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Canada Hospitals Use Drones To Carry Lungs For Transplant

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The drone delivery of transplant lungs marked a global first, according to the company.
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Bromont, Canada:
In the dark of night, a drone takes off from a Toronto hospital rooftop, the hum of its rotors barely audible over the bustling sounds of the cars and pedestrians below in Canada's largest metropolis.
On its maiden flight, with a bird's-eye view of the city's glistening skyline as it glides over apartments, shops and office towers, the drone is carrying a precious cargo -- human lungs for transplant.
The 15.5-kilogram (34-pound) carbon fibre unmanned electric drone purpose-built by Quebec-based Unither Bioelectronics flew just 1.2 kilometers (0.75 miles) from Toronto Western Hospital on the city's west side to the roof of the downtown Toronto General Hospital.
The trip at the end of September took less than 10 minutes. It was automated but kept under the watchful eye of engineers and doctors.
The drone delivery of transplant lungs marked a global first, according to the company, but a similar flight in April 2019 delivered a kidney to a hospital in the US state of Maryland.
On the Toronto General Hospital's rooftop, the drone was met by a surgical team that whisked the package inside and successfully transplanted the lungs into a waiting patient, saving the life of the 63-year-old man who'd been diagnosed with pulmonary fibrosis.
The patient, by happenstance, was an engineer himself who expressed excitement to local media about receiving organs delivered by a drone.
Two days later, in addition to allowing him to breathe again, he was reportedly well enough to attend via videolink his daughter's wedding.
Flying drone in downtown Toronto
"We've proven a very important point, that it's possible to do this safely and (that) you could fly a drone in the middle of downtown Toronto," doctor Shaf Keshavjee, who worked with a technical team for two years on the drone project, told AFP.
The drone carried a refrigerated black container "which maintains the organ's thermal parameters" so that the organ is "viable for transplantation," explained drone engineer Mikael Cardinal of Unither Bioelectronics.
The successful flight, which required advance approvals from health and civil air navigation authorities, followed dozens of test runs as well as modifications, for example, to prevent radio frequency interference in a densely populated city.
In the event of a failure during flight, a ballistic parachute was also installed that would deploy and gently bring the drone and organs package to the ground.
Transplant organs are normally flown to airports (if between cities) and transported by car to hospitals. Using a drone between hospitals is more direct and saves time by avoiding heavy car traffic.
"Now the issue is really how do you scale this (up) to make it available to patients all over the world," said Keshavjee, a lung transplant specialist, describing lungs as among "the most fragile of all organs to preserve and transport."
This innovation, which fills him with pride, makes his partner in the project Cardinal believe that "the future is very positive" for this kind of technological advancement.
According to Cardinal, regulatory changes expected in the coming years will allow greater integration of drones into civil air space.
(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
 
 
source <a href="https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/canada-hospitals-use-drones-to-carry-lungs-for-transplant-2583787">https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/canada-hospitals-use-drones-to-carry-lungs-for-transplant-2583787</a>

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The drone delivery of transplant lungs marked a global first, according to the company. Bromont, Canada: In the dark of night, a drone ...

Hundreds In US Fall Sick In Raw Onion-Linked Salmonella Outbreak

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<div class="ins_instory_dv_cont"><img alt="Hundreds In US Fall Sick In Raw Onion-Linked Salmonella Outbreak" src="https://c.ndtvimg.com/2021-10/3a9u3t48_-us-salmonella-bloomberg_625x300_22_October_21.jpg" title="Hundreds In US Fall Sick In Raw Onion-Linked Salmonella Outbreak" /></div>
US Salmonella Outbreak: People in US have been advised to throw away all unlabeled onions.
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People across the U.S. have been advised to throw away all unlabeled red, white and yellow onions after a mass salmonella outbreak sickened hundreds of people across 37 states.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said one source of infections had been traced to onions imported from Chihuahua, Mexico, and distributed by ProSource Inc., also known as ProSource Produce, LLC, based in Hailey, Idaho.
So far 652 people have been reported sick, with 129 hospitalized. No deaths have been reported. The CDC said the actual number of people made ill was likely to be much higher, with most going unreported. Infections were recorded between May 31 and Sept. 30.
"Interviews with sick people show that 75% of people ate or possibly ate raw onions or dishes likely containing raw onions before they became sick," the CDC said in a statement. "Several ill people reported eating at the same restaurants, indicating they may be part of illness clusters."
The CDC advises people not to buy any onions imported from Chihuahua, to throw away all onions that don't have a sticker or packaging and to wash all surfaces and containers that may have touched the onions using hot soapy water or a dishwasher. Symptoms of salmonella include diarrhea, fever and stomach cramps that start six hours to six days after eating contaminated food.
ProSource has agreed to voluntarily recall all onions it imported from Chihuahua from July 1 through Aug. 27, Frank Yiannas, the Food and Drug Administration's deputy commissioner for food policy and response, said in a statement.
The FDA has launched an investigation, along with the CDC and local authorities, Yiannas said.
"We are issuing this update early in our investigation as part of our continued commitment to transparency and early communication," Yiannas said. "We will provide updates as we learn more."
 
