#UK Chemical Regulations

[agaselectronicmaterials]

In the rapidly advancing world of chemical science, remarkable developments are making our lives easier and more efficient. A critical aspect of these developments is ensuring that you're partnered with a reputable chemical supplier. If you find yourself overwhelmed by a myriad of options and are unsure how to pinpoint the ideal supplier for your chemical needs, read the article to learn more about the vital role of chemical science and choosing the right chemical supplier in the UK.

[nostalgia-tblr]

i recently realised i've started automatically assuming online health warnings don't apply to me, based on how 90% of the tumblr ones are US-specific despite not saying that anywhere in the post. this doesn't seem ideal, so might i suggest labelling an alarming health-related post with what country or countries it applies to, in instances where it's not true everywhere?

[reasonsforhope]

"The sleeping giant of the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has stirred.

In the past month, an avalanche of anti-pollution rules, targeting everything from toxic drinking water to planet-heating gases in the atmosphere, have been issued by the agency. Belatedly, the sizable weight of the US federal government is being thrown at longstanding environmental crises, including the climate emergency.

On Thursday [May 18, 2023], the EPA’s month of frenzied activity was crowned by the toughest ever limits upon carbon pollution from America’s power sector, with large, existing coal and gas plants told they must slash their emissions by 90% or face being shut down.

The measure will, the EPA says, wipe out more than 600m tons of carbon emissions over the next two decades, about double what the entire UK emits each year. But even this wasn’t the biggest pollution reduction announced in recent weeks.

In April, new emissions standards for cars and trucks will eliminate an expected 9bn tons of CO2 by the mid-point of the century, while separate rules issued late last year aim to slash hydrofluorocarbons, planet-heating gases used widely in refrigeration and air conditioning, by 4.6bn tons in the same timeframe. Methane, another highly potent greenhouse gas, will be curtailed by 810m tons over the next decade in another EPA edict.

In just a few short months the EPA, diminished and demoralized under Donald Trump, has flexed its regulatory muscles to the extent that 15bn tons of greenhouse gases – equivalent to about three times the US’s carbon pollution, or nearly half of the entire world’s annual fossil fuel emissions – are set to be prevented, transforming the power basis of Americans’ cars and homes in the process...

If last year’s Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), with its $370bn in clean energy subsidies and enticements for electric car buyers, was the carrot to reducing emissions, the EPA now appears to be bringing a hefty stick.

The IRA should help reduce US emissions by about 40% this decade but the cut needs to be deeper, up to half of 2005 levels, to give the world a chance of avoiding catastrophic heatwaves, wildfires, drought and other climate calamities. The new rules suddenly put America, after years of delay and political rancor, tantalizingly within reach of this...

“It’s clear we’ve reached a pivotal point in human history and it’s on all of us to act right now to protect our future,” said Michael Regan, the administrator of the EPA, in a speech last week at the University of Maryland. The venue was chosen in a nod to the young, climate-concerned voters Joe Biden hopes to court in next year’s presidential election, and who have been dismayed by Biden’s acquiescence to large-scale oil and gas drilling.

“Folks, this is our future we are talking about, and we have a once-in-a-generation opportunity for real climate action,” [Michael Regan, the administrator of the EPA], added. “Failure is not an option, indifference is not an option, inaction is not an option.” ...

It’s not just climate the EPA has acted upon in recent months. There are new standards for chemical plants, such as those that blight the so-called "Cancer Alley" the US, from emitting cancer-causing toxins such as benzene, ethylene oxide and vinyl chloride. New rules curbing mercury, arsenic and lead from industrial facilities have been released, as have tighter limits on emissions of soot and the first ever regulations targeting the presence of per- and polyfluoroalkylsubstances (or PFAS) in drinking water.” ...

For those inside the agency, the breakneck pace has been enervating. “It’s definitely a race against time,” said one senior EPA official, who asked not to be named. “The clock is ticking. It is a sprint through a marathon and it is exhausting.” ...

“We know the work to confront the climate crisis doesn’t stop at strong carbon pollution standards,” said Ben Jealous, the executive director of the Sierra Club.

“The continued use or expansion of fossil power plants is incompatible with a livable future. Simply put, we must not merely limit the use of fossil fuel electricity – we must end it entirely.”"

-via The Guardian (US), 5/16/23

[afeelgoodblog]

1. Girl with incurable cancer recovers after pioneering treatment

A girl’s incurable cancer has been cleared from her body after what scientists have described as the most sophisticated cell engineering to date. Alyssa, whose family do not wish to give their surname, was diagnosed with T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukaemia in May 2021.

Scientists at Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children in London gave her pre-manufactured cells edited using new technology to allow them to hunt down and destroy cancerous T-cells without attacking each other. Less than a month after being given the treatment, she was in remission, and was able to have a second bone marrow transplant.

Can I get a fuck cancer?

2. The UK has made gigabit internet a legal requirement for new homes

Updated regulations require new properties to be built with gigabit broadband connections and make it easier to install into existing blocks of flats across the UK. Connection costs will be capped at £2,000 per home, and developers must still install gigabit-ready infrastructure (including ducts, chambers, and termination points) and the fastest-available connection if they’re unable to secure a gigabit connection within the cost cap

3. US cancer death rate falls 33% since 1991

The rate of people dying from cancer in the United States has continuously declined over the past three decades, according to a new report from the American Cancer Society.

The US cancer death rate has fallen 33% since 1991, which corresponds to an estimated 3.8 million deaths averted, according to the report, published Thursday in CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians. Partly due to advances in treatment, early detection and less smoking, report says

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4. Lab-grown retinal eye cells make successful connections, open door for clinical trials to treat blindness

Retinal cells grown from stem cells can reach out and connect with neighbors, according to a new study, completing a “handshake” that may show the cells are ready for trials in humans with degenerative eye disorders.

Over a decade ago, researchers from the University of Wisconsin–Madison developed a way to grow organized clusters of cells, called organoids, that resemble the retina, the light-sensitive tissue at the back of the eye. They coaxed human skin cells reprogrammed to act as stem cells to develop into layers of several types of retinal cells that sense light and ultimately transmit what we see to the brain.

5. The ozone layer is on track to recover in the next 40 years, the United Nations says

The Earth's ozone layer is on its way to recovering, thanks to decades of work to get rid of ozone-damaging chemicals, a panel of international experts backed by the United Nations has found.

The ozone layer serves an important function for living things on Earth. This shield in the stratosphere protects humans and the environment from harmful levels of the sun's ultraviolet radiation. In the latest report on the progress of the Montreal Protocol, the U.N.-backed panel confirmed that nearly 99% of banned ozone-depleting substances have been phased out.

