Month: March 2024
Pig Kidney Transplant to humans
There is a chronic shortage of human donor organs for people who need them. Animal donors might help solve that. Heart transplants from pigs to humans have been tried recently too. Pig organs are a good match for people when it comes to size. Pig kidneys have been put into brain-dead people before as a
US resolution to UN for Gaza cease-fire
The death toll in Gaza since Oct. 7 has surpassed 31,900, including at least 27 people who have died of malnutrition, according to the enclave’s Health Ministry. The U.S. has submitted a draft resolution to the United Nations calling for an immediate cease-fire in Gaza that is tied to the release of Israeli hostages. Secretary
Russia captures a new village in eastern Ukraine
Hungary and Slovakia have said they will not join a Czech-led initiative to procure and send weapons to Ukraine, underscoring divisions in Central Europe around arms deliveries to Kyiv. Meanwhile, Russia’s Defense Ministry said on Thursday that it had captured the village of Tonenke in the eastern Donetsk region. This comes two days after it
Apple monopolizing the market
Apple has faced a growing legal backlash over its iOS ecosystem and business practices. Last month, it was fined €1.8bn (£1.5bn) by the EU for breaking competition laws over music streaming. The firm had prevented streaming services from informing users of payment options outside the Apple app store. The US has filed a landmark lawsuit
Inflation in America
In an ideal world central bankers would guide a full-employment, stable-inflation economy to what is known as the neutral rate of interest, the level at which monetary policy is neither expansionary nor contractionary. In reality, although there is no way of observing the neutral rate the Fed still tries to aim for it, with its
Israel’s next Failure
Israel’s final failure is clumsy diplomacy. Fury at the war was inevitable, especially in the global south, but Israel has done a poor job of countering it. “Lawfare”, including spurious genocide allegations, is damaging its reputation. America must help Israel avoid that fate and if it fails it will itself pay a heavy diplomatic price.
Military and financial assistance from Paris to Ukraine
Paris and Kyiv have concluded a defense agreement valid for ten years to help Ukraine repel the Russian invader. The agreement commits Paris to providing military and financial assistance to Ukraine, which could take the form of arms deliveries or the training of Ukrainian soldiers in France. In addition to the aid provided by the
Hope for Truce in Gaza
The death toll in Gaza has passed 31,000, a majority of them civilians, including 67 people who were found dead on the first day of Ramadan. Families are struggling to find food for iftar, the nightly fast-breaking meal. The more than 130 remaining hostages have now entered their sixth month of captivity, and dozens of
China, Russia and Iran Unity
For much of history, Russia, Iran and China were less chummy. Imperialists at heart, they often meddled in one another’s neighbourhoods and jostled for control of Asia’s trade routes. Lately, there has been new dynamics. Russia fell under Western sanctions in 2022, after invading Ukraine, and they were recently tightened while in 2020, Uncle Sam
Japanese Inflation
Having kept monetary policy ultra-loose for years, Japan has now begun to follow the course set by other economies since widespread inflation took hold. On March 19th the Bank of Japan raised interest rates for the first time since 2007, after inflation seemed at last to have become entrenched. Interest on balances held at the bank, previously