Can I visit the Maldives? Here’s how to do it as the islands reopen to tourism – Telegraph.co.uk

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A travel corridor which would exempt British holidaymakers from UK quarantine is imminent, suggests tourism leader

The Maldives reopened to international tourists on July 15; Britons are not required to quarantine on arrival or present a negative Covid-19 test.

As resorts gradually welcome back guests and airlines increase services, British holidaymakers can enjoy a stay on one of the 1,192 coral islands, albeit facing quarantine on their return.

The Maldives is excluded from the Foreign Office (FCO) advisory against all but essential travel, making it less arduous to secure travel insurance for a trip there.

However, the country has yet to be included on the UK Governments travel corridors list, which means those travelling from the Maldives to the UK are required to self-isolate for 14 days.

This could soon change. Mr Thoyyib Mohamed, managing director of Maldives Marketing and PR Corporation, told Telegraph Travel: With the Maldives High Commission in the United Kingdom and the government of Maldives, discussions are underway to ease the travel restrictions for travellers from the UK. We hope that the Maldives will soon meet the conditions required for an easing of [the UK's] travel and border measures."

Tour operators have urged for the inclusion of this Indian Ocean nation, which lends itself to socially-distanced holidays think overwater villas for two and private beach dining.

"It's time for the UK Government to adopt a more pragmatic approach to its air bridge and quarantine advice, to help the travel industry, Brian Young, managing director of tour operator G Adventures, told Telegraph Travel. "Places like the Maldives are perfect for those wanting a remote holiday, with secluded accommodation, private villas and small sailing options [...] providing an ideal option for those wanting to create a physically distanced bubble holiday with close friends or family.

There are further signs that the Maldives could be included in the Governments next batch of travel corridors. An amendment to the FCO advice page for the country mirrors a note added to each of the countries included in the first batch of exemptions in the days before the first official announcement of travel corridors.

Derek Jones, chief executive of Kuoni, told Telegraph Travel that he is hopeful there will soon be a Government update on Maldives travel advice .As it stands now we see no reason why it shouldnt be added [...]. The destination has done a lot of work with hotel partners to create plans for keeping customers safe.

The tourism industry accounts for nearly 30 per cent of GDP in the Maldives, so its reopening has been a priority.

Abdulla Shahid, the archipelagos minister for foreign affairs, referred to a sense of relief and excitement as the country welcomes back tourists.

Among a population of 540,000, the country has recorded 2,831 cases of the virus and 15 deaths, as of July 16.

Below we answer the key questions for those considering a holiday in the Maldives.

Yes, Britons can holiday at a resort without having to quarantine on arrival.

International tourists can enter the Maldives, without quarantine, at Velana International Airport in Mal, as of July 15. Visitors are not required to present a negative Covid-19 test on arrival, or to pay any additional fees.

The Maldives requires passengers on flights to the country to wear face masks, with exemptions for children under six and those with certain medical conditions.

Tourists are required to fill out a Traveller Health Declaration Form 24 hours before departing for the Maldives. They are also encouraged to download the Trace Ekee contract tracing app before landing in the country.

Temperature and screening checks are set up for arriving passengers with quarantine facilities installed for any suspected cases of the virus.

Those displaying symptoms on arrival are required to take a PCR (polymerase chain reaction) test at their own cost or at the cost of the tourism facility where they are due to stay. Additionally, local health authorities may conduct random testing, at no cost to travellers.

Yes, airlines are offering a handful of flights to the Maldives with connections in the Middle East.

Emirates and Qatar Airways are running services between London and Mal. Mal Velana International Airport is on Hulhul Island and serves as a gateway for international tourists. Transfers to your resort will be by boat, sea plane or a domestic flight. Return flights are available in July, starting from 620, with Emirates.

Qatar Airways resumed flights to the Maldives on July 15 out of Doha, offering connections through major hubs, including London.

Etihad resumed flights from Abu Dhabi to the Maldives from July 16. Turkish Airlines is tentatively starting flights from July 17.

Initially, international tourists will only be able to stay at resorts. Hotels and guest houses located on inhabited islands will be allowed to open from August 1, 2020.

Of more than 150 resorts in the Maldives, at least 40 are set to reopen in the latter half of July. This includes resorts that have stayed open throughout worldwide lockdowns and travel restrictions.

Among the popular resorts welcoming guests are: Banyan Tree Vabbinfaru, three Four Seasons resorts (Four Seasons Resort Maldives at Kuda Huraa; Four Seasons Private Island Maldives at Voavah; Four Seasons Resort Maldives at Landaa Giraavaru), Soneva Fushi (the original barefoot Maldives retreat) and Soneva Jani.

More will follow suit in August; around 50 more will resume business in September and October.

Tourists are only initially allowed into island resorts, with the exemption for those transferring from the international airport to their hotel.

Despite the resumption of tourism, the country extended its state of public health emergency until August 7. However, restrictions have been eased with government offices and businesses, including shops,cafs and restaurants, having reopened since July 1.

The Maldives Government has given Safe Tourism licences to businesses that meet legislation and safety rules, such as having a medical professional on call or the required stock of PPE.

Rules vary among island resorts. Guests of Soneva properties, for example, will be issued a mask on arrival and be tested for Covid-19. They will then be required to self-isolate in their room or villa until the results come back, which could be up to 24 hours. If the test comes back negative, they will be free to move around the resort, but will need to undergo daily temperature checks and another test on the fourth day of their stay.

You might consider that this is excessive and that were being overcautious, said Sonu Shivdasani, chief executive of Soneva, in a video explaining the process. Yet he said the aim was to make all our private islands Covid-free environments so the guests can truly relax and engage with our hosts (and) fellow guests.

Hilton is slowly reopening its properties on the island nation its guests will have their temperatures checked, but will not be required to take Covid-19 tests.

The company has rolled out new guidelines called Hilton CleanStay for all of its properties. Measures include increased cleaning of public spaces and putting a seal on the doors after cleaning a room to show customers that nobody has since entered.

Meanwhile, Marriott International, which plans to reopen its Maldives resorts in October, is putting in new policies, such as requiring guests to sit at the same table each day for breakfast.

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Can I visit the Maldives? Here's how to do it as the islands reopen to tourism - Telegraph.co.uk

Infant with heart condition airlifted from Lakshadweep islands to Kochi for treatment, dies – The New Indian Express

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By PTI

KOCHI:In a heart-rending incident, a nine-day old infant suffering from serious heart ailment died on Sunday despite being flown in a chopper from Lakshadweep islands to the port city for better medical care.

The infant was brought to Cochin International Airport in a helicopter arranged by the Lakshadweep administration.

The child, however, died due to cardiac arrest while it was being transported in a special ambulance to a private hospital here, a hospital spokesman said.

The infant's death was confirmed by the doctors at the hospital.

The ailing new-born was airlifted from Lakshadweep under the supervision of a medical board.

The new-born was diagnosed with serious heart ailment soon after its birth nine days ago.

When its condition worsened, the doctors of the island hospital decided to bring it to Kochi to provide better treatment and the Lakshadweep administration made all arrangements for its travel.

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Infant with heart condition airlifted from Lakshadweep islands to Kochi for treatment, dies - The New Indian Express

Zeitgeist of Now: Privacy in today’s world & what it means for brands – MarkLives.com

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by Jason Stewart (@HaveYouHeard_SA) Privacy is the state in which one is not observed or disturbed by other people, or being free from public attention, according to the Oxford Dictionary. Less than a decade ago, privacy was easy to achieve: we simply shut the door or walked away from the conversation. Not so today.

Today, we voluntarily keep a device close at hand that can watch us, listen to us and track us, even during what should be our most-private moments (around 75% of people scroll on their phones while on the toilet, and almost all people have their phones within a few feet of them while having sex). Nor do we really know what datas being collected because the big tech companies wont tell us or show us.

What we do know is that it can run into thousands of different data points per person and, as artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning evolves, the companies thatve collected that data will be able to do much more with it.

When this data is used to enhance the personalised service we get and boosts convenience, many are prepared to pooh-pooh those who warn about the risks. This is because humans struggle to perceive true threats; were pretty much like the frog in the pot of water and its only now passing lukewarm.

