Friday 31 May 2019

Dangote Still Most Admired African Brand in Fresh Survey… For The Second Year Consecutively

Just last year Dangote brand was named the most valuable brand among the top 50 brands in Nigeria for 2018 by Brand Nigeria.

LAGOS, Nigeria, May 31, 2019/ -- Dangote Group (https://Dangote.com/), from Nigeria has for the second year emerged as the most admired African brand, of African continent origin, by consumers ahead of the telecommunication giant, MTN in a survey of 100 Africa best brands announced in Johannesburg at the weekend.


According to the South Africa based Brand Africa in a survey carried out in collaboration with the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE), the seventh edition which was released at the weekend, of 15,000 brands mentioned, Dangote ranked first brand when consumers are prompted to recall the most admired African brand.

In the top 100 list, the United State sports and fitness mega brand, Nike, a non-African brand retains the overall number one brand in Africa spontaneously recalled by consumers. South African telecoms brand MTN is the number one African brand spontaneously recalled brand, while surging Ethiopian brand Anbessa Shoes, at number two, swopped positions with Nigerian conglomerate, Dangote, which is the number three most admired brand of African of origin.

However, when consumers are prompted to recall the most admired African brand, Dangote retains the number one position. Just last year Dangote brand was named the most valuable brand among the top 50 brands in Nigeria for 2018 by Brand Nigeria.

Further analysis of the ranking indicates that Overall, the 2018/19 Brand Africa 100 list, which is calculated from 15,000 brand mentions illustrates a very diversified range of brands in Africa and shows year on year consistency with 80 per cent of the top 100 brands having been in the top 100 Most Admired Brands in previous years.

Overall, African brands faltered to an all-time low 14 percent share of the top 100 most admired brands in Africa. However, MTN (South Africa), Dangote (Nigeria) and Safaricom (Kenya) are the most admired highest listed brands on sub-Sahara’s leading bourses, the JSE, Nigeria Stock Exchange and Nairobi Securities Exchange respectively.

Faced with a relentless focus on the African opportunity and investment by non-African brands, Africa’s share of the most admired brands has been rapidly declining over the past three years from a high of 25 percent in 2013/14 to lows of 16 percent in 2015/16, 16 percent in 2016/17 and 17 percent in 2017/18.

“Today at the JSE, at an event with industry leaders from across Africa, hosted by the JSE in partnership with Geopoll, Kantar and Brand Leadership, Brand Africa announced the Top 100 brands in Africa in their 7th annual Brand Africa 100:  Africa’s Best Brands. Nike, MTN, Dangote, Ecobank and BBC were recognised as the most admired brands on the continent.”, a statement from the Brand Africa read.

“Non-African brands have entrenched their positions in Africa, with North American brands, dominated exclusively by United States of America brands (28%), leading with a growth of 17% versus 2017/8.  The strength of USA brands was boosted by the entry and/or re-entry of stalwart American brands such as number 71 Levi’s, number 91 Chevrolet and Pepsi’s Miranda at number 80, who are all among the 20 new entrants.  European brands (41%) are up by 2,5% and Asian brands (17%) down by 10%, round up the continental spread of brands Africans admire.

The Brand Africa 100 rankings are based on a survey among a representative sample of respondents 18 years and older, conducted in 25 countries across Africa.  Covering all African economic regions, collectively these countries account for an estimated 80% of the continent’s population and 75% of the GDP.

In a reconfigured category listing where technology and electronics and telecoms categories were separated and new categories of luxury and personal care were introduced or re-introduced, the Top 100 is dominated by technology and electronic brands (18%) and telecoms (7%), consumer (non-cyclical) (16%), auto manufacturers (11%), luxury (10%), automobile (11%), apparel (8%), retail (7%), food (4%), non-alcoholic beverages (5%), personal care (4%), sports & fitness (4%) and media (1%) categories are the top categories.

Thebe Ikalafeng, Founder and Chairman of Brand Africa and Brand Leadership said of the outcome of survey “It is disappointing that despite its vibrant entrepreneurial environment, Africa is not creating new competitive brands to meet the needs of its growing consumer market.

“These rankings are an important metric of and challenge for creating home-grown competitive African brands that will transform the African promise and change its narrative and image as a competitive continent.  African brands have an important role in helping to build the African brand”, he added.

Brand Africa 100 was developed by pan-African branding and reputation advisory firm, Brand Leadership Group supported by GeoPoll, the leader in mobile-based market research throughout Africa, and strategic analysis and insights by Kantar TNS, the world’s leading data, insights and consulting company.

It is an inter-generational movement to inspire a great Africa through promoting a positive image of Africa, celebrating its diversity and driving its competitiveness. It is a brand-led movement which recognizes that in the 21st century, brands are an asset and a vector of image, reputation and competitiveness of nations. Brand Africa seeks to inspire a brand-led African renaissance.

Its ranking of Africa’s 100 Best Brands is an initiative to survey, rank and recognize the best brands in Africa in recognition of the growth of African brands, which were beginning to challenge global brands in Africa or lead global brands in new categories such as telecommunications. The aim of Brand Africa is to identify, acknowledge and promote African and global brands that are catalysts for Africa’s growth, reputation and value.

In his reaction, Group Chief Corporate Communication Officer of the Dangote Group, Anthony Chiejina said the management was not unexpected of the ranking because  the company has along standing reputation for quality, relevance compliance and social stewardship. "Our mission and vision engage and inspire us to by extension connects us to with both our internal and external stakeholders.

"We fervently believe that only Africans can develop Africa, and this gives us stronger sense of relevance  in all the countries where we have our operations. we are touching lives by providing their basic needs and empowering Africans more than ever before creating jobs reducing capital flight, helping government conserve foreign exchange drain by supporting different industrial infrastructural projects of African government."

Mr. Chiejina stated further that Dangote Cement has been producing high quality and affordable cement, reducing poverty, engaging in unprecedented philanthropy and above all respecting the laws of the land where we operate. "All these are our credo and we do not compromise it, it is our way. And the ranking is just an acknowledgement of all these by our stakeholders, We keep our brand promise and stay authentic." he concluded.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Dangote Group.

SOURCE
Dangote Group


Sent from Samsung tablet.

Should President Akufo-Addo Rid Himself Of The Top Echelons Of All The Entities That Make Up Ghana's National Security Apparatus, Immediately?

Why has the Emile Short Commission's report still not been made public, one wonders? An old wag I know proffered an answer: " Kofi, please note that the fact that the Emile Short Commission report has still not been published, after so many months,  by even a well-focused government, such as that led by a serious-minded leader like President Akufo-Addo, illustrates perfectly,  how powerful the criminal elements that control our  system from the shadows, still  are, despite Akufo-Addo's  reformist instincts. "  Hmmmm, Oman Ghana - eyeasem o: asem kesie ebeba debi ankasa.

Be that as it may, it is pretty obvious to even an old fool like Kofi Thompson,  that those at the presidency  whose job it is to ensure that President  Akufo-Addo reads and  accepts all the recommendations of the Emile Short Commission,  and  orders  its  immediate publication for Ghanaian society to be able to read the entirety of its contents too, have failed to serve the well-meaning leader, who gave them the opportunity to serve their country and its people. They must all be sacked.

Unfortunately, because our national security apparatus has been hijacked by criminals, who are busy packing it with thugs and myrmidons even as we speak - mostly vile rogues previously in the employ of private militias owned by NPP hardliners such as the so-called Delta Force and the Invincible  Forces - the president does not seem to be aware of the actual level of indiscipline afflicting Ghanaian society today. Pity.

If he did, why would a shrewd leader like President Akufo-Addo not understand clearly, the vital need for his administration  to quickly restore professionalism in the security agencies, particularly the secret services meant to protect the Republic of Ghana - and take the first steps in that regard,  by immediately publishing the Emile Short Commission's report, and accepting all its recommendations:  and move swiftly  to implement all of them?

That the president does not seem to understand the extend of the erosion of the moral fabric of Ghanaian society, which is fueling the indiscipline amongst our younger generations nationwide,  is an indictment of Bryan Acheampong
& Co - all of  whom must, to a man,  be regarded by every patriotic Ghanaian who cares about the stability of their nation, as treacherous traitors who ought to tried for treason. Perhaps those who say that it is typical of the NPP that a man who might, or might not be, a CIA agent, is a national security minister in Nkrumah's Ghana,  are right in the assumption they make? 

Finally, for all the reasons outlined above, President Akufo-Addo  must rid himself of the top echelons of all the entities that make up Ghana's national security apparatus.  They have failed Ghanaians and their nation terribly. We rest our case.

