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fullmetalirin · 6 years ago

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Fullmetal Alchemist: Episodes 50-51

Fullmetal Alchemist Episode 50: "Death"

As zeppelins rain bombs upon London during World War I, Edward and Hohenheim flee the city. As they watch the attack from a distance, Hohenheim explains that in this world, on the other side of the gate, the science of physics has developed instead of alchemy but, because Edward's soul was transferred over without his body, the Gate of Truth within himself can be used to return to Amestris. Meanwhile, with Hawkeye's help, Mustang has sneaked into the Führer's mansion to confront him and avenge Hughes. Gluttony, moping over Lust's death, is forced by Envy to begin gradually eating Alphonse's armored body to complete the Philosopher's Stone within him so Dante can use the stone to switch bodies with Rosé. Annoyed with Gluttony still mourning the loss of Lust, Dante alchemically destroys his mind so he can be nothing but an eating machine just as he begins gradually eating Alphonse. Wrath, still moping over Sloth's death, tries to intervene by using alchemy so he can use Alphonse to revive Sloth, but Dante has Edward's original limbs removed from Wrath's body so he can no longer perform alchemy in doing so. After repairing his relationship with Hohenheim, Edward returns to Amestris and tries to stop Dante's plans and set Alphonse and Rosé free, only to be distracted by Envy, who begins tormenting him in battle. When Edward angrily demands to see Envy's true form, Envy gleefully obliges, transforming into Hohenheim and Dante's deceased son, causing Edward to hesitate in sorrow. Dante reveals that Envy was the first ever homunculus, created when Hohenheim attempted human transmutation to revive his son who died of mercury poisoning. As Envy admits this is the reason why he hates Hohenheim for abandoning him to start a new family, the homunculus instantly transforms his arm into a blade and heartlessly kills Edward by piercing him through the heart while a horrified Alphonse, Rosé and Wrath watch.

Hm, I forgot he transferred to WWI London. I thought Amestris was equivalent to Nazi Germany.

Ed is impressed by zeppelins and airplanes. Hohenheim says their mechanical engineering is better than in their world, but Amestris has pretty sophisticated manufacturing too. Trains are apparently about a century old, which is about on par with our timeline. I guess you could presume that technology hit a plateau as people figured alchemy was better for more advanced applications.

Bradley keeps his remains in his house. He's read the Evil Overlord List! Selim saw the safe, so Bradley entrusts him with the key. That's pretty smart, since it's unlikely Mustang will think the kid is relevant.

Riza has dispatched Bradley's guards and is at his door. I presume this is a diversion, because we cut to Mustang sneaking in by… jumping over the wall? I'll presume that was alchemy-assisted.

Archer is still not dead.

We cut to Ed and Hohenheim and get my other favorite scene. Hohenheim explains conservation of energy, explicitly drawing a comparison to our very first example: Al fixing the broken radio. The souls of the dead from Earth pass into their world and provide the fuel for alchemy. This makes perfect sense: we already know the Philosopher's Stone, which amplifies alchemy, is powered by souls, so it's only logical that regular alchemy work the same.

Hohenheim explains he really did love Trisha, but left because he didn't want them to see the rot. I think this is a flawed but reasonable explanation. The rot represents more than just itself: it's a mark of his sin, a reminder that this body is not his own and that he's committed atrocities to obtain it. I see this more as him being unable to bear the answer to the inevitable question, "Why are you rotting, Dad?" It's horribly selfish and cowardly of him, but at the same time, it's understandable. Humanity is flawed.

Back in Amestris, Dante needs Gluttony to eat Al to complete the Philosopher's Stone. Apparently Dante designed him to refine red water. However, Gluttony is still BSODing over Lust, so Dante destroys his mind by removing his ouroboros tattoo.

Hohenheim confirms that Dante can't create a Philosopher's Stone on her own.

Hohenheim leaves us with the bright side of Dante's philosophy: you can gain something for nothing too. When a parent loves their child, he says, there need be no cost or reward.

But Ed still clings to equivalent exchange, admitting his only argument is that he doesn't want to believe a sacrifice could go unrewarded. He believes he just has to keep trying.

And then a zeppelin falls on him! He returns through the Gate just in time, but the poor boy he was inhabiting is still certainly dead.

Back in Central, Riza tells Bradley Mustang is after him… why? To get his family out of the way? Bradley goes into the wine cellar to fight Mustang, and the door is alchemically sealed behind him.

Bradley gives basically the same speech as Dante, saying really he's helping people by keeping the Philosopher's Stones from them.

Bradley explicitly says Mustang's fireballs will be less effective in an enclosed space. Thank you!

The Gate takes Wrath's arm and leg, but not the rest of him.

Ah. Ed realizes he used Earth!Ed's life to make the jump.

And now we get confirmation Gluttony killed Marcoh way back then.

Envy has a lot of fun running through forms to taunt Ed.

Alchemy can't be used because the activation of the Philosopher's Stone makes it too reactive. What does "activating" it really mean, though? We haven't seen alchemists need to do anything special to use it before.

Seeing Envy's true form stuns Ed, but… it doesn't look that recognizable? Ed says it looks like Hohenheim, but Hohenheim had a beard, and we just established he was willing to punch his mom's face. I remembered it as him looking like Ed, which would have made more sense. Still, it's a neat reveal. I've heard Brotherhood fans say it's a worse motivation than the one he has in Brotherhood, but, eh, his Brotherhood motivation was clever in theory but felt totally contrived and out of left field. Daddy issues might be cliché, but it's fitting for the more human homunculi, and it makes for a powerful parallel with Ed – further emphasized by them both being his children. I still think it'd have been stronger if we didn't learn it earlier, though.

Also, I do like that Envy violates talking-is-a-free-action to shank Ed while he's distracted.

Dante says Envy was the first homunculus ever created, so I guess Dante and Hohenheim were the first alchemists?

Rose appears to break out of her trance upon seeing Ed die.

Let's update our homunculi list real quick before the last episode:

Greed is wasted.

Lust defects, and is killed out of vengeance for a loved one.

Sloth is paralyzed.

Gluttony refuses to eat, and is made a slave to base desires.

This one is actual irony. He's spent the whole series only caring about eating things, but now, when he's actually ordered to, his human emotions get in the way. He's killed by an absence of gluttony, and becomes the embodiment of gluttony – a slave to base instincts. I find that a lot more clever than "Gluttony is eaten" – that is just so utterly trite and banal, you don't get points for that.

Fullmetal Alchemist Episode 51: "Laws and Promises"

Alphonse breaks free and attempts human transmutation as he sacrifices himself - using what's left of his Philosopher's Stone within him to revive his brother. Envy appears at the Gate of Truth, having failed to stop Alphonse, and encounters Edward's soul. Learning that Hohenheim is still alive on the other side, Envy gleefully decides to head through to kill him against Edward's advice, disappearing into the distance as a green, serpentine dragon. Edward reawakens to see his body fully healed as well as his right arm and left leg are now flesh and blood. However, Alphonse has been taken by the Gate of Truth as a consequence. After having Rosé take an injured Wrath with her and flee to Resembool, Edward attempts human transmutation, offering his own life, allowing Alphonse to return to his body, albeit his memory is recalled up to when the brothers tried to resurrect their mother. Meanwhile, Mustang successfully kills Führer Bradley with the help of his son Selim, who unintentionally weakens his adoptive father by bringing him the remains of the human from which the Führer was originally based. The Führer responsively strangles his son to death out of anger before Mustang takes his advantage. As he takes Selim's body and leaves the mansion, Mustang is confronted by Archer, who apparently shoots him in the left eye. Hawkeye arrives in time to save Mustang's life and kills Archer. Dante escapes into an elevator to find the Führer to help her exact vengeance, only to be devoured by Gluttony, who fails to recognize her. Alphonse is back in Amestris now and Edward is pulled through the Gate of Truth and is currently in Munich. The brothers both resolve to reunite again someday.

Dante snarks that maybe Ed just didn't pay enough to deserve survival – "We always come just a little short of the price."

We actually see Mustang drawing the transmutation circle with his blood. So much cooler than him doing it offscreen!

Al destroys Gluttony's jaw. Gruesome.

Mustang successfully destroys Pride. Since he didn’t use a sealing circle, I’m guessing he really did exhaust all of Pride’s lives. See, that’s acceptable to do once as a climactic cool moment. Notice also that we skipped straight to the end instead of watching him use fireballs for two minutes straight.

Riza saves Mustang by being the only person smart enough to shoot at Archer's human half.

Envy jumps into the Gate in pursuit of Hohenheim, and even manages to shake off the souls trying to eat him. Hardcore.

After the scene with Dante and Gluttony, we see the elevator open to an empty chamber. Creepy.

Ed's lost limbs are restored when he's resurrected, but it costs all of Al's Philosopher's Stone.

Sheska says Amestris is no longer a military dictatorship, but the current wars will still continue. However, they've become more tolerant towards Ishbalans.

Roy has an eyepatch. Just like Bradley! Riza said her outing him and then doubling back was part of the plan, but I'm not sure how or why.

How did Hohenheim get to Germany? The year is 1921, so he somehow survived 7 years even though his body looked to be at its limit.

Ed thinks Einstein's theories are bunk. Heh.

Ed says he planned to offer his life as the price for restoring Al. The fact that he didn't makes him wonder if he got something for nothing.

The ending spiel is a twist on the standard opening spiel: Al recognizes that equivalent exchange is not the law of the world, but he still hopes that hard work will pay off, and that one day they'll be reunited: a promise, not a law.