Paranoid? Maybe not.

At the beginning of 2020, ClearView AI was declared a major threat to personal privacy. The company provided software to almost 500 law enforcement agencies, predominantly in North America. It was claimed that these agencies solved cold cases in just 20 seconds just by trawling the internet with facial-recognition software. The same software can be used by criminals, and this is why there are now class-action lawsuits against the company.

At least two years prior to Clearview AI, an opensource tool called Social Mapper trawled eight different social media platforms and pulled together every piece of content that had your face and identity attached to it. Oh, and there was also Face Swap in 2018 (whether you believe the conspiracy theories or not, there was an enormous amount of data uploaded voluntarily onto servers across the world).

Then theres cheaply accessible software that allows you to stealthily spy on people (so long as you manually upload a file onto their phone). For US$40 per month, you can see every click, swipe and instant message, along with live access to someones camera and microphone. On any of their devices, such as the smart food processor, Siri and smart fridge. The explosion of 5G and IoT devices (internet of thing appliances that generate data) and new services like driverless cars are all possible because of more connectivity which means more data storing and more sharing, linked to each individual.

The impact this has on our psychology is that it changes how we feel about what were doing. It makes us hypervigilant and modifies our behaviour. It takes away the ability to freely explore, express or try. It means someone is always watching and recording and whatever we do or say can be used against us in the court of public opinion. So, wed better be careful and stay in our box.

Anonymity will soon be a highly sought-after state. Even before the covid-19 pandemic, people were wearing masks in public, specifically activists in countries with authoritarian governments such as Hong Kong. The Digital Emancipation movement is gaining momentum; children are suing their parents for posting photographs of them online.

Designers, too, have invented ways to avoid surveillance and keep data private. This has seen the publics fear and concern permeate pop culture. Take this puffer jacket from The Arrivals that has a Faraday pocket made from a blend of polyester, copper and nickel, for example. This combination blocks radio-frequency identification (RFID), near field communication (NFC), electromagnetic fields (EMR and EMF) and radiation signals all the methods of delivery to mobile phones for push notifications, GPS tracking, text messages, and more.

In 2019, Polish designer Ewa Nowak launched a jewellery range, Incognito, aimed at thwarting facial recognition technologies and which has proved successful at beating Facebooks DeepFace algorithm.

Accessories for the Paranoid, too, abound: devices that may be hooked onto technology in the home and feed it mis-information. One slots over a computer webcam and feeds it fake images, while another links to Amazons Alexa and plays it white noise or feeds it distracting fake tasks.

Jason Stewart is co-founder of HaveYouHeard (@HaveYouHeard_SA), a full-service agency. Zeitgeist of Now, his new column on MarkLives, is inspired by the agencys proprietary tool developed to understand the invisible but powerful forces that influence people, products, culture and societies. If we appreciate these, he argues, we become more-effective marketers.

Sign up now for the MarkLives newsletter, including Ramify.biz headlines and become a MarkLives Member, too, to ensure continued coverage.

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I Have to Go in and Decolonize: Europes Black Theater Makers Discuss the Scene – The New York Times

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LONDON This summer, a coalition of American theater artists issued a statement, We See You, White American Theater, calling for an overhaul of the countrys theater landscape. There should be term limits on theater industry leaders to improve representation, it said, and at least half of casts and creative teams should be people of color.

Many of the same issues of representation plague the theater in Europe. Last month, Black Lives Matter protests sprung up across Britain and theaters issued messages of support, as well as statements pledging action on racism. This month, 400 British creatives signed an open letter calling for industry reform. We cannot accept empty gestures, it said, before listing five areas for change.

Representation in the theater business is an issue elsewhere in Europe, too, despite most major theaters receiving government subsidies and growing calls for theaters to reflect their local populations onstage.

On Wednesday, Kwame Kwei-Armah, 53, the artistic director of the Young Vic theater in London; Julia Wissert, 36, the artistic director of Schauspiel Dortmund in Germany; and Eva Doumbia, 51, the founder of the French theater company La Part du Pauvre, met on Zoom to discuss their experiences.

I am so wildly excited to be doing this, said Kwei-Armah as he joined the call.

Over two hours, the group found some differences and many similarities in the theater landscapes of their countries. When Doumbia (who spoke through a translator), said she had set up a festival to present work by Afro-European writers and directors, Wissert who is the only Black head of a major theater in Germany replied that she didnt think that would work in Germany. If youre too explicit here when talking about racism, everyone just freezes, she said.

Were all having to negotiate and shadowbox with white supremacy, Kwei-Armah said. But the recent Black Lives Matter protests inspired a change of mind. I am done, he said.

The three also discussed white universality, decolonizing theater institutions and their issues with the word diversity. These are edited excerpts from the conversation.

What is the state of diversity in your countries theater scenes?

JULIA WISSERT I just hate speaking about diversity, because Im not interested in diversity. I dont want to diversify anything. Im interested in the question of representation: Representation in the structure, in positions of power, among people who give money to theaters, artistic directorships.

Most of these [people in charge in Germany] are homogeneous: White, middle class, mostly male, mostly cisgender. Its very slowly changing, but at the end of the day I think were very much at the beginning of this conversation.

When I got my job one journalist started an interview with, Were you as shocked about this announcement as the theater world was? And I can understand that people thought it was a surprise because Im obviously way too young to hold that position, because you have to be 60 to be an artistic director here, and of course you have to be male and of course you shouldnt be Black.

EVA DOUMBIA I dont like talking about diversity either. When I do, its always on a diplomatic level more than anything. In France, most of the time we use the idea of diversity as a tool to polish our racism and put it in opposition with the racism in the United States. We call that the real racism.

But the Black Lives Movement and what happened with George Floyd, there was a French echo to it with Adama Traor [a 24-year-old man who died in police custody in 2016]. The Black Lives Matter protests reactivated those feelings here and its reignited that issue of representation in society, in theater.

KWAME KWEI-ARMAH What we have found in Britain is the people who invariably are the George Floyds, the people on the front line, are normally of African descent. But when it comes to diversity, we are normally right at the back of the queue.

The history of structural inequality here has meant there are few Black British artistic directors who have been in place for longer than two or three years. This is a wonderful moment where we are saying, We want this time to be about us! And within the sphere of theater, thats revolutionary because it means when I go into an institution, I have to go in and decolonize not just whats on the stage but the business model and the culture of the organization.

Do you feel able to stage plays about the reality of Black lives in your country?

DOUMBIA What tends to happen in France is we invite people from Africa directors, creatives. Theres a sort of comfort that theyre speaking from their perspective, so its not the view of someone born in France whos known its racism since kindergarten. Theres a sense of confidence that they will never challenge whats established here.

We do have French racism talked about onstage, but its never being addressed by Black people. Its mainly white directors making plays for white audiences. Its OK to have Black performers, actors, dancers, but Black creators are not as accepted.

WISSERT I would say here its exactly the same. The biggest discussions were having at the moment in Germany is the question of white universality the white body as being neutral and the white artist being able to speak to any time. Theres no understanding.

DOUMBIA I get a sensation of feeling a little bit stuck sometimes. Because you want to be able to tell your stories and tell them to the biggest number of people. But at the same time, you feel youre being assigned to a category being seen as a Black person from the white gaze.

KWEI-ARMAH I dont quite know what Black work is, and as we know, the word Black is a political construction. It means different things in different spaces. But what I am really clear about is there is a tax from our white audiences, many of whom are quite tribal, and who, the moment that they see someone Black on the poster, think that [the play] is somehow niche.

When we see a white story, we see a white actor in it and race becomes secondary. We go, Oh, this is a story about redemption. But sometimes the white audience will see a Black face and go, Oh, this is a story about racism. Or Oh, its for them. And thats the false binary we need to defeat in this country. And we are nowhere near defeating it.

Are diversity targets or quotas the answer?

