The International Thalassaemia Day is marked annually on May 8 devoted to raising awareness about Thalassemia being a blood disorder, debunk myths related and help the patients lead a normal life.

The day honours the life of individuals who are living with this disease while also dealing with the social stigma attached. It also honours the efforts of doctors and medical professionals to help the patients and bring advancements.

What is Thalassemia?&nbsp;

Thalassemia is an inherited blood disorder passed down to a child from either one of the parents or both.

The body of a person suffering from thalassemia makes less haemoglobin than that of a normal person.

Haemoglobin is one of the most important iron-rich proteins present in red blood cells. It is responsible for carrying oxygen to the different parts of the body.&nbsp;

When there is not enough haemoglobin, the body’s red blood cells don’t function properly, which causes anaemia.&nbsp;

There are different types of thalassemia, and the treatment of this disease depends upon the type and severity. The impact of this disease can range from mild to severe to life-threatening in some cases. 
&nbsp;

How was International Thalassaemia Day conceived?

World Thalassemia Day came into existence in 1994 after the Thalassemia International Federation (TIF) designated May 8 as International Thalassemia Day.

What is the theme for 2022?

“Be Aware, Share, Care: Working with the global community as one to improve thalassaemia knowledge’’.

The theme aims to inspire every individual to contribute, at a personal level, to the fight against thalassaemia and share essential information and knowledge for support.

Can it be cured or prevented?

Stem cell or bone marrow transplants&nbsp;are the only cure for thalassaemia, but&nbsp;they're not done very often because of the significant risks involved.

How many cases are there?

Globally, it is estimated that there are 270 million carriers with abnormal haemoglobins and thalassemia.

Recent surveys suggest that between 300,000 and 400,000 babies are born with a serious haemoglobin disorder each year and that up to 90 per cent of these births occur in low- or middle-income countries.

(With inputs from agencies)

The International Thalassaemia Day is marked annually on May 8 devoted to raising awareness about Thalassemia being a blood disorder, debunk myths related and help the patients lead a normal life.

The International Thalassaemia Day is marked annually on May 8 devoted to raising awareness about Thalassemia being a blood disorder, debunk myths related and help the patients lead a normal life. The day honours the life of individuals who are living with this disease while also dealing with the social stigma attached. It also honours the efforts of doctors and medical professionals to help the patients and bring advancements. What is Thalassemia? Thalassemia is an inherited blood disorder passed down to a child from either one of the parents or both. The body of a person suffering from thalassemia makes less haemoglobin than that of a normal person. Haemoglobin is one of the most important iron-rich proteins present in red blood cells. It is responsible for carrying oxygen to the different parts of the body. When there is not enough haemoglobin, the body’s red blood cells don’t function properly, which causes anaemia. There are different types of thalassemia, and the treatment of this disease depends upon the type and severity. The impact of this disease can range from mild to severe to life-threatening in some cases. How was International Thalassaemia Day conceived? World Thalassemia Day came into existence in 1994 after the Thalassemia International Federation (TIF) designated May 8 as International Thalassemia Day. What is the theme for 2022? “Be Aware, Share, Care: Working with the global community as one to improve thalassaemia knowledge’’. The theme aims to inspire every individual to contribute, at a personal level, to the fight against thalassaemia and share essential information and knowledge for support. Can it be cured or prevented? Stem cell or bone marrow transplants are the only cure for thalassaemia, but they're not done very often because of the significant risks involved. How many cases are there? Globally, it is estimated that there are 270 million carriers with abnormal haemoglobins and thalassemia. Recent surveys suggest that between 300,000 and 400,000 babies are born with a serious haemoglobin disorder each year and that up to 90 per cent of these births occur in low- or middle-income countries. (With inputs from agencies)

World Thalassemia Day 2022: What is thalassaemia and why is it observed annually?

Imran Khan has asked his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf followers to assemble in the capital for yet another rally when he gives the call.&nbsp;

Comparing himself to Mohammad Mosaddegh, the Iranian prime minister who was ousted in a Western conspiracy in the 1950s, he again claimed of having been a victim of a US-led plot.&nbsp;

By provoking his supporters to march to the Pakistani capital, several critics say, he is trying to take Pakistan down a very dangerous path.&nbsp;

Sample his quotes: "I want two million people to come to Islamabad when I give the call. I want all of you to go to the people and preach to them about our movement for true freedom."&nbsp;

This is a translation, as reported by Dawn newspaper. One can’t help but note the religious undertones of his words. His tone has moved to the extremes in the days following his unceremonious ouster, which had made him the first Pakistani PM to be removed through a no-confidence vote.&nbsp; 
 
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions-blogs/im-the-dim-how-pakistan-pm-imran-khan-turned-out-to-be-a-terrible-caricature-of-the-champion-cricketer-467848">Also read | 'Im the dim': How Pakistan PM Imran Khan turned out to be a terrible caricature of the champion cricketer</a>

In the desperate days before the trust vote, he vaxed and waned on TV, and tried to dilute the spirit of the Pakistani Constitution. He attempted his best to even circumvent the Supreme Court’s order to convene the parliament and conduct the trust vote, after failing to do so in the first instance.&nbsp;

He used state media machinery to essentially start an election campaign even before the trust vote. On the eve of the confidence motion, he appeared via PTV, and asked Pakistanis to take to the streets on that Sunday, a move unbecoming of a prime minister.&nbsp;

Watch | Gravitas Plus: The many shades of Imran Khan

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Then, after much drama, PTI activists went to the streets indeed, having lost the trust vote on 10th April. &nbsp;

But there was one thing really remarkable about the whole drama: The lack of any significant political violence.&nbsp;

Bloodshed during political movements and protests is part of Pakistan's tortuous tryst with democracy. &nbsp;

Former prime minister Benazir Bhutto was assassinated during an election campaign rally in December, 2007. Her father, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, was tried for murdering a political opponent and hanged by the regime led by dictator Zia-ul-Haq who had deposed him in a coup at the height of violence caused by the then opposition’s allegations of election rigging. Most recently, the Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) protests of 2021 led to nearly 30 deaths.&nbsp;

But earlier this month, at one of the most dramatic upheavals in the country's political history, there was an almost 'peaceful' transition of power.&nbsp;

In spite of fears, the Pakistani Army did not intervene, or make any provocative statements. May be the transition was what the army-intelligence establishment wanted and got.&nbsp;

May be the Pakistani people are more intelligent than the world gives them credit for.&nbsp;

May be they are just tired. Three years of Covid pandemic, inflation, financial crisis, unemployment and corruption may have left them numb.&nbsp;

But Imran Khan appears to want to change that. He wants some kind of ruckus. From the rambling, televised national addresses in the run-up to the no-trust vote, to the fiery speeches at PTI rallies, he is trying to rouse passions.&nbsp;

His calls are taking a sinister turn even abroad, with expatriate supporters taking out marches in the West. There was a noisy protest in front of exiled former PM Nawaz Sharif's residence in London. And another in front of the house of Jemima Goldsmith, the former wife of Khan, who said it felt as if she was back in Lahore of the 1990s.&nbsp;

Shehbaz Sharif, the new PM, is no saint, let’s face it. Nor is his brother, Nawaz Sharif, who also lost his post as a consequence of Supreme Court orders in corruption cases including those linked to the Panama Papers leaks. &nbsp;

But the dangerous game that Imran Khan is playing now, can potentially cause far-reaching damage to the body politic.&nbsp;

Because he is continuously attacking key institutions of democracy: the courts, the legislative process, and now, the election commission. His supporters have been holding protests outside the election commission’s offices across the country.&nbsp;

His issue is with the fact that the poll body may have played a role in putting a spanner on his maneuvers to dissolve parliament and assemblies and call a fresh election before the no-trust vote was taken up. The election commission submitted to the SC that it would take at least six months to hold elections due to delimitation exercise and other logistical issues. Basically it meant there wouldn’t be a new National Assembly as soon as Khan had expected.&nbsp;

Now, he has gone all guns blazing against the election commission. It is an irony of history that this was the same poll body that was on his side and blamed by those who lost the election to PTI in 2018.&nbsp;

There were widespread allegations that the elections were rigged. It was incredulous for many that Khan would emerge as a national leader, let alone a prime minister, in a matter of less than a decade. While the cricketer-turned-politician did have support in some pockets thanks largely to his anti-corruption movement, his party had languished for years since its founding in 1996.&nbsp;

Therefore, the election of 2018 was seen as stage-managed by the army-intelligence complex to oust the Sharifs from power. &nbsp;

But since he took over, Khan made several missteps, and made damaging public remarks and quixotic stances on international affairs. These embarrassed the army, alienated several allies and eventually made his position as Pakistan PM untenable even as the country wallowed in a never-ending economic crisis.&nbsp;

