Polycystic ovary syndrome: Scientists closer to understanding cause

A common cause of female infertility - polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) - may be due to a hormonal imbalance before birth, researchers have found.

Researchers have been able to cure it in mice, and a clinical trial in human women is due to begin later this year, the New Scientist reports.

PCOS affects up to one in five women worldwide, it says.

It affects how a woman's ovaries work - symptoms include irregular periods and difficulty getting pregnant.

"It's by far the most common hormonal condition affecting women of reproductive age, but it hasn't received a lot of attention," Robert Norman at the University of Adelaide in Australia told the New Scientist.

source:www.bbc.com

Gaza violence: Israelis and Palestinians in fierce exchanges at UN

There have been angry exchanges between Israeli and Palestinian envoys at the UN, as the diplomatic fallout over deadly violence in Gaza gathered pace.

Some 58 Palestinians were killed when Israeli troops fired on protesters on Monday, with funerals held on Tuesday.

The Palestinian envoy spoke of a "crime against humanity", while Israel accused Hamas, who are in control of Gaza, of taking their own people hostage.

This week was the culmination of a six-week protest against Israel.

'Hear our message': Gaza border violence in pictures
Life in the Gaza Strip
Monday was the 70th anniversary of the founding of the state of Israel and also the day the US made the controversial move of its embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.

What have Israel and the Palestinians said?
The emergency meeting of the UN Security Council began with its president, Poland's Joanna Wronecka, calling a minute's silence for those killed in Gaza on Monday, along with "others who have died as a result of a conflict that has endured for far too long".

After a number of nations expressed concern at the violence and some called for an inquiry, the Palestinian and Israeli envoys engaged in a fierce exchange.

source:www.bbc.com

Japan's economy shrinks for first time in two years

Japan's economy shrank in the first quarter of 2018 for the first time in two years, ending the longest stretch of economic growth since the 1980s.

The world's third largest economy contracted at an annualised rate of 0.6%, official data showed.

Expectations were for an annualised contraction of 0.2%.

Private consumption and capital expenditure slowed during the January to March quarter, which analysts said dragged down the economy.

Private consumption accounts for about 60% of Japan's economic activity.

Annualised growth rates represent the growth if the quarter-on-previous-quarter rate of change were maintained for a full year.

On a quarter-on-quarter basis, the economy shrank 0.2% compared with growth of 0.1% at the end of 2017.

Analysts said they expected to see a recovery in the current quarter of 2018 and that bad weather together with a global slowdown in demand for electronics had also led to the decline in the first quarter.

source:www.bbc.com

N Korea cancels talks with South Korea and warns US

North Korea has cancelled Wednesday's high-level talks with South Korea because of anger over its joint military exercises with the US.

The North's official KCNA news agency said the exercises were a "provocation" and a rehearsal for an invasion.

It also warned the US over the fate of the historic summit between Kim Jong-un and US President Donald Trump that is scheduled for 12 June in Singapore.

In March, Mr Trump stunned the world by accepting an invitation to meet Mr Kim.

"We will both try to make it a very special moment for World Peace!" the US leader later tweeted.

The US state department said it was continuing to prepare for the Trump-Kim summit and that it was not aware of any changes in the North Korean position.

source:www.bbc.com

Khadka, Lamichhane lead nominations

May 15, 2018-Nepal Sports Journalists Forum on Monday announced the five nominees each in four categories of the Pulsar Sports Award set for June 18 at the Army Officer’s Club.

The annual Sports Award honours sportsperson in eight categories—the player of year male and female, youth, coach, para-athlete, peoples’ choice, special and lifetime achievement. NSJF has already announced the People’s Choice nominees and on Monday it revealed the contenders in the Male, Female, Youth and Coach categories.



source:www.kathmandupost.ekantipur.com

Legendary footballer Shah passes away

May 15, 2018-Legendary footballer and former national team captain Mani Shah passed away at the Norvic International Hospital in Thapathali on Monday.

The 51-year-old, popularly known as ‘Nepali Maradona’, was suffering from liver complications for years. He was admitted to the Hospital on Sunday after high fever and was kept under ventilator support on Monday morning. He was pronounced dead in the evening. His body will be kept at the Dasharath Stadium for final tribute on Tuesday. He is survived by wife and a daughter.

Shah, who made national team debut at the age of 17 during the 1985 South Asian Federation Games (now called South Asian Games) in Bangladesh, is remembered as one of the best footballers Nepal has ever produced. He was one of the key players of the Nepali squad that won gold medal in the 1993 SAG in Dhaka. While Nepal was trailing 2-1 against India in the final, Shah scored the equaliser in the fading moments of the match through freekick. Nepal eventually won the match 4-3 in the penalty shootout.

All Nepal Football Association vice president and former national team captain Upendra Man Sing, who played alongside Shah, called him as “the best midfielder” Nepal has ever had. “I have not seen a player of such qualities in midfield so far,” said Singh, the former national team assistance coach.

Singh, who played together with Shah for eight years during 1991-1998 calls Shah as his idol. “I met him for the first time at a programme at Dipendra Police School and played for the first time with him at 1991 SAG. He always encouraged the juniors,” said Singh who was also his teammate during the footballer’s last international tournament in the 1998 Bangkok Asian Games.



source:www.kathmandupost.ekantipur.com

Four officials asked to clarify over disfigured national flag

May 14, 2018-The Ministry of Federal Affairs and General Administration has sought clarification from four government officials over the use of a disfigured national flag at Janaki Temple premises during the visit of Indian PM Narendra Modi.

Province 2 acting Chief Secretary Hari Phuyal, Province 2 Internal Affairs and Law Ministry Secretary Deviram Bhandari, Dhanusha Chief District Officer Gopal Parajuli and Janakpur sub-metropolis executive officer Madan Bhandari are asked to clarify how the wrongly-shaped and figured flag ended up at the temple premises. They have been asked to present a written clarification inside three days.

Social media users were abuzz with tempestuous posts for the use of the disfigured flag during the visit by the Indian PM.



source:www.kathmandupost.ekantipur.com