DOUMBIA Can I make an analogy with the face masks were always talking about? In a normal world with Covid, you wouldnt have to tell people to wear a mask in order not to get sick, right? And yet you have to tell them. Its the same with quotas. In a world with common sense we wouldnt have to ask for them and yet without them nothing will be done. Although itd be hard to have them here, because we have this huge tradition of official color blindness. [In France it remains illegal to collect data on race for almost all official purposes.]

WISSERT In Germany, I wish we had a quota because I think, or hope, it would start a conversation and force colleagues to think differently, as well as give other artists a chance of gaining positions of power. Ive had enough of people saying, I really want to do something. I dont want to hear good will anymore, because good will didnt get us anywhere.

Id even go further and connect that quota to subsidies: There are no repercussions at the moment if you dont have any people of color in your institution. You can get shamed on social media and people call you out. But thats basically it.

Do you have quotas at the Young Vic, Kwame?

KWEI-ARMAH My previous shadowboxing self would have broken down the connotations of quotas and tried to make it sound polite and soft and nonthreatening to my white colleagues to not make them worry that somehow they would lose something that they were born naturally into.

My post-Black Lives Matter self actually says, I dont understand the question. Democracy means that you should reflect your environment. And if youre not reflecting your environment, youre suppressing someone. Quotas is a euphemism for Should we let Black people in?

In truth, incremental change is fine, but were not in the moment of incremental change.

Theaters across Europe are currently facing financial hardship after they were forced to close because of the coronavirus. Are you worried that could affect efforts to improve diversity?

WISSERT Our season had been announced when Covid happened. But what it did for us was allow us to rethink the idea of what theater really is. Its a question of: How do we engage with an audience? What stories are we actually telling? So we used this crisis to go to the city and say, Were not going to make money for maybe two years, but were going to go out to the communities and create projects that can really engage with people who wouldnt normally come to the theater.

KWEI-ARMAH When we went into Covid, I was about to announce my new season and the centerpiece of that was themed around for want of a better term a Black British experience. And as soon as we started hemorrhaging money, I went, Thats the one that has to go. The writers are not that well known, and its a big expensive project.

But then Black Lives Matter happened, and I went, No! Thats got to be the leader of the pack. Everything else takes a second seat this now becomes the zeitgeist since theater is here to reflect society and speak about it from its heart. This time has allowed me to stand in my truth without compromise.

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I Have to Go in and Decolonize: Europes Black Theater Makers Discuss the Scene - The New York Times

Protesters gather downtown in solidarity with the other Portland – Press Herald

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Protesters marched through downtown Portland Friday night to show solidarity with the citizens of Portland, Oregon, who have faced violent confrontations with federal agents for more than a week.

The event was organized by Ahmed Beshir, a 22-year-old accountant from Gorham. He said he was spurred to act after seeing video footage of federal agents, sent to Oregon by President Trump to quell protests, using tear gas, pepper spray and physical force against protesters. Protests there have been ongoing since George Floyd was killed by a former Minneapolis police officer two months ago. Trump has called the protesters in Oregon agitators and anarchists.

The march Friday began at Lincoln Park on Congress Street, where Beshir told people he had only begun organizing the event days earlier and wasnt sure how many people might turn out. The size of the crowd was not as important, he said, as the personal commitment each marcher has to change the racial and social injustice that exists in society. He told the crowd that they needed to protest the kind of government force being used in Oregon while we still have the chance.

It doesnt matter if we have 20 people or 20,000, were still making a statement, each of us, that I myself will be the change, Beshir said. We cant have the mindset thats its not really that serious yet, because soon it will be too late.

Beshir led the group, about 30 people at first, from Lincoln Park down Federal Street to the United States Courthouse, then up Congress Street past Congress Square, then back down Congress Street to City Hall. By then the group had grown to about 200 people, many with signs. They chanted Black Lives Matter, and No Justice, No Peace, among other things. They walked in the street, with one Portland police vehicle leading them and another following.

At City Hall, the marchers joined a camping protest over the citys homelessness problem, that was in its third day. Using a megaphone, Beshir addressed the crowd there and told them that the problems of homelessness and racial injustice were related, and had to be fought together.

The same system has failed us, Beshir told the group at City Hall.

Beshir planned to eventually lead the march to the Portland Police headquarters later Friday night.

Local officials in Oregon have called for federal agents to leave. On Wednesday Mayor Ted Wheeler was present at a protest when he was tear gassed by federal agents. The state of Oregon is seeking a legal order limiting federal agents arrest powers during the demonstrations. The Oregon Attorney General has sued multiple federal agencies, alleging agents in unmarked vehicles have grabbed people off the street without a warrant.

Beshir said he wanted to draw attention to the fact that people in Portland, Oregon, have been protesting police brutality and racial injustice for nearly two months, while other protests sparked by Floyds death have faded. Beshir thinks the Oregon protests have gotten stronger the more authorities have used violent force to stop them.

This isnt normal and this isnt right. We cant idly stand by sedated by the comforts of our lives and watch it unfold until its too late, Beshir wrote in a Facebook post announcing the event Friday. We must stand in solidarity against this authoritarian police state and fight back the tyranny and oppression that come with it.

Beshir, who was born in Sudan and came to the United States in 2005, said hes not part of any specific group. He said had not been involved in any protests until the death of Floyd and the launch of Black Lives Matter events that followed.

Some of the people who joined the march Friday they wanted to not only show solidarity with people in Oregon, but with people experiencing racism everywhere.

I need to use my white privilege and my voice to speak up for what is right, said Brooke Bolduc, 20, of Minot.

Anthony Fiori, 21 of Brunswick, said he was concerned that if people in Maine, and elsewhere, didnt stand up against what is happening in Oregon such use of government force to squelch protest will only spread.

When tyranny is rising, you have to stop it as soon as possible, you cant just say its not that bad yet, Fiori said.

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Meet the Irish scientist behind Oxford’s coronavirus vaccine – IrishCentral

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Irish scientist Adrian Hill is leading the global charge in the search for a coronavirus vaccine and his team of researchers at Oxford University is reportedly close to finding the much sought-after vaccine, but who is he? And how did he rise to a position of such prominence?

Born in Dublin, Hill was educated at Belvedere College and studied medicine at Trinity College before transferring to the University of Oxford in 1978 and completed his medical degree there in 1982.

His interest in vaccines and tropical medicine was inspired by an uncle who was a missionary priest in Africa.

He remained at Oxford for postgraduate studies thereafter and emerged with a Doctor of Philosophy degree in 1986.

From there, Hill joined the newly-created Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine at Oxford in 1988 and began working on immunogenetics in West Africa.

He subsequently became lead of an academic course on Human and Animal Vaccinology at Oxford and he now serves as Director of the Jenner Institute, an Oxford institute which develops vaccines and carries out clinical trials for diseases, including malaria and Ebola.

While Hill is slowly becoming a household name as the race to find a coronavirus vaccine ramps up, he had already cemented his growing reputation in the scientific community for his work on an ebola vaccine in 2014.

Hill's team lead the first clinical trial of an Ebola vaccine, targeting the outbreak of Ebola in West Africa.

Read more:WHO say Irish scientist's COVID vaccine is the "leading candidate"

His group has also developed malaria vaccines that were tested in clinical trials. The vaccine is currently in large-scale trials in children in sub-Saharan Africa and is one of the most promising vaccines against the disease.

Hill is an ardent believer in the power of molecular medicine to deliver new healthcare interventions for some of the poorest communities on the planet.

With the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, however, Hill's priorities have shifted focus and he is now the leading candidate to develop a vaccine against the virus.

Early results from his team's initial trials have yielded extremely positive news and some reports speculate that the vaccine may be ready by as early as September.

The vaccine potentially offers "double protection" against the coronavirus, building up appropriate antibodies and T-cells in test subjects.

Multinational pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca has reportedly ordered over 400 million doses of the vaccine to distribute by September or October based on the results of the trials.

Hill's vaccine will now potentially head to "challenge trials", where researchers deliberately attempt to infect test subjects with the virus after they have been given a dose of the vaccine.

The Irish vaccinologist is also an accomplished writer, and his works have appeared in a variety of national media publications.

Hill has two children with his former wife, Sunetra Guptta who is also a well known Indian novelist, and professor of theoretical epidemiology at the University of Oxford with an interest in infectious disease agents.

