Author: Starvision News Desk

Sydney, Aug 29 (IANS) In a world’s first such case, a team of Australian neurosurgeons has removed an eight cm-long parasitic roundworm from a patient who complained of forgetfulness and depression.The world’s first case of a new parasitic infection in humans was discovered by researchers at The Australian National University (ANU) and the Canberra Hospital after they detected a live roundworm from a carpet python in the brain of a 64-year-old Australian woman.The Ophidascaris robertsi roundworm was pulled from the patient after brain surgery — still alive and wriggling. It is suspected larvae, or juveniles, were also present in other…

New Delhi, Aug 29 (IANS) Air pollution is shortening lives in the National Capital Territory of Delhi, the most polluted city in the world, by 11.9 years, according to a new study.As per the Air Quality Life Index (AQLI) report for 2023 by the University of Chicago’s Energy Policy Institute, India is the world’s second most polluted country and Delhi is the most polluted city in the world.The findings based on PM2.5 data for 2021 derived from satellites showed that pollution in India has increased from micrograms per cubic metre air in 2020 to 58.7 micrograms per cubic metre air…

Lucknow, Aug 29 (IANS) Doctors at a private hospital in Lucknow have successfully operated upon a 42-year-old man suffering from a rare brain tumour -ependymoma.Ependymoma is a type of tumour that can form in the brain or spinal cord and develops from ependymal cells in the brain’s ventricles. These ventricles have cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) for protection of the brain and spinal cord.When these ependymal cells grow uncontrollably, they give rise to tumours that block the flow of CSF.It has an incidence rate of 22 in every 10 lakh and affects both children and adults.Dr Bhawan Nangrawal, who led the surgical…

New Delhi, Aug 29 (IANS) India has registered 23 new Covid cases in the past 24 hours, the Health Ministry said on Tuesday.With the addition of the 23 new cases, the total tally of Covid-19 reported so far in the country stand at 4,49,97,056.According to the Ministry’s data, 38 more people have recovered from the disease, taking the tally to 4,44,63,618. The recovery rate stands at 98.91 per cent.The active caseload stands at 1,509, and death toll at 5,31,929.As per the data, over 220.67 crore doses of Covid-19 vaccine administered so far.–IANS std/dan

New York, Aug 29 (IANS) The infiltration of microplastics is as widespread in the body as it is in the environment, leading to changes in behaviour and also in the brain, especially in the elderly people, according to a study.Plastics — in particular, microplastics — are among the most pervasive pollutants on the planet, finding their way into the air, water systems and food chains around the world.Researchers from the University of Rhode Island in the US focused on neurobehavioural effects and inflammatory response to exposure to microplastics, as well as the accumulation of microplastics in tissues, including the brain.The…

New York, Aug 29 (IANS) A 46-year-old Indian-origin doctor of dental surgery in California has pleaded guilty to stealing $500,000 Covid-19 relief money and using it for personal expenditures, such as investments. Ranjan Rajbanshi, who ran a dental practice in Bakersfield and Santa Barbara, received over $850,000 in Covid relief money from the Small Business Administration (SBA) and the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) from April 2020 through February 2022. He represented to the government that he would only use the relief money for specified business purposes such as facility costs, payroll, and protective equipment for him…

Kuala Lumpur, Aug 29 (IANS) Malaysia will allocate 2 billion ringgit ($430 million ) as a seed fund National Energy Transition Facility to enable catalytic blended finance, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim announced on Tuesday.In his remarks at the second phase of the National Energy Transition Roadmap, Anwar said the facility would enable catalytic blended finance to ensure a seamless flow of financial resources towards energy transition projects that are marginally bankable or yielding below-market returns, reports Xinhua news agency.Considering Malaysia’s current state of immature decarbonization technologies, the country’s progress would significantly hinge on alternative energy sources and robust regional and…

Wellington, Aug 29 (IANS) The New Zealand government on Tuesday announced its plans to ban bottom fishing from the vast bulk of the Hauraki Gulf to better protect the 1.2-million-hectare marine park.Options announced showed bottom-trawling and Danish seining could be banned from up to 89 per cent of the Hauraki Gulf marine park, reports Xinhua news agency.Currently, only 27 per cent of the gulf is closed to bottom trawling and Danish seining.”Aucklanders and others have called for greater protection for their beloved big blue backyard, the Hauraki Gulf,” Oceans and Fisheries Minister Rachel Brooking said before a public consultation opening…

Jakarta, Aug 29 (IANS) A 6.1-magnitude earthquake rocked Indonesia’s eastern province of Maluku on Tuesday without causing a tsunami, the country’s meteorology, climatology and geophysics agency said.The agency had initally said the earthquake measured 6.4 on the Richter scale before revising it.The quake occurred at 11.34 a.m., with its epicentre at 279 km southeast of Maluku Tengah (Central Maluku) district and a depth of 221 km under the seabed, Xinhua news agency reported.The agency did not issue a tsunami warning as the quake’s tremors did not potentially trigger giant waves.The jolts were also felt in Sorong City, the capital of…

Islamabad, Aug 29 (IANS) In a major relief to Imran Khan, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Tuesday suspended the former Prime Minister’s sentence in the Toshakhana case and ordered his release from jail.A division bench of the IHC, comprising Chief Justice Aamer Farooq and Tariq Mehmood Jahangir, announced the short order, declaring the conviction of in the case as suspended.As per the order, the former premier has been directed to submit surety bond worth 100,000 PKR and a guarantee of at least one person for his release.Addressing mediapersons outside the IHC, Khan’s lawyer Babar Awaz said that after suspension…