Care2Healthy Living Care2Healthy Living/Michelle Schoffro Cook: Eat This Food to Lower Your Blood Pressure tweet

Care2Healthy Living                                              Eat This Food to Lower Your Blood Pressure
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    By: Michelle Schoffro Cook
    May 30, 2019

Move over ACE inhibitors, beta blockers and calcium channel blockers. There’s an exciting new research-proven way to lower high blood pressure.

New research in the Journal of the American Heart Association found that eating more walnuts can significantly lower high blood pressure. In the study, researchers found that the combination of adding more walnuts while also reducing saturated fats, was an effective way to reduce high blood pressure.

Walnuts are excellent sources of heart-healthy Omega 3 fatty acids as well as other heart-healing compounds known as polyphenols. Just one quarter cup of walnuts contains 2700 mg of Omega 3s, which is more than most other foods that contain these powerful, anti-inflammatory and healing fats.

Walnuts also contain plentiful amounts of vitamin E; however, unlike most foods that contain this valuable nutrient, walnuts are unique in that their vitamin E content is in the form of gamma-tocopherol, rather than alpha-tocopherol, which is superior for heart and blood vessel health. Additionally, research in the medical journal Circulation found that Omega 3 fatty acids like those found in walnuts can even help to heal the heart and reverse some of the damage caused by a heart attack.

High blood pressure, or hypertension as it is known in the medical community, affects almost one-third of Americans. The condition involves excessive amounts of force exerted on the arteries as blood is pumped through, potentially damaging the blood vessels and organs.

Blood pressure has two measurements, known as systolic and diastolic pressure. Systolic measures the maximum pressure exerted in the arteries as the heart contracts while diastolic measures the minimum pressure in the blood vessels between heart contractions. Systolic pressure is considered normal if it is between 90 and 120 while diastolic pressure should be between 60 and 80.


Side-Effects of Common Blood Pressure Medications

Some of the most common side-effects of blood pressure medications include:

ACE Inhibitors: a dry cough, excessive reductions in blood pressure, headaches, dizziness, fainting and reduced kidney function.

Beta Blockers: dizziness, weakness, fatigue, fainting, shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, chest pain.

Calcium Channel Blockers: swelling of the ankles and extremities, flushing, dizziness, heartburn and nausea.

Blood pressure medications should not be stopped suddenly or without your doctor’s approval, as doing so can sometimes result in heart attacks.


How to Reap the Benefits of Walnuts for High Blood Pressure

It’s important to add walnuts to your diet while also reducing the amount of saturated fat in your diet to help reduce high blood pressure. Saturated fat is found in most animal foods such as beef, pork, processed meats, bacon, sausage, cheese and other dairy products, to name a few.

Many people have told me over the years that they can’t stand the taste of walnuts. However, most people have only ever eaten the bitter, rancid walnuts found in most grocery stores, not fresh walnuts found in the refrigerator section of health food stores. Fresh walnuts have a sweet flavor and buttery texture that is nothing like their rancid counterparts. Before you write-off walnuts, be sure to try fresh, refrigerated ones.

Fresh, raw walnuts make a great addition to salads, atop yogurt or bowl of fruit, chopped and added to quinoa or rice salads, or chopped and added to previously-cooked vegetable dishes. You can add a handful of walnuts to smoothies or even make a fermented cheese from them by soaking a cup of walnuts in half a cup of water, along with the contents of a capsule of probiotics, and leave them overnight to culture (Check out my book The Cultured Cook to learn more). Then, blend them with any flavor additions until it forms a smooth cheese. And, of course you can just snack on a handful of walnuts on their own or tossed in a little walnut oil and spices, or eat them alongside dried fruit.
Related Stories:

    11 Surprising Reasons to Eat More Walnuts
    How Walnuts Transform Your Gut Health
    11 Foods to Eat if You Have High Blood Pressure



Dr. Michelle Schoffro Cook, PhD, DNM shares her food growing, cooking, preserving, and other food self-sufficiency adventures at FoodHouseProject.com. She is the publisher of the free e-newsletter World’s Healthiest News and an international best-selling and 20-time published book author whose works include: The Cultured Cook: Delicious Fermented Foods with Probiotics to Knock Out Inflammation, Boost Gut Health, Lose Weight & Extend Your Life. Follow her work.


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22 comments
Ruth Sjust now

Thanks.
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Ruth Sjust now

Thanks.
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Joan E27 minutes ago

Way to go, walnuts.
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Hui S29 minutes ago

thanks for sharing!
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Mike R1 hours ago

Thanks
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mmmm w2 hours ago

walnuts can be added to all kinds of foods, but do check with your doc for any med changes and monitor your b/p yourself
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David C2 hours ago

NEVER STOP BLOOD PRESSURE MEDICINES W/OUT CLOSE MONITORING BY A DOCTOR....DON'T JUST TAKE THE WORD OF A BIASED NUTRITIONIST.....although I do love walnuts
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David C2 hours ago

thanks
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Christine V3 hours ago

I agree with Carol S.
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Lisa M3 hours ago

Thanks.
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Investopedia/James Chen: What are Donchian Channels?

Investopedia                                                   Trading                                                             Trading Strategy
Donchian Channels Definition
Reviewed by James Chen
Updated Apr 22, 2019
What are Donchian Channels?

Donchian Channels are three lines generated by moving average calculations that comprise an indicator formed by upper and lower bands around a mid-range or median band. The upper band marks the highest price of a security over N periods while the lower band marks the lowest price of a security over N periods. The area between the upper and lower bands represents the Donchian Channel. Career futures trader Richard Donchian developed the indicator in the mid-twentieth century to help him identify trends. He would later be nicknamed "The Father of Trend Following".
TradingView.
Key Takeaways

    The indicator seeks to identify bullish and bearish extremes that favor reversals as well as breakouts, breakdowns and emerging trends, higher and lower.
    The middle band simply computes the average between the highest high over N periods and lowest low over N periods, identifying a median or mean reversion price.

The Formula for Donchian Channels is1. Upper Channel = Highest High in Last N periods2. Middle Channel = Highest High in Last N periods−Lowest Low in Last N periods23. Lower Channel = Lowest Low in Last N periodswhere:N=Number of Minutes, Hours, Days, Weeks, MonthsPeriod=Minutes, Hours, Days, Weeks, Months\begin{aligned} &\text{\small 1. Upper Channel = Highest High in Last }N\text{ periods}\\ &\text{\small 2. Middle Channel = }\dfrac{\text{\small Highest High in Last }N \text{ periods}-\text{Lowest Low in Last }N\text{ periods}}{2}\\ &\text{\small 3. Lower Channel = Lowest Low in Last }N\text{ periods}\\ &\textbf{\small where:}\\ &N=\text{\small Number of Minutes, Hours, Days, Weeks, Months}\\ &\text{\small Period}=\text{\small Minutes, Hours, Days, Weeks, Months}\\ \end{aligned}​1. Upper Channel = Highest High in Last N periods2. Middle Channel = 2
Highest High in Last N periods−Lowest Low in Last N periods​3. Lower Channel = Lowest Low in Last N periodswhere:N=Number of Minutes, Hours, Days, Weeks, MonthsPeriod=Minutes, Hours, Days, Weeks, Months​
How To Calculate Donchian Channels

Channel High:

    Choose time period (N minutes/hours/days/weeks/months).
    Compare the high print for each minute, hour, day, week or month over that period.
    Choose the highest print.
    Plot the result.

Channel Low:

    Choose time period (N minutes/hours/days/weeks/months).
    Compare the low print for each minute, hour, day, week or month over that period.
    Choose the lowest print.
    Plot the result.

Center Channel:

    Choose time period (N minutes/hours/days/weeks/months).
    Compare high and low prints for each minute, hour, day, week or month over that period.
    Subtract the highest high print from lowest low print and divide by 2.
    Plot the result.

What Do Donchian Channels Tell You?

Donchian Channels identify comparative relationships between current price and trading ranges over predetermined periods. Three values build a visual map of price over time, similar to Bollinger Bands, indicating the extent of bullishness and bearishness for the chosen period. The top line identifies the extent of bullish energy, highlighting the highest price achieved for the period through the bull-bear conflict. The center line identifies the median or mean reversion price for the period, highlighting the middle ground achieved for the period through the bull-bear conflict. The bottom line identifies the extent of bearish energy, highlighting the lowest price achieved for the period through the bull-bear conflict.
Example of How To Use Donchian Channels
What are Donchian Channels?