6. Uganda declares an end to Ebola outbreak

The Ugandan government has declared an end to its Ebola outbreak, less than four months after cases were first reported. Since 20 September, 56 people have died from the virus, which is spread through body fluids, and there have been 142 confirmed infections.

The country has reported no new infections in more than 42 days – twice the maximum incubation period of the virus, a World Health Organization benchmark for a country to be declared Ebola-free.

7. Doggy ‘daycare’ bus in Alaska goes viral on TikTok

Check them out here:

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[eggtrolls]

Invasive species of the day is: Japanese knotweed!

Japanese knotweed (Reynoutria japonica; Japanese name is 虎杖) is a perennial, clonal plant in the knotweed/buckwheat family native to Japan, Korea, and China. Reaching a maximum height of 3-4 m (10-13 ft), it forms dense thickets of canes which are hollow like bamboo (but not related), although plants that have been cut/mowed have shorter and thinner stems that are no longer hollow - neat, eh? It was introduced from East Asia as an ornamental plant and to help stabilize streambanks. The young stems are edible as an early spring vegetable and taste a lot like rhubarb with a lemon twist so it is actually cultivated for food in some places where it is both native and invasive. Its flowers also apparently make great honey, similar to buckwheat honey.

As an invasive species, holy shit. Japanese knotweed is basically Godzilla – one forest restoration old-hat told me that it is the toughest invasive species to deal with which is why it is also called Godzilla weed. "Fast-growing" is an understatement – this plant can grow up to 30 cm (6 inches) PER DAY and it will grow in the most mediocre soils on the planet. It's also nearly impossible to remove by the roots, which can extend about 7 m (23 ft) horizontally and 3 m (10 ft) deep. That root system can survive salt, temperatures as low as -40, and will damage retaining walls; if you leave a few centimeters of root it will start to reshoot. You literally cannot kill it in any way that matters. Controlling it, for those of us without a backhoe or heavy chemical weaponry, is a matter of controlling the above-ground shoots for years to weaken and kill the entire patch, while trying futilely to do something about the roots. Be careful how you dispose of it though – in the UK, knotweed is classified as controlled waste and its disposal is regulated by law. There's a whole discussion to be had on the effects of Japanese knotweed on home mortgages in the U.K. (?) but I'll skip that.

Bonus – remember how I said it was imported to help with streambank stabilization? It's actually really bad at doing that compared to native vegetation AND it worsens water quality. Suffice to say, this guy sucks and all my friends hate him.

[thoughtlessarse]

Oil and gas equipment intended to cut methane emissions is preventing scientists from accurately detecting greenhouse gases and pollutants, a satellite image investigation has revealed. Energy companies operating in countries such as the US, UK, Germany and Norway appear to have installed technology that could stop researchers from identifying methane, carbon dioxide emissions and pollutants at industrial facilities involved in the disposal of unprofitable natural gas, known in the industry as flaring. Flares are used by fossil fuel companies when capturing the natural gas would cost more than they can make by selling it. They release carbon dioxide and toxic pollutants when they burn as well as cancer-causing chemicals. Despite the health risks, regulators sometimes prefer flaring to releasing natural gas – which is 90% methane – directly into the atmosphere, known as “venting”. The World Bank, alongside the EU and other regulators, have been using satellites for years to find and document gas flares, asking energy companies to find ways of capturing the gas instead of burning or venting it.

continue reading

[girlactionfigure]

Immense pride, tinged with sadness. 

For those who would like to read the full list:

1908 MECHNIKOV, ELIE 

FOR THEIR WORK ON IMMUNITY

1908 EHRLICH, PAUL

FOR THEIR WORK ON IMMUNITY

1914 BARANY, ROBERT

FOR HIS WORK ON THE PHYSIOLOGY AND PATHOLOGY OF THE VESTIBULAR APPARATUS

1922 MEYERHOF, OTTO FRITZ 

FOR HIS DISCOVERY OF THE FIXED RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE CONSUMPTION OF 

OXYGEN AND THE METABOLISM OF LACTIC ACID IN THE MUSCLE

1930 LANDSTEINER, KARL 

FOR HIS DISCOVERY OF HUMAN BLOOD GROUPS

1936 LOEWI, OTTO 

FOR THEIR DISCOVERIES RELATING TO CHEMICAL TRANSMISSION OF NERVE IMPULSES

1944 ERLANGER, JOSEPH 

FOR THEIR DISCOVERIES RELATING TO THE HIGHLY DIFFERENTIATED FUNCTIONS OF SINGLE NERVE FIBRES

1945 CHAIN, ERNST BORIS 

FOR THE DISCOVERY OF PENICILLIN AND ITS CURATIVE EFFECT IN VARIOUS INFECTIOUS DISEASES

1946 MULLER, HERMANN J. 

FOR THE DISCOVERY OF THE PRODUCTION OF MUTATIONS BY MEANS OF X-RAY IRRADIATION

1947 CORI, GERTY THERESA, RADNITZ 

FOR THEIR DISCOVERY OF THE COURSE OF THE CATALYTIC CONVERSION OF GLYCOGEN

1950 REICHSTEIN, TADEUS 

FOR THEIR DISCOVERIES RELATING TO THE HORMONES OF THE ADRENAL CORTEX, THEIR STRUCTURE AND BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS

