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halfbisexual · 3 years ago

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Men Cause 100% of Unwanted Pregnancies

Our conversation about abortion places the burden of responsibility on women. I argue men are the root cause.

Gabrielle Blair

Sep 24, 2018·

As a mother of six and a Mormon, I have a good understanding of arguments surrounding abortion, religious and otherwise. When I hear men discussing women’s reproductive rights, I’m often left with the thought that they have zero interest in stopping abortion.

If you want to prevent abortion, you need to prevent unwanted pregnancies. Men seem unable (or unwilling) to admit that they cause 100% of them.

I realize that’s a bold statement. You’re likely thinking, “Wait. It takes two to tango!” While I fully agree with you in the case of intentional pregnancies, I argue that all unwanted pregnancies are caused by the irresponsible ejaculations of men. All of them.

Don’t believe me?

Let’s start with this: A woman’s egg is only fertile for about two days each month. Yes, there are exceptions, because nature. But one egg which is fertile two days each month is the baseline. And those fertile eggs are produced for a limited number of years. This means, on average, women are fertile for about 24 days per year.

But men are fertile 365 days a year. In fact, if you’re a man who ejaculates multiple times a day, you could cause multiple pregnancies daily. In theory, a man could cause 1000+ unwanted pregnancies in just one year. While it’s true that sperm gets crappier as men age, it doesn’t have a fertility expiration date; men can cause unwanted pregnancies from puberty until death. So, starting with basic fertility stats and the calendar, it’s easy to see that men are the issue here.

As a society, we really don’t mind if women suffer, physically or mentally, as long as it makes things easier for men.

“But what about birth control?” you might ask. “ If a woman can manage to figure out how to get an abortion, surely she can use birth control to avoid unwanted pregnancy, right?”

Great question. Modern birth control for women is possibly the most important invention of the last century, and I’m very grateful for it. It’s also brutal. The side effects for many women include migraines, mood swings, decreased libido, depression, severe cramps, heavy bleeding, aneurysm — and that’s just a small fraction of them.

Discouragingly, a promising study on a new male contraceptive was canceled in large part due to… (wait for it)… side effects. To be clear, this list of side effects was about one-third as long as the known side effects for commonly used women’s contraception. There’s a lot to unpack in that story alone. I’ll simply point out that, as a society, we really don’t mind if women suffer, physically or mentally, as long as it makes things easier for men.

But, men, I’ve got good news. Even with the horrible side effects, women are (amazingly!) very willing to use birth control. Unfortunately, it’s harder to get than it should be, but that doesn’t keep women from trying. Birth control options for women require a doctor’s appointment — sometimes multiple doctor’s appointments — and a prescription. They’re not always free, and often not cheap. Some are actually trying to make female birth control options more expensive by allowing insurance companies to refuse to cover them. In addition, contraceptive options for women can’t be easily acquired at the last minute. In most cases, they don’t work instantly.

The pill requires consistent daily use and doesn’t leave much room for mistakes, forgetfulness, or unexpected disruptions to daily schedules. Again, the side effects can be brutal — and not just in rare cases. Despite the hassle and side effects, I’m still grateful for birth control. (Please don’t take it away.) But it’s critical to understand that women’s birth control isn’t simple or easy.

In contrast, let’s look at birth control for men — i.e., condoms. They’re readily available at all hours, inexpensive, convenient, and don’t require a prescription. They’re effective and work on demand, instantly. They don’t cause aneurysms, mood swings, or debilitating cramps. Men can keep them stocked up just in case, so they’re always prepared. They can be easily used at the last minute. I mean, condoms are magic! So much easier than birth control options for women.

As a bonus, most women are totally on board with condoms. They keep us from getting STDs. They don’t lessen our pleasure during sex or prevent us from climaxing. The best part? Cleanup is so much easier — no waddling to the toilet as jizz drips down our legs.

So why would there ever be unwanted pregnancies? Why don’t men just use condoms every time they have sex? Seems so simple, right?

Oh. I remember. Men don’t love condoms. In fact, it’s very, very common for men to pressure women to have sex without a condom. It’s also not unheard of for men to remove the condom during sex without the women’s permission or knowledge. (Pro tip: That’s assault.)

Why would men want to have sex without a condom? Because, for the precious minutes when they’re penetrating their partner, not wearing a condom gives them more pleasure. So… that would mean some men are willing to risk getting a woman pregnant — which means literally risking her life, her health, her social status, her relationships, and her career — so they can experience a few minutes of slightly increased pleasure. Is this for real?

Yes. Yes, it is.

Pregnancies happen when men have an orgasm. Unwanted pregnancies happen when men orgasm irresponsibly.

Imagine a pleasure scale, with pain beginning at zero and going down into the negatives. A good back-scratch falls at 5, and an orgasm without a condom is a 10. Where would sex with a condom fall? A 7 or 8? So, it’s not that sex with a condom is not pleasurable, it’s just not as pleasurable. An 8 instead of a 10.

Let me emphasize that again: Men regularly choose to put women at massive risk in order to experience a few minutes of slightly increased pleasure.

For the truly condom-averse, men also have a non-condom, always-ready birth control option built right in: the pull-out. It doesn’t protect against STDs, it’s an easy joke, and it’s far from perfect. However, it’s 96% effective if done correctly, and 78% effective in practice (because it’s often not done correctly).

Still, many men who resist wearing condoms never learn how to pull out correctly. Apparently, it’s slightly more pleasurable to climax inside a vagina than, say, on their partner’s stomach. Once again, men are willing to risk the life, health, and well-being of women in order to experience a tiny bit more pleasure for roughly five seconds during orgasm.

Think of the choice men are making here. Honestly, I’m not as mad as I should be about this, because we’ve trained men from birth to disassociate sex and pregnancy. We’ve taught them that their pleasure is of utmost importance.

As a general rule, men get women pregnant by having an orgasm. Yes, there are exceptions — it’s possible for sperm to show up in pre-ejaculate — but in most cases, getting a woman pregnant is a pleasurable act for men. But men can get a woman pregnant without her feeling any pleasure at all. It’s even possible for a man to impregnate a woman while causing her excruciating pain, trauma, or horror.

In contrast, a woman can have nonstop orgasms with or without a partner and never once get herself pregnant. A woman’s orgasm has literally nothing to do with pregnancy or fertility — her clitoris exists simply for pleasure, not for creating new humans. No matter how many orgasms she has, they won’t make her pregnant.

Pregnancies happen when men have an orgasm. Unwanted pregnancies happen when men orgasm irresponsibly.

A woman can be the sluttiest slut in the entire world, she can love having orgasms all day and all night long, and she will never find herself with an unwanted pregnancy unless a man shows up and ejaculates irresponsibly. Though our society tends to villainize female pleasure, women’s enjoyment of sex does not equal unwanted pregnancy and abortion. Men’s enjoyment of sex and irresponsible ejaculations do.

Let’s move to the topic of responsibility. Often, men don’t know, don’t ask, and don’t think to ask if they’ve caused a pregnancy. There are often zero consequences for men who cause unwanted pregnancies.

If the woman decides to have an abortion, the man may never even know he caused an unwanted pregnancy with his irresponsible ejaculation. If the woman decides to have the baby, or put the baby up for adoption, the man may never know he caused an unwanted pregnancy with his irresponsible ejaculation either. He may never know there’s now a child walking around with 50% of his DNA.

If the woman does tell him he caused an unwanted pregnancy and that she’s having the baby, the closest thing to a consequence for him is child support. Our current child support system is a well-known joke. Only about 61 percent of required payments by men are actually made, and there are little to no repercussions for skipping out. In some states, failing to pay child support doesn’t even affect your credit.

If a man does pay child support, it doesn’t come close to what is required by a woman in the case of an unwanted pregnancy.

Let’s talk about abortion. When the topic comes up, men might think: Abortion is horrible; women should not have abortions. Never once do they consider the man who caused the unwanted pregnancy.

If you actually care about reducing or eliminating the number of abortions in our country, simply hold men accountable for their actions.

If we’re discussing abortion law — and not how to hold men accountable for irresponsible ejaculations, and the unwanted pregnancies caused by them — we’re wasting our time. Shift the conversation. Stop protesting at clinics. Stop shaming women. Stop debating whether or not to overturn abortion laws. If you actually care about reducing or eliminating the number of abortions in our country, simply hold men accountable for their actions.

What would that look like? A real and immediate consequence for men who cause an unwanted pregnancy. What kind of consequence would make sense? Should it be as harsh, painful, nauseating, scarring, expensive, risky, and life-altering…

… as forcing a woman to go through a nine-month unwanted pregnancy?

If you consider abortion to be murder, consider this thought experiment: Would you be on board with having a handful of men castrated to prevent 600,000 murders each year? If this argument sounds too provocative, could it be that many of us have a hard time wrapping our heads around a physical punishment for men? We seem to be more than fine with physical punishments for women. Perhaps we care more about policing women’s bodies, morality, and sexuality than we do about reducing or eliminating abortions.

Here’s another prevention idea: All males in the U.S. could get a vasectomy when they are ready to be sexually active. Vasectomies are very safe, highly reversible, and about as invasive as a woman getting an IUD implanted. In most cases, there’s some soreness afterwards for about 24 hours, but that’s pretty much it for side effects. (Take a moment to remember that female contraception options, used by millions of women in our country and billions across the world, have well-known side effects which can be brutal and severe — and yes, also include soreness.) If and when a man becomes a responsible adult, finds a mate, and wants to have a baby, the vasectomy can be reversed and then redone once the childbearing stage is over. Each man can bank their sperm before the vasectomy, just in case.

Don’t like my ideas? That’s fine. I’m sure there are better ideas, and I challenge you to suggest your own. My point is we need to stop focusing on women if we’re trying to get rid of abortions. Think of abortion as the “cure” for an unwanted pregnancy. To stop abortions, we need to prevent the “disease” — meaning, the unwanted pregnancy itself. And the only way to do that is by focusing on men, because irresponsible ejaculations by men cause 100% of unwanted pregnancy.

Ask yourselves: What would it take for you to value the life of your sexual partner more than your own temporary pleasure or convenience?

If you’re a man, what would it take for you to never again ejaculate irresponsibly? A loss of money, rights, or freedoms? Physical pain? Ask yourselves: What would it take for you to value the life of your sexual partner more than your own temporary pleasure or convenience?

Men mostly run our government, and men mostly make our laws. In theory, men could eliminate — or drastically reduce — abortions within months without ever touching an abortion law or even mentioning women. They’d simply need to hold men accountable for irresponsible ejaculations, and legislate accordingly.

To reduce or eliminate abortions, stop attempting to control women’s bodies and sexuality. Because unwanted pregnancies are caused by men.

#abortion #pregnant #pregnancy

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tonystarktogo · 4 years ago

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(this could’ve been) a villain’s origin story

part IV

For @shitistanstank who wanted to see Bucky’s reaction and @everything-is-applepie who asked for more [Warning: Bucky is an unrepenant killer and his mindset is dark(er) than Tony’s parts were]:

James hates mentals. Doesn’t matter if they can read your thoughts, break out illusions that have you question everything you believe, make you forget everything you are, everything you used to be or if their powers are even more insidious -- every single one of them is a manipulative fucker with a god-complex.

Usually, James doesn’t generalise like that -- it leads to assumptions and assumptions lead to stupid mistakes that get you dead -- but in this case he’ll make an exception. It’s widely known that, as fussy as the Winter Soldier can be about his jobs, he always takes contracts involving mentals. Doesn’t matter how old they are, what gender, how powerful, what specific abilities.

Mentals are weapons in a way that physicals aren’t, can’t ever hope to be -- and it doesn’t matter what their intentions are, what fucking alignment they hold -- like alignment isn’t just a skewed personality test gone wrong -- or what laws they follow.

[Every supe uses their power. You can’t not. You can’t be less than you are, even if some like to pretend otherwise. Like to play at being human, idealising what they’ve lost and will never achieve again.

Even when you don’t want to, even when you train yourself mercilessly, grit your teeth against it-- a supe’s first instinct is to use their abilities to the fullest. To survive. To live. To make life more comfortable.

There’s better men than James out there who like to offer long lists of requirements, of all the people they refuse to kill. As though not killing children, women, supes, humans, whatever the fuck their line in the sand is, somehow absolves them from the fact that they kill others for money, power or pride. As though having rules -- morals, as they like to sneer pretentiously -- makes them better, when all they do is choose and find one life more worthy than another.

James doesn’t have a list. He takes a contract or he doesn’t, depending on whether he trusts the contractor to pay up and not stab him in the back while he’s at it.

Have you ever seen a five-year old in a temper-tantrum that can bend the minds of those around them to their will? Have you ever considered what a toddler with the ability to erase memories is, what they become? Do you really think it was morals that kept anyone under fourteen from being chosen?

Rules, after all, are rarely implemented before they’ve proven to be necessary.]

The problem with having a reputation for killing mentals is that mentals don’t take kindly to being killed. And it’s hard to be prepared for a threat you don’t know exists until it reveals itself and tries to twist your mind into hushquietobeybenothing.

Granted, that doesn’t stop most of the stupid ones who track him down from monologuing about their righteous revenge before they get on with it. So convinced that just because James didn’t see them coming means he won’t kill them anyway.

Arrogant fuckers, all of them.

He’ll make them regret that before he’s done.

At least the last set of attackers wasn’t stupid. Makes it more of a pain, but ultimately a more satisfying fight. And fuck, if he hadn’t been blind-sided by the witch, James would’ve gotten away clean. But Scarlet Witch [And what kind of bullshit name is that when everyone knows her powers are anything but magical?] has been a persistent pain in his ass for a while now.

She’s smart and powerful and embodies everything James despises in a mental. The only reason they haven’t gone to war so far is because Scarlet Witch couldn’t care less about mentals as a whole. The only thing she values is her brother -- and the guy is a physical. A physical James wouldn’t try to land a hit on unless he was 100 percent sure he could take out the witch as well.

And Quicksilvers is a hard man to hit.

They don’t have an understanding of any sort because James doesn’t do understandings with mentals. But The Captain does, which puts Scarlet Witch and James into an awkward position as far as battles go. That’s the only reason James assumes their last showdown was an accident -- and, also, presumably the only reason he wakes up at all.

James doesn’t wake up slowly. Hasn’t since they shoved the pills down his throat for the first time, back before they realized that injections were that much more effective.

[The doctors never did figure out why James activated at all from such a low dosis, why he survived at all when the pills turned out to be useless with the sole exception of him. Granted, James killed them roughly forty hours after the first test, which might have played a hand in that.]

He comes to from one moment to the next -- finally, finally free of the black nothingness the witch trapped him in [nothing like what she can do, or so the rumors go, but that doesn’t make him itch to see her brain splattered over a sidewalk any less] -- and is immediately aware of his body, his surroundings, himself.

He’s in an unfamiliar place. He’s half-naked. He’s in a negligible amount of pain. He’s unrestrained. He’s not alone.

James is up and moving before the observation fully sinks in. It doesn’t have to. He already has all the data. [Has pinpointed the steady breathing and puttering motions of one person, placed him to his left, four steps, notices his odd surroundings even as he moves. There’s a wrench in easy reach that James aimes before he even sees the person -- man, young, brown hair, a head smaller than him -- and throws before he’s finished taking stock of his surroundings.

It’s more reflex than cold-blooded murder, really, not there’s much of a difference between the two where it concerns James.

The man ducks, proving that he’s not quite as idiotic as James initially assumed for keeping him unrestrained in his direct vicinity. That or he has good instincts.

He’s not a mental though, James can tell. He can always tell. His killing intent goes down a solid 60 percent with that realisation, though that still leaves him with plenty to work with should his potential client [James has lived through weirder recruitment strategies, though not all those potential bosses have] and potential victim prove troublesome.