In this example, the Donchian Channel is the shaded area bounded by the upper green line and the lower red line, both of which use 20 days as the band construction (N) periods. As price moves up to its highest point in the last 20 days or more, the price bars “push” the green line higher and as price goes down to its lowest point in 20 days or more, the price bars “push” the red line lower. When price decreases for 20 days from a high, the green line will be horizontal and then start dropping. Conversely, when price rises from a low for 20 days, the red line will be horizontal for 20 days and then start rising.
The Difference Between Donchian Channels and Bollinger Bands

Donchian Channels plot the highest high and lowest low over N periods while Bollinger Bands plot a simple moving average (SMA) for N periods plus/minus the standard deviation of price for N periods X 2. This results in a more balanced calculation that reduces the impact of big high or low prints.
Limitations of Using Donchian Channels

Markets move according to many cycles of activity. An arbitrary or commonly used N period value for Donchian Channels may not reflect current market conditions, generating false signals that can undermine trading and investment performance.
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Related Terms
Keltner Channel Definition and Tactics
A Keltner Channel is a set of bands placed above and below an asset's price. The bands are based on volatility and can aid in determining trend direction and provide trade signals.
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Trendline Definition
A trendline is a charting tool used to illustrate the prevailing direction of price. Trendlines are created by connecting highs or lows to represent support and resistance.
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True Strength Index (TSI) Definition and Uses
The true strength index (TSI) is a technical momentum oscillator used to provide trade signals based on overbought/oversold levels, crossovers, and divergence. The indicator is based on double-smoothed averages of price changes.
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Triple Bottom
A triple bottom is a bullish chart pattern used in technical analysis that is characterized by three equal lows followed by a breakout above resistance.
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Morning Star
A morning star is a bullish candlestick pattern in a price chart. It consists of three candles and is generally seen as a sign of a potential recovery following a downtrend.
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Chikou Span (Lagging Span) Definition and Uses
The Chikou span is a component of the Ichimoku Kinko Hyo indicator. It is created by plotting closing prices 26 periods in the past. It helps highlight the trend and indicate potential trend reversals.
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The Guardian/Rory Carroll: Ex-head of British army denies Ballymurphy killings cover-up

The Guardian
Northern Ireland

Northern Ireland
Ex-head of British army denies Ballymurphy killings cover-up

Gen Sir Mike Jackson tells inquest he has no explanation for apparent lack of serious investigation

Rory Carroll Ireland correspondent
@rorycarroll72

Thu 30 May 2019 19.24 BST
Last modified on Fri 31 May 2019 00.05 BST

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Relatives of those who died on Bloody Sunday and in Ballymurphy embrace outside court in Belfast

The former head of the British army has denied there was a cover-up after soldiers shot dead 10 people in the so-called Ballymurphy massacre, one of the most controversial episodes of the Troubles in Northern Ireland.
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Gen Sir Mike Jackson told a coroner’s inquest in Belfast on Thursday that he had no explanation for the apparent lack of a serious investigation in the aftermath of the killings but said the military had nothing to hide. “We don’t do conspiracies,” he said.
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He gave his testimony in a courtroom packed with relatives of those who were killed in Ballymurphy, a neighbourhood in west Belfast, in a tumultuous 36-hour period in August 1971. The dead included Joan Connolly, a mother of eight who was shot in the face, and Fr Hugh Mullan, a Catholic priest shot while giving last rites to a wounded man.

No guns were recovered from Ballymuphy. Relatives say the dead were innocent civilians who were later smeared as terrorists to justify a rampage by paratroopers.

Jackson was at that time a captain in the parachute regiment and was deployed to quell disturbances in Ballymurphy. He later rose up the ranks and became chief of the general staff before retiring in 2006.

In his testimony the 75-year-old reiterated the official version of events: that troops waged a fierce gun battle with the IRA in Ballymurphy. He said he heard the “distinctive thumping noise” of a Thompson submachine gun, a weapon of choice for the “enemy”. “I have absolutely no doubt that the IRA were firing on soldiers and soldiers were firing on the IRA.”

Jackson rejected a suggestion that the military sought to hush up a brutal effort to intimidate the local population. “It is a preposterous accusation to make which would require a huge number of people to be part of,” he said. “It simply does not add up.”

He said it was hard to describe the chaos and conceded there might have been a “breakdown” in military procedures to record use of force: “It may be that the whole system was overwhelmed by the mayhem of that week, I don’t know.”

Jackson’s appearance in the Laganside courtroom, separated by three miles and almost half a century from events in Ballymurphy, drew a rapt audience in the public gallery.

“This is a big day for us,” said Maura McGee, 57. She was nine when she lost her mother, Joan Connolly. “They left Mummy out in the field for hours. She bled to death,” she said.

Gerard Teggart, 61, was 13 when his father Daniel Teggart was killed. He said he had attended each day of the inquest, which began last November. “I hope this general has the decency to tell the truth,” he said.

Other former soldiers have in recent weeks given conflicting testimony. Some have repeated the version in which there was a firefight that killed IRA members and caught civilians in crossfire.

In contrast, a former corporal, identified by the code M597, said some paratroopers were “out of control” and “psychopaths” who considered anything that moved a legitimate target.

Violent protests flared across Northern Ireland on 9 August 1971 when troops started rounding up republicans who were to be interned without trial. Hundreds of homes were destroyed and thousands fled across the border.

A 2014 Guardian article and interactive map that reconstructed events in Ballymurphy found that residents erected barricades and clashed with Protestants in neighbouring Springmartin. Youths threw stones and petrol bombs. A small number of shots appeared to have been fired.

Some residents were fleeing when soldiers started shooting into the Catholic area, firing so many rounds they ran low on ammunition. Soldiers “were on a high”, according to one paratrooper’s memoir.

There were no camera crews were around during the killings, leaving the events largely overlooked by the outside world, unlike Bloody Sunday in Derry, which unfolded months later.

Jackson told the inquest he was probably the unnamed captain who referred to Ballymurphy’s first two fatalities as “gunmen” in an interview with the Belfast Telegraph. He heard but did not see shooting and likely was repeating information from comrades, he said, adding: “In retrospect, of course I should have said ‘alleged’.”

He offered sympathies to the relatives of the 10 dead. “It’s a tragedy which is hugely regrettable, but I would also say that anybody who loses their lives as a result of violent conflict is also a tragedy. I too have lost friends, so be it.”
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    British army
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more on this story

    Amnesty should be given to Troubles soldiers, says Mordaunt
    15 May 2019
    Amnesty should be given to Troubles soldiers, says Mordaunt
    Up to 200 ex-soldiers and police facing Troubles investigations
    25 Apr 2019
    Up to 200 ex-soldiers and police facing Troubles investigations
    Relatives of Bloody Sunday victims hope long wait for justice could be over
    13 Mar 2019
    Relatives of Bloody Sunday victims hope long wait for justice could be over
    Prosecutors explain Bloody Sunday murder charges against 'Soldier F'
    14 Mar 2019
    Prosecutors explain Bloody Sunday murder charges against 'Soldier F'

        Bloody Sunday trial will test limits of justice in Northern Ireland
        14 Mar 2019
        Bloody Sunday trial will test limits of justice in Northern Ireland
        Group calling itself IRA says it sent five bombs to British targets
        12 Mar 2019
        Group calling itself IRA says it sent five bombs to British targets

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The Driven/Bridie Schmidt: Why there may be more than 1 billion electric flying taxi flights by 2030

The Driven

2 Comments
Why there may be more than 1 billion electric flying taxi flights by 2030
Posted on May 30, 20193 minute read           Bridie Schmidt

Marcus Parentis, the head of the technology team at Bosch in charge of the control units behind the electric light aircraft. Source: Bosch
Marcus Parentis, the head of the technology team at Bosch in charge of the control units behind the electric light aircraft. Source: Bosch

Don’t look now, but in a decade the skies above our head in big cities might be getting busy – with air-borne commuters. According to some predictions, there could be more than one billion electric air taxi flights completed across the world by 2030, in an industry predicted to be worth more than $2 trillion.

The potential 1 billion electric air taxi flights by 2030 is predicted by Boston Consulting Group, which points to increased traffic congestion that will force electric transport off the ground and into the skies.

Air taxis – such as Lilium’s all-electric 5-seater praised by Tesla CEO and founder Elon Musk last week – are set to start testing in locations such as Dubai, Los Angeles and Singapore next year, and may be operating in other major cities within 4 years.

However, they face major challenges in obtaining regulatory approvals, as well as the infrastructure and sensors to ensure they fly safely in a low altitude environment. Some major companies are already climbing on board.

“The first flying taxis are set to take off in major cities starting in 2023, at the latest. Bosch plans to play a leading role in shaping this future market,” said Harald Kröger, president of the Bosch Automotive Electronics division in a statement issued by the company.