1952 WAKSMAN, SELMAN A. 

FOR HIS DISCOVERY OF STREPTOMYCIN, THE FIRST ANTIBIOTIC EFFECTIVE AGAINST TUBERCULOSIS

1953 LIPMANN, FRITZ ALBERT 

FOR HIS DISCOVERY OF CO-ENZYME A AND ITS IMPORTANCE FOR INTERMEDIARY METABOLISM

1953 KREBS, HANS ADOLF 

FOR HIS DISCOVERY OF THE CITRIC ACID CYCLE

1958 LEDERBERG, JOSHUA 

FOR HIS DISCOVERIES CONCERNING GENETIC RECOMBINATION AND THE ORGANISATION OF THE GENETIC MATERIAL OF BACTERIA

1959 KORNBERG, ARTHUR 

FOR THEIR DISCOVERY OF THE MECHANISMS IN THE BIOLOGICAL SYNTHESIS OF RIBONUCLEIC ACID AND DEOXYRIBONUCLEIC ACID

1964 BLOCH, KONRAD 

FOR THEIR DISCOVERIES CONCERNING THE MECHANISM AND REGULATION OF THE CHOLESTEROL AND FATTY ACID METABOLISM

1965 JACOB, FRANCOIS 

FOR THEIR DISCOVERIES CONCERNING GENETIC CONTROL OF ENZYME AND VIRUS SYNTHESIS

1965 LWOFF, ANDRE

FOR THEIR DISCOVERIES CONCERNING GENETIC CONTROL OF ENZYME AND VIRUS SYNTHESIS

1967 WALD, GEORGE 

FOR THEIR DISCOVERIES CONCERNING THE PRIMARY PHYSIOLOGICAL AND CHEMICAL VISUAL PROCESSES IN THE EYE

1968 NIRENBERG, MARSHALL W. 

FOR THEIR INTERPRETATION OF THE GENETIC CODE AND ITS FUNCTION IN PROTEIN SYNTHESIS

1969 LURIA, SALVADOR E. 

FOR THEIR DISCOVERIES CONCERNING THE REPLICATION MECHANISM AND THE GENETIC STRUCTURE OF VIRUSES

1970 KATZ, BERNARD

FOR THEIR DISCOVERIES CONCERNING THE HUMORAL TRANSMITTERS IN THE NERVE TERMINALS AND THE MECHANISM

FOR THEIR STORAGE, RELEASE AND INACTIVATION

1970 AXELROD, JULIUS 

FOR THEIR DISCOVERIES CONCERNING THE HUMORAL TRANSMITTERS IN THE NERVE TERMINALS AND THE MECHANISM

FOR THEIR STORAGE, RELEASE AND INACTIVATION

1972 EDELMAN, GERALD M. 

FOR THEIR DISCOVERIES CONCERNING THE CHEMICAL STRUCTURE OF ANTIBODIES

1975 TEMIN, HOWARD M.

FOR THEIR DISCOVERIES CONCERNING THE INTERACTION BETWEEN TUMOR VIRUSES AND THE GENETIC MATERIAL OF THE CELL

1975 BALTIMORE, DAVID 

FOR THEIR DISCOVERIES CONCERNING THE INTERACTION BETWEEN TUMOR VIRUSES AND THE GENETIC MATERIAL OF THE CELL

1976 BLUMBERG, BARUCH S. 

FOR THEIR DISCOVERIES CONCERNING NEW MECHANISMS FOR THE ORIGIN AND DISSEMINATION OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES

1977 YALOW, ROSALYN 

FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF RADIOIMMUNOASSAYS OF PEPTIDE HORMONES

1977 SCHALLY, ANDREW V. 

FOR THEIR DISCOVERIES CONCERNING THE PEPTIDE HORMONE PRODUCTION OF THE BRAIN

1978 NATHANS, DANIEL 

FOR THE DISCOVERY OF RESTRICTION ENZYMES AND THEIR APPLICATION TO PROBLEMS OF MOLECULAR GENETICS

1980 BENACERRAF, BARUJ 

FOR THEIR DISCOVERIES CONCERNING GENETICALLY DETERMINED STRUCTURES ON THE CELL SURFACE THAT

REGULATE IMMUNOLOGICAL REACTIONS

1984 MILSTEIN, CESAR 

FOR THEORIES CONCERNING THE SPECIFICITY IN DEVELOPMENT AND CONTROL OF THE IMMUNE SYSTEM AND THE DISCOVERY OF THE

PRINCIPLE FOR PRODUCTION OF MONOCLONAL ANTIBODIES

1985 BROWN, MICHAEL S. 

FOR THEIR DISCOVERIES CONCERNING THE REGULATION OF CHOLESTEROL METABOLISM

1985 GOLDSTEIN, JOSEPH L. 

FOR THEIR DISCOVERIES CONCERNING THE REGULATION OF CHOLESTEROL METABOLISM

1986 COHEN, STANLEY 

FOR THEIR DISCOVERIES OF GROWTH FACTORS

1986 LEVI-MONTALCINI, RITA 

FOR THEIR DISCOVERIES OF GROWTH FACTORS

1988 ELION, GERTRUDE B. 

FOR THEIR DISCOVERIES OF IMPORTANT PRINCIPLES FOR DRUG TREATMENT

1989 VARMUS, HAROLD E. 

FOR THEIR DISCOVERY OF THE CELLULAR ORIGIN OF RETROVIRAL ONCOGENES

1994 RODBELL, MARTIN 

FOR THEIR DISCOVERY OF G-PROTEINS AND THE ROLE OF THESE PROTEINS IN SIGNAL TRANSDUCTION IN CELLS

1994 GILMAN, ALFRED G. 

FOR THEIR DISCOVERY OF G-PROTEINS AND THE ROLE OF THESE PROTEINS IN SIGNAL TRANSDUCTION IN CELLS

1997 PRUSINER, STANLEY B. 

FOR HIS DISCOVERY OF PRIONS - A NEW BIOLOGICAL PRINCIPLE OF INFECTION

1998 FURCHGOTT, ROBERT F. 

FOR THEIR DISCOVERIES CONCERNING NITRIC OXIDE AS A SIGNALING MOLECULE IN THE CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEM

2000 GREENGARD, PAUL 

FOR THEIR DISCOVERIES CONCERNING SIGNAL TRANSDUCTION IN THE NERVOUS SYSTEM

2000 KANDEL, ERIC R. 

FOR THEIR DISCOVERIES CONCERNING SIGNAL TRANSDUCTION IN THE NERVOUS SYSTEM

2002 BRENNER, SYDNEY 

FOR THEIR DISCOVERIES CONCERNING GENETIC REGULATION OF ORGAN DEVELOPMENT AND PROGRAMMED CELL DEATH

2002 HORVITZ, H. ROBERT 

FOR THEIR DISCOVERIES CONCERNING GENETIC REGULATION OF ORGAN DEVELOPMENT AND PROGRAMMED CELL DEATH

2004 AXEL, RICHARD

FOR THEIR DISCOVERIES OF ODORANT RECEPTORS AND THE ORGANIZATION OF THE OLFACTORY SYSTEM

2006 FIRE, ANDREW Z. 

FOR THEIR DISCOVERY OF RNA INTERFERENCE - GENE SILENCING BY DOUBLE-STRANDED RNA

2011 STEINMAN, RALPH M. 

FOR THEIR DISCOVERIES CONCERNING THE ACTIVATION OF INNATE IMMUNITY

2011 BEUTLER, BRUCE A. 

FOR THEIR DISCOVERIES CONCERNING THE ACTIVATION OF INNATE IMMUNITY

2013 SCHEKMAN, RANDY W.

FOR THEIR DISCOVERIES OF MACHINERY REGULATING VESICLE TRAFFIC, A MAJOR TRANSPORT SYSTEM IN OUR CELLS

2013 ROTHMAN, JAMES E. 

FOR THEIR DISCOVERIES OF MACHINERY REGULATING VESICLE TRAFFIC, A MAJOR TRANSPORT SYSTEM IN OUR CELLS

2017 ROSBASH, MICHAEL

FOR THEIR DISCOVERIES OF MOLECULAR MECHANISMS CONTROLLING THE CIRCADIAN RHYTHM

Likud Herut UK

[pepperf]

The UK has not been part of the EU’s chemicals regulations scheme since 2021 and instead has its own, called Reach. Eight rules restricting the use of hazardous chemicals have been adopted by the EU since Brexit, and 16 more are in the pipeline. The UK has not banned any substances in that time and is considering just two restrictions, on lead ammunition and harmful substances in tattoo ink. Bans on chemicals are generally preceded by a listing on the “substances of very high concern” list. The last additions to the UK’s list were made more than three years ago, in June 2020. Since then, the European Chemicals Agency has added 26 substances to its equivalent list.

