Facts, and Opinions, this week: From the G7 to pregnancy meds, Brexit to Taiwan

Leaders attend the the first Outreach Session during the second day of the Group of Seven (G7) summit meetings in Ise Shima, Japan, May 27, 2016. REUTERS/Jim Watson/Pool
Leaders attend the the first Outreach Session during the second day of the Group of Seven (G7) summit meetings in Ise Shima, Japan, May 27, 2016. REUTERS/Jim Watson/Pool

G7 warns of risks to economic growth, health, by F&O  Report

The G7 wrapped up its 2016 summit with warnings, of risks to economic growth, health threats from microbes resistant to antibiotics and the handling of health emergencies, as well as a loss of public trust in tax systems to the need for infrastructure investment and trade agreements.

Which Brexit forecast is trustworthy? by Nauro Campos

At one extreme, Economists for Brexit predict that the main economic consequence of Brexit is that UK incomes in 2030 will be about 4% higher. In the middle, studies suggest UK incomes by 2030 will be will be unaffected. And At the other extreme, various studies (including the Treasury, the LSE, the OECD, and the National Institute for Economic and Social Research reports) indicate substantial losses to the UK economy, of about 7% by 2030. How does one think this through? An economist offers suggestions.

Rio Olympics should be delayed or moved — health experts, by Toni Clarke and William Schomberg

More than 100 medical experts, academia and scientists on Friday have called for the Rio Olympic Games to be postponed or moved because of fears that the event could speed up the spread of the Zika virus around the world.

 

Marquita Smiley and her son, Zaidan. (Bob Miller for ProPublica)Marquita Smiley and her son, Zaidan. (Bob Miller for ProPublica)
Pharmaceuticals in pregnancy are untested. How safe are they? Marquita Smiley and her son, Zaidan. (Bob Miller for ProPublica)

Pharmaceuticals in pregnancy are untested. How safe are they? by Nina Martin  Report

A healthy baby is the universal goal of pregnancy, shared by women and doctors, researchers and regulators alike. But  the same desire to protect each fetus deters scientists and drug makers from studying expectant mothers. When it comes to drug safety, pregnancy is a largely research-free zone, women’s health experts say. The consequence? Treatment that often is based on informed guesswork rather than solid evidence, in which medications that have never been approved for use during pregnancy, and whose long-term dangers may not be known, become the standard of care.

DPP Chairperson and presidential candidate Tsai gives a speech during a news conference to promote her campaign for the 2016 presidential election in TaipeiBeijing tests mettle of Taiwan’s Iron Lady President, by Jonathan Manthorpe  Column

Since Tsai Ing-wen was elected president of Taiwan in January, the Chinese regime of Xi Jinping has done everything it can to inflame cross-strait relations by goading her into making an outraged response. Tsai, who was inaugurated President of the island nation of 23 million people on May 20, has refused to react in the way Beijing wants.

Canada’s ambassador to Ireland: Once a Cop, Always a Cop, by Brian Brennan   Column

It’s hard to tell from the raw television footage if the shaven-headed protester posed any real danger to the Irish and British dignitaries gathered at a Dublin military cemetery this week to honour British soldiers killed during the 1916 Irish rebellion against British rule. But clearly the Canadian ambassador, Kevin Vickers, felt there was a threat. He made a beeline for the shouting protester, grabbed him by the sleeves of his leather jacket, marched him away from the podium and turned him over to police.

What I know now that I’m 60, by Tom Regan   Column

Six decades gives you a lot of material to work with. I can’t list all of it, but here is a partial list of what I now know.

 

Masks are made at Jinhua Partytime Latex Art and Crafts Factory in Jinhua, Zhejiang Province, China, May 25, 2016. REUTERS/Aly Song
Masks are made at Jinhua Partytime Latex Art and Crafts Factory in Jinhua, Zhejiang Province, China, May 25, 2016. REUTERS/Aly Song

US election: manufacturing the masks, by Aly Song   Photo-essay

There’s no masking the facts. One Chinese factory is expecting Donald Trump to beat his likely U.S. presidential rival Hilary Clinton in the popularity stakes. At the Jinhua Partytime Latex Art and Crafts Factory, a Halloween and party supply business that produces thousands of rubber and plastic masks of everyone from Osama Bin Laden to Spiderman, masks of Donald Trump and Democratic frontrunner Hillary Clinton faces are being churned out. The factory management believes Trump will eventually run out the winner.

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