The potential for the air taxi market, according to financial services firm Morgan Stanley, could reach up to 1.35 trillion euros ($A2.2 trillion) by 2040, and Bosch believes the potential for its sensors is significant.
Source: Bosch
Source: Bosch

Marcus Parentis, the head of Bosch’s technology team says that a sensor box being developed by his team could provide a solution for air taxis at a fraction of the cost of current sensors built for the aerospace field.

Created from components the tech giant already has in its stable of automotive components, Bosch’s “universal control unit” is intended to be used in air taxis, effectively “teaching cars to fly”.

“Through our Bosch solution, we aim to make civil aviation with flying taxis affordable for a wide range of providers,” says Parentis.

From a technical perspective, the box – known as a MEMS, which stands for microelectromechanical systems – contains numerous sensors that in cars are used to sense acceleration and direction of travel.

The MEMS box for air taxis created by Bosch goes further, with sensors to measure aeronautical aspects such as yaw, pitch and roll, while magnetic sensors monitor compass headings.
Source: Bosch
Source: Bosch

Parentis says that discussions with possible users of the technology has been positive.

“We are talking to air taxi manufacturers from the aerospace and automotive industries, as well as with start-ups that build air vehicles and are looking to provide sharing services,” Parentis says.

For those who doubt the viability of taxis flying through metropolis aerospace, Parentis says the potential to ease commute times and congestion will ensure the place of air taxis as a future transport mode.

“Compared to today’s means of transportation, flying taxis save time on trips of 10 kilometres or more, with a maximum range of up to 300 kilometers,” Parentis says.

“The question isn’t whether flying taxis will become reality, but when.”

See also the latest episode of The Driven podcast for an interview with Simon Hackett, the owner of one of two electric planes in Australia, and his views on the future of electric flight.
Bridie Schmidt
Bridie Schmidt

Bridie Schmidt is staff writer for The Driven, and Renew Economy. She specialises in writing about new technology, as well as using her technical skills in managing our websites.
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The Driven/Bridie Schmidt: Tesla says Made-in-China Model 3 will be $10,000 cheaper


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Tesla says Made-in-China Model 3 will be $10,000 cheaper

    Posted on May 31, 20193 minute readBridie Schmidt

model 3 china
Source: Twitter/vincent13031925

Tesla China has revealed pricing and specifications for its locally made, upgraded version of its base Model 3 electric sedan, adding the new made-in-China vehicle to its website on Friday morning and confirming a delivery schedule.

While it was expected that the made-in-China version of the Standard Range Plus (SRP) vehicle would be cheaper than its US version, the question was how much.  And now it can be confirmed there is a significant price difference, equating to $A10,000 cheaper.

As can be seen on Tesla’s Chinese Model 3 page, the US-made SRP Model 3 is ¥377,000 ($A79,000 at today’s rates), whereas the Chinese version in only ¥328,000 ($68,800 at today’s rates).

It has the same specs as the USA-made version – 460km range (NEDC cycle), top speed of 225km.hr and acceleration to 0-100km/hr in 5.6 seconds.


Source: Tesla China
Source: Tesla China

The updated order page with pricing was noted online by Chinese-based Tesla fan Vincent, who has reported previously on Tesla developments in China via Twitter.

However, as Vincent points out, for those wanting to take advantage of the cheaper pricing, there will be a long wait.

Production cannot start just yet because Tesla’s Shanghai Gigafactory 3 is still in its final stages of completion.

A recent flyover of the nearly finished Gigafactory, the land for which was bought just over half a year ago for a price tag of $5 billion, shows the EV maker’s first overseas EV general assembly plant looking all but finished, with some roof areas still to be completed.

A recent job seeker event in Lingang to staff the Shanghai Gigafactory also indicates the opening of the factory can’t be too far off.

Meanwhile, in Australia, reservation holders are still (sometimes not-so) patiently awaiting go live for the Model 3’s online order page, and of course the all-important pricing for Australia.

But what will the cheaper made-in-China SRP pricing mean for Australia?

It’s well known that the higher pricing of electric vehicles in Australia is a huge barrier for many who want to transition to cheaper-to-run, zero emissions transport.

Before Autopilot was made standard on all Tesla vehicles last month, it was thought that the Mdoel 3 in Australia could cost as little as $A60,000 – still expensive as far as cars go but on the lower end of electric vehicle pricing.

As noted last week, Tesla Australia has only applied for certification for two models under the Australian RVCS scheme – the more expensive Long Range and the Performance versions, it is understood.

Only one right hand drive market, the UK,  is currently taking orders for the Model 3, and those are made in the US.

But with Australia’s proximity to China, is it possible that Tesla are waiting to price out RHD made-in-China Model 3s?

If only the Performance and Long Range versions are available here, drivers are likely looking at well in excess of $A90,000 for a Model 3, whereas a US-made SRP Model 3 (based on this handy pricing estimator from aspiring Model 3 owner Alexei Watson) could be as little as $A72,000.

If even only the reduced cost of transport from China were taken into account (we are waiting confirmation of what this might amount to), could Australians be looking again at just under $A70,000 for the cheapest available Model 3? Time will tell.
Bridie Schmidt
Bridie Schmidt

Bridie Schmidt is staff writer for The Driven, and Renew Economy. She specialises in writing about new technology, as well as using her technical skills in managing our websites.
Check out our Models pages for news and analysis, reviews and road trips on this and all EV models currently or soon to be available in Australia.
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Largest Study to Date Shows Promising Benefits of Exercise to Prevent Tumors
Written by Dr. Joseph Mercola Fact Checked

    May 31, 2019

benefits of exercise to prevent tumors
Story at-a-glance -

    Recent research shows people with the best cardiorespiratory fitness had a 77% reduced risk of lung cancer and a 61% decreased risk of colorectal cancer; they also had a reduced risk of death if they were diagnosed with lung or colorectal cancer
    Further in vitro research found high intensity interval training may help reduce the number of colon cancer cells and is a strong predictor of all-cause mortality and cardiovascular disease
    Factors that may influence colorectal health include frequent use of antibiotics, which increases the inflammatory response and the risk of cancer, and protecting the health of beneficial bacteria in your gut microbiome that produce propionic acid, which protect the epithelial cells of the gastrointestinal tract
    Other benefits of exercise include improved mood and mental health, improved cognitive function, slowed aging and reduced risk of chronic illnesses

Cancer is at epidemic proportions around the world. According to the American Cancer Society,1 more than 1.7 million new cancer cases are expected to be diagnosed and 606,880 Americans are expected to die in 2019. This means 1,662 people will die every day. This number of deaths is exceeded only by heart disease.

The American Cancer Society estimates that in 2019 lung cancer and colorectal cancer will be in the top three leading causes of death from cancer and be leading sites of new cancers in men and women.2 Although you sometimes hear the terms colon cancer and colorectal cancer used interchangeably, they are different.

Colorectal cancers include those occurring in the colon and rectum, while colon cancers occur only in the large intestine. Cancers in the anus are classified separately as they arise from different cell types and have different characteristics.3

The American Cancer Society4 finds the rates of lung cancer will vary by state, reflecting differences in smoking prevalence. Men and women who smoke are 25 times more likely to develop lung cancer than nonsmokers. An estimated 228,150 new cases of lung cancer will be diagnosed in 2019.

Although the rate of death has declined, 81% of lung cancer deaths are still caused by smoking in the U.S. Lifestyle factors and environmental toxins are a large percentage of the reason cancer develops. According to researchers, 90% to 95% of all cancers have their roots in environment and lifestyle, including smoking, diet, alcohol, environmental pollutants and physical inactivity.5

A recent study from the Henry Ford Health System in Detroit, Michigan, and Johns Hopkins School of Medicine found the fittest adults have the lowest risk of lung and colorectal cancers.6
Exercise Reduces Risk of Lung and Colorectal Cancer

According to the researchers, the relationship between cardiorespiratory fitness and colorectal and lung cancer outcomes had not been well-established. They performed a study7 on 49,143 individuals who had been referred for an exercise stress test between 1991 and 2009. At the time of the stress test, the individuals did not have cancer and were between 40 and 70 years old.

The participants had their cardiorespiratory fitness measured in metabolic equivalents of task (METs). The results were then categorized into four levels, METs less than 6, 6 to 9, 10 to 11 and greater than 12. The researchers gained information about cancer diagnoses through the cancer registry and information about all-cause mortality from the National Death index.8

The researchers followed up with the participants and adjusted the data for age, race, sex, body mass index and diabetes. At a median follow-up of 7.7 years, the highest fitness category, those with a METs measurement greater than 12, had a 77% reduced risk of lung cancer and a 61% decrease risk of colorectal cancer.