I hate this stupid timeline.

[jimothysomebody]

Recovering From Post Acute Withdrawal Syndrome

It's difficult to gauge exactly where to start, considering the many nuanced factors that lead me here. For awhile it felt like I was dealing with some wretched mystery ailment. After my breakup there was a period of time where money was tight and I wasn't eating well, in part because money was tight and in part because of a long struggle with self image, self loathing, and just a warped and unhealthy perspective of myself. What a stupid, stupid thing it was to subject myself to that degree of harm and malnourishment. Stupid, stupid, stupid.

In late March, somewhat coinciding with my old vape pen breaking, I began to feel a bit unwell and I wasn't sure why. Brainfog, difficulty concentrating and remembering, poor sleep (and that's saying something) headaches, strange dizzy spells and a weird feeling in my head, unusual episodes of elevated anxiety, stress, and depression beyond what is 'normal' for me, stomach issues, changes to my appetite, fatigue, apathy. Some days were better than others, some days were hell, other days I may have one awful episode and be otherwise fine the rest of the day, sometimes a day or so would pass without incident at all and I'd feel totally normal.... but these terrible symptoms kept coming back

Initially I believed it to be the lingering effects of having been anorexic from early February to the beginning of April... but April, May and now most of June have come & gone... and these symptoms have persisted.... what else could it have been?

I figured, outside of the extreme episodes of anxiety, the most likely cause was the effects of tapering off of, and eventually quitting weed. The conclusion I drew was that, surely, I must be experiencing Post Acute Withdrawal Syndrome, brought on by increased use of medial grade weed and an increased vaping of delta 8 around this time. It was also my theory that because I didn't do it daily, just used a *lot* every few days or on weekends, that my inconsistent pattern of high dose usage was keeping me in a state of withdrawal that wouldn't stop until I made myself quit. My preferred method was vaping, but I began with edibles July of 2023... for nearly a year my already chemically imbalanced brain became accustomed to a regular supply of THC, surely... surely the cessation of cannabis would have put my brain in a state of crisis and rebellion as it attempts to reset the dials back to my “normal”, right? Much of the literature I read seemed to validate my worries, between credible medical publications from all over, the US, Canada, Australia, the UK, I poured over the findings and data of medical professionals and everything seemed to point to that... what has now worried me the last 42 days I've been sober was the fact that, for most, they seem to be through the worst of it within 2wks to a month... but still I contend with these symptoms. Maybe...just maybe, I was too hopeful and by some twisted hellish coincidence I was, unknowingly, affected by something more dire... there are many, many far more life threatening conditions that share many of those symptoms in common... and that thought has come and gone since March... Friday afternoon I finally humored my paranoia that told me to stop toying with my mortality and went to the ER to get checked out.

They drew blood, did urinalysis, an EKG, chest xrays, and a CT scan of my head, every test came back normal, nearly everything was ideal, save for what results have been effected by a recent brief regimen of prednisone to help with my tenosynovitis (which also significantly improved my withdrawal symptoms)... and in the sea of test results even those *slightly* abnormal results didn't bother me, knowing exactly what caused them.

The test results have given me a lot of peace of mind... I now know definitively, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that what I am experiencing does not have a physical cause... it is instead chemical as my brain tries to regulate itself back from a year of a lot of vaping and edibles. I do not have brain cancer, any brain damage, any debilitating neurological condition, internal bleeding, blood clots, nor do I have any heart or lung condition. No abnormalities were detected... It's just withdrawal, and I can get through this. I've been tempted to vape, a few times. I miss having a mild high, but mostly I miss the relief that comes with it for my anxiety, my depression, ptsd, mild pains, etc. There hasn't been any strong compulsion or urge to use again, in fact not unlike my alcohol I still have (almost 7 months sober now) my vape pen is in plain sight just on my bedside table, where it has, literally, been collecting dust since May 12th. I have had one or two dreams about weed/vaping though, which I suppose isn't a totally unheard of sort of dream to have for people quitting.

I'm set to see yet another therapist soon in July, and shortly thereafter, I imagine, another doctor. I'm not sure what the plan of attack will be, considering the chemical imbalance is now influenced by quitting weed. In the past I've seen a lot of success with SSRI's like sertraline/Zoloft, in treating my depression, with some positive changes to my anxiety as well, it'd certainly simplify things to be on just one med but I'm not optimistic that will be the case, nor do I don't know just how effective sertraline would be while recovering from PAWS... I do know this much, compared to how I felt in April I feel, generally speaking, significantly better. I do still experience all the symptoms I've described but to a lesser degree and with less frequency and diminished duration compared to how I had been previously... it is my belief that, with time and resolve I will make a full recovery from this horrid months long trial. I really think I'm gonna be okay.

[religion-is-a-mental-illness]

Puberty Blockers? Gay Teens Aren't Sick! (May 2022)

Why is the NHS sterilising hundreds of teenagers?

As soaring numbers of children are referred to gender identity clinics, prescriptions for 'puberty blockers' are increasing.

"We really don't know what suppressing puberty does to your brain development. We are dealing with unknowns." -- Prof. Russell Vinder CBE

Puberty begins when the brain sends a hormone called GnRH to a tiny gland the size of a pea, the pituitary gland. This triggers a cascade of hormones that transforms a child's body.

'Puberty blockers' are synthetic GnRH and stop these vital processes that are crucial to us developing into adults. The radical process of changes in our bodies during puberty is matched by even more extraordinary changes in the brain.

"The brain changes characteristic of adolescence are amongst the most dramatic and important to occur during the human life span." -- Prof. Laurence Steinberg

As the brain develops, adolescents learn how to think for themselves, bond socially, and regulate their emotions.

By prescribing 'puberty blockers' the NHS is stopping the natural transformation of teenagers' bodies and brains.

'Puberty blockers' also have physical and emotional risks in their own right.

Patients can suffer with abnormally low bone density, which is associated with a high risk of osteoporosis.