Conclusion

I think this is a good finale. The cutting around is a bit disorienting – it perhaps might have been better to resolve Mustang's side of things earlier? – but not uncalled for. I like how Mustang is actually challenged and injured in his fight scene instead of just effortlessly coasting his way to victory; he's cool without being overpowered. The final boss fight with Envy is a bit meh, but huge fight scenes were never what I was watching for in the first place (and Mustang vs. Pride kind of has us covered on that front). In terms of how this interacted with and resolved the story's major themes and questions, I think it was excellent. We learn what is behind the Gate, we learn the truth behind alchemy, we get discussion on the theme of equivalent exchange, and the protagonists' driving motive, the restoration of their bodies, is resolved. It's an open-ended finale, but not an unsatisfying one. The villains are defeated, the characters have learned important lessons, and they're going to keep on living.

Mustang's side is probably the weakest part here – Cyborg Archer is really weird and random and seemingly just there to add more tension and battles. His fight with Pride feels a bit truncated since we keep cutting away from it. I'm still not totally clear what his plan was or if it made sense, and it was very dumb of Ed not to tell him how to fight homunculi. I do like that Riza saves him in the end, though.

Ultimately, this is again the rare OG arc that I feel could have been better spread out over more episodes. Getting all the characters into position is rather rushed and relies on a bit of contrivance, and the finale itself feels like it's trying to say more things than it really has time for. But I'm still happy with what we got.

Now, this is more subjective, but I find the dual sacrifices way more emotionally meaningful here. I plan to do an ending comparison post where I will discuss this further, but for now, I think it's very powerful that Al finally has his moment of triumph. He's spent the whole story as a damsel in distress, even getting literally turned into a MacGuffin for this finale, only ever watching helplessly as people make horrific sacrifices for him while he can do nothing to save them. So here and now, he says screw it, for once he has the power and he's going to use it to save the person he loves more than anything in the world. It's so strong that it's an absolute mirror of what Ed did for him, and extremely meaningful that in a series that started with and revolved around the impossibility of resurrection we end with a true one.

But Ed, stupid, stupid Ed, can't be content with what Al gave him and refuses to learn his lesson, so he puts them back where they started. I'm not sure how I feel about that – it makes him into a very stagnant and stubborn character who refuses to learn the narrative's lessons even when they've been so firmly pounded into his skull. The point of Dante's speech, to me, was that you cannot keep throwing good lives after bad – Ed has hurt himself and so many others on this journey, justifying it to himself with sunk cost fallacy. The correct option is to cut his losses and go home, to be happy with what he still has instead of throwing away even more. Even the very fact he planned to kill himself to bring Al back shows he's still ignoring him – Al has said over and over again he doesn't want Ed to do that. Are these brothers doomed to be trapped in an endless spiral of self-sacrifice for the other? But… I gotta say, Al staying dead would have been too much of a downer. They've been through so much that they do deserve a miracle. (There's that stories-as-just-worlds striking again!)

I actually have never seen the movie, so maybe it resolves some of these things! I shall see. But for now, let's complete our list…

Greed is wasted.

Lust defects, and is killed out of vengeance for a loved one.

Sloth is paralyzed.

Gluttony refuses to eat, and is made a slave to base desires.

Envy kills himself out of jealousy.

Pride is killed by his son.

Wrath outlives them all.

An ironic pride death is easy – hoist them by their own petard. This show takes it a step further, and has Pride undone by his namesake. I'm pretty sure it is said somewhere that Selim is his biological child in this continuity, and that the capacity to sire children was one of Pride's human traits. That makes it deeply ironic that the son is the reason he dies.

I never bought Wrath's Brotherhood death as "irony". Wrath being killed by wrath… I don't even know if that's poetic, it just kind of… is. We say those who live by the sword will die by the sword, and for good reason. Wrath dying to wrath isn't unexpected or at all clever. The volatile, self-destructive sin being the only one to live, though? That's irony.

And oh my god you guys Brotherhood!Envy kills himself out of PRIDE not jealousy, he could not have been more explicit about it! Know your sins if you're gonna be smug about what deep symbolism they are!! This one is still a bit of a reach – wrath is a closer fit – but there is a case to be made that he is doing this out of a desire for the connection and satisfaction that other children have yet was denied to him.

Lastly, I think you could make a case that Dante embodies all the sins and is undone by all of them simultaneously. She believes herself above humanity, yet she is easily frustrated, slothful in her attitude towards the homunculi, envious of others' bodies, and greedy, lustful, and gluttonous for life and power. Wiping Gluttony is an act of impatience, frustration, greed, and arrogance in the assumption she could still control him.

Even aside from that, though, this is such a fitting end for her. She's spent her whole life plotting in the shadows, never allowing herself into a position of personal harm, and just as she tries to slink away to do it again she's undone by her own tangled web. Work behind the scenes, die behind the scenes.

#fullmetal alchemist #fma #fullmetal alchemist brotherhood #fma 2003 #liveblog

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biomedgrid · 4 years ago

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Biomed Grid | Heavy Metals in Cosmetics: The Notorious Daredevils and Burning Health Issues

Abstract

Personal care products and facial cosmetics are commonly used by millions of consumers on a daily basis. Direct application of cosmetics on human skin makes it vulnerable to a wide variety of ingredients. Despite the protecting role of skin against exogenous contaminants, some of the ingredients in cosmetic products are able to penetrate the skin and to produce systemic exposure. Consumers’ knowledge of the potential risks of the frequent application of cosmetic products should be improved. While regulations exist in most of the high-income countries, in low income countries there is a lack of similar standards. In most countries for which these legal regulations have been identified, restrictions on the permissible level of heavy metals are strict. There is a need for enforcement of existing rules, and rigorous assessment of the effectiveness of these regulations. The occurrence of metals in cosmetic products is of concern for three principal reasons:

a) The use of cosmetic products could represent a possible source of population-wide exposure daily, and often long-term exposure to metals in cosmetic products

b) Metals can accumulate in the body over time, and

c) A number of them are known to exhibit different chronic health effects, such as cancer, contact dermatitis, developmental, neurological and reproductive disorders, brittle hair and hair loss. Some metals are potent endocrine disruptors and respiratory toxins. Moreover, some metals, such as Cd, As, Pb, Hg and Sb, are exceptionally toxic with a wide variety of chronic health effects, whereas Cr, Ni and Co are well known skin sensitizers. Since the issue of heavy metals as deliberate cosmetic ingredients has been addressed, attention is turned to the presence of these substances as impurities.

Keywords: Heavy Metal Toxicity; Personal care products; Endocrine disruptors; Cosmetics Safety; Heavy Metal Contamination; Kohl; Cosmetic Regulation; Cosmetic Impurities

Abbreviations: CAGR: Compound Annual Growth Rate; ACD: Allergic Contact Dermatitis; CIR: Cosmetic Ingredient Review; T2DM: Type-2 Diabetes Mellitus; EWG: Environmental Working Group

Introduction

Cosmetics and personal care products are ubiquitous [1-3]. The US researchers identified some 12500 industrial chemicals used as cosmetic ingredients, includes carcinogens, pesticides, reproductive toxics, endocrine disruptors, plasticizers, degreasers, and surfactants [4-6]. The US FDA estimated 12,500 chemicals used in cosmetics, 20% of them are safe according to Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) review, only 11 of them are banned in US but more than 1300 are banned or restricted in the EU [7-9]. Heavy metals such as lead, mercury, cadmium, arsenic and nickel, as well as aluminum, classified as a light metal, are detected in various types of cosmetics (color cosmetics, face and body care products, hair cosmetics, herbal cosmetics, etc.) [10]. The metals are from the contamination of raw materials and use of sub-standard raw materials, lack of compliance by small scale manufacturers, and lack of strict regulations [11]. Also, Alam et al. [12] says many cosmetic products contain heavy metals as ingredients or impurities [12]. Vella et al. [13] reported presence of lead in toothpastes were beyond limit of US and EU standards [13]. According to Panico et al. [14] PEGs (favorably used as penetration enhancers) may contain residual impurities like lead, iron, cobalt, nickel, cadmium, arsenic [14]. Łodyga-Chruścińska et al. [15] detailed nearness of lead and nickel in lipsticks and powders at level restricted by European guideline in Polish market [15] (Figure 1).

Applying kajal (otherwise called Kohl or Surma) to infants’ eyes is an old custom in numerous societies of the world including Asia, Middle East, European countries, North America and Africa. Kajal/ Surma has been reported to contain lead and to be a potential source of lead toxicity in children, which can lead to permanent damage to multiple organ systems [16-18]. A similar Nigerian cosmetic called ‘Tiro” applied to the infant’s eyelids contained 82.6% lead which was as high as 70% in Kajal or Surma [19,20]. Use of eye cosmetics imported from Pakistan was found to be strongly correlated with elevated blood lead levels [21]. Kohl, a type of customary cosmetic product used for eyeliner in the Middle East, contains more than 50% of lead [22]. A similar study with Malaysian eyeshadows shows the same, lead content exceeding limit of international standard [23]. It has been observed that the blood lead level of eye cosmetics consumers in Pakistan, India, and Saudi Arabia in comparison with non-consumers was threefold. Cd and Pb was profound among lipstick samples of Iran and were the most predominant in most Indian cosmetics, along with arsenic (As) [24-26]. Lip cosmetics to the digestive tract damages various vital organs once reaching into systemic circulation [1]. A similar study shows predominance of Hg and Pb among Indian herbal cosmetics exceeding WHO permissible limit. Very high level of trace metals was reported in locally produced facial makeup in Nigeria [1].

