Bill Seeking A Ban Of Teens In Social Media Has Been Refiled

United States Senators Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) and Ted Cruz (R-Texas) are re-introducing a bill that aims to ban social media platforms from knowingly letting kids aged under 13 from using them. The bipartisan Kids Off Social Media Act (KOSMA) was introduced last year, but it didn't progress beyond the committee stage.

However, with the current political landscape, KOSMA may pick up more momentum this time around.

"I'm going to do everything I can to get it passed out of committee and advanced on the floor [...] and signed into law," Cruz told The Washington Post. "Ted and I are in the middle of about two dozen different disagreements and disputes, but the one thing that seems to unite the political parties is that we need to protect small children from the negative outcomes of being on social media," Schatz said.

Cruz is now the chairman of the Senate Commerce Committee (which has become a prominent battleground for social media-related issues in recent years). Not only that, Republicans are in control of both houses of Congress while Lina Khan is no longer head of the Federal Trade Commission.

Under KOSMA, that agency would have extra regulatory power over social media platforms. Some Republicans were reluctant to hand Khan those reins. "I think that [Khan's stint as FTC chair] understandably caused significant reluctance on the part of Congress to entrust any additional authority on the FTC," Cruz said.

If KOSMA becomes law as it stands, social media platforms would have to delete any accounts held by users aged under 13 as well as any data collected from those children. It would also block them from using data collected from users aged under 17 to algorithmically suggest or promote content.

Furthermore, it stipulates that schools would have to block students from accessing social media services on school devices and networks in order to keep receiving certain subsidies.

Schatz was among a bipartisan group of senators that introduced the Protecting Kids on Social Media Act in 2023. That bill aimed to set 13 as the minimum age for using social media, and require parental consent for under 18s to access such platforms. However, the bill did not pass through the Commerce Committee.

Last July, two online safety bills that ostensibly sought to protect minors, the Children and Teens' Online Privacy Protection Act and the much-derided Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA), passed the Senate in a 91-3 vote. However, neither passed through the House before the previous Congress ended on 3 January.

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Bill On Family Rights Refiled Again

The United States Republicans in the House and Senate introduced a bill last 23 January called the "Families’ Rights and Responsibilities Act", upping the fight over parental rights.

The goal of bill is to apply the strict scrutiny test to protect parental rights when it comes to government actions that affect parents’ "fundamental right to direct the upbringing, education, and health care of their children."

The legislation would also allow parents to bring legal action at the federal or state level if they believe a violation of their rights is occurring.

The bill was introduced in the Senate by Sens. Tim Scott (R-S.C.), member of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions, and James Lankford (R-Okla.), and in the House by Rep. Virginia Foxx (R-N.C.), member of the House Committee on Education and Workforce. "Parents have a fundamental right to control the upbringing of their child, whether it’s in the classroom or at home," Scott said. "Yet, far too often, parents are being pushed out of their child’s lives, and kids are paying the price. I will always fight to put parents back in the driver’s seat and ensure they remain the lead decision maker in their child’s life."

The lawmakers used examples from the last administration they believed violated parental rights such as "proposed Title IX regulations [that] would have allowed the federal government to require schools to treat boys as girls, and vice versa, without informing parents."

This will be the second attempt to enact such measures after Republicans passed a Parental Bill of Rights in 2023 in the House. The bill failed in the Democrat-led Senate.

"Parents deserve to raise their children without the looming threat of government infringement. The Families’ Rights and Responsibilities Act will shield parental rights while instituting a necessary, fundamental check against the government whenever it decides to enforce policies that fail to extend due deference to parental decision-making," Foxx said.

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Anti-Jew Protestor Suspended From Columbia U

Columbia University released a statement that it has suspended one student after "expediting" its investigation into a group who disrupted a class on Israeli history.

Demonstrators handed out flyers with "violent imagery" to students attending a History of Modern Israel class last 21 January, the university said in a statement.

Columbia said it identified and suspended one student involved, pending a full review, and that its investigation remains active. University officials have not released the student’s identity.

It was the first day of Professor Avi Shilon’s class, and students had only just been introduced to the course when protesters – whose faces were covered and appeared to be wearing keffiyehs, a traditional Middle Eastern scarf often identified as a symbol of Palestinian identity – entered and distributed anti-Israel leaflets, student Elisha Baker told CNN.