Sample some of his ill-timed remarks and unbecoming actions: He showed disrespect to several Gulf monarchs and dignitaries in both actions and words, that breached protocol and caused outcry. He appeared to endorse cross-border terrorism in India and Afghanistan, calling Pakistan a victim of it and referring to terrorists as martyrs almost in the same breath. He antagonised the West with adverse comments on Pakistan’s post-9/11 support to the US-led war in Afghanistan and war on terrorism. He couldn't dispel the notion that Pakistan intelligence and military had constantly supported Taliban terrorists. (it's a different matter that suddenly, calling Taliban terrorists is politically incorrect as they now rule Afghanistan). &nbsp;

His government schooled Organisation of Islamic Cooperation on Kashmir issue, seeking a foreign ministers’ meeting on it and threatening to convene one in Pakistan if OIC didn’t. &nbsp;

He complicated relations with key Gulf allies by first endorsing, and later pulling out of an Islamic nations’ summit organised by Malaysia in 2019, which had unnerved Saudi Arabia and UAE, the real patriarchs of the Islamic political world, who are also the very hands that feeds Pakistan (yes literally, because at the time Khan was also desperately pleading for aid from them).&nbsp;

His remarks on French President Emmanuel Macron’s defence of freedom of expression in the context of the Prophet Muhammad cartoons fanned the fires of radicals like TLP. They held protests wanting to get the French ambassador removed. For long an ardent critic of Islamophobia, Khan appeared to cave in to such extremist groups who bayed for blood of the French envoy.&nbsp;

His continued support of China, even publicly dismissing the alleged persecution of Uyghur Muslims by Pakistan’s ‘iron friend’, caused much unease in the US and the West.&nbsp;

And what probably became the nail on the metaphorical coffin was his visit to Russia and meeting with President Vladimir Putin, bang in the middle of the first days of Russian invasion of Ukraine.&nbsp;

The problem is, he thinks he is very popular. He thinks he is still the cricketer loved everywhere in the world.&nbsp;

And when he saw the ground beneath him crumbling, he suddenly raised the bogey of a foreign conspiracy to remove him. &nbsp;

It may or may not wash with the public. But that's for them to decide, come election time.&nbsp;

Till then, Imran Khan needs to tone down his messiah complex.&nbsp;

He will have to give the megalomaniac in him a break. &nbsp;

Otherwise, that megalomaniac will provoke some sections of his party to violence.&nbsp;

And there will be blood.&nbsp;

And if Pakistan burns, Imran Khan will have blood on his hands.&nbsp; 
 
(Disclaimer: The views of the writer do not represent the views of WION or ZMCL. Nor does WION or ZMCL endorse the views of the writer)

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Imran Khan has asked his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf followers to assemble in the capital for yet another rally when he gives the call. Comparing himself to Mohammad Mosaddegh, the Iranian prime minister who was ousted in a Western conspiracy in the 1950s, he again claimed of having been a victim of a US-led plot.

Imran Khan has asked his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf followers to assemble in the capital for yet another rally when he gives the call. Comparing himself to Mohammad Mosaddegh, the Iranian prime minister who was ousted in a Western conspiracy in the 1950s, he again claimed of having been a victim of a US-led plot. By provoking his supporters to march to the Pakistani capital, several critics say, he is trying to take Pakistan down a very dangerous path. Sample his quotes: "I want two million people to come to Islamabad when I give the call. I want all of you to go to the people and preach to them about our movement for true freedom." This is a translation, as reported by Dawn newspaper. One can’t help but note the religious undertones of his words. His tone has moved to the extremes in the days following his unceremonious ouster, which had made him the first Pakistani PM to be removed through a no-confidence vote. Also read | 'Im the dim': How Pakistan PM Imran Khan turned out to be a terrible caricature of the champion cricketer In the desperate days before the trust vote, he vaxed and waned on TV, and tried to dilute the spirit of the Pakistani Constitution. He attempted his best to even circumvent the Supreme Court’s order to convene the parliament and conduct the trust vote, after failing to do so in the first instance. He used state media machinery to essentially start an election campaign even before the trust vote. On the eve of the confidence motion, he appeared via PTV, and asked Pakistanis to take to the streets on that Sunday, a move unbecoming of a prime minister. Watch | Gravitas Plus: The many shades of Imran Khan Then, after much drama, PTI activists went to the streets indeed, having lost the trust vote on 10th April. But there was one thing really remarkable about the whole drama: The lack of any significant political violence. Bloodshed during political movements and protests is part of Pakistan's tortuous tryst with democracy. Former prime minister Benazir Bhutto was assassinated during an election campaign rally in December, 2007. Her father, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, was tried for murdering a political opponent and hanged by the regime led by dictator Zia-ul-Haq who had deposed him in a coup at the height of violence caused by the then opposition’s allegations of election rigging. Most recently, the Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) protests of 2021 led to nearly 30 deaths. But earlier this month, at one of the most dramatic upheavals in the country's political history, there was an almost 'peaceful' transition of power. In spite of fears, the Pakistani Army did not intervene, or make any provocative statements. May be the transition was what the army-intelligence establishment wanted and got. May be the Pakistani people are more intelligent than the world gives them credit for. May be they are just tired. Three years of Covid pandemic, inflation, financial crisis, unemployment and corruption may have left them numb. But Imran Khan appears to want to change that. He wants some kind of ruckus. From the rambling, televised national addresses in the run-up to the no-trust vote, to the fiery speeches at PTI rallies, he is trying to rouse passions. His calls are taking a sinister turn even abroad, with expatriate supporters taking out marches in the West. There was a noisy protest in front of exiled former PM Nawaz Sharif's residence in London. And another in front of the house of Jemima Goldsmith, the former wife of Khan, who said it felt as if she was back in Lahore of the 1990s. Shehbaz Sharif, the new PM, is no saint, let’s face it. Nor is his brother, Nawaz Sharif, who also lost his post as a consequence of Supreme Court orders in corruption cases including those linked to the Panama Papers leaks. But the dangerous game that Imran Khan is playing now, can potentially cause far-reaching damage to the body politic. Because he is continuously attacking key institutions of democracy: the courts, the legislative process, and now, the election commission. His supporters have been holding protests outside the election commission’s offices across the country. His issue is with the fact that the poll body may have played a role in putting a spanner on his maneuvers to dissolve parliament and assemblies and call a fresh election before the no-trust vote was taken up. The election commission submitted to the SC that it would take at least six months to hold elections due to delimitation exercise and other logistical issues. Basically it meant there wouldn’t be a new National Assembly as soon as Khan had expected. Now, he has gone all guns blazing against the election commission. It is an irony of history that this was the same poll body that was on his side and blamed by those who lost the election to PTI in 2018. There were widespread allegations that the elections were rigged. It was incredulous for many that Khan would emerge as a national leader, let alone a prime minister, in a matter of less than a decade. While the cricketer-turned-politician did have support in some pockets thanks largely to his anti-corruption movement, his party had languished for years since its founding in 1996. Therefore, the election of 2018 was seen as stage-managed by the army-intelligence complex to oust the Sharifs from power. But since he took over, Khan made several missteps, and made damaging public remarks and quixotic stances on international affairs. These embarrassed the army, alienated several allies and eventually made his position as Pakistan PM untenable even as the country wallowed in a never-ending economic crisis. Sample some of his ill-timed remarks and unbecoming actions: He showed disrespect to several Gulf monarchs and dignitaries in both actions and words, that breached protocol and caused outcry. He appeared to endorse cross-border terrorism in India and Afghanistan, calling Pakistan a victim of it and referring to terrorists as martyrs almost in the same breath. He antagonised the West with adverse comments on Pakistan’s post-9/11 support to the US-led war in Afghanistan and war on terrorism. He couldn't dispel the notion that Pakistan intelligence and military had constantly supported Taliban terrorists. (it's a different matter that suddenly, calling Taliban terrorists is politically incorrect as they now rule Afghanistan). His government schooled Organisation of Islamic Cooperation on Kashmir issue, seeking a foreign ministers’ meeting on it and threatening to convene one in Pakistan if OIC didn’t. He complicated relations with key Gulf allies by first endorsing, and later pulling out of an Islamic nations’ summit organised by Malaysia in 2019, which had unnerved Saudi Arabia and UAE, the real patriarchs of the Islamic political world, who are also the very hands that feeds Pakistan (yes literally, because at the time Khan was also desperately pleading for aid from them). His remarks on French President Emmanuel Macron’s defence of freedom of expression in the context of the Prophet Muhammad cartoons fanned the fires of radicals like TLP. They held protests wanting to get the French ambassador removed. For long an ardent critic of Islamophobia, Khan appeared to cave in to such extremist groups who bayed for blood of the French envoy. His continued support of China, even publicly dismissing the alleged persecution of Uyghur Muslims by Pakistan’s ‘iron friend’, caused much unease in the US and the West. And what probably became the nail on the metaphorical coffin was his visit to Russia and meeting with President Vladimir Putin, bang in the middle of the first days of Russian invasion of Ukraine. The problem is, he thinks he is very popular. He thinks he is still the cricketer loved everywhere in the world. And when he saw the ground beneath him crumbling, he suddenly raised the bogey of a foreign conspiracy to remove him. It may or may not wash with the public. But that's for them to decide, come election time. Till then, Imran Khan needs to tone down his messiah complex. He will have to give the megalomaniac in him a break. Otherwise, that megalomaniac will provoke some sections of his party to violence. And there will be blood. And if Pakistan burns, Imran Khan will have blood on his hands. (Disclaimer: The views of the writer do not represent the views of WION or ZMCL. Nor does WION or ZMCL endorse the views of the writer) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Imran Khan, if Pakistan burns, you will have blood on your hands

Are Electric Vehicles really clean? They run on dirty energy and blood of children as young as 6. Electric cars drive human rights abuse and child labour. China is one of the villains in this story. Are electric carmakers equally guilty too? Palki Sharma Upadhyay tells you.