 
source <a href="https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/salmonella-outbreak-us-salmonella-outbreak-us-salmonella-outbreak-news-hundreds-in-us-fall-sick-in-raw-onion-linked-salmonella-outbreak-2583784">https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/salmonella-outbreak-us-salmonella-outbreak-us-salmonella-outbreak-news-hundreds-in-us-fall-sick-in-raw-onion-linked-salmonella-outbreak-2583784</a>

news world Hundreds In US Fall Sick In Raw Onion-Linked Salmonella Outbreak

US Salmonella Outbreak: People in US have been advised to throw away all unlabeled onions. People across the U.S. have been advised to t...

Taiwan Delegation Irks China With Eastern Europe Tour

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Taiwan Foreign Minister Joseph Wu is due to visit Prague on October 27.
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Prague, Czech Republic:
A Taiwanese government delegation is visiting three eastern EU members to the dismay of China, which is irritated by any signs of Taiwan acting as an independent country.
The 66 government officials will hold talks in Slovakia on Friday before travelling to the Czech Republic and Lithuania to boost trade ties and investment.
All three countries gave coronavirus vaccines to Taiwan, which has accused Beijing of hampering its efforts to secure enough doses. 
The European Union members have shown signs of wanting closer relations with the island, even if that angers China.
Czech-Taiwanese Chamber of Commerce head Pavel Divis said in a statement the visit was "a unique opportunity for us to establish cooperation in sectors in which Taiwan is a global leader".
But the visit angered China, which tries to keep Taipei isolated on the world stage and baulks at any official use of the word "Taiwan" lest it lend the island a sense of international legitimacy.
"Taiwan is an inalienable part of China's territory, and the government of the People's Republic of China is the sole legal government representing China," Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said.
The visit also comes after President Joe Biden told a CNN town hall the United States would defend Taiwan if the island was attacked by China, a statement at odds with the long-held US policy known as "strategic ambiguity." 
The Taiwan delegation will comprise Kung Ming-hsin, the national development council minister, and Wu Tsung-tsong, science and technology minister.
Taiwan Foreign Minister Joseph Wu is due to visit Prague on October 27.
Only 15 countries officially recognise Taipei rather than Beijing, which claims the self-ruled democratic island as part of its territory and has vowed to one day re-take it -- by force if needed.
Beijing insists on a one-China policy that means countries cannot also give diplomatic recognition to Taiwan.
Wenbin added China "deplored and firmly opposed" such visits, threatening "universal condemnation" to countries receiving the delegation.
"We would also admonish the Taiwan authorities that any attempt to solicit foreign support and seek political manipulation is doomed to fail," he said.
Prague drew China's ire last year when a delegation of about 90 Czech politicians, entrepreneurs, scientists and journalists led by senate speaker Milos Vystrcil visited Taiwan for five days.
Lithuania in turn set up Taiwan's representative office in Vilnius under the name "Taiwan" instead of "Taipei", a move seen as a significant diplomatic departure from standard practice.
Beijing withdrew its ambassador to Lithuania and demanded Vilnius do the same, which it eventually did.
Slovakia is also considering sending a delegation to Taiwan. The plan is due to be discussed during the upcoming visit.
On Thursday, the European Parliament urged closer ties between the EU and Taiwan, calling for increased investment and slamming China over its treatment of the island.
(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
 
 
source <a href="https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/taiwan-delegation-irks-china-with-eastern-europe-tour-2583783">https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/taiwan-delegation-irks-china-with-eastern-europe-tour-2583783</a>

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Taiwan Foreign Minister Joseph Wu is due to visit Prague on October 27. Prague, Czech Republic: A Taiwanese government delegation is vi...