One flyer shows a burning Israeli flag underneath the words "Burn Zionism to the Ground," and another depicts a large black boot about to stomp on the Jewish Star of David and reads "Crush Zionism," according to pictures taken by Baker.

"It was shocking for everyone in the class," said Baker, a junior studying Middle Eastern history. "I’m still super excited for this class. It’s a shame that this incident is going to put us on edge inside the classroom."

Four protesters remained in the classroom for around five minutes before leaving, student Orri Zussman told CNN. Campus security arrived shortly after the protesters left and began receiving information from students on what occurred, as well as photos and videos of the incident.

As a result of the interruption, Columbia previously said it was intensifying its investigative efforts to identify the individuals involved as well as modifying its security measures. The school said it did not know if the demonstrators were students.

"No group of students has a right to disrupt another group of students in a Columbia classroom," university interim president Katrina Armstrong said in a statement. "We want to be absolutely clear that any act of antisemitism, or other form of discrimination, harassment, or intimidation against members of our community is unacceptable and will not be tolerated."

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Ben Shelton Hits At "Embarrassing" Australian Tennis Broadcasters

Things are heating up outside the tennis courts after American tennis player Ben Shelton claims that he has been "shocked" by the actions of TV broadcasters at the Australian Open. He called some of the interviews "negative" and "disrespectful".

Shelton's comments come just a few days after Channel Nine presenter Tony Jones was forced to apologise to Novak Djokovic after jokingly saying on air that the Serbian was "overrated" and a "has-been".

And Shelton, speaking at the end of his post-match press conference last 22 January, said that he was shocked with "how players have been treated by the broadcasters".

"I don’t think that the guy who mocked Novak, I don’t think that was just a single event. I've noticed it with different people, not just myself," said Shelton.

The American mentioned an "embarrassing" and "disrespectful" interview that he saw with compatriot Learner Tien, right after the 19-year-old had knocked out fifth seed Daniil Medvedev. Interviewer John Fitzgerald said to Tien that "19-year-olds aren't meant to be that good", before asking him if he had heard of his next opponent, Corentin Moutet.

Shelton also referenced two interviews of his own that he was unhappy about, with the first coming after his win over Gael Monfils, when interviewer Roger Rasheed attempted to make a joke about the age gap between the two players, stating that Monfils is "almost your dad". Shelton misunderstood the comment, asking: "Was that a black joke?"

The second interview came after his quarter-final win against Lorenzo Sonego, when the interviewer stated that the "crowd are going to be on the other guy’s side" for Shelton’s semi-final as he would be playing either world number one Jannik Sinner or home hopeful Alex de Minaur.

"There are some comments that have been made to me in post-match interviews by a couple of different guys," Shelton said.

"Today on the court, 'Hey, Ben, how does it feel that no matter who you play in your next match, no one is going to be cheering for you?' I mean, it may be true, but I just don’t think the comment is respectful from a guy I've never met before in my life."

The 22-year-old finished his conference saying: "I feel like broadcasters should be helping us grow our sport and help these athletes who just won matches on the biggest stage enjoy one of their biggest moments.

"I feel like there’s just been a lot of negativity. I think that’s something that needs to change," he added.

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China Determined To Pursue "Strong Education Nation" By 2035

China has issued a strong statement to pursue its first national action plan to build a "strong education nation" by 2035, which it said would help coordinate its education development, improve efficiencies in innovation and build a "strong country".

The plan, issued by the Communist Party's central committee and the State Council on Sunday, aims to establish a "high quality education system" with accessibility and quality "among the best in the world."

The announcement was made after data on Friday showed China's population fell for a third consecutive year in 2024, with the number of deaths outpacing a slight increase in births, and experts cautioning that the downturn will worsen in the coming years.

High childcare and education costs have been a key factor for many young Chinese opting out of having children, at a time when many face uncertainty over their job prospects amid sluggish economic growth.

"By 2035, an education power will be built," the official Xinhua news agency said, adding that China would explore gradually expanding the scope of free education, increase "high-quality" undergraduate enrolment, expand postgraduate education, and raise the proportion of doctoral students.

The plan aims to promote "healthy growth and all-round development of students", making sure primary and secondary school students have at least two hours of physical activity daily, to effectively control the myopia, or nearsightedness, and obesity rates.

