Heavily armed LAPD SWAT team descends on home of BLM leader in 'swatting' attack 

After cops receive anonymous call from 'fake kidnapper who claimed they were holding activist and her kids hostage for $1M and would kill them within an hour'

Melina Abdullah, co-founder of BLM-LA, began streaming live on Instagram Wednesday morning, showing the armed officers outside of her house 

In a live stream on Instagram, officers were reportedly seen in tactical gear screaming orders at her as she went outside to speak with them 

An officer tells Abdullah that they received a call saying that someone was holding her and her family hostage

The purported culprit demanded $1 million or said he would kill them in an hour

They left after Abdullah explained that there was no hostage situation underway 

LAPD's Major Crimes Division is investigating incident as a potential ‘swatting’

Swatting refers to a prank 911 call made to attract a large armed law enforcement presence to a specific address without actual cause

Abdullah, an outspoken critic of the LAPD, has also been at the forefront of recent protests against police violence in Los Angeles

By LUKE KENTON FOR DAILYMAIL.COM

PUBLISHED: 12 August 2020

The Los Angeles Police Department is investigating a possible prank call that led to a heavily armed SWAT team descending on the home of a prominent Black Lives Matter activist while she and her children were inside.

Melina Abdullah, co-founder of BLM-LA, began streaming live on Instagram Wednesday morning showing armed officers outside her home near the intersection of Crenshaw and West Washington boulevards.

‘I don’t know why they are here,’ Abdullah said to the camera, adding that the officers were pointing guns at her house, according to the LA Times.

The video feed reportedly showed officers dressed in tactical gear screaming orders at her as she went outside to speak with them. At least one of the officers in the clip was carrying a semi-automatic rifle.


Melina Abdullah, co-founder of BLM-LA, began streaming live on Instagram Wednesday morning showing armed officers outside of her home near the intersection of Crenshaw and West Washington boulevards

WHAT IS SWATTING?

Swatting is a criminal harassment tactic of deceiving an emergency service into sending heavily armed police and other emergency service response teams to another person’s address without actual cause.

This is often triggered by falsely reporting a serious emergency, such as a bomb threat, hostage situation, murder, or a ‘mental health’ emergency.

Making false reports to emergency services is a criminal offense in many countries, punishable by fines and imprisonment.

In March 2019, a California man was sentenced to 20 years in prison for carrying out a fatal 2017 swatting, in which 28-year-old Andrew Finch was shot dead by police as he left his home.

During a conversation with the assembled officers, one of them tells Abdullah that they received a call saying that someone was holding her and her family hostage, LAist reported.

The officer said dispatchers were told the purported culprit wanted one million dollars in ransom or he would kill Abdullah and her children within the hour.

The police left after Abdullah explained that there was no hostage situation taking place.

No one was injured in the incident, though Abdullah repeatedly voiced fears that officers would attempt to escalate the situation.

The activist said she was also concerned about the safety of her children, who were inside the home at the time heavily-armed officers arrived

LAPD spokesman Josh Rubenstein told the Times the department’s Major Crimes Division is now investigating incident, in what is said to ‘most likely be a swatting’.

Swatting refers to a prank 911 call made to attract a large armed law enforcement presence to a specific address without actual cause. Considering the potential confusion it causes among all parties, and the history of tactical teams using deadly force, the act of swatting is considered incredibly dangerous.

In California, swatters bear the 'full cost' of the response which can lead to fines up to $10,000.



Abdullah, an outspoken critic of the LAPD, has also been at the forefront of recent protests against police violence in Los Angeles, which were spurred into motion following the Memorial Day police killing of George Floyd in Minnesota.

Rubenstein said a call was made about a house on the block where Abdullah lives, but he would not specify the exact address or whether police think she was the intended target.

Abdullah's live stream was no longer available to view on her Instagram page as of Wednesday afternoon.

She has not responded to a DailyMail.com request for comment.

The incident came on the same morning Abdullah was scheduled to speak to the press about a campaign to appoint her as dean of the new College of Ethnic Studies at Cal State L.A., where she teaches.

Abdullah, an outspoken critic of the LAPD, has also been at the forefront of recent protests against police violence in Los Angeles, which were spurred into motion following the Memorial Day police killing of George Floyd in Minnesota.

Read more:
LAPD probes likely swatting incident at BLM activist's home - Los Angeles Times
Police Swarm Black Lives Matter-LA Co-Founder's Home After False Kidnapping Call

Pinterest's top female executive files explosive lawsuit claiming she was paid less then men, left out of important meetings and fired after complaining about her treatment

Brougher has filed a lawsuit claiming she was sacked over her complaints

Suit accuses CEO Ben Silbermann of letting her go after she raised concerns 

Blogged that it's time to 'eliminate "boys' clubs" that dominate far too many companies'

By ALICE CACHIA FOR MAILONLINE

12 August 2020

Pinterest's former chief operating officer Françoise Brougher has accused the company of firing her for 'speaking out about the rampant discrimination, hostile work environment, and misogyny' in the business.

Brougher, who was the top female executive at the firm, left Pinterest suddenly in April this year with little explanation provided.

But in a lawsuit filed on Tuesday, Brougher accused the $21billion virtual pinboard business of sacking her after she complained about sexist treatment.


Brougher claims in a suit filed in San Francisco Superior Court that she was excluded from important meetings, paid less than male coworkers, and was given gender-specific feedback.

Pinterest is is understood to be defending the claim.

Brougher has accused the $21billion virtual pinboard business of sacking her after she complained about sexist treatment

She alleges that ultimately she was fired from the position she had held since 2018 by CEO Ben Silbermann after raising concerns over her treatment.

'When men speak out, they get rewarded. When women speak out, they get fired,' she told the New York Times.

Brougher was responsible for the company's revenue as COO and had around 1,000 employees reporting to her.

She only discovered she was paid less than male colleagues when Pinterest, which has a particularly large female audience, filed to go public last year.

'Even at the very top ranks of a public company, female executives can be targeted for sex discrimination and retaliation,' the lawsuit stated.

'Although Pinterest markets itself to women looking for inspiration, the company brazenly fired its top female executive for pointing out gender bias within Pinterest's male dominated leadership team.'

Brougher referenced a culture of 'constant exclusion' and claims she was not invited to board meetings after Pinterest went public.

Members of her team, however, were occasionally invited to those meetings without her knowledge, the suit adds.

Neither was she invited on the 'road show' to meet with investors for the company's public offering, the suit claims.



Brougher says she was excluded from meetings by Pinterest's CEO Silbermann (left) which made it 'impossible' to do her job. Pictured right is Todd Morgenfeld, Chief Financial Officer, at Pinterest headquarters in San Francisco.

'When you are brought in as a No. 2, you are expected to advise the CEO,' she said. 'But when you are not in the meeting where the decisions are made and don't have the context, it makes your job harder.'

