruptions, and other potential impacts to Alnylam's business, the effectiveness or timeliness of steps taken by Alnylam to mitigate the impact of the pandemic, and Alnylam's ability to execute business continuity plans to address disruptions caused by the COVID-19 or a future pandemic; Alnylam's ability to discover and develop novel drug candidates and delivery approaches and successfully demonstrate the efficacy and safety of its product candidates; the pre-clinical and clinical results for its product candidates, which may not be replicated or continue to occur in other subjects or in additional studies or otherwise support further development of product candidates for a specified indication or at all; actions or advice of regulatory agencies, which may affect the design, initiation, timing, continuation and/or progress of clinical trials or result in the need for additional pre-clinical and/or clinical testing; delays, interruptions or failures in the manufacture and supply of its product candidates, including ALN-HSD, or its marketed products; obtaining, maintaining and protecting intellectual property; intellectual property matters including potential patent litigation relating to its platform, products or product candidates; obtaining regulatory approval for its product candidates, including ALN-HSD, and maintaining regulatory approval and obtaining pricing and reimbursement for its products, including ONPATTRO and GIVLAARI; progress in continuing to establish a commercial and ex-United States infrastructure; successfully launching, marketing and selling its approved products globally, including ONPATTRO and GIVLAARI, and achieving net product revenues for ONPATTRO within its revised expected range during 2020; Alnylam's ability to successfully expand the indication for ONPATTRO in the future; competition from others using technology similar to Alnylam's and others developing products for similar uses; Alnylam's ability to manage its growth and operating expenses within the ranges of guidance provided by Alnylam through the implementation of further discipline in operations to moderate spend and its ability to achieve a self-sustainable financial profile in the future without the need for future equity financing; Alnylam's ability to establish and maintain strategic business alliances and new business initiatives, including completing an agreement for funding by Blackstone of certain R&D activities for vutrisiran and ALN-AGT; Alnylam's dependence on third parties, including Regeneron, for development, manufacture and distribution of certain products, including eye and CNS products, Ironwood, for assistance with the education about and promotion of GIVLAARI, and Vir for the development of ALN-COV and other potential RNAi therapeutics targeting SARS-CoV-2 and host factors for SARS-CoV-2; the outcome of litigation; the risk of government investigations and unexpected expenditures; as well as those risks more fully discussed in the 'Risk Factors' filed with Alnylam's most recent Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and in other filings that Alnylam makes with the SEC. In addition, any forward-looking statements represent Alnylam's views only as of today and should not be relied upon as representing its views as of any subsequent date. Alnylam explicitly disclaims any obligation, except to the extent required by law, to update any forward-looking statements.

ALN-HSD has not been evaluated by the FDA, EMA, or any other regulatory authority and no conclusions can or should be drawn regarding the safety or effectiveness of this investigational therapeutic.

Contact:

Christine Regan Lindenboom

Tel: 617-682-4340

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How to watch live as NASA’s Mars Perseverance rover launches this week – CNET

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Perseverance is locked inside the ULA Atlas V and ready for launch

Editor's note: NASA and ULA launched the Perseverance rover at approximately 4:50 a.m. PT. The spacecraft separated successfully around 57 minutes after launch. You can read about the mission to Mars right here.

The third Mars mission in two weeks is ready to launch from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida.NASA's newest Mars 2020 rover, Perseverance, is on the launch pad and ready to head for Mars, with a helicopter on board, no less! Current weather conditions are extremely favorable for launch, with an 80% chance of getting off the pad and into space. Of course, you can watch the whole, historic launch live right here. We've got a livestream link above and more information about how to follow along below.

NASA will livestream the event as the car-size rover takes off within a United Launch Alliance (ULA) Atlas V rocket. Prelaunch coverage starts at 4 a.m. PT and the two-hour window opens at 4:50 a.m. PT.

NASA announced on July 22the mission had passed its flight readiness review, which includes a preparedeness assessment of the spacecraft, rocket, procedures and personnel. "Mars is a tough customer, and we don't take anything for granted," said the Perseverance mission's deputy project manager, Matt Wallace.

The launch will depend on weather and technical factors. It was previously delayed from earlier in the month because of technical issues.

From the lab to your inbox. Get the latest science stories from CNET every week.

It's been almost nine years since NASA sent off its previous rover, Curiosity, to Mars. Perseverance is the most advanced robot NASA has sent to the surface of Mars. Once it sets down in the Jezero Crater -- an area with a history of water -- the rover will kick off a mission to seek out signs of ancient microbial life.

The rover isn't going alone. It also carries an experimental helicopter named Ingenuity under its belly.

NASA's mission is one of several launching to Mars within a limited window of opportunity this year when the red planet is in a favorable position relative to Earth. Missing that window means waiting until 2022 for the next chance. Perseverance could potentially launch as late as mid-August, if necessary.

The United Arab Emirates successfullysent off its Hope probe on July 19, and China launched its own orbiter and rover on July 22. All three missions are scheduled to reach Mars in February 2021.