Additionally, when an individual was diagnosed with either cancer, those in the highest fitness range had a 44% reduced risk of death when diagnosed with lung cancer and an 89% reduced risk of death when diagnosed with colorectal cancer.9

The researchers believe no other study of this type had included women or covered such a large group who were not white.10 The participants were 46% female, 64% white, 29% black and 1% Hispanic.

Dr. Catherine Handy Marshall, assistant professor of oncology at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine and lead author commented,11 "Our findings are one of the first, largest and most diverse cohorts to look at the impact of fitness on cancer outcomes." The researchers concluded in what they believe is the:12

    " … largest study performed to date, higher CRF (cardiorespiratory function) was associated with a lower risk of incident lung and colorectal cancer in men and women and a lower risk of all-cause mortality among those diagnosed with lung or colorectal cancer.”

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High Intensity Exercise May Also Kill Colorectal Cancer Cells

Exercise is a key foundation to optimal health. I'm a supporter of high intensity interval training (HIIT) for a number of reasons. Recent research published in the Journal of Physiology found HIIT was associated with a reduction in mortality in those who had survived colorectal cancer.13

Although past studies had found exercise over a long period of time may help prevent cancer, this study suggested even short bursts of exercise may have a positive effect. The team assembled individuals with colorectal cancer and asked them to complete one session of HIIT or 12 sessions of HIIT over a four-week period.

The researchers found the blood sample drawn immediately following exercise reduced the number of colon cancer cells in a petri dish. A significant increase in cytokines signaling proteins responsible for modulating the immune and inflammatory response was also observed.14
Cardiorespiratory Fitness Reduces All-Cause Mortality

Cardiorespiratory fitness is an objective measure of habitual physical activity. There is compelling scientific evidence it is also a strong predictor of all-cause mortality and cardiovascular disease. In one study,15 men experiencing mental and emotional disorders had a lower risk of dying when they had higher cardiorespiratory fitness.

Another study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association16 found cardiorespiratory fitness was a modifiable indicator of long-term mortality with no observed upper limit of benefit. High aerobic fitness was associated with the greatest survival rates and had benefits for elderly patients and those with high blood pressure.

The number of scientific studies continuing to support evidence cardiorespiratory fitness helps reduce all-cause mortality is growing. The association appears in healthy individuals, those with high blood pressure, Type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease.17

While independent factors of types of exercise, intensity, duration and frequency are not clearly associated with a reduction in mortality, many believe there is a caloric expenditure threshold of 1,000 calories per week at which a reduction in all-cause mortality risk begins.18

Several studies have suggested cardiorespiratory fitness is as important as traditional risk factors and may be more strongly associated with mortality. Past studies have also reported greater cardiorespiratory fitness may reduce the risk of death associated with obesity.19

Biological mechanisms associated with cardiovascular respiratory fitness that may reduce mortality risk include improved insulin sensitivity, blood lipid profile, reduced inflammatory response and maintaining normal blood pressure.20
Factors Influencing Colorectal Health

In addition to a lack of exercise, other factors also influence tumor growth. Antibiotics not only fundamentally alter your gut microbiome but they may also increase inflammation. A study published in Digestive Diseases and Sciences21 found the frequent use of antibiotics was associated with an increased risk of colorectal cancer.

The health of your gut microbiome also plays an important role in treatment and prevention of colorectal cancer.22 Researchers have found Lactobacillus reuteri23 has the potential to reduce colon cancer tumors.

Studies have found several factors increase the incidence of colorectal cancer, including a diagnosis with inflammatory bowel disease.24 In other words, your gut microbiome is a large player in your overall health in general and in the development of colorectal cancer in particular.

Researchers25 have found evidence highlighting the key role played by intestinal microbiota in malignant gastrointestinal diseases. In another,26 data showed microbiota may promote homeostasis and antitumor responses in the intestines. In a third review,27 scientists examined current research and focused on bacterial pathogenesis, proposing evidence of an association with colorectal cancer.

Short chain fatty acids, such as butyrate and propionate,28 have demonstrated a protective effect on epithelial cells.29 The addition of bacteria that produce short-chain fatty acids has an effect on nutrition and host metabolism, and helps protect your gastrointestinal tract. A diet high in carbohydrates and sugar feed harmful bacteria, while foods high in fiber feed primarily beneficial bacteria.
Lung Health Is Influenced by More Than Smoking

Smoking is a primary factor influencing the development of lung cancer. While you may not be a smoker, exposure to secondhand smoke is also dangerous. Indoor air pollutants also damage your lung tissue. The World Health Organization states more than 90% live in areas where pollution levels are higher than they deem safe.30

The estimated number who are dying an early death from pollution exposure has nearly doubled the previous estimate.31 The new data show air pollution caused 8.8 million premature deaths in 2015. By comparison, WHO estimates the global number of premature deaths from smoking is 7 million per year, less than the number killed by air pollution.32

Indoor pollutants may come from building materials, carpeting, furniture, clothing or cleaning supplies. The American Lung Association33 recommends you also avoid exposure to outdoor air pollution. Take care to know the air pollution rating for the day and do not exercise outdoors on days when pollutants are high.

Not all deaths from air pollution are triggered by lung cancer. Air pollution also contributes to cardiovascular diseases.34 Although the condition of poor air quality is ubiquitous, you'll find strategies to help mitigate pollution risk in my previous article, “Air Pollution Is Worse Than Smoking.”
Exercise Benefits More Than Cancer Prevention

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,35 76.5% of Americans do not meet the physical activity guidelines for aerobic and muscle-strengthening activity. While the featured study demonstrated HIIT offers some protection against colorectal and lung cancers, exercise has other benefits as well.

Exercise helps improve mood and mental health. As you exercise, your body releases neurotransmitters that affect your mood and make you feel more relaxed. In one study,36 researchers found exercise offered positive outcomes for those diagnosed with schizophrenia.

A study37 of adults found those who were more physically active had better brain activity and patterns associated with improved cognitive function. Exercise also helps slow the aging process and makes you feel and look younger. It induces changes in mitochondrial enzyme content and booster cellular energy production.38

It increases circulation and blood flow to your skin and it only takes a short time to experience the benefits.39 In the past, it was suggested those who were ill or suffered from chronic diseases should not exercise. However, the opposite is often true. Those who suffer from osteoarthritis40 or cancer41 find an exercise program may be crucial to their treatment program.
Start an Exercise Program at Home

Research shows while many people started an exercise program to lose weight and improve their appearance, they continued to exercise when they experienced benefits to their well-being.42

Once people recognized the connection between exercise and their emotional health, they continued to work out since it made them feel good mentally immediately after, or during, exercise. As you continue, you'll reap increasing rewards that will permeate virtually every aspect of your health.

So get moving and keep moving for the best results. To get the most out of your workouts, I recommend a comprehensive program including HIIT exercise, strength training, stretching and core work and walking 10,000 steps a day.

Consider incorporating the Nitric Oxide Dump, which may be done virtually anywhere, and is appropriate for all fitness levels. The exercise is a form of HIIT, which research has shown to offer greater fitness and health gains in a fraction of the time compared to typical moderate or low-intensity gym workouts. For a demonstration, see the video below. To learn more about it, see my previous article, “Incorporate the Nitric Oxide Dump.”

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FITNESS DISCLAIMER: The information contained in this site is for educational purposes only. Vigorous high-intensity exercise is not safe or suitable for everyone. You should consult a physician before beginning a new diet or exercise program and discontinue exercise immediately and consult your physician if you experience pain, dizziness, or discomfort. The results, if any, from the exercises may vary from person-to-person. Engaging in any exercise or fitness program involves the risk of injury. Mercola.com or our panel of fitness experts shall not be liable for any claims for injuries or damages resulting from or connected with the use of this site. Specific questions about your fitness condition cannot be answered without first establishing a trainer-client relationship.

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Dr. Mercola: Slashes Pain and Speeds Healing - Backed by Over 550 Studies

Mercola.com 
                                               
The Benefits of Cupping Therapy

Written by Dr. Joseph Mercola Fact Checked


    May 31, 2019

    Available in: English

        Español


cupping

Story at-a-glance -


    Cupping is an ancient medical treatment, its Chinese roots dating back thousands of years. Egyptian, Greek, Roman and Middle Eastern cultures also have ancient records of the practice

    In cupping, suction cups of varying sizes are attached to the body. The suction draws stagnant blood to the surface of the skin and improves blood circulation through the tissues, which can speed healing

    Research has found cupping may benefit conditions such as chronic neck and shoulder pain, arthritis of the knee, herpes zoster, facial paralysis and cervical spondylosis

    So-called “wet cupping” may be beneficial for the treatment of chronic acne, persistent low back pain, carpal tunnel syndrome, acute soft tissue injury and a variety of headaches. Combined with herbal remedies, wet cupping may improve acute gouty arthritis

    Cupping has gained popularity among athletes for its benefits on pain and sports performance


Cupping1 is an ancient medical treatment, its Chinese roots dating back thousands of years.2 Egyptian, Greek, Roman3 and Middle Eastern cultures also have ancient records of the practice,4 including Saudi Arabia, where the practice is called Al-Hijamah.5


According to a 2010 review6 of the medical literature published in the BMC Complementary & Alternative Medicine journal, cupping was established as an official therapeutic practice in Chinese hospitals after its clinical efficacy was confirmed by a joint team of researchers from China and the former Soviet Union in the 1950s, and it’s a standard practice in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) to this day.