The suit also alleges that Pinterest's chief financial officer Todd Morgenfeld asked her in front of colleagues, 'What is your job anyway?', as well as giving her feedback she believed to be sexist.

Brougher claims that Morgenfeld raised his voice and terminated the call when she questioned him about this over a video chat.

CEO Silbermann was dismissive of her concerns around Morgenfield, the suit alleges.

Court records claim that Silbermann compared the situation to a domestic dispute. HR treated it as a legal matter, the suit added.

Soon after the conversation with Morgenfeld, Silbermann fired Brougher during a video call.

She claims Pinterest asked her to announce that it was her decision to leave and sign a non disclosure agreement, which she refused to do.

Brougher's lawsuit also alleges that her equity grants were 'backloaded', meaning most vested after several years, but that her male peers' were not.

The suit says her compensation was adjusted after she complained.


Brougher added that after she was fired, not one board member called 'to hear my side of the story or discuss what had happened'

Brougher, who previously held executive positions at both Square and Google, published a 4,000 word blog post after the suit was filed.

She wrote: 'I believe that I was fired for speaking out about the rampant discrimination, hostile work environment, and misogyny that permeates Pinterest.'

'It is time to eliminate the "boys' clubs" that dominate far too many companies and make room for more women leaders and their ideas,' she added.

Although she did not reference the lawsuit in her post, Brougher detailed various ways she was allegedly mistreated at Pinterest.

She specifically says she was excluded from meetings by Silbermann, which made it 'impossible' to do her job.

'I had to waste time and energy just determining what was happening at a company where I was supposed to be a leader,' she wrote.


Although she did not reference the lawsuit in her post, Brougher detailed various ways she was allegedly mistreated at Pinterest

She also said that Morgenfeld wrote in in her performance review that her biggest accomplishment at the company was championing diversity issues.

'Reducing a female executive's achievements to 'diversity' is a common form of gender discrimination,' she wrote. 'Being a woman at Pinterest was not my only accomplishment.'

After being asked to say she had Pinterest on her own terms, 'I was not going to lie to my team and did not sign the NDA presented to me,' Brougher wrote.

'I realized it was more important to finally be an advocate for women at Pinterest, and for anyone else experiencing the pernicious effects of sexism, bias, and retaliation.'

She added that after she was fired, not one board member called 'to hear my side of the story or discuss what had happened'.

Brougher alleges in her blog that other women at Pinterest were also discriminated against.


Brougher alleges in her blog that other women at Pinterest were also discriminated against

She wrote: 'Certain teams could not retain women because the workplace was so toxic. Some women were offered spot bonuses not just to stay at the company, but to stick it out in certain departments that were particularly fraught.

'Women were pushed out for being too candid, others for being too caring. Many women felt they had been under-leveled when they were hired and could not get promoted.'

Brougher went on to write a list of eight steps she recommended both Pinterest and other organisations take to improve workplace culture.

The second recommendation was to 'recognize and dismantle the system of gender bias'.

Brougher wrote: 'We have to stop punishing women for the type of strong leadership that is rewarded in men, and root out the microaggressions that impede female leaders’ ability to be successful.'

Pinterest has been contacted for comment. 

Read more:

Pinterest Accused of Gender Bias in Suit by Former No. 2 Executive - The New York Times

Thai king is seen in public alongside his wife days after thousands risked jail at protest criticizing the playboy royal who spends most of his time in Germany and has amassed a fortune while on throne

Thai king appeared in public for the first time amid mass protests 

Protesters read out a list of demands for the monarchy during a protest last night

Activists called for frank discussion about super-rich King Maha Vajiralongkorn 

Thailand's strict 'lese majeste' law can lead to 15 years in prison for defaming him

By TIM STICKINGS FOR MAILONLINE and REUTERS

12 August 2020

The Thai king has been seen in public for the first time after thousands took to the street to protest against the playboy royal.

Thai King Maha Vajiralongkorn was pictured alongside his wife, Thai Queen Suthida, as they greeted well-wishers after a ceremony to celebrate the brithday of Thai Queen Sirikit, the Queen Mother.

It comes asThai protesters are risking arrest and 15 years in prison by voicing rare public criticism of the country's normally unassailable monarchy.

Around 4,000 protesters listened in Bangkok this week as organisers read out a list of demands for the royal family, including reform of the 'lese majeste' law which protects the King from criticism.

Activists also called for frank discussion about the super-rich King Maha Vajiralongkorn, who has taken personal control of royal assets and has spent much of his time in Germany.

Protesters have previously made veiled references to the King, asking about the weather in Germany and holding up pictures of Harry Potter villain Lord Voldemort, also known as He Who Must Not Be Named.

But the latest protests have featured more direct criticism - prompting a rebuke from prime minister Prayuth Chan-o-cha who said the demonstrators had gone too far.

Thai protesters are risking arrest and 15 years in prison by voicing rare public criticism of the country's normally unassailable monarchy. King Maha Vajiralongkorn is pictured with Queen Suthida at a ceremony to celebrate the birthday of Thai Queen Sirikit, the Queen Mother, near the Grand Palace in Bangkok today


Reports in Germany earlier this year claimed the King (pictured today) was staying at a four-star hotel with a 'harem' of women who were assigned military titles


Palace officials declined to comment on the student protests or on any criticism of the monarchy. The King is pictured with his wife today

Protesters attend an anti-government rally at Thammasat University in Thailand on Monday night, where some demonstrators made demands to reform the monarchy

A pro-democracy protester dressed as a wizard holds up a picture of Lord Voldemort, the Harry Potter villain also known as He Who Must Not Be Named, at a protest last week
Thousands march in protests against the Thai government

Thailand's strict 'lese majeste' law protecting the monarchy from criticism

Thailand's royal defamation law is among the toughest in the world, setting jail terms of three to 15 years for anyone who 'defames, insults or threatens' the King, Queen, heir apparent or regent.

The law is written in Section 112 of the country's Penal Code and is widely known as the 'lese majeste' law, meaning 'to do wrong to majesty' in French.

The law against royal insults has been present in Thai criminal codes since early 1900s, when Thailand was known as Siam, and has been strengthened over the years by successive military rulers.

The prison term was raised to 15 years after 1976 student protests at Thammasat University were crushed.

The King is described in Thailand's constitution as 'enthroned in a position of revered worship'. Thai royalist traditionalists see the monarchy as a sacred institution.

Past convictions have included of a Swiss man jailed for 10 years for defacing pictures of the King, and a French businessman arrested for insulting the monarchy during a Thai Airways flight from London with two Thai royals on board.

However, there were only occasional prosecutions before 2014, when current Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-o-cha took power in a coup, according to Thai Lawyers for Human Rights.Many of those convicted at the time were pardoned by the current king's late father, King Bhumibol Adulyadej, who was widely revered during a 70-year reign until his death in 2016.