"Popularising" mental health education and establishing a national student mental health monitoring and early warning system would also be implemented, it said.

It also aims to narrow the gap between urban and rural areas to improve the operating conditions of small-scale rural schools and improve the care system for children with disabilities and those belonging to agricultural migrant populations.

The plan also aims to steadily increase the supply of kindergarten places and the accessibility of preschool education.

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Australia Open Crowd Gets A Taste Of Their Own Heckling

A victorious Danielle Collins blew kisses to a hostile Australian Open crowd and thanked fans for helping her land a "big fat pay cheque" as she celebrated a win over home hopeful Destanee Aiava.

The American 10th seed also slapped her backside and cupped her hands to her ears after surviving a second set wobble to seal match point.

Collins’s 7-6, 4-6, 6-2 win over the unseeded Aiava ended Australia’s hopes in the women’s singles in Melbourne before she rounded on fans in a feisty on-court interview.

Responding to a chorus of boos from fans inside the Kia Arena, Collins said: "You know I was thinking during the match, hmm, if I’m out here I may as well take that big fat pay cheque.

"CoCo [Vandeweghe, Collins’s doubles partner] and I, we love a good five-star vacation so part of that pay cheque is going towards that. So thank you guys. Thanks for coming out here and supporting us tonight."

The interviewer appeared to cut short the conversation, before Collins grabbed the microphone and continued to jeer the crowd, adding: "Thanks guys, love ya."

Collins has already earned £147,000 in prize money by reaching the third round, where she will face compatriot Madison Keys.

The 31-year-old, who reversed her decision to retire at the end of last season, doubled down on her incendiary on-court comments in her press conference.

"Well I'm going to be here for two hours, putting up with all these people, I might as well take the bigger pay cheque, right?" said Collins.

"I was super-happy to do that and one of the greatest things about being a professional athlete are that the people that don’t like you and that hate you, they actually pay your bills.

"It’s kind of a cool concept and obviously my professional career is not going to last forever and I just remind myself every day when I have that kind of stuff that they’re paying my bills.

"Every person that has bought a ticket and has come out here to heckle me can do what they do. It’s all going towards the Danielle Collins fund. So like, yeah, bring it on, I love it."

This is an eye-opening lesson for those attending tennis tournaments: if you heckle a player, don't cry if they heckle you back.

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Racist Students Were Spared By Rutgers From Heavy Penalty

Many Jewish students at Rutgers are accusing the administration President Joe Biden of cutting what they see as a sweetheart deal with the university that lets it off the hook for allowing a persistent culture of antisemitism.

The settlement, announced by the Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights on 2 January, requires Rutgers to take a series of actions to combat discrimination on campus after 400 reports of hateful incidents on campus were filed between July 2023 and June 2024, nearly three fourths of which alleged discrimination and harassment against Jews or Israelis.

In one such incident, a student penned an inflammatory post on social media encouraging violence against an Israeli attending the university with information on how to find them. In another report, a Jewish student’s dorm room was found to be vandalized with a Swastika drawn outside their dorm and their mezuzah defaced. Members of a Jewish fraternity alleged they were threatened because of their faith in another report.

As part of the settlement, Rutgers has agreed to issue a statement to students and employees saying that discrimination isn’t tolerated on campus, and to review past reports of discrimination to determine if further action needs to be taken in order to be Title IX compliant.

However, many students at Rutgers feel that the agreement falls far short of what is necessary to protect them from the relentless onslaught of antisemitism unleashed on the campus since 7 October.

Camilla Vaynberg, Vice President of Rutgers Students Supporting Israel, tells Fox News Digital that the measures agreed to by Rutgers aren't likely to stem the tide of antisemitism on campus, and may not even end up being enforced after its current president Jonathan Holloway steps down.

"I personally think the university is being let off the hook, it's a promise that we had before." Vaynberg said.

"Will the agreements reached between [Holloway] and his faculty and the Department of Education remain the same regardless of who is taking his place?"

"A lot of what Rutgers agreed to involves ‘statements’ and ‘reviews’ but they have been stating and reviewing things right and left since October 7th and yet, the rate of antisemitic incidences at Rutgers continues to rise," Ben Stern, 20, a sophomore at the school majoring in Political Science told Fox News Digital.