"The blocker is said to be completely reversible, which is disingenuous because nothing is completely reversible." -- Dr. Polly Carmichael

"It is not known what the psychological effects may be." -- NHS Guidance, 2020

Up to 2020, GIDS has treated over 1000 children with 'puberty blockers.' 230 were under the age of 14. The youngest was 10.

The tragedy is that the latest evidence suggests 'puberty blockers' may not reduce gender dysphoria.

A Tavistock report defending 'puberty blockers' showed their use:

"does not impact positively on the experience of gender dysphoria."

A child that takes puberty blockers at Tanner Stage 2 and follows this with cross-sex hormones at 16 is effectively sterilised as their gametes will miss the window to mature.

Finland, France and Sweden have recently restricted the use of 'puberty blockers' as concerns over safety and lack of evidence continue to grow.

Why do we care so much?

The vast majority of teens effectively being sterilised are lesbian, gay or bisexual.

Please don't medicalise LGB teens.

==

The UK recently joined with Finland, Sweden and France in heavily restricting puberty blockers.

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/tavistock-gender-clinic-puberty-blockers-nhs-investigation-fh7pngj0v

When Gids asked adolescents referred to the service in 2012 about their sexuality, more than 90 per cent of females and 80 per cent of males said they were same-sex attracted or bisexual. Bristow came to believe that Gids was performing “conversion therapy for gay kids” and there was a bleak joke on the team that there would be “no gay people left at the rate Gids was going”.

The on-label use of these drugs includes treatment of end-stage prostate cancer, and are the same drugs used to chemically castrate Alan Turing - among thousands of other gay men - to "cure" his homosexuality. Which makes it rather perverse when LGBT "allies" are scolding right-wing bigots about how they owe their computer and phone to a gay man on the one hand, while advocating for the treatment that lead to him taking his own life as "life-saving care" on the other hand.

Puberty is not a medical disorder. Gay and bi kids don't need to be sterilised and given cosmetic surgery to "fix" them.

[agaselectronicmaterials]

Learn essential waste management practices for chemical manufacturing from A-Gas Electronic Materials. This guide covers waste minimisation, segregation, recycling, safe storage, and compliance. Enhance sustainability and efficiency in your operations.

[shamandrummer]

Group Drumming Better than Antidepressants

A study published by the Public Library of Science (PLoS) scientifically validates what so many drum circle participants have already experienced first hand: group drumming produces significant changes in well-being, including improvements in depression, anxiety and social resilience.

With the World Health Organization identifying depression as the #1 leading cause of disability, globally, and psychiatric medications causing severe side effects, including permanently disabling the body's self-healing mechanism, drug-free alternatives are needed now more than ever.

Could group drumming provide just such a solution?

Titled, "Effects of Group Drumming Interventions on Anxiety, Depression, Social Resilience and Inflammatory Immune Response among Mental Health Service Users," UK researchers enrolled thirty adults who were already recipients of mental health services but were not receiving antidepressant medications in a 10 week program of drumming versus a control group of 15. The two groups were matched for age, sex, ethnicity and employment status. The control participants were informed that they were participating in a study about music and mental health but were not given access to the group drumming sessions. The treatment group received weekly 90-minute group drumming sessions over a period of 10 weeks. The drum group sizes were between 15-20. Each participant was provided with a traditional African djembe drum and sat in a circle. Twenty percent of the session time involved instruction and talking, whereas 80% was direct participation in music-making. The control subjects were enrolled in community group social activities (e.g. quiz nights, women's institute meetings and book clubs). Both groups were monitored for biomarkers related to immune status and inflammation, e.g. cortisol and various cytokines, to track the biological as well as psychological changes associated with the intervention.

The results of the study were remarkable. Significant improvements were found in the drumming group but not the control group. In summary, by 6 weeks the drumming intervention group experienced decreases in depression, increased social resilience; by 10 weeks they saw further improvements in depression, alongside significant improvements in anxiety and mental wellbeing. These changes continued to be maintained 3 months follow-up. The drumming intervention group also saw their immune profile shift from a pro-inflammatory towards an anti-inflammatory response.

This remarkable research opens up the possibility that group drumming may produce positive psychospiritual changes that, in comparison to conventional treatment with psychiatric medications like Prozac, support side-effect free improvement in parameters beyond symptom suppression.

Additionally, when one considers that the benefits associated with conventional pharmaceutical treatment of depression may actually result from the placebo effect and not the chemicals themselves, as well as the fact that antidepressants can cause severe adverse effects including suicidal ideation, the findings of this exploratory study becomes all the more promising.

Another important discovery here is that group drumming down-regulated inflammation within the immune profiles of study participants. Could the dysregulation of inflammation be a root cause of a wide range of psychiatric disorders and anti-inflammatory interventions a solution? The inflammation-depression link, in particular, explains how interventions such as turmeric have been clinically proven to be superior to common antidepressant medications like Prozac, presumably because of turmeric's broad spectrum and systemic anti-inflammatory properties.

[reasonsforhope]

"When Francois Beyers first pitched the concept of 3D ocean farming to the Welsh regulators, he had to sketch it on napkins. 

Today the seafood farm is much more than a drawing, but if you walked along the Welsh coastal path near St David’s, all you’d see is a line of buoys. As Beyers puts it: “It’s what’s below that’s important.”

Thick tussles of lustrous seaweed suspend from the buoys, mussels cling to its furry connective ropes and dangling Chinese lantern-esque nets are filled with oysters and scallops. 

“It’s like an underwater garden,” says Beyers, co-founder of the community-owned regenerative ocean farm, Câr-y-Môr. The 3-hectare site is part of a fledgling sector, one of 12 farms in the UK, which key players believe could boost ocean biodiversity, produce sustainable agricultural fertiliser and provide year-round employment in areas that have traditionally been dependent on tourism. 

Created in 2020 by Beyers and six family members, including his father-in-law – an ex-shellfish farmer – the motivation is apparent in the name, which is Welsh for “for the love of the sea”. ...

Pictured: Drone shot of Câr-y-Môr, which is on the site of abandoned mussel farms. Image: Scott Chalmers

Ocean farming comes from the technical term ‘integrated multi-trophic aquaculture’, which means a mixture of different seaweed and shellfish species growing together to mutually benefit each other. But it’s not just a way of growing food with little human input, it also creates ocean habitat. 

“You’re creating a breeding ground for marine animals,” explains Beyers who adds that the site has seen more gannets diving, porpoises and seals – to name a few – since before the farm was established.

Ocean farms like Câr-y-Môr, notes Ross Brown – environmental research fellow at the University of Exeter – have substantial conservation benefits.

“Setting up a seaweed farm creates an exclusion zone so fishermen can’t trawl it,” explains Brown, who has been conducting experiments on the impacts of seaweed and shellfish farms across the UK. 