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How to watch live as NASA's Mars Perseverance rover launches this week - CNET

Why Is the Ketubah Written in Aramaic? – Chabad.org

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The Ketubah is the marriage contract that outlines the obligations of the husband to his wife, as well as the financial compensation due to the wife in the event of the marriages dissolution through divorce or widowhood. Similar to a Get (divorce document), the Ketubah is traditionally written in Aramaic, the common language of the Jews during Talmudic times.

Why was it originally written in Aramaic, not Hebrew? And why is it still written in that language today, when most of us are more proficient in English or another language?

The importance of the Ketubahs precise and exact language cannot be overstated, due to the legal nature of the Ketubah as well as its deeper spiritual significance.

In fact, having a properly written kosher Ketubah is so criticalnot just to the marriage ceremony itself, but to married life in generalthat it is problematic for a couple to live together, even temporarily, without a kosher Ketubah. (In the event that the document is lost or destroyed, or if a serious error is found in its text, the couple must immediately obtain a replacement from a rabbi.)

For centuries, going back to Talmudic times, the sages have pored over the Aramaic Ketubah formula, ensuring that each word is precise, and especially looking out for words that may have multiple meanings.

As with contemporary contracts, the more important the contract, the more experts youd have review the language to tighten it and make sure it is precise. So it is no wonder that the contract for marriage, one of the most important and monumental steps that one takes in life, bonding two half-souls into one union, needs to have extremely precise language. Thus, we use the traditional Aramaic text, which has gone through the rigor of centuries of Talmudic scholars.

Although it is theoretically possible to have a Get or Ketubah in another languageif written precisely, in accordance with all the relevant laws, etc.halachah only permits this in extreme situations.

To be sure, there are many translations of the Ketubah, both in English and Hebrew (including on our site). And since the Ketubah is a legal document, one should certainly read a translation to understand what is written in it (or at the very least, have the rabbi explain the basics of the document). Nevertheless, the actual Ketubah used for the marriage should be the traditional text, ensuring that it is precise and kosher.

Aside from the legal aspect of the Ketubah, there are deeper reasons for the Aramaic as well.

The Ketubah has been written in Aramaic going back to Second Temple times, imbuing the text with holiness and the tradition of our ancestors. Thus, using the traditional Aramaic text of the Ketubah links us and our future family to our ancestors rich and illustrious heritage.

The Ketubah and the Get are actually written in Aramaic with a sprinkling of Hebrew. A document that alternates between two languages is generally invalid. So why is it OK here?

Among other explanations, Rabbi Moses Isserlis explains that Aramaic has a certain holiness to it (going back to Mount Sinai ) and can therefore go together with Hebrew, the Holy Tongue.

In fact, parts of the Bible itself, as well as the Oral Torah as recorded in the Talmud, are written in Aramaic. Furthermore, some of the special prayers, such as the Kaddish, are also recited in Aramaic, signifying that Aramaic is considered a special and unique language.

But why was Aramaic chosen over Hebrew?

On a homiletic level, many cite a Midrash regarding the time before Gd gave the Jewish people the Torah. Wishing to keep the Torah in Heaven, some angels claimed that mere mortals could not be trusted to study the Torah. In reply, Gd promised that the Jewish men would occupy themselves with learning Torah.

Yet, in the text of the Ketubah, the Jewish men accept upon themselves unconditionally to work their very hardest to support their wives. This can theoretically be used by the angels to bolster their case that the Jews cannot be relied upon to study Torah assiduously.

The sages teach us that the angels understand all languages except for Aramaic. Thus, some explain, by writing it in Aramaic we prevent the angels from using the Ketubah in their argument.

In a somewhat similar vein, some cite another Midrash.

When the time came for Gd to create Adam, Gd consulted the ministering angels. The Angel of Truth said, Dont create humans, for they will be full of lies. The Angel of Peace said, Do not create them, for they will be in constant strife! What did Gd do? He grabbed the Angel of Truth and hurled him to the earth.

While that took care of the Angel of Truth, the commentaries ask, how did Gd contend with the Angel of Peace?

The commentaries explain that, based on the halachah that one is allowed to bend the truth to keep the peace, now that the need for absolute truth had been thrown down, it was possible to maintain peace.

However, part of the text of the Ketubah reads, I will work, honor, feed and support you in the custom of Jewish men, who work, honor, feed and support their wives faithfully. The Aramic word translated as faithfully, , literally means in truth. Thus, when we are creating a union that will, with the help of Gd, result in more of mankind, we are stating that it will be with truth. This gives room for the Angel of Peace to again raise objections that there will be a lack of peace. To avoid this, we write it in a language that the angels dont understand.

These homiletical explanations, while not the main reasons for the Aramaic Ketubah, stress the importance of being mindful to imbue our new home with Torah and peace.

