Bacon1

Unpleasant comment removed @JimHuaHin

Offensive comment removed @Will B Good

Unhelpful comment removed @Harrisfan

https://aseannow.com/topic/1378151-oral-ciprofloxacin-bubonic-plague-treatment-trial /#elShareItem_1419833770_menu

A new landmark clinical trial has demonstrated that a 10-day course of the oral antibiotic ciprofloxacin is just as effective as standard treatment for Bubonic plague, paving the way for simpler, more accessible care in outbreak-prone regions. The study, conducted in rural Madagascar, compared two regimens: one using injectable aminoglycosides for three days followed by seven days of oral ciprofloxacin, and the other with ciprofloxacin alone for ten days. The results showed treatment failure rates of 9.0 % for oral monotherapy versus 8.1 % for the standard regimen—meeting the non-inferiority criterion. Bubonic plague, caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis and spread via fleas carried by rodents, remains endemic in a handful of countries—including Madagascar—despite its historic reputation. The new trial enrolled 450 patients aged 2 to 72 years, of whom 222 had laboratory-confirmed infections. Mortality was approximately 4 % in both treatment arms. This oral-only regimen offers major advantages, especially in settings with limited hospital infrastructure or difficult access to injection-based treatment. Oral ciprofloxacin could reduce costs, simplify logistics and expand timely access to care during plague outbreaks. Regulatory bodies and international health agencies are likely to update treatment guidelines accordingly. The development is a significant step forward for plague control, improving both patient access to treatment and global outbreak management strategies. Key Takeaways: A 10-day oral ciprofloxacin regimen was found to be as effective as a combined injectable plus oral treatment for bubonic plague. Oral therapy dramatically simplifies treatment delivery in resource-limited and remote settings where plague is endemic. The findings are expected to influence future plague treatment guidelines and strengthen global health readiness against plague outbreaks. Adapted From: https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/bubonic-plague-bowled-over-oral-antibiotics-2025a1000lvt?form=fpf Link to original study https://www.nejm.org/doi/10.1056/NEJMoa2413772

In a landmark archaeological discovery, scientists have identified the first confirmed case of the Black Death in the city of Edinburgh. Analysis of a teenage boy’s skeleton—excavated from beneath St Giles’ Cathedral and dating between 1300 and 1370—revealed traces of the plague-causing bacterium Yersinia pestis in dental plaque samples. Heavy-duty DNA sequencing and radiocarbon techniques detected the pathogen in this individual, who was buried in a single grave rather than a mass burial pit – a surprising find given the epidemic context. The skeleton came from an excavation of 115 bodies in 1981, which remained in archives until fresh testing as part of the city’s 900-year celebrations. Researchers say this opens new doors into how medieval disease affected populations. What the Black Death was: The Black Death was a devastating pandemic of bubonic plague that swept across Europe in the mid-14th century, killing an estimated one-third to one-half of the continent’s population. It was caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis, which spread via flea bites from infected rats and led to the appearance of dark-coloured swellings (buboes), fever, vomiting and rapid death. Towns were overwhelmed with casualties, mass graves proliferated, and normal life collapsed under the weight of the disease. The find in Edinburgh offers concrete forensic proof that the plague reached Scotland’s capital, and allows historians and archaeologists to link the city’s medieval burial record to one of the most catastrophic epidemics in human history. Key Takeaways: For the first time, scientific testing has uncovered evidence of the Black Death in Edinburgh via DNA from a teenager’s skeleton dated to the 14th century. The finding challenges assumptions about medieval burial practice: the individual was buried alone rather than in a mass pit, despite being infected. Advanced ancient-DNA and radiocarbon techniques are transforming how we understand historical disease, medieval populations and epidemic-era societies. Adapted From https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c2kpz2vnqglo

How anyone can harm children, I just cannot understand.