It’s not that James wants to kill every human he meets. It’s just that he prefers to plan for the eventuality of needing to kill them and how to accomplish it efficiently, rather than be caught off-guard when the inevitable happens.

[There’s something that never made it into any of the papers and articles about supes and it’s this: A supe’s life is insane. There’s no logic, no rationality, no clear reason why you can’t go to a public swimming pool without accidentally ending up in a lagoon filled with starving piranhas. The Captain once theorized that supes offend the natural order or balance and this is nature’s way of striking back, of wiping them out. That or their unnaturalness attracts similar insanity.

James thinks that’s bullshit, not that it matters. He still has to live with the painfully ridiculous situations he tends to get himself into, after all.]

As such it really is nothing personal that as soon as James finally gets a clear view on the man -- kid, really, can’t be a day over twenty -- who’s found him, he immediately plans the guy’s death. It’s not like he acts on it right then, James isn’t a total barbarian.

He even gives the kid time to regain his footing and stare at him in shocked surprise, mouth half-way open and holding a bag of marshmallows as though those will somehow soften the next blow.

James is not gonna lie, he totally expects the boy to pull a sonar death ray, explosives or something similar out of some hidden stash and start some tirade about James having killed his parents and how he’s been planning this moment for a long time, or something along those lines.

Not to offer him marshmallows.

James gives the innocuous bag the deeply suspicious look that offer deserves.

[On an unrelated note, his respect for the boy rises a smidge. James doesn’t know many people with the foresight to keep something ans inconspicious as poisonous marshmallows within easy reach.]

“No.”

“Oh.” The boy looks disappointed.

A scientist eager to see his newest creation in action? James doesn’t frown, but it’s a near thing. He’s not fond of scientists. [They tend to end up dead in his vicinity, but most people do.]

“Can I offer you something to drink?”

James raises his eyebrows, but fairly obvious attempt to drug and or kill him aside, he’s never before wasted a chance to be a little shit and he’s not planning on starting to now.

“You can.”

The kid blinks. Snorts. “Oh, I like you.”

James smirks. He can’t recall the last time anyone told him they felt that way, but he doesn’t recall very many things beyond how to hunt and make them bleed.

“You’re the exception of the rule then.”

The boy laughs and if James wasn’t what he was, he wouldn’t have heard the bitterness echoing it. If James looks closely, he can even see the fractures in that pretty, wide smile.

“Believe me, Goggle Eye, I’m the exception of every rule.”

[It’s a good hour later, after the kid -- call me Tony -- has recounted where he found James and needled him endlessly -- “Come on, there’s got to be something you need! If not food or clothes, what about information? The adresses of your attackers? Schemantics of the newest SI rifle? Clean papers? Give me something!” -- that it occurs to James. A stray thought that nonetheless leaves an impression: It’s a good thing he’s human.

Because there’s something broken underneath Tony’s easy words and open gestures, something sharp and jagged -- still bleeding -- that was crushed and never healed quite right. Because when it comes down to it, you can forget the pills and the injections and the endless treatments and experiments designed to push for moremoremore. Because all the miracles of modern technology can’t build a monster out of spite and thin air. The drugs only reveal the potential that’s always been there.

And there’s no doubt what Tony would have been, should he have found himself among the test subjects.

His mind is a weapon worth killing for already.]

James leaves Tony’s lair two hours later, armed Quicksilver’s current adress -- one can never have enough leverage --, detailed information on four potential targets and the knowledge that Tony is the kind of competent that is as useful as it is dangerous and has an agenda James doesn’t yet understand.

He’s not yet sure what to do about the latter.

#ReRe writes #a villain's origin story 'verse #Bucky Barnes #Winter Soldier #Tony Stark #first meeting #dark #dark Bucky #dubious morality #literally everyone in this fic has dubious morals #consider yourself warned #fic #Tony is ridiculous #but we already knew that #Bucky is as chill as can be under the circumstances #oh wait nope he isn't #Bucky is a contract killer and it shows #Bucky also doesn't know how to deal with Tony and it shows #murderous meet cute

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bountyofbeads · 5 years ago

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Coronavirus Live Updates: Cases Up Nearly 60%, as Airports Expand Screenings https://nyti.ms/2RzxbfT

This seems to be getting a fair amount of media coverage. However, I am more concerned about what is NOT being said. Could this turn into a worldwide pandemic like the Spanish flu of 1918? With 1/5 of the population wiped out? If there was ever a time to err on the side of caution, it is now.

Videos on social media in China have appeared claiming that 70,000+ people are infected. The people in these videos say that they are medical professionals and that the Chinese government is engaged in a cover-up. Given China's history of covering up negative events, SARS, and their seemingly overkill public response, quartinting 10+ cities, I suspect the situation is a lot worse than is being portrayed.

Coronavirus Live Updates: Cases Up Nearly 60%, as Airports Expand Screenings

The number of known cases of the new virus rose by nearly 60 percent overnight. A shortage of test kits has led experts to warn that the real number may be higher.

By The New York Times | Published January 28, 2020 | Posted January 28, 2020 |

RIGHT NOW

After repeated offers of assistance, China will allow in international health experts to help with research and containment.

[ READ UPDATES IN CHINESE:

武汉疫情每日汇总中文版]

HERE’S WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:

DEATH TOLL EXCEEDS 100 AS NUMBER OF INFECTIONS SKYROCKETS.

The outbreak of the mysterious new coronavirus is rapidly spreading, the Chinese authorities said on Tuesday, as the official account of known cases jumped nearly 60 percent overnight and the death toll exceeded 100 for the first time.

◆ China said on Tuesday that 106 people had died from the virus, which is believed to have originated in the central city of Wuhan and is spreading across the country. The previous death toll, on Monday, was 81.

◆ The number of confirmed cases increased to 4,515 on Tuesday, from 2,835 on Monday, according to the National Health Commission. The youngest confirmed case is a 9-month-old girl in Beijing.

◆ Most of the confirmed cases have been in the central Chinese province of Hubei, where several cities, including Wuhan, the epicenter of the outbreak, have been placed under what amounts to a lockdown. Of the total cases, 2,714 are in Hubei.

◆ Thailand has reported 14 cases of infection; Hong Kong has eight; the United States, Taiwan, Australia and Macau have five each; Singapore, South Korea and Malaysia each have reported four; Japan has seven; France has three; Canada and Vietnam have two; and Nepal, Cambodia and Germany each have one. There have been no deaths outside China.

C.D.C. IS EXPANDING SCREENING FOR CORONAVIRUS AT U.S. AIRPORTS AND BORDERS.

The United States is expanding the screening of travelers arriving from Wuhan — to 20 ports of entry, from five, federal officials said on Tuesday.

“Right now, there is no spread of this virus in our communities at home,” said Dr. Robert Redfield, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, at a news briefing in Washington.

“The coming days and weeks are likely to bring more cases including the possibility of person-to-person spread,” he said. “Our goal is to contain this virus and prevent sustained spread of the virus in our country.”

The C.D.C. was already screening passengers from Wuhan at five airports. Now quarantine stations at 20 airports and land crossings will be equipped to test for the virus.

Officials also announced that after repeated offers of assistance, Chinese authorities agreed on Tuesday to allow in teams of international experts, coordinated by the World Health Organization, to help with research and containment.

GERMANY AND JAPAN SAY THE VIRUS HAS SPREAD IN THEIR COUNTRIES.

Health officials on Tuesday reported what appear to be the first known cases of human-to-human transmission of the virus in Europe — specifically, in Germany — and in Japan. Another case was recently reported in Vietnam.

The cases show that countries across the world are now faced with the task of limiting the spread of the disease on their own soil, not just seeking to identify and quarantine ailing patients who had traveled from China.

Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare said the first Japanese national — and the sixth person in Japan overall — to be diagnosed with the coronavirus was a man in his 60s. He had never been to Wuhan, but he had worked as a bus driver earlier this month for two different group tours from that city, officials said.

The man began experiencing symptoms on Jan. 14, was hospitalized on Saturday and was confirmed to have the coronavirus on Tuesday.

The infected German, whose case was also confirmed on Tuesday, is a 33-year-old man from Bavaria who had been in contact with a Chinese woman in Germany, officials said. The woman was diagnosed with the virus after flying home to China. The man was in good condition, German officials said.

“It was to be expected that the virus would come to Germany,” Jens Spahn, Germany’s health minister, said in a statement on Tuesday. “But the Bavarian case shows us that we are well prepared.”

The World Health Organization said on Friday that there appeared to have been a case of human-to-human transmission in Vietnam, where a person who had never been to China, but who had a relative who had visited Wuhan, was confirmed to have the virus.

HONG KONG PUTS SIGNIFICANT LIMITS ON TRAVEL FROM THE MAINLAND.

Hong Kong on Tuesday put in place a broad series of restrictions aimed at controlling the spread of the coronavirus by limiting the number of mainland Chinese travelers entering the territory, one of Asia’s busiest travel and financial hubs.

The restrictions — which included the suspension of high-speed and other train services between Hong Kong and the mainland, a 50 percent reduction in the number of flights — and a ban on tourism visas for many travelers — were announced by Carrie Lam, the city’s chief executive.

The regulations, which apply to some plane, rail, bus and ferry arrivals, will begin on Thursday. They follow days of rising pressure from health care workers, epidemiologists and even pro-Beijing politicians who have traditionally supported Mrs. Lam’s government.

Hong Kong has so far recorded eight confirmed cases of the virus.

Tibet, the only region in China that has yet to report any cases, has temporarily closed all tourist sites, state news media reported. Major Chinese cities, including Shanghai and Beijing, have suspended long-distance bus services.

The medical faculty of the Chinese University of Hong Kong called for more restrictions on border checkpoints as the virus spreads across China.

Workers from Hong Kong’s Hospital Authority have planned a strike for next week to demand a law requiring the wearing of masks in public and banning all visitors from entering the city through the mainland.

ETHIOPIA AND IVORY COAST TEST SUSPECTED CASES.

Numerous African countries are shoring up coronavirus screening efforts at major airports, and samples from at least five potentially infected patients were being tested.

Ethiopia’s state minister of health confirmed on Tuesday that four potential cases were isolated in the capital, Addis Ababa, pending laboratory tests. On Monday, officials in Ivory Coast said they were testing a suspected case related to a female student who had traveled from Beijing to the capital, Abidjan.

The epidemic comes as travel between China and African states has increased at a rapid pace. As Beijing has ramped up its diplomatic, economic and political support for African states, Chinese firms and migrants have been setting up shop in cities from Nairobi to Johannesburg.

Data from the China Africa Research Initiative at Johns Hopkins University put the number of official Chinese workers as of 2017 at over 202,000. African entrepreneurs have moved to Chinese cities, while African students now make up a large percentage of the foreign student body in China.

On Tuesday, Kenya Airways announced that the health authorities had quarantined a passenger who traveled from Guangzhou.

Because of the Chinese New Year celebration, “a good number of African students living in Wuhan or Hubei traveled home before the extent of the virus became clear,” said Hannah Ryder, chief executive of the Beijing-headquartered consultancy Development Reimagined.

“It’s unclear how exposed they may have been and if governments have the resources to check on them,” she said.

WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION BURIES UPDATED GLOBAL RISK ASSESSMENT IN A FOOTNOTE.

The World Health Organization revised its global risk assessment for the coronavirus outbreak from “moderate” to “high,” but concealed the change in a footnote buried in a report published on Monday.

The change to the report, which coincided with a visit to China by the organization’s director-general, risked confusing the public about the severity of the outbreak, which has killed more than 100 people in China and been found in at least 14 countries.

In a statement, the organization said the director-general, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, and Chinese officials “discussed measures to protect the health of Chinese and foreigners in outbreak areas, including possible alternatives to evacuation of foreigners if there are ways to accommodate them and protect their health.”

Chinese state-run media reported that Dr. Tedros met with President Xi Jinping of China and spoke highly of Chinese efforts. Mr. Xi urged the health organization to assess the epidemic in an “objective, fair, calm and rational manner.”

In Hubei, medical workers have complained about a desperate need for resources to treat thousands of patients who have at times overwhelmed hospitals.

The group, which is a United Nations body, was criticized when it refused twice in recent days to declare the outbreak a global emergency, despite its spread.

SHORTAGE OF TEST KITS IN CHINA PROMPTS CONCERN THAT CASES HAVE BEEN UNDERREPORTED.

A shortage of medical kits in China needed to quickly diagnose the coronavirus has slowed the country’s ability to respond to the outbreak and fueled concerns that the number of cases has been underreported.

China’s Medical Products Administration said on Sunday that it had approved four new virus detection kits, including one that sequences the genetic makeup of the disease.

But China’s three leading medical device manufacturers said they did not have the capacity to quickly produce the products, according to state news media reports.

Residents in Wuhan who arrived at hospitals to seek testing were told that medical workers did not have the kits needed to confirm a diagnosis.

“For any new emerging virus, most local hospitals or public health laboratories will not able to make a diagnosis” said Yuen Kwok-yung, the chairman of the infectious diseases department at Hong Kong University. “Thus many cases will not be investigated at all if they are mild.”

A woman in Wuhan told The South China Morning Post that her uncle learned he had viral pneumonia after a CT scan, but that the doctor could not confirm it was the new virus because no testing kits were available.

China may have to rely on outside technical support as front line responders battle to contain the virus’s spread, experts said. The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation said Sunday that it would commit $5 million to help China respond to the crisis, including “efforts to identify and confirm cases.”

U.S. HEALTH OFFICIALS RECOMMEND AVOIDING CHINA, AND BUSINESSES FOLLOW SUIT.

As the outbreak continues to spread, global companies have begun to limit their workers’ travel to mainland China, and China’s biggest companies have urged employees to work from home.

On Monday, health officials in the United States urged travelers to avoid any nonessential travel to China, and many companies cited that as justification for internal travel bans. The new guidance, from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, warned that transportation in and out of Hubei Province, the center of the outbreak, is restricted, and that there is “limited access to adequate medical care in affected areas.”

Companies with large operations or interest in China, like General Motors, Honeywell, Bloomberg and Facebook, have all warned employees not to travel within mainland China in a flurry of emails in recent days.

Honeywell, which has offices and operations across China, said it had restricted travel to certain regions, without specifying them. A spokesperson for General Motors said the company had issued a global ban on travel to China, under which only “business-critical” travel would be allowed.

Bloomberg told its employees in Hong Kong and mainland China to work remotely until further notice, and it barred other employees from traveling to either place for the next 30 days, according to an email seen by The New York Times. Facebook said it asked all employees to suspend nonessential travel and asked those who had recently been in China to work from home for a period of time.

The authorities in China have extended the Lunar New Year holiday to Feb. 3, and some of China’s biggest cities have gone further, telling businesses not to open until the next week. The country’s biggest technology companies, including Alibaba, Tencent, Bytedance, Sina, Maimai, Netease and Didi, told employees to work from home from Feb. 3 to Feb. 10.

Netease, an internet and entertainment platform, asked employees returning from another city within China to quarantine themselves for 14 days.

WORRIES RISE ABOUT THE OUTBREAK’S ECONOMIC IMPACT.

After sharp losses around the world on Monday, investors on Tuesday continued to assess the long-term economic effects of the coronavirus epidemic.

The verdict was mixed. Investors abandoned stocks in Asia, while markets in Europe rebounded modestly from the previous day’s sell-off. Stock market futures in the United States rose as well.

Many of Asia’s stock markets were closed for the Lunar New Year holiday, but those that were open — Japan’s and South Korea’s — fell as futures trading in China slumped. Money poured into safe-haven assets like gold and pushed up the value of the United States dollar.