But between the 2014 coup and early 2018, at least 98 lese majeste charges were filed, according to a legal database by Thai watchdog iLaw.
Thousands of protesters chanted 'long live democracy' during a protest on a Bangkok university campus on Monday night.

Protesters from a student pro-democracy group made a 10-point call for monarchy reform while others called for the PM's resignation.

The students' demands included the reversal of a 2019 order that transferred two army units to the King's personal command, and a 2017 law that gave him full control of the crown's extensive property holdings.

Estimates of Vajiralongkorn's personal wealth start at $30billion and he has spent much of his time in Europe, including during the coronavirus lockdown.

Reports in Germany earlier this year claimed the King was staying at a four-star hotel with a 'harem' of women who were assigned military titles.

Palace officials declined to comment on the student protests or on any criticism of the monarchy.

Prayuth, a former chief of the armed forces, told reporters he had watched the protests and was very concerned.

'There are a lot of people in trouble waiting for their problems to get fixed, not just the young people. So is doing all of this appropriate?'

'It really went too far,' Prayuth said, without directly commenting on the demands on for royal reform.

Monday's protest prompted a public statement by Thammasat University apologising for the event.

It said that while the university supported free expression, it did not condone 'some references on the monarchy that impact people's feelings'.

Students have previously staged Harry Potter-themed protests and mentioned He Who Must Not Be Named in a veiled reference to the King.

Last week, human rights lawyer Anon Nampa took the stage at Bangkok's Democracy Monument and openly called for the palace's powers to be curbed.

'No other democratic countries allow the king to have this much power over the military,' he told about 200 protesters, with police standing by as he spoke.

'This increases the risk that a monarchy in a democracy could become an absolute monarchy.'

Anon was not arrested under the lese majeste law, but was detained and charged with sedition and breaking coronavirus rules by taking part in the protest.

However, he was released on bail and took part in another pro-democracy protest at the weekend.

Some Thai activits have called for frank discussion about the super-rich King Maha Vajiralongkorn (pictured at his wedding to Queen Suthida in 2019)


Approximately 3,000 anti-government protesters attended a rally in Bangkok on Monday night, the latest in a string of daily protests started by students in late July

Some protesters have worn face masks emblazoned with messages calling for the end of Section 112, the part of the Thai penal code which protects the monarchy from criticism.

While the country has been roiled by decades of political turmoil, the constitution says the monarchy must be held 'in a position of revered worship.'

Any form of challenge to the monarchy was extremely rare under Vajiralongkorn's father, King Bhumibol Adulyadej, who died in 2016 after 70 years on the throne.

The monarchy is also backed by the arch-royalist military, which has staged more than a dozen coups since the end of absolutism in 1932.

Protesters are also calling for a rewrite of the constitution and the dissolution of parliament.

'We're partly inspired by the Hong Kong protests,' said activist Tattep Ruangprapaikitseree, referring to the months-long unrest in the Chinese-run city.

'We have no real leaders or organisers - people just come out by themselves.'

The coronavirus pandemic sent Thailand's economy into freefall, focusing already simmering discontent against the government's handling of the crisis.

Pro-democracy protesters dressed as wizards attend a Harry Potter-themed protest demanding the resignation of Thailand's Prime Minister

Many protesters support the opposition Future Forward Party, whose leaders were banned in February from politics for a decade over electoral breaches.

FFP's mainly young supporters saw this as more evidence that the system was stacked against them.

Royalists have held counter-rallies, though with smaller numbers.

Even though King Vajiralongkorn spends much of his time in Germany, his image is pervasive in Thailan, where gold-framed royal portraits look down on city streets.

Cinemas play a royal anthem at which audiences are traditionally expected to stand, and conservatives say the monarchy is a guarantee of stability.

Some analysts say the military uses its close association with the monarchy to justify its prominent role in Thai politics.

Meanwhile, the king has strengthened his constitutional powers since he took the throne in 2016.

So far, only a handful of the dozens of student protest groups have openly criticised the monarchy, but they are united in demanding change to Thai politics.

https://plawiuk.blogspot.com/2020/08/thailand-warns-anti-government.html

https://plawiuk.blogspot.com/2020/08/thousands-join-thai-anti-government.html

https://plawiuk.blogspot.com/2020/08/testing-royal-taboos-inside-thailands.html

https://plawiuk.blogspot.com/2020/08/thai-protesters-demand-release-of-anti.html

No more fighting like cat and dog: Filling your home with appeasing pheromones could be the key to harmonious pet relationships

Researchers exposed dogs and cats in the same home to different pheromones 

Dog friendly and cat friendly pheromones work to improve relationships at home

They found dog friendly pheromones work best for creating household harmony

By RYAN MORRISON FOR MAILONLINE

PUBLISHED: 12 August 2020

Filling your home with pheromones that appeal to cats and dogs could be the key to a harmonious relationship feline friend and pet pooch, a new study discovered.

Animal behaviour experts from the University of Lincoln examined the impact of different scents on the relationship between different types of household pets.

The new research, led by Professor Daniel Mills and Dr Miriam Prior, explored the effects of two different pheromone products on cat-dog interactions in homes.


Feliway Friends, which emits pheromones that are calming for cats and Adaptil, which does the same for dogs can both be used to create a better environment.

They found that while both chemicals improved overall harmony, Adaptil actually led to positive behavioural changes in dogs which likely made cats more open to forming social bonds with their canine housemates.


Filling your home with pheromones that appeal to cats and dogs could be the key to a harmonious relationship feline friend and pet pooch, a new study discovered

The team from Lincoln worked with pet owners who have cats and dogs under the same roof and said there was 'room for improvement' in the animal relationships.

DOG FRIENDLY PHEROMONES LEAD TO BETTER HARMONY


Researchers found that both dog and cat friendly pheromones helped in terms of pet household harmony.

They both led to a reduction in negative behavioural traits.

However, dog friendly pheromones actually led to an increase in positive behavioural traits in dogs.

This improved overall harmony more than thee cat friendly pheromones.

The team suggest this was due to a reduction in the number of times the dog chased the cat.

This led to the cat being more open to creating a social bond with the dog.


The results show that both products had a positive impact on the interactions between cats and dogs living in the same home.

Over a six week period, both products led to a notable decrease in undesirable interactions between the two typical pet species.

This included dog chasing cat, cat hiding from dog, cat and dog staring at each other, and dog barking at cat.

Users of Adaptil even observed a significant increase in some desirable behaviours - friendly greetings between cat and dog, and time spent relaxing in the same room.

'We believe this is the first study of its kind to explore the use of pheromone products to improve the relationship when the two species are living in the same household,' explained Professor Mills.