Shareholders of Tesla, Inc. overwhelmingly approved a monumental compensation plan for Elon Musk, potentially worth $1 trillion if ambitious performance targets are met. With over 75 % of votes in favour at the Austin, Texas annual meeting, Musk secured what could become the largest corporate pay package in history. The approved scheme stretches over years and hinges on a staggering list of milestones: Tesla must reach an $8.5 trillion market valuation (roughly eight times its current worth), deliver millions of self-driving vehicles and humanoid robots, deploy robot‐taxis commercially, and post quarterly earnings of $400 billion for four straight quarters. Musk must stay with the company for at least 7.5 years and assist in an executive succession plan. On stage, Musk danced alongside Tesla’s robot project “Optimus,” underscoring the company’s dual focus on electric vehicles and robotics. A handful of major investors opposed the pay plan, but the vote outcome shows confidence among the majority of shareholders in Musk’s leadership during a transformative era for Tesla in AI and automation. Key Takeaways: Tesla shareholders approve a potential $1 trillion compensation package for Elon Musk tied to extraordinary growth and robotics goals. The milestones include achieving an $8.5 trillion market cap, delivering millions of vehicles and robots, and sustaining massive earnings. Despite investor opposition, the strong shareholder vote reflects faith in Tesla’s strategy under Musk, blending electric vehicles, AI and robotics. Adapted From https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2025/nov/06/tesla-1tn-pay-package-elon-musk

You posted an offensive word. I removed your post. Be respectful to other members, please @emptypockets

Nonsense post removed @Harrisfan

Perhaps you might change your forum name to Trumpfan, then? 😁🤣

Offensive meme removed @flexomike

The UK’s prison system is under intense scrutiny after two inmates were accidentally released from HMP Wandsworth in London within days of new safeguards being introduced. One of the released individuals is a 24-year-old Algerian, Brahim Kaddour‑Cherif, convicted of indecent exposure and previously flagged as an immigration overstayer. He walked free on 29 October, though officials were only alerted six days later. The other, William Smith (35), a fraudster sentenced to 45 months behind bars, was also erroneously released from the same prison. These incidents come just after another high-profile “release by mistake” involving Hadush Kebatu, an Ethiopian national convicted of sexual assault, who was freed from HMP Chelmsford despite being slated for deportation. According to the data, 262 prisoners were accidentally released in the year to March 2025—more than double the figure from the previous year. The scandal is placing pressure on David Lammy, the Justice Secretary, who introduced new checks after Kebatu’s release. However, critics say the latest failures reveal deeper systemic flaws. Government officials admit information flow within the prison system is inadequate, with missing or mis-filed warrants believed to be a key factor in the mistaken releases. Workers in the prison sector say frontline staff are under strain and warn that blaming individual officers ignores the root issues of under-resourcing and outdated processes. Key Takeaways: Two prisoners were mistakenly freed from Wandsworth in late October despite new safeguards being announced by the Justice Ministry. The surge in accidental releases—262 in the year to March 2025—highlights dysfunction in prisoner management and warrant tracking. Calls are growing for a full overhaul of the justice system’s release and discharge procedures, with frontline staff warning of systematic pressure. Adapted From https://www.theguardian.com/society/2025/nov/05/police-urgently-looking-for-prisoner-freed-by-mistake-in-london

French authorities have launched a formal investigation into alleged sex trafficking connected to the late businessman Mohamed Al Fayed, who died two years ago. The probe, ordered by the Paris prosecutor’s office, will examine claims of aggravated human trafficking, prostitution, and rape involving multiple victims. Investigators are expected to focus on Al Fayed’s Ritz Hotel in Paris, amid accusations that staff may have known about or facilitated the exploitation of women. The Ritz said it was “deeply alarmed” by the allegations and pledged full cooperation with law enforcement. The inquiry was largely prompted by Pelham Spong, a 40-year-old American woman who alleges she was sexually assaulted by Al Fayed after applying for a job with his family in Monaco in 2008. Spong said she was transported between France and the UK under false pretenses and subjected to medical examinations before the assault occurred. She later reported her experience to French police, saying she now recognises it as part of a broader system of trafficking. In the UK, Al Fayed is already under scrutiny following the BBC documentary Al Fayed: Predator at Harrods, which exposed decades of sexual abuse allegations from more than 20 former employees. Since its release, over 140 people have come forward to the Metropolitan Police with similar claims. Although Al Fayed was never charged before his death, police have apologised to alleged victims for past investigative failures. Harrods, formerly owned by Al Fayed, has since announced a £60 million compensation fund for victims and pledged to prevent future abuse. Key Takeaways French prosecutors are investigating sex trafficking and rape allegations linked to Mohamed Al Fayed. The probe follows testimony from Pelham Spong, who claims she was assaulted while working for Al Fayed’s family. Over 140 alleged victims have now come forward in the UK, prompting both police reviews and a £60 million Harrods compensation plan. Adapted From https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cpv17g0e72ko