"The DOE sat on over 400 reports of discrimination for a year, and on the way out the door signed another toothless agreement that literally does nothing to protect anyone. It is official; this administration utterly failed the American Jewish community," National Jewish Advocacy Center Director Mark Goldfeder said.

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Florida Proposal Seeks To Ban Illegal Immigrants From Schools

In the United States, a Florida state lawmaker has introduced a bill to ban illegal migrants from being admitted to some public colleges and universities.

Republican state Sen. Randy Fine proposed the legislation the day after GOP Gov. Ron DeSantis called for a special legislative session to help push President-elect Trump's immigration agenda.

"Is it fair to allow an illegal immigrant to take a spot that could be taken by a Floridian or an American? I would argue no," Fine said.

Fine’s bill would ban public colleges and universities with an acceptance rate under 85 percent from admitting students who are in the country illegally, which would include the University of Florida, Florida State University, the University of Central Florida and Florida International University.

There are an estimated 1.2 million illegal migrants living in Florida, according to the Pew Research Center.

Migrant students in the U.S. illegally can currently qualify for in-state tuition at public colleges and universities. Fine also recently proposed a bill that would require high school graduates with Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA, status to pay out-of-state tuition.

During the 2023-2024 school year, about 6,500 migrant students who were in the U.S. illegally qualified for a waiver from paying out-of-state tuition at the state’s public colleges and universities, according to the nonprofit Florida Policy Institute.

Three states prohibit students in the U.S. illegally from enrolling in at least some colleges, while half of states allow these students to qualify for in-state tuition, according to the National Immigration Law Center.

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Texas A&M University Cancelled Trip To Conference That Excludes Whites And Asians

Texas A&M University tried to pull a reverse discrimination after specifying that only applicants of a particular race can attend the upcoming conference trip in Chicago.

Last 13 January, conservative activist Christopher Rufo posted an image of the university promoting the PhD Project’s Annual Conference in Chicago. The application specified that the conference is "designed for historically underrepresented individuals considering business doctorial studies," and only Black/African American, Latinx/Hispanic American or Native American/Canadian Indigenous students were eligible.

"Texas A&M is sponsoring a trip to a DEI conference that prohibits whites and Asians from attending. The university falsely claims that this use of taxpayer funds does not violate the state's DEI ban. @TAMU is supporting racial segregation and breaking the law," Rufo wrote.

The post eventually caught Texas Governor Greg Abbott’s eye, leading him to threaten the job security of the university’s president if the matter was not corrected.

"Hell, no. It’s against Texas law and violates the US Constitution. It will be fixed immediately or the president will soon be gone," Abbott warned.

The university eventually put out a statement on its X account, reiterating that it does not discriminate based on race in compliance with SB-17, a state law that bans diversity, equity and inclusion offices in Texas public colleges.

"Texas A&M does not support any organization, conference, process or activity that excludes people based on race, creed, gender, age or any other discriminating factor. The intent of SB-17 is very clear in that regard. We will continue to honor both the letter and the intent of the law," the post read.

In a statement sent to Fox News Digital, university President Mark A. Welsh III acknowledged the application in question and conceded the conference itself was "not in line" with the state’s law, canceling the trip altogether.

"While the proper process for reviewing and approving attendance at such events was followed, I don’t believe we fully considered the spirit of our state law in making the initial decision to participate," the statement read. "This particular conference’s limitations on the acceptable race of attendees is not in line with the intent of SB-17, and, as a result, we will not be sending anyone to participate in this conference."

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"China's Glass King" Set To Launch Private University

A new university being proposed by the Chinese billionaire founder of Fuyao Glass Industry Group, the company featured in the Oscar-winning 2019 documentary American Factory, has received preliminary approval from education authorities.

The Chinese Ministry of Education granted a licence to Fuyao University of Science and Technology (FYUST) in Fuzhou, capital of southeast Fujian province last 13 January, to provide undergraduate education. A public consultation is ongoing right now.

Heren Charity Foundation, established by Fuyao Glass founder and chairman Cao Dewang, has donated 10 billion yuan (US$ 1.36 billion) worth of Fuyao shares to the project, which was announced in 2021.

Cao aspired to "benchmark FYUST against Stanford University" in the US, said the Chinese university's president Wang Shuguo, according to local media reports. He also said the school would start recruiting students this year.