No 'Squid Game': South Korea's Real-Life Debt Trap

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<div class="ins_instory_dv_cont"><img alt="No 'Squid Game': South Korea's Real-Life Debt Trap" src="https://c.ndtvimg.com/2021-10/uoeiaiu_south-korea-generic-reuters_625x300_22_October_21.jpg" title="No 'Squid Game': South Korea's Real-Life Debt Trap" /></div>
Personal bankruptcies soared to a five-year high of 50,379 last year, court filings show.
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Seoul:
Many small business owners in South Korea recognise themselves in the cash-strapped characters of the wildly popular Netflix drama 'Squid Game', who vie desperately for a chance to win $38 million, exposing a debt trap that is all too familiar.
Nearing retirement at 58, Yu Hee-sook paid off her debts long ago, but still gets calls from collection agencies threatening to seize her bank accounts, as the loans got securitised and sold to investors without her knowledge.
"In Korea, it's like the end of the world once you become a credit delinquent," said Yu, who got by on small jobs, such as writing for movie magazines, during the 13 years it took to pay off the debts she incurred over a movie that flopped in 2002.
"All I wanted was chances to repay debt, but banks don't let you make money," added Yu, who feels trapped in an unforgiving life-long ordeal, just like the 456 game show contestants of the 'Squid Game'.
While foreigners may associate South Korea with the boyband BTS and sleek Samsung smartphones, the drama points to a dark flipside of rising personal borrowing, the highest suicide rate among advanced nations, and the rarity of getting free of debt.
Record household borrowing is fuelling private investment and housing growth, but unforgiving social mores about debt often blur the line between personal and business loans, burdening those who run small businesses.
Personal bankruptcies soared to a five-year high of 50,379 last year, court filings show.
The proportion of those falling behind on more than one type of personal debt payment has risen steadily to reach 55.47% by June from 48% in 2017, figures from the Korea Credit Information Services show.
"If Donald Trump was a Korean, he probably couldn't have become the president, having been bankrupted many times," said a lawyer in Seoul, who specialises in personal bankruptcy.
"In the United States, corporate debt is more separated from personal debt."
An inadequate social safety net for small entrepreneurs and the lack of a rehabilitation programme for failures spell risks that could drive some South Koreans desperate, and banks often ignore a five-year limit to destroy insolvency records.
"Due to traditional practices in the banking industry, business owners in South Korea face high likelihood of taking the debt burden from the business they run," said bankruptcy judge Ahn Byung-wook.
Banks often demand that business owners stand as joint surety for the firm's borrowing, a practice the government banned for public financial institutions in 2018, although three owners told Reuters some providers persist.
Applicants for business loans who have poor credit ratings or a history of default need guarantees from state-run financial institutions in South Korea.
"Culturally, failed entrepreneurs are socially stigmatised, so starting over is hard, as people don't trust them," added Ahn, who has spent four years at the Seoul Bankruptcy Court.
"On top of that, those who file personal bankruptcy face a long list of restrictions on employment."
The numbers of South Korea's self-employed rank among the world's highest, forming a quarter of the job market, making it vulnerable to downturns. A central bank study in 2017 showed that just 38% of such businesses survive three years.
Still, as economic prospects dwindle, with South Koreans chasing fewer good jobs amid surging home prices, many are betting that speculation is the only route to wealth, and have taken on more debt than ever to buy stocks and other assets.
Household borrowing is roughly equivalent to GDP at a record 1,806 trillion won ($1.54 trillion) in the June quarter.
"The government encourages startups but they don't take care of the failed businesses," said Ryu Kwang-han, a 40-year old entrepreneur who exited the debtor rehabilitation programme in 2019 but still struggles to get loans.
"How is this different from 'Squid Game' if there's no second chances?"
The global sensation has been watched by 142 million households since its Sept. 17 debut, the world's largest streaming service has said, helping Netflix to add 4.38 million subscribers.
(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
 
 
source <a href="https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/south-koreas-real-life-debt-trap-no-squid-game-2583757">https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/south-koreas-real-life-debt-trap-no-squid-game-2583757</a>

news world No 'Squid Game': South Korea's Real-Life Debt Trap

Personal bankruptcies soared to a five-year high of 50,379 last year, court filings show. Seoul: Many small business owners in South Ko...

"We Have A Commitment To That": Joe Biden On Defending Taiwan If Attacked

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<div class="ins_instory_dv_cont"><img alt="'We Have A Commitment To That': Joe Biden On Defending Taiwan If Attacked" src="https://c.ndtvimg.com/2021-10/4tethk1k_joe-biden-baltimore_625x300_22_October_21.jpg" title="'We Have A Commitment To That': Joe Biden On Defending Taiwan If Attacked" /></div>
Joe Biden has said the US would come to the defence Taiwan in case of an attack by China.
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Baltimore, United States:
President Joe Biden on Thursday said the United States would come to the defense of Taiwan if the island were attacked by China, which considers it part of its territory.
"Yes," he responded when asked in a CNN town hall about defending Taiwan. "We have a commitment to that."
Biden's statement was at odds with the long-held US policy known as "strategic ambiguity," where Washington helps build Taiwan's defenses but does not explicitly promise to come to the island's help.
He made a similar pledge in August during an interview with ABC, insisting that the United States would always defend key allies, including Taiwan, despite the withdrawal from Afghanistan in the face of the victorious Taliban.
Biden said the United States made a "sacred commitment" to defend NATO allies in Canada and Europe and it's the "same with Japan, same with South Korea, same with Taiwan."
The White House subsequently told reporters that US policy on Taiwan "has not changed."
 
 
source <a href="https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/joe-biden-on-defending-taiwan-if-attacked-by-china-we-have-a-commitment-to-that-2583752">https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/joe-biden-on-defending-taiwan-if-attacked-by-china-we-have-a-commitment-to-that-2583752</a>

news world "We Have A Commitment To That": Joe Biden On Defending Taiwan If Attacked

Joe Biden has said the US would come to the defence Taiwan in case of an attack by China. Baltimore, United States: President Joe Biden...