Gravitas Plus: Blood The dark side of Electric Vehicles

After reports of microplastics being present in Human blood, new reports suggest that they are present in human lungs as well.

After blood, Microplastics found in human lungs now

In another glaring discovery, microplastics have been detected in human lungs by scientists. This has happened for the first time. &nbsp;

Earlier, microplastics were found in human blood in another research. &nbsp;

The new discovery was made by the experts of the University of Hull and Hull York Medical School. &nbsp;&nbsp;

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/believe-it-or-not-fungi-talk-to-each-other-like-humans-claims-study-468908" hreflang="en">Believe it or not: Fungi talk to each other like humans, claims study</a>

Microplastics were found in the deepest section of the lung. It was earlier thought to be impossible as the airways are very narrow. &nbsp;

This study showed microplastics are present in lungs of living people. &nbsp;

In this study, samples were taken from the tissues removed from 13 patients, who were undergoing surgery. In 11 cases, microplastics were found. &nbsp;

Watch | Study: Eating more Avocados improves heart health

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The particles, which were most commonly found, were polypropylene. It is used in plastic packaging, PET bottles, etc. &nbsp;&nbsp;

"We did not expect to find the highest number of particles in the lower regions of the lungs, or particles of the sizes we found. It is surprising as the airways are smaller in the lower parts of the lungs and we would have expected particles of these sizes to be filtered out or trapped before getting this deep," Laura Sadofsky of Hull York medical school in the UK, who was also a senior author of the study, told The Guardian. &nbsp;

"The characterisation of types and levels of microplastics we have found can now inform realistic conditions for laboratory exposure experiments with the aim of determining health impacts," Bloomberg quoted Sadofsky as saying. &nbsp;&nbsp;

The research has also been accepted for publication by ‘Science of the Total Environment’ journal. &nbsp;&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

In another glaring discovery, microplastics have been detected in human lungs by scientists. This has happened for the first time. Earlier, microplastics were found in human blood in another research.

In another glaring discovery, microplastics have been detected in human lungs by scientists. This has happened for the first time. Earlier, microplastics were found in human blood in another research. The new discovery was made by the experts of the University of Hull and Hull York Medical School. Also Read | Believe it or not: Fungi talk to each other like humans, claims study Microplastics were found in the deepest section of the lung. It was earlier thought to be impossible as the airways are very narrow. This study showed microplastics are present in lungs of living people. In this study, samples were taken from the tissues removed from 13 patients, who were undergoing surgery. In 11 cases, microplastics were found. Watch | Study: Eating more Avocados improves heart health × The particles, which were most commonly found, were polypropylene. It is used in plastic packaging, PET bottles, etc. "We did not expect to find the highest number of particles in the lower regions of the lungs, or particles of the sizes we found. It is surprising as the airways are smaller in the lower parts of the lungs and we would have expected particles of these sizes to be filtered out or trapped before getting this deep," Laura Sadofsky of Hull York medical school in the UK, who was also a senior author of the study, told The Guardian. "The characterisation of types and levels of microplastics we have found can now inform realistic conditions for laboratory exposure experiments with the aim of determining health impacts," Bloomberg quoted Sadofsky as saying. The research has also been accepted for publication by ‘Science of the Total Environment’ journal. (With inputs from agencies)

After blood, presence of microplastics detected in human lungs

Shane Warne was suffering from chest problems before leaving Australia for a vacation in Koh Samui, according to Thai authorities.

Police Colonel Yuthana Sirisombat told reporters on Saturday night that the late cricket legend's family had notified them of his history of heart illness and asthma, as well as their fear for his health, before he left Australia last week.

Sirisombat claimed the 52-year-old had recently "visited a doctor regarding his heart."&nbsp;

"A large amount of blood was found in the room," Pol Maj Gen Satit Polpinit, commander of Surat Thani Provincial Police, told Thai newspaper Matichon.&nbsp; 
 
ALSO READ |&nbsp;'<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/a-huge-loss-for-cricket-world-reacts-to-shocking-demise-of-legendary-cricketer-shane-warne-459005">A huge loss for cricket': World reacts to shocking demise of legendary cricketer Shane Warne</a>

"When CPR was started, the deceased had coughed up liquid and was bleeding." 
 
ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/virat-kohli-pays-heartfelt-tribute-to-shane-warne-hails-him-as-greatest-spinner-ever-watch-459174">Virat Kohli pays heartfelt tribute to Shane Warne, hails him as 'greatest spinner ever' - WATCH</a>

Colonel Sirisombat said the family's revelations, combined with a review of CCTV evidence, prompted police to rule out foul play in Warne's death.

Warne's body has been sent to Suratthani Hospital for an autopsy, while his family seeks to have it returned to Australia as soon as possible. 
 
Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/the-spin-wizard-five-records-held-by-legendary-shane-warne-459050">The spin wizard! Five records held by legendary Shane Warne</a>

It follows the discovery of blood stains in Warne's chamber.

New photos from the Spin King's time at the Samujana Villas resort have surfaced. 
 
Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/glenn-mcgrath-pens-emotional-note-for-shane-warne-he-lived-more-in-his-life-than-most-people-would-live-in-20-459290">McGrath pens emotional note for Shane Warne: He lived more in his life than most people would live in 20</a>

Blood stains were apparently spotted on the carpet, three towels, and a pillow, allegedly from Warne during the desperate attempts to save his life, according to various stories.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

Shane Warne was suffering from chest problems before leaving Australia for a vacation in Koh Samui, according to Thai authorities. Police Colonel Yuthana Sirisombat told reporters on Saturday night that the late cricket legend's family had notified them of his history of heart illness and asthma, as well as their fear for his health, before he left Australia last week.

Shane Warne was suffering from chest problems before leaving Australia for a vacation in Koh Samui, according to Thai authorities. Police Colonel Yuthana Sirisombat told reporters on Saturday night that the late cricket legend's family had notified them of his history of heart illness and asthma, as well as their fear for his health, before he left Australia last week. Sirisombat claimed the 52-year-old had recently "visited a doctor regarding his heart." "A large amount of blood was found in the room," Pol Maj Gen Satit Polpinit, commander of Surat Thani Provincial Police, told Thai newspaper Matichon. ALSO READ | 'A huge loss for cricket': World reacts to shocking demise of legendary cricketer Shane Warne "When CPR was started, the deceased had coughed up liquid and was bleeding." ALSO READ: Virat Kohli pays heartfelt tribute to Shane Warne, hails him as 'greatest spinner ever' - WATCH Colonel Sirisombat said the family's revelations, combined with a review of CCTV evidence, prompted police to rule out foul play in Warne's death. Warne's body has been sent to Suratthani Hospital for an autopsy, while his family seeks to have it returned to Australia as soon as possible. Also Read: The spin wizard! Five records held by legendary Shane Warne It follows the discovery of blood stains in Warne's chamber. New photos from the Spin King's time at the Samujana Villas resort have surfaced. Also Read: McGrath pens emotional note for Shane Warne: He lived more in his life than most people would live in 20 Blood stains were apparently spotted on the carpet, three towels, and a pillow, allegedly from Warne during the desperate attempts to save his life, according to various stories. (With inputs from agencies)

Blood stains found in Shane Warne’s room: Thailand Police

A 31-year-old Chinese man was held captive by a gang which&nbsp;used to sell his blood online in Cambodia’s Sihanoukville coastal city.

According to reports, he was kidnapped after he was lured by a fake job advertisement.

The man, surnamed Li, managed to escape earlier this month with the help of a member of the gang which ran an online fraud operation using a fake company, the Chutian Metropolis News&nbsp;reported.