FYUST "aims to become a high-level science and engineering research-oriented university", according to its official website. The institution will begin with seven faculties, including materials science and technology, computer science and engineering, and mechanical engineering and automation.

FYUST is the only private institution among the 14 newly-approved tertiary colleges in China, including eight others that also focus on science and engineering. Beijing is striving to close its gap with the US and Europe in advanced technologies, such as semiconductors, artificial intelligence, and smart manufacturing.

Fuyao Glass, based in Fujian, shot to international fame in 2019 after the release of a documentary about the cultural conflict between the Chinese company and its American employees at a factory in the US state of Ohio.

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UFC Champ Khabib Nurmgomedov Was Allegedly Asked To Deplane

Frontier Airlines is being called out on social media after a clip surfaced showing a famous UFC fighter get into a dispute on-board until he was escorted off his flight. The video shows Russian hall of fame athlete Khabib Nurmgomedov debating airline staff in the U.S. while he was sitting in the exit row on the plane.

The video of the incident, which reportedly took place at Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas last 11 January, shows an employee telling the 36-year-old mixed martial artist he either has to switch seats or get off the plane. "They're not comfortable with you sitting in the exit row," the worker added.

"It's not fair," said Nurmgomedov, who was reportedly flying to Los Angeles, to which the worker replied, "It is fair. Yes, it is."

Nurmgomedov explained that when he was checking in for the flight, he was asked he if knew English, to which he said he did. The airline worker responded, "I understand that, but it's also off of their judgement. I'm not going to do this back-and-forth. I will call a supervisor."

The employee reiterated the athlete could either take a different seat on the plane, or staff could "go ahead and escort" him off the flight. She asked "which one are we doing?" and then replied to Nurmgomedov saying they were going to have to rebook him on a different flight.

Across social media, people have been calling out Frontier Airlines asking why they had him removed from the plane. Many called for others to boycott the airline, and some claimed the staff were profiling Nurmgomedov, who is Muslim.

"Why did you remove Khabib from your plane? His fans need to know! I hope he sues you," an Instagram user wrote on the airline's most recent post.

The UFC Champ later issued the following statement:

"First of all, I need to clarify that it was [Frontier Airlines], not Alaska Air.

Lady who comes to me with questions was very rude from the very beginning, even though I speak very decent English and can understand everything and agreed to assist, she still insists on removing me from my seat. What was the base for that, racial, national or other one, I’m not sure.

But after 2 minutes of conversation, she called security and I was deplaned from this aircraft, after [an hour and a half] I boarded another airline one and left to my destination.

I did my best to stay calm and respectful as you can see on the video.

But those crew members could do better next time and just be nice with clients."

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3D Holograms Are Becoming Popular

Holograms in 3D are becoming an online gaming trend and may become a staple of science fiction for decades.

However, at this year’s Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, London-based company HYPERVSN is showing off what it says are human-sized, digital avatars that are three-dimensional that will interact with people in real time.

The idea is no gimmick, with the company suggesting that the life-sized avatars will ultimately be able to 'work' in shops, answering questions and suggesting products for customers.

Kiryl Chykeyuk, CEO and Co-Founder of HYPERVSN told Yahoo News that the avatars can deliver measurable returns for businesses, particularly in the retail sector.

"They enhance customer engagement, increase brand recognition, and drive foot traffic with their unique 'wow' factor," he said.

Chykeyuk, who conceived the initial idea behind HYPERVSN during his PhD research at Oxford University, added: "By reducing costs on 24/7 customer service and improving conversion rates through captivating offline experiences, holographic avatar technology proves itself as a cost-effective and revenue-boosting innovation."

'Holographic' display technology has been a staple of technology shows for many years, but has recently appeared in real-world displays over the past year, thanks to pioneers such as Hypervsn and Proto, with shops in the UK showing off displays that either allow people to control avatars, or use AI to speak to customers.

Companies such as OpenAI and Google are already touting AI services where users can interact in real time with AI chatbots, so the decision to 'move' the tech into the 3D world is unsurprising.

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BMI or VO2? What Is A Good Measure?

Body mass index (BMI) has been a controversial health measurement for years, with critics pointing out that it can be misleading. For instance, it doesn't distinguish between the muscle mass and fat mass. Still, it's a relatively easy stat for doctors to calculate, so it continues to be used in the medical field.