Figure 1:Several Untoward Effects Exerted by Heavy Metal Exposure from Cosmetics [1-3]. The global cosmetic products market was valued at USD 382.3 billion in 2010, 532.43 billion in 2017, and is expected to reach a market value of USD 805.61 billion by 2023, registering a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 7.14% during 2018-2023. Social media is key to the shift in consumer demand. Trends are shared more quickly and emotively, with celebrities and influencers-as well as everyday people-posting content which urges everyone to become a conscious consumer. The presence of heavy metals and xenobiotics are not normally considered as a primary concern in cosmetics. With many new products released into the market every season, it is hard to keep track of the safety of every product and some products may carry carcinogenic contaminants, while some others raise many more detrimental issues.

Cobalt is a skin allergen responsible for allergic contact dermatitis (ACD), found higher concentration in shampoo than relaxers and conditioners [28]. In individuals with tattoos containing red pigment of the starting point of mercuric sulfur (cinnabar-vermilion, Chinese red), they may encounter irritation that is restricted to this region inside a half year of tattooing [29]. Sindoor, a corrective powder utilized in Hindu religious and cultural ceremonies has hazardous degrees of lead [30]. The highest concentration of Pb was found in nettle, Cd in yarrow, and Hg in horsetail, plants most commonly used in herbal cosmetics of Poland [31]. Henna, a traditional plant product applied as temporary painton tattoos and hair dying, is reported to be very rich in heavy metals such as mercury and lead [32]. Saadatzadeh et al. [33] reported that arsenic contents of lipsticks, eye shadows, and eyebrow pencils was significantly higher than the BVL (Federal Office of Consumer Protection and Food Safety of Germany) standard [33]. Among the heavy metal impurities, mercury, arsenic, lead, cobalt, antimony, cadmium, nickel and chromium are exceptionally toxic and are prohibited in cosmetics to be included deliberately as ingredients in EU and US [34].

Pb were Cr are the most profound metals in talcum powder samples [35]. According to Health Canada, 100% of all cosmetics product tested positive for nickel and over 90% tested positive for both lead and beryllium and on the average contained at least 4 of the 8 metals of concern (arsenic, cadmium, lead, mercury, beryllium, nickel, selenium, and thallium) [36]. Although titanium’s use in sunscreens is regulated, some formulations also include other heavy metals, which are not regulated [37,38]. Cosmetics use in pregnancy is not uncommon. Schwalfenberg et al. [39] reported that prenatal lead exposure is associated with a greater risk of premature delivery, reduced postnatal growth, lower mental growth in childhood, schizophrenia and dementia in adulthood [39]. Even low level of Cd exposure may avert neurodevelopment [40]. Prenatal As exposure has been associated with low growth in utero, low birth weight, head and chest circumference in infants, inflammation and atherosclerotic disease in adults [41]. Also, Li et al. [41]reported that heavy metal exposure during fetal period of pregnancy may lead to intrauterine growth retardation [42].

Iron oxides are common colorants in eye shadows, blushes and concealers [43]. Some aluminum compounds are colorants in lip glosses, lipsticks and nail polishes [44]. Aluminum is also used in antiperspirants, sun creams and toothpaste. Chronic disorders currently discussed in connection with aluminum exposure: Alzheimer’s disease and breast cancer [45]. The safety assessment by CIR does not include metallic or elemental aluminum as a cosmetic ingredient [46]. Arsenic was known to be poisonous during the Victorian era, but perhaps some women thought that a little bit wouldn’t hurt [47]. In addition, some color additives may be contaminated by heavy metals like arsenic, lead and mercury [48]. Heavy metals may be intentionally added to detergents as preservatives, pigments (Pb), skin lightening, as well as antimicrobial agents (Hg) [49]. Significant level of As and Hg was reported with Mohammad et.al, 2017 in skin bleaching agents of Caribbean region [50] As used in skin cream and make-up powder causes skin problems, lung cancer, circulatory and peripheral neuropathy, and increased risk of gastrointestinal and urinary tract malignancies [51,52]. Several recent and older studies reported nephrotic syndrome from repeated exposure of mercury and other heavy metals from skin lightening agent [53,58].

Dental amalgam has been used as a restorative treatment in dentistry for well over 170 years. Even after the last mercury dental amalgam is placed, its toxic legacy will continue for decades, because of its pervasive bioaccumulation in the environment, as reported by Tibau et al. [9]. However, mercury is usually added to skin-lightening products due to its whitening effect. Mercury ions replace tyrosinase enzyme anions, which inhibit the formation of melanin and produce the whitening and anti-freckle effects [60]. Sun et al. [61] reported that chronic mercury poisoning is associated with irritability, tremor, gingivitis, memory loss, dizziness, insomnia, edema, proteinuria, abdominal pain, nausea, hyperthyroidism, and abortion [61]. Wang et al. [62] suggested that cumulative exposure to heavy metals as mixtures is associated with obesity and its related chronic conditions such as hypertension and T2DM [62]. Lead poisoning leads to anemia due to jeopardized heme synthesis and acts as a potent reversible and selective blocker of voltage-dependent calcium channels at low concentrations [63,64]. Severe damage to the brain and kidneys, both in adults and children, were found to be linked to exposure to heavy lead levels resulting in death [62-65]. In pregnant women, high exposure to lead may cause miscarriage [76-81]. Men exposed to lead mainly from hair colorants [82-85].

Chronic lead exposure was found to reduce fertility in males [86-89]. The 2017 US FDA safety recall to discontinue using Magellan Diagnostics’ Lead-Care Testing Systems for analyzing venous blood samples also highlighted the need for improved blood lead testing and surveillance [90]. Ettinger et al. [91] reported that economic benefit of lowering lead levels among children by preventing lead exposure has been estimated at $213 billion per year [91]. Childhood lead poisoning prevention programs can effectively utilize Medicaid data to increase testing and improve blood lead surveillance [92]. Various sources of acquaintance to chromium exist; including lipstick, eye pencil, eyeliner, eyeshadow, and makeup powder [93,94]. Cr exists in two valence states, and both oxidation states, i.e. Cr3+ and Cr6+ can act as potential haptens causing ACD and skin ulcers [95,99]. Chromium ACD can be a chronic debilitating disease, perhaps because chromium is difficult to avoid. Toxic metals (cadmium, cobalt, copper, nickel and. lead) from body cream basically moisturizers and skin-lightening (toning/bleaching) creams [100]. An increase in level of cadmium has been reported to inhibit DNA repair including mismatch, base excision, and nucleotide excision [101]. Zinc oxide (ZnO), an inorganic compound that appears as a white powder, is used frequently as an ingredient in sunscreens [102].

Zinc has been reported to cause the same signs of illness as does lead, and can easily be mistakenly diagnosed as lead poisoning [103]. Excess zinc exposure may induce toxic effects on the hematopoietic system, biochemistry and endocrine system function [104]. Skin care experts in the US reckon copper will be this decade’s most prominent anti-aging ingredient [105]. Copper delivery through skin can provide beneficial effects but its potential to induce skin irritation reactions is often overlooked [106]. Cobalt and nickel metals commonly found in lipstick, eyeshadow, face paint and hair cream associated with contact dermatitis. Cobalt and its salts are widely used as coloring agents in makeup and light-brown hair dyes [31]. Nickel compound exposure can lead to nephrotoxicity, skin irritation and hypersensitivity [107]. Cobalt chloride has a hazard rank of 9 in the Environmental Working Group (EWG) Skin Deep Database and is banned for use in cosmetics by the EU. Since cobalt and nickel are almost always found together, it is wise to avoid both metals [108]. Literature data show that in commercially available cosmetics have potentially toxic metals that may cause danger to human health. This is coupled with prolonged duration of contact, which may occur due to repeated use of the products. There’s an old saying that “A thing of beauty is joy forever”. But it should be imparted through avoiding beasts inside the beautification.

Acknowledgement

I’m thankful to Dr. Alessandra Panico, Department of Biological and Environmental Science and Technology, University of Salento, Lecce, Italy for her valuable time to audit my paper and for her thoughtful suggestions. I’m also grateful to seminar library of Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Dhaka and BANSDOC Library, Bangladesh for providing me books, journal and newsletters.