The 61-year-old is clearly one of the brightest in his field and, right now, the world needs him to work some magic.

Read more: Irish scientist's coronavirus vaccine could be ready by September

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Is red wine good for your heart? Yes, but only in moderation here’s how much you should drink – Insider – INSIDER

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Research has found that drinking red wine in moderation can be good for your heart. However, consuming too much red wine, or any alcohol, is particularly bad for your heart, and can increase your risk for heart disease.

Here's what you should know about the heart benefits of red wine and how much of it is considered healthy.

The link between red wine and a healthy heart may be due to the high level of micronutrients, called polyphenols, found in the skin and seeds of grapes.

During the production process, red wine is fermented with the grape skins and seeds for a longer period of time than white wine, which means the polyphenols are much more concentrated. For example, a glass of red wine contains around 10 times more polyphenols than a glass of white wine.

These polyphenols especially a polyphenol called resveratrol have been shown to protect and support heart health.

The polyphenols in red wine have antioxidant properties. This means they prevent or reduce the oxidation of low-density lipoproteins (LDLs), the "bad" type of cholesterol molecules we carry in our bloodstream.

When LDLs are oxidized, they build up in the walls of our arteries and narrow them, so that less blood and oxygen can reach the heart. This can cause coronary heart disease, the most common type of heart disease, and the leading cause of death in the US.

Moderate consumption of red wine can also increase the level of high-density lipoprotein (HDL), or the "good cholesterol" in our blood, which is associated with a lower risk of cardiovascular disease. HDL cholesterol is good because it helps remove excess LDL cholesterol from the blood vessels.

For example, a small controlled study published in the journal Atherosclerosis in 2006 found that after drinking 400 ml (about two to three glasses) of red wine every day for six weeks, LDL cholesterol decreased by 8% in postmenopausal women who had high LDL levels, while HDL cholesterol increased by 17%.

Another study published in 2005 in the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that four weeks of moderate red wine consumption daily 300 ml for males and 200 ml for females increased levels of HDL cholesterol by a greater amount than drinking the non-alcoholic, wine-equivalent dose of red grape extract tablets with water.

Some research has found that drinking red wine may decrease platelet aggregation, which can also help reduce your risk for cardiovascular disease.

Platelets are tiny cells in our blood that bind together around damaged blood vessels when we become injured. This clotting is what stops us from bleeding and helps us heal when we get a minor cut.

However, when platelets aggregate too much, they can form blood clots. Blood clots are serious because they can block the flow of blood and oxygen to vital organs, increasing your risk of having a heart attack or stroke.

By reducing the stickiness of the platelets in your blood, red wine can help prevent blood clots and reduce your risk for health complications. For example, a 2002 study published in the International Journal of Molecular Medicine measured platelet aggregation levels in male volunteers after moderate wine consumption and found they were significantly inhibited.

In order to receive the heart health benefits of red wine, the American Heart Association (AHA) recommends no more than one drink a day for women and two a day for men. For reference, one drink is equal to five ounces, or 140ml of wine.

Drinking too much wine, or any type of alcohol in excess, is very bad for your heart, says Robert A. Kloner MD, PhD, Chief Science Officer of Huntington Medical Research Institutes in Pasadena, California and Professor of Medicine at the University of Southern California.

That's because too much alcohol can cause high blood pressure and raise levels of triglycerides, which will increase your risk of heart disease, heart attack, or stroke.

Excessive drinking can also lead to heart failure a disease which makes it harder for your heart to pump blood around your body and atrial fibrillation, which is a type of arrhythmia where the heart beats quickly and irregularly.

Read more to learn about how different levels of alcohol consumption affect the heart.

Drinking several glasses of red wine throughout the week can be part of a heart healthy lifestyle. But in general, you shouldn't drink more than one or two glasses each night.

In addition, it's important to note that there are many other foods that contain the polyphenols found in red wine which may have the same heart health benefits. For instance, you can find resveratrol in grape juice, peanuts, cocoa, blueberries, and cranberries.

You don't need to drink red wine to have a healthy heart. But, if you like drinking red wine, the good news is that it may have some heart benefits just make sure you drink in moderation.

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Dry- and wet-lab research ‘Big data’ brings two worlds together – Times of Malta

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Big Data has become a staple of scientific endeavour. The phrase crops up repeatedly in common parlance. It has become a buzzword synonymous with scientific effort, experimental complexity and data reliability. This is because the field of Big Data offers ways how to deal with large datasets often originating from different experiments.

For example, an experiment to sequence your DNA may generate over 200GB of data. That is the size of two full-length 4K movies!

Big Data increases the robustness of any findings and reduces the odds of a result being only due to chance.

In molecular biology, if a scientific result is supported by various sources of data, such as DNA, protein and other molecular research, then it would be expected to provide a better overall understanding of the natural phenomena under study.

However, to generate and analyse such Big Data, scientists are required to train in both wet-lab and dry-lab techniques. Wet-lab scientists perform research on chemical and biological samples of various origins, including patients. Dry-lab scientists mine the large datasets generated from a multitude of experiments computationally. They combine all the elements together to identify trends, create models and provide unique insight that no single source of data can achieve.

This kind of research integration has many applications. Networks can be built to understand the relationships between genes or proteins. Libraries of synthesised compounds can be screened in search of potential drugs. Diagnostic biomarkers may be identified by combining DNA sequencing and protein datasets. On a large scale this is beneficial to patients in the form of earlier diagnosis, personalised treatment and improved outcome.

Modern biomedical research labs rarely conduct purely wet- or dry-research. The scientist of the 21st century needs to be skilled in both types of research. Thus, prospective biomedical students are encouraged to try their hand at both dry- and wet-lab techniques. This enables them to find their place in the research community of the future, doing research that they enjoy.

The University of Malta offers several courses which train students in dry- and wet-lab skills and research.

Jean Paul Ebejer is the coordinator for the Masters in Bioinformatics programme and performs research in bioinformatics and computer-aided drug design. Byron Baron is involved in the BSc for medical biochemistry and heads research in methylation proteomic analysis on cancer.

Both lecture and research at the Centre for Molecular Medicine and Biobanking of the University of Malta.

A groundbreaking study is the first to analyse the relationship between group behaviours, group type, group dynamics, and kinship of beluga whales in 10 locations across the Arctic. Results show that not only do beluga whales regularly interact with close kin, including close maternal kin, they also frequently associate with more distantly related and unrelated individuals. Findings will improve the understanding of why some species are social, how individuals learn from group members and how animal cultures emerge.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/07/200710212233.htm

Dinosaurs and flying pterosaurs may be known for their remarkable size, but a newly described species from Madagascar that lived around 237 million years ago suggests that they originated from extremely small ancestors. The fossil reptile, named Kongonaphon kely, or tiny bug slayer, would have stood just 10 centimetres tall. The description and analysis of this fossil and its relatives, published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, may help explain the origins of flight in pterosaurs, the presence of fuzz on the skin of both pterosaurs and dinosaurs, and other questions about these charismatic animals.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/07/200706152659.htm

For more soundbites listen to Radio Mocha every Saturday at 7.30pm on Radju Malta and the following Monday at 9pm on Radju Malta 2. https:// http://www.fb.com/RadioMochaMalta/

The National Gallery in London was only shut for two days during World War II, ironically during VE Day celebrations in May 1945.

You are not imagining it summer heat really does make people crankier.

The average garden snail has over 14,000 teeth.

Leonardo da Vinci was notorious for missing deadlines. Pope Leo X is reported to have said: This man will never accomplish anything, he thinks of the end before the beginning.

Eating too many carrots, pumpkin or citrus fruits can result in carotenosis, where your skin turns orange.

There are more trees on Earth than there are stars in the Milky Way. Until now.

For more trivia see: http://www.um.edu.mt/think

Independent journalism costs money. Support Times of Malta for the price of a coffee.

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Dry- and wet-lab research 'Big data' brings two worlds together - Times of Malta

Queens partners with industry for COVID research – The Kingston Whig-Standard

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Researchers at Queens University are working alongside companies to determine how best to respond to the various problems the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has caused in Canada.