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Why Is the Ketubah Written in Aramaic? - Chabad.org

The Real Reason the Beit HaMikdash Was Destroyed – The Jewish Voice

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By: Ariel Natan Pasko

Any generation in which the Beit HaMikdash [the Temple] was not rebuilt in their days, its considered as if they destroyed it, (Talmud Yerushalmi Yoma 5a).

As we enter the Nine Days, before the fast of Tisha BAv, commemorating both Temples destructions, we need to investigate deeper into this situation.

If were responsible, we need to ask, whats the real reason the Beit HaMikdash was destroyed, why it hasnt been rebuilt and, how can we fix it?

Theyre hard questions to deal with, and even tougher answers, but if we (the Jewish people), want Geulah Shleima, complete redemption, the total truth must be confronted, and the real reason must be rectified.

To do the Tikkun (to fix, heal, repair) the sins of our forefathers and foremothers, we must know precisely, not just in a general way, exactly how they damaged their relationship with HaShem (the God of Israel).

What exactly caused the destruction of the Beit HaMikdash, Jerusalem, and the long exile of the Jewish people?

The rabbis in the Talmud Bavli ask, Due to what reason was the First Temple destroyed? [And answer] It was destroyed due to the fact that there were three things that existed [were out of control] during the First Temple era: Idol worship, forbidden sexual relations, and bloodshed, (Yoma 9b)

Then the rabbis of the Talmud ask, But why was the second Sanctuary destroyed, seeing that in its time they were occupying themselves with Torah study, Mitzvot, the [observance of] precepts, and the practice of charity and kindness?

They answer, Because there was Sinat Chinam, wanton hatred without cause. That teaches you that groundless hatred is considered equivalent to the three grave sins of idolatry, immorality, and bloodshed together, (Talmud Bavli 9b).

Then we are taught by the rabbis, that the Sinat Chinam was, brought on by the Lashon HaRa, slander of Jews by other Jews, that actually caused the destruction of the Second Temple, and relate the story of Kamtza and bar Kamtza. (Talmud Bavli, Gittin 55b56a).

Thats what were taught every year, senseless hatred and slander, caused the destruction of Jerusalem and the Second Temple

But what caused the Lashon HaRa and wanton hatred?

There are many, many Shmirat HaLashon (be careful with your speech) groups operating around the Jewish world today. Many, many articles and books have been written, audios and videos made, since the big push of the Chafetz Chaim, almost 150 years ago, which put Shmirat HaLashon on the Jewish radar. Sincere people, try to watch their words and speak positively. Many work on loving all Jews regardless of affiliation.

So, why havent the Jewish people fixed the sin yet? Why hasnt the Beit HaMikdash been rebuilt? Why hasnt Mashiach, the messiah come?

I believe its because weve been focusing too much on the Talmud of Galut (exile), the Talmud Bavlis explanation, and havent learned well enough, the Talmud of Geulah, the Talmud of Redemption, the Talmud Yerushalmi.

We begin with the Talmud Yerushalmi (Yoma 4a) which comes to the same conclusion about the destruction of the Second Temple as does the Talmud Bavli namely, that it was due to Sinat Chinam.

However, the Yerushalmi (Yoma 4b) whose text is identical till this point with the Bavli, adds three important words, that explain everything, what Sinat Chinam really came from. R. Yochanan ben Torta, adds, Ohavin et HaMamon, having too much of a lust for money.

The 18thcentury commentator, from Germany, Rabbi David ben Naphtali Frankel, (his Korban Edah, is like the Rashi on the Bavli), explains this further in his glosses to his Korban Edah, the Shirei Korban.

It comes to teach, that their love for money, led to being jealous of each other, it wasnt that they lusted for money to buy necessities for themselves, and, they were careful to give their tithes [charity] etcBut, they lusted for the money [possessions] of their friends, and this is what led to the jelousy and senseless hatred.

It wasnt a lust for money per se, as anti-Semites have accused Jews of historically, but they were obsessive,in whats commonly called today keeping up with the Joneses.

Simply put, they broke the Tenth Commandment, as stated in Parshat Yitro, at Mount Sinai, You shall not covet your neighbors house. You shall not covet your neighbors wife, his manservant, his maidservant, his ox, his donkey, or whatever belongs to your neighbor, (Exodus 20:14).

Then repeated by Moses, in the upcoming Parsha, Vaetchanan, And you shall not covet your neighbors wife, nor shall you desire your neighbors house, his field, his manservant, his maidservant, his ox, his donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor, (Deuteronomy 5:18).

There you have it, the real reason for the Beit HaMikdashs destruction and why it hasnt yet been rebuilt.Instead of being joyful, about what they had received from HaShem, they wanted more, until it led to jelousy and hatred.

Are we any better today?

Talking about Lashon HaRa and Sinat Chinam out of context, doesnt help us repair the sin. We need laser beam focus on the real reason.

Modern marketing and advertisings main goal is stimulating the feeling of lack in people. Two minutes earlier, someonedidnt feel anything missing in their life, and now they do.