Now, a new analysis of scientific data finds that a different metric is far superior at calculating cardiovascular and other health risks.

The study, which was recently published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine, analyzed data from 20 studies of nearly 400,000 people where a person’s cardiovascular fitness was compared to their BMI. (The researchers measured fitness with a VO2 peak exercise test—more on that in a second.) The scientists also looked at the study participants’ risk of cardiovascular disease and all-cause mortality.

Researchers discovered that people who had overweight or obesity but were fit didn’t have a statistically significant higher risk of dying or developing heart disease. But people who were not fit had a two- to three-times greater risk of dying, regardless of their weight.

"From a health perspective, the risks of being unfit are far worse than the risks associated with carrying extra weight," lead author Siddhartha Angadi, PhD, an associate professor in the department of kinesiology at the University of Virginia, told Runner's World. "This study builds on a large body of research over the past three decades that underscores the importance of fitness over fatness."

In an ideal world, doctors would gauge health risks by measuring exercise capacity, Angadi added, noting that it should be considered a "vital sign" like blood pressure, pulse rate, and temperature.

VO2 max is a measure of how much oxygen your body absorbs and uses while you work out. (V stands for "volume" while "O2" is for oxygen.)

BMI stands for body mass index. It’s a calculation of your height relatively to your weight, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). BMI is generally classified into underweight, healthy weight, overweight, and obesity—although obesity is subdivided into three classes.

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Elisha Cuthbert Is A Trending Topic Right Now

The actress from the 2004 film "The Girl Next Door" is a hot topic in social media in the last two days. Elisha Cuthbert, renowned for her role as Danielle in that film, sparked some interest in social media after a user’s post this question on X (formerly Twitter): "What actor or actress did you expect would have a big career, but then disappeared?"

The same user responded with a picture of Cuthbert from "The Girl Next Door", a post that has since garnered over 21 million views.

The discussion thread is filled with nostalgic comments from fans. One user reminisced, "She had a little bit of a run in the very early 2000s." Another shared, "My biggest crush from my teenage years, how beautiful." A different user commented, "Girl Next Door best movie ever for bringing her to our limelight."

Additionally, a fan revealed a personal anecdote: "Miss Elisha Cuthbert was my dad’s one and only celebrity crush. She remained the background image on our desktop for years. I’m sure if I opened it right now I’d see her again."

Contrary to the perception that Cuthbert "disappeared" after her early 2000s success, she has maintained a consistent presence in the entertainment industry.

Following her breakout role in The Girl Next Door, she starred in films such as "House of Wax" (2005) and "Captivity" (2007). On television, she portrayed Kim Bauer in the hit series "24" and later took on the role of Alex Kerkovich in the comedy series "Happy Endings" from 2011 to 2013.

In recent years, Cuthbert has continued to engage in various projects. She appeared in the Netflix series "The Ranch" as Abby Phillips-Bennett from 2016 to 2020.

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Hard-To-Kill Norovirus Is Spreading Fast

The Norovirus, sometimes called the "winter vomiting disease" or "two-bucket disease" — because it causes both vomiting and diarrhea — is on the rise across the Unites States, even as seasonal flu is taking off and walking pneumonia rages on.

Wastewater data and reports from the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention have shown a significant spike in norovirus in the last few weeks, with rates far exceeding those of the past few years.

At least 91 outbreaks were reported the week of 5 December, more than double the maximum number of outbreaks reported in the same time frame over the last several years.

Noroviruses have been called "the perfect human pathogens." They’re a type of highly contagious stomach bug that causes severe vomiting and diarrhea, along with headache, fever and body aches. It spreads fast and far on surfaces and through the air in tiny droplets of vomit. Most people fully recover, but only after days of misery. Because it mutates, people can get sick with a norovirus every year.

Outbreaks can occur at any time, but are most common from November to April.

The virus travels in vomit and diarrhea. It spreads by direct contact with someone who has norovirus, or by touching contaminated surfaces and then putting your fingers in your mouth. Contaminated food or liquids can also spread the virus.

Shellfish, especially oysters and clams, are also known to spread the bug, because they are filter feeders and can accumulate the virus from untreated sewage flowing into their habitats.

Symptoms begin 12 to 48 hours after exposure to the virus and last for about 1 to 3 days. Even after recovering, infected individuals can be contagious for two more weeks.