Brown believes a thriving ocean farming industry could provide solutions to the UK’s fish stock, which is in “a deeply troubling state” according to a report that found half of the key populations to be overfished. “It would create stepping stones where we have safe havens for fish and other organisms,” he adds. 

But UK regulators have adopted a cautious approach, note Brown and Beyers, making it difficult for businesses like Câr-y-Môr to obtain licenses. “It’s been a tough old slog,” says Beyers, whose aim is to change the legislation to make it easier for others to start ocean farms. 

Despite navigating uncharted territories, the business now has 14 full-time employees, and 300 community members, of which nearly 100 have invested in the community-benefit society. For member and funding manager Tracey Gilbert-Falconer, the model brings expertise but most importantly, buy-in from the tight-knit local community. 

“You need to work with the community than forcing yourself in,” she observes. 

And Câr-y-Môr is poised to double its workforce in 2024 thanks to a Defra grant of £1.1 million to promote and develop the Welsh seafood industry as part of the UK Seafood Fund Infrastructure Scheme. This will go towards building a processing hub, set to be operational in April, to produce agricultural fertiliser from seaweed. 

Full of mineral nutrients and phosphorous from the ocean, seaweed use in farming is nothing new, as Gilbert-Falconer notes: “Farmers in Pembrokeshire talk about their grandad going down to the sea and throwing [seaweed] on their farms.” 

But as the war in Ukraine has caused the price of chemical fertiliser to soar, and the sector tries to reduce its environmental impact – of which synthetic fertiliser contributes 5% of total UK emissions – farmers and government are increasingly looking to seaweed. 

The new hub will have capacity to make 65,000 litres of sustainable fertiliser annually with the potential to cover 13,000 acres of farmland. 

But to feed the processing hub, generate profit and reduce their dependency on grants, the co-op needs to increase the ocean farm size from three to 13 hectares. If they obtain licences, Beyers says they should break even in 18 months. 

For now, Beyers reflects on a “humbling” three years but revels in the potential uses of seaweed, from construction material to clothing.  

“I haven’t seen the limit yet,” he smiles."

-via Positive.News, February 19, 2024

[ukpoppers]

Unlocking the Aroma: Exploring Jungle Juice Black Label, Liquid Gold Poppers, and Amyl Nitrite for Sale in the UK

In recent years, the popularity of recreational substances known as poppers has surged in the United Kingdom and around the world. Among the various brands and formulations available, Jungle Juice black label and Liquid Gold Poppers stand out as some of the most sought-after choices. These products contain amyl nitrite, a chemical compound known for its unique aromatic and recreational properties. In this article, we will delve into the world of Jungle Juice Black Label, Liquid Gold Poppers, and explore the options to buy amyl nitrite for sale in the UK.

The Appeal of Poppers

Poppers, in general, are well-known for their distinct aroma and the rapid sensation of warmth and euphoria they produce when inhaled. They are commonly used recreationally and can enhance sensations during various activities, including dancing and intimate encounters. The term "poppers" refers to a group of chemicals known as alkyl nitrites, with amyl nitrite being one of the most popular variants.

Jungle Juice Black Label: A Premium Choice

Jungle Juice Black Label is a renowned name among popper enthusiasts. It is often favored for its potent formula and exceptional purity. Users appreciate the robust aroma and the intensity of effects it provides. This popper comes in a distinctive black label bottle, which is easily recognizable to those in the know.

One of the key advantages of Jungle Juice Black Label is its long-lasting effects. Users report extended sensations of warmth, increased arousal, and an overall heightened experience. It's no wonder this particular brand has gained such a strong following in the UK and beyond.

Liquid Gold Poppers: A Classic Favorite

Liquid Gold Poppers are another popular choice in the world of recreational substances. These poppers are celebrated for their reliability and consistent quality. If you're looking for a trusted brand that delivers a tried-and-true experience, Liquid Gold is an excellent option.

The appeal of Liquid Gold lies in its balanced formulation. Users often describe it as offering a smooth, gradual onset of effects that intensify over time. This makes it an ideal choice for those who appreciate a more controlled and predictable experience. Liquid Gold Poppers have a strong presence in the UK market and are readily available for enthusiasts.

The Chemistry of Amyl Nitrite

Both Jungle Juice Black Label and Liquid Gold Poppers contain amyl nitrite as their active ingredient. Amyl nitrite is a chemical compound belonging to the family of alkyl nitrites. When these compounds are inhaled, they lead to vasodilation, which is the relaxation of blood vessels. This, in turn, results in increased blood flow and a sense of warmth and relaxation.

It's important to note that amyl nitrite should not be confused with amyl nitrate, which is a different chemical compound with distinct properties.

Buying Amyl Nitrite for Sale in the UK

As the demand for poppers continues to rise, it's important to know where and how to buy them safely and legally in the UK. Fortunately, there are reputable online retailers that offer Amyl Nitrite for Sale UK. You can explore a wide selection of popper brands, including Jungle Juice Black Label and Liquid Gold Poppers.

When looking to buy poppers online in UK, there are a few key considerations to keep in mind:

1. Choose a Trusted Retailer

Look for online retailers with a strong reputation for product quality and customer service. Reading reviews and seeking recommendations from fellow enthusiasts can be helpful in this regard.

2. Verify Product Authenticity

Ensure that the retailer sells authentic and legitimate products. Authentic Jungle Juice Black Label and Liquid Gold Poppers should come in their original packaging and bottles.

3. Check for Legal Compliance

Verify that the retailer complies with UK laws and regulations regarding the sale of poppers. Poppers are legal for recreational use in the UK but should not be sold for inhalation purposes.

4. Understand Shipping Policies

Review the retailer's shipping policies, including delivery times and any additional fees. Many reputable sellers offer discreet packaging for privacy.

5. Prioritize Safety

Always prioritize your safety when using poppers. Follow the usage guidelines, and never ingest or consume poppers in any way other than inhalation.

Conclusion

In the world of recreational substances, Jungle Juice Black Label and Liquid Gold Poppers are standout choices, known for their quality, potency, and user satisfaction. Both of these brands contain amyl nitrite, a compound that provides the characteristic warm and euphoric sensations associated with poppers.

When seeking to buy amyl nitrite for sale in the UK, it's essential to choose a trusted online retailer that offers authentic products and complies with legal regulations. By doing so, you can enjoy these popular popper brands safely and responsibly, enhancing your recreational experiences.

Whether you're new to the world of poppers or a seasoned enthusiast, understanding the options available and making informed choices is key to a positive and enjoyable experience. Always prioritize your safety and well-being when using any recreational substance.