And, what about when the neighbor rolls up in a new car How do you feel?

Now that you know the cold hard truth; in a nutshell, beware of modern advertisings influence and the values of international consumer culture today, which leads to, if unchecked, covetousness, jelousy, dissatisfaction, Lashon HaRa, and finally Sinat Chinam

Maybe, if we learn the lesson quickly enough, God-willing, instead of fasting for Tisha BAv (the 9thof Av) this year, well be too busy, rebuilding the Beit HaMikdash instead.

Ariel Natan Pasko, an independent analyst and consultant, has a Masters Degree specializing in International Relations, Political Economy & Policy Analysis. His articles appear regularly on numerous news/views and think-tank websites and in newspapers. His latest articles can also be read on his archive: The Think Tank by Ariel Natan Pasko.

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Listen: Longtom on electro-shock treatment for Great Whites; Chas Smith continues his outspoken advocacy for kicking dogs. You see a good thick dog,…

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Extent of injuries unknown.

A surfer in his twenties has been hit by a fifteen-foot Great White shark at Bunker Bay, an awesomely pretty crescent of white sand and green water almost at the tip of Cape Naturaliste, a little north of Margaret River.

Phil Mummert, twenty-eight, was surfing The Farm, a wave protected from todays south-west onshore. He was bitten on the right thigh,helped by a longboarder to the beach and stabilised at a nearby house before being choppered to Bunbury hospital.

A local surfer on the scene said, the White came out the water and inhaled the board pretty much. The guy managed to roll out of the way and then a longboarder got him to the beach.

Mummerts girl, Mish Wright, posted an update, with photos, on Facebook.

Just want to let everyone know that Phil is doing okay! He was bitten by a shark at Bunker Bay this afternoon and got a few chunks taken out of his leg. I honestly dont know how a person can see a total stranger getting attacked by a 4m great white shark and swim towards to save him so we are beyond grateful to everyone that helped save Phils life. So lucky that Phil got away with his life and limbs and beyond lucky that we live in such a kind and caring community. So thankful for everyone who carried him to shore and for the ones that held his leg together for half an hour while waiting for the ambulance.Thank you from the bottom of our hearts thank you, thank you, thank you.Weve been flown to the hospital and just waiting for him to get stitched up. Phils doing great and singing [baby] shark do do do do do do.

Nine years ago, bodyboarder Kyle Burden, twenty-one, was bitten in half at a nearby beach called Boneyards by a Great White witnesses say was six metres long or twenty feet.

Both waves, Bonyards and The Farm, are right there on Cape Naturaliste, a fist of geography that juts out on the western edge of Geographe Bay, home to a thriving New Zealand fur seal colony.

Plenty of White around the Cape?

Yeah, there is.

Plenty of em circling the rest of Australia, too.

Todays attack is the third hit on surfers by Great Whites in two months.

Three weeks ago, fifteen-year-old Mani Hart-Deville was killed by a White at Wilsons Headland, just north of Coffs Harbour; the previous month saw sixty-year-old surfer Rob Pedretti killed by a White near the Surfing Australia High Performance Camp at Casuarina, just south of the Gold Coast.

Two weeks ago, a ten-year-old by was snatched off the deck of his daddys fishing boat by a twelve-foot White on Tasmanias north-west coast.

More on the latest hit as it comes.

(And read about the ethics of executing Great Whites, here.)

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Even More Harm Than We Think – The Jewish Press – JewishPress.com

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Photo Credit: Jewish Press

The haftorah of Shabbos Nachamu (Yeshayah 40:1) begins with the words, Comfort, comfort My people, says Hashem.

The Yalkut Shimoni Eichah says that since the retribution was double, the expression of comfort in this haftorah is doubled as well.

We know, however, that Hashem metes out punishment middah kneged middah. So how could our punishment have been double? Also, doesnt every nation sin? Why were we punished so harshly?

The Yismach Yisroel explains that every deed of the Jewish people has a powerful effect on the entire world. He notes further that every deed actually consists of two components: the act itself and the consequence of that act.

Hashem designated us as His chosen nation. Hashem has chosen you for Himself to be a treasured people from among all the peoples (Devarim 14:2). We are unique and different in our disposition and temperament.

Every Jewish soul is bound to Hashems kisei hakavod the throne of glory with a chut hameshulash (a threefold chain that is not easily broken), which stretches through the heavens, the constellations, and the earths atmosphere. When we do a mitzvah, it makes an impression all along the way, beyond the world, and up to the kisei hakavod. One good act, one pasuk of Torah learned, one pasuk of Tehillim said, brings holiness and purity to the entire world.

This fundamental mechanism is also at work when a Jew commits a sin; a ripple of cause and effect extends throughout the world and beyond.

When we say in our personal prayer for forgiveness (in Shemone Esrei), Grant me atonement for my sinsand make whole all the names that I have blemished in your great name, we are referring to the injury we caused with our transgressions.