Two projects associated with Queens have received over $4 million through the Digital Technology Superclusters COVID-19 program: Project Looking Glass and Project ACTT.

The program focuses on funding technologies that support the health system, community health, safe living, diagnostics and therapeutics, and emergency COVID-19 response. It has provided a total of $60 million in funding to various projects.

The Superclusters initiative demonstrates what we can do when we harness the collective strengths of industry, academia. and research, Kimberly Woodhouse, vice-principal (research), told the Whig-Standard. Queens is a key partner in helping to grow these companies and collaborations and providing vital expertise that will help in our national efforts to combat COVID-19 through strength in digital technology.

Led by Kings Distributed Systems (KDS), Looking Glass: Protecting Canadians in a Return to Community is building a platform that will use predictive modelling to analyze pandemic policies and determine which ones are most effective.

Policy makers will be able to input possible actions and clearly see the potential outcomes, in terms of both public health and the economy. They will also be able to use the tools interactive map, which links demographic, economic, and COVID-19 case report data to specific census regions.

Queens mathematics researchers Troy Day and Felicia Magpantay will contribute leading epidemiological models to the project.

Queens Partnerships and Innovation (QPI) has provided some of the projects industry partners with supports, including the facilitation of a pilot project with Queens Centre for Advanced Computing. One of these industry partners, Limestone Analytics, is led by Queens professor Bahman Kashi.

With partners and contributors from a range of institutions and industry across Canada, this diverse collaboration with develop Looking Glass into a powerful tool to forecast not only COVID-19 infection rates from actions such as reopening schools, but also other critical public health issues like vaccination campaigns and managing tick-borne disease, the university wrote in a statement.

Led by Canexia Health, Project ACTT: Access to Cancer Testing and Treatment in Response to COVID-19 focuses on expanding access to cancer testing, which has been delayed through the pandemic as a result of limits placed on non-COVID care.

The project will use a minimally invasive DNA test as an alternative to surgical tissue biopsies. The test takes a blood sample from the patient and analyzes it to detect fragments of DNA shed by cancer tumours.

This method functions as a remote delivery substitute for cancer biopsies, thus minimizing patient exposure to COVID-19. It may also provide solutions for testing those in rural or remote areas.

The projects principal investigator is Queens pathology and molecular medicine researcher Harriet Feilotter, who is also a member of the Queens Cancer Research Institutes Division of Cancer Biology and Genetics.

In response to COVID-19 many Queens researchers have been building on their industry partnerships to help rapidly pivot and mobilize their research to address some of the many complex problems posed by the pandemic, the University wrote. Many collaborations have been formed to help not only respond to immediate issues, but to also look to the future as we assess the crisiss impact throughout society.

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Queens partners with industry for COVID research - The Kingston Whig-Standard

Why we need to fix the healthcare system: An interview with Dr Mikashmi Kohli – Hyderus Cyf

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There is a need for proper planning and strengthening the healthcare system where both the pandemic and these other treatable diseases can be managed simultaneously, Dr Mikashmi Kohli told me recently. We now have diagnostic tools which are multi-disease platforms so focusing just on COVID-19 , while forgetting about patients suffering from these manageable diseases, will only lead us in the direction of a failure.

One of the main consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic has been the neglect of the treatment of other diseases and disruptions to health systems. I spoke with Dr Kohli a postdoctoral fellow in the Department of Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Occupational Health at McGill University on a range of topics. We discuss how COVID has disrupted health systems; how other diseases are being neglected; and the work we need to do to strengthen health systems going forward.

We cant just think unilaterally, Dr Kohli told me earlier this month. The disruption has been a problem of a broken healthcare system and it is imperative to start fixing that.

You can watch our interview here.

Dr Mikashmi Kohli is a postdoctoral fellow at McGill University, Canada. She completed her PhD in Molecular Medicine from the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi. Having worked in India on diagnosis of TB, especially extrapulmonary TB, she developed a strong interest in diagnostics and EPTB research.

Currently, she is working on understanding the availability and access to diagnostics in primary healthcare settings in LMICs and ways to improve the diagnostic landscape in these countries. She has also been working with the Cochrane Systematic Review team on diagnostic accuracy of molecular tests in TB. She is passionate about diagnostics in Global Health and implementation of basic science research in the global health scenario.

You can watch and read Health Issues Indias other interviews with thought leaders in health and development here.

You can read my previous interview with Dr Kohli on diagnostics and UHC here.

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Why we need to fix the healthcare system: An interview with Dr Mikashmi Kohli - Hyderus Cyf

Precision Medicine Market 2019 | Current Trends And The Future Growth | Forecast Till 2025 – Owned

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Overview:

The report on a global scale regarding the precision medicine market would witness a rise by 12.48% CAGR during the forecast period encompassing 2019-2025 to reach and surpass a valuation by USD 126.14 billion. Market Research Future (MRFR) revealed that this growth would be substantial due to the inclusion of high throughput sequencing, increasing expenditure from several private companies and governments, development in the structure of the healthcare sector, better participation from pharmaceutical companies, growing rate of chronic diseases, and others. High chance of recovery would also trigger better precision medicine market expansion in the coming few years.

Segmentation:

The global market report on precision medicine can be segmented into ecosystem players, sub-markets, and therapeutics. This is to facilitate a proper study that would determine the growth of the global market in the coming years.

By ecosystem players, the report on the globalprecision medicine marketcan be segmented into diagnostic companies, healthcare IT specialists/big data companies, pharmaceuticals and biotechnology companies, and clinical laboratories. The diagnostic tool companies segment has a substantial opportunity for growth from its previous valuation of USD 16.27 million in 2017.

By sub-markets, the global report on the precision medicine market can be segmented into companion diagnostics, targeted therapeutics, biomarker-based tests, molecular diagnostics, pharmacogenomics (PGX), and others.

By therapeutics, the global study containing the precision medicine market includes cardiovascular disease (CVD), cancer/oncology, infectious diseases, central nervous system, and others.

Browse Sample of the Report @https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/925

Regional Market:

The market in America would lead the global scenario as it would be led by the US where the structure to support such researches are stronger than its peers. Along with it, the presence of Canada would boost the market outcome further. The regional market in the Northern part would see a constant flow of investment and a high inclusion rate of latest technologies. Better capacity to avail such methods would boost the market further. In the Southern region, this growth would be sluggish due to the presence of countries with poor infrastructure and investment capacity.

In Europe, growth would be backed by government initiatives to bolster the research facilities and investments from pharmaceutical companies. The latter is a common trait for both North America and Europe. In Asia Pacific, these companies would launch extensive expansion plans in growing economies where the healthcare sector is witnessing a surge in activities.

Competitive Analysis:

The global market report for precision medicine includes discussions regarding various types of strategic moves taken by top-players like Almac Group, Ltd., ABBOTT LABORATORIES, bioMrieux SA, ASURAGEN, INc., GlaxoSmithKline Plc (GSK), Cepheid Inc., CETICS Healthcare Technologies GmbH, GE Healthcare, Johnson & Johnson, Intomics A/S, Medtronic, Novartis, LABORATORY CORPORATION OF AMERICA HOLDINGS, Qiagen, Pfizer Inc, Randox Laboratories Ltd, BIOBASE GmbH (Subsidiary), Quest Diagnostics Inc., Sanofi Pharma, Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited, Roche Holding AG-Br, Caris Life Sciences, HealthCore, Inc., Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd., Intel Corporation, Molecular Health GmbH, AB-Biotics SA, InnVentis, IBM, and Precision for Medicine. These players are known for their strategic moves like mergers, increasing investment in various research and development facilities, collaborations, and others.

Industry News:

In March 2020, researchers from Nemours Childrens Health System announced that they had identified a new type of variant in genetic structure that will help in manufacturing personalized drugs for patients with leukemia. Many researchers are looking at this as a possible counter-attack against the cancer. Researchers have suggested using next-generation sequencing that would increase precision in the detection of the process.

