China's Execution of Antonio Riva - 1951

Alleged American Plot Exposed

It was reported on August 27, 1951, in the US Time magazine, that Colonel Dave Barrett, stationed at that time in Formosa (Taiwan), had been accused of being behind an "American imperialist plot" to murder Chairman Mao Zedong and other high ranking comrades. This was hotly denied by Barrett who said:

"I never at any time...attempted to assassinate or contrive the assassination of anyone."

Washington dismissed the Chinese claim as "a bare faced lie."

But Peking was unconvinced and claimed that the 'plot' had been hatched in the previous year. The assassination was scheduled to be carried out on October 1, during China's National Day celebrations. It was alleged the plan was to blow up Chairman Mao with a trench mortar as he stood on a review platform by Peking's Gate of Heavenly Peace. In total eight men were accused and quickly convicted. Read More

Soil Bacteria Reveals New Drug Potential

In a press release on December 3, 2009, the Biological and Biotechnology Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) announced that research scientists at the UK John Innes Centre (JIC), a world leading independent research organisation in the study of plant and microbial sciences, plan to publish the results of their research into soil bacteria in Science. Experts are hopeful that they may have unearthed a new way of beating bacteria, that could revolutionise the way antibiotics function in the treatment of infectious diseases.

New Drug Potential

Scientists have shown that it is possible to create an antibiotic that can be targeted to a well-established enzyme (proteins produced by living organisms) in a new and surprising way. Experts believe that this could inspire the design of a new strain of more potent antibacterial drugs, without the risk of antibacterial resistance that has plagued so many antibiotic drug tretments in the past.

"If you can knock out this enzyme, you have a potential new drug," says Professor Tony Maxwell, the lead author of the research team from JIC.

The researchers, who study how microorganisms work at the molecular, cellular and genetic level, are extremely excited by this latest discovery.

"A completely new way to beat bacteria is an exciting find at a time when resistance to existing antibiotics is growing, said Professor Maxwell. .

New Research and New Drug Implications  Read More