The Talmud tells us (Yoma 86b) that the entire world is forgiven on account of one individual who repents. A Jew has the power to bring merit to all of mankind.

The actions of the nations of the world, in contrast, have no such effect on the universe. There is no connection to Hashem that is impacted by their aveiros.

So now we understand why we received a double punishment. Our sin was double because of the sin itself and the negative effect of the sin that pulsated throughout the world.

And Hashem gives us a double measure of nechamah (comfort) because teshuvah mahavah repentance out of love turns our sins into merits and brings us closer to Hashem than we ever were.

Rabbi Israel Abuchatzera (1890-1984), known as the Baba Sali, was born in Morocco to a distinguished rabbinic family. He was renowned as a legendary Talmudic scholar, a great ohev Yisroel, and a holy man who could work miracles through his prayers. In his early years, his love for the people of Eretz Yisrael often took him from Morocco to Israel until he eventually settled in Netivot.

On one of these trips, a violent storm arose at sea on Shabbos. The skies turned ominously dark, the winds turned fierce, and towering walls of water slammed into the ship. The captain told all the passengers that the ship was in danger of capsizing.

Baba Sali had remained below deck in his cabin on the holy day of Shabbos, immersed in prayer and learning. When the gabbai heard the captains warning, he hurried down to Baba Salis cabin and shared the information.

Baba Sali responded that he would like to make kiddush. The gabbai was puzzled by his reaction, but he did not question the tzaddik. He brought Baba Sali a kiddush cup with some wine, and Baba Sali recited kiddush with deep kavanah.

He partook of the wine, and then went up on deck with the shiurei mitzvah (the remaining wine from kiddush in his cup). He walked over to the railing on the side of the ship and poured the shiurei mitzvah into the raging waters below. Immediately, the sea quieted and the storm abated.

The people on board could not believe their eyes and were inspired with a strong belief in G-d. When the ship docked, the passengers tried to offer Baba Sali a reward as they thanked him and kissed his hand.

Baba Sali would accept nothing. In his self-effacing manner, he quietly stated, It was all Hashems doing.

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Addressing inequalities in women’s health research – Contemporary Obgyn

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Womens health research continues to be marginalized. To address and reverse this trend requires committed, accountable leadership, inclusion of diversity of thought and critical social science issues, in addition to the more well-funded basic traditional and clinical research.

There are several areas that contribute to this marginalization, first, with respect to pregnant women. Optimizing pregnancy outcome would significantly improve world health, as babies, if born early and often thus small have higher risks of heart disease, diabetes, and asthma.

Therefore, a baby born without complications, at the right time and weight, has the potential for a healthier life. Similarly, optimizing a womans health both for a healthier pregnancy and outcome and for her long-erm health also has the potential to improve world health. A womans health is known to impact her family, including both younger and older generations, thus strategies to address womens health are essential.

Funding for womens health research is limited. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) categorizes research funding to provide consistent and transparent information on the categories of disease, conditions, and research areas.

The categorization uses sophisticated text data mining based on scientific experts to define a research category. Incredibly, 2019 was the first year that federal funding for womens health research was classified based on scientific relevance, rather than based on the percentage of female subjects included in the studies.1

The rationale for using the percentage of females enrolled in a study to count as womens health research is unclear, and unfounded, as women certainly are enrolled in studies that are not focused on womens health.In 2019, the NIH funded $4,749M in womens health research, with the largest percent (26%) by the National Cancer Institute (Figure 1).

As examples, the genetics, neurosciences, biotechnology, brain disorders, pediatrics, and aging research categories all had more NIH funding in 2019 than womens health.

To prevent transmission of the virus, all non-essential visits and encounters have been appropriately stopped, thus all ongoing clinical research has effectively ceased aside from that impacting clinical care. As I mentioned in my editorial in April, when there were only 51 studies2 - and now substantiated in 588 studies3 - pregnant and breastfeeding women are yet again excluded from research, notably from participating in COVID-19 clinical trials during this pandemic.

This is a major missed opportunity as results with therapies studied in men and nonpregnant women may not be generalizable. Furthermore, therapies are potentially not being offered to women, or if they are offered, are not being systematically studied in this population to provide needed data with which to guide therapy.

The impact of COVID-19 on womens health research highlights the long-standing inequities in including this population in research. Only in the last few decades were women required to be included in clinical research.

Yet even with this mandate, subsets of women remain excluded.

Despite mandated inclusion of women in research, womens health research remains marginalized, as are women researchers and physician-scientists. Although data suggest that women submitting NIH research project grant (RO1) applications for the first time have the same grant success rate as men4, they are half as likely to apply for those grants5, despite the fact that just as many women as men are receiving advanced degrees.