Japan’s state economy minister said on Tuesday that the Chinese outbreak would affect Japan’s tourism industry and warned that it could also hurt Japanese exports and corporate profits. Chinese tourists traveling to Japan accounted for 30 percent of all tourists in 2019, he said at a news conference.

“There are concerns over the impact to the Chinese and global economy from the spread of infection in China, transportation disruptions, cancellation of group tours from China and an extension in the Lunar Holiday,” said the minister, Yasutoshi Nishimura.

In Tokyo, investors pushed stocks down by nearly one percent. In Seoul, stocks fell by more than 3 percent. Hong Kong’s stock market will reopen on Wednesday. In China, where authorities have extended the New Year holiday by a week, the major exchanges in Shenzhen and Shanghai said they would remain closed until Feb. 3.

“The coronavirus is the No. 1 threat to financial markets currently as global investors are becoming jittery on the uncertainty,” said Nigel Gre, the founder of the investment group deVere Group.

BACK IN NEW YORK FROM WUHAN … AND INTO A SELF-IMPOSED QUARANTINE.

Some of the last passengers who arrived at Kennedy International Airport before direct flights from Wuhan were canceled have quarantined themselves at home.

Scott Liu, 56, who leads an association for immigrants from Hubei, said he confined himself to his house in Queens. He said he and his fellow passengers on the Wuhan flight learned of the lockdown in that city mid-flight.

He said he has not felt sick, but is taking precautions because he knows symptoms take time to appear. His friends have dropped off on his doorstep traditional Lunar New Year dishes like lotus root and pork rib soup, salted fish and dumplings. Last year, they were host to a big New Year celebration at a banquet hall in Flushing.

This year, Mr. Liu said, “all the events here are canceled.”

“Everybody is in a state of panic,” he added.

________

Reporting was contributed by Chris Buckley, Russell Goldman, Elaine Yu, Raymond Zhong, Austin Ramzy, Sui-Lee Wee, Alexandra Stevenson, Cao Li, Eimi Yamamitsu, Tiffany May, Joseph Goldstein, Jeffrey E. Singer, Peter S. Goodman, Roni Caryn Rabin, Motoko Rich, Paul Mozur, Christopher F. Schuetze, Abdi Latif Dahir, Simon Marks and Aurelien Breeden. Jin Wu, Zoe Mou, Albee Zhang, Amber Wang, Yiwei Wang and Claire Fu contributed research.

*********

Coronavirus live updates: U.S. seeks to send expert team to China to combat coronavirus outbreak; Xi defends response

By Gerry Shih, Simon Denyer and Siobhán O'Grady | Published January 28 at 3:38 PM EST | Washington Post | Posted January 28, 2020 |

BEIJING — A top U.S. health official said Tuesday that he offered to send a team from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to China to help with the coronavirus outbreak. Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar did not describe the Chinese health minister’s response but said he hopes that Beijing will accept the offer.

Earlier Tuesday, Chinese leader Xi Jinping said that his country is being “open, transparent, responsible” in its handling of the coronavirus outbreak, as the number of cases continues to increase. Here’s what we know:

● The death toll has risen to 106 in China, with more than 4,565 cases of infection. Other countries in the region also are reporting more people infected — nearly all of them tourists from China.

● Hong Kong announced dramatic measures to stem the flow of mainland Chinese into the territory, closing two railways, ferries and cross-border tour buses. Flights to mainland China will be slashed by half, and individual visas to Chinese will no longer be issued, starting Thursday. United Airlines suspended some flights from the United States to China after demand dropped.

● The U.S. stock market rebounded after the outbreak spooked the global investors Monday, causing serious losses. Asian markets opened down Tuesday after the Lunar New Year holiday, with markets in South Korea and Japan having dropped nearly 3 percent.

● Several countries, including France, South Korea, Canada, Britain and the United States, are putting together plans to evacuate their citizens from the outbreak epicenter in Wuhan.

● Germany has reported its first case, while Thailand has confirmed six more cases, bringing its total to 14 amid calls by many Asian populations to close the borders to Chinese visitors. Infections have been confirmed in France, South Korea, Japan, Nepal, Cambodia, Singapore, Vietnam, Taiwan, Canada and Sri Lanka. We’re mapping the spread here.

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3:30 PM: IN CHINA, STILL MORE RISK OF DYING FROM FLU THAN THE CORONAVIRUS, EXPERT SAYS

WASHINGTON—As cases of the coronavirus continue to spread, global health experts say people in China — and around the world — are currently more at risk of dying of influenza.

“The flu is a big deal in China,” said Yanzhong Huang, senior fellow for global health at the Council on Foreign Relations.

People there are “more at risk of dying of the flu right now than they are of coronavirus,” he said, although incomplete government data makes it hard to assess the full effect of flu in China.

Flu takes a substantial toll around the world, including in the United States. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there have been at least 15 million cases of the flu and 8,200 deaths in the United States this season.

Huang said that getting a flu shot probably wouldn’t keep individuals from contracting the coronavirus, but could have systemic benefits by bringing down the rate of those presenting flu-like symptoms and seeking treatment, thus preserving hospital resources.

Fear, Huang said, “could itself be as contagious as the virus.”

By:Ruby Mellen

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3:10 PM: ROBOT DELIVERS FOOD TO PEOPLE in QUARANTINE IN CHINA

WASHINGTON — Travelers who flew from Singapore to Hangzhou, China, are being held in quarantine in a hotel this week, where they received a visit from a special guest: Little Peanut, a food delivery robot.

“Hello, everyone. Cute Little Peanut is serving food to you now,” the robot said as it made its way down a hotel hallway. “Enjoy your meal. If you need anything else, please message the staff on WeChat.”

Little Peanut moved along the carpeted hallway with ease, pausing when a man in slippers and a face mask opened his door to retrieve his meal. As the robot moved ahead, another door opened, and another man reached for his meal. The robot continued down the hall, and two more men popped out of doors opposite one another, each retrieving their meals as well.

The delivery system, which reduces human contact with the people in quarantine, was captured in cellphone footage shared this week on Chinese state media.

By: Siobhán O’Grady

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2:30 PM: CANADA CONFIRMS THIRD CASE OF CORONAVIRUS

TORONTO — A third person has tested positive in Canada for the novel coronavirus, the British Columbia Center for Disease Control said Tuesday.

The man, who is in his 40s, travels regularly to China for business and was in Wuhan during his most recent trip, said Bonnie Henry, the provincial health officer. He began experiencing symptoms of the virus more than 24 hours after his arrival in Vancouver last week and contacted his primary health-care provider. He is being kept in isolation at home, where he is “doing well,” she added, and does not require hospitalization.

Henry said the case “is not unexpected to us,” given travel patterns and family ties between British Columbia and China, and is unlikely to be the last. She stressed that the risk of contracting the virus remains “extremely low.”

Despite claims from some Chinese officials, Henry said that there is no evidence that the coronavirus can be spread while a carrier is asymptomatic and that the virus is not as infectious as influenza or measles.

“You have to be in relatively close contact with somebody to inhale those droplets if they cough or sneeze,” she said.

The man’s case is considered a “presumptive positive” pending confirmation from the National Microbiology Laboratory in Winnipeg, Manitoba, but Henry said she is “confident” it is a case of the virus given the man’s travel pattern and symptoms.

By: Amanda Coletta

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2:00 PM: WALL STREET BOUNCES BACK AFTER CORONAVIRUS-FUELED SELL-OFF

WASHINGTON — U.S. stock markets rebounded Tuesday after investors appeared to shake off immediate anxiety around the growing coronavirus outbreak.

The Dow Jones industrial average was up 250 points at midday, one day after shedding more than 450 points in its worst one-day sell-off since October. The Standard & Poor’s 500 and tech-heavy Nasdaq also rallied back, and were trading up 1.2 and 1.4 percent, respectively.

Still, investors are keeping close watch on the coronavirus. Analysts worry that China’s economy, which depends heavily on consumer spending, could take a hit given the massive slowdown in travel. There’s also concern that it could disrupt global supply chains.

The U.S. economy could be cushioned from any major damage, analysts say, especially if the 2002-2003 SARS outbreak is any indication. The spread of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome, which killed nearly 800 people and infected more than 8,000 others, temporarily stifled growth in CHINA.

By: Rachel Siegel

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1:25 PM: UNITED AIRLINES SUSPENDS SOME FLIGHTS TO CHINA AS DEMAND DROPS

WASHINGTON — United Airlines, the largest U.S. carrier operating in China, said Tuesday afternoon that it is adjusting its near-term schedule and canceling 24 round-trip flights between the United States and China because so few people are traveling to China.

The cancellations affect flights from San Francisco International Airport, Newark Liberty International Airport, Dulles International Airport and Chicago O’Hare International Airport.

“Due to a significant decline in demand for travel to China, we are suspending some flights between our hub cities and Beijing, Hong Kong and Shanghai beginning Feb. 1 through Feb. 8,” the airline said in a statement. “We will continue to monitor the situation as it develops and will adjust our schedule as needed.”

By: Hannah Sampson

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12:50 PM: TOP U.S. HEALTH OFFICIAL SAYS EARLY CASES MAY ‘SKEW’ UNDERSTANDING OF CORONAVIRUS

WASHINGTON — Azar said experts are scrambling to understand how quickly the novel coronavirus spreads, as well as its lethality, based on limited information.

In a news conference on Tuesday, the health secretary emphasized that officials’ assessments are based on the publicly reported cases and that those “are naturally the most severe cases, because patients presented themselves to health-care providers.”

Another challenge is figuring out lethality without knowing what the total universe of cases might be. Right now, China is reporting more than 100 deaths from the more than 4,500 cases.

But Azar noted that those cases, too, “skew severe, including patients who are older or have other illnesses. The mortality rate may drop over time as we identify a broader set of cases.”

For those reasons, Azar said, “We are still determining the real speed of spread. … We are also still learning about the severity of the virus.”

By: Yasmeen Abutaleb and Lenny Bernstein

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12:35 PM: AUTHORITIES IN GERMANY CAUTION AGAINST IGNORING FLU RISK AS CORONAVIRUS SPREADS

BERLIN — Authorities in Europe urged citizens Tuesday to not ignore risks posed by the flu, after public focus largely shifted to the spreading coronavirus.

In Germany, which confirmed its first coronavirus case in southern Bavaria on Monday night, officials have sought to keep the coronavirus in perspective by citing flu figures.

“Severe flu seasons can kill up to 20,000 people annually in Germany,” said German Health Minister Jens Spahn. But health officials said they also did not want to diminish the risks posed by the coronavirus, even as the threat level across Europe remains relatively low.

The growing focus on the new virus may skew perception of the real risks it poses, but that doesn’t mean the public interest has been unhelpful, said Susanne Glasmacher of the Robert Koch Institute, a German government health agency.

“Some of the means of protecting against influenza are the same as against coronavirus: keeping a distance, washing your hands,” she said.

Encouraging more citizens to take such measures seriously “might in fact be beneficial for keeping influenza numbers low — perhaps it might even help to increase influenza vaccination coverage,” she said.

By: Rick Noack

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11:50 AM: TOP U.S. HEALTH OFFICIAL SAYS HE OFFERED TO SEND CDC TEAM TO CHINA

WASHINGTON — Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar said on Tuesday that he reiterated an offer to China’s minister of health to send a U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention team to China to aid with the public health response to the coronavirus outbreak.

In a news conference Tuesday, Azar said he spoke with the Chinese minister of health on Monday and repeated an offer he made on Jan. 6 to send a CDC team.

Asked about the minister’s response, Azar did not respond directly, saying he “hopes the Chinese government will take us up on” the offer. “We are urging China that more cooperation and transparency are the most important steps you can take toward a more effective response,” Azar said.

Azar said health officials wanted more isolates of the virus from China to help better understand its transmission and to help in the development of vaccines and diagnostics. Top health officials also said that no option was off the table on further restricting travel from China, but they did not announce any new limitations.

By: Yasmeen Abutaleb and Lenny Bernstein

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11:30 AM: AS OUTBREAK SPREADS, AFRICA PREPARES FOR POSSIBLE CASES

WASHINGTON — Despite rapidly growing ties between China and many African countries, no coronavirus cases have been recorded anywhere in Africa since the outbreak began in China in late December. Still, John Nkengasong, director of the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, warned Tuesday that it’s “very possible that there are cases on the continent that have not been recognized.”

Speaking to reporters in Addis Ababa, he noted that cases were suspected in several countries but that none has been confirmed. As is true elsewhere, preparedness for the virus will vary country by country, Nkengasong said.

“Some countries have very strong surveillance systems, some have weak surveillance systems, and some we are working with them to strengthen those systems there,” he said. “This will be a test case of how those systems have been strengthened over the years.”

Large numbers of Chinese citizens live and work in Africa, running shops and restaurants and working on Chinese infrastructure projects. And in the last decade, airlines have accounted for the rapidly growing exchange: Air traffic between Chinese and African cities surged more than 630 percent in the last decade, Quartz reported last year.

Meanwhile, tens of thousands of African students are studying in China, with more than 4,000 believed to be studying in Hubei province alone, according to the Associated Press.

As of Tuesday, Nkengasong said, there is “no need to charter flights to evacuate Africans out of Wuhan city.”

But some African students have expressed concerns they are trapped in the epicenter of the outbreak. Samson Opoku, a Ghanaian student leader in Wuhan, told Ghanaian radio station Joy FM that he and others “want evacuation back home to Ghana.”

“When the outbreak subsides or ends then we return and continue our academic work,” he said.

By: Siobhán O’Grady

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10:40 AM: MILLIONS TUNE IN TO WATCH LIVE STREAM OF CHINESE HOSPITAL CONSTRUCTION

WASHINGTON — Blocked from traveling and encouraged to stay indoors, millions of Chinese have found an unusual way to pass the time: watching hospitals get built — in real time.

On Tuesday, remarkable numbers of Chinese netizens watched grainy, wide-angle footage of workers flattening earth at the site of two temporary hospitals being built to treat the growing number of patients in Wuhan.

Twin live streams showcasing work on the Huoshenshan and Leishenshan hospitals together had an average of 18 million concurrent views on Tuesday, according the South China Morning Post. The footage was hosted by CCTV, China’s state broadcaster.

Facing public anger, authorities promised to build two hospitals in 10 days — a response calibrated to show resolve and showcase Chinese know-how. The live streams appear to be a nod to calls for transparency.

The fact that so many people chose to watch the slow-moving coverage shows both the extent to which boredom is taking hold, as well as public interest in how the Chinese Communist Party is responding.

China’s leaders have vowed to use the hulking architecture of the state to help those affected. The footage, boring as it may be, gives ordinary people a rare chance to show they’re keeping watch.

By: Emily Rauhala

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10:10 AM: Xi DEFENDS CHINA’S HANDLING OF OUTBREAK IN MEETING WITH WHO

BEIJING — Chinese leader Xi Jinping defended his country’s handling of the coronavirus epidemic as “open, transparent, responsible” on Tuesday in a meeting with World Health Organization director general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, even as the Chinese mayor at the epicenter of the outbreak apologized for withholding information from the public.

Calling the coronavirus a “demon,” Xi told Tedros that he would not “let a demon hide” as he vouched for his government’s ability to handle the crisis.

In return, China’s official Xinhua News Agency described Tedros as praising Xi for “personally commanding” the outbreak response and “showing excellent leadership.”

Although international experts have largely praised the speed and methods with which Chinese scientists have carried out research into the novel virus, the Communist Party leadership has come under growing criticism about its handling of the epidemic in its critical early days and its politicization of the international public health response.

Xi’s meeting with the WHO chief came a day after the mayor of Wuhan triggered a firestorm by publicly suggesting that he had not been allowed to speak out earlier about the epidemic.

