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LONDON (Reuters) – Strains of malaria resistant to two key anti-malarial medicines are becoming more dominant in Vietnam, Laos and northern Thailand after spreading rapidly from Cambodia, scientists warned on Monday. Using genomic surveillance to track the spread of drug-resistant malaria, the scientists found that the strain, known as KEL1/PLA1, has also evolved and picked up new genetic mutations which may make it yet more resistant to drugs. “We discovered (it) had spread aggressively, replacing local malaria parasites, and had become the dominant strain in Vietnam, Laos and northeastern Thailand,” said Roberto Amato, who worked with a team from Britain’s Wellcome Sanger Institute and Oxford University and Thailand’s Mahidol University. Malaria is caused by Plasmodium parasites which are carried by mosquitoes and spread through their blood-sucking bites. Almost 220 million people were infected with malaria in 2017, according to World Health … [Read more...] about Multidrug-resistant malaria spreading in Southeast Asia

PORT-AU-PRINCE (Reuters) – Haitian Prime Minister Jean Michel Lapin resigned on Monday, according to a high-ranking government official who asked not to be named, presenting a shakeup at the highest levels of government in the Western Hemisphere’s poorest nation. President Jovenel Moïse also wrote in a post on Twitter that a new prime minister will be announced shortly, saying he had been in consultations with congressional leaders about the matter. Haitian newspaper Le Nouvelliste first reported on Monday that Lapin had offered his resignation to Moïse. “I have made a choice for Haiti,” Lapin said in an interview with the newspaper. (Reporting by Andre Paultre; additional reporting by Andres Martinez; writing by Stefanie Eschenbacher and Julia Love; editing by Daina Beth Solomon and G Crosse) … [Read more...] about Haiti officials, media say PM Lapin has resigned

Hundreds of look-alikes dressed as Nobel Prize-winning author Ernest Hemingway paraded through the streets of Key West, Florida on Saturday. As many as 142 competitors were vying to be crowned this year's winner, with a retired Tennessee banker bagging the title on his eighth attempt at glory. "I love his writing; he was a great writer, and just to be part of this history of Hemingway is just incredible," said 68-year-old Joe Maxey. Imitation bulls on wheels, a nod to Hemingway's fascination with bullfighting, were also present at the parade. The three-round contest culminated in the evening at Sloppy Joe's Bar — a frequent hangout for the author during the 1930s. The Hemingway Days celebrations this year marked what would have been the writer's 120th birthday. … [Read more...] about Hundreds of Hemingway look-alikes take part in annual US contest

Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody" has smashed the one billion views mark on YouTube, the band's management and record company reported on Monday. While this is relatively common for hits from modern bands, with the likes of Ed Sheeran, Wiz Khalifa and Justin Bieber all reaching the target recently, Queen's is the first pre-1990 music video to do so on the video-sharing site. It came after the band's 2018 film biopic relaunched its music to fans old and new. It also earned lead actor Rami Malek a "best actor" Oscar for playing frontman Freddie Mercury. Queen is currently touring the US as part of its worldwide "The Rhapsody Tour". … [Read more...] about Queen’s ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ hits 1 billion views on YouTube

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – President Donald Trump said on Monday he will watch only “a little bit” of Robert Mueller’s long-awaited congressional testimony on the results of his 22-month inquiry into Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. election and renewed his attacks on the former special counsel. Mueller’s findings have kept Trump on the defensive since the Justice Department released a redacted version of the former FBI director’s report in April, as congressional Democrats struggle with whether to launch the impeachment process set out in the U.S. Constitution for removing a president from office. Asked by reporters whether he would watch television coverage of Wednesday’s hearings before two Democratic-led House of Representatives committees, the Republican president said, “No, I’m not going to be watching, probably.” But he quickly added, “Maybe I’ll see a little bit of it.” The committees are conducting … [Read more...] about As Mueller testimony approaches, Trump can’t look away