'Seven per cent of households in the UK own both a cat and a dog, which represents a large number of pet owners and their animals living with potentially stressful animal relationships on a day-to-day basis,' he explained.

'Many cat and dog owners report that their animals are comfortable in each other's company, but where this isn't the case, a poor relationship between a resident cat and dog can have serious consequences for the welfare of individual animals.'

The team say this could be revealed as an unacceptable level of social stress or restricted access to resources such as food, water or toilet areas.


'There will also be increased stress for the remainder of the family (both human and animal), and potential risks of injury due to conflict,' Mills said.

A problematic relationship between a new pet and an existing pet is one of the main reasons for cats and dogs being taken to shelters for rehoming, experts claim.

The pet owners involved in this new scientific trial reported weekly on the frequency of 10 specific undesirable interactions and seven specific desirable interactions between their cats and dogs.

They were split into two groups - one group using Feliway Friends and the other using Adaptil, with the pheromones supplied in unlabelled packaging and randomly assigned by an independent staff member.

This was so that neither the participants nor the researchers knew which product was being trialled in each household until after the statistics had been collected.

They found that while both chemicals improved overall harmony, Adaptil actually led to positive behavioural changes in dogs which likely made cats more open to forming social bonds with their canine housemates

The researchers were aware that in many households, the comfortability of the cat seems to have a stronger influence over the quality of the cat-dog relationship.

It could therefore be seen as surprising that it was the product releasing dog pheromones which was seen to increase specific desirable interactions.

Miriam, a Lincoln-based vet said Feliway Friends should have in theory been more effective as cat comfort is usually more important in their relationship with dogs.

'This did not appear to be the case. Our results might be explained by the behaviour of the dog being the primary determinant of the cat's quality of interaction with it.

'We would like to investigate this further to really tease out the effects of these pheromone products individually and also to investigate their use in combination with each other,' said Miriam.

'We suggest that Adaptil may have had such a beneficial effect because a more relaxed dog may be less likely to disturb the cat, resulting in a cat that is less stressed and more willing to form some form of social bond with the dog.'

The Lincoln University study involved products provided free of charge with no condition on their use by Ceva Animal Health - but they didn’t fund the research.

The findings have been published in the journal Frontiers in Veterinary Science.

DOGS FIRST BECAME DOMESTICATED ABOUT 20,000 to 40,000 YEARS AGO


A genetic analysis of the world's oldest known dog remains revealed that dogs were domesticated in a single event by humans living in Eurasia, around 20,000 to 40,000 years ago.

Dr Krishna Veeramah, an assistant professor in evolution at Stony Brook University, told MailOnline: 'The process of dog domestication would have been a very complex process, involving a number of generations where signature dog traits evolved gradually.

'The current hypothesis is that the domestication of dogs likely arose passively, with a population of wolves somewhere in the world living on the outskirts of hunter-gatherer camps feeding off refuse created by the humans.

'Those wolves that were tamer and less aggressive would have been more successful at this, and while the humans did not initially gain any kind of benefit from this process, over time they would have developed some kind of symbiotic [mutually beneficial] relationship with these animals, eventually evolving into the dogs we see today.'

Read more:
Frontiers | Cats vs. Dogs: The Efficacy of Feliway FriendsTM and AdaptilTM Products in Multispecies Homes | Veterinary Science

Big Pharma spent nearly $250 MILLION to sway lawmakers amid the pandemic: 

Firms making coronavirus drugs and vaccines like Biogen and Novartis accounted for 25% of all lobbying spending in the first quarter of 2020

Researchers found the health sector spent $250million lobbying lawmakers from January 1 to March 31 of 2020

This accounts of one-fourth of all lobbying funds, across all industries, for the first first quarter of the year 

About $100 million came from the top 30 health organizations, 16 of which are pharmaceutical companies 

Biogen Inc, headquartered in Cambridge, Massachusetts, increased its lobbyist spending by 344% from 2019

By MARY KEKATOS SENIOR HEALTH REPORTER FOR DAILYMAIL.COM

PUBLISHED:12 August 2020

The health sector spent nearly $250 million lobbying lawmakers amid the novel coronavirus pandemic, a new study suggests.

Researchers found that companies making drugs and vaccines for COVID-19, the disease caused by the virus, accounted for one-fourth of all lobbying funds in the first quarter of 2020.

What's more, the increase in medical lobbying spending was 10 times greater than the increase by non-health sector lobbyists.

This was especially apparent in the pharmaceutical industry, with some companies growing their lobbying spending by as much as 350 percent, according to the team from Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah.

Researchers found the health sector spent $250million lobbying lawmakers from January 1 to March 31 of 2020. Pictured: Seven CEOs of pharmaceutical companies testify before the Senate Finance Committee on February 26, 2019

So far, Congress has authorized about $3 trillion in spending to help address the economic crisis caused by COVID-19.

With more funds expected - pending Democrat and Republican negotiations - this has led to a surge in health sector lobbying activity, especially within the pharmaceutical industry.

'This is like sharks to blood, or bees to honey, if you prefer a milder metaphor,' said co-author Dr Bill Tayler, an accounting professor at the BYU Marriott School of Business.

'Congress is giving out a lot of money, so the lobbyists are swarming. Lobbying activity levels are typically fairly stable, so when you see jumps like this, it's a big deal.'

For the study, published in the Journal of General Internal Medicine, the team looked at lobbying expenditures in the fourth quarter of 2019 and the first quarter of 2020.

Results showed that lobbying spending hit $248.4 million between January 1 and March 31, and 357 new lobbyist registrations were filed during this period.

This means health sector lobbying spending spiked by more than 10 percent in the first quarter, while non-health sector spending rose by only one percent.

The number of new lobbyists registered in the health sector grew by an astonishing 140 percent, but those in the non-health sector rose increased by just 63 percent.

Pharma companies awarded billions in search for COVID vaccine



Additionally, researchers found the biggest increases came from the pharmaceutical industry, making up 16 of the top 30 healthcare organizations in lobbyist spending.

Illinois-based AbbVie Inc's spending soared by 155 percent whole Novartis International AG, based in Switzerland, increased its lobbyist spending by 259 percent this year over last year.

Biogen Inc, headquartered in Cambridge, Massachusetts, increased its lobbyist spending by 344 percent.

Novartis and AbbVie are both currently running clinical trials in an attempt to identify therapeutics to treat symptoms of coronavirus.

Meanwhile, Biogen has teamed up with pharmaceutical company Vir to help develop and manufacture monoclonal antibodies as a potential COVID-19 treatment.

Overall, the top 30 healthcare organizations spent $100 million on lobbying in quarter one of 2020, 55 percent more than they did in quarter four of 2019.

The researchers say the findings show the 'loud voice' so-called Big Pharma has as smaller businesses have struggled to get funds from Congress.

