China's latest childcare subsidy policy is 'just for show', says consultancy
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Newsweek
a day ago
- Newsweek
Travel Warning Issued for China Amid Mosquito-Borne Virus Outbreak
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a Level 2 travel alert on Friday, advising those planning to visit China to practice enhanced precautions due to a significant chikungunya virus outbreak. Newsweek has reached out to the CDC via media inquiry form Saturday during non-working hours. Why It Matters Chikungunya is a viral disease transmitted primarily by Aedes mosquitoes and can cause symptoms such as fever, joint pain, headache, muscle pain, joint swelling, and rash. While symptoms can be severe and occasionally last for months, most cases resolve without hospitalization or death. There is currently no specific antiviral medicine for chikungunya, so treatment focuses on managing symptoms. The CDC advisory followed a surge in infections in southern China, raising concerns about travelers unknowingly importing the mosquito-borne illness to new regions. The outbreak highlights the persistent challenges posed by emerging infectious diseases in a highly connected world and the importance of prevention for U.S. travelers to affected destinations. What To Know The CDC's Level 2 alert—designated as "Practice Enhanced Precautions"—was announced after Chinese health authorities reported nearly 5,000 chikungunya infections, primarily in Guangdong province. The outbreak began in early July, with over 3,000 cases identified in a single week. In Foshan, a major manufacturing city in Guangdong, local officials accounted for about 60 percent of the reported cases. As of July 30, the total number of documented cases in Guangdong surpassed 6,500, with most classified as mild and no deaths reported by regional health authorities, the South China Morning Post reported on Saturday. The Aedes mosquitos bite during the daytime and patients can see symptoms anywhere from three to seven days after being bitten by an infected mosquito. The CDC has warned that internationally mobile travelers may further spread the virus to regions where it has not previously circulated. On Saturday, the first imported case since 2019 was reported in Hong Kong in a child who spent two weeks in Shunde district, the South China Morning Post reported. Chinese Vice-Premier Liu Guozhong urged local authorities in Foshan to "strictly implement port health quarantine measures," and called for heightened mosquito control efforts to "effectively eliminate mosquitoes and cut off epidemic spread channels," according to China's official Xinhua News Agency. Officials have released thousands of mosquito-eating fish in the Guangdong province in an effort to curb the rising number of cases, according to a report from state-run media outlet China Daily. Because no specific antiviral medicine is available for chikungunya, prevention—through vaccination, insect repellent, long sleeves, and mosquito control measures—remains the most effective defense, according to the CDC. Globally, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control reported that chikungunya has affected approximately 240,000 people and caused 90 deaths across at least 16 countries so far this year. The mortality rate for chikungunya remains low and fatalities are rare. This photograph shows a mosquito trap as part of the fight against the Chikungunya pandemic by mosquitoes in Saint-Benoit on the French overseas island of La Reunion on April 22. This photograph shows a mosquito trap as part of the fight against the Chikungunya pandemic by mosquitoes in Saint-Benoit on the French overseas island of La Reunion on April 22. Photo by LUDOVIC MARIN/AFP via Getty Images What People Are Saying The World Health Organization (WHO) said on its website: "Chikungunya is a mosquito-borne viral disease that causes fever and severe joint pain. It is caused by a ribonucleic acid (RNA) virus that belongs to the alphavirus genus of the family Togaviridae." It continued: "The name 'chikungunya' derives from a word in the Kimakonde language of southern Tanzania, meaning "that which bends up" and describes the stooped appearance of infected people with severe joint pain (arthralgia)." U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said on its website: "Outbreaks have occurred in Africa, the Americas, Asia, Europe, and islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. There is a risk the virus can spread to unaffected areas by infected travelers." What Happens Next? Travelers to affected areas of China are advised by the CDC to practice enhanced protective measures against mosquito bites, including using EPA-registered insect repellent and staying in accommodations with window screens or air conditioning. Chinese public health officials have stepped up surveillance and vector control campaigns in Foshan and Guangdong, seeking to contain the spread and prevent the escalation of severe cases.
