Lebanese surgeon trains dogs to sniff out COVID-19

25/07/2020

(See Translation in Arabic section)

Lebanon - M E Times Int'l:   Officials in Lebanon have announced they are training police dogs from the country’s various security agencies to detect the smell of the coronavirus in sweat.

Lebanese surgeon Riad Sarkis worked on a proof-of-concept study to evaluate the efficacy of using dogs to detect COVID-19.

The testing involved eight dogs – originally trained as explosive detection and colon cancer detection dogs – that had been trained to recognize the smell of sweat samples from people who had tested positive for COVID-19.

“Through this experiment, we will provide additional technology to protect our society from every arrival, visitor or resident who may be infected with the coronavirus,” Professor Sarkis said.

“In a context where, in many countries worldwide, diagnostic tests are lacking in order to set up a mass detection of COVID-19 contaminant people, we think it is important to explore the possibility of introducing dog olfactive detection as a rapid, reliable and cheap ‘tool’ to either pre-test willing people or be a fast checking option in certain circumstances.”

Australia, United States must remain with WHO: Albanese

Canberra: Opposition leader Anthony Albanese says the Coalition must oppose the United States’ withdrawal from the World Health Organisation.

 “These international multilateral forums are absolutely essential to govern what is a globalised world,” he said.

He said international organisations were particularly necessary, especially when it came to the Communist Party of China.

 “We need all nations, including China, to abide by the rulings that have been made,” he said.

“Australia needs to defend our national interest, and as a middle power, that means ensuring that we abide by and call upon other countries to abide by international organisations.”

Australian government ministers Marise Payne and Linda Reynolds will travel to the US this week to discuss national security with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Defence Secretary Mark Esper.

Mr Albanese called on the ministers to “stress Australia’s national interests”.

 “We need to make sure that in decisions the United States makes in terms of its relationship with China, that Australia doesn’t suffer,” he said.

 

Labor demands more testing in Sydney’s West as Covid-19 outbreak grows

Sydney: NSW Labor has demanded more pop up COVID-19 testing clinics in Sydney’s West and for testing hours be expanded, after four students at three schools tested positive for coronavirus.

Two of the students attended Cerdon College in Merrylands, one attended Mary Immaculate Catholic Primary School in Bossley Park and another is from Freeman Catholic College at Bonnyrigg Heights. All have been closed for deep cleaning.

The Shadow Minister for Health Ryan Park said the chaotic scenes at Batemans Bay earlier this week was proof the Government hasn’t learnt its lesson from the ‘Crossroads cluster’.

“This is a crucial time for NSW and particularly  the residents of Western Sydney. Every hour of every day counts – we must test, test, test to ensure we stop this outbreak getting out of control.

"We must avoid a second lockdown. The best way to do that is to make testing quick and accessible. It's vital to keep the economy moving."

The Member for Fairfield Guy Zangari has also raised concerns about the testing capacity in the area, with thousands of students now potentially exposed to COVID-19 – including his children.

“The Government must pull out all stops to ensure everyone who needs a test can get one in a timely manner. No one should be forced to wait for five hours in their car to get a test. That is not good enough.”

 

Australia says Beijing's South China Sea claims are 'illegal'

Canberra: Australia has raised the stakes in its already troubled relationship with China by backing the United States in formally declaring Beijing's territorial claims in the South China Sea to be illegal.

In a letter to the United Nations, Australia's permanent mission rejected China’s claim to disputed islands in the trading waters, calling them "inconsistent" with international law.

"The Australian Government rejects any claims by China that are inconsistent with the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), in particular, maritime claims that do not adhere to its rules on baselines, maritime zones and classification of features.," the document states.

"There is no legal basis for China to draw straight baselines connecting the outermost points of maritime features or 'island groups' in the South China Sea, including around the 'Four Sha' or 'continental' or 'outlying' archipelagos.

"Australia rejects any claims to internal waters, territorial sea, exclusive economic zone and continental shelf based on such straight baselines."

Australia's Defence and Foreign Ministers have criticised China for 'coercive conduct' in the South China Sea and human rights record in Hong Kong.

The ministers will travel to the US on Sunday to meet their White House counterparts, Mike Pompeo and Mark Esper.

 

Police to issue $100,000 in fines to Snowy Mountains dance party attendees

Sydney: Up to $100,000 worth of fines could be issued to partygoers accused of breaching coronavirus rules in the NSW Snowy Mountains. Police expect to charge up to 100 people who attended an outdoor dance party in Thredbo National Park.

New rules for masks in NSW hospitals

Sydney: Hospital staff and visitors are now required to wear masks if they are within 1.5 metres of patients as NSW Health raised the risk level to amber.

The new rules around masks in healthcare settings follow tighter restrictions on cafes, restaurants, weddings and funerals, which came into effect at midnight on Friday.

 

Erdogan joins hundreds of Muslims at Istanbul's Hagia Sophia

Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has joined hundreds of Muslims in Friday prayer at Istanbul's Hagia Sophia, just weeks after it was controversially reverted to a mosque.

The prayers are the first to be held at the historic venue since it became a museum in 1934, in a building that was once one of the most revered Christian cathedrals in the world.

 It became the centre of a court battle earlier this month, when activists argued over whether to keep the site as a museum or have it converted into a mosque. Thousands travelled to the world heritage site in the city for segregated prayers on Friday, with many people camping outside overnight.

Greece described the ruling as an "open provocation to the civilised world", with Pope Francis, the US and UNESCO also among those condemning the decision.