Between 1959 and 2008, 550 clinical studies were published, including 73 randomized controlled trials and 22 clinical controlled trials, none of which reported any serious adverse effects.7


The U.S. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, on the other hand, warns that “Rare cases of severe side effects have been reported, such as bleeding inside the skull (after cupping on the scalp) and anemia from blood loss (after repeated wet cupping),” and that it “can cause side effects such as persistent skin discoloration, scars burns, and infections, and may worsen eczema or psoriasis.”8

Types of Cupping Therapy


Cupping involves attaching suction cups of varying sizes to the bod. The suction draws blood to the surface of the skin; hence the bruise-like marks. Cupping therapy, as practiced in China, can be sorted into seven major types:9,10,11


Retained cupping — This most commonly used technique involves rinsing the glass cup with a small amount of methylated spirits, then setting it temporarily aflame to heat the inside of the cup to create negative pressure and blowing out the flame before quickly applying the cup to the skin


Wet cupping (bleeding cupping) — A small incision is made on an acupuncture point with a triangle-edged needle, after which the cup is placed on top


Moving cupping — Oil is first applied to the area to allow the cup to be moved back and forth


Empty cupping — Here, the cups are attached and quickly removed after suction has been achieved


Needle cupping — Acupuncture needles are inserted into the appropriate points first, and the cups are placed on top of the needle


Medicinal or herbal cupping — Bamboo cups are placed into a pot and boiled with herbs for 30 minutes before being applied. The steam from the boiled cups create the suction, in lieu of a flame


Water cupping — A glass or bamboo cup is filled one-third of the way with warm water and then quickly applied to the skin

Cupping — Helpful or Harmful?


The treatment is said to improve blood circulation, thereby speeding up healing, reducing pain and easing muscle soreness. According to the BMC Complementary & Alternative Medicine review 12 published in 2010, a majority of the 73 randomized controlled trials published between 1959 and 2008 “show potential benefit on pain conditions, herpes zoster and other diseases.”


Still, skeptics abound. A recent Forbes article13 by Steven Salzberg, “The Ridiculous and Possibly Harmful Practice of Cupping,” paints the practice in a less than flattering light. Salzberg also wrote a scornful piece14 on cupping after Michael Phelps brought attention to its benefits during the 2016 Olympics.15


“Cupping is ridiculous. There's no scientific or medical evidence that it provides any benefit, and it clearly carries some risk of harm,” Salzberg writes,16 thereby sweeping several hundred studies under the rug of “ridiculousness.”


In a 2016 Science Blogs entry,17 an American surgeon highlights the potential danger of cupping, showing a photo of a man’s badly burned back. Clearly, incorrect application of cups heated with an open flame (retained cupping technique) can cause grave burns.


However, this is due to serious incompetence by the health care provider. This is an example of a preventable medical error, not evidence that cupping, done correctly, is harmful. For perspective, preventable medical errors in conventional medicine is the third leading cause of death in the U.S., and has been for decades, yet few question the sensibility of conventional treatments.

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Benefits of Cupping


The paper,18 “Cupping Therapy: A Prudent Remedy for a Plethora of Medical Ailments,” published in the Journal of Traditional and Complementary Medicine in 2015 notes cupping “is believed to act by correcting imbalances in the internal bio field, such as by restoring the flow of Qi.”


Under “Pharmacological Actions,” this paper describes some of the ailments for which the seven types of cupping methods may be useful. For example, wet cupping may be beneficial for the treatment of chronic acne, persistent low back pain, carpal tunnel syndrome and a variety of headaches.


Cupping therapy in combination with acupuncture has been shown to relieve moderate insomnia and improving fibromyalgia-related pain and depression. Wet cupping in combination with herbal remedies may improve acute gouty arthritis, while wet cupping alone may be beneficial in the treatment of acute soft tissue injury. The paper further notes: 19


    “Cupping therapy is also useful in various conditions like gout and other forms of arthritis, lumbago, and as epithelial grafts for vitiligo management. It is also commonly used in reducing pain, and muscle tenderness, and improving a range of motions.


    Cupping therapy is not limited only to the above pharmacological actions, but it is also helpful in regulating both innate and acquired immune responses. By comparison, wet cupping therapy was found to be better than dry cupping therapy, because it is able to eliminate the causative pathological substances (CPS) and restore the normal physiology, while dry cupping therapy depends on dilution and redistribution of CPS to new sites.”


Athletes Swear by Cupping


Cupping has gained popularity among athletes for its benefits on pain and sports performance. Aside from Phelps, Cody Miller and Dana Vollmer, two Olympic swimmers, and Olympic gymnast Alex Naddour have sported the telltale welts.20,21 Vollmer and Miller explained the perceived benefits of cupping during a 2016 news conference.


During the Olympics, Naddour also told USA Today22 that cupping has been a “secret … that keeps me healthy. It’s been better than any money I’ve spent on anything else.” An editorial23 in the Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology, “Could Cupping Therapy Be Used to Improve Sports Performance?” published in 2016, cites a variety of studies and notes:


    “It is hypothesized that, with cupping therapy, ‘congested’ blood is sucked out of the skin, thereby increasing blood and lymphatic circulation and relieving painful muscle tension. Within the last years, interest in traditional cupping has arisen, and there is growing evidence that cupping might be effective in various pain conditions ...


    In the course of cupping treatment, blood and other interstitial fluids are drawn out from the skin by the vacuum. Traditional cupping is mainly used in patients with local blood congestion, swelling, and adhesions of the connective tissue in the neck region. Cupping might therefore take the pressure off the tissue and relieve the neck area from these toxic congestions, which also increases circulation and lymphatic flow.


    Since circulation has been shown to be dysfunctional in chronic neck pain patients, cupping might restore normal circulation. Increased circulation in turn improves oxygen supply and cell metabolism, reducing the amount of inflammatory or toxic substances. This might also explain the significant effects of cupping on pressure pain thresholds at pain-related areas.


    Muscle spasm, congestion, and restricted blood flow can cause ischemic pain. Accumulated inflammatory substances in skin and tissue might further induce hypersensitivity to noxious stimuli, which is reflected by lowered pressure pain thresholds.


    Since traditional cupping is supposed to evacuate toxins and inflammatory agents from the affected area and restore normal circulation, this might explain the local effects on pressure pain thresholds. The blood volume loss, together with the local vasodilation might further increase parasympathetic activity by somatosympathetic reflexes, which matches well with the observed self-reported relaxation.”


Cupping May Offer Relief for Many Painful Conditions


Pain reduction appears to be a common denominator in many of the studies showing beneficial effects. As noted in a 2014 systematic review24 of 16 randomized clinical trials assessing the use of cupping for pain:


    “Cupping combined with acupuncture was superior to acupuncture alone on post-treatment pain intensity … Results from other single studies showed significant benefit of cupping compared with conventional drugs or usual care …


    This review suggests a potential positive short-term effect of cupping therapy on reducing pain intensity compared with no treatment, heat therapy, usual care, or conventional drugs.”


In an earlier systematic review,25 published in 2011, two of the seven randomized clinical trials included (in which pain of any origin was the focus), found “significant pain reduction for cupping in low back pain compared with usual care and analgesia.”


Another two studies “showed positive effects of cupping in cancer pain and trigeminal neuralgia compared with anticancer drugs and analgesics, respectively.” Two more “reported favorable effects of cupping on pain in brachialgia compared with usual care or heat pad,” while the seventh and last trial “failed to show superior effects of cupping on pain in herpes zoster compared with antiviral medication.”


More recently, a 2016 study26 published in Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine found cupping significantly reduced chronic neck and shoulder pain, compared to no intervention. In the cupping group, the intensity of the neck pain was reduced from a severity score of 9.7 to 3.6.


Among controls, pain was reduced from 9.7 to 9.5. The study also evaluated measurable physical effects, including changes in skin surface temperature and blood pressure. Both measurements showed statistically significant improvements among those who received cupping.


