Pig organs could soon be transplanted into humans

Piglets that were born after having their genes edited ... Pigs’ organs are similar in size to ours and they can be bred easily in large numbers

Gene editing creates virus-free piglets, advance moves animals closer to becoming organ donors for people 

Scientists have cleared a major barrier to transplanting organs from pigs into humans after removing threatening viruses from the animals' Deoxy ribonucleic Acid (DNA)/genetic material.

The new research opens up the possibility of breeding animals to harvest their organs to meet the demand for new tissue.

Some challenges, including major ethical objections still remain, but experts said the breakthrough is a significant step towards pig-to-man transplants, also known as xenotransplantation.

The shortage of organs for transplants is one of the biggest challenges to modern medicine, and the current supply of tissue meets only a tiny amount of the total demand, the authors said. But the ability to breed pigs specifically for that purpose would allow that to be easily addressed, since they have similar organs to ours and can be bred in large numbers.

In Africa, the five best universities are in South Africa — ARWU

Universities in Africa, the world’s second-largest and second-most-populous continent, may not be competing favourably with other institutions in the world as only five have been ranked among the top 500 academic institutions.

The five – University of Witwatersrand, University of Cape Town, Stellenbosch University, University of Johannesburg and University of KwaZulu-Natal – are all based in South Africa.

US universities retained their dominance in the annual Chinese ranking of the world’s top academic institutions, with Harvard staying number one for the 15th straight year.

In a top 10, little changed from last year, Stanford held on to the second spot in the“Academic Ranking of World Universities” compiled by the independent Shanghai Ranking Consultancy, which has ranked the top 500 institutions each year since 2003.

China bans Christian summer camps and Sunday schools - Evangelical Focus

Chinese officials in Zhejiang province have issued orders to shut down Sunday schools and prevent Christian churches from holding events during the summer months.

"For a long time, teenagers and students have not been allowed to participate in religious activities", a local Christian surnamed Zhang said.

However, “the Three-Self Churches and house churches would usually hold summer camps during the summer vacation. But now the government has emphasized that even the Sunday schools would be closed down. The government's major intention is to shut down the Sunday schools", he added.

CHRISTIAN CAMPS ALSO BANNED IN HENAN PROVINCE

The orders came after another Chinese province banned Christian churches from organizing youth camps this summer.

Inspirational Quotes

Weak people revenge. Strong people forgive. Intelligent people ignore. – Albert Einstein

Weak people revenge. Strong people forgive. Intelligent people ignore. – Albert Einstein

A relationship is not based on the length of time you spent together; it’s based on the foundation you built together.

A relationship is not based on the length of time you spent together; it’s based on the foundation you built together.

Don’t feel bad if someone rejects you. People usually rejects expensive things because they can’t afford them.

Don’t feel bad if someone rejects you. People usually rejects expensive things because they can’t afford them.

Read more on Daily Inspirational Quotes.

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Modern slavery and trafficking 'in every UK town and city'

Modern slavery and human trafficking in the UK is "far more prevalent than previously thought," the National Crime Agency has said.

The NCA said there were more than 300 live policing operations currently, with cases affecting "every large town and city in the country".

The agency estimated that there were tens of thousands of victims.

It said previous estimates of 10,000-13,000 victims in the UK were found to be the "tip of the iceberg".

"The more we look, the more we find," the NCA's vulnerabilities director Will Kerr said.

Mr Kerr said he had been shocked by what he had seen during this year's intensive efforts to break up gangs, with almost every major operation triggering even more investigations.

He warned that trafficking into modern slavery was now so widespread that ordinary people would be unwittingly coming into contact with victims every day.

'Recognise concerns'

Saudi singer arrested for dabbing

The dance move is banned in the country due to perceived links to drug culture.

A popular singer has been arrested for "dabbing" during a concert in south-west Saudi Arabia.

Abdallah Al Shahani, a TV host, actor, and Saudi national, was performing the dance move, which involves a person tucking their head into the crook of their arm, at a music festival in the city of Taif at the weekend.

Dabbing is banned in the conservative country where authorities consider it a reference to narcotics culture.

A video of Mr Al Shahani's dab became popular on social

Thai granny completes university degree at 91

PANUMAS SANGUANWONG/BBC THAI

A 91-year-old woman from Thailand who says it's "never too late to study" has completed her bachelor's degree after more than 10 years of work. She spoke to Watchiranont Thongtep of the BBC's Thai service.

Kimlan Jinakul had always wanted to go to university but as a young girl simply did not have the opportunity.

But almost a lifetime later and after seeing most of her own children through university, she decided to enrol and on Wednesday finally picked up her degree.