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☆ A record 8.5 million Chinese borrowers are now blacklisted for not paying their debts, a report says. They're feeling the same financial pressures as Americans.
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-04 | by ( Theron Mohamed | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

A record 8.54 million Chinese borrowers are blacklisted for not paying their debts, the FT reported. NEW LOOK Sign up to get the inside scoop on today’s biggest stories in markets, tech, and business — delivered daily. download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . AdvertisementA record 8.5 million Chinese borrowers – about 1% of the country's working-age adults – are blacklisted by their government for failing to pay their debts, the Financial Times reported on Sunday. The restrictions placed on the borrowers threaten to weigh on consumer spending in the world's second-largest economy, crimping global growth.

Persons: —, defaulters, Michael Burry, David Rosenberg Organizations: Service, Financial Times Locations: China

But that came after they had sold petroleum in eight of the previous nine weeks, reducing their position by a total of 342 million barrels. In the premier NYMEX WTI contract, funds had amassed bearish short positions amounting to 116 million barrels by Nov. 28, up from 20 million barrels eight weeks earlier. Funds purchased the equivalent of 10 million barrels split between U.S. gasoline (+2 million), U.S. diesel (+4 million) and European gas oil (+4 million). Funds held a net long position in gasoline of 66 million barrels (72nd percentile) up from 26 million barrels (19th percentile) six weeks earlier. Related columns:- Record U.S. oil output challenges Saudi mastery (December 4, 2023)- Investors bet against OPEC+ raising oil prices (November 28, 2023)John Kemp is a Reuters market analyst.

Persons: de Wouw, John Kemp, Kirsten Donovan Organizations: Port, REUTERS, ICE, Fund, U.S, . Funds, U.S ., Funds, Saudi, OPEC, Thomson, Reuters Locations: Rotterdam, Netherlands, Brent, Saudi Arabia, United States, U.S

☆ Biden administration announces new financial strike force to curb deadly fentanyl trade
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-04 | by ( Sam Fossum | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

“The Treasury Department’s Counter-Fentanyl Strike Force will allow us to bring the Department’s unrivaled expertise in fighting financial crime to bear against this deadly epidemic. The strike force will be led by the department’s top sanctions official, Brian Nelson, and the chief of the Internal Revenue Service’s criminal investigations unit, James Lee. It will “redouble Treasury’s existing work streams, including using financial intelligence to understand risks and map transnational criminal organization (TCO) financial networks,” according to a news release. Several key units within the Treasury Department that specialize in financial crimes, sanctions, and tracking terrorist and illicit financing will be part of the new strike force. The new strike force will also help streamline the Treasury Department’s efforts to coordinate with local and federal law enforcement bodies on potential financial leads.

Persons: Janet Yellen, Brian Nelson, James Lee, ” Nelson, Xi Jinping, Joe Biden, Biden, Yellen, Nelson, “ Organizations: Washington CNN, Monday, Treasury Department, Treasury, Network, Foreign Assets Control, of Intelligence, US Treasury Department, Strike Force, Department, Drug Enforcement Agency, Department of Homeland Security, Department of Justice, US Centers for Disease Control, CNN, Mexican, Biden Locations: United States, China, Ukraine, Mexico

☆ Supply chains, trade top agenda for Yellen Mexico trip
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-04 | by ( Chelsey Cox | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen hosts Leaders from Americas Partnership for Economic Prosperity (APEP) countries at the Treasury Department in Washington, DC, on November 3, 2023. WASHINGTON — Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen will travel to Mexico City this week to strengthen economic ties with America's top trading partner, the Treasury Department said Monday. Yellen will meet with Mexican counterparts, including President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, from Dec. 5-7 on creating supply chains spanning the bordering nations to spur job growth and bolster economic security, according to a release. Imports and exports between the U.S. and Mexico reached nearly $600 billion so far in 2023, per the International Trade Administration, and exceeded $850 billion in 2022, according to Treasury. Direct investments between the nations include manufacturing, wholesale trade, real estate and finance and insurance, according to the U.S. Trade Representative.