Since August 2021, the gang reportedly took 27 ounces (800 millilitres) of blood from Li each month, leaving him just enough time to replenish his blood supply.

It is being reported that the gang sold his blood online to private buyers.

Li, who previously worked as a security guard in Shenzhen and Beijing, told local media that he was lured by a different gang to southern China’s Guangxi Zhuang region through a job advertisement from a fake company.

He said that when he refused to join their fraud company, the gang abducted him and brought him to the China-Vietnam border.

After crossing the border, Li was taken to Ho Chi Minh City and then eventually to Sihanoukville, where has sold to a gang for $18,500.

Li&nbsp;said that the gang&nbsp;members are of Chinese origin. He said that there are seven others still captive.

In a statement, the Chinese embassy in Cambodia said that it has called upon Cambodian authorities to look into the case, South China Morning Post reported.

A representative of the embassy visited Li in the hospital this week.

A 31-year-old Chinese man was held captive by a gang which used to sell his blood online in Cambodia’s Sihanoukville coastal city. According to reports, he was kidnapped after he was lured by a fake job advertisement.

A 31-year-old Chinese man was held captive by a gang which used to sell his blood online in Cambodia’s Sihanoukville coastal city. According to reports, he was kidnapped after he was lured by a fake job advertisement. The man, surnamed Li, managed to escape earlier this month with the help of a member of the gang which ran an online fraud operation using a fake company, the Chutian Metropolis News reported. Since August 2021, the gang reportedly took 27 ounces (800 millilitres) of blood from Li each month, leaving him just enough time to replenish his blood supply. It is being reported that the gang sold his blood online to private buyers. Li, who previously worked as a security guard in Shenzhen and Beijing, told local media that he was lured by a different gang to southern China’s Guangxi Zhuang region through a job advertisement from a fake company. He said that when he refused to join their fraud company, the gang abducted him and brought him to the China-Vietnam border. After crossing the border, Li was taken to Ho Chi Minh City and then eventually to Sihanoukville, where has sold to a gang for $18,500. Li said that the gang members are of Chinese origin. He said that there are seven others still captive. In a statement, the Chinese embassy in Cambodia said that it has called upon Cambodian authorities to look into the case, South China Morning Post reported. A representative of the embassy visited Li in the hospital this week.

Lured by fake job ad, Chinese man held captive as ‘blood slave’ for months in Cambodia

US doesn't allow gay men to donate blood. Exceptions are made for those who abstain from sexual activities for 3 months. Senators want this restriction lifted. Palki Sharma tells you which other countries have similar restrictions.

Gravitas: US senators want FDA to allow gay people to donate blood

For the first time ever the American Red Cross is going through a blood shortage crisis causing risks for patient care. The organisation has said that blood and platelet donations are critically needed to prevent further delays in medical treatments.&nbsp;

The ongoing pandemic has led to a decline in donor turnout and has also led to the cancellation of blood drives faced with staffing issues.&nbsp;

Dr. Pampee Young, chief medical officer of the Red Cross said, "While some types of medical care can wait, others can’t."

Elaborating on the current situation he told how the hospitals are currently seeing accident victims and cancer patients who need blood immediately. "We’re doing everything we can to increase blood donations to ensure every patient can receive medical treatments without delay, but we cannot do it without more donors. We need the help of the American people," he said.&nbsp;

The organisation has asked the country to help in every possible way.&nbsp;

Amid the ongoing pandemic, the Red Cross has experienced a decline of 10 per cent in the number of donors. There has also been a dip of 62 per cent in blood donation campaigns at schools and universities.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/who-says-over-50-of-europeans-on-track-to-contract-omicron-variant-of-coronavirus-443861">Also read |&nbsp;WHO says over 50% of Europeans on track to contract Omicron variant of coronavirus</a>

Due to this the Red Cross has also limited blood distributions to hospitals. There have also been instances where a few hospitals may have not received as much as one-quarter of the blood products which are requested.&nbsp;

Kristen Mill of Spring Grove, Illinois suffers from certain health problems caused by a tick bite in 2008. Ever since then, she has needed weekly transfusions to treat this condition. On her recent visit, she was told that the hospital had no blood to match her blood type. “The hospital came to me and they apologised, and they said, ‘We’re so sorry, our blood bank is depleted to the point where we don’t have anyone that matches with you,” said Kristen.&nbsp;

She further added, “It’s very scary, especially if you don’t know if the blood is coming because this is something that you need to live.”

Apart from blood donors, the Red Cross is also looking for volunteers to support critical blood collections. The volunteers have been in shortage too since the Delta variant hit the US.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

For the first time ever the American Red Cross is going through a blood shortage crisis causing risks for patient care. The organisation has said that blood and platelet donations are critically needed to prevent further delays in medical treatments.

For the first time ever the American Red Cross is going through a blood shortage crisis causing risks for patient care. The organisation has said that blood and platelet donations are critically needed to prevent further delays in medical treatments. The ongoing pandemic has led to a decline in donor turnout and has also led to the cancellation of blood drives faced with staffing issues. Dr. Pampee Young, chief medical officer of the Red Cross said, "While some types of medical care can wait, others can’t." Elaborating on the current situation he told how the hospitals are currently seeing accident victims and cancer patients who need blood immediately. "We’re doing everything we can to increase blood donations to ensure every patient can receive medical treatments without delay, but we cannot do it without more donors. We need the help of the American people," he said. The organisation has asked the country to help in every possible way. Amid the ongoing pandemic, the Red Cross has experienced a decline of 10 per cent in the number of donors. There has also been a dip of 62 per cent in blood donation campaigns at schools and universities. Also read | WHO says over 50% of Europeans on track to contract Omicron variant of coronavirus Due to this the Red Cross has also limited blood distributions to hospitals. There have also been instances where a few hospitals may have not received as much as one-quarter of the blood products which are requested. Kristen Mill of Spring Grove, Illinois suffers from certain health problems caused by a tick bite in 2008. Ever since then, she has needed weekly transfusions to treat this condition. On her recent visit, she was told that the hospital had no blood to match her blood type. “The hospital came to me and they apologised, and they said, ‘We’re so sorry, our blood bank is depleted to the point where we don’t have anyone that matches with you,” said Kristen. She further added, “It’s very scary, especially if you don’t know if the blood is coming because this is something that you need to live.” Apart from blood donors, the Red Cross is also looking for volunteers to support critical blood collections. The volunteers have been in shortage too since the Delta variant hit the US. (With inputs from agencies)

For the first time ever, Red Cross declares nationwide blood shortage in US

A 37-year-old British man Leoaai Elghareeb appeared in court for the accusation of using syringes to inject blood into food at three main supermarkets.<o:p></o:p>

Elghareeb has been accused of injecting blood in food and contaminating it. The culprit allegedly chose thee stores on the Fulham Palace Road—Tesco Express, Little Waitrose and Sainsbury’s Local.

<o:p>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/uk-woman-buys-lottery-ticket-out-of-euro-2020-boredom-wins-ps1-million-398043">UK woman buys lottery ticket out of 'Euro 2020' boredom, wins £1 million</a></o:p>

As per the court documents, the accused entered the Waitrose store around 7:30 on Wednesday evening with several syringes full of blood, which he then injected into several food items. After that he went and did the same at the Sainsbury’s Local store and also threw raw eggs at this store. He then proceeded to Tesco Express to perform the same act and was later arrested.

<o:p></o:p>

"Officers were called at around 19:40 after a man was reported to be shouting abuse at people in the street. The man is alleged to have visited three supermarkets in Fulham Palace Road SW6 and injected foodstuffs using a number of syringes. He has been taken into police custody," Hammersmith &amp; Fulham Council reported on their official Twitter account.

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🚨🚨Emergency Alert 🚨🚨<a href="https://twitter.com/metpoliceuk?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@metpoliceuk</a> have arrested a man this evening on suspicion of contaminating food at 3 supermarkets in Fulham Palace Road. The supermarkets - Tesco, Waitrose and Sainsbury's - have closed and crime scenes are in place.
— H&amp;F Council (@LBHF) <a href="https://twitter.com/LBHF/status/1430648160498733059?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 25, 2021</a></blockquote>
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The defendant is a solicitor who runs his own legal consultancy business and is known to be a man of good character in the past, among his social circle.

<o:p>Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/luck-goes-down-the-drain-literally-winning-lottery-ticket-worth-130000-washed-in-laundry-385031">Luck goes down the drain, literally: Winning lottery ticket worth $130,000 'washed in laundry'</a></o:p> <o:p></o:p>

While it is still not clear why did he perform this dangerous act and what was dissolved in the blood, the police officials packed all the damaged food items in hazard bags for precaution. These items have now been sent for chemical testing.<o:p></o:p>

The Hammersmith &amp; Fulham Council urged locals to throw away any product they might have picked up that day from any of these stores.<o:p></o:p>

These three stores were closed down immediately and were being treated as crime scene.<o:p></o:p>

A 37-year-old British man Leoaai Elghareeb appeared in court for the accusation of using syringes to inject blood into food at three main supermarkets. Elghareeb has been accused of injecting blood in food and contaminating it.