[elegantlaundry]

How to Choose the Best Steam Ironing Services in Dubai

Elegant Dry Cleaning and Laundry, a burgeoning chain of laundry services, is dedicated to expanding its legacy and exceptional service across various continents, including the Middle East and beyond, with a special focus on delivering top-notch steam ironing services in Dubai. Based in Dubai, we have had the privilege of serving British customers for over two decades in the United Kingdom (UK). Our company is led by a professional proprietor with over fifteen years of sales and operational experience, distinguishing us from global multinationals.

Our commitment lies in delivering unparalleled service, backed by our extensive expertise and experience in the laundry and dry-cleaning industry, especially in the realm of steam ironing services. We take pride in staying abreast of the latest technologies, cleaning methodologies, and stain removal solutions, particularly in the context of delicate fabrics. Additionally, we uphold the highest standards of business ethics, ensuring strict adherence to local and national regulations, as well as environmentally responsible practices.

A Pinnacle of Garment Care

We understand that maintaining the pristine condition of your clothing is of utmost importance. That's why we offer a comprehensive range of services that go beyond traditional dry cleaning and laundry, with our hallmark service being Steam Ironing Services in Dubai. This technique elevates the appearance and longevity of your garments to a whole new level.

Reviving Garments

Steam ironing services is a method that combines the power of steam and expert ironing techniques to rejuvenate your clothing. This process not only removes wrinkles but also offers several key benefits:

Gentle on Fabrics: Unlike conventional ironing methods that may cause scorching or damage to delicate fabrics, steam ironing is remarkably gentle. This method ensures that even the most sensitive materials retain their texture, shape, and color.

Wrinkle-Free Perfection: Our Steam Ironing Services efficiently remove stubborn wrinkles, leaving your garments looking impeccably smooth and polished. Whether it's a silk blouse, a linen suit, or a woolen overcoat, our service guarantees a wrinkle-free finish.

Sanitization and Freshness: Steam ironing services in Dubai also serve as a natural disinfectant. The high-temperature steam effectively kills bacteria, mites, and leaving your clothes not only wrinkle-free but also fresh and hygienic.

Eco-Friendly Solution: At Elegant Dry Cleaning and Laundry, we are committed to environmentally responsible practices. Steam ironing services in Dubai utilize the power of steam, reducing the need for harsh chemicals and minimizing the environmental impact of traditional ironing methods.

[newstfionline]

Saturday, March 11, 2023

How Healthy Is Global Democracy? (Foreign Policy) In his State of the Union address one month ago, U.S. President Joe Biden hailed the resilience of global democracy. “In the past two years, democracies have become stronger, not weaker,” he declared. “Autocracies have grown weaker, not stronger.” In reality, the picture is murkier. Global democracy has now declined for 17 straight years, according to a new report by Freedom House—although there are new signs that this “long freedom recession may be bottoming out, which would set the stage for a future recovery.” To assess the state of the world, the organization scored 195 countries and 15 territories by 25 indicators, before tallying their final grade to measure whether they are “Free,” “Partly Free,” or “Not Free.” In 2022, 35 countries’ grades dropped while 34 countries improved—marking an overall decline in global freedoms.

Silicon Valley Bank Fails (NYT) If there is one enduring axiom in banking, it is this: Don’t run out of money. Silicon Valley Bank, a lender to some of the biggest names in the technology world, did just that on Friday, becoming the largest bank to fail since the 2008 financial crisis. The move put nearly $175 billion in customer deposits, including money from some of the biggest names in the technology world, under the control of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. The FDIC created a new bank, the National Bank of Santa Clara, to hold the deposits and other assets of the failed one. The regulator said in a news release that the new entity would be operating by Monday and that checks issued by the old bank would continue to clear. Silicon Valley was heavily exposed to tech industry and there is little chance of contagion in the banking sector similar to the chaos in the months leading up to the Great Recession more than a decade ago.

Many Ukrainians stuck in limbo with US permission expiring (AP) When U.S. officials at the U.S.-Mexico border stamped the Ukrainian passports of Mariia and her daughter last April and gave them permission to stay for a year, she figured she would return home within months. Now with that year almost up and the war that caused them to flee still raging, their permission to stay in the U.S.—known as humanitarian parole—is set to expire April 23. “The word `worry’ doesn’t capture what I’m feeling,” said Mariia, who spoke through an interpreter. The 46-year-old woman and her daughter, now 13, are among 20,000 Ukrainians in a similar situation, according to resettlement agencies. The Biden administration has said it is working on a fix but so far has issued no official guidance on what Ukrainians should do, according to advocates helping the Ukrainians.

Mexican president to US: Fentanyl is your problem (AP) Mexico’s president said Thursday that his country does not produce or consume fentanyl, despite enormous evidence to the contrary. President Andrés Manuel López Obrador appeared to depict the synthetic opioid epidemic largely as a U.S. problem, and said the United States should use family values to fight drug addiction. His statement came during a visit to Mexico by Liz Sherwood-Randall, the White House homeland security adviser, to discuss the fentanyl crisis. It also comes amid calls by some U.S. Republicans to use the U.S. military to attack drug labs in Mexico. The Mexican government has acknowledged in the past that fentanyl is produced at labs in Mexico using precursor chemicals imported from China. Fentanyl has been blamed for about 70,000 opioid deaths per year in the United States. “Here, we do not produce fentanyl, and we do not have consumption of fentanyl,” López Obrador said. “Why don’t they (the United States) take care of their problem of social decay?” In February, the Mexican army announced it seized more than a half million fentanyl pills in what it called the largest synthetic drug lab found to date.

Schools shut, drivers stuck as gales and blizzards batter UK (AP) Trains were canceled, some schools were shut and drivers were stuck for hours on a major highway as a blast of snow and wind hit Britain on Friday for the second time in a week. The weather system, named Storm Larissa by meteorologists, brought gales and blizzards to much of the country. Alex Burkill, a meteorologist with the Met Office weather agency, said the worst-hit area was northern England and north Wales, where 50 mph (80 kph) wind gusts were accompanied by up to a foot (30 centimeters) of snow. Some drivers spent more than seven hours in their cars after traffic ground to a halt on the M62 highway that cuts across northern England.

Eight killed, including gunman, in shooting at Jehovah’s Witness hall in Germany (Reuters) Eight people were killed in a shooting at a Jehovah’s Witness place of worship in the German city of Hamburg and the gunman was among the dead, police said on Friday. Police received a call soon after 9 p.m. (2000 GMT) on Thursday and officers arrived at the scene to find several people seriously injured and some dead. Television footage showed dozens of police cars as well as fire engines blocking off streets and some people, wrapped in blankets, being led by emergency service workers into a bus. The gunman was believed to be a former member of the Jehovah’s Witness community, Spiegel magazine reported.