Read More About this Article: https://biomedgrid.com/fulltext/volume4/heavy-metals-in-cosmetics-the-notorious-daredevils-and-burning-health-issues.000829.php

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roteschemiesblog · 1 year ago

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smartecky · 5 years ago

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33 Wild Facts That Will Make You Sound Smart In Front Of Your Friends By January Nelson Updated April 26, 2020 Omar Lopez 1. President Coolidge got sent a raccoon for Thanksgiving one year, but instead of eating it, he granted it a pardon because it was “cute”. 2. The day Michael Jackson’s hair caught on fire was the exact middle of his life, to the day. 3. A Russian luxury SUV Manufacturer attempted and failed to use whale penis skin for their SUV interiors. 4. When compasses were first used on ships, sailors were afraid of them because they thought they had evil powers. Compasses were stored in boxes called a “binnacle”. 5. It takes 2 years for a pineapple to grow. 6. There isn’t a single bridge across the Amazon river. 7. Netflix was founded before Google. 8. The Ethiopian calendar is seven years behind the rest of the world. 9. The 10th president of the US, John Tyler (1790-1862), has 2 living grandchildren. 10. Pocahontas and Shakespeare lived during the same time. 11. Stop signs used to be yellow. In 1922, the American Association of State Highway Officials met to determine a standard design for stop signs, and that’s where they decided on the color: yellow (because they thought that would grab drivers’ attention). They’d also considered red, but there was no dye available at the time that wouldn’t eventually fade. By 1954, sign-makers had access to fade-resistant porcelain enamel, and could finally start making stop signs the red color recognized today. 12. A lyrebird’s imitations will seriously sound exactly like the thing they’re trying to imitate. If they imitate a chainsaw, you will think it’s a chainsaw. It sounds like a perfect recording. 13. The founders of Adidas (Adi Dassler) and Puma (Rudolf Dassler) are brothers. …and their HQs are literally next door to each other in Germany. 14. The guy who sang Peanut Butter Jelly Time died in a police shootout. Also, his brother in law was there trying to talk him out of shooting himself. You know who that stepbrother was? Fucking Snoop Dogg. 15. Mercury is the closest planet to every other planet. 16. The United States has no federal law that forbids owning a tiger. 17. Male giraffes will head butt a female in the bladder until she urinates, then it tastes the pee to help it determine whether or not the female is ovulating. 18. El Paso Texas is closer to Los Angeles than it is to Beaumont Texas. 19. The yearly risk in the US of dying from a shark bite is around 1 in 250 million and the yearly risk of dying from a vending machine accident is roughly 1 in 112 million. Therefore, vending machines are about twice as deadly as sharks. 20. Dinosaurs never ate grass because it didn’t exist yet. 21. During WWII, the Polish Army had a brown bear in their ranks. The bear was really helpful to the force, particularly for carrying heavy artillery. 22. Most of the oxygen on earth doesn’t come from trees. It comes from plankton in the ocean. 23. The previous owner of the company Segway died from driving a Segway off a cliff. 24. One ten inch pizza is more pizza than two seven inch pizzas. 25. There used to be a species of parrot native to what is now Kentucky and Tennessee. 26. A common ingredient in Chemotherapy is horse sperm… of course listed under some long medical term. 27. Jack the Ripper was still active when Nintendo was founded. 28. Ancient sailors believed that cats were magic and would often risk their own lives, even in an “every man for himself” situation, to save a cat from a sinking ship. All ships had at least one ship’s cat as cats would eat the rats that have always plagued ships. The ship’s cat would often be given a rank and sailors would generally take excessively good care of their cats. 29. Cheetahs can’t roar. They meow like house cats. 30. Chickens are one of many species of birds that don’t have penetrative genitalia. Read; cocks are cockless. The method of reproduction they use is commonly called a “cloacal kiss” and you can think of it as chickens scissoring, because “bumping holes” is the grossest possible way to phrase chicken sex. Also chickens are not a flightless species like lots of people think and are generally totally capable of short flight. 31. A barnacle has a penis up to 10 times the length of its body. 32. The entire state of Wyoming only has 2 sets of escalators. 33. A typical cumulus cloud actually weighs 1.1 million pounds (498,951 kg). Read more:

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globalmarketreports · 4 years ago

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Global Reed Sensor Market Size, Share, Top Manufacturers, Growth Opportunities and Forecast to 2027

Reed sensor is defined as integrated devices with permanent magnet for sensing and detecting any moment which incorporates reed switch in a presence of magnetic field for providing mechanical protection and for having ability to resist vibration.

Request Sample Copy of this Report @ https://qualiketresearch.com/request-sample/Reed-Sensor-Market/request-sample

Market Drivers

Increase in innovation of reed sensors in automotive industry for monitoring oil level is the key driving factor which is expected to boost the global reed sensor market growth. Furthermore, rise in government initiatives for safeguarding the endangered species of fish will have the positive impact on market growth. Moreover, reed sensors are also used for engine control, automatic door locks, steering, air bags, and others. The increase in safety and security features and other functionalities in public buildings, and vehicles is expected to increase the demand for reed sensors during this forecast period.

However, less adoption of reed sensors is the major challenging factor which is expected to hinder the global red sensors market growth. Also, susceptibility to breakage issues during installation of reed sensor and requirement of higher initial capital investment are some of challenging factors which expected to hamper the market growth.

Market Key Players

Various key players are discussed in this report such as Littelfuse, HSI Sensing, Ryazan Metal Ceramics Instrumentation Plant JSC, Standex-Meder Electronics, PIC GmbH, Coto Technology, Pickering Electronics, Aleph America, and Stg Germany GmbH

Browse Full Research Report @ https://qualiketresearch.com/reports-details/Reed-Sensor-Market

Market Taxonomy

By Product

Dry

Mercury Wetted

By Contact Position

Form A

Form C

Others

By Application

Automotive

Consumer Electronics

Telecommunications

Healthcare

Construction & Security

Industrial Controls & Automation

Others

By Region

North America

Latin America

Europe

Asia Pacific

Middle East & Africa

About Us:-

QualiKet Research is a leading Market Research and Competitive Intelligence partner helping leaders across the world to develop robust strategy and stay ahead for evolution by providing actionable insights about ever changing market scenario, competition and customers. QualiKet Research is dedicated to enhancing the ability of faster decision making by providing timely and scalable intelligence. We use different intelligence tools to come up with evidence that showcases the threats and opportunities which helps our clients outperform their competition.

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intrepidsourcing · 5 years ago

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What are Certification Requirements for Custom Electronics Products?

You cannot display your electronic products in the market until you have complied with necessary certification requirements electronics. These certifications are necessary to assure consumers of your product’s quality and make sure it has passed international standards. Other reasons for certification requirements are safety, legalities and public relations. These certification requirements vary from one country to another but are dependent on the country you are importing from or exporting to. It is important to coordinate the certifications before developing or buying from electronics manufacturers.

Types of Certification Requirements for Electronics

There are different types of electronic product certifications such as FCC requirements for electronics, CE standards for electronics, RoHS, WEEE, and UL. The electronics product certification required will depend on the country the electronics product is exported to. For example, if the electronics product was manufactured for the US, then essential certificates needed are FCC requirements for electronics and UL. All European countries require CE standards for electronics, with WEEE and RoHS.

1. CE Standards for Electronics

CE stands for Conformité Européenne which is the French translation of European Conformity. The CE standards for electronics are prerequisite for electronic products manufactured and sold in and around the EEA (European Economic Area). The EEA includes all of the EU member countries such as France, Germany, Italy and a lot more.

Electronics products who underwent CE testing and has its seal means it has passed the standards of the EEA and the product conforms to its requirements. The usual directives for electronic products are:

a. Electromagnetic Compatibility Directive (EMC) – this directive requires the electronic product to attain the right levels of electromagnetic radiation and emissions. It is much like the USA’s FCC standards but includes the device’s immunity towards electromagnetic emissions.

b. Low Voltage Directive (LDV) – this directive is for electronic products with voltage rating of 50 VAC to 1000 VAC or 75 VAC to 1500 VDC. As long as an electronic product utilizes the following voltages to their input and output, they must be ensured they are safe to use. Electronic products which do not fall under these voltages are exempted from the low voltage directive while electronic products with voltages lower than 50 VAC or 75 VDC are required to conform to General Product Safety Directive (GPSD).

c. Radio Equipment Directive (RED) – electronic products which contain radio and telecommunications equipment need to connect with public telecommunication networks and follow their directive. This directive covers EMC standards and frequency allocations which are not covered by the EMC directive.

2. RoHS and WEEE

RoHS and WEEE are certificates which fall under the CE standards for electronics as directives. Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) is the directive for restricting usage of hazardous materials and components in electronic products. The standard requires to allowed level of these hazardous materials on a maximum parts-per notation. Here is the list of hazardous materials covered by the RoHS under CE testing;

Lead (<1000 ppm)

Mercury (<100 ppm)

Cadmium (<100 ppm)

Hexavalent Chromium (<1000 ppm)

Bis(2-Ethylhexyl) phthalate (<1000 ppm)

Polybrominated Biphenyls (<1000 ppm)

Diisobutyl phthalate (DIBP) (<1000 ppm)

Dibutyl phthalate (DBP) (<1000 ppm)

Polybrominated Biphenyls (<1000 ppm)

Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers (<1000 ppm)

Benzyl butyl phthalate (BBP) (<1000 ppm)

The mentioned hazardous materials are common substances found not only in electrical components but can also be found on regular everyday items such as plastics, paints, light bulbs and batteries.

On the other hand, Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) is a directive which commands custom electronics manufacturers to produce and develop products which are recyclable and environment-friendly. WEEE also makes sure electronic products have least possible electronic waste. Both WEEE and RoHS work alongside each other to cover pre-production standards up to the product disposal process.

3. UL Certification

UL is a type of certification requirement for electronics issued by an American company called Underwriters Laboratories who specializes in electronic product testing in the US. UL certification is widely recognized certification if your electronic product is manufactured or sold in the US. All products which may require electrical power to function are required to apply for a UL certificate.

In order to acquire a UL certificate, your electronic product has to pass UL standards including safety tests performed in Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) which is also a certified testing laboratory. UL certification is not a mandatory certification requirement for electronics unlike CE, but it further legitimize your electronic product and show consumers it is safe to use.

4. FCC Standards for Electronics

FCC stands for Federal Communications Commission and they are responsible for testing products which radiate electromagnetic signals at a frequency range of at least 9 kHz. They are in charge of classifying electronic products as intentional or non-intentional radiator. Intentional radiators are products which emit radio waves via Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, LoRa etc. while unintentional radiators are electronic products which emit radio waves but do not use it as part of its functionality.

The FCC certificate is not mandatory but if you intend to sell your electronic product in the US then you should acquire this certificate. You have to keep in mind intentional radiators are much harder to pass compared to non-intentional products. The FCC testing process measures electromagnetic emissions inside an anechoic chamber and will charge you for $1000 an hour for the process. This can be costly for small-time electronic manufacturers and you might as well hire third-party electronic companies who have previously passed the FCC testing and put your product under their company.