Browse More Details of the Report @https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/precision-medicine-market-925

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Precision Medicine Market 2019 | Current Trends And The Future Growth | Forecast Till 2025 - Owned

Global and Country Specific Neural Control Market Report 2020 Forecast, Opportunities and Strategies To 2027: COVID 19 Impact and Recovery Top Key…

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Neural Control Market report involves all together a different chapter on COVID 19 Impact. The Covid-19 (coronavirus) pandemic is impacting society and the overall economy across the world. The impact of this pandemic is growing day by day as well as affecting the supply chain. The COVID-19 crisis is creating uncertainty in the stock market, massive slowing of supply chain, falling business confidence, and increasing panic among the customer segments. The overall effect of the pandemic is impacting the production process of several industries including Life Science, and many more. Trade barriers are further restraining the demand- supply outlook. nicolas.shaw@cognitivemarketresearch.com or call us on +1-312-376-8303.Download The report Copy form the webstie: https://cognitivemarketresearch.com/medical-devicesconsumables/neural-control-market-report

The major players profiled in this report include: MIT, Hebrew university, Haier, Neurotechnology

Market segment by type can be split into: Hardware, Software

Market segment by the application can be split into: Hospital, Research

DOWNLOAD FREE SAMPLE REPORT@: https://cognitivemarketresearch.com/medical-devicesconsumables/neural-control-market-report#download_report

As government of different regions have already announced total lockdown and temporarily shutdown of industries, the overall production process being adversely affected; thus, hinder the overall Neural Control globally. This report on Neural Control provides the analysis on impact on Covid-19 on various business segments and country markets. The report also showcases market trends and forecast to 2027, factoring the impact of COVID-19 situation.

Neural Control Market report provide an in-depth understanding of the cutting-edge competitive analysis of the emerging market trends along with the drivers, restraints, and opportunities in the market to offer worthwhile insights and current scenario for making right decision. The report covers the prominent players in the market with detailed SWOT analysis, financial overview, and key developments of last three years. Moreover, the report also offers a 360 outlook of the market through the competitive landscape of the global industry player and helps the companies to garner Neural Control Market revenue by understanding the strategic growth approaches.

Any query? Enquire Here For Discount (COVID-19 Impact Analysis Updated Sample): Click Here>Download Sample Report of Neural Control Market Report 2020 (Coronavirus Impact Analysis on Neural Control Market)

Report provides industry analysis, important insights, and a competitive and useful advantage to the pursuers. The report analyzes different segments and offers the current and future prospects of each segment. Furthermore, this research report contains an in depth analysis of the top players with data such as product specification, company profiles and product picture, sales area, and base of manufacturing in the global Neural Control market. The impact on the supply and demand of the raw materials, due to the COVID-19 is also analyzed in the global Neural Control market.

Additionally, report consists of product life cycle, which discus about the current stage of product. Further, it adds manufacturing cost analysis as well as complete manufacturing process involved. Report also adds supply chain analysis to ensure complete data of market.

Objectives of Neural Control Market Report:To justifiably share in-depth info regarding the decisive elements impacting the increase of industry (growth capacity, chances, drivers and industry specific challenge and risks)To know the Neural Control Market by pinpointing its many sub segmentsTo profile the important players and analyze their growth plansTo endeavor the amount and value of the Neural Control Market sub-markets, depending on key regions (various vital states)To analyze the Global Neural Control Market concerning growth trends, prospects and also their participation in the entire sectorTo inspect and study the Global Neural Control Market size form the company, essential regions/countries, products and applications, background information and also predictions to 2027Primary worldwide Neural Control Market manufacturing companies, to specify, clarify and analyze the product sales amount, value and market share, market rivalry landscape, SWOT analysis and development plans for the next coming yearsTo examine competitive progress such as expansions, arrangements, new product launches and acquisitions on the market

Access Exclusive Free Sample Report (COVID-19 Impact Analysis Updated Edition): Click Here>Download Sample Report of Neural Control Market Report 2020 (Pandemic Impact Analysis Updated Edition May 2020)

Follow is the chapters covered in Neural Control Market:Chapter 1 Neural Control Market OverviewChapter 2 COVID 19 ImpactChapter 3 Neural Control Segment by Types (Product Technology)Chapter 4 Global Neural Control Segment by ApplicationChapter 5 Global Neural Control Market by Regions (2015-2027)Chapter 6 Global Neural Control Market Competition by ManufacturersChapter 7 Company (Top Players) Profiles and Key DataChapter 8 Global Neural Control Revenue by Regions (2015-2020)Chapter 9 Global Neural Control Revenue by TypesChapter 10 Global Neural Control Market Analysis by ApplicationChapter 11 North America Neural Control Market Development Status and OutlookChapter 12 Europe Neural Control Market Development Status and OutlookChapter 13 Asia Pacific Neural Control Market Development Status and OutlookChapter 14 South America Neural Control Market Development Status and OutlookChapter 15 Middle East & Africa Neural Control Market Development Status and OutlookChapter 16 Neural Control Manufacturing Cost AnalysisChapter 17 Marketing Strategy Analysis, Distributors/ TradersChapter 18 Global Neural Control Market Forecast (2020-2027)Chapter 19 Research Findings and ConclusionGet detailed TOC for Neural Control Market Report @ https://cognitivemarketresearch.com/medical-devicesconsumables/neural-control-market-report#table_of_contents.

Customization of the Report:This report can be customized to meet the clients requirements. Please connect with our sales team, who will ensure that you get a report that suits your needs. You can also get in touch with our executives on to share your research requirements.nicolas.shaw@cognitivemarketresearch.com or call us on +1-312-376-8303.

About Us: Cognitive Market Research is one of the finest and most efficient Market Research and Consulting firm. The company strives to provide research studies which include syndicate research, customized research, round the clock assistance service, monthly subscription services, and consulting services to our clients. We focus on making sure that based on our reports, our clients are enabled to make most vital business decisions in easiest and yet effective way. Hence, we are committed to delivering them outcomes from market intelligence studies which are based on relevant and fact-based research across the global market.Contact Us: +1-312-376-8303Email: nicolas.shaw@cognitivemarketresearch.comWeb: https://www.cognitivemarketresearch.com

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Global and Country Specific Neural Control Market Report 2020 Forecast, Opportunities and Strategies To 2027: COVID 19 Impact and Recovery Top Key...

23 Long Beach Island lifeguards are COVID-19 positive after social gatherings – WHYY

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Nearly two dozen lifeguards in Long Beach Island have recently tested positive for COVID-19, a health official said Friday.

Daniel J. Krupinski, the Long Beach Island Health Department director, said 11 Harvey Cedars and 12 Surf City lifeguards tested positive.

The health department started receiving reports of COVID-19 activity among Surf City lifeguards on Saturday, July 18 and Harvey Cedars lifeguards on Sunday, July 19, Krupinski said. We have reason to believe the case activity stems from common social gatherings outside of work on July 12 and 14.

The health official did not provide the locations of the gatherings.Contact tracing is well underway, and the beach patrol supervisors are cooperating, according to Krupinski, who said that all positive cases are isolating.

We follow the Center for Disease Control and Prevention and New Jersey Department of Health criteria for discharging cases form either isolation or quarantine. It can be symptom based or testing based, he said. Our main concern for transmission are those identified as close contacts: those that live, worked and socialized with a positive individual in their period of communicability.

Krupinski said the outbreak remains under investigation.

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23 Long Beach Island lifeguards are COVID-19 positive after social gatherings - WHYY

Woman in Spains Party Island Dies in Tragic Boat Crash – Euro Weekly News

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A woman in Spains party dies in a tragic boat crash. This Sunday two sailboats next to the Castavi Islet, on the maritime route between the islands of Ibiza and Formentera, experienced a crash.

According to the Balearic Salvamiento Maritimo, a woman has sadly died after the two sailboats collided.

112 alerted Salvamiento Maritimo of the collision between the Shambala and Batucada boats, in Es Freus de Ibiza and Formentera. The tragic boat crash took place around 1:00 p.m. and sadly it resulted in one fatality.

The Palma Salvamento Martimo centre mobilised the MP3 and Guardamar Calope boats and rescuers who evacuated the deceased. The rest of the crew, some of them who were injured, were also evacuated to the port of La Savina de Formentera, where the medical teams were waiting for them.