'It's important to follow the money,' said co-author Dr John Barrick, an accounting professor at BYU and expert on lobbying policy.

'Dollars spent on lobbying influence the allocation of funds and, right or wrong, I think that's what people need to know.' 

Pharma execs forecast aggressive vaccine timeline

More signs airborne coronavirus can infect you: Hospital discovers contagious virus particles floating 16 FEET away from patients

Aerosol transmission of coronavirus occurs when respiratory droplets break up into tiny particles that can be inhaled

Researchers took air samples from a hospital room with two coronavirus patients, one of whom had an active infection

Contagious virus particles were found between seven feet and 16 feet away from the patients 

The genome sequencing of the virus in the air samples was the same as that of the swab of the patient with the active infection

By MARY KEKATOS SENIOR HEALTH REPORTER FOR DAILYMAIL.COM
12 August 2020


There is currently a great deal of controversy about how much of a role liquid droplets in the air - or aerosols - play in spreading the novel coronavirus.

But a new study from the University of Florida has confirmed that these droplets don't just contain bits of genetic material, but are actually infectious.

Air samples collected from a hospital room found contagious virus particles between seven feet and 16 feet away from patients lying in their beds.


The latter is much greater distance than the six feet guidelines recommended by public health experts to help prevent the spread of COVID-19.




In a new study from the University of Florida, researchers took air samples from a hospital room with two coronavirus patients, one of whom had an active infection (above)


Infectious coronavirus particles were found in air samples taken between seven feet and 16 feet away from the patients (above)

Up until recently, the World Health Organization (WHO) claimed aerosol transmission of coronavirus was only possible in hospitals during medical procedures with nebulizers and suctioning.

Last month, the WHO formally recognized that SARS-CoV-2, the official name of the virus, can be carried by aerosols.

But there are still many experts, among agencies such as the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Public Health England, who have downplayed the role of aerosols and focused on droplets spread via coughing and sneezing.

Aerosol spread occurs when respiratory droplets produce tiny particles, measuring less than five micrometers, which is smaller than a particle of pollen.

These aerosols can be inhaled, and if enough are, have the ability to cause infection.

This method is more dangerous in terms of transmission than respiratory droplets, but can be lessened by avoiding crowded indoor spaces.



For the study, published on the pre-print site medRxiv.org, the team collected air samples from the room of two coronavirus patients at the University of Florida Health Shands Hospital.

One of the patients had an active infection and neither underwent medical procedures that the WHO claims are the primary drivers of aerosol transmission.

What's more, the room had been previously outfitted with safety measures such as six air changes per hour and ultraviolet lights.

Researchers used viable virus aerosol samplers, which enlarged aerosolized virus particles to capture them, and then tested them.

Tests showed that viable virus capable of infection was found in samples collected between seven and 16 feet (two to 4.8 meters) away from patients.

The genome sequence of the virus found in air samples was identical to that from a swab of the patient with the active infection.

The genome sequencing of the virus in the air samples was the same as that of the swab of the patient with the active infection. Pictured: A member of the medical staff treats a patient who is wearing helmet-based ventilator in the COVID-19 ICU at the United Memorial Medical Center in Houston, Texas, July 28

ACCORDING TO THIS THE ONLY STATE NOT TO HAVE ANY

COVID-19 CASES IS ALASKA (AK) LOWER RIGHT HAND CORNER


Computer models how far coronavirus could spread during cough

Several experts say this is clear evidence of the danger of aerosol spread, including Dr Linsey Marr, an engineering professor at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University.

'If this isn't a smoking gun, then I don't know what is,' she tweeted last week.

The team says the public health implications of the findings are broad because the current best practices for limiting coronavirus spread are social distancing, wearing masks and washing hands.

However, measures such as standing six feet apart are not helpful in an indoor setting when it comes to aerosol transmission.

'With the current surges of cases, to help stem the COVID-19 pandemic, clear guidance on control measures against SARS-CoV-2 aerosols are needed, as recently voiced by other scientists,' the authors wrote.

In the US, there are currently more than 5.1 million confirmed cases of the virus and more than 164,000 deaths.

THE #TRUMPVIRUS


Read more:
Viable SARS-CoV-2 in the air of a hospital room with COVID-19 patients | medRxiv
twitter.com/lins...

WHO Director-General gives grim update as world nears 750k deaths

CLIMATE CHANGE KILLS CLIMATE SCIENTIST

US climate change expert died 'falling into Greenland crevasse'

Swiss-American climate change expert dies after 'falling into a crevasse when a snow bridge collapsed beneath him’ while working on a glacier in Greenland

Geologist Konrad Steffen, 68, was reported missing from his camp on Saturday

Police called of the search for Mr Steffen on Sunday, believing he had fallen

Mr Steffen was a 'leading scientists in his field' and his 'loss is very profound'

By JOE DAVIES FOR MAILONLINE

PUBLISHED: 12 August 2020

A prominent Swiss-American climate change expert has died after falling into a crevasse 'when a snow bridge collapsed beneath him' in Greenland.

Geologist Konrad Steffen, director of the Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research (WSL), was reported missing on Saturday.

Mr Steffen, known as Koni, is believed to have fallen into a crevasse while examining a glacier near Ilulissat in southwest Greenland, his research institute said today.

Christoph Hegg, Deputy Director of WSL, said: 'His loss is very profound.

'He was very much involved in the IPCC chapters on ice and oceans. There he was one of the leading scientists in his field.'

Geologist Konrad Steffen, director of the Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research (WSL) has died after reportedly falling through a crevasse in the ice in Greenland


The Swiss-American climate change expert was reported missing 100 metres from his camp in Ilulissat on the southwest of the country

After going missing on Saturday, police initiated a search operation and on Sunday found evidence that the 68-year-old researcher had suffered a fatal accident.

Police spokesman Brian Thomsen told local newspaper Sermitsiaq: 'We have found signs that the person fell through a crack in the glacier.

'An accident has probably occurred and it is highly probable that the person in question has passed away.'

The search near Ilulissat in southwest Greenland was then abandoned, without the body being found.


During his annual expeditions, Mr Steffen and his teams would examine the Arctic snowpack in particular


Mr Steffen was 'one of the leading scientists in his field' according to Christoph Hegg, Deputy Director of the Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research (WSL)

The accident occurred a mere 100 metres from the camp - dubbed the 'Swiss Camp' - where Steffen was staying, according to a Twitter post by fellow scientist Kathy Riklin, who said it seemed a snow bridge had collapsed under him.

In Greenland, Steffen, assisted by NASA and the US National Science Foundation, had been building a network of automatic weather stations since 1990.

At the time of the accident he was doing maintenance on these stations, according to Hegg.

During his annual expeditions, he and his teams would examine the Arctic snowpack in particular.