Troll post removed @NickyLouie

Even more posts removed for bickering.. Seriously gentlemen: Stop.

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Troll post removed @flexomike

A cargo aircraft belonging to UPS crashed shortly after departing from Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport in Kentucky on November 4, 2025. The wide-body freighter, carrying three crew members bound for Honolulu, went down just minutes after takeoff, erupting into a massive fireball and sending thick black smoke billowing across the surrounding industrial zone. Footage captured by local television showed one wing alight while the plane climbed to approximately 175 feet and flew at about 184 knots before the rapid descent. Responding crews recorded multiple fires on the ground and numerous road closures. City officials issued a shelter-in-place order for a five-mile radius around the crash site, warning the public to steer clear as emergency work continued. The aircraft—a 34-year-old MD-11 freighter operated by UPS since 2006—had earlier flown a round-trip to Baltimore the same day. Neither the company nor federal officials have yet confirmed any fatalities or injuries, though multiple people on the ground were reported hurt. The National Transportation Safety Board and Federal Aviation Administration are heading an investigation into the incident. The crash has also disrupted operations at the Louisville facility, a major global air-cargo hub for UPS, with potential ripple effects across logistics and supply-chain networks. Key Takeaways: A UPS MD-11 cargo plane crashed minutes after takeoff from Louisville, Kentucky, creating a large fireball and thick smoke plume. Emergency responders issued a five-mile shelter-in-place order and closed multiple roads amid fire and debris around the airport. The NTSB and FAA have launched a formal investigation; no official casualty figures confirmed yet, but the incident may impact UPS’s logistics hub operations. Adapted From https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/37221429/cargo-plane-crashes-fireball-cloud-smoke/

In a startling revelation, health secretary Wes Streeting has sounded the alarm on a troubling rise in racial abuse targeting staff at the NHS England—comparing it to the overt racism seen in Britain during the 1970s and 80s. He described how employees, particularly those working in emergency departments, are increasingly subjected to verbal and physical attacks tied directly to their ethnicity or skin colour. Streeting said that what once felt unacceptable has become worryingly commonplace: “socially acceptable to be racist,” he warned. He recounted a case where a patient refused treatment from an Asian doctor with lighter skin tone—a vivid example of the prejudices resurfacing in modern health-care environments. The winter outlook for the NHS is grim. With the twin threats of a flu wave and Covid resurgence, compounded by impending medical strikes, emergency departments are bracing for soaring demand that could strain services like never before. Against this backdrop, racism adds another layer of pressure on the system and its workforce. Senior figures such as Royal College of Nursing chief executive Prof Nicola Ranger and Prof Habib Naqvi of the NHS Race and Health Observatory echoed Streeting’s concerns, noting that anti-migrant and racially hostile rhetoric in politics is emboldening discriminatory behaviour on the frontline. As NHS staff contend with ever-rising demand, the surge in racism is being framed as a societal issue reflected within the health system—a call for renewed commitment to zero-tolerance and proactive safeguards for those caring for the public. Key Takeaways Racial abuse of NHS staff is rising to levels resembling the 1970s and 1980s, according to the health secretary. Front-line workers are facing both increased service pressure (due to flu, Covid, and strikes) and amplified harassment tied to ethnicity. Experts warn that political rhetoric and societal discrimination are feeding into unacceptable behaviour in healthcare settings—prompting urgent calls for zero-tolerance. Adapted From https://www.theguardian.com/society/2025/nov/04/nhs-staff-face-ugly-racism-akin-to-the-70s-and-80s-says-wes-streeting