Persons: Janet Yellen, Yellen, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, Joe Biden, Xi Jinping Organizations: Americas Partnership, Economic Prosperity, Treasury Department, WASHINGTON —, Mexican, U.S, International Trade Administration, Treasury, U.S . Trade, Jalisco Nueva Generacion, U.S . Locations: Washington ,, Mexico City, Mexico, United States, Jalisco, U.S

At issue is whether U.S. bankruptcy law allows Purdue's restructuring to include legal protections for the members of the Sackler family, who have not filed for personal bankruptcy. Members of the Sackler family have denied wrongdoing but expressed regret that OxyContin "unexpectedly became part of an opioid crisis." They said in May that the bankruptcy settlement would provide "substantial resources for people and communities in need." The administration told the Supreme Court that Purdue's settlement is an abuse of bankruptcy protections meant for debtors in "financial distress," not people like the Sacklers. The administration has also alleged that the Sackler family members withdrew $11 billion from Purdue before agreeing to contribute $6 billion to its opioid settlement.

Persons: painkiller, George Frey, Joe Biden's, Sackler, Biden, OxyContin, John Kruzel, Andrew Chung, Will Dunham Organizations: Purdue Pharma L.D, REUTERS, Rights, Purdue Pharma, WASHINGTON, U.S, Supreme, Purdue, Circuit, Thomson Locations: Provo , Utah, U.S, Stamford , Connecticut, Manhattan

☆ Explainer: How will the Supreme Court reshape US opioid epidemic relief?
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-03 | by ( John Kruzel | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

The settlement also would shield the Stamford, Connecticut-based pharmaceutical company's wealthy Sackler family owners from lawsuits brought by opioid victims. A U.S. bankruptcy court approved that restructuring plan in 2021. Lawsuits against Purdue and Sackler family members accuse them of fueling the opioid epidemic through deceptive marketing of its pain medication. They said in May that the bankruptcy settlement would provide "substantial resources for people and communities in need." The administration also has said Sackler family members withdrew $11 billion from Purdue before agreeing to contribute $6 billion to the opioid settlement.

Persons: OxyContin, Sackler, Department's, Joshua Silverstein, Silverstein, Joe Biden's, John Kruzel, Dietrich Knauth, Will Dunham Organizations: Purdue Pharma, WASHINGTON, U.S, Supreme, Purdue, U.S ., District of Columbia, University of Arkansas, Justice Department, Thomson Locations: Stamford , Connecticut, United States, U.S, Little, New York

☆ At Core of Purdue Pharma Case: Who Can Get Immunity in Settlements?
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-03 | by ( Abbie Vansickle | More About Abbie Vansickle | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

For years, Purdue Pharma, the maker of the prescription painkiller OxyContin, had been entangled in lawsuits seeking to hold it to account for its role in the spiraling opioid crisis. A pathbreaking settlement reached last year appeared to signal the end to thousands of those cases, funneling billions of dollars toward fighting the epidemic in exchange for exempting members of the billionaire Sackler family, which once controlled the company, from civil lawsuits. But on Monday, the Supreme Court will hear arguments over whether the agreement is a violation of federal law in a case that could have ramifications not just for Purdue but also for organizations that turn to bankruptcy court, as the company did, to resolve claims of mass injury. “There’s huge implications for all of corporate bankruptcy,” said Anthony J. Casey, a law professor at the University of Chicago. “I think this is probably the most important bankruptcy case before the court in 30, maybe 40 years.”

Persons: Sackler, “, ”, Anthony J, Casey Organizations: Purdue Pharma, Purdue, University of Chicago

☆ The oxycontin-peddling Sackler family has tried to get immunity from civil lawsuits by filing for bankruptcy. That might be illegal.
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-03 | by ( Katie Balevic | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

The US Supreme Court will decide whether Purdue Pharma's bankruptcy settlement will stand. Officially referred to as third-party nonconsensual releases, the legal maneuver allows organizations to settle personal injury claims in bankruptcy court instead of civil court. Legal experts say companies are more often relying on bankruptcy court than civil court to settle claims, The New York Times reported. Opponents of the practice say it robs regular people of their day in civil court. The Sacklers' settlement deal did not require the Sacklers themselves to declare bankruptcy, just Purdue Pharma, according to the Times.