China in recent days has also been criticized by Taiwan’s president for trying to block the self-ruled island from meetings at the WHO, a United Nations agency, for political reasons at a sensitive moment. China, which has considerable clout at the U.N., views Taiwan as its own territory and has sought to diplomatically isolate the island.

Taiwan reported late Tuesday that it had a first case of coronavirus transmission between two people on the island, raising fears of the virus’s spread. The majority of cases so far have involved people who became infected while traveling in central China.

By: Gerry Shih

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9:30 AM: TAIWAN REPORTS FIRST CASE OF DOMESTIC TRANSMISSION

WASHINGTON — Taiwan’s Central Epidemic Command Centre confirmed Tuesday that one of its eight confirmed coronavirus patients appeared to be the first case of transmission on the island. All previous cases had been infected first in China, Taiwan said. But the new patient, a man in his 50s, was infected by his wife after she returned from working in China, Reuters reports.

Taiwan, despite its political divide with the government in Beijing, has close cultural and economic ties with mainland China. On Monday, an official at Taiwan’s Mainland Affairs Council told reporters that there were as many as 300 business people from Taiwan in Wuhan.

By: ADAM TAYLOR

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8:45 AM: CHARTER FLIGHT CARRYING MEDICAL SUPPLIES LEAVES JAPAN FOR WUHAN AS EVACUATIONS BEGIN

TOKYO — A charter flight left Japan at 8 p.m. on Tuesday to evacuate around 200 people from Wuhan, officials said.

The plane is carrying masks, plastic gloves, protective clothing and food.

It was scheduled to leave Wuhan at 3 a.m. local time Wednesday and arrive back in Tokyo’s Haneda airport at 7:30 a.m. Officials said 650 Japanese citizens living in the worst-affected province of Hubei have asked to come home, with the initial 200 selected among those living closest to the airport and the market from which the disease is believed to have spread.

Those with symptoms will be taken directly to a hospital that specializes in treating infectious diseases, while those without symptoms will be taken to another hospital for tests.

The second group will then be allowed to go home, but urged not to venture outdoors for two weeks during the incubation period of the virus, with health officials visiting them on a daily basis to monitor their condition.

Other flights will be added as soon as possible, officials told reporters.

South Korea will send four flights to Wuhan on Thursday and Friday to evacuate around 700 of its nationals who have asked to come home.

The government plans to send provide some 2 million masks and other medical relief items, including 200,000 items of protective clothing and goggles, on the planes, Yonhap news agency reported.

By: Simon DENYER

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8:30 AM: COUNTRIES MOVE FORWARD WITH EVACUATION PLANS

BERLIN — Several countries continued to move forward with plans to evacuate their citizens from the coronavirus epicenter Wuhan.

Among the nations pursuing or considering such plans are France, South Korea, Morocco, Britain, Germany, Canada, the Netherlands and Russia, Reuters reported.

French authorities said they will initially focus on the evacuation of citizens who are not showing any symptoms of the virus, with a flight from Wuhan expected to arrive back in France on Thursday. The second flight for infected citizens has yet to be scheduled.

In neighboring Germany, the Der Spiegel magazine reported that at least one military aircraft was expected to leave for Wuhan later this week to evacuate German citizens. The plans were not officially confirmed and the German Foreign Ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

British authorities were still finalizing their own plans, too. Via its Twitter account, the British embassy in Beijing urged British nationals in Hubei province willing to leave the region to call a 24/7 hotline before 11 a.m. on Wednesday.

The British government had previously faced pressure to enact a plan. The opposition Labour Party’s Emily Thornberry accused Prime Minister Boris Johnson of “not doing whatever it takes to protect our citizens from harm,” according to the Evening Standard newspaper on Monday.

By: RICK NOACK

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7:30 AM: CHINESE EMBASSY IN COPENHAGEN DEMANDS APOLOGY OVER CORONAVIRUS CARTOON

BERLIN — The Chinese embassy in Denmark has demanded an apology over a coronavirus cartoon published in one of the country’s highest-circulation newspapers, Jyllands-Posten.

The cartoon showed a Chinese flag with what appeared to represent five coronavirus particles instead of the five typical yellow stars.

The illustration — published by the same paper that drew international attention with the satirical Muhammad cartoons in 2005 that sparked rioting across the Middle East — struck a nerve with Chinese officials in Denmark.

In a release, a spokesperson for the embassy called the cartoon “an insult to China” that “hurts the feelings of the Chinese people.”

“Without any sympathy and empathy, it has crossed the bottom line of civilized society and the ethical boundary of free speech and offends human conscience,” the statement read, adding that the cartoonist Niels Bo Bojesen and the paper should “reproach themselves for their mistake and publicly apologize to the Chinese people.”

The paper stood by the cartoon on Tuesday, with its editor in chief Jacob Nybroe saying that “there is no mockery or scorn in the drawing.”

“We can’t apologize for something we don’t think is wrong,” Nybroe added, according to the paper’s own coverage of the controversy.

Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen defended the country’s freedom of expression and satire, even though she did not directly comment on the cartoon in question itself.

By: RICK NOACK

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6:00 AM: PHILIPPINES RESTRICTS VISAS FOR CHINESE NATIONALS

MANILA — In the Philippines, immigration authorities temporarily suspended the issuance of visas upon arrival for Chinese nationals. Immigration commissioner Jaime Morente said that this was “to slow down the influx of group tours,” and possibly prevent the entry of the virus.

China is one of the country’s top sources of tourists, accounting for over a million visits in 2018. The country is hoping to record 9.2 million international arrivals this year. Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo Puyat said that her department did not find it necessary to adjust tourism targets just yet.

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woolenreason1-blog · 4 years ago

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Walk the ITV and Car Modification

If a vehicle is bought by us, we consider changing its look or functionality. I am not talking about pruning, inspite of the fact that it's contained in such crucial reforms, for some alteration, String, suppression or a very straightforward substitution at one or more of these areas of the automobile that implies a shift in attributes, or that changes a details regarding the card ITV of the car. In such cases, these alterations oblige us to meet as calculating the reform, a collection of demands. And passing a technical inspection that provides us exactly the go-ahead to be able to push just about any street that is Spanish. Only in such scenarios, complying with all the"paper work"we can pass a following ITV. Spoilers, exclusive brakes, daring colours... Before embarking upon some other personalization, we now need certainly to completely understand that which we can and cannot do. Eye catching spoilers, out standing bumpers, exclusive brakes, colours that don't render you aware, alterations to the suspensions, at the motor controller device, replacement of seats, the controls... It is named pruning, custom automobiles as well as the extreme of being exemplary and unrecognizable. ITV's history The explosion of automobile pruning started Following conclusion of World War II in the USA, at the 1940s. In addition in countries like Italy, and Asia, China, Great Britain, or Germany, or Japan. You may come across the fans of cars that are changing. According to Spain, pruning's age dates straight into the 90s. But bureaucracy connected to car reforms and limitations have finished several drivers' promises. Spain includes a few. Depending up on the assortment of the alterations, pruning features a wonderful deal of money for this and plenty of hours of effort. Thus we have to learn very well what we all cannot do and which we could do. That's to state it. As in Spain the vehicle reforms that were major are commanded with Royal Decree DC866 / 2010, of July 2. His aim is to unite the standards of legislation. The decree has been accompanied by means of a vehicle re-form guide prepared by the ministry of tourism, industry and trade in collaboration. This manual's revision required effect. It defines their codification that the reforms, and documentation such as processing. And this why? When passing the Technical Inspection of Vehicles When there are alterations in vehicles that want their acceptance by a human body together with the certification. Even as we've merely stated, we aren't talking about pruning entirely, that can be mostly aesthetic, but to reforms such as adapting a streetcar to contest (a neighborhood rally,'' by way of example ). So we're talking about any task that's regarding"getting your hands on" the car or truck. Not only needs one to pass onto the ITV when adapting the vehicle into the competition. And the motorist needs to have the permit. He couldn't induce (the automobile wouldn't comply 100 percent with all the RGC ). What reforms can possibly be performed in the auto? Are they accepted? The section of justice functioned to come up with a car renewal guide that was significant. It details the types of reforms. And It determines requirements, procedures and the criteria necessary to handle reform. We'll concentrate on automobiles, though you will find reforms for a number of vehicles. These will be the Types of reforms that are workable: 1. Identification By means of example, the partial or total replacement of this framework or even the arrangement when is the change of host to the enrollment location; the retroquelado. 2. Drive device By way of instance, the adjustment or replacement of the aspects with this ingestion process, the distribution system, along with also the drive unit; modifications into the exhaust system; nearly any alteration into the petrol tank; any alteration in the switchboard... 3. Transmission Modifying the gearbox, the clutch machine, or changing the amount of drive axles. 4. Axles and wheels Alter the sum of axles or bracket tires which can be non-equivalent. 5. Suspension Any alteration for their components or this suspensions. 6. Speech Due to this steering clear, the positioning of this tyre, the replacement of the controls from the other,...

7. Brakes Change the system qualities. Install or Install energy absorption techniques which can be supplementary. F150 grille with their place, among other items. 8. Body One of the most extensive role in sophistication and wide assortment of conditions.Among others: fluctuations in seating, in seat straps, removal of space for the installment of wheelchairsand body alterations... 9. Lighting and indicating apparatus This comes replacement or any alteration. 10. Connections between automobiles and their trailers or semi-trailers 1 1. Length of the information that appear to the ITV card For the adjustment of the vehicle for contest or example the variation of this MMA.

#car #car modofication #grille #Ford #Jeep

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anthonychiozza · 6 years ago

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The Genocide Of The Innocent: Reprint From 12/19/15

Written by: Anthony Chiozza

Hearing about babies dissected alive could lead one to despair easily. Those that are still in touch with their own soul feel an anger, and deep pain that can not be adequately communicated with the pen. Children of God for Life’s facebook page states the following: “Dr. Ian Donald explained what he witnessed at Karolinska Institute to Fr Paul Marx at HLI several years ago: Experiments were being performed on near-term alive aborted babies who were not even afforded the mercy of anesthetic as they writhed and cried in agony, and when their usefulness had expired, they were executed and discarded as garbage.” Difficult words to read for those with a soul. (1) For the record, the Karolinska Institute is located in Sweden. (2) However, the United States, Planned Parenthood, and the citizens of this country have enough blood on their hands as well, as revealed by the recent Planned Parenthood “scandal.” The only scandal that I am aware of is that millions of babies have been exterminated for years.

There are not enough human tears to be wept that can make up for the atrocities committed against the weakest of the human species. Perhaps you have considered that I sound more like a humanist than a Catholic, but let me assure you that I fully expect God’s wrath to pour out upon this disgusting, “modern” society sooner rather than later. Some people hear, “God’s Wrath,” and they assume that this is some kind of evil God that enjoys punishing people. My theology might be off on this, but in any case, this is how my perception of this concept works itself out in my mind. God loves us so much that He weeps while having to destroy us, because we have rejected His love. If we think back to Scripture Jesus sheds tears on Jerusalem. His own people did not accept His Love, and Rome would decimate the city precisely as Jesus prophesized. Further, God’s Chastisements can also lead many to repent before death, and spare them an eternal death in hell.

For the record, I used to vote for politicians that murder babies. I was once a full functioning member of the “Culture of Death,” in almost every regard. I have, through God’s mercy, had the good fortune to be slapped awake by Him, and I confessed those sins. These are just some of my sins, but how many pretend there is some subtle discussion to have about voting for millions of babies being slaughtered, while weighing the economic pros and cons? This cannot be considered clear reasoning. Considering if one should vote liberal to stop war is a more valid line of reasoning to follow, but also a line of reasoning that ultimately fails. Surely, liberals would continue to vote democrat if we were murdering Jews at home, but wanted to avoid killing others in wars abroad? I can hear the discussion now. “Well it is true that ‘Feel the Burn’ Sanders and Hillary want to keep murdering Jews in our country, but at least people won’t die in war abroad.” There is no subtle discussion to be had here.

War is upon us, and it has been upon us for a long time, and many lives will be lost in war. Even under supposedly liberal leadership the slaughter of war continues, and whose fault is that? Those that have held the reigns of power in the past are guilty. Specifically, the Bush administration, which was fully stocked with a gaggle of neoconservatives. We cannot leave out Hillary Clinton, as she voted for the unjust war as well. The neocons didn’t listen to Saint John Paul II when he said they could not go to war in the middle east! “John Paul has insisted that war is a "defeat for humanity" and that a preventive strike against Iraq is neither legally nor morally justified.” (3)

News flash for the Liberals out there laughing at the Neocons’ clouded reason, and disobedience to the Holy Father. Democrats have supported genocide much longer than any Republican Neocon, that didn’t listen to the Pope concerning the wars in the Middle East. This is not an excuse for the Bush administration’s disobedience to the Pope, but an important theological point! War is a punishment for the very crimes Liberals continue to support, by voting for leadership that is willing to sacrifice babies at Lucifer’s alter. When Our Lady of Fatima appeared to three shepherd children she confirmed Scripture, that war is indeed a punishment for sin. (4) (5)

Again, why do Liberals continue to vote this way even though many of them are Catholic? This vote is in trade for some false perception of economic advantage, or a misguided line of reasoning thinking we will spare lives by preventing war. I hear the emotional counter arguments now: “But if the economy is better, women will kill less babies.” Studying the statistics it does seem that the majority of abortions are happening for a lack of affordability. However, upon further investigation of the reasoning behind these decisions, and breaking down the data into subcategories, one must admit that affordability is highly subjective in the mind of the individual. The following statistics began being collected in 1986 and were published in 2005.

“Nearly three-quarters said they could not afford to have a baby.

Of those women who gave two or more answers, the most common response -- inability to afford a baby -- was most frequently followed by one of three other reasons:

Pregnancy/birth/baby would interfere with school or employment.

Reluctant to be a single mother or experiencing relationship problems. Done with childbearing or already have other children/dependents.

Below is

a breakdown of women's responses that

specified reasons that led to their abortion

decision

(percentage total will not add up to 100% as multiple answers were permissible):

74% felt "having a baby would dramatically change my life" (which includes interrupting education, interfering with job and career, and/or concern over other children or dependents)

73% felt they "can't afford a baby now" (due to various reasons such as being unmarried, being a student, inability to afford childcare or basic needs of life, etc.)

48% "don't want to be a single mother or [were] having relationship problem[s]" (6) (8)

Only one reason listed seems to actually correlate with, “inability to afford a baby.” That reason is, “inability to afford basic needs of life.” The rest seem to be highly westernized ideas about “affordability.” There are women in dire poverty all around the world having babies, including the United States. For the sake of argument I will admit it is possible that these other categories might include some legitimate economic reasons, but that, of course, does not excuse the sin. When the statistics are broken down further we begin to get a clearer picture that these reasons are westernized reasons. Only twenty-three percent of abortions are because of affordability. Sixty-six percent of these abortions are happening for reasons other than affordability and that is without the health of the mother, or rape included! (7) In fairness two categories, or more, could be chosen by the woman filling out the form. Sixty-six percent is the best estimate that can made. The percentage could be less.

Why Women Have Abortions:

The reasons they gave in 2004

25% Not ready for a(nother) child/timing is wrong

23% Can't afford a baby now

19% Have completed my childbearing/have other people depending on me/children are grown

8% Don't want to be a single mother/am having relationship problems

7% Don't feel mature enough to raise a(nother) child/feel too young

4% Would interfere with education or career plans

4% Physical problem with my health

3% Possible problems affecting the health of the fetus

<0.5% Was a victim of rape

<0.5% Husband or partner wants me to have an abortion

<0.5% Parents want me to have an abortion

<0.5% Don't want people to know I had sex or got pregnant

6% Other (7)

Did voting Democrat ever stop 23% of these babies from being murdered? It would be interesting to break the statistics down further and see if the number of abortions in that category rose during the years of Democratic presidents. We obviously know that babies were murdered for that reason, in those years despite the numbers, so voting Democrat will never stop this from happening. We always hear from Liberal Left about how much the government cares for everyone. Why don’t they care enough to use tax money to save babies instead of funding their genocide? Catholic Democrats hold up a magic economic key and argue they can stop allowing genocide, or at least most of it, if you will just vote for their party. I can hear the conversation with them continue, “We can save some of the Jews, even though we are the ones throwing them in the ovens, if you just vote for our party.”