The search for Mr Steffen near Ilulissat in southwest Greenland (pictured) was abandoned on Sunday without the body being found

The Domain of the Swiss Federal Institutes of Technology (ETH) board president Michael Hengartner paid tribute to the scientist.

He said: 'With Koni Steffen's death, we have lost a uniquely kind and committed colleague. Everyone in the ETH Domain is greatly saddened by this loss.

'Our thoughts are with his family and friends, to whom we send our heartfelt condolences.'

Born in 1952, Konrad Steffen was a dual Swiss and American citizen. He had headed the WSL since 2012. Having studied natural sciences, he gained a doctorate from ETH Zurich in 1984. 

In 1990 he was appointed as Professor of Climatology at the University of Colorado in Boulder, USA, where he subsequently headed the Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences (CIRES).

Current CIRES Director Waleed Abdalati, who earned his Ph.D. under Konrad Steffen's mentorship, said Steffen's death is a huge loss for the polar science community, as it is for his family.

Abdalati said: 'I take some small comfort knowing he was where he wanted to be, doing what he wanted to be doing.'

Horses for courses: Early Britons ate every part of the horse – including its marrow, internal organs and stomach contents, 480,000-year-old bones reveal

Archaeologists excavated an ancient site in modern-day Sussex, near Boxgrove

Found remains of a mare which was ravaged for food around 480,000 years ago 

Believed the animal fed up to 40 individuals of species Homo heidelbergensis

Every part of the animal was devoured, including fat, organs, marrow and stomach contents

By XANTHA LEATHAM FOR THE DAILY MAIL and JOE PINKSTONE FOR MAILONLINE
11 August 2020

Ancient human ancestors living in Britain 480,000 years ago butchered and devoured an entire horse, scientists have discovered.

An archeological dig at a site in Boxgrove, Sussex, which is home to Britain's oldest human remains, revealed the mare's remains which had been picked clean.

Nothing of the wild equine went to waste, with the prehistoric humans eating fat, internal organs and even the horse's stomach contents.

The bones of the animal's skeleton were smashed open with stones to allow people to suck out the grease and marrow.

+7
Pictured, the excavation of the Horse Butchery Site, Boxgrove, under excavation in 1990. (Copyright UCL Institute of Archaeology)

+7
Pictured, a group of over 100 refitted flint shards left over from making a single tool which has been dubbed ‘The Football’ by archaeologists. The tool itself was not recovered, it was removed from the site by the Boxgrove people. The shape of the tool was determined by casting the void left within the reconstructed waste material

It is thought up to 40 individuals of the species Homo heidelbergensis would have been fed by the horse's carcass.

This primitive hominin first evolved in Africa and arrived in Europe about half a million years ago.

Modern humans, known as Homo sapiens, didn't live in Britain until around 40,000 years ago, it is believed.

Dr Matthew Pope, who led the project, said: 'This was an exceptionally rare opportunity to examine a site pretty much as it had been left behind by an extinct population, after they had gathered to totally process the carcass of a dead horse on the edge of a coastal marshland.

'We can see the bones of this large, female horse have been completely smashed up. We know the humans also got at other parts of the body like the brain and tongue.'

He adds that the primitive humans likely went through the stomach and ate the contents because it could have been a source of vegetables.

'Back then it was really difficult to get access to good plant resources, and salad leaves and edible vegetables weren't available all year round,' he adds.

'We know from accounts of people who live in environments which are intensely seasonal that you can get nutrients out of the partially digested stomach contents of animals.

'Where are early humans getting their greens from? We can't say for certain, but that's one way they could get it.

'We can't eat grass, but if it's been partially digested by a horse then maybe we can.'

Pictured, an artistic rendering of the Horse Butchery Site and the Boxgrove people. It shows how the site was situated in front of towering chalk cliffs on the edge of an intertidal lagoon. The cliffs to the north provided all the flint used in tool making at the site. It is thought up to 40 individuals would have been fed by the horse's remains. These are thought to belong to the early human species Homo heidelbergensis


Pictured, 3D scans of the stone flakes used as tools by the primitive human species almost 500,000 years ago

Pictured, a tool made from bone and one of the oldest organic tools in the world. The bone shows scraping marks used to prepare it as well as pitting left behind from its use in making flint tools, researchers say

The horse provided more than just food - detailed analysis of the bones found that several had been made into tools called retouchers.

Simon Parfitt, also from the UCL archaeology team, said: 'These are some of the earliest non-stone tools found in the archaeological record of human evolution.

'They would have been essential for manufacturing the finely made flint knives found in the wider Boxgrove landscape.'

Horsemeat used to be a very common sight on the British high street and only fell out of favour in the 1930s when the public began to identify the animals more as pets and companions.

However it is still popular in countries such as France, Mexico and Japan.

Dr Silvia Bello, from the Natural History Museum, says the discovery of the ravaged horse tells us more about some of Britain's earliest inhabitants,

She says: 'The finding provides evidence that early human cultures understood the properties of different organic materials and how tools could be made to improve the manufacture of other tools.

'Along with the careful butchery of the horse and the complex social interaction hinted at by the stone refitting patterns, it provides further evidence that early human population at Boxgrove were cognitively, social and culturally sophisticated.'

The project was funded by Historic England, the Arts and Humanities Research Council and details are published in a book, titled 'The Horse Butchery Site: a high resolution record of Lower Palaeolithic hominin behaviour at Boxgrove, UK'.

Pictured, a large collection of knapping tools as seen during initial excavation in 1989. The horse provided more than just food - detailed analysis of the bones found that several had been made into tools called retouchers

The Horse Butchery Site is one of many excavated in quarries near Boxgrove, Sussex, an internationally significant area – in the guardianship of English Heritage – that is home to Britain’s oldest human remains. The site was one of many excavated at Boxgrove in the 1980s and 90s by the UCL Institute of Archaeology

WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT HOMO HEIDELBERGENSIS?

Homo heidelbergensis lived in Europe, between 650,000 and 300,000 years ago, just before Neanderthal man.

Homo heidelbergensis, shares features with both modern humans and our homo erectus ancestors.

The early human species had a very large browridge, and a larger braincase and flatter face than older early human species.

Homo heidelbergensis lived in Europe, between 650,000 and 300,000 years ago, just before Neanderthal man

It was the first early human species to live in colder climates, and had a ­­­short, wide body adapted to conserve heat.

It lived at the time of the oldest definite control of fire and use of wooden spears, and it was the first early human species to routinely hunt large animals.

This early human also broke new ground; it was the first species to build shelters, creating simple dwellings out of wood and rock.

Males were on average 5 ft 9 in (175 cm) and weighed 136lb (62kg) while females averaged 5 ft 2 in (157 cm) and weighed in at 112 lbs (51 kg).