Conclusion

You have to acquire the right certification requirements for electronics before you take your product into the market. Learning the ins and outs of certificate acquisition is a must for electronic manufacturers as each type of certificate could differ from one and another. It should be addressed early with the manufacturer or product development company. You also have to be aware of the costs involved in doing these safety testing processes to make sure they fight right on to your budget. All of the expenses accumulated for electronic product certification should reflect on your electronic product’s final price in the market.

The post What are Certification Requirements for Custom Electronics Products? appeared first on Intrepid Sourcing and Services.

from Intrepid Sourcing and Services https://intrepidsourcing.com/trade-wiki/what-are-certification-requirements-for-custom-electronics-products/

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smoothshift · 7 years ago

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Alternate history of motoring - part 2 (1956-60). via /r/cars

Alternate history of motoring - part 2 (1956-60).

Time for another one.

Part 1 - https://www.reddit.com/r/cars/comments/8dzd4k/alternate_history_of_motoring_1st_part_195055/

1956:

World events:

The Franco-South-Vietnamese anti-Vietcong offensive continued. However, in May, Chinese soldiers joined the war, turning a smackdown of the Vietcong into a stalemate on both sides.

The US was urged to join the fighting, but its populace did not want another war. It didn't help that the new president-elect, Richard M. Nixon, pledged not to do that. His election also meant that the Interstate Project would get defunded, and the space program - closed.

In April, a plot to assasinate the 1st Secretary of the Soviet Union Communist Party, Lavrientiy Beria, was discovered. As a result, Nikita Khrushchev, Georgiy Malenkov and Vyacheslav Molotov, the triumvirate behind it, were executed.

With no competition in the Party, Beria started a policy of liberalization. Moderate freedom-of-speech laws were established, a lot of spending was moved from military projects (including the cancelled space program) to civilian ones, and small enterprise was allowed.

However, this resulted in the "Months Of Fighting" in Mideastern Europe. On 24th October, anti-commjnist demonstrations in East Berlin turned into outright fighting and a revolution. Insurgents started attacking the government buildings, and they soon got support from the American, French and British troops in the city, as well as aerial supplies from these nations. In December, West German, French and Austrian soldiers joined the insurgents in GDR.

November brought figting in Poland, Czechoslovakia and Hungary. Each nation had a different outcome. After a week, the Polish government decided to start conferences with the rebels - the decided outcome was that there would be a parliamentary election in 1957, with the Worker Party candidates getting a guaranteed 50% of seats. Two weeks later, the Hungarian goverment tried to flee Budapest, but they were captured and imprisoned, and the rebels took over. The only place where fighting continued was Czechoslovakia.

The Red Army didn't intervene in these cases, as Beria strongly believed in his "socialism in one nation" principle.

In December, street fighting began in Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia. It was still ongoing by the end of the year.

Also, talks about the European Economic Commonwealth, European Atomic Commonwealth and Euro-Arabian Oil and Gas Commonwealth continued.

Americas:

1956 was a wild year for the US car industry.

As a result of opposition to Mexican manufacturing, strikes shook GM, Ford and Chrysler. This resulted in delays in car production, and the 1957 model year having trouble arriving at the dealers. In fact, Holdens, Opels, German Fords and Borgwards had to be imported from Europe.

This was a golden opportunity for the UAM, as their union stopping meant there weren't such delays. They launched a campaign, "If the Big Three won't make it, we will", in which customers who cancelled their Big Three car reservations were able to get discounts for their cars. This made UAM #2 in US car sales, right behind GM.

Another boost to their reputation was the Packard Florida, a V12 GT coupe/convertible with torsion bar suspension, another handling world-beater after the Talladega.

The new Holden/Chevrolet/Pontiac/Oldsmobile/Buick and Ford/Mercury compacts, as well as their performance versions, were well-received by the press, but what do reviews matter for cars that you have to wait long for, and then receive them badly-built?

Europe:

The UK had quite a few important events on the car scene.

Rolls-Royce-Bentley showed their answer to Delahaye and new US fullsizes, the Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud and Bentley S12, V12-engined unibody luxury sedans, which were immediately dubbed "the new global standard"

The Lotus 6 got a Lotus-built engine, giving better performance than the previously-used Jaguar ones, and, more importantly, not coming from a defunct brand.

The MG MGA was shown, a "reasonably-priced" mid-engined sports car, using the new Oxford/Magnette's mechanicals.

However, most importantly, the Hillman Imp, a transverse FWD small car designed by Alec Issigonis, showed up. It sold very well, and outshone the new GM small car, the Vauxhall Cornet, as well as Ford, Austin and Morris designs.

Also, Morris' decision not to update Lanchester and Daimler designs was a bad one, with sales of these brands going down.

New French designs also surfaced, in form of the Citroen 16CV, an innovative V8 luxury sedan, the Renault 3, a small economy car, and the Simca 700, the 3's competitor. Also, Bugatti showed the Type 312, which managed to go up to 286 km/h.

The German car market was limited at the end of that year, due to fighting, and the Wartburg 311 had to have its production start delayed.

In that year, the Portugese automotive industry started, with the PAF 1300, a diesel family sedan, entering production. Spain pledged to do a similar thing.

That year's LeMons victory went to Citroen, with its purpose-built LM56 winning the race.

Asia:

Hino started producting the 500, a licensed 4-door version of the Fiat 500. It became a relative sales success, owing to its low (for non-kei-car standards) price.

Also, by that year, all 5 Japanese carmakers were making pickup trucks around 1600cc - that car type really took off.

1957:

World events:

The French and Southern Vietnamese got the upper hand in Vietnam in June, thanks to the deployment of the first French nuclear bomb on the Vietcong and Chinese forces. The increased war effort in France, as well as metal from the scrappage scheme, also helped the French, to the point where by the end of the year there were only a few Vietcong/Chinese holdouts.

In Germany, the Allied offensive continued, and by June, Berlin was taken by the capitalist forces. Next month, the German states reunited under the Federal Republic, and the capital was moved to (somewhat damaged) Berlin.

The forces moved to Czechoslovakia, capturing Prague, the government seat, in September.

In January, protests started in Yugoslavia, Albania, Bulgaria and Romania. While the Albanian and Yugoslavian goverments stopped theirs, next month, the rebels captured the Romanian goverment, and the Bulgarian communists gave a similar compromise to the Polish one, but with them taking a guaranteed 30% of parliamentary seats and the president, in March. Surprisingly, in the July elections, the Bulgarian communists won 32%. In Romania, the postcommunists got 25% and lost the presidential race.

February saw the Soviet government give up and plan independence referendals in Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. Disappointingly for the Soviets, the September voting showed that all three republics wanted independence.

In April, elections were held in Hungary and Poland. In Hungary, the postcommunists were banned from competing, and their leaders arrested, despite protests. In Poland, the Workers' Party had to use its guaranteed 50% of seats, as they get 21% of the vote, and their opponents had their presidential candidate, Edward Raczyński, chosen.

The European Commonwealths talks were set back by the need to discuss all the potential new entrants.

In America, a new party, the Patriot Party, springs onto the scene, demanding import tariffs, right-to-work laws and continued segregation.

In the same country, the Global News Network, a 24-hour news station, came to the market in October. Despite comments like "who the hell wants to watch/listen to the news all the day?", its success surprised everybody, with BBC in the UK even announcing the idea of BBC News, a similar concept.

Americas:

As GM, Ford and Mopar cancelled Mexican manufacturing plans, the strikes eased up. Still, there were a few setbacks in the introduction of new GM, Ford and Mopar fullsizes, with GM now joining the unibody club and ditching Pontiac due to low sales.

The UAM's gains weren't reversed, and it kept its #2 spot even after the introduction of the new fullsizes and the Willys Eagle/Studebaker Corsair/Kaiser Vigor/Hudson Roamer midsize line.

Still, GM had a few new tricks up its sleeve. The new FWD Cadillac Eldorado showed Delahaye that Americans can also build sporty luxury sedans, and the LaSalle line, comprised of the Series 40 (rebadged, more luxurious Opel Kapitan with a LaSalle V8) and Series 50 (a V8 FWD car, drawing a lot from the Caddy Eldorado) drew many import car customers. The new Chevrolet Corvette, a mid-engined supercar, used stock Chevrolet mechanicals to create a relatively affordable supercar. Finally, there was the Chevrolet El Camino, a midsize coupe utility for those upgrading from Holden and Ford utes.

Chrysler decided to show the benefit of their full frames by making a line of three coachbuilt Imperials, the Saoutchik Roadster, the Vignale Coupe and the Park Ward Saloon. Despite the cars' high prices, the whole project lost money. It didn't help that quality troubles had put them low in sales and in the red.

Ford, meanwhile, showed two new sports cars. The Thunderbird was a mid-engined supercar, similar to the Corvette, and the Mustang was a Taunus-based 2+2 sports car, topped by the TRS version, a Lincoln V8-powered NASCAR homologation special. The company also launched the Edsel brand, which, despite similarity to Fords, sold relatively well, and entered the diesel market with their new V8 and I6 diesels.

As street-legal cars were seen as not good enough for NASCAR any more, the series allowed carmakers not to make homologation specials and have non-street-legal parts. This made the 1957 homologation specials gain value from the dealer gates, especially in case of the Ford Mustang TRS, 1957's NASCAR winner.

Europe:

The German car market of that year was quite small, due to the war. In fact, the lost sales made NSU file for bankruptcy - the company was bought by Ford for its production facilities.