Anti-Russia guerrillas in Belarus (AP) After Russia invaded Ukraine, guerrillas from Belarus began carrying out acts of sabotage on their country’s railways, including blowing up track equipment to paralyze the rails that Russian forces used to get troops and weapons into Ukraine. In the most recent sabotage to make international headlines, they attacked a Russian warplane parked just outside the Belarusian capital. “Belarusians will not allow the Russians to freely use our territory for the war with Ukraine, and we want to force them to leave,” Anton, a retired Belarusian serviceman who joined a group of saboteurs, told The Associated Press in a phone interview. More than a year after Russia used the territory of its neighbor and ally to invade Ukraine, Belarus continues to host Russian troops, as well as warplanes, missiles and other weapons. Activists say the rail attacks have forced the Russian military to abandon the use of trains to send troops and materiel to Ukraine.

Traumatic stress, an invisible wound, hobbles Ukrainian soldiers (Washington Post) Night after night, the soldiers’ memories haunt them. Andriy Dobrovolskyi, 47, an infantry soldier, imagines he has just stepped on another mine. He wakes searching for his feet, then remembers he only has one left. After more than a year of war, Ukrainian soldiers are experiencing intense symptoms of psychological stress, including nightmares, poor sleep, guilt, anxiety and panic attacks, according to interviews with troops across Ukraine and psychologists treating them. Some soldiers have turned their weapons on themselves, dying by suicide. Others are suffering quietly in hospitals and on military bases, during visits home and on the front lines, where they face a constant threat of Russian attacks even as their symptoms are triggered or worsened by concussions from artillery shelling. The problem is debilitating, widespread and excruciatingly difficult to treat in a country that—even away from its battlefields—is under constant threat of attack. Although often invisible, widespread fatigue and mental trauma among soldiers is yet another difficult challenge Ukraine’s military must confront as it tries to defend the country against the continuing Russian onslaught.

The basement lives of Ukrainians who refuse to flee frontline towns (Ukrainska Pravda) Russian shells hit frontline cities Siversk and Lyman every day, but some people are refusing to abandon their homes. Life has gone underground. A year since the beginning of the Russian invasion, a reporter from Ukrainska Pravda meets people surviving in basements—their towns destroyed, but still alive. Lyman came under daily artillery and rocket bombardment when Russian forces attacked the city in May 2022. Ukrainian forces took the city back five months ago. Houses are still in ruins, but streets and sidewalks have been cleared. Of 51,000 residents, only about 7,000 have remained. We talked to Lyuba at the entrance to the basement of her five-storey house. During the intense shelling, she said it was “densely populated.” The military administration of Siversk distributes individual hygiene kits to each person every month. Generators have been distributed—one for every two or three basements, and gasoline for generators is free, as is drinking water and food. At the same time, officials from the military administration are constantly trying to convince people to leave because of the daily shelling. But people stay in the basements.

Xi awarded 3rd term as China’s president, extending rule (AP) Chinese leader Xi Jinping was awarded a third five-year term as the nation’s president Friday, putting him on track to stay in power for life at a time of severe economic challenges and rising tensions with the U.S. and others. The endorsement of Xi’s appointment by the ceremonial National People’s Congress was a foregone conclusion for a leader who has sidelined potential rivals and filled the top ranks of the ruling Communist Party with his supporters since taking power in 2012. The vote for Xi was 2,952 to 0 by the NPC, members of which are appointed by the ruling party. Xi, 69, had himself named to a third five-year term as party general secretary in October, breaking with a tradition under which Chinese leaders handed over power once a decade. A two-term limit on the figurehead presidency was deleted from the Chinese Constitution earlier, prompting suggestions he might stay in power for life.

Fukushima 12 years after meltdown (AP) Twelve years after the triple reactor meltdowns at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, Japan is preparing to release a massive amount of treated radioactive wastewater into the sea. Japanese officials say the release is unavoidable and should start soon. Dealing with the wastewater is less of a challenge than the daunting task of decommissioning the plant. That process has barely progressed, and the removal of melted nuclear fuel hasn’t even started. Akira Ono, who heads the cleanup as president of TEPCO’s decommissioning unit, says the work is “unconceivably difficult.” Earlier this year, a remote-controlled underwater vehicle successfully collected a tiny sample from inside Unit 1′s reactor—only a spoonful of about 880 tons of melted fuel debris in the three reactors. That’s 10 times the amount of damaged fuel removed at the Three Mile Island cleanup following its 1979 partial core melt.

Saudi Arabia and Iran Agree to Restore Ties, in Talks Hosted by China (NYT) After years of open hostility and proxy conflicts across the Middle East, Saudi Arabia and Iran have agreed to re-establish diplomatic ties, they announced on Friday, in a significant pivot for the two regional rivals that was facilitated by China. China hosted the talks that led to the breakthrough, highlighting Beijing’s growing role as a global economic and political power, and counterbalance to Washington—particularly in the Middle East, a region that was long shaped by the military and diplomatic involvement of the United States. Whether the shift leads to a deep or lasting détente between governments that have long been in conflict remains unclear, but there have been signs that both nations wanted to find a way to step back from confrontation.

African Countries Made Huge Gains in Life Expectancy. Now That Could Be Erased. (NYT) Hannah Wanjiru was plagued by dizzy spells and headaches for years. After a half-dozen costly trips to the doctor, she was finally diagnosed with high blood pressure. Her husband, David Kimani, had been shuttling between doctors himself and ended up with a diagnosis of diabetes, another condition the couple knew nothing about. Not far from their small apartment in the Kenyan capital, there is a public hospital where treatments for H.I.V. and tuberculosis are provided for free. There is no such program for high blood pressure or diabetes, or for cancer or chronic respiratory conditions. The health systems in Kenya and much of sub-Saharan Africa—and the international donations that support them—are heavily weighted to the treatment of communicable diseases such as H.I.V. and malaria. Success in fighting H.I.V., tuberculosis and other deadly infectious diseases, plus an expansion of essential services, have helped countries in sub-Saharan Africa achieve extraordinary gains in healthy life expectancy over the past two decades—10 additional years, the largest improvement in the world, the World Health Organization reported recently. “But this was offset by the dramatic rise in hypertension, diabetes and other noncommunicable diseases and the lack of health services targeting these diseases,” the agency said, launching a report on health care in Africa. It warned that the rise in life expectancy could be erased before the next decade is out.

$7,034 (WSJ) The median starting price for a newly approved drug per patient monthly in 2022. That’s up from $2,624 in 2011, according to an analysis conducted for The Wall Street Journal by the nonprofit 46brooklyn Research. Drug companies face rising pressure to rein in repeat or annual price hikes on existing medicines, so they are bringing drugs to market with higher initial prices.