A 37-year-old British man Leoaai Elghareeb appeared in court for the accusation of using syringes to inject blood into food at three main supermarkets. Elghareeb has been accused of injecting blood in food and contaminating it. The culprit allegedly chose thee stores on the Fulham Palace Road—Tesco Express, Little Waitrose and Sainsbury’s Local. Also read | UK woman buys lottery ticket out of 'Euro 2020' boredom, wins £1 million As per the court documents, the accused entered the Waitrose store around 7:30 on Wednesday evening with several syringes full of blood, which he then injected into several food items. After that he went and did the same at the Sainsbury’s Local store and also threw raw eggs at this store. He then proceeded to Tesco Express to perform the same act and was later arrested. "Officers were called at around 19:40 after a man was reported to be shouting abuse at people in the street. The man is alleged to have visited three supermarkets in Fulham Palace Road SW6 and injected foodstuffs using a number of syringes. He has been taken into police custody," Hammersmith & Fulham Council reported on their official Twitter account. 🚨🚨Emergency Alert 🚨🚨@metpoliceuk have arrested a man this evening on suspicion of contaminating food at 3 supermarkets in Fulham Palace Road. The supermarkets - Tesco, Waitrose and Sainsbury's - have closed and crime scenes are in place. — H&F Council (@LBHF) August 25, 2021 × The defendant is a solicitor who runs his own legal consultancy business and is known to be a man of good character in the past, among his social circle. Also read | Luck goes down the drain, literally: Winning lottery ticket worth $130,000 'washed in laundry' While it is still not clear why did he perform this dangerous act and what was dissolved in the blood, the police officials packed all the damaged food items in hazard bags for precaution. These items have now been sent for chemical testing. The Hammersmith & Fulham Council urged locals to throw away any product they might have picked up that day from any of these stores. These three stores were closed down immediately and were being treated as crime scene.

British man held for injecting blood through syringes in food items in supermarkets

Snake venom, which can stop hearts or chew through tissue, could save lives.

According to scientists, a 'super glue' made from the venom of a very toxic snake can be used to halt bleeding.

A bioadhesive gel or tissue sealant made from the venom of lancehead snakes (Bothrops atrox), one of the most deadly snakes found in South America, may stop serious bleeding instantaneously, according to an international study.

All that is required is to put the glue to the wound and then shine a light on it to seal it.

The study's findings were reported in Science Advances.

While synthetic adhesives are easy to work with, their breakdown can be hazardous.

Natural bioadhesives, on the other hand, are more likely to "have outstanding biocompatibility," according to the authors of a new article, although they have limited overall integrity and adherence.

The venom induces excessive clotting until the prey's body can no longer make any clots and instead begins to bleed excessively, a condition known as consumption coagulopathy.

The chemical reptilase (or batroxobin) responsible for blood clotting was isolated by scientists.

This enzyme is already employed in laboratory diagnostic procedures to detect fibrinogen levels, a substance produced in our livers and converted for usage in blood clots by our bodies.

(With inputs from agencies)

Snake venom, which can stop hearts or chew through tissue, could save lives. According to scientists, a 'super glue' made from the venom of a very toxic snake can be used to halt bleeding.

Snake venom, which can stop hearts or chew through tissue, could save lives. According to scientists, a 'super glue' made from the venom of a very toxic snake can be used to halt bleeding. A bioadhesive gel or tissue sealant made from the venom of lancehead snakes (Bothrops atrox), one of the most deadly snakes found in South America, may stop serious bleeding instantaneously, according to an international study. All that is required is to put the glue to the wound and then shine a light on it to seal it. The study's findings were reported in Science Advances. While synthetic adhesives are easy to work with, their breakdown can be hazardous. Natural bioadhesives, on the other hand, are more likely to "have outstanding biocompatibility," according to the authors of a new article, although they have limited overall integrity and adherence. The venom induces excessive clotting until the prey's body can no longer make any clots and instead begins to bleed excessively, a condition known as consumption coagulopathy. The chemical reptilase (or batroxobin) responsible for blood clotting was isolated by scientists. This enzyme is already employed in laboratory diagnostic procedures to detect fibrinogen levels, a substance produced in our livers and converted for usage in blood clots by our bodies. (With inputs from agencies)

This snake venom 'super glue' can stop bleeding in seconds

One of the deadliest diseases in the world -&nbsp; cancer may be now detectable up to four years before someone shows symptoms, a new study says.

The blood test, called PanSeer can detect cancer in 95 per cent people who show no symptoms but inevitably develop the disease.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="/india-news/latest-india-news-one-in-every-ten-indians-will-develop-cancer-during-their-lifetime-world-health-organisation-278820" hreflang="en">One in every ten Indians will develop cancer during their lifetime: World Health Organisation</a>

The research is not a predictive test, but rather simply picks up signs of cancer in the body before they become pervasive enough to cause apparent changes in the body, which is mostly when people get diagnosed with the disease. This early detection can prevent many deaths and complications by taking early&nbsp;steps to bring it under control.

The researchers who contributed belong to various schools of Fudan University -&nbsp;State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering and Collaborative Innovation Center for Genetics and Development,&nbsp;Taizhou Institute of Health Sciences, and the&nbsp;Human Phenome Institute.

"Non-invasive"

The study was published in the journal Nature Communications and the test it has developed is a “DNA methylation-based” non-invasive blood test.

Even though earlier studies have claimed to have achieved the same, this particular test is peculiar for it diagnoses the cancer even before its symptoms become apparent in patients.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="/business-economy/johnson-johnson-told-to-pay-21-billion-over-cancer-causing-talc-powder-308196" hreflang="en">Johnson &amp; Johnson told to pay $2.1 billion over cancer-causing talc powder</a>

The researchers looked for methyl groups in the DNA, which are one of the significant signs of tumour. They then picked up small strands of DNA to ascertain the presence of cancer.

Employing technology based on artificial intelligence, they developed a system to determine whether any DNA came from tumours.

Early diagnosis: Early treatment

They collected 414 plasma samples from people in China between 2007-2014.

Out of these cancer free samples, 191 came out with symptoms of stomach, liver, lung, colorectal cancers, after which they were diagnosed.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="/world/astrazeneca-blood-cancer-drug-shows-signs-of-helping-covid-19-patients-303838" hreflang="en">AstraZeneca blood cancer drug shows signs of helping COVID-19 patients</a>

The team based in China also collected sampled from 223 patients that had already been diagnosed with some form of cancer.

PanSeer was able to detect cancer in 88 per cent of the participants who were already diagnosed, while it logged in 95 per cent cancer cases in people who had not shown any symptoms or had not been diagnosed with any cancer.

The test may be advanced, but it cannot pick up what type of cancer one has.

One of the deadliest diseases in the world - cancer may be now detectable up to four years before someone shows symptoms, a new study says. The blood test, called PanSeer can detect cancer in 95 per cent people who show no symptoms but inevitably develop the disease.

One of the deadliest diseases in the world - cancer may be now detectable up to four years before someone shows symptoms, a new study says. The blood test, called PanSeer can detect cancer in 95 per cent people who show no symptoms but inevitably develop the disease. Also read: One in every ten Indians will develop cancer during their lifetime: World Health Organisation The research is not a predictive test, but rather simply picks up signs of cancer in the body before they become pervasive enough to cause apparent changes in the body, which is mostly when people get diagnosed with the disease. This early detection can prevent many deaths and complications by taking early steps to bring it under control. The researchers who contributed belong to various schools of Fudan University - State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering and Collaborative Innovation Center for Genetics and Development, Taizhou Institute of Health Sciences, and the Human Phenome Institute. "Non-invasive" The study was published in the journal Nature Communications and the test it has developed is a “DNA methylation-based” non-invasive blood test. Even though earlier studies have claimed to have achieved the same, this particular test is peculiar for it diagnoses the cancer even before its symptoms become apparent in patients. Also read: Johnson & Johnson told to pay $2.1 billion over cancer-causing talc powder The researchers looked for methyl groups in the DNA, which are one of the significant signs of tumour. They then picked up small strands of DNA to ascertain the presence of cancer. Employing technology based on artificial intelligence, they developed a system to determine whether any DNA came from tumours. Early diagnosis: Early treatment They collected 414 plasma samples from people in China between 2007-2014. Out of these cancer free samples, 191 came out with symptoms of stomach, liver, lung, colorectal cancers, after which they were diagnosed. Also read: AstraZeneca blood cancer drug shows signs of helping COVID-19 patients The team based in China also collected sampled from 223 patients that had already been diagnosed with some form of cancer. PanSeer was able to detect cancer in 88 per cent of the participants who were already diagnosed, while it logged in 95 per cent cancer cases in people who had not shown any symptoms or had not been diagnosed with any cancer. The test may be advanced, but it cannot pick up what type of cancer one has.