Persons: Sackler, — Organizations: Purdue, Service, Purdue Pharma, Reuters, The New York Times, Times

☆ Fate of Billions for Opioid Victims From Sacklers Rests With Supreme Court
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-03 | by ( Jan Hoffman | More About Jan Hoffman | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

The speed with which the court scheduled the case may reflect its awareness of the opioid problem. The court, they said, will focus narrowly on the liability shield, an increasingly popular, though contentious, bankruptcy tactic. “I’m sure, though, that even if the opioid crisis doesn’t show up anywhere in the opinion, the court has to be bearing in mind that cities, states and individuals have been desperately waiting for these funds. Though numerous pharmaceutical companies have been sued for their roles in the opioid epidemic, the Sacklers and Purdue loom large in the story of the complex, decades-old crisis. The steep fines did little to deter Purdue from continuing to aggressively market OxyContin.

Persons: ”, Adam Zimmerman, OxyContin Organizations: University of Southern California’s Gould School of Law, Purdue, Food and Drug Administration, Sackler

☆ Stephanie Armour — Senior Special Writer, Healthcare Policy at The Wall Street Journal
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-02 | by ( Stephanie Armour | ) www.wsj.com time to read: +1 min

Stephanie ArmourStephanie Armour is a senior special writer for health policy at The Wall Street Journal, where she covers such topics as the Covid-19 pandemic, the Affordable Care Act, Medicaid and Medicare, congressional health legislation, the opioid epidemic, and state health initiatives. A reporter for more than two decades, she has produced award-winning investigative projects on subjects including food safety, body brokering, and human trafficking. Stephanie also has written for Bloomberg and Bloomberg Businessweek, USA Today, The Des Moines Register, and The Daily Tribune in Ames, Iowa. Her journalism awards include a First Place Headliner Award from the Press Club of Atlantic City, a First Place Sigma Delta Chi Award from the Society of Professional Journalists and a First Place in Consumer Journalism Award from the National Press Club. She lives in Washington D.C. and has a degree in English from the University of Minnesota.

Persons: Stephanie Armour Stephanie Armour, Stephanie Organizations: Wall Street, Affordable, Bloomberg, Bloomberg Businessweek, USA, Des Moines Register, The Daily Tribune, Press, Sigma Delta Chi, Society of Professional Journalists, Consumer, National Press, Washington D.C, University of Minnesota Locations: Ames , Iowa, Atlantic City, Washington

☆ The key to solving loneliness and pollution might be giving up cars and hanging out in the street. It's working in Barcelona.
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-01 | by ( Eliza Relman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

Barcelona is a decade into transforming many of its streets into green, car-light public spaces. Earlier this year, the city announced yet another major expansion of the project, with a goal of making a third of city streets green by 2030. And as Americans experience an epidemic of loneliness, a built environment that fosters social connection might be crucial for public health. Making a neighborhood more attractive with more walkable, green streets could mean triggering or speeding up gentrification. More walkable communities with high-quality public spaces are much more expensive to live in, indicating high demand.

Persons: —, Sven Eggimann, Tayana Panova, Jonathan Cohn, who's, Eggimann, pyi2lKhNzc, Billy Fields Organizations: Service, ZHAW School of Architecture, Residents, Urban, Smart Growth Locations: Barcelona, Spanish, Switzerland, New York City, Barcelona's, Vitoria, Europe, Valencia, Manhattan, Francisco, Superblocks

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Tennessee's decades-old aggravated prostitution statute violates the Americans with Disabilities Act, the U.S. Department of Justice announced Friday after an investigation, warning that the state could face a lawsuit if officials don't immediately cease enforcement. LGBTQ+ and civil rights advocates have long criticized the measure as discriminatory, making it almost impossible to find housing and employment due to the restrictions for violent sex offenders. The DOJ letter details several of the struggles of those with aggravated prostitution convictions. A lifetime sex offender registration can stop people from visiting with their grandchildren, revoke job offers, and severely limit housing options. Plaintiffs who had filed a lawsuit seeking to block the aggravated prostitution law in October said the DOJ's letter only further supports their efforts.