Meanwhile, in France, the small car market boomed, thanks to a scrappage scheme similar to America's 1954-5 one. However, the wartime "blacked-out" trim and saving made bigger cars a bit less popular, causing Citroen to delay the GT's market entrance and giving Peugeot financial problems.

In the UK, Lanchester and Daimler showed new cars. While they were good designs, the improper build quality was bogging them down.

The Italian car market showed substantial growth, allowing Lancia and Alfa Romeo to stay independent. Lancia showed the Monza, a smaller, V6 alternative to the Stelvio.

Meanwhile, foreign automakers started setting up shop in newly-capitalist countries, and AWZ, Skoda and FSO were getting ready for entering Western markets.

The Zaporozhetz ZAZ850, a small sedan with a 850cc engine, is released to great popularity, and as per govermental pledges, efforts are made so that demand is fullfilled.

In LeMans, all the major companies now had special LMP prototypes, with the Alfa Romeo C57 being the winner.

Asia:

In Japan, new car licenses were bought - Isuzu went into a joint venture with Citroen,making the 4CV and 6CV, Toyota got a license for the Plymouth Belvedere and Nissan began making the soon-to-be-discontinued Mercedes-Benz 190.

1958:

World events:

The French colonists and Southern Vietnamese managed to quash Vietcong forces and assume control of the entire nation by February. Still, Northern Vietnam was left devastated by war, and the South is not much better.

At the same time, the independent republics of Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia were established, and protests against communism started in the Karelian part of the USSR. Protests spread across the country, and Georgia, Azerbaijan and Armenia declared independence. Finally, on 10th October 1958, the highest officials of the USSR were captured and arrested, and the country was turned into the Russian Republic, with an election scheduled for 15th March 1959.

However, this caused the start of independence movements in the other non-ethnically-Russian parts of the country. While most of these protests were stopped, Ukranians, Belarussians and Tadjikistanians were still protesting by the end of the year, and ZAZ factory equipment was being moved to Niznyi Novogorod, where GAZ was located.

Meanwhile, in America, the ideas of continued segregation, import tariffs, union busting, isolationism and balancing the budget - the Patriot Party program - were getting more popular. In fact, many representatives and senators started promoting them, as Mexican and Asian outsourcing started taking US jobs.

In Europe, the economic cooperation talks continued. There were some issues - the sides were divided about accepting the former Eastern Bloc, and Arab countries wanted freedom for Algieria if the whole thing was meant to include their oil.

All of this was beneficial to GNN, which was doing 24 hour reporting on the events. The foreign events were reported on in a quite low-tech pre-satellite way - recorded on tapes and then sent by plane to the company's NY headquarters.

Seeing the need for that and the defunding of state space programs, Lockheed Martin started a department that was meant to take part in commercialization of space.

Americas:

Volvo started working on its own factory in the United States. This was big news, as it was the first time a foreign company would open their own factory, not a joint venture, in the US. Meanwhile, despite all the political developments, which made UAM think about giving a larger role to US manufacturing, VW started working on one in Mexico.

Brazil also had new developments - UAM and GM factories opened there. Ford set shop in Chile, while Mopar's Brazilian assembly kept being constructed.

Meanwhile, Jeep began making the RJ-6, a closed SUV placed in size and equipment between the CJ-5 and Studebaker truck-based "station wagons", and based on Studebaker trucks. It became a great success, placing UAM above GM in sales for 1958. In general, it was partially due to cheap Mexican manufacturing, and partially due to their emphasis on quality.

During the RJ-6's tests, UAM testers noticed that the SUV was faster around the snowed tracks than actual performance cars of the brand. This made them work on 4x4 systems for road cars.

Seeing the relative success of the other Big Four brands' diesels, GM began work on theirs.

Meanwhile, Chrysler's financial troubles kept on happening, despite the release of their new compacts.

Europe:

In the UK, the new Austin A30 and Rover P5 became sales successes in their classes, thanks to good engineering and quality. Also, Hillman released the Imp S, which,,thanks to its good handling, was a rallying success.

Lotus released the 7, another supercar, with a high-revving DOHC V8 engine. It was very fast, thanks to its light weight. TVR built a similar, but bigger, car, the 5800, using a Mercury V8. The car wasn't that fast around corners, and couldn't break straightline speed records, but was more comfortable than other mid-engined supercars, and had a 2+2 layout. It showed other makers supercar buyers want comfort, too.

The European GT market boomed - Lancia, Alfa Romeo, Bugatti and Citroen all got into the market, with Bugatti's car being the fastest 4-seater of the day.

The more plebeian segments also were doing well, and some of the new cars, the new Hotchkiss Avanta and Opel Olympia, even took their good performance to the US market. Diesels kept proliferating, with more brands offering them.

Luxury brands had some new stuff, too - Hotchkiss revealed the new 4200, meant to rival the new Rolls-Royces, Daimler reworked its entire product line, from the BMW 1200 to the Mercedes-Benz 400RS, and Rolls-Royce-Bentley showed the RR Silver Seraph and Bentley Continental, smaller I6-engined sporty sedans/coupes/convertibles.

The former Eastern Bloc cars weren't selling badly in the West, but the low prices necessary to sell them in the postcommunist world necessitated low profit margins.

Also, in Spain, SEAT started operating with the 1300, a midsize diesel wagon, and began exporting it to other European countries.

Asia:

UAM signed a joint venture agreement with Nissan, offering them licensing for some of their cars, while Nissan would sell UAM cars through their dealerships in Japan and other Asian countries.

1959:

World events:

While the Russians gave Ukraine and Belarus independence by March, the Tadjikistanian figting was turning into a war. What's worse for the Russians, nuclear bombing your own territory was viewed as a rather bad course of action, so that wasn't really an option, and the new parliament was divided as whether to continue the war.

Besides that, Armenia and Azerbaijan had their own war - since April, they were fighting over Nagorno-Karabakh. Two months later, India and Pakistan started another mountain war by fighting over Kashmir.

In September, a rebellion against British rule started in Rhodesia. However, the Brits used their new nuclear weapons against the rebels, which, after the US said they would do that in their territories, and France said the same, was a deterrent for anti-colonialists.

A month later, the US government made it legal to fire workers without a reason, which was seen as a deterrent from another wave of strikes.

Besides that, European negotiations ensued, and Eastern Bloc getting into the integration, as well as Algieria becoming independent, was starting to be the dominant roadmap.

Americas:

The change in labor law made US automakers resume the construction of factories in Mexico.

Chrysler's financial and quality troubles continued, and the company started seeking some goverment aid. However, the US government declined all appeals for a bailout. While they managed to sell Borgward to VW as unprofitable, it did nlt help the company as a whole.

The company was unable to follow new trends, which the other makers could. The Chevrolet El Camino found competitors in the Ford Ranchero and Studebaker Compostela, while the Ford Mustang was rivalled by the Chevrolet Camaro, Oldsmobile Angeles and Studebaker Sportsman.

After a few years on the market, the Packard Talladega was updated, now more daily-drivable, following the TVR-originated development on the sports car market.

Europe:

In the UK, Rover released the T5, a mid-engined 2+2 GT using the 3.7 performance version of their new V8, which had its less powerful variant, a 3.2 one, show up in the P5. Austin-Rover used its earnings to buy Triumph and Jensen.

With many new 4-stroke developments rendering DKW and Saab's 2-strokes outdated, both companies started falling intl financial insolvency.

Volvo, meanwhile, showed the new Philip, an I6/V8 luxury car, to the world. It became quite successful, and part of that success was in its 3-point seatbelts, which Volvo made sure to patent, despite the inventor's qualms.

It faced fierce competition, with the latest rivals being the new Opel Kapitan/Admiral (the latter being Opel's rebadged LaSalle 40, joined by the Diplomat, an Euro version of the LaSalle Series 50), Peugeot 504, Alfa Romeo 2700 and Lancia Flaminia.

In Italy, Ferrucio Lamborghini started working on a luxury car company that would try to outshine Delahaye, Rolls-Royce, Daimler, Mercedes-Benz and the US makers.

Eastern Bloc brands were falling into financial troubles, as their products had trouble competing against new, and even used, Western cars. While Skoda, Tatra and Russian brands weren't doing that badly, and AWZ was not far behind, Poland's FSO was in real trouble, and started unofficially seeking a buyer, with the new Syrena underperforming.

Asia:

China's people's car program was cancelled again, and the focus was moved to creating a luxury car.

Japan's goverment decided to allow free creation of automotive brands, and it quickly ensued. The first new company was Subaru, with a kei car (200), a cheap and low-quality (typical car for Japan) pickup truck - the Sambar and a licensed version of the recently-replaced Ford Anglia.

Africa:

The Egyptian goverment announced the start of its "national car" efforts, therefore prompting the start of independent African car industry

1960:

World events:

After monts of fighting, the Tadjikistani rebels finally surrendered in July, and Russia started regaining control over the area. The fighting in Kashmir remained unresolved.

However, a revolution broke out in Cuba in May, and it was important in the presidential race. While the ruling Republicans managed to somewhat appease Patriot Party voters by abolishing minimum-wage laws, the revolution was used by both opposition parties as a sign of the Republicans' weakness.

The 1960 election was a three-horse race between the Democrats, Republicans and Patriots. However, none of the parties attained a majority of electors, so after a brief constitutional crisis a second round was held in December, in which Harry F. Byrd (P) managed to beat John F. Kennedy (D). The fierce race was an opportunity for GNN, which now had enough domestic events for 24 hours of news.