Turning back to the Republican side of the isle, can any Catholic clearly give me Donald Trump’s position on abortion? He seems to be all over the place.(9) Right now, apparently, it is not ok to kill babies in the Don’s mind, except for certain situations. This flies in the face of his previous position of being pro-abortion. He wouldn’t consider defunding Planned Parenthood, but maybe he will now? Who really knows? (Update: Thank God for President Trump. Could he still be critiqued? Yes, but he has done more than any other sitting POTUS that I can recall.)

Meanwhile we have candidates like Rand Paul, willing to stand on the Senate floor for hours filibustering, in order to defund Planned Parenthood! How can Conservative Catholics even seriously consider Trump when there are candidates that are more experienced, in regards to defending the country, and trying to save the unborn? Not only are they experienced, but they have proven they will fight the good fight! If Rubio shows up he might fight, I don’t know, probably not...I digress...The story recently broke that Planned Parenthood will be fully funded. Go back and read Dr. Donald’s witness testimony about babies screaming in pain as they are torn apart.

What should Catholics be doing other than praying the rosary, to end this nightmare? I have personally heard at least two Priests, and read on EWTN that it is a mortal sin to vote for someone that supports abortion. The voters guide on EWTN by Father Taraco, Ph.D. states, “Except in the case in which a voter is faced with all pro-abortion candidates (in which case, as explained in question 8 above, he or she strives to determine which of them would cause the let damage in this regard), a candidate that is pro-abortion disqualifies himself from receiving a Catholic’s vote. This is because being pro-abortion cannot simply be placed alongside the candidate's other positions on Medicare and unemployment, for example; and this is because abortion is intrinsically evil and cannot be morally justified for any reason or set of circumstances. To vote for such a candidate even with the knowledge that the candidate is pro-abortion is to become an accomplice in the moral evil of abortion. If the voter also knows this, then the voter sins mortally.” (8)I would respectfully recommend that Trump supporters click the link in the source list below to the Catholic Answers article and consider if they are making the right moral decision weighing all the other candidates positions.

It would follow that a good Catholic would make a prudent decision, even if they were still unsure, and follow what these good sources of Catholic teaching are saying. Unfortunately, Catholics in the United States continue to march us backwards into darkness. It would be impossible for politicians that condone the genocide of babies to be elected in this country if Catholics would actually be Catholic. For some inexplicable reason they choose not to follow the Church, but their own wills, desires, and political leanings. If only they were obedient like the Queen Mother Mary, to her Son, they might not only find that abortions end, but that the economy would also improve. Perhaps we might get more worthy candidates to vote for on both sides of the narrow political spectrum in this country as well! How many Catholics will continue to do their will and not the Father’s Will? For now, “we the Catholic people,” seem to want more bread and circus in exchange for the blood of the innocent. Update 1: Ladies and Gentleman, I have a serious question, and thought experiment. Apparently the five non negotiables are not Catholic teaching when it comes to voting. Pope Benedict said, in a letter, that one could vote for a pro-abortion candidate, but NOT because they are pro-abortion. I can find nothing that carries the weight of encyclical that says otherwise. However, I still feel in my heart, very strongly, that it is wrong to vote for a pro-abortion candidate. My thinking relies on a statement from Pope John Paul II: "That is the dignity of America, the reason she exists, the condition of her

survival, yes, the ultimate test of her greatness: to respect every human person,

especially the weak and most defenseless ones, those as yet unborn."

-Pope John Paul II

I feel Saint Pope John Paul II's desire for America will never be accomplished here if Catholics are free to vote for pro-abortion candidates because they like other parts of that candidates platform. The analogy I think of to explain this to people follows as: Do you think everyone would be trying to make the best choice while people are being marched off to the ovens and just kind of toss their hands and their air, and say, "Well, I don't agree with them burning those Jews, but they have a great economic policy, so I'll vote for them." Anyway, these are just my thoughts on why I think it should not be allowed for Catholics to ever vote for a pro-abortion candidate, but I accept that I am probably wrong. My heart tells me never to vote that way personally. Thanks for the thoughtful consideration. I offer my sincere apologies to those Catholics that choose to vote for pro-abortion candidates. God bless.

Update II: A good friend of mine sent me another article today from a Priest on the issue of abortion. I feel it is important for everyone to form their conscience appropriately on this issue. I would respectfully ask that everyone read this, whether conservative, or liberal. When Pope Benedict said it would not be a grave evil to vote for a pro-abortion candidate, it was in the context of a letter. This is far from an encyclical, or words spoken from the Chair of Peter. This was his opinion. While I respect his opinion, and believe he was a great Pope, my heart tells me he is very wrong. A Pope is a man as well, and can be mistaken in matters of the Faith. Even a great Pope like Benedict. It is important that we all SERIOUSLY consider our position on this issue before casting a vote that could possibly send us to hell. I am so concerned about this, specifically because of the salvation of my soul, and other souls, I am considering writing a second piece on abortion and voting. Please pray for my soul. LINK: https://www.thecatholicthing.org/2016/03/03/can-catholics-support-a-pro-abortion-candidate/

Citations:

Debi Vinnedge, President and Executive Director, “Children of God For Life,” Nov. 9, 2015, accessed Dec. 17, 2015, https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=905776096177162&id=223315007756611&fref=nf&pnref=story

(2) Dr Cecilia Götherström, Associate Professor, “Unique stem cell brittle-bone study starts,” Oct. 12, 2015 0 2:00 EST, accessed Dec. 17, 2015,

http://news.cision.com/karolinska-institutet/r/unique-stem-cell-brittle-bone-study-starts,c9844692

(3) Associated Press, “ Vatican Strongly Opposes Iraq War,” March 12, 2003, accessed Dec. 17, 2015, http://www.foxnews.com/story/2003/03/12/vatican-strongly-opposes-iraq-war.html

(4) Father Nicholas Gruner, “ Part I – The Urgency of the Fatima Message,” unkown, acessed, Dec. 19, 2015,

http://www.fatima.org/books/divimp/dichap1.asp

(5) Catholic Answers Staff, “ Does God Send War As Punishment For Sin,” unknown, accessed Dec. 19, 2015,

http://www.catholic.com/quickquestions/does-god-send-wars-as-a-punishment-for-sin

(6) Lawrence B. Finer, Lori F. Frohwirth, Lindsay A. Dauphinee, Susheela Singh and Ann M. Moore “Reasons U.S. Women Have Abortions : Quantiative and Qualitative Perspectives,” September 2005, accessed Nov. 17, 2015,

https://www.guttmacher.org/pubs/journals/3711005.pdf

(7) Gudrun Shultz, “The Real Reason Women Choose Abortion,” unkown, accessed, Dec. 19, 2015,

http://www.actionlife.org/index.php/life-issues/abortion/item/124-the-real-reason-women-choose-abortion

(8) Linda Lowen, “Why Women Choose Abortion - Statistical Breakdown of Reasons For Abortion,” Dec. 16, 2014, accessed Dec. 17, 2015, http://womensissues.about.com/od/reproductiverights/a/AbortionReasons_2.htm

(10) Fr. Stephen F. Torraco, PhD, “A Brief Catechism for Catholic Voters,” 2002, accessed Dec. 17, 2015,

https://www.ewtn.com/vote/brief_catechism.htm

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:(Statue)_Stop_Abortion._University_of_Ilorin.jpg#mw-jump-to-license

Women’s Rights Photo: Kenneth John Gill

(9) Bethany Blankley, “Donald Trump’s Abortion Muddle,” Dec. 5, 2015, accessed Dec. 18, 2015,

youtube

#prolife #Catholic #Marchforlife #Abby Johnson #AbbyJohnson

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noteworthynotes · 6 years ago

Link

If you want to prevent abortion, you need to prevent unwanted pregnancies. Men seem unable (or unwilling) to admit that they cause 100% of them.

Don’t believe me?

“But what about birth control?” you might ask. “ If a woman can manage to figure out how to get an abortion, surely she can use birth control to avoid unwanted pregnancy, right?”

So why would there ever be unwanted pregnancies? Why don’t men just use condoms every time they have sex? Seems so simple, right?

Yes. Yes, it is.

Let me emphasize that again: Men regularly choose to put women at massive risk in order to experience a few minutes of slightly increased pleasure.

Pregnancies happen when men have an orgasm. Unwanted pregnancies happen when men orgasm irresponsibly.

If a man does pay child support, it doesn’t come close to what is required by a woman in the case of an unwanted pregnancy.

Let’s talk about abortion. When the topic comes up, men might think: Abortion is horrible; women should not have abortions. Never once do they consider the man who caused the unwanted pregnancy.

… as forcing a woman to go through a nine-month unwanted pregnancy?

To reduce or eliminate abortions, stop attempting to control women’s bodies and sexuality. Because unwanted pregnancies are caused by men.

#abortion #pro choice #women's rights #women's health #reproductive rights #gabrielle blair

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blues-sevenfold · 6 years ago

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Sandal Universe: Lilith, Succubi, and Incubi

As I established awhile back, various types of otherkind (sometimes called “otherkin”) exist in this universe.

Those with a deity souls are called “avatars”.

Those with fairy souls are called “changelings”, while the lilliputian-sized winged fairies are called “pixies”. The former can even temporarily turn themselves into the latter, while the big body is asleep - akin to astral projection.

Duosouls are also common, and it’s very rare for more than two souls to inhabit a body. In this universe, all twin births are duosouls - as eye colour determines who is fronting at any given time.

While not technically duosouls, wanderers are a case where a ghost takes over the body of a seer/soul-container - with the original soul temporarily becoming an astral projection. Eye colour also denotes when a wanderer is in effect.

Demi-avatars (not to be confused with semi-avatars) are when a deity soul shares a body with a mortal soul. Semi-avatars are the offspring of an avatar.

The human bodies with an angel or demon soul are called “nephilim”. About 90% of all human bodies possessing either soul are nephilim. About 4% have solely a demon soul while 1% have an angel soul. It should be noted that the angel/demon distinction are order/chaos, and not good/evil. Another 4% are bodies with a mortal soul who later on have a demon enter. Sometimes, that phenomenon is pejoratively referred to as “demon possession” - particularly during the time of the Great War from a millennium ago. The preferred term is “demonic symbiosis”. The remaining one percent is other rare combinations.

Demons are generally from a realm called Nethers, while angels are generally from a realm called Celestia. Demons are generally known to be impulsive and spontaneous, while angels are more known to be thoughtful and dependable. Demons also act as fire ellies, as they control fire and hot - while angels also act as ice ellies, as they control ice and cold.

Around the fourth millennium BC - there were Adam, Eve, and Lilith. It should be noted that Adam, Eve, and Lilith are all brown people. Lilith was a demon otherkind who was known for being lustful. While she ended up having twins with Adam - she, ultimately, broke Adam’s heart when it became clear to him that monogamy was not in her nature. This then led to the creation of Eve, who remained loyal to Adam her whole life. Lilith ended up having a total of thirteen children.

Samael was a nephilim (angel/demon duosoul) - and, together, Lilith and Samael has spawned Azrael. Azrael is otherwise known as the Grim Reaper, and he waited at least 100 years to start having offspring. A piece of his soul ends up in each of his descendants - and, as such, each descendant start to recall the lives of each of their ancestors of the Death lineage prior to the moment of their birth. Upon their death, Azrael and all of his descendants become Grim Reaper ghosts - in which they have special abilities that regular ghosts generally lack. Both in life and in death, the reapers are capable of entering near-death experiences and deathbed visions of people - and, after death, they are then tasked with helping dying people to pass onto the other side. Reapers can be male or female.

The descendants of Lilith and Adam (both twins produced offspring) are known as “cambions”, the descendants of Lilith and Samael (Azrael was their only offspring) are known as “reapers”, and the remaining descendants of Lilith are referred to as “incubi” and “succubi”. The cambions, reapers, incubi, and succubi do not mate with each other - as, even with over four millennia of ancestry, they feel that it’d be too incestuous. The remaining ten children were the product of Lilith and a mortal human.

The cambions are referred to as a class of mages, rather than demons - while incubi and succubi are referred to as demons. Unlike the demon otherkind, the incubi and succubi do not have fire ellie abilities - but they have other abilities that are associated with demons. The cambions have golden eyes, while the incubi and succubi have reddish-orange eyes.

Not all incubi and succubi are lustful, although none of them make good lifelong partners - as monogamy is not in their blood. One thing all of them do have is a spontaneous nature, which can be both a strength and a weakness.

#sandalpunk #mythology #lilith #succubi #incubi #world building #text post #xg

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lowryjacobs7-blog · 6 years ago

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Chapter 3.