Persons: —, ”, Bill Lee, “, Kristen Clarke, Jonathan Skrmetti, David Rausch, Steven Mulroy, it's, Mulroy, ” Brandon James Smith, Skrmetti, “ OUTMemphis, Molly Quinn, OUTMemphis, Adrian Sainz Organizations: U.S . Department of Justice, American Civil Liberties Union, Transgender Law Center, Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, of, DOJ, Associated Press Locations: Tenn, Tennessee, United States, Shelby County, Memphis, Memphis , Tennessee

☆ Madonna Lived to Tell
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-01 | by ( Guy Trebay | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

The account, The AIDS Memorial, is an evolving testament, told in photographs, videos and user stories, to lives lost to a devastating and, it can occasionally seem, forgotten epidemic. To date, Mr. Armstrong has posted more than 11,000 of these tales, and if you are aware of them at all, that may owe to one woman: Madonna. The 65-year-old singer was early among the 269,000 followers of The AIDS Memorial. And, if it did not inspire her outright, the Instagram account served as the basis for a showstopping element of her current “Celebration” tour, which comes to Barclays Center in mid-December. By extension, Madonna’s choice to deploy the montage early in each “Celebration” performance as a backdrop for a rendition of the 1986 song “Live to Tell” is as politically trenchant as it is deeply personal.

Persons: Stuart Armstrong, Armstrong, Sarah Schulman —, —, Martin Burgoyne Organizations: Barclays Center, World Health Organization, The Locations: Edinburgh, York, British

☆ Rita Moreno, 91, says she made a friend at the supermarket so she won't feel lonely
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-01 | by ( Amanda Goh | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Rita Moreno, 91, says she makes friends at the supermarket so she won't feel lonely. The "West Side Story" actor told People about her struggles with loneliness after moving into a new home. AdvertisementRita Moreno says she combats loneliness by making friends at the supermarket. The 91-year-old actor told People that she felt sad and isolated after moving into a new condo. The two have since become friends, Moreno told People.

Persons: Rita Moreno, Moreno, —, " Moreno, Vivek Murthy Organizations: Service

☆ Five senators ask Biden to impose China travel ban after respiratory illness cases
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-01 | by ( David Shepardson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Evelyn Hockstein/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsWASHINGTON, Dec 1 (Reuters) - Five Republican senators led by Marco Rubio on Friday asked President Joe Biden's administration to ban travel between the United States and China after a spike in Chinese respiratory illness cases. In recent months, the United States and China have been steadily increasing flights between the countries, that are still far below 2019 levels. The United States lifted the unprecedented travel restrictions for fully vaccinated international visitors starting in November 2021, including from China. The United States rescinded a separate requirement air travelers test negative before arriving in June 2022. The United States in January started requiring air passengers to get negative COVID tests after Beijing's decision to lift its stringent zero-COVID policies and lifted the requirements in March.

Persons: Joe Biden, Evelyn Hockstein, Marco Rubio, Joe Biden's, Rubio, Maria Van Kerkhove, Donald Trump, David Shepardson, Chizu Organizations: CS, REUTERS, Rights, Republican, Friday, Senate Intelligence, World Health Organization, China, Program, Embassy, Thomson Locations: Pueblo , Colorado, U.S, United States, China, Washington, States

☆ Maker of Wegovy, Ozempic showers money on U.S. obesity doctors
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-01 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +23 min

Novo spent at least $25.8 million over the past decade on U.S. medical professionals to promote its two obesity drugs, Wegovy and Saxenda, the analysis found. Jastreboff has also worked on clinical trials of obesity drugs for Eli Lilly, which markets a Wegovy competitor. Some doctors said Novo’s payments exemplify how the flood of industry money can dominate decision-making about care and coverage. Government pharmacy officer Solaru said her agency concluded that the new obesity drugs could be cost-effective by preventing other weight-related diseases and boosting workplace productivity. In January, the personnel office told its health plans they must cover at least one GLP-1 obesity drug for 8 million workers, retirees and family members.