Algieria was given independence as part of European Commonwealth talks, which entered the "fine legal details" stage.

Americas:

With all-new fullsize, compact, midsize and truck designs from GM, Ford and UAM, new sales records were broken, although the coffers of all brands were exhausted, and the situation benefitted the lenders to all of them.

UAM's four-wheel-drive systems in their fullsize and midsize cars, while having opened up to rather slow sales, started picking up by the end of the year, partially due to good reviews and rally performance.

Meanwhile, Mopar's troubles continued. They didn't have money to show new generations of cars for that year, and it showed - their cars looked a bit old and overstyled, compared to the sleek 1961 cars, trucks and SUVs of the Big Three.

In Brazil, GM's Brazilian wing started working on a cheap pickup truck, a car that would satisfy the developing country.

Also, Nash went bankrupt that year, and its factory in Kenosha was bought by GM.

Europe:

The new Triumph Herald/Austin A40 twins and the Hillman Husky, both equipped with FWD, shook the British compact car market, and the Austin A20 did the same in subcompacts. This, together with the Hillman Imp, started showing European automakers FWD was the way forward.

VW already had the memo. The new Type 4, a compact liftback/wagon, as well as the subcompact Polo hatchback both had front transverse FWD, and they quickly started taking the market over.

In France, Citroen showed the new 2CV and 4CV, both FWD, but they were traditional fastback sedans with longitudinal engines. Meanwhile, Peugeot started reengineering the 404 prototypes to be FWD, and Simca did the same with 1300 and Aronde ones.

In Italy, Fiat, Lancia and Alfa Romeo merged into the AMI conglomerate, despite the new Alfa Romeo Alfetta and Lancia Stelvio supercars keeping the brands' competition. The new corporation began merger talks with Chrysler.

In the Eastern Bloc, the only companies with good fortunes were the ones in Russia, thanks to a large and booming domestic market. The others, while selling enough cars to get by, couldn't get good profit margins.

Asia:

In the newly liberalized car market of Japan, Honda and Mazda sprung to the scene, both offering new kei cars. New brands weren't having that much trouble, thanks to the booming economy.

In India, Hindustan showed the H1, an inexpensive pickup truck. It quickly entered production, and most of early ones went to the Kashmir front, as there were relatively few private buyers for such stuff in India back then.

#reddit #autonews #auto #cars

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roguenewsdao · 7 years ago

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Syraq SITREP 47: British Media Denies UK Special Operators May Have Been Captured by Syrian Arab Army, OPCW Headed to Douma as US/UK/French Strikes on Syria Delayed

Did Moscow and Tehran Use Captured British Special Forces as Leverage to Back the British Drive for War Against Syria Off?

Moscow has reportedly been engaged in back channel diplomacy with the Americans to allow the British to save face and quietly repatriate these POWs from an undeclared and illegal war. However, the possibility cannot be ruled out that the Kremlin threatened to expose the captured British operatives and their botched covert mission to the world, using them as leverage to get London if not Washington to back off -- for now -- from planned air strikes. The Daily Mail's reporting on the topic includes the British Ministry of Defense's denial that any UK servicemen have been captured in Syria and predictable propagandistic embellishment from Iran's Fars News Agency of the James Bond-esque tasks put to the British operatives before they were caught.

Leaks Possibly Authorized by Trump or his Close Loyalists to Push Back Against the Neocons Reveal Infighting in the Trump Administration, Bolton Opposed by Mattis/Dunford

As the Russian Analyst stated in our previous Syraq SITREP 46, there is clearly some sort of infighting going on behind the scenes in the Trump White House and more broadly, some push back perhaps against 'the deep state' across the (post)Western world. U.S. allies in Asia, led by Japan and South Korea, are noticeably silent or supporting the OPCW investigation playing out. Canada and Germany, while predictably condemning Assad, ruled out participating in any Anglo-American-French air campaign against Syria. While leaks intended to push Trump in a more belligerent direction or imply he's weak on Russia have been the norm since the President took office, for the first time in a good while we're seeing those opposed to rash confrontation with Russia or the casualties that will inevitably be incurred in a rumble with Iran leaking to reporters.

Not only did pro-Trump blogger Jack Posobiec claim that the tweet calling Assad an animal was written by someone other than the President, but we're now seeing reports that Secretary of Defense Mattis and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Joseph Dunford are opposing National Security Adviser John Bolton's push for a wider air war. Based on their track records, the rabidly anti-Iranian Bolton wants the U.S. to do Israel's dirty work for it and target IRGC affiliated Shi'a militias in addition to supposed chemical weapons sites and (now mostly evacuated) Syrian air force bases. Mattis publically guarded comments neither committing to imminent action nor ruling it out appear to be attuned to the shifting moods of his Commander in Chief.

Dunford, for his part, has a history of bluntly telling the U.S. Senate that if they wish to destroy Assad's capacity to bomb rebels that entails direct clashes with Russia. Dunford has also been on the hotline with his counterpart Russian Chief of Staff Valeriy Gerasimov for weeks and conveyed the Russian commander's warnings of retaliation to the top. It therefore seems very likely that Dunford would advocate for a face-saving but highly limited Tomahawk strike on an empty air base in the desert, along the lines of last April's action. Mattis and Dunford, unlike Bolton, appear to be concerned that if the U.S. kills more Syrians and especially Russians and Iranians with missiles, then some GIs will be coming back from (the illegally set up) American bases east of the Euphrates in body bags. Could it be that the generals Trump so highly praised are trumping if not slowly removing the crazed neocon and worst (al)CIA(eda) factions in Washington, as QAnon has suggested?

Trump, the French-British Push for War, and the Weak 'Evidence' from the Douma Chemical False Flag Attack

This question brings us to the mind of the mercurial Commander in Chief, playing '4D chess' against himself, doubtless aware that the pressure from Robert Mueller and a corrupted FBI's raids on his personal attorney Michael Cohen is designed to push him towards a wider war. Asked by reporters if he'd ordered a strike following his apparent backtracking on the now notorious 'get ready for smart missiles Russia' tweet sent Thursday morning, Trump said 'we'll see what happens folks' (Even if you don't trust a word Trump says but only look to his actions at this point, you can watch the body language analysis of a 'defeated' looking President resigned to acting against his gut instincts, probably in the full knowledge that Douma was a dirty deep state false flag in the video above).

As the British cabinet predictably urged Theresa May to take action, UK Transport Minister Jo Johnson stressed: "There has been no decision to take military action at this point." Not surprisingly given how much our friends from LaRouchePAC have documented that this war drive is coming out of London, it was left to anonymous British military sources to complain that Trump's tweets had spoiled the chance to destroy more of the Syrian air force on the ground (although there is evidence Syrian Air Force planes have been dispersing since the Israeli strike on Tiyas air base last Sunday, and indeed, avoiding easily targeted by standoff missiles concrete aircraft shelters before then).

The Trump Administration was said to be 'consulting allies', while French President Emanuel Macron insisted Paris had proof chlorine if not other chemical weapons were used at Douma. OPCW investigators were said to be headed to the scene on Saturday, creating another potential reason for Trump to delay military action. Syria's envoy to the UN Bashar Jaafari said, "We will facilitate the arrival of the team to anywhere they want, in Douma, to check whether or not there was use of chemical substances".

On Fox News, which President Trump is known to watch to keep in touch with his electoral base, host Tucker Carlson pointed out that even Secretary of Defense James Mattis was admitting that the evidence the U.S. has gathered thus far is inconclusive, and heavily reliant, as after the sarin gas attack on Khan Sheikhoun last April, on (G)NGOs and 'fighters' aka jihadists and their White Helmets buddies on the ground. Mattis remarks Thursday to the House Armed Services Committee reiterated what he told reporters Wednesday, which is that the U.S. is still evaluating intelligence. Mattis also mentioned that non-persistent chemical agents could degrade at the site of the alleged attack in Douma in the context of discussing how soon OPCW investigators could reach the area. The Russian Analyst hopes the Commander in Chief watched the full debate between Carlson and Commentary neocon regime change advocate Noah Rothman:

As British anti-war conservative Peter Hitchens writes above, Jaish al Islam, the Saudi backed sharia imposing jihadists that controlled Douma before the alleged chemical attack, have a history of using toxic agents against enemies -- principally the Kurds. Amnesty International even documented their use in 2016 of indiscriminate 'hell cannons' and gas against Kurdish forces in Aleppo's Sheikh Maqsuod neighborhood, where an estimated 30,000 civilians lived at the time.

While social media has been used by NATO/USAID funded hacks like Bellingcat to gather 'evidence' of Syrian and Russian dastardliness since the August 2013 East Ghouta false flag, Twitter users are also pointing out serious problems with the 'evidence' surrounding the Douma attack. Notwithstanding the French claim to have solid proof chlorine gas was used, and the non-persistence of a cheap and easy for jihadists to cook up from legitimate water filtration or pool cleaning chemical agent that was first used in the trenches of World War One -- where were the bodies? As the Russian Defense and Foreign Ministry spokesmen and women asked this week, where are the hospitalized victims of chemical exposure who would've been evacuated by the Red Crescent to Damascus? Islamic custom requires a rapid burial, and bodies smelling of chlorine would be washed and wrapped quickly for interment. Where are the scores of victims were killed with gas, why haven't we seen any footage or photos of their funerals?