A natural history experiment using the investigator-initiated Canadian Institutes of Health Research Grant Programmes demonstrated that gender gaps in funding were due to female principal investigators being evaluated less favorably than male principal investigators - and not related to the quality of their research proposals.6

This marginalization of women researchers is rampant. As reported in numerous studies, women are less likely to be promoted, achieve tenure, or be selected for leadership roles (Supplemental figure).

Similarly, women with equal stature are less likely to be selected to participate in think tanks than men. As an example, a recent article outlining a research strategy for womens health with 17 authors included only 4 (24%) women.7

Furthermore, of the nine physician authors, only one is an ob/gyn and four are pediatricians. The themes from the think tank neglect critical areas of research, focusing on traditional sciences and emphasize genetics, overlooking the role of racial disparities and health inequities.

As noted by the 2018 NIH Gender Inequality Task Force Report, Sustainable change in representation of women, and of all individuals from underrepresented groups, requires committed, accountable leadership along with effective tools to accomplish this important goal.8 It is troubling that gender diversity in leadership positions is lacking nationally.

Using 2019 data, only 19% of department chairs (both interim and permanent) are held by women. Extrapolating the trend lines suggests another 50 years are needed to attain parity of department chairs and medical school deans by gender (Figure 2).

This diversity is not due to a lack of qualified women, as since 2002, women have earned the majority of all doctorates9 and in 2019, women comprise the majority of enrolled US medical students.10

Underrepresentation creates a culture that perpetuates inequalities. For our patients, for ourselves, for our families, we must correct this course. This is not easy, and will require a change of culture led by a committed, accountable, proactive leadership.

Equally important will be the inclusion of diversity and broadening of the research agenda to include critical social science issues, health disparities, and social determinants of health.

One ray of hope to address these pressing issues is the formation of the Womxns Health Collaborative, a group determined to identify and initiate actionable steps.

If you are interested in participating, I encourage you to contact Dr. Michal Elovitz at womxnshealth@gmail.com.

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Addressing inequalities in women's health research - Contemporary Obgyn

Seeing the Health Care Profession Through the Eyes of a Medical Scribe – Hamilton College News

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Shaquelle (Shaq) Levy 20 likens his new job as a medical scribe at CityMD, an urgent care walk-in center in Manhattan, to speed dating. Each patient comes in,you build a rapport with them, get their medical history, the reason they are coming in today, and ask more questions about their complaint, Levy said.

Levy, who was focused on pre-med at Hamilton, said he found the job after other positions in which he was interested fell though during the coronavirus pandemic.

Hoping to get more clinical experience in his first job, Levy said he was at first skeptical about the medical scribe position. Then I realized that a medical scribe at CityMD is quite different from other places. My job entails bringing patients from the waiting room to examination rooms, where I am responsible for taking vitals, getting the chiefcomplaint, medical history, and history of present illness, he said.

Levy documents the encounter between the provider and the patient and adds the information to the patients chart. Some of my other responsibilitiesinclude setting up procedure trays for providers, performing patient caretests, rapid strep, rapid mono, urinalysis, COVID testing, and more, he said.

The position is full-time and Levy works 12-hour shifts. He said he most enjoys the patient interactions and is surprised at how fast 12 hours goes by when youre busy.

Levy, who took part in a shadowing and volunteer program at SUNY Upstate Medical University while at Hamilton, said he especially appreciates the support given to him by Leslie Bell, health care professions advisor. Throughout my four years at Hamilton, she gave me various opportunities that made me further explore my career path, he said.

Levy plans to attend medical school within the next three years. Being able to jump in during the pandemic and help in whatever way through this job is well appreciated, he said. I also value the experiences I will gain from this job, seeing as it will help me to better understand the medical profession and what it takes to practice medicine.

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Seeing the Health Care Profession Through the Eyes of a Medical Scribe - Hamilton College News

Collaborative team of Macau, Hong Kong and mainland China scientists makes major breakthrough in development of potential COVID-19 vaccine for mass…

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A team working out of the Faculty of Medicine at Macau University of Science and Technology (MUST), in collaboration with scientists from mainland China and Hong Kong, have made a potentially game changing breakthrough in their efforts to develop a highly effective COVID-19 vaccine that can be produced on a mass scale.

Research Professor Zhang Kang from the MUST Faculty of Medicine led the collaborative research team together with top scientists from many renowned institutions in mainland China and Hong Kong.

The peer-reviewed results from the teams research were published in the leading British science journal Natureon Wednesday 29 July. Inside Asian Gamingunderstands the breakthrough is amongst the most significant yet in overcoming the global pandemic.

The research found that a vaccine developed using certain residues found in the Spike protein receptor-binding domain (S-RBD) which is what the virus uses to engage with the cells of the host and cause infection induced a potent functional antibody response in immunized mice, rabbits and monkeys. These antibodies effectively blocked S-RBD from binding with the host cell receptor as it does in cases of infection, therefore neutralizing the virus during laboratory studies.

Importantly, immunization was effective from just a single dose and produced the antibody response as early as 7 or 14 days after injection. Elevated RBD-specific antibodies were also found in patients with COVID-19.