If you're not sure whether you're an excellent prospect for a bust lift, take into consideration some of the most typical reasons why females are having this procedure done. Below alright, currently exactly what I'm going to do is I'm going to lift my heels up alright, I'm gon na lift my legs up till my body forms a straight line right here utilizing my lower back and my glutes. As they docked at the pier, the skipper again lifted her bag before nicely assisting her down onto the wood jetty. It's the system that power business intervenors standing for some 10 percent of U.S. generation, joined by amicus Preeminence Resources, have actually stepped in to safeguard right here. Checks out the globe of a boxing health club in Austin, Texas, home on the technique of training as people from all profession desire reach their personal ideal. The Phantom Ranger has again reappeared into the journeys of the Power Rangers, this time around disclosing himself to be searching for Zordon on his very own throughout the galaxy. An additional means of considering the two faces of the state of exemption in which political power takes a direct hold of human life is to keep in mind the two settings of reduction/amplification at play in each circumstances. With the exception of powerlifting, most power exercises are carried out repetitively over a time period to boost rate, fast reflexes and stamina, such as upright jumps, side jumps and also kettlebell swings. The real power of Power, though, is that ... it's putting African-Americans at the heart of a TELEVISION trend - the antihero - that previously has greatly been the district of white men. If you're new to the fitness center you might be frightened, however if you comply with these simple standards, it will certainly alleviate your change from lazy person to gym rat. The Bowflex Sporting activity home gym does occupy quite a bit of area; the footprint of it is bigger compared to what the majority of people anticipate. Ideas are dynamogenic representatives, or stimulations for unlocking what would certainly otherwise be unused tanks of individual power. All fitness centers are organisations set to earn money, so take care when their sales group persuades you." And be sure to check out the gym throughout the hrs you'll frequently be utilizing it to see exactly how crowded it obtains. I'm most definitely not a supporter, as I assume I have actually explained now, of entering and power positioning before individuals in order to intimidate them. What depresses me inutterably is that youngsters, who are fresh and also investigative, will go to this flick as well as, for 88 minutes, the motion picture will certainly do what it could to deaden their creativities. When you fight in a gym you're never really dealing with one more gamer: the defending Pokémon are managed by an AI, as are yours later, when they're resident in the gym and defending. This is a listing of publications, ideas, and also authors stated in The Power of Fifty Bits, which could be useful for future analysis. The court action was brought by the Workplace of Fair Trading versus Ashbourne Management Provider, which prepares arrangements and also gathers payments from gyms with an overall of more than 500,000 participants. Power Tattoo ® suggest une toute nouvelle façon de jouer et permet aux 7-12 ans de s' affronter n'importe où, n'importe quand. Members of the gym teams are currently able to terminate their contracts early need to their circumstances alter in such a way that makes presence at the gym hard or expensive. The Turtles were transformed bad and teleported from New York by Astronema to infiltrate the Astro Megaship as well as take control of it to destroy the Power Rangers. Yet the most unpleasant aspect of the power mystery is that even if an individual increases to power by counter-Machiavellian means-- kindness, kindness, concern with the usual excellent-- power itself will eventually warp her priorities and make her much less kind, less generous, much less concerned with the typical good, which will certainly in turn erode her power as her reputation for these counter-qualities grows. studiosante of this kind are smaller sized and also lighter compared to systems with weight stacks. As an individual thinker and also one to examine sacred as well as old facts, I use this statement: that power is damaging to autonomy, that it has the propensity to neglect the rate of interests of the people, as it grows the people pass away, as it recedes the flower of freedom flowers. This is carried out in order that the layer of fat could be raised by the operating medical professional and after that rearranged in an ideal way. You could carry out a number of workouts on the Total Health club 1000 without even touching the wing add-on or leg pulley devices. Right here are video clips of me doing 3 sets of 6 representatives on bench press at 220 lbs, 225 lbs, 232 pounds, and also 238 lbs Once more, each video clip is a few weeks apart and also they all look essentially the same. Bannatyne Fitness, David Lloyd Leisure and Fitness First have actually all been forced to alter their agreements after they were located to be making it difficult or difficult for people that were injured or made redundant to leave their gym agreements early. The guys experiencing reduced libido can boost sex power as well as period naturally if they take Kamdeepak pills regularly for 2 to 3 months as it helps in combating infections and ailment of the body which trigger these issues. 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When selecting a gym or gym, it could be best to visit the extra costly areas. Great no rubbish suggestions and also workouts for any individual that doesn't prefer to go to the health club or workout with weights. The oppositions next case is that EPA is totally prevented from restricting nuclear power plant' harmful carbon pollution because EPA has currently made use of another part of the regulation-- Area 112-- to curb the very same plants' emissions of mercury and various other hazardous air contaminants. Citizens Recommendations highlighted a common problem that individuals joining health clubs can fail to understand that they were authorizing a credit report arrangement. Most of the pain associated with DOMS occurs when you lower a raised weight and subject your muscles to a type of tightening called an eccentric tightening. We obtain a capacity making a distinction in the world by improving the lives of others, yet the very experience of having power and also advantage leads us to behave, in our worst moments, like spontaneous, out-of-control lunatics. There is an alternative now to select 6x2 chassis or 6x2 chassis with lift-able axles (raised axles stay clear of unnecessary tire wear when the weight circulation stays within lawful limitations). This exercise tools is frequently gone along with by a display screen that tracks the heart rate,. in addition to various other details like the variety of miles run or calories shed. Il est vrai que j' y consacre a peu prés 4 heures par semaine chez moi en musique et je peu vous dire que je ne rate aucune séance tant je me sens bien après mon heure de power plate. There are other basic attributes of veranda PL-P mobile mobility device lift are as complies with. The High court currently chose that question also in American Electric Power v. Connecticut, in 2011. Both gyms have actually walked around the central city location of Sparkhill as well as cater for a largely Muslim clients. The Lumo Lift expenses ₤ 80 in black, grey as well as white with black as well as silver magnets. To the teacher's surprise, just what need to emerge from the subsequent chain reaction but 3 little women: bright and also useful Bloom (voice of Cathy Cavadini), pleasant as well as sunny Bubbles (voice of Tara Solid), as well as tomboyish Buttercup (voice of Elizabeth Daily). Right as blade cuts hung the broken strings of the unused internet, threaded here and there with wheels of silken webs. It took a little convincing, but the Rangers established Auric right, and now he gets on their side. Today, I'm midway via The Power and must say that it is a combination of points I needed to be advised of and afterwards some things I really did not fairly understand. You can obtain a complete body workout in about 20 minutes with the Bowflex Sporting activity house health club if you use it right.

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earaercircular · 3 years ago

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Munich International Motor Show : Now in eco mode

The International Motor Show in Munich has begun this Tuesday. Instead of models in front of sports cars, the providers are now presenting recycled cars and bicycles. This should underpin the change in the industry - but by far not everyone likes it.

If one last proof was needed that the German auto industry really wants to do everything completely different now, then it is this, well, airy demonstration. In the coming week, the International Motor Show, better known as the IAA[1], begins in Munich. And the Association of German Automobile Manufacturers, the VDA, [2] has invited the reporters to a preview - but not by bus or in an electric car convoy, but by zeppelin.

At a height of 500 meters you will glide gently over Munich and see how what how this probably most important German trade fair has changed. The IAA no longer only takes place in exhibition halls, but also right in the middle of the old town: at Königsplatz, for example, at Odeonsplatz, at Stachus or Marienplatz and also on the A 94 autobahn where people can try out futuristic vehicles.

In the past, the bigger the better

The change of perspective is necessary. Everything used to be clear, the rule of thumb was: the bigger, the better. Business is still running according to these rules - extremely well in fact, following current sales and profit figures. But in times of lightning-fast computers, threatening climate change and overcrowded cities, the managers in Wolfsburg, Munich and Stuttgart are increasingly discussing other things, sometimes with an anxious tone: Which robot car will come from the USA tomorrow? Which new competitor is behind the corner in China? What new forms of transportation are in demand? How green do you have to get? And yes, that too: How desirable are you actually?

When the industry gathered for the last time at the IAA, in autumn 2019, already a lot of certainties for so long in the automotive world had been shaken. And the car people hardly had any answers. This is one of the reasons why the IAA 2019 in Frankfurt turned out to be quite a disaster - which is not an exaggeration - that should not be repeated.

When Chancellor Angela Merkel visited, climate activists grimly climbed some cars and held up posters: "Climate killers". The BMW employees stood around their occupied cars, perplexed. The dented roofs were the smallest problem. The managers simply didn't know how to deal with this situation, for which there is probably no good solution. Halligalli [3] was also outside the gates: demonstrators blocked the driveway with bicycles. Which, by the way, was quite right for the mayor of Frankfurt, Peter Feldmann. The SPD man - after all, actually the host - was not allowed to speak at the opening. His speech was then of course known anyway: "Frankfurt needs more buses and trains, but not more SUVs," it said. And he also thanked the demonstrators - their fight for a better climate is important.

From then on, the disturbed car people only wanted to get away from Frankfurt. Eventually they agreed on Munich. Here, too, urban society does not embrace the auto industry. But it is probably the safest big city in the world, a main argument when looking for a new venue. "Here there are cavalry squadrons and, in case of doubt, a stable police cauldron," said someone from the industry who was involved in the decision-making process some time ago. But that alone is not enough to make the trade fair a success again.

Because the car itself has lost traction. In Frankfurt there were only a good 500,000 visitors. Half as many as a few years earlier. Even in this area of life, providers and consumers have migrated to the Internet. And the avant-garde is somewhere else anyway: Google, Apple and Tesla are leaders in robot functions and electromobility - and what are the Chinese actually building with massive state support? Hardly any of this could be seen in Frankfurt.

The big trade fairs were long regarded as high masses: the car show in Geneva or Paris, the motor show in Detroit - or the IAA in Frankfurt, that was glamor in all its facets. Whoever could went there. The others at least devoured the reports and photos about horsepower cars and the scarcely clothed young women that manufacturers like Ferrari put on hoods, which they thought was creative.

It was the time when car managers secretly hung around the competition's exhibition halls, sometimes more, sometimes less, to see what their colleagues were up to. When they met in the back rooms of the pavilions to make deals and start mergers. When men like the former Daimler boss Dieter Zetsche and the long-time Renault-Nissan boss Carlos Ghosn sat on the big stage, talking about cars, marriages and all sorts of other things and the audience wondered whether what took place was more of a cabaret . Ghosn later got into trouble with the Japanese judiciary and at some point fled to Lebanon in an instrument case. Behind the big cars was often also a perfectly staged drama.

The VW family owners made the managers act like gladiators in the Coliseum

In all these years, however, nobody had encouraged the knighting of the car more than Volkswagen. On the eve of the official car show openings, the Wolfsburg always invited people to a large hall, in Frankfurt, in Paris, in Geneva, regardless of the main thing: big. When every brand boss then presented his latest models in front of the big players, the music came off the tape at discotheque volume, when the bosses of Porsche, Audi and Skoda bowed to the powerful, the family owners Wolfgang Porsche and above all Ferdinand Piëch, then this copied Roman Coliseum-style events: Ave, Caesar, morituri te salutant.

It was loud on those evenings in the VW Coliseum, very loud. Sometimes the Pet Shop Boys performed, sometimes the French film diva Catherine Deneuve, sometimes rope artists and dancers. Each act was kind of out of place in its own way. But these evenings weren't about the total work of art being convincing. The names were important. The celebrities. And the volume. When the twelve cylinders of the Lamborghini Aventador also cracked to the pounding techno music, to light shows and artificial fog, then you wondered how - for example - Mr Piëch, who was already older at the time, could stand it. Mostly he sat there, stoic, immobile, absent.

As soon as the show was over and the gladiators bowed to him, the emperor stood up and left the stands. Walked slowly down the stairs into the arena. Pretended to be inspecting cars, but the truth was he wanted to speak to the people, and so he did. Often only a few minutes, but that provided a topic of conversation for days. For example, when he said between half sentences that he would like to buy the Fiat subsidiary Alfa Romeo. Just like that, maybe also to drive the then Fiat boss Sergio Marchionne to white heat. Incidentally, the latter took revenge a few years later. When the Germans sank into the diesel scandal and Fiat was accused of having also manipulated diesel engines, the Italian said: "Anyone who compares us with the German company has smoked something illegal."

The "i Vision Circular" should consist of almost 100 percent recycled material

Perhaps the diesel scandal was the beginning of the end of the big trade fairs, in any case it accelerated change. As a result of the crisis, the evitably oversized cars were trimmed down to normal. At the same time, new competitors with new technologies pushed into the industry. Then Piëch and his top managers disappeared from the scene. And the new managers also break the existing professional rules. At the IAA 2019 VW boss Herbert Diess tried out the embrace technique with the demonstrators, he went almost completely out to the people, discussed with an activist of the "Sand im Getriebe"[4] initiative. That was a bit obnoxious on his part, but at least he had tried it.

Nowadays even in Munich, they want to appear more modern here and everything should run more smoothly, the industry hopes. And other content has been agreed. In particular, visitors can see electric cars, such as a stretchable sedan from Audi. And BMW wants to talk about the circular economy in its "Joytopia": How can mobility function in a resource-saving and low-CO₂ manner? The company wants to present the "i Vision Circular", a vision vehicle that consists of almost 100 percent recycled material - and is designed in such a way that it can be easily recycled. VW, in turn, would like to introduce the "New Auto", the robot driven car of the day after tomorrow. "Mobility is a basic human need - and fulfilling it in all its facets is an ever greater challenge for our society, which business and politics have to face," says VDA President Hildegard Müller and is certain that the "new IAA " will show ways how these mobility tasks can be combined:" efficiently, economically, socially and ecologically ".

It should be possible to experience it in the literal sense of the word, which is why the IAA no longer takes place in noisy, stuffy exhibition halls for the most part. But outside in the squares. Because that's where the industry wants to get into conversation with critics, at least in theory - as long as they don't trample on the roofs of cars.

A pleasant approach. The corona epidemic could destroy some of it. The incidence is rising again, now fences have to be put up around the scenes in the city. So this time there is an inside and outside, which will lead to conflicts, especially since a number of initiative-takers have announced protests and rather do not want to debate in the chair, from the anonymous alliance "Smash-IAA"[5], whose posters are hanging all over the city, to the Greens Youth[6]. Many criticize the car industry for promoting its event as a green mobility fair.

The critics are not entirely wrong. Because there are also those in industry who are unfamiliar with the new IAA concept, which wants to unite everything that rolls. We are car manufacturers and should just display our cars nicely instead of having to take buses, trains and car sharing as well, they say behind closed doors. These orthodox do not think much of the fact that bicycles are now also exhibited at the "new IAA", although some car manufacturers now offer them themselves. They can't do much with expert panels on "Smart Cities", instead they complain that the IAA is not international enough, which is probably due to the Corona epidemic. In fact, even VW is not represented with all brands, Peugeot, Opel, Fiat, Volvo, Honda and Toyota completely save themselves the appearance, even expensive super sports cars will not be on display, not even the US company Tesla, which will soon have a plant in Germany opened. The German competition is afraid of the Americans, but they also know that Tesla would attract people, potential customers for everyone.

Or should bigger things be negotiated after all, the transport turnaround, climate protection? It depends on who you ask. The car people are not in agreement. The IAA 2021 is a very exciting large-scale experiment in an industry that is currently having to find itself anew. And which sometimes relies on the tried and tested. On Sunday - after the Zeppelin flight - there is a VW break in the Isarpost[7]. A large hall, there is probably loud music, and of course wine and beer, Corona or not. As always. Because as exciting as everything is right now - it would be more convenient if everything stayed the same.

Source

Thomas Fromm & Max Hägler: Jetzt mal im Öko- Modus, in: Süd-Deutsche Zeitung, 3-09-2021 https://sz.de/1.5400871

[1]die Internationale Automobilausstellung [2] The Verband der Automobilindustrie e. V.(German Association of the Automotive Industry) is a German interest group of the German automobile industry, both automobile manufactures and automobile component suppliers. It is member of the European Automobile Manufacturers Association (ACEA). The VDA represents carmakers including BMW, Volkswagen, and Mercedes-Benz parent Daimler but also counts foreign suppliers and foreign-owned carmakers like Opel among its members. The group is located in Berlin, Germany. [3] Halli Galli is a crowd awareness game for two to eight players. [4] Sand in the Gears; https://sand-im-getriebe.mobi/ Sand in the gears is an action alliance made up of various climate, transport and globalization-critical groups and was founded in early 2019. It sees itselve as part of the global movement for climate justice. [5] https://smashiaa.noblogs.org/ The International Motor Show (IAA for short) will take place in Munich from September 6 to 12, 2021. In the midst of the climate crisis, the large automobile companies want to celebrate private transport and hide what we all actually know under a green cloak: that they fuel the climate crisis for their profits. We don't want to leave that unchallenged. That is why we call for direct campaigns during the fair! [6] https://gruene-jugend.de/ [7] https://isarpost-eventlocation.de/

#electric cars #recycled cars #circular economy

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biomedgrid · 3 years ago

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Biomed Grid | Primary Intracranial Germinoma: Case Report and Review of Literature

Introduction

Primary intracranial germinomas (PIGs) are rare malignant brain tumors that represent approximately 0.2% to 1.7% of all primary intracranial tumors (1). The usual anatomical locations of these tumors are pineal, parapineal and suprasellar regions. The less common sites include intrasellar region, fourth ventricle, occipital region and cauda equine.

Case Representation

Total surgical resection of cerebral germ cell tumors GCTs is limited by the deep anatomical location of these tumors. Therefore, treatment is mainly based on chemotherapy and craniospinal irradiation. Advances in diagnostic imaging, surgical and radiotherapy and the adjunction of chemotherapy have significantly improved the outcome of patients with these tumors.

Figure 1a, b, c:MRI T1-weighted postcontrast views: tumorous expansion of solid-cystic nature in the pineal region (arrows), penetrating the 3rd ventricle with compressed aqueduct of Silvius and 3-ventricular hydrocephalus.

