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Six years after they were first reported, debilitating neurological symptoms have shaken the province of New Brunswick and still have doctors in Canada stumped. Forty-eight people from the same small Canadian province struck with a baffling mix of symptoms including insomnia, impaired motor function and hallucinations such as nightmarish visions of the dead. A quixotic neurologist working 12-hour days to decipher the clues. Swirling conspiracy theories blaming the illness on cellphone towers, fracking or even Covid-19 vaccines.

Source: nytimes.com

Nepal has reported its first death from mucormycosis or "black fungus", the highly deadly infection affecting thousands of coronavirus patients in neighbouring India. Health ministry spokesman Krishna Prasad Poudel told AFP that there are now at least ten cases in Nepal, which like India has been hit by a huge Covid-19 surge. The 65-year-old man who died was being treated at the intensive care unit at a hospital in western Nepal after being diagnosed with temporal lobe encephalitis.

Source: barrons.com

Former President Trump on Friday called a proposal that he run for the House in 2022 to try to win the speaker’s gavel “interesting,” though the chances of him actually doing so remain low. Trump was asked about the proposal by far-right radio host Wayne Allyn Root on Friday after Steve Bannon, a former adviser to the ex-president, floated the idea. “That’s so interesting,” Trump said.

Source: thehill.com

The Hong Kong Customs has seized a batch of suspected smuggled diamonds and other jewels with an estimated market value of about 25 million Hong Kong dollars (3.22 million U.S. dollars). In terms of the market value of the diamonds seized, it was the largest diamond smuggling case detected on record in Hong Kong, the Customs said Friday. The jewels, including about 1,300 diamonds, 10 sapphires, one emerald and about 30 grams of point-size diamonds, were seized on Thursday in an outgoing light goods vehicle at Sha Tau Kok Control Point.

Source: xinhuanet.com

The basilica in Ashkelon, dating to the first century AD, is the largest in Israel. It was destroyed by earthquake in 363 AD, with pieces used in other buildings. Archaeologists are working to restore the basilica and place sculptures and columns in their authentic locations. A small odeon is also being restored and will have modern seating for visitors.

Source: dailymail.co.uk

The 4th China-Afghanistan-Pakistan Foreign Ministers' Dialogue, hosted by Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi, was held in Guiyang on Thursday. Afghan Foreign Minister Mohammad Haneef Atmar and Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi attended the dialogue via video link.

Source: cctv.com

Russian tennis player Yana Sizikova has been released from police custody a day after she was arrested as part of an investigation into match-fixing at last year's French Open. The 26-year-old, who is ranked 101st in doubles, was released without being charged. She is "shocked" at the allegations, her lawyer told Russia's Tass news. Despire Sizikova's release on Friday, the investigation is continuing.

Source: bbc.com

Two people died and six were missing after an accident in a coal mine in central China, state broadcaster CCTV reported on Saturday. The "accidental outburst" occurred at a coal mine run by Henan Hebi Coal and Electricity Co in the late afternoon on Friday, and the authorities in Henan province have launched an emergency response plan.

Source: reuters.com

Justin Trudeau on Friday urged the Catholic Church to "take responsibility" and release records on indigenous residential schools under its direction, after the discovery of remains of 215 children in unmarked graves. And he warned that his government was prepared to take "stronger measures," possibly including legal action, to obtain the documents demanded by victims' families if the church fails to comply. Canada has been convulsed by the discovery of the remains at the Kamloops Indian Residential School in British Columbia -- especially as there were only 50 deaths officially on record there.

Source: france24.com

Plans for an artificial island to house 35,000 people and protect the port of Copenhagen from rising sea levels have been approved by Danish MPs. The giant island, named Lynetteholm, would be connected to the mainland via a ring road, tunnels and a metro line. The approval by Denmark's parliament paves the way for the 1 sq mile (2.6 sq km) project to begin later this year. But it faces opposition from environmentalists who have concerns over the impact of its construction.

Source: bbc.com

Russia may provide coronavirus vaccinations for a fee to foreigners who travel to the country, President Vladimir Putin told an economic forum on Friday, as Moscow seeks to enhance its global reputation with its Sputnik V vaccine.

Source: reuters.com

Researchers tracked pupil size in volunteers taking a range of intelligence tests. These covered areas like intelligence, memory retention and the ability to focus. They created a baseline measurement while volunteers looked at a blank screen. They found that those with larger baseline pupil sizes were more intelligent. This could be due to more activity in regions of the brain linked to intelligence.

Source: dailymail.co.uk

A new film directed by Sean Penn is among the movies set to premiere at the 2021 Cannes Film Festival. The event will take place in person next month, but with strict Covid safety measures in place for attendees. Flag Day, which Penn also stars in alongside Josh Brolin, is an adaptation of the book by Jennifer Vogel. It tells the story of a father who lives a double life as a counterfeiter, bank robber and conman in order to provide for his daughter.

Source: bbc.com

Apple's latest software update, iOS 14.6, was released towards the end of May. But users are complaining of excessive battery drain since installing the update. Some iPhone models are draining completely in as little as two-and-a-half hours.

Source: dailymail.co.uk

The European Commission and UK regulators have opened antitrust investigations into Facebook over concerns its Marketplace service is unfairly distorting competition for classified ads. Both are interested in whether or not Facebook unfairly used advertising data to compete in the classified ads market, and are collaborating as part of the investigation.

Source: theverge.com

Magawa the rat, who was awarded a gold medal for his heroism, is retiring from his job detecting landmines. In a five-year career, the rodent sniffed out 71 landmines and dozens more unexploded items in Cambodia. But his handler Malen says the seven-year-old African giant pouched rat is "slowing down" as he reaches old age, and she wants to "respect his needs".

Source: bbc.com

European Union ambassadors on Friday adopted a plan to ban Belarus airlines from flying over EU territory or landing in EU airports, three diplomats said. The decision is part of broader economic sanctions against Belarus in response to Minsk's scrambling a warplane to force the landing of a Ryanair flight carrying an opposition journalist last month.

Source: reuters.com

Israel's Benjamin Netanyahu has lashed out at a newly agreed coalition which looks set to remove him from power after 12 years as prime minister. Mr Netanyahu called on right-wing members of parliament to block the coalition from taking office. Eight parties reached an agreement to work together to form a new government late on Wednesday. But the group, from across Israel's political spectrum, still needs parliamentary backing to take office.

Source: bbc.com