Only one man is still under the care of the Emergency Department of the Formentera Hospital. This man is a 56-year-old Belgian who has multiple mild traumas and has been left in a state of shock.

In similarly recent news, the Balearic regional government is rallying to stop the UK from enforcing a 14-day quarantine to tourists and residents arriving from the Islands to the UK.

Thanks for reading, Woman in Spains Party Island Dies in Tragic Boat Crash.

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Woman in Spains Party Island Dies in Tragic Boat Crash - Euro Weekly News

Tourist killed in Fraser Island vehicle rollover, another with significant injuries – ABC News

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An international tourist has been killed and another seriously injured in a four-wheel-drive rollover on Fraser Island off south-east Queensland on Sunday morning, police say.

Police said it was believed the four-wheel-drive with four international tourists on board was travelling along 75 Mile Beach at low tide when it lost control and rolled, about 1.5 kilometres north of Eli Creek about 7:00am.

The driver of the vehicle was pronounced dead at the scene.

A passenger in the back of the vehicle suffered significant injuries and has been airlifted from the island for further medical treatment.

Two rescue helicopters landed on the beach close to the accident scene.

A statement from RACQ LifeFlight Rescue said a man, aged is his 20s, was taken to the Sunshine Coast University Hospital with multiple injuries.

Two other male patients were taken to Hervey Bay Hospital.

Police said officers from the Forensic Crash Unit were investigating.

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Tourist killed in Fraser Island vehicle rollover, another with significant injuries - ABC News

Smiley: Saga of the Pecan Island Bandits | Smiley Anders – The Advocate

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A "crime doesn't pay here" tale from Roger Waggoner, of Lafayette:

"In 2005 a couple of my friends convinced me to take a fishing trip with them to a spot on the Mermentau River in Grand Chenier.

"It was a great trip in all respects, and I have taken that drive along beautiful La. 82 many times since. I occasionally make a pit stop at the Pecan Island Food Store.

"In a newspaper article in maybe 2007 I read that an apparently unthinking couple from Georgia decided to rob the store at knifepoint.

"The clerk gave them the money, got a description of the car, and immediately called the sheriff. The sheriff sent out a broadcast to raise the drawbridges.

"Since there is a bridge 10 miles to the east over the old Intracoastal Canal, and one 15 miles to the west over a Superior Oil canal, it was an easy capture and arrest."

Dana Territo says, "Here's one about signs of the times:

"My 3-year-old grandson, Ellis, was fixated on finding a small yellow toy train one morning before going to day care.

"He became very out of sorts about not being able to locate this particular train, and after an exhaustive search by his mother, Ellis emphatically told her, 'We just have to go to the toy store and get a new one!'

"His mother told him that toy stores are closed now. Ellis quickly responded, 'But, we can go to the drive-through!'

"Out of the mouths of babes during these pandemic times!"

A couple of comments on the Friday story about the sale of ready-to-cook alligators, which I described as "the other, other white meat." I also told of the advertisement's photo of a gator on a grill with an apple in his mouth.

Bill Huey asks, "Shouldnt the alligator have a small pig in its mouth, and the pig an apple in its mouth?"

Buck Blouin, of Prairieville, says, "During my daily reading of Smiley with my morning cup of coffee, the Saturday article by the lady about licking her index finger to turn the pages of a book reminded me of something I do every morning.

"When I go out to get my Advocate and mail, I take a sanitary wipe with me to wipe off my paper and mail before touching it.

"We all worry about catching the virus when we go out, but this keeps it from coming into my home. How many people do you think touch your newspaper and mail? Just thought I'd pass it on."

Alma Mims, of Mandeville, thanks a young man named Jourdon, "who was in line in front of me at a store in Covington.

"He was about to check out when he had a problem with the merchandise and let me go first so he could handle it.

"I went to pay and he said, 'I got this' and insisted on paying. I was shocked; what a nice gesture."

Chauvie and Linda Chauviere, of Baton Rouge, celebrated 50 years of marriage Saturday, July 25.

Cliff Johnson says, "Since your column is most noted for 'useful' tips, I would like to add one to that long list.

"For all the people who dont use that little arm on the left side of their steering column, try using it to hang your COVID-19 mask on. Works great for me."

Nancy Wagner's monkey story:

"My parents and two older brothers, who lived in Sumatra before I was born, told me of their attempts to domesticate a monkey.

"They struggled to housebreak him. Every time he relieved himself in the house, they spanked him and tossed him out the window.

"He soon learned to spank himself and jump out the window following an 'accident.'

Write Smiley at Smiley@theadvocate.com. He can also be reached by mail at P.O. Box 588, Baton Rouge, LA 70821. Follow Smiley Anders on Twitter, @SmileyAndersAdv.

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Smiley: Saga of the Pecan Island Bandits | Smiley Anders - The Advocate

Church Hill city officials vote to change racially insensitive name of island in Holston River – WJHL-TV News Channel 11

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CHURCH HILL, Tenn. (WJHL) The Church Hill Board of Mayor and Aldermen voted unanimously to make a recommendation on a new name for an island in the Holston River.

According to Church Hill City Recorder Joshua Russell, the board met Tuesday and addressed the scheduled business of renaming Negro Island.

Russell told News Channel 11 the city had been contacted in 2019 by the U.S. Board on Geographic Names, requesting a recommendation for a new name for the island due to its offensive name.

Russell said USBGN provided two possible names to the board for consideration: Silver Lake Island and Solitude Island.

At the meeting, Russell said Alderman Michael Bell made the motion to recommend Silver Lake Island, which is in reference to a nearby community along the Holston River.

Solitude Island, while not chosen as the citys recommendation, is a reference to Solitude Bend south of the island.

Russell told News Channel 11 that the island is privately owned, meaning the property owners reserve the right to keep the name on the deed or change it to whatever they like.

However, the USBGNs change to the islands name will be the name that appears on U.S Geographic maps, according to Russell.

The vote to recommend the name Silver Lake Island to USBGN did not require a resolution or ordinance.

Some of the other groups approached for name recommendations were Hawkins County, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the State of Tennessee.

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Church Hill city officials vote to change racially insensitive name of island in Holston River - WJHL-TV News Channel 11

The Quirky Story of U Thant Island, NYC’s Smallest Island – Untapped New York – Untapped New York

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Situated halfway between the United Nations complex and Long Island City is a tiny 1/2 acre island that appeared in the East River in the 1890s. U Thant Island, as it is known, is nicknamed after former United Nations Secretary General from Burma a story we will get into shortly. The island was created from materials excavated by piano manufacturer William Steinway in the attempt to build underwater trolley tunnels in the East River between Manhattan and his company town in Astoria, Steinway Village. Workers dug a shaft down through an outcropping of granite rock known then as Man-o-War Reef and the excavated rubble formed the man-made island, officially known as Belmont Island.

October 14, 1906 New York-Tribune. Image from Library of Congress, Serial and Government Publications Division.

Steinway died in 1896 before the completion of the tunnels, which were finished a decade later under the auspices of the first subway line, the Interborough Rapid Transit (IRT). A historic photograph in the New-York Tribune from 1906 shows the newly created island packed with buildings and the mining shaft. Nobody lived here it was intended for the equipment and activity connected to the mine and as an access point to the tunnels below. The caption reads: A man-made island in the East River. A shaft it in leads down to the Belmont Tunnel beneath the stream, where the sandhogs are boring day and night. Those buildings remained on the island until around 1918.

The construction of the Steinway Tunnel was by no means a safe endeavor. Four workers died in an accident in the shaft in 1906. Much like the engineering feat that was the creation of the first East River tunnel just nearby in 1893, these large infrastructure projects were the products of ambitious, sometimes grandiose, visions of what the city could be. Today the tunnels are still used by the 7 line train, a testimony to the foresight of Steinway, Belmont and the early industrialists.