We report the case of a 23-years-old male with an unremarkable past medical history who was admitted in the department of medical oncology at Hassan II University Hospital for headache rebellious to symptomatic treatment; associated to diplopia. Neurological examination did not reveal any neurological deficit. Cerebral Computed tomography (CT) scan showed an expansive process of the pineal area measuring 35.5*44*52.5mm with double component containing calcifications. A subsequent gadolinium-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed a bulky expansive process of the pineal area, isointense T2 and T1 compared to gray substance (Figure 1a-1c ). The lesion measured 4*4*4.6cm and caused considerable masse effect and biventricular hydrocephalus. These neuroradiological features evoked a germinoma of the pineal area. Tumor markers were assessed at the moment of diagnosis and showed a normal value of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) and a slightly high level of beta-human chorionic gonadotropin (b-HCG) at 7.87 IU/L (n=0-5 IU/L). A lumbar puncture was performed, and the cytology of the cerebrospinal fluid confirmed the diagnosis of the germinoma (Figure 2a). Patient underwent a medullar MRI and thoracic scan that did not show metastases (Figure 2b).

Figure 2a, The tumor cells have irregular nuclei and nuclei (*100).

Figure 2b,Presence of large tumor cells mixed with small lymphocytes (*400).

The case was discussed in a multidisciplinary meeting and the decision was to start neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by radiotherapy. After normal blood exams and normal cardiac and respiratory functions, the patient received the chemotherapy regimen BEP based on: Etoposide 100mg/m² IV (5 days), Cisplatin 20mg/m² IV (5days) and Bleomycin 30 units IV weekly on Days 1,8, and 15.

The evolution was marked by a clear clinical benefit from the first cycle of chemotherapy with complete resolution of diplopia and headaches. After the third cycle, the patient was admitted for worsening of performance status, with febrile pancytopenia without any identified infection at microbiological exams. He received antiobitherapy based on piperacillin/tazobactam with transfusion, but the evolution was unfortunately marked by septic complications with rapid worsening of vital functions leading to the death of patient.

Discussion

Germ cell tumors (GCTs) arise almost exclusively from midline axis. The intracranial location interests mainly pineal gland and the suprasellar area with pineal tumors that occur nearly twice as often as suprasellar GCTs. Intracranial GCTs can also arise in other intracranial areas such as the cerebral hemisphere, basal ganglia, thalamus, and cerebellum [1,2]. These tumors are usually pure germinomas and they are located in both pineal and supra-sellar sites in 5 to 10% of cases [33,4]. Tumor seeding or multiple tumor nodules along the lateral and third ventricles are observed in about 10% of patients. Intracranial GCT is diagnosed mainly in young patients especially during the second decade of life, with a median age at diagnosis of 10 to 12 years; and a male predominance (sex ratio between 2:1 and 3:1), especially for tumors of the pineal region [3,4].

Many molecular alterations were found, by analyzing molecular pathogenesis of intracranial GCTs such as isochromosome 12p [5,6] and gain-of-function mutations of KIT [7,8]. Next generation sequencing (NGS) was used in an international collaborative study, to analyze 62 intracranial GCTs and revealed several alterations that may therapeutically targeted. Overall, 53% of tumors harbored somatic mutations in at least one of the genes involved in the KIT/ RAS or AKT/mTOR signalling pathways [9].

Clinically, the symptoms depend on the location of the tumor. Obstructive hydrocephalus is a usual consequence of pineal tumors in addition to symptoms related to high intracranial pressure such as headache, vomiting, papilledema and somnolence in 25 to 50% of cases. Other signs might be seen including ataxia and behavioral changes. Neuro-opthalmologic abnormalities such as paralysis of upward gaze and convergence are present in up to 50% of cases [10]. Delays in diagnosis are common, especially endocrinal symptoms that may occur with delays of more than 12 months and are associated with higher rate of metastatic disease [11] but generally the endocrinopathies are rarely associated with pineal tumors at diagnosis [12].

Diagnosis of intracranial GCTs can be retained based on increased level of tumor markers including secreted into the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and serum, as well as by the presence of histochemical markers on tumor cells. The markers including beta-hCG and AFP are measured in the CSF and serum. Additional immunohistochemical analysis may confirm the diagnosis by using placental alkaline phosphatase (PLAP) and c-Kit on tumor cells.

Intracranial GCTs may be divided into two groups: “secreting” and “nonsecreting” tumors. Secreting tumors are commonly defined as tumors with CSF AFP >10 microg/L and/or a CSF beta-hCG level >50 int. unit/L. Secreting GCTs are more more aggressive with poorer outcomes. Pure germinomas generally are negative for AFP and beta-hCG levels in both CSF and serum and only a minority of germinomas present a high level of beta-hCG levels in the CSF and/ or serum [13,14].

Radiologically, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is the best imaging tool for more accurate diagnosis and for staging. Otherwise, the computed tomography (CT) also has high sensitivity to detect suprasellar and pineal GCTs. On MRI, intracranial GCTs present an iso-intense appearance or hypo-intense on T1 sequences and hyperintense on T2 sequences. These tumors typically show homogeneous enhancement with gadolinium or heterogeneous enhancement if cysts are present. Imaging characteristics of the histologic subtypes are similar, and MRIs cannot reliably distinguish germinomas from NGGCTs [15,16]. It is imperative to complete with MRI of the entire spine in order to stage adequately the intracranial GCTs, because 10 to 15% of cases may have leptomeningeal spread [3,12].

Measurement of AFP and beta-hCG in the CSF is more sensitive than serum levels in detecting abnormalities. However, discordance between serum and CSF tumor marker results has been observed, and both of them should be measured especially if no contraindication to lumbar puncture in addition to its usefulness for cytology. In case of contraindication to lumbar puncture, then tumor markers from ventricular CSF may be considered for diagnosis [14].

Histologically, the pathological proof is needed to establish a definitive diagnosis of an intracranial GCT and to ascertain the histologic subtype. A tissue sample should be obtained especially in case of normal CSF and serum AFP and beta-hCG to distinguish between pure germinoma or mature teratoma and other benign and malignant lesions, including pineal primitive neuroectodermal tumor (PNET), ependymoma (pineal location), craniopharyngioma, Langerham cell histiocytosis (suprasellar location), low-grade glioma, hamartoma, or metastatic disease from extra-cranial tumors unless surgery cannot be performed safely [17].

Patients with positive CSF cytology are considered as metastatic intracranial GCTs despite the normality of the spine MRI and must receive craniospinal irradiation (CSI). For patients with a suspected intracranial GCT, surgery for the confirmation of histologic diagnosis is strongly recommended in the absence of contraindications. Surgery is also indicated in case of neuro-surgical complication such as obstructive hydrocephalus from a pineal mass or for acute visual deterioration from a suprasellar mass [18]. When there is discordance between the tissue histological diagnosis and the CSF and/or serum markers, the treatment should be based upon the result that is associated with the most malignant histology and worst prognosis.

The gross total resection of localized germinomas is generally not recommended because of post-surgical complications and because pure germinomas are very radiosensitive [17]. Most contemporary series have reported exciting results with radiation therapy alone with long-term progression free survival (PFS) rates superior to 90% for patients with pure germinomas [19,20]. The historical schema of radiotherapy was 36 Gy craniospinal irradiation (CSI) and a boost to the primary tumor for a total of 50 to 54 Gy. Recent studies showed that whole-brain or whole-ventricle irradiation in patients with localized germinomas resulted in a spinal failure rate of less than 10 percent [17,21-23]. Therefore, whole-ventricle RT with additional boost to the tumor therefore became the new standard in the treatment of localized germinoma [24]. Several clinical researches are working on reducing both the dose and volume of radiation, without compromising the excellent survival rate to overlook the neurocognitive and endocrine commplications of radiotherapy. Germinomas are also highly chemo sensitive. Therefore, recent studies have evaluated the addition of chemotherapy to reduced dose of RT in order to minimize late complications [24,25].

Platinum-based chemotherapy regimens have showna high level of activity against extracranial GCTs in children. As in adults with advanced GCTs, the most widely used combinations are bleomycin, etoposide, and either cisplatin (BEP) or carboplatin [26]

The excellent results obtained among children and adults with extracranial GCTs, have led to the exploration of neoadjuvant chemotherapy in patients with localized intracranial germinomas, followed by a reduced dose and volume of RT, in an effort to minimize toxicity. Several series have shown excellent tumor response to chemotherapy suggesting that neoadjuvant chemotherapy allows for the reduction of both the dose and volume of RT in patients with localized germinomas without compromising PFS [26,27]. While it is clear that the addition of chemotherapy may allow reduction of radiation volume, larger studies with longer follow-up have shown that further elimination of whole-ventricle RT increases the tumor recurrence rate [24,25,28].

In a series of 60 patients with localized germinomas, neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by 40 Gy focal RT to the tumors resulted in eight-year EFS of 83%. Eight of 10 recurrences occurred outside the RT field, in the periventricular area [25].

In the SIOP CNS GCT 96 prospective nonrandomized study, 190 patients with localized germinomas received either chemotherapy plus 40 Gy focal RT or 24 Gy CSI with a 16 Gy tumor boost without chemotherapy [28,29]. The five-year EFS for patients receiving chemotherapy and focal RT was less than for those receiving RT to a larger field without chemotherapy (88 versus 94 percent). In the patients who received chemotherapy plus focal RT, six of seven recurrences (86 percent) were ventricular, either alone or in combination with local tumor recurrence. In the patients who received CSI, all four relapses were at the original tumor site

A preliminary report of a phase II study from the Japanese CNS GCT Study Group described outcomes in 123 patients with localized germinomas, most of whom were treated with chemotherapy followed by focal RT [24]. The recurrence rate was higher in patients who received chemotherapy plus focal RT compared to those who received chemotherapy plus whole ventricle RT (28 versus 6 percent). As discussed above, the current standard of care for radiation alone (without neoadjuvant chemotherapy) in localized germinomas is 21 to 24 Gy to the whole ventricle and an additional boost to the tumor for a total dose of 40 to 45 Gy. Despite the promise of neoadjuvant chemotherapy, further reduction of the total RT dose below 40 Gy and/or elimination of whole-ventricle RT should only be done within the context of a prospective randomized trial

The current COG trial for localized germinomas is examining the efficacy of reducing the dose of whole ventricle irradiation (to 18 Gy) and local tumor boost (to 12 Gy) in patients whose tumors had complete responses to chemotherapy and compare to historical outcomes.

Although nearly all patients with localized germinomas respond to chemotherapy, treatment with chemotherapy alone has resulted in unacceptable tumor recurrence rates. In two series that included a total of 64 patients with pure germinomas, recurrent disease eventually developed in 48 and 58 percent, respectively [30,31]. The Third International CNS Germ Cell Tumor Study also confirmed that a chemotherapy-only approach led to inferior event-free survival compared to radiation-containing regimens [32].

In our case, the patient had an expansive process of the pineal area, the lesion measured 4*4*4.6cm and caused considerable masse effect and biventricular hydrocephalus.

The case was discussed in a multidisciplinary meeting and the decision was to start a neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by radiotherapy. Our patient was received three cycles of chemotherapy and the evolution was marked by a clear clinical benefit from the first cycle of chemotherapy, but the patient died after septic complications with febrile pancytopenia.

Conclusion

Primary intracranial germinomas are rare malignant brain tumors and diagnostically very challenging. Recognition of this rare form of localization of GCT by imaging is important in addition to confirmation with tumor markers, cerebrospinal fluid cytology and stereotactic biopsy if needed. Treatment is based on multimodal therapy including mainly radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Further molecular research is required in order to better understand these tumors and develop new drugs.

Read More About this Article: https://biomedgrid.com/fulltext/volume5/primary-intracranial-germinoma-case-report-and-review-of-literature.000923.php

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#biomedgrid #american journal of biomedical science & research #journals on vaccination #biomedical science and research journals

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ericvick · 4 years ago

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Entire re-opening, close to mask mandate moved up to May 29

In no way brain Aug. 1. The Saturday of Memorial Working day weekend — May 29 — is the new goal date for the finish of almost all remaining Covid-19 limits in Massachusetts.

By that date, which is far more than two months in advance of the timetable declared much less than 3 months ago, Massachusetts intends to lift its pandemic limitations, though masks will nevertheless be needed in specific configurations like transportation, in universities, and at overall health care amenities.

Moreover, the state of emergency that has been in location considering that March 10, 2020 will be lifted on June 15, Gov. Baker announced late Monday early morning. At a afterwards press meeting, Boston Mayor Kim Janey— mentioned that Boston would stick to fit and line up with the statewide timetable considering the fact that Boston’s COVID-19 traits “continue to shift in the correct way.”

“Because of this development, I am generating the determination to align with the commonwealth of Massachusetts and raise the COVID constraints on Could 29,” Janey said. “But permit me be very clear: our fight from COVID is not around. Reopening our town will only operate if we all proceed to do our portion to struggle the pandemic.”

At former junctures in the year-long gradual reopening procedure, Boston opted to move slower and hold constraints in spot for a longer time than the condition. Janey stated on April 27 that the state’s premier city would lag about 3 months at the rear of Gov. Charlie Baker’s reopening timetable, but she explained Monday that “we have extra than a thirty day period of data exhibiting that circumstances are very low and continue to be lower in excess of time.”

Boston Chief of Health and fitness and Human Solutions Marty Martinez claimed Boston recorded an average of 63 new scenarios for every day as of Could 11, whilst the city’s positivity rate dropped to 2.1 p.c and was no greater than 4.3 percent in any single neighborhood.

Previous 7 days, he stated, there ended up much less than 65 COVID-good sufferers in town hospitals. “We have not observed these reduced numbers in over a calendar year,” Martinez explained. “It is distinct that vaccines are doing the job to continue to keep individuals from developing serious cases of COVID and decreasing unfold of the virus.”

The announcements signify a sizeable milestone in the state’s fight from the coronavirus that has fueled a global pandemic and upended practically all areas of human lifetime since the begin of 2020. But the governor built apparent that the finish of govt-mandated limitations does not always indicate the conclusion of the general public health threat.

“Covid is a minimal bit like, you know, Michael Myers,” Baker claimed, referring to the horror movie franchise character with a knack for surviving to make it into but a different sequel. “We have created incredible development and which is why we are able to do what we’re accomplishing below and what we’re proposing below nowadays … the individuals of Massachusetts have established the commonwealth up to be effective likely ahead from right here, but certainly this is anything we’re all likely to have to continue on to pay back consideration to and we will.”

Speaking at the Point out House, Baker explained the new reopening timeline — May well 29 was at first likely to be the following, but not closing, step toward a extra entire reopening — has been produced doable by an hard work that has the condition in line to meet its goal of vaccinating 4.1 million citizens by the 1st week of June.

“Massachusetts is effectively battling back in its marketing campaign in opposition to the virus,” Baker stated. “Nearly each and every university student in the point out is back again in the classroom and we have reopened virtually each individual industry. We’re safer, smarter, and superior outfitted in this struggle than at any time considering the fact that it commenced.”

New conditions are down 89 p.c because Jan. 8 and hospitalizations are down 88 p.c considering that Jan. 1, Baker’s business mentioned. The state’s optimistic exam level has fallen from 8.7 % on Jan. 1 to an even 1 percent as of Sunday.

Given that Baker very last laid out a reopening timeline on April 27, the ordinary of daily new situations is down 65 per cent, the typical hospitalization stage has declined 39 percent, and the typical everyday selection of deaths has fallen by about 45 percent.

Principles started off to alter on Tuesday in the Bay Point out. Productive May 18, steerage for youth and novice sporting activities was up to date to allow young ones less than the age of 18 to enjoy outdoor sports without obtaining to wear a mask and to allow young ones at university or kid care to go mask-totally free when outdoor for things to do like recess. Schoolkids will also be authorized to share classroom merchandise once again.

On Could 29, all industries will be permitted to open up to 100 percent potential, accumulating limits will be rescinded and, with the exception of confront-covering prerequisites for certain configurations, all condition-mandated Covid-19 restrictions will be lifted. Non-vaccinated people today will be encouraged to continue on donning encounter masks and to keep on distancing in most settings, but a new advisory will recommend that vaccinated people no lengthier will need to put on a facial area masking or social length indoors or outdoor apart from for in specific circumstances.