A new blood test can detect cancer four years before symptoms show

Mexican demonstrators splash presidential palace red in protest over murder of women

Over 49,000 people have been tested positive for dengue in Pakistan, setting a new record of the infection in the country. 
 
The surge in the number of cases was reported in the last 15 days. Moreover, fatalities by the infection have reached 79, Dawn reported. 
 
Expressing no concern, the authorities have said that surge is due to improved mechanism to record the number of cases. The spokesperson for the Ministry of National Health Services (NHS), Sajid Shah, said,&nbsp;"This year an unprecedented number of dengue cases has been reported across the globe. Besides, the mechanism of recording the cases has improved across the country." 
 
Out of 49,587 cases, 13,173 cases were reported from Islamabad, 13,251 from Sindh, 9,855 from Punjab, 7,776 from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and 3,217 cases from Balochistan.

Besides, 1,690 cases were reported from Pakistan occupied Jammu and Kashmir while 625 cases were placed in the 'other' category.

Also known as 'dandy fever', dengue is one of the world's leading mosquito-borne illnesses taking scores of lives globally every year.

Over 49,000 people have been tested positive for dengue in Pakistan, setting a new record of the infection in the country. The surge in the number of cases was reported in the last 15 days.

Over 49,000 people have been tested positive for dengue in Pakistan, setting a new record of the infection in the country. The surge in the number of cases was reported in the last 15 days. Moreover, fatalities by the infection have reached 79, Dawn reported. Expressing no concern, the authorities have said that surge is due to improved mechanism to record the number of cases. The spokesperson for the Ministry of National Health Services (NHS), Sajid Shah, said, "This year an unprecedented number of dengue cases has been reported across the globe. Besides, the mechanism of recording the cases has improved across the country." Out of 49,587 cases, 13,173 cases were reported from Islamabad, 13,251 from Sindh, 9,855 from Punjab, 7,776 from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and 3,217 cases from Balochistan. Besides, 1,690 cases were reported from Pakistan occupied Jammu and Kashmir while 625 cases were placed in the 'other' category. Also known as 'dandy fever', dengue is one of the world's leading mosquito-borne illnesses taking scores of lives globally every year.

Pakistan: Dengue outbreak, 49,000 cases registered

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/ncw-seeks-report-from-tamil-nadu-over-alleged-transfusion-of-hiv-infected-blood-to-women-187542">A 24-year-old woman</a>, who contracted HIV at a government hospital allegedly after being transfused contaminated blood, has given birth to a baby girl here.

The woman had a normal delivery Thursday, Government Rajaji Hospital dean Dr S Shanmughasundaram told PTI, adding that the baby weighed 1.75 kg.

"C-section would have facilitated lesser contact with the mother's blood. But the mother developed labour pain and the delivery happened quickly," he said.

The low birth weight baby is being treated in the hospital's neonatal intensive care unit and has been administered medicines for prevention of HIV transmission, the dean said.

A healthy baby weighs between 2.5 kg and 3.5 kg at birth.

HIV screening would be conducted on the 45th day to ascertain whether the child has been infected by the virus, he added.

Last month, the pregnant woman contracted HIV at a government hospital in Sattur in Virudhunagar district allegedly after being transfused contaminated blood supplied by a blood bank.

Following this, the state government ordered an examination of stocks in the state's blood banks.

It was later found that a 19-year old blood donor's infected blood was transfused to the woman. On learning that she had contracted the virus, he consumed rat poison and died on December 30.

Services of three lab technicians of the blood bank attached to the government hospital were terminated.

The incident drew widespread condemnation from opposition parties with the DMK lashing out at the ruling AIADMK, saying it showed how state-run hospitals functioned under the "corrupt government."&nbsp;

A 24-year-old woman, who contracted HIV at a government hospital allegedly after being transfused contaminated blood, has given birth to a baby girl here. The woman had a normal delivery Thursday, Government Rajaji Hospital dean Dr S Shanmughasundaram told PTI, adding that the baby weighed 1.

A 24-year-old woman, who contracted HIV at a government hospital allegedly after being transfused contaminated blood, has given birth to a baby girl here. The woman had a normal delivery Thursday, Government Rajaji Hospital dean Dr S Shanmughasundaram told PTI, adding that the baby weighed 1.75 kg. "C-section would have facilitated lesser contact with the mother's blood. But the mother developed labour pain and the delivery happened quickly," he said. The low birth weight baby is being treated in the hospital's neonatal intensive care unit and has been administered medicines for prevention of HIV transmission, the dean said. A healthy baby weighs between 2.5 kg and 3.5 kg at birth. HIV screening would be conducted on the 45th day to ascertain whether the child has been infected by the virus, he added. Last month, the pregnant woman contracted HIV at a government hospital in Sattur in Virudhunagar district allegedly after being transfused contaminated blood supplied by a blood bank. Following this, the state government ordered an examination of stocks in the state's blood banks. It was later found that a 19-year old blood donor's infected blood was transfused to the woman. On learning that she had contracted the virus, he consumed rat poison and died on December 30. Services of three lab technicians of the blood bank attached to the government hospital were terminated. The incident drew widespread condemnation from opposition parties with the DMK lashing out at the ruling AIADMK, saying it showed how state-run hospitals functioned under the "corrupt government."

Tamil Nadu woman who got HIV after blood transfusion delivers baby girl

A knifeman shouting "Allahu akbar" was shot dead by police in central Paris late Saturday after he killed one person and injured four, prompting a terror probe.

The attack took place near the city's main opera house in an area full of bars, restaurants and theatres which were brimming on a weekend night.

French President Emmanuel Macron said: "France once again pays the price of blood."

Saturday's assault is the latest to strike a nation rocked by a series of jihadist attacks in the last three years that have killed more than 245 people.

Prosecutors cited witnesses as saying the man shouted "Allahu akbar" (God is greatest) as he went on the rampage, and added that a terror investigation had been launched.

The Islamic State group claimed responsibility, according to the SITE monitoring group, but provided no corroborating proof.

"The executor of the stabbing operation in the city of Paris is a soldier of the Islamic State and the operation was carried out in response to the calls to target the coalition states," a "security source" told IS's official Amaq news agency, according to SITE.

The man, who has not yet been named, attacked five people with a knife, one of whom died, police said. Two were in serious condition and all the victims are in hospital.

A police source told AFP one officer tried to restrain the attacker with a taser but when that failed a colleague shot the man dead.

Interior Minister Gerard Collomb hailed in a tweet the "sang-froid and reaction of the police who neutralised the attacker".

Prime Minister Edouard Philippe, who visited police in the district where the attack took place, added: "France is determined not to give in to threats that the attackers hope will grind her (the country) down."

Scenes of panic 
The attack took place on Rue Monsigny in the 2nd arrondissement, an area that lies between the main opera house and the Louvre museum, two major tourist attractions. A large area was cordoned off where police, fire and rescue vehicles converged.

Shocked tourists and residents looked on from behind the security perimeter.

"I was on the cafe terrace, I heard three, four shots, it happened very fast," said 47-year-old Gloria.

"The bartenders told us to come inside very quickly. Then I went out to see what was going on, and then I saw a man on the ground," she added.

Another witness, who gave her first name Maxine, said panic spread as word got out that an attack was taking place.

"We saw someone coming out of a building who said he saw the assailant slaughter someone, so people took refuge in the bar," she said.

France has suffered a series of major Islamist attacks including the massacre at the satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo, the November 2015 attacks that killed 130 in Paris, and the 2016 Bastille Day truck attack in Nice that killed more than 80.

There have also been a string of less deadly but frequent attacks by lone wolf jihadists wielding knives or guns. Most of the attacks have either been claimed by the Islamic State group or been carried out in their name.

A state of emergency put in place just after the 2015 Paris attacks was lifted in October when Macron's centrist government passed a new law boosting the powers of security forces.

French far-right leader Marine Le Pen called for greater security measures after Saturday's attack.

"The French people will no longer be content with talk, they expect action," she said.

Thousands of French troops remain on the streets under an anti-terror operation known as Sentinelle, patrolling transport hubs, tourist hotspots and other sensitive sites.