Another sign of faking and staging of scenes -- a member of the White Helmets stands in a room supposedly hit by a poison gas canister dropped from Assad's infamous 'barrel bombing' helicopters. Despite a hole in the roof, the bed is un-smashed by the canister that has evidently been placed on it with hands rather than settled on the mattress after a fall of several hundred to a few thousand feet. Despite the rage of the Establishment against 'conspiracy theorists' who shills like Dan Kaszeta wishes would die of bone cancer, the MI6-funded White Helmets history of cooperation with Al-Qaeda in disposing of murdered Syrian soldiers bodies, shoddy fakes and filming children who act out foaming at the mouth and convulsions from gas has finally caught up with them.

Yes sarin -- obtained from either Assad government stockpiles captured in the earlier part of the war or manufactured with precursors supplied by Saudi Arabia et al -- and other toxic agents have definitely been used to massacre civilians in Syria. But as Tucker Carlson correctly informed millions of Fox News viewers this week, the anti-Assad side has definitely obtained and chemical weapons.

The excuses offered by the trolls and shills increasingly agitated on Twitter about these questions from skeptics have included that 'people were afraid of the regime' meaning Syrian government soldiers would punish them and that 'no (post-Western) reporters have been to Douma' -- except apparently pro-Syrian government and Russian journalists and cameramen. The latter excuse however, is about to go away as journalists are seeking at this hour to accompany the OPCW teams into Douma on Saturday. That timing of course, along with the new moon, may motivate the British if not the French to try and launch a strike of their own to goad the Administration into action this weekend...before the Douma false flag is picked apart.

This globalist gambit would be similar the logic of the Anglo-French entente allowing the Obama Administration to 'lead from behind' in the NATO/GCC air campaign to topple Gaddafi's government in Libya back in 2011. But given Moscow's naval build up in the eastern Mediterranean and the prominent display of anti-ship missiles on the pylons of Sukhois flying over Tartus and Latakia where the Syrian public could photograph them, it's doubtful either Macron or May would have the balls to confront the Russians without Captain America's shield over their sparse fleets or the RAF air bases on Cyprus (which is well within Tochka or perhaps Yakhont missile range if the Syrian government receives the green light from Moscow to shoot rockets back at the attackers' bases). Even the typically Washington/Pentagon Establishment friendly Associated Press is reporting that Moscow has deployed supersonic Bastion anti-ship missiles to defend its installations along the Syrian coast. The Bastions were previously deployed in Crimea shorty after Moscow's forces secured the peninsula and the US Navy sent the USS Donald Cook to the Black Sea -- before the destroyer retreated after a particular disputed incident in April 2014. Any one of those could sink the French Aquitaine (D650) within minutes.

According to the latest naval SITREP posted Thursday night at the Saker blog by contributor 'Le Dahu', the amount of firepower the U.S. Navy and NATO navies currently have or within Tomahawk range in the eastern Med may have been overstated in recent days. With the USS Harry S. Truman battle group still several days to two weeks away having just set sail from its home base in Norfolk, Virginia, the timing appears off for anything other than a demonstrative strike -- certainly not a major effort to flood Syria's air defense systems and hit Damascus hard. Here the British and French poodles martial ambitions would seem to vastly outstrip the resources available to them:

Most focus is on the group of US destroyers that are forward deployed from Rota, Spain. Besides the USS Donald Cook, the USS Carney (DDG 64), is still in port in Rota, the USS Ross is in Plymouth, UK and the USS Porter, having just called into Cherbourg, last seen in the Channel, heading eastwards. There isn’t much hurry to sail either down to the Med or the USS Carney eastwards either at the moment.

The Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group (HSTCSG) set sail yesterday, a routine regular deployment that has been planned months ago. It will certainly head for the Med, then later go to the Gulf, probably at the beginning of May.

https://twitter.com/USNavy/status/984192120608129024

USS Normandy (CG 60);

and DESRON 28 group of guided-missile destroyers USS Farragut (DDG 99), USS Forrest Sherman (DDG 98), USS Bulkeley (DDG 84), USS Arleigh Burke (DDG 51),

Two other late participants: USS Jason Dunham (DDG 109), and USS The Sullivans (DGG 68).

A German Navy is also part of the group for the first part: the Sachsen-class German frigate FGS Hessen (F 221). It is not known at this stage if Germany will respond similarly to the US.

https://twitter.com/XHNews/status/984395909298622465

Further afield (Red Sea and Gulf of Aden)

Most of the US Amphibious Ready Group (ARG), with the USS Iwo Jima (LHD7) with USMC Harriers onboard, left the Med to go down to Djibouti part of Exercise Alligator Dagger, (which had to be stopped due to several aircraft crashes by 3 April).

The US Navy operates in this region, as part of Task Force 53,

Among this group appears to be the USS Laboon, DDG. It is not known whether they have stayed in the area or sailed back up the Red Sea. There is a good chance that the USS Laboon has, probably along with another French FREMM frigate.

UK –Royal Navy

Other than HMS Duncan, the only other significant news is the possible deployment to eastern Med of an Astute-class nuclear submarine, as initially reported by the Daily Telegraph.

HMS Albion, which had been in the Med, was redeployed with orders to go to the South China Sea, Korea regions, to supplement two other RN warships already there.

Если Завтра Война...What if Combined Russian/Iranian Deterrence Fails? As Mainstream Media is Acknowledging, Moscow Is Still Signaling Its Ready for War...

What if the dirty deep state removes Trump from the equation, realizing that the soft coup via Robert Mueller's ridiculous prosecution isn't working? How about another, far more elaborate false flag compared to Douma, one that targets American bases or ships and blames the Russians and Iranians as aggressors? Again from the Associated Press, the leading global wire service and provider of world news to newspapers that millions of mostly older and voting Americans still read, telling the truth: that the Russian public appears to be far more informed and prepared for a superpower clash than the U.S. public. As my Swiss White Russian friend The Saker says, Russians fear war far more than Americans, but are far better prepared for it. As myself, London Paul and the Guerrilla have all been saying, Moscow is calling the dying petrodollar empire's bluff. Now it's up to whether QAnon's 'white hats' actually exist and the sane generals prevail over the insane banksters and warmongers:

Vyacheslav Nikonov, a senior lawmaker in the Kremlin-controlled lower house of parliament, said in televised remarks that the Russian military was getting its electronic countermeasures and air defense assets ready for action. He added on a combative note that the situation offers a “good chance to test them in conditions of real combat.”

An even more threatening situation may evolve if the U.S. and its allies use manned aircraft, and the Russian strike results in casualties.

Such a scenario could trigger a quick escalation, leaving Russia and the U.S. on the brink of a full-scale conflict — a situation unseen even during the darkest moments of the Cold War.

Retired Lt. Gen. Yevgeny Buzhinsky, the former chief of the Russian Defense Ministry’s international department, warned that Russia has thousands of military advisers in Syria “practically in every battalion,” and a strike on any Syrian facility could jeopardize their lives. He warned that Russia and the U.S. will quickly find themselves in a major conflict if they allow a collision in Syria to happen.

“I have an impression that Americans’ survival instincts have grown numb, if not vanished completely,” Buzhinsky said. “They seem not to really believe that Russia will give a tough military response and expect some sort of a local brawl, exchanging some minor blows. It’s a miscalculation. Any clash between Russian and U.S. militaries will expand beyond a local conflict and an escalation will be inevitable.”

Andrei Klimov, the head of an upper house committee that investigates foreign meddling in Russian affairs, proudly said on the top talk show on Russian state TV that his relative, a Soviet pilot, won a medal for combat duty in Vietnam. Klimov pointed to heavy U.S. losses from Soviet missiles and jets in Vietnam, adding that Russia stands ready to counter any possible U.S. strike.

Unlike the Vietnam War, where Soviet advisers helping North Vietnam supposedly weren’t directly engaged in combat, the potential clash in Syria would pit Russia directly against the U.S.

Fears of war swept Russian newspaper headlines and TV news, with commentators discussing the darkest possible outcomes, including a nuclear war.

“What if the war starts tomorrow?” the front page of Moskovsky Komsomolets clamored on Wednesday. Russia’s best-selling newspaper Komsomolskaya Pravda wondered: “Is macho Trump going to start World War III?”

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Weeks before a purported chemical attack by the Syrian government on April 7, the Russian military warned the West against what it described as false claims of chemical weapons use to strike Syrian facilities.

The head of the Russian military’s General Staff, Gen. Valery Gerasimov, warned last month that a U.S. strike would threaten Russian military personnel in Syria and draw a Russian counterstrike against both U.S. missiles and the ships and aircraft launching them.

The statement signaled Moscow’s readiness to protect its ally even if it entails a direct clash with the U.S.

With tensions running high, Russian warships sailed out of their base in the Syrian port of Tartus in what retired Gen. Vladimir Shamanov, the head of foreign affairs committee in the lower house of the Russian parliament, described as a maneuver to avoid a possible U.S. blow.

Russia has several dozen warplanes at Hemeimeem air base in Syria, along with an array of state-of-the-art air defense missile systems and the Bastion missile systems protecting the coast. The missiles have a range of up to 450 kilometers (280 miles).

In case of escalation, Russia could use air bases of its ally Iran to deploy more aircraft closer to Syria.

Russia has used Syria as a testing ground for its new weapons, including some long-range missiles. These included the sea-launched Kalibr and air-launched Kh-101 cruise missiles; both can be fired from the Caspian Sea and other areas in western Russia.

Russia’s U.N. Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia said the top priority is to avert war in Syria and doesn’t rule out the possibility of a U.S.-Russian conflict.

He told reporters after a closed emergency meeting of the U.N. Security Council on Thursday that “the danger of escalation is higher than simply Syria,” adding: “We hope that there will be no point of no return — that the U.S. and their allies will refrain from military action against a sovereign state.”

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