Persons: Lee Kaplan, Kaplan, ”, gastroenterologist, He’s, Novo, Donna Ryan, Ryan, “, ” Kaplan, ” Novo, Robert Lustig, “ I’m, Lustig, They’re, Ania, ” Jastreboff, Jastreboff, Eli Lilly, Lilly’s Zepbound, Lilly, ” Lilly, Novo’s, Ayana, Sanders, Arthur Kellermann, ” Kellermann, mouthpieces, ’ ”, “ I'm, Jamy Ard, Ard, Dele, ” Solaru, ” Ryan, Scott Kahan, Kahan, Solaru, Christine Gallagher, Wegovy, Rebekah Carl, Carl, Jen Wexler, gaunt, Wexler Organizations: Novo Nordisk, Dartmouth, Nutrition Institute, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Reuters, Cambridge, Obesity Society, U.S ., Management, Reuters . Pharmaceutical, ”, U.S, United, National Health Service, University of California, U.S . Food, Drug Administration, Doctors, Wegovy’s, BMI, Yale University’s Center, Weight Management, Wall Street, American Medical Association, Rutgers University’s School of Public Health, Affordable, . Pharmaceutical, Companies, Uniformed Services University of Health Sciences, Wake Forest University, Wake Forest Baptist Health Weight Management, Obesity, Pennington Biomedical Research, U.S . National Institutes of Health, Personnel Management, Coalition, STOP, George Washington University, Novo Locations: CAMBRIDGE, Massachusetts, Boston, U.S, Novo, Danish, United States, Louisiana, San Francisco, Wegovy, Pennington, Baton Rouge , Louisiana, Government, New Columbia , Pennsylvania, Florida

☆ How Wall Street's Culture Is Contributing to the Loneliness Crisis
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-30 | by ( Emmalyse Brownstein | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +14 min

Wall Street is notorious for its long hours and stressful lifestyle, particularly at the junior level, where grunt work abounds. They'd work hard and play hard, with an enviable social life like in all the Wall Street movies she'd seen. But Wall Street workers say that the nature of finance — the office politics and uniquely competitive cohort — can create a work culture that exacerbates feelings of loneliness. Some of the loneliness comes from this — it's all new, it feels bad, it's scary, and they don't feel like they can talk to anyone. But that doesn't mean people working on Wall Street can't do anything to mitigate their loneliness.

Persons: Madison, They'd, She'd, we'd, Cigna, it's, Wharton, Abbey, Denise Shull, Michael Sloyer, Goldman Sachs, Bumble BFF, Bumble, She's, —, Shull, I've, doesn't, They're, Sam Glazer, It's, Glazer, who's, There's, Goldman Organizations: Hamptons, Business, Wall, Ivy League, Madison, Harvard, NYU, Fifth Avenue Psychiatry Locations: New York City, Madison, Wharton, Yale, Upbuild, New York

☆ WHO Says Gaza's Health System Must Be Protected as Disease Spreads
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-29 | by ( Nov. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +3 min

By Gabrielle Tétrault-FarberGENEVA (Reuters) - The World Health Organization (WHO) on Wednesday called for Gaza's vulnerable health infrastructure to be safeguarded as the war-torn enclave faces an increased risk of epidemics and challenges in detecting infectious diseases. Speaking at a press conference in Geneva, World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said only 15 of Gaza's 36 hospitals were still functioning and were completely overwhelmed. "The remaining health system capacity must be protected, supported and expanded." "With severe overcrowding, the risks are increasing for epidemics of respiratory tract infections, acute watery diarrhoea, hepatitis, scabies, lice and other diseases," Tedros said. "Any resumption of violence could damage the health facilities and make more health facilities dysfunctional," said Richard Peeperkorn, WHO Representative in the Occupied Palestinian Territories.