Source: Smithsonian

Dinosaur bones found on the Isle of Wight belong to a close relative of Tyrannosaurus rex that walked the Earth 115 million years ago

Four bones from the same species of dinosaur were found in the Isle of Wight

Bones were found in Shanklin and are of the neck, back and tail of the creature

The dinosaur was named Vectaerovenator inopinatus and is a type of Theropod

By RYAN MORRISON FOR MAILONLINE

PUBLISHED:  12 August 2020

A number of bones found on the Isle of Wight belong to a new species of theropod dinosaur that was a cousin of the Tyrannosaurus rex, according to researchers.

Palaeontologists from the University of Southampton have been studying four bones from the new dinosaur that was up to 13ft long and related to modern birds.

The team say the long-extinct creature would have lived in the Cretaceous period about 115 million years ago and has been named Vectaerovenator inopinatus.


The name refers to the large air spaces in some of the bones, one of the traits that helped the scientists identify its theropod origins - also seen in modern birds.


Artist’s impression of the dinosaur's final moments. Given that it was found in an area that would have been covered by a shallow sea, it's believed the dinosaur was swept into the water


Silhouette of a theropod indicating where the bones are from. Palaeontologists from the University of Southampton have been studying four bones from the new dinosaur that was up to 13ft long and related to modern birds

Southampton researchers say the air sacs likely helped fuel an efficient breathing system while also making the skeleton lighter and letting it grow larger.

The bones, discovered on the foreshore at Shanklin last year, are from the neck, back and tail of the extinct creature and were found over a period of weeks.

They were spotted in three discoveries - two by individuals and one by a family group, who all handed in their finds to the nearby Dinosaur Isle Museum at Sandown.

Scientific study has confirmed the fossils are very likely to be from the same individual dinosaur, according to researchers.

Robin Ward, a regular fossil hunter from Stratford-upon-Avon, was with his family visiting the Isle of Wight when they made their discovery.

'The joy of finding the bones we discovered was absolutely fantastic. I thought they were special and so took them when we visited Dinosaur Isle Museum,' he said.

'They immediately knew these were something rare and asked if we could donate them to the museum to be fully researched.'

James Lockyer, from Spalding, Lincolnshire was also visiting the island when he found another of the bones likely belonging to the same ancient beast.

'It looked different from marine reptile vertebrae I have come across in the past,' he said, adding that he was told he was unlikely to find very much in Shanklin.

'However, I always make sure I search the areas others do not, and on this occasion it paid off,' Lockyer explained.

After studying the four vertebrae, palaeontologists from the University of Southampton confirmed that the bones are likely to belong to a genus of dinosaur previously unknown to science.


Still images of the vertebrae. The team say the long-extinct creature would have lived in the Cretaceous period about 115 million years ago and has been named Vectaerovenator inopinatus

Still images of the vertebrae. Southampton researchers say the air sacs likely helped fuel an efficient breathing system while also making the skeleton lighter and letting it grow larger


Still images of the vertebrae. After studying the four vertebrae, palaeontologists from the University of Southampton confirmed that the bones are likely to belong to a genus of dinosaur previously unknown to science

Chris Barker, a PhD student at the university who led the study, said they were struck by just how hollow this animal was, adding that it was riddled with air spaces

'Parts of its skeleton must have been rather delicate,' he explained.

'The record of theropod dinosaurs from the 'mid' Cretaceous period in Europe isn't that great, so it's been really exciting to be able to increase our understanding of the diversity of dinosaur species from this time.'

It is unusual to find dinosaurs in the deposits at Shanklin as they were laid down in a marine habitat - so you usually find fossil oysters or driftwood.

Scientists say that it is likely the Vectaerovenator lived in an area just north of where its remains were found, with the carcass having washed out into the shallow sea.
Animation shows how a dinosaur track is made relating to feet moving

Notable fossilised finds found on the Isle of Wight in recent years

210-pound ammonite


Pictured, an ammonite which has been described as a 'behemoth' and as 'truly titanic'

An enormous fossil weighing almost 210 pounds and measuring around two feet in diameter was found on the Isle of Wight in 2020.

The ammonite was spotted and pried loose of surrounding rock by university students Jack Wonfor, 19, and Theo Vickers, 21.

Ammonites are extinct sea creatures and part of the mollusc family, like sea snails, with Mr Wonfor and Mr Vickers calling their specimen an 'amazing example'.

The 210-pound (96kg) fossil is thought to be around 115 million years old, living during the Cretaceous period.

Iguanodon tail


The fossilised remains of the the dinosaur — believed to be an iguanodon — were found embedded at the base a cliff-face near Brighstone

A fossilised tail from a dinosaur that roamed the world 125million years ago was discovered at the bottom of a crumbling cliff on the Isle of Wight in 2019.

The remains of the the dinosaur — believed to be an iguanodon — were found embedded at the base a cliff-face near Brighstone.

But excavations and attempts to salvage the tail for detailed analysis are currently being thwarted, due to safety risks posed by the crumbling cliff.

It is thought around six vertebrae have been uncovered, and local media reported that the dinosaur died and was exposed to the elements for several months before being buried by a large flash flood.

Footprint uncovered of a 130 million-year-old therapod


A dinosaur footprint, pictured, uncovered on a beach on the Isle of Wight by Storm Ciara belongs to a 130-million-year-old therapod, fossil hunters claim

A dinosaur footprint uncovered on a beach on the Isle of Wight by Storm Ciara belongs to a 130-million-year-old therapod, fossil hunters claim.

The print is thought to have been left by a Neovenator — a carnivore that could reach 25 feet (7.6 m) in length and weigh up to 4,400 pounds (2,000 kg).

The footprint was discovered by the Wight Coast Fossils group at Sandown Bay, on the island's southeastern coast, on February 12, 2020.

Chinese pterodactyl

The fossil of a pterosaur that is commonly found in China and Brazil was found on the Isle of Wight.

The petrified remains of the flying reptile's jawbone was spotted by a dog walker in Sandown Bay, on the island's south-east coast.

The jaw of the specimen — which has been dubbed 'Wightia declivirostris' — lacked teeth and is related to a group of pterosaurs known as the 'tapejarids'.

125million-year-old superpterosaur with 20ft wingspan

With a 20-foot wingspan and weighing a colossal 650lbs, the giant pterosaur cast an imposing figure swooping through the skies of the Jurassic Age.

And 125million years later, the beast's massive size continues to marvel scientists who have discovered the remains of one of the beasts wedged deep into the cliffs of the Isle of Wight.

The Hatzegopteryx fossil has shed new light on this magnificent species which some believe was the biggest flying creature of the period.

Tiny crocodile that roamed Earth 126 million years ago


Pictured, the remains of a 126million-year-old crocodile

A news species of crocodile that lived 126million years ago was discovered after a pair of skull fragments were found three months apart back in 2014.