Belmont Island was named for August Belmont Jr. who was one of the main financiers of the IRT and its President. He was so important, he actually had his own private subway car that still exists today. How did it became known as U-Thant Island? In the 1970s, a group of employees from the United Nations who were followers of the guru Sri Chinmoy and called themselves the Peace Meditation at the United Nations unofficially named it for Chinmoys friend U Thant, the UN Secretary General from Burma. Chinmoy, who was born in British India (now Bangledesh) came to the United States in 1964 and lived in Jamaica, Queens. He was giving meditations twice a week at the United Nations, on invitation from U Thant.

The use of U Thant Island was a formal takeover, as the group leased the island from the State of New York and dedicated the island on September 16, 1977 to U Thant, who had died three years before. After New York Governor Hugh Carey stated his support of the initiative, the group planted trees and flowers, and inaugurated its official lease of the island from the state, according to Charlie Hailey in the book Spoil Island: Remaking the Makeshift Archipleago. There was even an award ceremony for the U Thant Peace Award that took place there.

The United Nations from the East River

The group was allowed on U Thant Island once or twice a year to maintain the greenery they planted, but increased security pretty much ended visits by the mid 1990s. They left behind a 30-foot tall steel Oneness Arch which has a capsule buried below containing personal items and writings from U Thant. The arch is still there, next to U.S. Coast Guard beacon that also has a sign with the nickname of the Island, the UN logo, the words U Thant Island: CompassionHome. Dedicated to World PEace through Prayer and Meditation and a quote by U Thant: Every man or woman should not only ask himself or herself what he or she is going to do in the world, but also ask Will there be a world in which I can live.' We have not been able to confirm if the personal items are still there.

It wasnt the first or last takeover of U Thant Island. In 1972, activists occupied the island for 2 1/2 hours and declared it the Soviet Jewry Freedom Island in protest of a speech at the United Nations by Leonid Brezhnev, the long time Chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet and his announcement of the diploma tax that was enacted on graduates from the USSR who wished to emigrate.The occupation was led by Percy Sutton and Robert Abrams, the Manhattan and Bronx Borough Presidents respectively. Then in 2004, in protest of increased security in New York City for the Republican National Convention, the artist Duke Riley sailed to U Thant Island and proclaimed it a sovereign nation.

Today, U Thant Island, said to be New York Citys smallest island, is considerably smaller than when it was being used in the excavation of the tunnels. The manmade platform and edges that were built up to support the various buildings and structures are long gone. Its impermanence fits the philosophies of Chinmoy and U Thant, as Hailey writes in his book: It represents the precariousness as well as the triumphs of human interventionMeditating on the artificial island, U Thant could contemplate human vulnerability and agency through a landscape element that was not only a tiny outcropping but also the waste of human activity. This residual nature made it a particularly compelling tool for understanding impermanence and instability.

What remains of U Thant Island is a narrow rocky island about 50-100 feet x 200 feet in size with a Coast Guard beacon Roosevelt Island Reef Light 17, the Oneness Arch, some shrubs and a few stubby trees. New York City has designated it an Recognized Ecological Complex, a protected site for migrating birds. Youll often find a large flock of seagulls and double-crested cormorants on the rocks, striped bass in the waters below, and we assume an occasional appearance of the seals who have been known to appear on a nearby rock off Roosevelt Island. Jurisdictionally, U Thant Island belongs to Manhattan and Community Board 6, which includes Stuyvesant Town Peter Cooper Village, Gramercy, Kips Bay, Murray Hill, Tudor City, Turtle Bay, and Sutton Place.

U Thant Island is a curious repository of many moments in New York Citys history: its natural geological origin as a reef, a site of industrial intervention and ingenuity at the turn of the 19th century, a place of both protest and contemplation during the early years of the United Nations, and finally a nature sanctuary seen by New Yorkers and tourists as the citys waterways become a place of both transit and entertainment once again.

2020 marks the 75th Anniversary of the founding of the United Nations. To mark the 75th Anniversary, theUnited Nations has launched UN75 the largest, most inclusive conversation on the role of global cooperation in building a better future for all. The core of the initiative is ashort, one-minute survey focusing on the key priorities for international cooperation, where results from the survey will be presented to world leaders and governments this September. Rather than having a traditional celebration, UN75 is giving the citizens of the world an opportunity to shape UNs priorities, by inviting everyone, everywhere to have their say, and to share their ideas for a better future.

TAKE THE SURVEY!

Next, discover 10 Man Made Islands in NYC.

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The Quirky Story of U Thant Island, NYC's Smallest Island - Untapped New York - Untapped New York

Genetic consequences of the slave trade – Cosmos

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Until less than two centuries ago, millions of people were forcibly removed from Africa by European colonisers and taken across the Atlantic to become slaves in the Americas.

Helping to unravel the pervasive, ongoing impacts of this enslavement, an extensive population genetic study has added to historical records gathered by the slave trade database, concurring with them overall but adding some new insights.

For millions of people in the Americas, the story of the transatlantic slave trade is the story of their ancestral origins, says Steven Micheletti from 23andMe in Sunnyvale, US, and lead author of the study published in The American Journal of Human Genetics.

The team, which included a researcher from the University of Leicester, UK, analysed genetic data from more than 50,000 people on both sides of the Atlantic, working closely with historians, scholars of African American studies and other geneticists.

As predicted, they found strong genetic connections between people of the Americas and African regions where more people were enslaved, most with roots in Angola and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

But a closer look revealed multiple deviations from the groups expectations, says Micheletti.

One discovery was that most US-based African Americans tend to have high Nigerian ancestry, even though relatively small numbers of their enslaved ancestors were taken directly to the US from present-day Nigeria.

This supports historical accounts of many enslaved people being transported across the Americas after the transatlantic slave trade was abolished, explaining why they found many distant relatives between the Caribbean and the US.

In contrast, African Americans had lower genetic connections with Senegambians than would be expected, possibly because these people tended to be transported to work in rice plantations that had high death rates from malaria.

Another important and tragic finding was the genetic sex bias in African women, showing they reproduced more than African men even though more than 60% of enslaved individuals were male.

For every African man in Central and South America and the Caribbean, the analysis found that about 15 African women had children.

This reflects known accounts of rape and exploitation of female African slaves, says Micheletti. Unexpectedly, the sex-bias was nearly 10 times larger in Latin America than the US, he adds, which could be explained by records of differences in systemic racism.

In the US, enslaved people were segregated and allowed to have children, a likely means of maintaining an enslaved workforce, known as slave breeding.

Conversely, other countries in Latin America, such as Brazil and Cuba, promoted racial whitening through immigration programs to encourage mating of white European males with dark-skinned African females to produce lighter skinned children and dilute African heritage.

This, and higher mortality, could explain why the proportion of people with more than 5% African ancestry was five times lower in Latin America, says Micheletti, even though more than two thirds of enslaved Africans disembarked there.

His goal is for the study to help African Americans find their roots and promote understanding of how their ancestors helped shape their communities.

We hope readers grasp not only the impact of the slave trade but also the deep contributions enslaved Africans made to the history, economy and culture of the Americas.

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Genetic consequences of the slave trade - Cosmos

Orioles Kneel During Pregame Tribute To Black Lives Matter Movement; Stand With Arms Locked For National Anthem – CBS Baltimore

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BOSTON (WJZ) The Orioles opened up their 2020 season at Fenway Park in Boston against the Red Sox Friday night.

A special pregame ceremony was held as a show of unity in the fight against racial injustice.

Both the Orioles and Red Sox took a knee before the National Anthem, holding a black ribbon to recognize the Black Lives Matter movement.

The entire Baltimore Orioles team kneels during a Black Lives Matter demonstration prior to first pitch against the Boston Red Sox on Opening Day at Fenway Park. (Photo by Kathryn Riley/Getty Images)

During the National Anthem, the Orioles stood and locked arms in unison.

One team. United for change. #BlackLivesMatter. the team posted to its social media pages.

Martinez Has 3 RBIs, Red Sox Beat Orioles 13-2 In Opener

During pregame warm-ups, the Orioles also wore Black Lives Matter T-shirts.

The Orioles lost their first game of the season 13-2.

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Orioles Kneel During Pregame Tribute To Black Lives Matter Movement; Stand With Arms Locked For National Anthem - CBS Baltimore