Day: December 12, 2020

Five key genes are linked with the severest form of COVID-19, scientists said on Friday, in research that also pointed to several existing drugs that could be repurposed to treat people who risk getting critically ill with the pandemic disease.

Researchers who studied the DNA of 2,700 COVID-19 patients in 208 intensive care units across the United Kingdom found that five genes involving in two molecular processes – antiviral immunity and lung inflammation – were central to many severe cases.

https://www.aljazeera.com/economy/2020/12/11/research-finds-5-genes-linked-to-most-severe-form-of-covid-19

The Chang’e 5 is a part of the Chinese Lunar Exploration Programme, named after the mythological goddess of the Moon who is known for stealing an elixir of immortality from her husband and escaping to the Moon. China started developing the project in 2003, and four years later its first spacecraft was launched on 24 October 2007. 

China’s Chang’e 5 probe has completed its orbital manoeuvre and is now approaching the flight path that will lead it to Earth, the Xinhua news agency quoted the China National Space Agency as saying.

https://sputniknews.com/asia/202012121081437299-chinas-change-5-moon-mission-is-set-to-return-after-completing-orbital-manoeuvre/

If the current trend in rising coronavirus cases continues, then raising the social distancing measure to the highest level would be unavoidable, South Korean Prime Minister, Chung Sye-kyun warned on Saturday. 

He posted the warning on his verified Facebook account as he held an emergency meeting to discuss surging coronavirus cases on Saturday.

A raise in the alert level would mean a ban on gathering of more than 10 people, work from home for all non-essential employees and a shift to online for all schools and church services.

https://edition.cnn.com/world/live-news/coronavirus-pandemic-vaccine-updates-12-12-20-intl/index.html

#Iran's Supreme Court on Tuesday upheld the death sentence of Zam, who was captured in 2019 after years in exile. Ruhollah Zam was executed on Saturday.https://t.co/E8sASRhWFf

— IndiaToday (@IndiaToday) December 12, 2020

(CNN)During the past four years, President Donald Trump has challenged the integrity of the Supreme Court and tried to drag the justices into the legal muck with him.His arguments have pushed the boundaries of the law and his assertions have tested the impartiality of individual justices. But Trump’s meritless attack on the November election and his loss to Joe Biden in a brazen lawsuit initiated by the Texas attorney general brought the court into a wholly new realm.

https://edition.cnn.com/2020/12/11/politics/trump-turmoil-supreme-court/index.html

SEOUL (Reuters) – South Korea reported a record 950 daily coronavirus cases on Saturday, exceeding the late February peak of 909, with the president calling the country’s third wave of COVID-19 an “emergency”.

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-southkorea/south-korea-reports-record-950-cases-in-covid-19-emergency-idUSKBN28M010

(CNN)The Supreme Court on Friday rejected a bid from Texas’ attorney general — supported by President Donald Trump — to block the ballots of millions of voters in battleground states that went in favor of President-elect Joe Biden.The court’s order, issued with no public dissents, to dismiss the challenge is the strongest indication yet that Trump has no chance of overturning election results in court, and that even the justices whom he placed there have no interest in allowing his desperate legal bids to continue.

https://edition.cnn.com/2020/12/11/politics/supreme-court-texas-trump-biden/index.html

NEW YORK (Reuters) -New York City’s restaurants must stop serving meals indoors on Monday as COVID-19 hospitalizations fail to stabilize and the infection rate for the virus rises in the densely populated metropolis, Governor Andrew Cuomo said on Friday.

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-usa-new-york/new-york-city-restaurants-lose-indoor-dining-as-infection-rate-rises-idUSKBN28L2F0