A PLOS ONE study27 published in 2013, which compared cupping to progressive muscle relaxation, found both treatments provided similar pain relief for patients with chronic neck pain after 12 weeks. However, those who received cupping did report significantly greater “well-being” and higher pressure pain thresholds compared to those who practiced progressive muscle relaxation.


Research28 published in 2012 also reported beneficial results on patients with arthritic knee pain, and a 2012 meta-analysis29 of 135 randomized controlled trials published between 1992 and 2010 found cupping “is of potential benefit for pain conditions, herpes zoster, and cough and dyspnea.” According to the authors:30


    “Meta-analysis showed cupping therapy combined with other TCM treatments was significantly superior to other treatments alone in increasing the number of cured patients with herpes zoster, facial paralysis, acne, and cervical spondylosis. No serious adverse effects were reported in the trials.”


Cupping May Reduce Pain by Activating Your Innate Immune Response


Dr. Leonid Kalichman, a senior lecturer at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev in Israel, has written more than 150 papers on physiotherapy and rheumatology. He believes that by causing localized inflammation, cupping helps trigger cytokine production that modulate your immune system response.31


In a review paper on cupping research, published in the Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies, Kalichman and his co-author Efgeni Rozenfeld note that:32


    “Mechanically, cupping increases blood circulation, whereas physiologically it activates the immune system and stimulates the mechanosensitive fibers, thus leading to a reduction in pain.


    There is initial scientific evidence that dry cupping is able to reduce musculoskeletal pain. Since cupping is an inexpensive, noninvasive and low-risk (if performed by a trained practitioner) therapeutic modality, we believe that it should be included in the arsenal of musculoskeletal medicine.”


Anecdotal Reports


While more research may help explain the exact mechanisms behind cupping’s healing power, many patients are satisfied knowing it works for them — regardless of the how or why.


As noted by Jessica MacLean, acting director of the International Cupping Therapy Association,33 "When people get the treatment and they recover really fast, they don’t care about the scientific evidence — they just care that it works." The following anecdotal success story was reported by Desert News Utah:34


    “It works for 33-year-old Maria, who was at Master Lu's … for acupuncture and cupping therapy for several herniated discs in her lower back. She said she's tried many options, but the pain gets so bad at times, she can't move. ‘As soon as I had it done, it was immediate relief,’ she said. ‘I never went back to anything else.’


    Maria … injured her back lifting and moving a lot of boxes. She said that in addition to immediate and long-lasting pain relief, the acupuncture and cupping procedure is "relaxing" to go through. She will have about three appointments within the week and then not need to return until pain flares up again from overuse, Lu said.”


Are You Ready to Try Cupping?


Cupping is easy to do and vacuum sets can be purchased online for as little as $30. However, I would strongly recommend going to a trained TCM practitioner. Licensed doctors of TCM have a minimum of 3,000 hours of training and know how to perform cupping safely and effectively. Absolutely do not engage in retained cupping (open flame-heated cupping) without proper training and certification.


Care to avoid excessive suction must be taken when treating certain areas of the body. While your back and thighs can safely handle heavy suction, it could be risky to cup certain areas of your neck, for example, unless you know what you’re doing.


Cupping is also not done on your head or face, so if you have a headache, you would typically treat your neck, shoulder and/or back muscles; the cups would NOT be placed on the temples or forehead. Cupping is also contraindicated for certain serious health conditions.


So, could cupping work for you? You’ll simply have to try it before writing it off. Studies and anecdotal evidence suggests cupping can be a helpful adjunct to other therapies for pain. In some cases it may even work as a stand-alone treatment, although this is not the norm.


The good news is, if it works, you’ll notice a difference. And if it doesn’t, no harm will come to you. The procedure itself is typically painless (provided excessive suction is not used), and the bruises — which indicate that stagnant blood has been drawn from the tissue to the surface — will typically disappear within days. If blood stagnation is not an issue, you will not experience any bruising at all.


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NASA HQ News: NASA to Announce Selection of Science Commercial Moon Landing Services, Hold Media Teleconference

May 30, 2019
MEDIA ADVISORY M19-047
NASA to Announce Selection of Science Commercial Moon Landing Services, Hold Media Teleconference

NASA will announce the next major step in the Artemis program’s lunar surface exploration plans during a NASA Science Live broadcast at 1 p.m. EDT Friday, May 31. The announcement will air on NASA Television and the agency's website.

Paving the way to return astronauts to the surface of the Moon, and ultimately Mars, NASA will announce the selection of the first commercial Moon landing service providers that will deliver science and technology payloads as part of the agency’s Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS). These missions will acquire new science measurements and enable important technology demonstrations, whose data will inform the development of future landers and other exploration systems needed for astronauts to return to the Moon by 2024.

Thomas Zurbuchen, associate administrator for the agency’s Science Mission Directorate, will host this special edition of NASA Science Live.

Media may ask questions during the program by emailing their name, affiliation and phone number to Courtney O’Connor at oconnor@jpl.nasa.gov by 12:30 p.m. Friday, May 31. The public can send questions during the event using the hashtag #askNASA.

Following the announcement, NASA will host a media teleconference at 2:30 p.m. To participate, media must contact O’Connor at oconnor@jpl.nasa.gov or 818-281-7500 no later than 1:30 p.m.

The teleconference audio will stream live at:

https://www.nasa.gov/live

For more information about NASA’s Moon to Mars exploration plans, visit:

https://www.nasa.gov/moontomars

-end-

The New York Times/Michael Wines: Deceased G.O.P. Strategist’s Hard Drives Reveal New Details on the Census Citizenship Question

The New York Times   
                             
Deceased G.O.P. Strategist’s Hard Drives Reveal New Details on the Census Citizenship Question

Thomas B. Hofeller, a leading Republican strategist, died in August and left a trove of computer files containing evidence that could now be relevant in a Supreme Court case.Creditvia C-SPAN
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Thomas B. Hofeller, a leading Republican strategist, died in August and left a trove of computer files containing evidence that could now be relevant in a Supreme Court case.CreditCreditvia C-SPAN

By Michael Wines

    May 30, 2019

WASHINGTON — Thomas B. Hofeller achieved near-mythic status in the Republican Party as the Michelangelo of gerrymandering, the architect of partisan political maps that cemented the party’s dominance across the country.

But after he died last summer, his estranged daughter discovered hard drives in her father’s home that revealed something else: Mr. Hofeller had played a crucial role in the Trump administration’s decision to add a citizenship question to the 2020 census.

Files on those drives showed that he wrote a study in 2015 concluding that adding a citizenship question to the census would allow Republicans to draft even more extreme gerrymandered maps to stymie Democrats. And months after urging President Trump’s transition team to tack the question onto the census, he wrote the key portion of a draft Justice Department letter claiming the question was needed to enforce the 1965 Voting Rights Act — the rationale the administration later used to justify its decision.

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Thursday 30 May 2019

NASA HQ News: Pennsylvania Students to Speak with NASA Astronaut on International Space Station

May 30, 2019
MEDIA ADVISORY M19-045

Pennsylvania Students to Speak with NASA Astronaut on International Space Station

NASA astronaut and Expedition 59 Flight Engineer Christina Koch conducts botany research aboard the International Space Station.
NASA astronaut and Expedition 59 Flight Engineer Christina Koch conducts botany research aboard the International Space Station.
Credits: NASA

Students from Pennsylvania will have an opportunity to speak live with a NASA astronaut aboard the International Space Station at 1:40 p.m. EDT Monday, June 3. The Earth-to-space call will air live on NASA television and the agency’s website.

Christina Koch will answer questions from Asbury Elementary School students. The school, in Fairview, Pennsylvania, and community partners have collaborated to provide students with science, technology, engineering, art, and mathematics (STEAM) initiative titled “Life in Space” learning activities.

The event will be held at Asbury Elementary School, 5875 Sterrettania Road, Fairview. Media interested in covering should contact Linda Sitter at sitter@mtsd.org or 814-835-5300.

NASA is working to land the first woman and next man on the Moon by 2024. Linking students directly to astronauts aboard the space station engages audiences in ways that will encourage them to participate in NASA’s mission and highlight the space station as the only testbed and proving ground in microgravity for the path forward to Moon 2024. Astronauts living in space on the orbiting laboratory communicate with NASA’s Mission Control Center in Houston 24 hours a day through the Space Network’s Tracking and Data Relay Satellites (TDRS).