Persons: Gabrielle Tétrault, Farber, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Tedros, Mike Ryan, Richard Peeperkorn, Linda Pasquini, Christina Fincher Organizations: Farber GENEVA, World Health Organization, WHO, WHO's, West Bank Locations: Israel, Geneva, Gaza, Palestinian Territories

☆ 95-year-old 'Ambassador to Loneliness': If the job that'll make you happy doesn't exist, create it
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-29 | by ( Renée Onque | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

At 95, Dr. Ruth Westheimer is shifting gears from her lengthy, notable career as a sex expert and taking a chance on a new role. The only issue was that an ambassador position for loneliness didn't exist in New York, or any other state for that matter. DON'T MISS: How a job candidate so impressed the Daytime Emmys CEO, he created her a job: ‘We just absolutely loved her’"I still will talk about orgasms," Westheimer told The New York Times. Kathy Hochul to turn the ambassador position for loneliness into a reality, according to The New York Times. She called to ask me to serve as the very first Honorary Ambassador to Loneliness in the nation," Westheimer said.

Persons: Ruth Westheimer, Westheimer, ‘, let's, Kathy Hochul, Hochul, Dr, Ruth, Warren Buffett Organizations: New, Empire State, New York Times, Gov, The New York Times, York Locations: New York

☆ 2 reasons China's mysterious respiratory illness outbreak isn't the new COVID, according to the WHO
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-28 | by ( Kim Schewitz | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Parts of northern China have seen a surge in children with respiratory illnesses. The WHO requested more information from Chinese health officials, who said common bugs are the cause. AdvertisementCases of respiratory illness among children in northern China have surged in recent weeks, but it's unlikely this is the start of a new pandemic, according to the World Health Organization. The WHO has been monitoring an increase in respiratory illness among children in northern China since mid-October. Advertisement2) The illnesses are not caused by a new virusChinese health officials said that the outbreak of respiratory illness is caused by known pathogens.

Persons: —, Maria Van Kerkhove, COVID, Van Kerkhove, François Balloux, Hilary Brueck, pneumoniae Organizations: WHO, Service, World Health Organization, UCL Genetics Institute Locations: China

But 18-24 months later, the acute phase of the adjustment is complete, with energy inventories comfortable and prices reverting towards long-term inflation-adjusted averages. Chartbook: Europe's energy supplies and pricesThere will undoubtedly be more shocks in future, but the disruption associated with the end of the pandemic and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is over. Europe’s residual issue is that it has swapped relatively cheap Russian pipeline gas for relatively expensive LNG, putting its industrial competitiveness at risk, but that is a chronic problem rather than a crisis. OILIn the oil market, U.S. domestic crude and condensates production has continued to increase and surpassed its pre-pandemic peak in August 2023. Related columns:- China braces for record winter electricity demand (November 24, 2023)- Europe’s gas crisis is over, but not the painful adjustment (November 21, 2023)- Oil prices slump as fundamentals reassert themselves (November 9, 2023)- Europe's record gas stocks start to pressure prices (November 7, 2023)John Kemp is a Reuters market analyst.

Persons: John Kemp, Jan Harvey Organizations: U.S, Brent, Thomson, Reuters Locations: Europe, Asia, Ukraine, U.S, Saudi Arabia, Germany, Italy, France, Netherlands, Spain, Belgium, Poland, Northwest Europe, China, Russia, South, East Asia, Brazil

☆ China's respiratory illness surge not as high as pre-pandemic- WHO official
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-27 | by ( Andrew Silver | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