One of the dangers of prolific vomiting and diarrhea is the loss of fluids, which can lead to severe dehydration. This is something to watch out for in children and the elderly in particular — children may not produce tears when crying, or be unusually fussy or sleepy, if they are dehydrated.

There is no specific medicine that is used to treat the disease. Instead, symptoms can be managed with oral rehydration solutions like Pedialyte, which can help restore fluids and electrolytes that are lost from the body.

The most reliable way to stop the spread is washing your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially if you are preparing food, or after using the restroom or changing diapers.

Hand sanitizer is not very effective against norovirus. While many viruses are contained in “envelopes” that are made of fat and can be broken by alcohol-based sanitizers, norovirus is contained in a hardy protein shell called a capsid. It's not as easily wiped out by alcohol disinfectants.

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Teacher Received $450K For Refusing To Use Preferred Pronouns

A school dstrict in Ohio was forced to pay US$ 450,000 to a middle school teacher who resigned for refusing to address two transgender students by their preferred names and pronouns.

Jackson Local School District reached a settlement in December with the teacher, Vivian Geraghty, after she claimed in a 2022 lawsuit that her First Amendment rights were violated when she was told to resign from a middle school language arts position.

The agreement follows a ruling from the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio in August that said forcing Geraghty to use students’ preferred names amounts to "compelled speech" and that the school’s "pronoun practice was not neutral."

"The school tried to force Vivian to accept and repeat the school’s viewpoint on issues that go to the foundation of morality and human identity, like what makes us male or female, by ordering her to personally participate in the social transition of her students," said Logan Spena, legal counsel for Alliance Defending Freedom, an organization that represented Geraghty.

"The First Amendment prohibits that abuse of power, and Jackson Local School District officials have learned that comes at a steep cost," Spena added.

Jackson Local Schools said in a statement the district "remains dedicated to navigating complex and changing legal environments in a manner that prioritizes student safety and well-being."

On the first day of the school year in August 2022, a week before Geraghty resigned, two of her students asked that she refer to them using names different from their names on the school’s roster. The filing states Geraghty knew these requests were "part of the student’s social transition" but disagreed because of her religious beliefs and "wanted those students out of her classroom."

Geraghty continued to refer to the students using their deadnames, the name a trans person was assigned at birth but that does not align with their gender identity, even after one of the students sent her a follow-up request through email. That student then reached out to a school counselor about "one of my teachers dead-naming me all the time in class."

The language arts teacher then met with the middle school’s principal, Kacy Carter "to seek an accommodation so that students would not continue to feel uncomfortable."

Geraghty told the principal that her religious conviction would not allow her to agree with the students' requests, and that she "wouldn’t be comfortable using preferred names or pronouns because she would know what was behind it."

She was later called into a second meeting with Carter and Monica Myers, a district employee, who said if Geraghty wouldn’t comply with the students’ preferred names, "it was going to be a problem," the filing states. From this point, the three individuals' accounts of the meeting differ, but Geraghty was sent back to her classroom after she reaffirmed that she would not comply.

The district at the time said in a statement that it does not have a policy that requires teachers to use preferred names or pronouns, but it does follow the Department of Education’s Title IX ban on discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity.

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Baby Sling Warning

A medical examiner issued a warning about the risks from the "babywearing" trend after a six-week-old boy died while being breastfed hands-free in a sling.

James Alderman, known as Jimmy, was in the baby carrier while his mother moved around their home at the time of his death.

He was in an unsafe position and after five minutes his mother realised he had collapsed, an inquest heard. Resuscitation began straight away, but the baby sadly died in hospital three days later.

Lydia Brown, Senior Coroner for West London, has warned that there is "insufficient information" for parents about the safe positioning of young babies in carriers, particularly when it comes to breastfeeding.

Copies of her "Prevention of Future Deaths Report" were sent to sling manufacturer Beco and Madeleine Boot, a babywearing teacher, as well as the NHS and the Department for Health.

Brown has called for industry standards promoting the safe use of slings and warnings about their risks because there is a danger that young babies could suffocate.

"Babywearing" is a popular phenomenon, worth more than a billion dollars globally, where a child is strapped into a harness or wrapped in a sling so they can be carried by a parent hands-free.