The knifeman was shot dead by police. 'France once again pays the price of blood,' French President Emmanuel Macron said

A knifeman shouting "Allahu akbar" was shot dead by police in central Paris late Saturday after he killed one person and injured four, prompting a terror probe. The attack took place near the city's main opera house in an area full of bars, restaurants and theatres which were brimming on a weekend night. French President Emmanuel Macron said: "France once again pays the price of blood." Saturday's assault is the latest to strike a nation rocked by a series of jihadist attacks in the last three years that have killed more than 245 people. Prosecutors cited witnesses as saying the man shouted "Allahu akbar" (God is greatest) as he went on the rampage, and added that a terror investigation had been launched. The Islamic State group claimed responsibility, according to the SITE monitoring group, but provided no corroborating proof. "The executor of the stabbing operation in the city of Paris is a soldier of the Islamic State and the operation was carried out in response to the calls to target the coalition states," a "security source" told IS's official Amaq news agency, according to SITE. The man, who has not yet been named, attacked five people with a knife, one of whom died, police said. Two were in serious condition and all the victims are in hospital. A police source told AFP one officer tried to restrain the attacker with a taser but when that failed a colleague shot the man dead. Interior Minister Gerard Collomb hailed in a tweet the "sang-froid and reaction of the police who neutralised the attacker". Prime Minister Edouard Philippe, who visited police in the district where the attack took place, added: "France is determined not to give in to threats that the attackers hope will grind her (the country) down." Scenes of panic The attack took place on Rue Monsigny in the 2nd arrondissement, an area that lies between the main opera house and the Louvre museum, two major tourist attractions. A large area was cordoned off where police, fire and rescue vehicles converged. Shocked tourists and residents looked on from behind the security perimeter. "I was on the cafe terrace, I heard three, four shots, it happened very fast," said 47-year-old Gloria. "The bartenders told us to come inside very quickly. Then I went out to see what was going on, and then I saw a man on the ground," she added. Another witness, who gave her first name Maxine, said panic spread as word got out that an attack was taking place. "We saw someone coming out of a building who said he saw the assailant slaughter someone, so people took refuge in the bar," she said. France has suffered a series of major Islamist attacks including the massacre at the satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo, the November 2015 attacks that killed 130 in Paris, and the 2016 Bastille Day truck attack in Nice that killed more than 80. There have also been a string of less deadly but frequent attacks by lone wolf jihadists wielding knives or guns. Most of the attacks have either been claimed by the Islamic State group or been carried out in their name. A state of emergency put in place just after the 2015 Paris attacks was lifted in October when Macron's centrist government passed a new law boosting the powers of security forces. French far-right leader Marine Le Pen called for greater security measures after Saturday's attack. "The French people will no longer be content with talk, they expect action," she said. Thousands of French troops remain on the streets under an anti-terror operation known as Sentinelle, patrolling transport hubs, tourist hotspots and other sensitive sites.

One dead, 4 injured after knife attack in Paris. Islamic State claims responsibility

After Deviyode Sri Vidwari Vaidyanatha Temple in Kerala issued a public notice urging the devotees to &ldquo;give blood&rdquo; to bathe goddess Kali, the state government censured the temple authorities and directed them to drop the idea.&nbsp;

Minister Kadakampalli Surendran said that the practice is a disgrace to Kerala. However,&nbsp;the head priest of the temple&nbsp;said that the government was trying to portray the ritual in a &#39;&#39;bad light&#39;&#39;.

The minister added that irrespective of politics, religion, and caste, the people of Kerala should come together to oppose such &#39;&#39;primitive rituals&#39;&#39;.

Meanwhile, the head priest suggested that the ancient ritual would help cure diseases. He added that the government has a wrong idea about the details of the ritual.&nbsp;

&quot;Devotees were requested to collect their blood for the &lsquo;yagna&rsquo;. The &lsquo;yagna&rsquo; fire is holy and when we add a drop of blood to it, it absorbs energy. That&rsquo;s the reason why Hindu devotees&nbsp;have a number of blood-related rituals,&rdquo; media reports&nbsp;quoted him as saying. &nbsp;

The ritual was supposed to be held at the temple for 10 days from March 12 as part of the annual Kaliyoottu festival. The devotees were expected to donate their blood using disposable syringes.

The ritual was supposed to be held at the temple for 10 days from March 12 as part of the annual Kaliyoottu festival. The devotees were expected to donate their blood using disposable syringes

After Deviyode Sri Vidwari Vaidyanatha Temple in Kerala issued a public notice urging the devotees to “give blood” to bathe goddess Kali, the state government censured the temple authorities and directed them to drop the idea. Minister Kadakampalli Surendran said that the practice is a disgrace to Kerala. However, the head priest of the temple said that the government was trying to portray the ritual in a ''bad light''. The minister added that irrespective of politics, religion, and caste, the people of Kerala should come together to oppose such ''primitive rituals''. Meanwhile, the head priest suggested that the ancient ritual would help cure diseases. He added that the government has a wrong idea about the details of the ritual. "Devotees were requested to collect their blood for the ‘yagna’. The ‘yagna’ fire is holy and when we add a drop of blood to it, it absorbs energy. That’s the reason why Hindu devotees have a number of blood-related rituals,” media reports quoted him as saying. The ritual was supposed to be held at the temple for 10 days from March 12 as part of the annual Kaliyoottu festival. The devotees were expected to donate their blood using disposable syringes.

Kerala government bars temple from asking devotees to give blood to bathe goddess

Is the royal marriage story we&rsquo;re being sold really a fairy tale come true? Or is it a story spun by Buckingham Palace for its own self-interest, one shrouded in myth and make-believe?

In the coverage of next spring&rsquo;s marriage between Meghan Markle and Prince Harry, two main narratives have emerged.

One is Markle&rsquo;s mixed-race, American background and how her &ldquo;acceptance&rdquo; to the royal family signals a monarchy willing to loosen its rigid rules.

The other is an improbable love story: A girl from South-Central Los Angeles is plucked from the streets by her dashing Prince Charming (&ldquo;How Meghan went from a seedy Los Angeles tenement to a Palace,&rdquo; as one Daily Mail story put it).

While both have elements of truth, they also ignore the royal family&rsquo;s complicated history with race and &ldquo;blood&rdquo; and its insistence on continuing outdated traditions. As a sociologist who researches questions of race, power and ideology, I believe we are missing the real significance of this marriage.

Out with the old? Not really

The &ldquo;modern royal family&rdquo; narrative overlooks the fact that the monarchy continues to embody a fundamentally traditional idea of British identity, a patriarchal institution steeped in nostalgia for the days of the empire.

In their carefully choreographed first joint interview with the BBC, Markle &ndash; a self-described feminist &ndash; confirmed that she was giving up her acting career in order to take up her new &ldquo;role&rdquo; as the wife of Prince Harry.

Meanwhile, the British establishment&rsquo;s long history of anti-Catholicism &ndash; deeply entrenched in its customs, laws and rituals &ndash; was on full view. Buckingham Palace was quick to announce that Markle would be baptised into the Church of England before the couple is married, presumably to assuage any lingering concerns that she might actually be Catholic. (As a teenager, she had attended the private Catholic Immaculate Heart High School in Los Angeles.)

Finally, despite some media reports, Meghan isn&rsquo;t actually about to become a princess. Because she doesn&rsquo;t come from &ldquo;royal blood,&rdquo; the arcane rules and protocols of the British aristocratic system mean she will likely be given the title &ldquo;Her Royal Highness,&rdquo; rather than &ldquo;Princess Meghan.&rdquo;

Bloody nonsense

The idea of a distinct blood category for the upper classes is, of course, absurd.

&ldquo;Bluebloods,&rdquo; we should remember, is a racialised metaphor. Skin so pale you could see the blue blood beneath &ndash; sangre azul, as the Spanish put it &ndash; signaled a distance from blackness and poverty. As the historian Kate Williams notes, it was used to differentiate &ldquo;the royals from both the tanned peasants working in the fields and the people of colour who were increasingly part of European society.&rdquo;

In 2016, when news first broke of Prince Harry&rsquo;s relationship with Markle, some coverage and commentary were driven by a racial paranoia that the supposed sanctity of the royal blood lineage was being broken (&ldquo;Harry to marry into gangster royalty?&rdquo; a Daily Star headline read). Others pointed to the danger posed not just to Harry&rsquo;s safety in dating a woman from South-Central Los Angeles, a place &ldquo;plagued by crime and riddled with street gangs,&rdquo; but to the integrity of the royal family writ large. Historically, the idea of &ldquo;Britishness&rdquo; has carried unspoken racial connotations; as cultural historian Stuart Hall noted, &ldquo;in common understanding, the nation is usually imagined as white.&rdquo; In this context, the royal family represents the national family, imagined and implicitly understood as white.