“After far more than a year of constraints, protocols, and tips, a entire Massachusetts reopening is magnificent news for smaller firms,” Nationwide Federation of Independent Corporations Point out Director Christopher Carlozzi claimed just after Baker’s announcement. “Now the real get the job done starts to mend a battered smaller company economic system and convey residents of the commonwealth back again into the place of work.”

Merchants Affiliation of Massachusetts President Jon Hurst said Baker’s announcement “sends a crystal clear message about the significance of financial expenditure and restoration now that we have accomplished what we required to do to be secure. With our vaccinations, we are all now evidently safe and sound to store, dine, entertain, vacation, and return to operate.”

But he also asked that buyers, quite a few of whom are as eager to get back to their regular procuring and dining styles as the companies are to welcome them back, be “patient and considerate as federal government mandates turn into person possibilities.”

“In the times to arrive, companies will have selections to make on masks and occupancy concentrations, and as perfectly as enhanced staffing desires for their institutions,” he explained.

Alluding to the chance that some metropolitan areas and towns could not go alongside with Baker’s new timeline, Hurst additional, “We also strongly urge municipal officials to fully grasp the need for regularity in coverage and community messaging, and to steer clear of perplexing our shoppers and modest enterprises with conflicting local plan.”

As with each individual other move in the state’s reopening work, municipalities are free of charge to go slower than the point out. Boston and Somerville, in certain, have commonly adopted modified variations of the state’s reopening techniques and have been much more cautious in their have returns to usual.

Baker reiterated Monday that “communities that don’t want to go as aggressively or as considerably as we’re proposing to go” can make whatsoever choices they experience are proper “and we will assistance that.”

Economic Development Secretary Mike Kennealy, who led the administration’s economic reopening advisory group with Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito, stated the 12 times until eventually May possibly 29 are intended to give organization owners and communities that are ready to reopen “time to approach for a return to regular, and to make changes to their actual physical spaces, and to modify their staffing ranges.”

“Kindness, knowing, and regard will go a extended way in these coming weeks,” Kennealy said.

Carlozzi, the point out director of NFIB, said corporations also face “major staffing challenges” as they put together for consumers to return in greater figures this summer season.

“A real indicator of a return to normalcy will be the many ‘help wanted’ signals currently being eradicated from storefront windows,” he stated.

Even though most Massachusetts people will likely circle May well 29 as the milestone date on their calendars, the June 15 expiration of Baker’s state of crisis declaration is just as major to those people who closely stick to point out federal government. Baker declared a point out of crisis on March 10, 2020 to offer with the coronavirus that was just beginning to surge across the planet and his administration’s restrictions, recommendations, and executive orders have shaded approximately all elements of daily life in the Bay Point out considering the fact that then.

“The lifting of the governor’s orders underneath the Chilly War period Civil Protection Act could not come a working day faster. For just about 421 times, plenty of corporations and people have experienced their rights and freedoms totally ignored,” Paul Craney, spokesperson for MassFiscal, reported, although Monday was the 434th day less than Baker’s condition of emergency.

MassFiscal has supported the New Civil Liberties Alliance as it pursued legal avenues to overturn many of Baker’s executive orders, arguing that the Republican governor overstepped his authority.

“A performing democracy are not able to survive below a temporary point out of emergency that is extended like we endured … Massachusetts really should never at any time go as a result of this again,” Craney explained.

For the duration of Monday’s push convention to announce the previous reopening phase, the lieutenant governor pointed out that it was literally a 12 months in the producing.

“May 18 of 2020 was the day that we arrived to this area and introduced the to start with stage of our reopening approach. And in this article we are, virtually to the day, a year later on with a full reopening,” Polito claimed Monday. “It would not have transpired with out all of you functioning so tough alongside this training course and alongside this journey.”

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#close #entire #mandate #mask #moved #reopening

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orbemnews · 4 years ago

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General Motors Reports $3 Billion Profit Despite Chip Shortage: Live Updates Here’s what you need to know: General Motors said it made a $3 billion profit in the first three months of the year, but warned that its profit would be significantly smaller in the second quarter because of a global shortage computer chips. Last year, G.M. made a profit of just $294 million in the first quarter as the coronavirus pandemic took hold and shut down much of the global economy. The company forecasts net income for the first half of the year would total about $3.5 billion, implying a profit of around $500 million in the second quarter. It said it expected a rebound in the second half and predicted net income for the full year to range from $6.8 billion to $7.6 billion. “This remains a challenging period for the company as we emerge from 2020, but the team continues to demonstrate its ability to manage complex situations,” G.M.’s chief executive, Mary Barra, said in a letter to shareholders. Separately, Stellantis, the company formed by the merger of Peugeot SA and Fiat Chrysler, reported revenue of 34 billion euros ($41 billion) since the merger was completed on Jan. 17. Had the merger been completed earlier, the new company’s revenue for the full first quarter would have been 37 billion euros, up 14 percent over the same period a year ago. Stellantis said its production in the first quarter was 11 percent lower than planned because of the chip shortage, and it also warned that the second quarter would be weaker than the first. Diners in Milan, Italy, last month. New data showed growth in the eurozone’s economy, including its services sector.Credit…Alessandro Grassani for The New York Times Futures on Wall Street pointed higher on Wednesday, European stock indexes rose and oil prices continued to climb, as fresh data seemed to underscore growing confidence in an economic revival this year. S&P 500 futures were 0.5 percent higher, and the Stoxx Europe 600 index rose 1.4 percent. The FTSE 100 in Britain rose 1.2 percent. The upward trajectory came after Treasury Secretary Janet L. Yellen on Tuesday surprised the markets by commenting that higher interest may be needed to prevent the United States economy from overheating. The S&P 500 fell, but gained back some of that ground through the afternoon. Interest rate policies are the purview of the Federal Reserve, not the Treasury. Ms. Yellen later said she was not recommending a rate hike and pointed out that she, as a former Fed chair (a post she held from 2014 to 2018), appreciated the central bank’s independence. In oil markets, Brent crude gained 1.1 percent, to $69.61 a barrel, and West Texas Intermediate rose 1 percent to $66.32 a barrel. European economy New data on the European economy from IHS Markit reflected continued strengthening. The eurozone composite purchasing managers’ index (PMI) for April grew for the second consecutive month. Significantly, the service sector grew after seven months of contraction. “The updated services PMIs for April confirmed that the worst for the eurozone economy should be over,” said Nicola Nobile, the lead eurozone economist for Oxford Economics, in a note to clients. “The vaccination progress and the gradual reopening of some of the economies point to” an increase in economic output already underway, she added. More chip worries Stellantis, the name for the merger of Fiat Chrysler and PSA, the maker of Peugeot, said the semiconductor shortage caused an 11 percent decline in production of automobiles in the first quarter, representing about 190,000 vehicles. Dealer inventories were down in all areas, “primarily due to the semiconductor shortage,” the company said. Despite that, Stellantis reported net revenue up 14 percent. Shares gained 3 percent in European trading. Dogecoin, the cryptocurrency that started as a joke, is on a tear. A surge in the past day pushed it to another record, sending it some 14,000 percent higher than it started the year. One theory is that the upcoming appearance of Elon Musk, the Tesla chief executive and noted Dogecoin superfan, as the host of “Saturday Night Live” on May 8 could get more people interested in trading the crypto token. It’s as good a reason as any for those who try to rationalize its movements. The latest bout of Dogecoin mania has somewhat overshadowed what’s going on in Ethereum, the second-largest cryptocurrency, which also set records this week and made its 27-year-old co-creator, Vitalik Buterin, a billionaire (in dollars). The price of Ether, the crypto token built on the Ethereum blockchain, is up more than 350 percent for the year to date, outpacing Bitcoin’s relatively pedestrian 90 percent gain — which, for context, outpaces every stock in the S&P 500 over that period. Facebook banned President Donald J. Trump after he used social media accounts to incite a mob of supporters to attack the Capitol on Jan. 6.Credit…Erin Schaff/The New York Times Facebook has scheduled an announcement for 9 a.m. Eastern time Wednesday on whether former President Donald J. Trump can regain access to his account on the site. The decision will come from an independent panel called the Facebook Oversight Board. The board is a panel of about 20 former political leaders, human rights activists and journalists picked by Facebook to deliberate the company’s content decisions, Cecilia Kang reports for The New York Times. It began a year ago and is based in London. The idea for the board was for the public to have a way to appeal decisions by Facebook to remove content that violates its policies against harmful and hateful posts. Mark Zuckerberg, Facebook’s C.E.O., has said neither he nor the company wanted to have the final decision on speech. The company and paid members of the panel stress that the board is independent. But Facebook funds the board with a $130 million trust and top executives played a big role in its formation. So far the board has issued a handful of decisions on minor takedowns by Facebook. The majority of the rulings have overturned Facebook’s decisions. The board will tell Facebook to remove the ban of Mr. Trump, or to keep it. The ruling may also come with more nuance. The board could say that the ban of was appropriate at the time but is no longer necessary, or that the ban was the wrong decision from the start. The company then has seven days to put the board’s ruling into effect. The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation in Seattle. Its $50 billion endowment cannot be removed or divided up as a marital asset, a philanthropy scholar said.Credit…David Ryder/Getty Images When Bill and Melinda Gates announced filed for divorce in Washington State on Monday, grant recipients and staff members alike wondered what would happen to the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. The message from the headquarters in Seattle was clear: The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation isn’t going anywhere. The foundation’s $50 billion endowment is in a charitable trust that is irrevocable, Nicholas Kulish reports for The New York Times. It cannot be removed or divided up as a marital asset, said Megan Tompkins-Stange, a professor of public policy and scholar of philanthropy at the University of Michigan. She noted, however, that there was no legal mandate that would prevent them from changing course. “I think there may be changes to come,” she said. “But I don’t see it as a big asteroid landing on the field of philanthropy as some of the hyperbole around this has indicated.” The foundation, which set a new standard for private philanthropy in the 21st century, has given away nearly $55 billion, giving the couple instant access to heads of state and leaders of industry. The couple’s prominence has also brought a fair share of scrutiny, throwing a spotlight on Mr. Gates’s robust defense of intellectual property rights — in this case, specific to vaccine patents — even in a time of extreme crisis, as well as the larger question of how unelected wealthy individuals can play such an outsize part on the global stage. “In a civil society that is democratic, one couple’s personal choices shouldn’t lead university research centers, service providers and nonprofits to really question whether they’ll be able to continue,” said Maribel Morey, founding executive director of the Miami Institute for the Social Sciences. President Biden signing a law in March to extend the Paycheck Protection Program through May 31, with Vice President Kamala Harris, left, and Isabel Guzman, the administrator of the Small Business Administration.Credit…Doug Mills/The New York Times Four weeks before its scheduled end, the federal government’s signature aid effort for small business ravaged by the pandemic — the Paycheck Protection Program — ran out of funding on Tuesday afternoon and stopped accepting most new applications. Congress allocated $292 billion to fund the program’s most recent round of loans. Nearly all of that money has now been exhausted, the Small Business Administration, which runs the program, told lenders and their trade groups on Tuesday. (An earlier version of this item misstated that the actions it described occurred Wednesday.) While many had predicted that the program would run out of funds before its May 31 application deadline, the exact timing came as a surprise to many lenders. “It is our understanding that lenders are now getting a message through the portal that loans cannot be originated,” the National Association of Government Guaranteed Lenders, a trade group, wrote in an alert to its members Tuesday evening. “The P.P.P. general fund is closed to new applications.” Some money — around $8 billion — is still available through a set-aside for community financial institutions, which generally focus on lending to businesses run by women, minorities and other underserved communities. Those lenders will be allowed to process applications until that money runs out, according to the trade group’s alert. Representatives from the Small Business Administration did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Some money also remains available for lenders to finish processing pending applications, according to a lender who was on a call with S.B.A. officials on Tuesday. Since its creation last year, the Paycheck Protection Program has disbursed $780 billion in forgivable loans to fund 10.7 million applications, according to the latest government data. Congress renewed the program in December’s relief bill, expanding the pool of eligible applicants and allowing the hardest-hit businesses to return for a second loan. Lawmakers in March extended the program’s deadline to May, but they have shown little enthusiasm for adding significantly more money to its coffers. With vaccination rates increasing and pandemic restrictions easing, Congress’s focus on large-scale relief effort for small businesses has waned. The government’s recent efforts have been focused on the most devastated industries. Two new grant programs run by the Small Business Administration — for businesses in the live-events and restaurant industries — began accepting applications in recent weeks, though no grants have yet been awarded. Tim Sweeney, the head of Epic Games, on Tuesday in Oakland, Calif. He testified in court that he did not know how a verdict against Apple would affect other types of apps.Credit…Ethan Swope/Getty Images Last May, Epic Games was making plans to circumvent Apple’s and Google’s app store rules and ultimately sue them in cases that could reshape the entire app economy and have profound ripple effects on antitrust investigations around the world. Epic’s chief operating officer, Daniel Vogel, sent other executives an email raising a concern: Epic must persuade Apple and Google to give in to its demands for looser rules, he wrote, “without us looking like the baddies.” Apple and Google, Mr. Vogel warned, “will treat this as an existential threat.” To prepare, Epic formed a public relations and marketing plan to get the public behind its campaign against the tech giants. Apple seized on that plan in a federal courtroom in Oakland, Calif., on Tuesday, the second day of what is expected to be a three-week trial stemming from Epic’s claims that Apple relies on its control of its App Store to unfairly squeeze money out of other companies. Judge Yvonne Gonzales Rogers of California’s Northern District, who will decide the case, also asked Epic’s chief executive, Tim Sweeney, a series of pointed questions about its potential consequences. She asked whether he had any understanding of the economics of other types of apps, including food, maps, GPS, weather, dating or instant messaging. “So you don’t have any idea how what you are asking for would impact any of the developers who engage in those other categories of apps, is that right?” the judge asked. “I personally do not,” Mr. Sweeney said, in his second day on the witness stand. Apple’s lawyers argued that Epic had attacked App Store fees to shore up a slowing business. Gross revenue on Fortnite, Epic’s flagship video game, shrank in the last three quarters of 2019 compared with 2018, according to an Epic presentation to its board of directors about its plan to fight Apple. The presentation was disclosed in court on Tuesday, along with the executive’s emails. Under questioning from Apple’s lawyers, Mr. Sweeney said Epic’s own game store was not expected to turn a profit until at least 2024. Epic’s lawyers said the lawsuit was not just about Epic and Fortnite but about fairness for all apps that must use Apple’s App Store to reach consumers. “Our contention in this case is that all apps are at issue,” said Katherine Forrest, a lawyer at Cravath, Swaine & Moore. Epic is not asking for a payout if it wins the trial; it is seeking relief in the form of changes to App Store rules. Epic has asked Apple to allow app developers to use other methods to collect payments and open their own app stores within their apps. Apple has countered that these demands would raise a world of new issues, including making iPhones less secure. On Tuesday afternoon, Benjamin Simon, founder of Yoga Buddhi, which makes the Down Dog Yoga app, testified about his company’s problems with Apple’s policies. Mr. Simon said that he had to charge more for subscriptions on the App Store to make up for the 30 percent fee that Apple charged him, and that Apple’s rules prevented him from promoting inside his app a cheaper price that is available on the web. Mr. Simon said Apple warned app developers against speaking out about its policies in guidelines for getting their apps approved. “‘If you run to the press and trash us, it never helps,’” he said. “That was in the guidelines.” Source link Orbem News #Billion #Chip #general #Live #Motors #Profit #reports #shortage #Updates

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