Epic: Congressman Demolishes Hunter Biden Art, Biden Family Corruption During AG Garland Hearing

A Republican Colorado rep thoroughly ripped sales of Hunter Biden’s so-called art during testimony before the House Judiciary Committee Thursday.
Using the hearing to highlight Hunter’s shady art deals, Colo. Rep. Ken Buck displayed art pieces from acclaimed impressionist artists Claude Monet and Edgar Degas, pointing out Hunter’s amateur works curiously fetched similar prices at auction.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" readability="6.4411764705882">
This might be the GREATEST thing you'll watch today. 🔥<a href="https://twitter.com/RepKenBuck?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@RepKenBuck</a> absolutely NUKES Hunter Biden's crack art and Biden's family corruption in under 5 minutes— Leaves AG Garland SPEECHLESS.
WATCH THIS. <a href="https://t.co/QanY6glGIZ">pic.twitter.com/QanY6glGIZ</a>
— Benny (@bennyjohnson) <a href="https://twitter.com/bennyjohnson/status/1451232601134489611?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 21, 2021</a></blockquote>
After Rep. Buck explained the Monet and Degas paintings were listed at Christie’s auction company for $700,000 and $500,000 respectively, he turned to Hunter’s works.
“You may recognize this painting is a Hunter Biden. The Hunter Biden painting sold for $500,000,” Rep. Buck told Garland, adding the president’s son had no formal art training and was unable to find a gallery to host his works prior to 2020.
“And what happened in 2020 that changed all that, is that his dad became president of the United States. Now a single piece of art from Hunter Biden sells for more than the average American home.” 
Rep. Buck followed up by asking whether Garland intended to appoint a special counsel to investigate the Biden art grift, as mentioned in a letter he’d sent the DOJ.
“[For] the same reason I’m not to respond to questions about investigations of the former president or anyone else, I’m not going to discuss or otherwise with respect to any US citizen,” Garland responded. 
<div class="iJS9wHm9"><a href="https://www.infowarsstore.com/dna-force-plus?ims=kcdko&utm_campaign=DNAHero&utm_source=Infowars+Hero&utm_medium=banner&utm_content=DNAHero" target="_blank"><img src="https://api.directus.libertycdn.com/uploads/_/originals/DNA-hero-385-2.jpg" /></a></div>
 “You are allowed to tell us whether you will appoint a special counsel,” Buck told him.
Buck also cited comments from former President Barack Obama’s ethics chief Walter Shaub, who in July chastised the Biden administration for allowing Hunter to profit of his father’s fame.
“Hunter Biden should cancel this art sale because he knows the prices are based on his dad’s job,” Shaub said in July. “Shame on POTUS if he doesn’t ask Hunter to stop.”
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img alt="" class="wp-image-122516" sizes="(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" src="https://api-assets.infowars.com/2021/10/shaub.jpg" srcset="https://api-assets.infowars.com/2021/10/shaub-300x244.jpg 300w, https://api-assets.infowars.com/2021/10/shaub-768x625.jpg 768w, https://api-assets.infowars.com/2021/10/shaub.jpg 800w" /></figure>
Garland was later questioned by Rep. Tom McClintock (R-Calif.) who asked about a <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10070093/Joe-Biden-Hunters-shared-bank-accounts-make-president-target-FBI-probe.html" target="_blank">bank accounts shared by Hunter and his father</a>.
“If that doesn’t call for an independent investigation into the president, what would?” McClintock asked.
<hr class="wp-block-separator" />
<a href="https://banned.video/watch?id=60cbdff005bcb1148e798c18" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Hunter Biden Texts Appear to Reveal Biden Prostitution Ring</a>
 
 
source <a href="https://www.infowars.com/posts/epic-congressman-demolishes-hunter-biden-art-biden-family-corruption-during-ag-garland-hearing">https://www.infowars.com/posts/epic-congressman-demolishes-hunter-biden-art-biden-family-corruption-during-ag-garland-hearing</a>

news Epic: Congressman Demolishes Hunter Biden Art, Biden Family Corruption During AG Garland Hearing

A Republican Colorado rep thoroughly ripped sales of Hunter Biden’s so-called art during testimony before the House Judiciary Committee Thur...