Follow the astronauts on social media at:

https://www.twitter.com/NASA_astronauts

See videos and lesson plans highlighting research on the International Space Station at:

https://www.nasa.gov/stemonstation

-end-


The New York Times/Sharon LaFraniere: Mueller, in First Comments on Russia Inquiry, Declines to Clear Trump

The New York Times

Mueller, in First Comments on Russia Inquiry, Declines to Clear Trump

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In his public remarks about the special counsel’s Russia investigation, Robert S. Mueller III suggested that he was reluctant to testify before Congress.CreditCreditDoug Mills/The New York Times

By Sharon LaFraniere

    May 29, 2019

WASHINGTON — Robert S. Mueller III, the special counsel, declined on Wednesday to clear President Trump of obstruction of justice in his first public characterization of his two-year investigation of Russia’s interference in the 2016 presidential election.

“If we had had confidence that the president clearly did not commit a crime, we would have said so,” Mr. Mueller said, reading from prepared notes behind a lectern at the Justice Department at a hastily called public appearance.

He also noted that while Justice Department policy prohibits charging a sitting president with a crime, the Constitution provides for another remedy to formally accuse a president of wrongdoing — a clear reference to the ability of Congress to conduct impeachment proceedings.

Although it lasted less than 10 minutes, the news conference presented an extraordinary spectacle of a top federal law enforcement official publicly stating that the president’s conduct had warranted criminal investigation, even though it was impossible to indict him for any crimes. Mr. Mueller delivered his statement on his last day as special counsel, saying it was his final word on his investigation and he was returning to private life.

Democratic presidential candidates immediately seized on Mr. Mueller’s refusal to exonerate Mr. Trump to call for the president’s impeachment, intensifying pressure on Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who has insisted impeachment proceedings would only play into Mr. Trump’s hands.

The president’s aides and allies tried to cast the event as not even newsworthy, just a summary of a 448-page report released weeks ago. Mr. Mueller “has closed his office and it’s time for everybody to move on,” said Sarah Huckabee Sanders, the White House press secretary.

[Read the full transcript of Mr. Mueller’s statement.]

Mr. Mueller, 74, who carried out the entire investigation without publicly speaking a word, walked stiffly to the lectern and began tentatively, then delivered a succinct distillation of his investigation that was distinctly more powerful than the often legalistic language of his two-volume report.

He seemed to cast the president’s conduct in a more damning light than Attorney General William P. Barr did when he discussed the investigation’s findings at a news conference in April and at a subsequent Senate hearing. Mr. Barr said that Mr. Trump was not guilty of “obstructive conduct.” He also suggested that the president may have been merely acting from frustration, not corrupt intent, when he tried to interfere with the special counsel’s investigation, including when he tried to oust Mr. Mueller.

Mr. Mueller, by contrast, stressed the gravity of the allegations against the president. Although he noted that his office did not “make a determination as to whether the president did commit a crime,” he said, “the matters we investigated were of paramount importance.”

“When a subject of an investigation obstructs that investigation or lies to investigators, it strikes at the core of their government’s effort to find the truth and hold wrongdoers accountable,” he said.

Mr. Mueller defended his decision to pursue the allegations against the president, even though, he said, charging him with a crime was “not an option we could consider.” Mr. Barr suggested at one point that the special counsel should not have collected evidence against Mr. Trump if he intended only for Congress to review it.

But Mr. Mueller said that it was important to interview witnesses while their memories were still fresh and to hold accountable anyone who might have conspired with the president and could face criminal charges. He also referred to the impeachment process, a point that is reduced to a footnote in his report.

“The Constitution requires a process other than the criminal justice system to formally accuse a sitting president of wrongdoing,” he said. He cited the same opinion from the Justice Department’s Office of Legal Counsel that states that a sitting president cannot be criminally charged.

He added that the former deputy attorney general, Rod J. Rosenstein, who appointed him as special counsel, specifically authorized him to investigate actions to interfere with his inquiry and that he kept Mr. Rosenstein apprised of his team’s work.

Mr. Mueller stressed that he would not comment further on the actions of the Justice Department or Congress. He suggested that Democrats in Congress were wasting their time in seeking his testimony because he would simply repeat what he stated in his report. “The report is my testimony,” he said.

He added: “I am making that decision myself. No one has told me whether I can or should testify or speak further about this matter.”

Mr. Trump’s aides were informed Tuesday night that Mr. Mueller intended to deliver a statement. Journalists, who had expected at most a news release announcing the end of Mr. Mueller’s tenure, had 90 minutes’ notice to get to the Justice Department’s seventh-floor briefing room, where Mr. Mueller, in a dark suit and white shirt, started on time. Mr. Barr was traveling in Alaska.
Read the Mueller Report: Searchable Document and Index

The findings from the special counsel, Robert S. Mueller III, are now available to the public. The redacted report details his two-year investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election.

White House officials and the president’s private lawyers both pointed to Mr. Barr, not Mr. Mueller, as the most important arbiter of the president’s conduct. After Mr. Mueller declined to decide whether the president was guilty of a crime, Mr. Barr decided that evidence against the president was insufficient to warrant a criminal prosecution — a decision he reached with Mr. Rosenstein.

“We consider this case closed,” Ms. Sanders told reporters. She said that further investigations by Congress were unnecessary because “it’s already been done.”

Congressional Democrats said Mr. Mueller’s remarks only underscored the need for Congress to follow up with subpoenas and hearings.

“If he had any evidence that the president was not guilty, he would have let us know,” Ms. Pelosi said. “But he didn’t. He didn’t. And I think that was very, very important.”

She said Congress should continue to press for more information, including for passages in the report that were redacted to protect grand jury material, current criminal investigations or classified information.

[After Mr. Mueller’s statement, more 2020 Democrats called for impeachment.]

Mr. Mueller began his statement by reviewing the highlights of how Russia had tried to influence the results of the 2016 election. He detailed how Russian operatives hacked into Democratic computers and released documents through WikiLeaks to damage the campaign of Hillary Clinton, whom he described as a presidential candidate.

He returned to that theme at the end of his speech, emphasizing the gravity of Russia’s attacks on the American political system.

“I will close by reiterating the central allegation of our indictments — that there were multiple, systematic efforts to interfere in our election,” he said. “And that allegation deserves the attention of every American.”

Although his comments suggested he was more troubled by Mr. Trump’s actions than Mr. Barr, Mr. Mueller took pains to defend how the attorney general handled his report — a subject of previous disagreement between the two men. In a brief letter in late March, Mr. Mueller had criticized Mr. Barr for sowing “public confusion” in his initial summary of the report, and had asked him to release his own executive summaries to clarify misimpressions.

Instead, Mr. Barr waited more than three weeks while the report was being redacted, then released it nearly in full in mid-April. The president’s allies took advantage of that interim to cast the findings in Mr. Trump’s favor, prompting complaints that Mr. Barr was allowing them to shape the public narrative before the facts came out.

Mr. Mueller acknowledged that he and Mr. Barr had differed over whether to release his team’s summaries. But he said, “I certainly do not question the attorney general’s good faith in that decision.” He also complimented Mr. Barr’s decision to make almost the entire report public.

While he made no reference to Mr. Trump’s repeated denunciations of his work as a “political hoax” carried out by “angry Democrats,” Mr. Mueller described his investigation as “fair and independent.” He said the prosecutors and F.B.I. agents on his team were public servants “of the highest integrity” and thanked them for their work.

Despite Mr. Mueller’s comments, Democratic House leaders vowed to continue to seek his testimony.

“Given that the president has not been cleared of wrongdoing, and given the seriousness of Russia’s interference in our democracy, I believe that the American people deserve to hear testimony from the special counsel about his report and the report’s conclusions,” said Representative Steny H. Hoyer of Maryland, the No. 2 House Democrat.

Republicans said they were looking ahead to the results of a review into the origins of the counterintelligence investigation that ultimately prompted Mr. Mueller’s appointment. Mr. Barr has assigned the review to the United States attorney in Connecticut but is personally overseeing it.

Department officials say he wants to understand on what basis the F.B.I. began investigating ties between the Trump campaign and Russia in summer 2016.

Mr. Barr has also said he is concerned about the justification for “spying on Americans.” The F.B.I. sought a court order to conduct surveillance on a former Trump campaign aide, partly on the basis of research that was paid for by a law firm hired by Democrats.

Mr. Trump has praised the review, saying the investigation into him and his campaign was never justified.

After watching Mr. Mueller on television, the president declared on Twitter that “nothing changes.” There was insufficient evidence to charge him with a crime, Mr. Trump wrote, “therefore, in our Country, a person is innocent.”

Katie Benner and Eileen Sullivan contributed reporting.
A version of this article appears in print on , on Page A1 of the New York edition with the headline: Breaking Silence, Mueller Declines to Absolve Trump. Order Reprints | Today’s Paper | Subscribe

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