The fact that our candidate RBD vaccine can induce effective viral neutralizing activity in three different animal species is very encouraging, the study explains.

It is also encouraging to observe (a) that the antibodies shared common binding epitopes from infected patients, (b) that there is a strong viral neutralizing activity associated with a good humoral response, (c) that a simple vaccine adjuvant like Alum can further enhance the immune response, (d) that even one dose of the vaccine can already generated an excellent level of viral neutralizing activity, (e) that the vaccine can protect non-human primates from live [COVID-19] challenge, and (f) that the toxicology studies in the non-human primates showed that this vaccine candidate is safe.

All these features are excellent prospects in supporting the further development of this vaccine candidate.

The study also noted the significance of how quickly the vaccine sparked an antibody response.

Given the current pandemic, developing some type of viral neutralizing activity around 7 days after the first dose would be very helpful, it says.

This effect may have tremendous impact on treating infected individuals and preventing the spread of [COVID-19] in the populations.

Our finding highlights the importance of the RBD domain in the SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) vaccine design and provides the rationale for the development of a protective vaccine through the induction of antibody against the RBD domain.

The research paper published in Naturethis week included 86 authors. IAGunderstands that more than 100 scientists have been involved in this collaborative effort to find a COVID-19 vaccine.

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Collaborative team of Macau, Hong Kong and mainland China scientists makes major breakthrough in development of potential COVID-19 vaccine for mass...

New Galaxy ICC, Macau, to showcase at IT&CM China – Conference and Meetings World

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Ahead of the opening of Galaxy International Convention Center (GICC) in Macau early in 2021, Galaxy Integrated Resorts will showcase the new facility and its MICE offer at the IT&CM China 2020 virtual event, 3-5 August.

We look forward to participating in IT&CM Chinas new virtual event format this year, said Joey Pather, the groups senior vice-president, MICE operations and sales.

With GICC as the newest addition to Macaus MICE scene next year, it will be one of the most technologically advanced MICE destinations in Asia, offering 5G for high-speed connectivity and live streaming of content. We are witnessing an accelerating trend of more hybrid events. GICC will soon have the infrastructure and technology in place to become best in class in global digital and simulcast communication.

Situated within the Galaxy Integrated Resorts precinct, GICC will offer 40,000sqm of meeting space, a 650-seat auditorium, the 16,000-seat Galaxy Arena and a new 700-room Andaz Macau hotel all in one location.

For large-scale exhibitions, GICC offers 10,000sqm of pillar-less areas that can cater for 7,000 delegates.

Galaxy Arena will play host to major sports events, concerts, fight nights and corporate launches.

Organisers who book an event at GICC or at any of the eight luxury hotels at the resort precinct before December 31, 2020 can enjoy discounts, free welcome drinks, complimentary coach transfer, suite upgrades, complimentary rooms and 15% off on dining for hotel guests of Galaxy Macau and Broadway Macau. Minimum 25 room bookings required for minimum of two nights.

This resort-wide MICE offer is for events booked within this year and held before December 31, 2021.

A We Are Ready campaign is in place to inform guests about enhanced health and safety measures at the resorts. Measures include temperature screening at all main entrances and exits at the resort and nano-coating technology for long-lasting, self-disinfection of surfaces.

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New Galaxy ICC, Macau, to showcase at IT&CM China - Conference and Meetings World

Malaysia Police Say Theres Strong Indication Jho Low in Macau – Bloomberg

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Jho Low

Photographer: Michael Loccisano/Getty Images

Photographer: Michael Loccisano/Getty Images

Malaysias police suspect that Low Taek Jho is hiding in Macau, amid efforts to bring the fugitive financier home to face justice for his role in the troubled state fund 1MDB.

Strong indication that he is there -- full stop, Inspector-General of Police Abdul Hamid Bador said in a text message to Bloomberg. The police chief in February had said they received intelligence that Low was active in Wuhan.

Malaysias court Tuesday said that Low had played a crucial role in transferring 42 million ringgit ($10 million) of funds from a former 1MDB unit to ex-prime minister Najib Razaks accounts. Najib was found guilty of all seven charges in the trial and faces 12 years in prison, along with a 210 million ringgit fine.

Before it's here, it's on the Bloomberg Terminal.

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Malaysia Police Say Theres Strong Indication Jho Low in Macau - Bloomberg

Macau travel agencies in talks with airlines to increase frequencies for connections to Europe/US – CAPA – Centre for Aviation

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CAPA publishes more than 400 global News Briefs every weekday, covering all aspects of the aviation and travel industry. Its the most comprehensive source of market intelligence in the world, with around 50 per cent of content translated from non-English sources. The breadth of our coverage means you wont need any other news sources to monitor competitors and stay informed about the latest developments in the wider aviation sector.

Our daily News Briefs are only available to CAPA Members. Membership provides access to more than 400 News Briefs every weekday, with quick links to our Analysis Reports, Research Publications, Data Centre and more.