Supporters of the technique say it is practical and helps babies bond with their parents through close contact.

However, critics warn of the risk of suffocation because babies cannot lift their own heads if incorrectly positioned. This risk is increased for babies who are premature or have a low birth weight.

An inquest heard that Jimmy died on 11 October 2023 after being accidentally suffocated.

The baby, who was six weeks and six days old when he died, was feeling well other than having a slight cold.

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Korean Researchers Found A Way To Turn Cancer Cells To Normal

There is a trailblazing advancement happening right now in cancer therapy as researchers at Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) have developed a technology that transforms colon cancer cells into normal-like cells without destroying them.

This innovative approach, which is being spearheaded led by Professor Kwang-Hyun Cho of the Department of Bio and Brain Engineering, represents a significant departure from traditional cancer treatments that rely on killing cancer cells, often leading to severe side effects and risks of recurrence.

"The fact that cancer cells can be converted back to normal cells is an astonishing phenomenon. This study proves that such reversion can be systematically induced," Cho remarked.

In the introduction to their paper, the researchers detail how research in acute myeloid leukemia, breast cancer, and hepatocellular carcinoma has shown that encouraging tumor cells to differentiate or trans-differentiate can achieve this reversal.

However, identifying the key regulators responsible for driving these processes remains a challenge. If these regulators from normal cell differentiation can be pinpointed and applied to cancerous ones, they could offer a promising alternative to current cancer treatments.

Conventional cancer treatments focus on eradicating cancer cells. While effective in many cases, this method faces two critical challenges: the potential for cancer cells to develop resistance and return, and the collateral damage to healthy cells, resulting in debilitating side effects.

The KAIST team has taken a radically different approach by targeting the root causes of cancer development. Their research hinges on the idea that cancer cells, during their transformation from normal cells, regress along the differentiation trajectory—the process by which normal cells mature into specific functional types.

To tackle this, the researchers created a digital twin of the gene network involved in the differentiation trajectory of normal cells. This computational model allowed them to simulate and analyze the intricate gene interactions that regulate cell differentiation.

Through their simulations, the team pinpointed master molecular switches capable of steering cells from colon cancer back into a normal-like state. These findings were then validated through molecular experiments, cellular studies, and animal trials, demonstrating the effectiveness of this approach.

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Djokovic Hits At 'Double Standards' In Tennis

Tennis legend Novak Djokovic has hit out at perceived double standards in tennis doping investigations as he claimed the sport is being "kept in the dark" over the Jannik Sinner case.

Djokovic, now being coached by Sir Andy Murray, added his voice to concerns after Nick Kyrgios said this week that cases involving grand-slam tournament winners Sinner and Iga Swiatek were "disgusting" for tennis.

The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) charged both Sinner and former women’s world No 1 Swiatek with anti-doping breaches earlier in the year.

Djokovic, eyeing a record 25th major title at next month’s Australian Open, teams up Kyrgios in doubles at the Brisbane International this week and shares some of his worries amid the cloud above their sport.

"I’m not questioning whether [Sinner] took the banned substance intentionally or not," Djokovic said at a press conference in Brisbane last 29 December. "We’ve had plenty of players in the past and currently under suspension for not even testing positive to banned substances.

"Some players with lower rankings waiting for their case to be resolved for over a year. I’ve been really frustrated ... to see we’ve been kept in the dark for at least five months [on the Sinner case]."

Sinner tested positive twice for an anabolic steroid in March but avoided a ban after the ITIA ruled he was not at fault. The World Anti-Doping Agency has appealed against the decision. Swiatek accepted a one-month suspension in November after testing positive for the banned substance trimetazidine.

Djokovic took aim at a lack of transparency from tennis authorities in general regarding doping breaches. "The ATP hasn’t really talked in depth about it. Why have they kept that case away from the public? We see Simona Halep’s case on the WTA Tour, now Iga Swiatek's case," Djokovic said.

"It's not a good image for our sport. I'm just questioning the way the system works and why certain players aren’t treated the same as others. Maybe some ranking reasons are behind it, or some players have more financial backing and stronger legal teams to tackle these cases."

Djokovic is the top seed in the Brisbane International this week, making his first appearance at the event since 2009. He spoke separately of it being "strange" to have his former rival Murray working as his coach but he believes he will benefit from the Scot’s "fresh look" at his game.

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