Prince Harry, to his credit, issued a rare public rebuke to the media, denouncing the &ldquo;racial undertones of comment pieces.&rdquo;

It appears, then, that this is an important moment in the slow and uneven &ndash; but nonetheless real &ndash; shift in Britain toward acknowledging the evolution of a multiracial society. But the significance of one so-called &ldquo;interracial&rdquo; marriage also shouldn&rsquo;t be overstated.

European royal families have been breeding across ethnic and national lines for centuries. The ever-so-English sounding &ldquo;House of Windsor&rdquo; is, in fact, a name made up by King George V. The real name of the Windsors was, up until then, the House of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha. But in order to make it easier for the royal family to encourage the British working classes to take up arms against the Germans in 1917, they wanted to gloss over the uncomfortable fact that the family&rsquo;s background was more German than British.

Even &ldquo;black blood&rdquo; among the &ldquo;blue bloods&rdquo; isn&rsquo;t new. Some historians have suggested that Queen Charlotte, the wife of George III, likely had black African ancestry. Similarly, David Williamson, co-editor of the British etiquette periodical Debrett&rsquo;s Peerage, has argued that &ldquo;all European royal families somewhere are linked to the kings of Castile. There is a lot of Moorish blood in the Portuguese royal family and it has diffused over the rest of Europe.&rdquo;

A shot in the (pale) arm?

For decades, royalists have worried about the monarchy&rsquo;s future once Queen Elizabeth II finally goes. There&rsquo;s the absurdity of believing in kings and queens ordained by God, of course. But Prince Charles, the next in line, isn&rsquo;t widely liked.

This marriage could be an unexpected lifeline. Just as The House of Windsor (n&eacute;e Saxe-Coburg and Gotha) reinvented itself 100 years ago in order to maintain its authority, a familiar chain of events could be playing out.

Ironically, it is the Windsors who stand to gain the most from this relationship by maintaining their popular standing and public reputation &ndash; and, therefore, their legitimacy &ndash; by adding a touch of beautiful, light-skinned &ldquo;diversity&rdquo; into the lily-white family tree.

&ldquo;Genetically, [Markle] is blessed,&rdquo; enthused journalist Rachel Johnson (a sister of prominent MP Boris Johnson), using eugenics-style colonial reasoning to approve of the relationship.

&ldquo;The Windsors,&rdquo; she added, &ldquo;will thicken their watery, thin blue blood and Spencer pale skin and ginger hair with some rich and exotic DNA.&rdquo;

Unlike most royal marriages, which tend to be politically arranged affairs driven largely by the dynastic requirements of Europe&rsquo;s aristocratic families, Harry and Meghan do appear to be genuinely in love with each other. Outside of royal circles, so-called &ldquo;mixed-race&rdquo; relationships are no longer exceptional, but actually represent an increasing number of family units in modern Britain.

By adapting to Britain&rsquo;s changing social and cultural landscape, the royal family is desperately trying to broaden its popular appeal. Contrary to the British press&rsquo;s narrative, we might say that Harry&rsquo;s the one &ldquo;marrying up&rdquo; &ndash; not the black actress from LA.

This article was originally published on <a href="http://theconversation.com" rel="nofollow" target="blank">The Conversation</a>. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/is-the-british-monarchy-actually-adapting-to-changing-social-norms-88285" rel="nofollow" target="blank">original article</a>.

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL).

Much of the Harry and Meghan coverage has ignored the royal family's complicated history with race and "blood" and its insistence on continuing outdated traditions.

Is the royal marriage story we’re being sold really a fairy tale come true? Or is it a story spun by Buckingham Palace for its own self-interest, one shrouded in myth and make-believe? In the coverage of next spring’s marriage between Meghan Markle and Prince Harry, two main narratives have emerged. One is Markle’s mixed-race, American background and how her “acceptance” to the royal family signals a monarchy willing to loosen its rigid rules. The other is an improbable love story: A girl from South-Central Los Angeles is plucked from the streets by her dashing Prince Charming (“How Meghan went from a seedy Los Angeles tenement to a Palace,” as one Daily Mail story put it). While both have elements of truth, they also ignore the royal family’s complicated history with race and “blood” and its insistence on continuing outdated traditions. As a sociologist who researches questions of race, power and ideology, I believe we are missing the real significance of this marriage. Out with the old? Not really The “modern royal family” narrative overlooks the fact that the monarchy continues to embody a fundamentally traditional idea of British identity, a patriarchal institution steeped in nostalgia for the days of the empire. In their carefully choreographed first joint interview with the BBC, Markle – a self-described feminist – confirmed that she was giving up her acting career in order to take up her new “role” as the wife of Prince Harry. Meanwhile, the British establishment’s long history of anti-Catholicism – deeply entrenched in its customs, laws and rituals – was on full view. Buckingham Palace was quick to announce that Markle would be baptised into the Church of England before the couple is married, presumably to assuage any lingering concerns that she might actually be Catholic. (As a teenager, she had attended the private Catholic Immaculate Heart High School in Los Angeles.) Finally, despite some media reports, Meghan isn’t actually about to become a princess. Because she doesn’t come from “royal blood,” the arcane rules and protocols of the British aristocratic system mean she will likely be given the title “Her Royal Highness,” rather than “Princess Meghan.” Bloody nonsense The idea of a distinct blood category for the upper classes is, of course, absurd. “Bluebloods,” we should remember, is a racialised metaphor. Skin so pale you could see the blue blood beneath – sangre azul, as the Spanish put it – signaled a distance from blackness and poverty. As the historian Kate Williams notes, it was used to differentiate “the royals from both the tanned peasants working in the fields and the people of colour who were increasingly part of European society.” In 2016, when news first broke of Prince Harry’s relationship with Markle, some coverage and commentary were driven by a racial paranoia that the supposed sanctity of the royal blood lineage was being broken (“Harry to marry into gangster royalty?” a Daily Star headline read). Others pointed to the danger posed not just to Harry’s safety in dating a woman from South-Central Los Angeles, a place “plagued by crime and riddled with street gangs,” but to the integrity of the royal family writ large. Historically, the idea of “Britishness” has carried unspoken racial connotations; as cultural historian Stuart Hall noted, “in common understanding, the nation is usually imagined as white.” In this context, the royal family represents the national family, imagined and implicitly understood as white. Prince Harry, to his credit, issued a rare public rebuke to the media, denouncing the “racial undertones of comment pieces.” It appears, then, that this is an important moment in the slow and uneven – but nonetheless real – shift in Britain toward acknowledging the evolution of a multiracial society. But the significance of one so-called “interracial” marriage also shouldn’t be overstated. European royal families have been breeding across ethnic and national lines for centuries. The ever-so-English sounding “House of Windsor” is, in fact, a name made up by King George V. The real name of the Windsors was, up until then, the House of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha. But in order to make it easier for the royal family to encourage the British working classes to take up arms against the Germans in 1917, they wanted to gloss over the uncomfortable fact that the family’s background was more German than British. Even “black blood” among the “blue bloods” isn’t new. Some historians have suggested that Queen Charlotte, the wife of George III, likely had black African ancestry. Similarly, David Williamson, co-editor of the British etiquette periodical Debrett’s Peerage, has argued that “all European royal families somewhere are linked to the kings of Castile. There is a lot of Moorish blood in the Portuguese royal family and it has diffused over the rest of Europe.” A shot in the (pale) arm? For decades, royalists have worried about the monarchy’s future once Queen Elizabeth II finally goes. There’s the absurdity of believing in kings and queens ordained by God, of course. But Prince Charles, the next in line, isn’t widely liked. This marriage could be an unexpected lifeline. Just as The House of Windsor (née Saxe-Coburg and Gotha) reinvented itself 100 years ago in order to maintain its authority, a familiar chain of events could be playing out. Ironically, it is the Windsors who stand to gain the most from this relationship by maintaining their popular standing and public reputation – and, therefore, their legitimacy – by adding a touch of beautiful, light-skinned “diversity” into the lily-white family tree. “Genetically, [Markle] is blessed,” enthused journalist Rachel Johnson (a sister of prominent MP Boris Johnson), using eugenics-style colonial reasoning to approve of the relationship. “The Windsors,” she added, “will thicken their watery, thin blue blood and Spencer pale skin and ginger hair with some rich and exotic DNA.” Unlike most royal marriages, which tend to be politically arranged affairs driven largely by the dynastic requirements of Europe’s aristocratic families, Harry and Meghan do appear to be genuinely in love with each other. Outside of royal circles, so-called “mixed-race” relationships are no longer exceptional, but actually represent an increasing number of family units in modern Britain. By adapting to Britain’s changing social and cultural landscape, the royal family is desperately trying to broaden its popular appeal. Contrary to the British press’s narrative, we might say that Harry’s the one “marrying up” – not the black actress from LA. This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article. (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL).

Opinion: Is the British monarchy actually adapting to changing social norms?

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