Its easy to keep your News Briefs relevant by customising your email alerts based on topic, region, sector, frequency and more. Once youve saved your settings, you can stay up-to-date wherever you are, by quickly scanning our News Briefs online or via the CAPA mobile app.

Membership also provides full access to our Analysis Reports, in-depth Research Publications and comprehensive Data Centre. Premium CAPA Members can also access add-ons such as our exclusive Fleet Database, Airline Cask Data tools and more, to enjoy the full capabilities of our global platform.

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Macau travel agencies in talks with airlines to increase frequencies for connections to Europe/US - CAPA - Centre for Aviation

Government Information Bureau meets with Macao Youth Media Association to exchange ideas on changing face of local media – Inside Asian Gaming

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The Director of the Macao Government Information Bureau (GCS), Ins Chan Lou, and Deputy Director Wong Lok I met with representatives of the Macao Youth Media Association last week to exchange views on key issues facing the development of Macau media in 2020.

Among the topics raised by the Associations President, Cheong In Cheng, was the status of new and emerging media which she said plays an equally important role in informing the public on topical issues. Cheung said the definition of media should not be limited to the certain types of media but should be more open in order to reflect modern society.

It was also suggested by one Association representative that the GCS arrange a special internal team to assist and respond to new media, with Chan acknowledging the idea has merit.

Chan who was appointed to head the GCS in late June agreed that new media can play an important role as a bridge between the Macau SAR Government and its residents and expressed her pleasure at seeing youth willing to make increasingly important contributions to Macaus media industry. She said she will actively encourage more young people to become involved.

The ideas floated for further development of youth in media included for the GCS to cooperate with local universities in promoting new media. The Association recommended offering greater promotion and training to students in order to provide opportunities to learn about exactly how Macaus media operates from day to day.

Other representatives of the Macau Youth Media Association present at last weeks meeting were Vice Presidents Lam Ka Wai, Kuan Seng Ip and Victoria Man Sok Wa, Chairman Chan Ka Chon, Vice Chairman Tang Sio Ian, Executive Director Chan In Kei and Chief Supervisor Lam Chan Sing.

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Government Information Bureau meets with Macao Youth Media Association to exchange ideas on changing face of local media - Inside Asian Gaming

Macau health authority warns casinos will close again if positive COVID-19 case found on gaming floors – Inside Asian Gaming

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Macaus Health Bureau has underlined the necessity of requiring casino guests to submit negative COVID-19 test results before entering the gaming floor, stating Macaus casinos would need to close again if any confirmed cases are found.

Guangdong removed mandatory quarantine on visitors returning from Macau on 15 July, with Macau authorities announcing at the same time a requirement for all guests to provide negative test results from the previous seven days when entering casino floors or VIP rooms.

The policy has created some unrest among local citizens, who argue the policy is unnecessary because Macau has no active cases and visitors require a negative test just to enter the SAR in the first place.

But Health Bureau officials explained on Tuesday that even though Macau has not recorded any new locally transmitted cases for over four months, the global situation remains concerning.

The gaming industry is the most important industry in Macau, the Health Bureau said. Generally, people stay on casino floors for a longer time than other places, so that the risk of spreading the virus would be higher than in other places.

Many infected people do not show obvious symptoms. It is hard to guarantee that Macau does not have any hidden patients at this moment.

We have the conditions to keep a close eye on the preventive works of casinos.

Despite requiring negative virus test results, all casinos must also check each guests body temperature at entrances while enhancing disinfection measures on casino floors.

Between 50,000 and 60,000 casino frontline workers will also receive a one-off virus test, with all 25,000 workers from Sands China and SJM Holdings having completed their tests last week.

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Macau health authority warns casinos will close again if positive COVID-19 case found on gaming floors - Inside Asian Gaming

China accuses US of ‘outright bullying’ over TikTok – Macau Business

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China accused the United States on Tuesday of outright bullying over popular video app TikTok, after President Donald Trump ramped up pressure for its US operations to be sold to an American company.

This goes against the principles of the market economy and the (World Trade Organisations) principles of openness, transparency and non-discrimination, said foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin.

A day earlier, President Trump gave TikTok six weeks to sell its US operations, in the latest escalation to an ongoing political and trade battle between Washington and Beijing.

The app has been under formal investigation on US national security grounds, because it collects large amounts of personal data on users and is legally bound to share it with authorities in Beijing if they demand it.

But Wang told a regular press briefing Tuesday: The US, without providing any evidence, has been using an abused concept of national security unjustifiably suppressing certain non-US companies.

He said the national security grounds for the USs clampdown on Chinese firms does not hold water, adding that the companies conduct their business activities in accordance with international rules and US laws.

But the US is cracking down on them on trumped-up charges. This is all political manipulation, said Wang, who warned the US not to open Pandoras box.

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China accuses US of 'outright bullying' over TikTok - Macau Business