In Mexico, the growing devotion to the figure known as La Santa Muerte — or “Holy Death” — reveals far more than a fringe religious phenomenon: it reflects a society under siege by violence, institutional neglect and marginalisation. The skeletal saint, first emerging on a street altar in the Tepito district of Mexico City in 2001, has since transcended private homes to become a symbol of protection for those who feel forsaken by state, church and society. Often depicted as a female skeleton with a scythe or a globe, she straddles the border between dread and fascination. While church leaders denounce the cult as heretical or connected to criminality, many of her devotees include prisoners, sex workers, migrants, LGBTQ+ people and ordinary citizens grappling with poverty and fear. The rise of La Santa Muerte coincides with the escalating violence tied to Mexico’s drug war: since 2006, hundreds of thousands have been killed or disappeared amid weak institutional protection. In this context, her worship is not about celebrating death but acknowledging survival in its shadow. Devotees invoke her not to glorify violence but to find solace in a world where official safeguards fail them. As one follower put it: “Only death can protect us from death.” La Santa Muerte serves as both mirror and refuge — the mirror of a nation where the boundary between authority and crime has blurred, and the refuge of those who see no other protector. Her growing popularity signals a shift in how Mexicans relate to vulnerability, power and mortality. Key Takeaways: The rise in devotion to La Santa Muerte reflects widespread feelings of abandonment by state and religious institutions amid Mexico’s violence crisis. Although criticized for links to crime, the saint’s appeal lies primarily in her role as protector and comforter to marginalised or threatened populations. Her cult reveals a broader social transformation: death is no longer just feared or celebrated, but understood as a constant, reckoned with in daily life. Adapted From https://theconversation.com/only-death-can-protect-us-how-the-folk-saint-la-santa-muerte-reflects-violence-in-mexico-263885

Off Topic removed @Ralf001

Vulgar post removed @Bday Prang Community Standards Do not post defamatory, offensive, or discriminatory content.

More than 73,900 New Zealanders left their home country in the year to August 2025 — the highest figure on record — with a majority relocating to Australia in search of stronger wages and better job prospects. Kiwis Flee NZ in Record Numbers, Heading for Australia’s Better Wages In 2024 alone, 58 % of emigrating New Zealand citizens moved to Australia, drawn by higher income levels and shared rights that make migration relatively straightforward. According to the Australian National University Migration Hub, New Zealand's weaker economy, combined with global shocks and a limited domestic job market, is fueling the exodus. Take the story of 24-year-old bookstore worker Hayden Fisher, who swapped Wellington for Sydney and found household bills surge significantly downward and the path to financial stability much clearer. Meanwhile, 22-year-old Genevieve Fulton reports earning more than double in Australia compared with her Wellington hospitality job — a dramatic shift that gave her time to focus on building a career in illustration. The pay gap is stark: Australian GDP per capita stands at approx. US $64,400, compared with New Zealand’s US $48,000. In Australia, New Zealanders are filling crucial roles in sectors like healthcare, construction and hospitality — making them a significant labour force boost for the Australian economy. Experts warn this migration wave is less about “brain drain” and more about “brain exchange,” as the New Zealand diaspora circulates skilled workers internationally and brings benefits back home in less direct ways. For many of those who’ve moved, returning home now seems unlikely. One young graduate from Christchurch notes that moving back would require “a really great opportunity for work” — something they haven’t seen develop in New Zealand. Key Takeaways: New Zealand recorded a new high of roughly 73,900 citizen departures in the year to August 2025, with most moving to Australia. Higher wages, more job opportunities and shared residency rights are major draws for New Zealanders heading to Australia. Migration experts view the flow as “brain exchange,” not just brain drain — benefiting skilled workers and both national economies Adapted From https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/nov/03/new-zealand-economy-record-numbers-leave-why-people-choosing-australia

Yes, it’s got my attention — but the wrong kind. Actions like these just make people see them as vandals, not activists. It doesn’t win support; it pushes people away. If they truly believed in their cause, they’d find a productive, positive way to make their point instead of resorting to vandalism.