SHANGHAI, Nov 27 (Reuters) - The spike in respiratory illnesses that China is currently going through is not as high as before the COVID-19 pandemic, a World Health Organisation official said, reiterating that no new or unusual pathogens had been found in the recent cases. And the waves that they’re seeing now, the peak is not as high as what they saw in 2018-2019," Van Kerkhove told health news outlet STAT in an interview on Friday. China's National Health Commission spokesperson Mi Feng said on Sunday the surge in acute respiratory illnesses was linked to the simultaneous circulation of several kinds of pathogens, most prominently influenza. The WHO said on Friday no new or unusual pathogens had been found in the recent illnesses. Reporting by Andrew Silver; Editing by Miyoung Kim and Miral FahmyOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Maria Van Kerkhove, Van Kerkhove, Mi Feng, Andrew Silver, Miyoung Kim Organizations: Health, World Health Organization, China, Program, WHO, Thomson Locations: SHANGHAI, China, Wuhan

☆ Lessons on loneliness from people living life on the road
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-27 | by ( Monica Humphries | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +15 min

Monica Humphries/InsiderPeople living life on the road know what it's like to be isolated. In a country facing a loneliness epidemic, there are lessons to learn from nomads like Schaffer living on the road. Van Life CampgroundsParinger realized he was missing a sense of community after a couple of years of living in a van. In 2019, he bought land in Joshua Tree, California, which became the first location for Van Life Campgrounds. Others living on the road agreed that their online community has been a huge support in tackling loneliness.

Persons: they've, —, Maddy Garrett's, Ford Transit —, Tracey Tischler, van, Monica Humphries, it's, Christian Schaffer, Schaffer, Joshua, Shahira, Navod McNeil, Instagram McNeil, couldn't, Aidan Paringer's, Paringer, Ellaboudy, Phyllis Grover, Grover, Casey Hogan, Instagram Casey Hogan, Zach Nelson, he's, It's, Aidan Paringer, Garrett, Maddy Garrett, @whoa_maddy_actually_, ProMaster, Fernald, Sierra Fernald, Brittany Newson, Instagram Newson, haven't, Tischler, Nelson, Newson, FaceTimes Organizations: Business, Service, Subaru, Ford Transit, Ford, van, Benz, Facebook, Fire, YouTube Locations: Colorado and Utah, Texas, New Mexico, Utah, Joshua Tree , California, Dallas, Van, Mexico , Oregon, Washington, Nevada, I'm, Fernald, Zion, Instagram, California

☆ China ministry seeks more fever clinics to combat respiratory illness surge
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-26 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Parents take their children to see a doctor at the pediatric emergency department of a hospital in Shanghai, China, November 14, 2023. Recently, Shanghai seasonal change, A influenza and mycoplasma pneumonia high incidence. China's health ministry on Sunday urged local authorities to increase the number of fever clinics as the country grapples with a surge in respiratory illnesses in its first full winter since easing COVID-19 restrictions. National Health Commission spokesperson Mi Feng said on Sunday the surge in acute respiratory illnesses was linked to the simultaneous circulation of several kinds of pathogens, most prominently influenza. Cases among children are appearing especially high in northern areas like Beijing and Liaoning province, where hospitals are warning of long waits.

Persons: Mi Feng, Mi Organizations: Sunday, World Health Organization, China, Program, WHO, Health, State Council, State Locations: Shanghai, China, Wuhan, Beijing, Liaoning province

Among his sexual contacts, five later tested positive for mpox, WHO said. “This is the first definitive proof of sexual transmission of monkeypox in Africa,” Oyewale Tomori, a Nigerian virologist who sits on several WHO advisory groups, said. The agency described the recent mpox outbreak as “unusual” and said it highlighted the risk the disease could spread widely among sexual networks. Those figures are roughly double the mpox toll in 2020, making it Congo's biggest-ever outbreak, WHO said. “Sexual transmission of monkeypox is likely established here, but (gay) communities are hiding it because of the draconian (anti-LGBTQ+) laws in several countries,” he added.

Persons: Oyewale, Mpox, Virologist Tomori, ”, Tomori Organizations: World Health Organization, WHO, Associated Press Health, Science Department, Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science, Educational Media Group, AP Locations: Congo, Belgium, Africa, Nigerian, Europe, Kinshasa, South Kivu, North America

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