Two fragments of crocodile fossils were found by two different collectors and led to the discovery of the ancient button-toothed crocodile.

It might have only measured two feet long, but the diminutive crocodile walked with Dinosaurs and had sharp teeth.

Based upon the two fragments, which were pieced together on the Isle of Wight and together measure around 11cm long, the animal is thought to have been around 2ft long from nose to tail.

A piece from the back half of the crocodile’s skull was found on a beach near Sandown on the island by collector Diane Trevarthen.

Crow-sized flying dinosaur that lived 115 million years ago


Pictured, the fossil found by Daisy Morris which belongs to a previously unknown type of pterosaur

A young girl, then just five years old, called Daisy Morris, spotted a fossil on the Isle of Wight in 2008.

Palaeontologists later studied the remains and found it was a previously unknown type of pterosaur.

It was named Vectidraco Daisymorrisae after Daisy was roughly the size of a crow and was a previously unknown type of pterosaur.

The flying reptile is from 115 million years ago in the Lower Cretaceous period.

With a pelvis length of 40 mm, the new animal would have had a total length of 350 mm, and a wingspan of 750 mm, the researchers say.

The pterosaur has now been donated to the Natural History Museum.

Air pollution is cutting life expectancy by two years, despite global efforts to improve air quality during the coronavirus pandemic, study reveals

Air pollution lowered global life expectancy by nearly two years, according to a new report 

While some countries have improved, pollution has actually worsened in others 

The World Health Organization estimates 4.2 million die yearly due to air pollution

COVID-19 lockdowns have had minimal impact on the most harmful pollutants

By DAN AVERY FOR DAILYMAIL.COM

PUBLISHED: 12 August 2020

Air pollution continues to cut global life expectancy, despite efforts worldwide to improve air quality.

The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates 4.2 million people die every year due to outdoor air pollution, making it a bigger threat to human health than cigarette smoking, AIDS and tuberculosis.

Particulate matter is a mixture of solid and liquid particles in the air created by traffic, construction sites, burning fossil fuels, and other sources.


For at least two decades, the Air Quality Life Index (AQLI) has found that particulate matter pollution has reduced life expectancy worldwide by almost two years, compared to what it would be if air quality met WHO's standards.



The Bangkok skyline on January 30, 2019. A new report indicates that despite efforts worldwide to improve air quality, pollution is responsible for shortening the global life expectancy by nearly two years

The problem is that progress made by concerned governments has been counterbalanced by worsening air pollution in other nations, according to economist Michael Greenstone, creator of the AQLI and director of the University of Chicago's Energy Policy Institute.

Since 2013, China has reduced particulate pollution by nearly 40 percent.

If it's efforts continue, Greenstone said, citizens could expect to live about two years longer.

But in Bangladesh, India, Nepal, and Pakistan - which, combined, are home to a quarter of the world's population - pollution levels have risen 44 percent in the past 20 years.


Efforts made by some countries are being offset by worsening conditions in other places. While air pollution has declined in China 40 percent since 2013, it's increased 44 percent in Bangladesh, India, Nepal, and Pakistan over the past two decades (Pictured: Factories near Tokyo)

Greenstone predicts residents of those countries could see their life expectancy decline by an average of five years.

Acknowledging the grave threat posed by COVID-19, he added that 'embracing the seriousness of air pollution with a similar vigor would allow billions of people around the world to lead longer and healthier lives.'

Instead global efforts to improve air quality are falling far short of the mark: More than half the world is being exposed to increasing amounts of air pollution, according to a recent report from the University of Exeter.

Researchers measured air quality trends worldwide between 2010 and 2016 and combined it with satellite imagery to provide annual air quality profiles for individual countries and regions.

In all, 55.3 percent of the world's population was exposed to increasing levels of air pollution over the six-year window.

Some regions are now five times above safety levels for particulate matter.

Coronavirus lockdowns have led to some improvements in air quality, but the impact on particulate matter and ozone, the two pollutants most harmful to humans, has been minimal.

And people living in areas with poor air quality may be at higher risk of contracting the coronavirus.

According to a report in Science of The Total Environment, particulate matter can 'carry' COVID-19 through the air.

It may also make lung cells more susceptible to the virus, increasing the chances of more severe symptoms.

Viruses absorbed by particulate matter can remain 'airborne for hours or days,' according to the study's authors.

In Italy, the areas hardest hit by COVID-19 also have significant air pollution. Lombardi and Emilia Romagna in northern Italy have heavy vehicle traffic, a lot of factories, and are surrounded by mountains that block adequate air flow.

Both regions also have higher mortality rates from COVID-19 than other parts of Italy, though scientists haven't ruled out other factors at play.

WHAT CAN POLLUTION DO TO CHILDREN'S HEALTH?

CAUSE CHILDREN TO HAVE A LOW IQ: Researchers at the University of California, San Francisco, found in May 2019 that children born to mothers who live in polluted areas have an IQ that is up to seven points lower than those living in places with cleaner air.

CAUSE CHILDREN TO HAVE POORER MEMORY: Researchers at the Barcelona Institute for Global Health found boys exposed to greater levels of PM2.5 in the womb performed worse on memory tests by the time they are 10.

DELAY THE DEVELOPMENT OF CHILDREN: Youngsters who live less than one-third of a mile away from busy roads are twice as likely to score lower on tests of communication skills in infancy, found researchers at Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health in April. They were also more likely to have poorer hand-eye coordination.

MAKE CHILDREN MORE ANXIOUS: University of Cincinnati scientists claimed pollution may alter the structure of children's brains to make them more anxious. Their study of 14 youngsters found rates of anxiety was higher among those exposed to greater levels of pollution.

CUT YOUR CHILD'S LIFE SHORT: Children born today will lose nearly two years of their lives because of air pollution, according to a report by the US-based Health Effects Institute and the University of British Columbia in April 2019. UNICEF called for action on the back of the study.

RAISE A CHILD'S RISK OF AUTISM: Researchers at Monash University in Australia discovered youngsters living in highly polluted parts of Shanghai have a 86 per cent greater chance of developing ASD. Lead author Dr Yuming Guo said: 'The developing brains of young children are more vulnerable to toxic exposures in the environment.'

CAUSE ASTHMA IN CHILDREN: Four million children around the world develop asthma each year because of road traffic pollution, a major study by academics at George Washington University estimated. Experts are divided as to what causes asthma - but exposure to pollution in childhood increases the risk by damaging the lungs.

MAKE CHILDREN FAT: University of Southern California experts found last November that 10 year olds who lived in polluted areas when they were babies are, on average, 2.2lbs (1kg), heavier than those who grew up around cleaner air. Nitrogen dioxide pollution could disrupt how well children burn fat, the scientists said.

Before-and-after shows how lockdown has cleaned the Bangkok skyline