Tom's Guide
2 days ago
- Tom's Guide
Does acupressure help you sleep better? I asked two experts — this is what they said
In a time where we're bombarded with social media trends for sleep like April Theory and the 'sleepy girl mocktail,' it can be easy to forget that there are some methods you can use to help with your slumber that have been around for thousands of years. Like acupressure, a non-invasive, ancient traditional Chinese medicine practice that involves the use of pressure on the face and body at certain points, some of which are used to help with sleep. Research has shown that acupressure can help with sleep, from reducing insomnia, to improving sleep quality in hospital patients and even contributing to better sleep in menopausal women. Here, we'll explore this research and the potential benefits of acupressure for sleep, as well as speaking to experts in the field to find out about what acupressure is, and how you can even practice it in the comfort of your own home. "Acupressure is a non-invasive traditional Chinese medicine technique that uses pressure on the face and body at specific points known as acupoints," says registered acupuncturist Lily Lai, who has a PhD in Chinese Medicine in Primary Care and offers acupressure at her UK clinic. "Pressure is applied in a variety of ways – most commonly finger pressure is used as well as tools," she adds. Doctor of Oriental Medicine (DOM), Dr. Haley Parker, who is a licensed acupuncturist and the Director of Clinical Operations at VUIM Clinic (Virginia University of Integrative Medicine), explains that in acupressure, gentle sustained pressure is applied to "specific points along the body's meridians — energy channels that correspond to organs and systems." Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips. "It's based on the same principles as acupuncture, but instead of using needles, you use fingers, palms, elbows, or tools to stimulate the points," Dr. Parker explains. "The idea is to restore the smooth flow of Qi (vital energy) and blood through the body to promote healing, reduce tension, and support balance between the body and mind," she says. "From a Western perspective, acupressure may stimulate the nervous system, influence endorphin release, reduce cortisol, and activate the parasympathetic 'rest and digest' response," the doctor continues. According to The American Institute of Alternative Medicine, the practice is "based on the belief that applying firm pressure in specific acupoints stimulates the nervous system and brain to release endorphins and neurotransmitters to ease... pain." Acupressure falls under what the National Health Service (NHS) in the UK describes as 'complimentary and alternative medicine' (CAM) and they do advise that "if you think you may have a health condition, first see your GP. Do not visit a CAM practitioner instead of seeing your GP." As the NHS points out, it is important to review the evidence when considering a complimentary or alternative medicine. When it comes to acupressure there is "a growing body of evidence supporting [its] effectiveness for sleep," says Dr. Parker. As well as the research cited below, a review of studies into the effect of acupressure on hospital inpatients showed that it improved factors such as sleep quality, total sleep time, sleep efficiency and sleep onset latency compared to control groups. Researchers concluded that it is an "effective intervention to improve sleep quality and sleep parameters in inpatients." Among the studies she highlighted, Dr. Parker pointed to a review of studies and a specific study which both showed that acupressure improved sleep quality in older people. As we've explored above, this traditional Chinese medicine practice involves applying pressure to certain points. Dr. Parker says it can support sleep "by calming the nervous system, easing physical tension, and regulating the underlying organ systems that influence rest." She notes that the best combination of acupressure points for sleep depends on what the individual is experiencing and that a personal point prescription would then be selected to "to support the patient and the present symptoms, like insomnia and restlessness." However, she shares the following common points and how they work from a traditional Chinese medicine perspective: Anxiety can mean that worries, racing thoughts and restlessness make it particularly hard to fall asleep. Lai says that one of the common causes of sleeplessness is stress and anxiety, and points to a systematic review and meta-analysis of research which showed acupressure can significantly reduce anxiety. Acupressure can significantly reduce anxiety "Studies suggest that acupressure and acupuncture work in similar ways by encouraging the body to release neurotransmitters such as endorphins and serotonin," says Dr. Parker. "both of which are mood elevators and play a major role in sleepregulation via the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis," she explains. "Acupressure may also be increasing parasympathetic nervous activity, the rest-and-digest part of our nervous system which takes the body away from being in the sympathetic nervous system state, the fight-or-flight response," Lai adds. She says that these calming, anxiety-reducing effects of acupressure can help sleep by improving both sleep latency, and sleep duration. Those who have experienced either short-term (several days or weeks) or chronic insomnia (lasting three months or more), know that it doesn't just interfere with your sleep. It can also cause issues including irritability, fatigue and problems with focus the next day. But research shows that acupressure may be a tool you can include to combat it. One study compared the effect of acupressure on those with insomnia, with 200 participants divided into a group who were taught self-administered acupressure, and a group who were given sleep hygiene education. They found that those who had learned acupressure had improved Insomnia Severity Index scores after both four weeks and eight weeks, compared to the other group. Auricular acupressure, which focuses on pressure points on the ear, has been shown in a number of studies to help with insomnia. One review of studies looking at how effective auricular acupressure is as a treatment for insomnia concluded that, "the effects of auricular acupressure on insomnia are comparable to those of estazolam," which is a medication used short-term for treating insomnia. And while Dr. Parker noted above that acupressure be used to help with sleep issues like insomnia, she also explains that, "lack of sleep/insomnia is often a symptom of an underlying imbalance." "There are also lifestyle factors and habits that should be addressed to support a restful nights sleep (examples include limiting screen time before bed, limit caffeine after 3pm in the afternoon, eliminate noises and lights in the bedroom, try to go to bed at a regular time each night etc)," she explains. "Sleep problems can also be associated with hormonal changes and studies have demonstrated that acupressure can be effective for improving sleep in these patient populations," says Lai. A huge number of women experiencing menopause have issues with their sleep. In fact, 2023 research noted that across the world, sleep and menopause effects the lives of about a third of women. Lai suggests that acupressure may be one way to help tackle this, explaining that, "acupressure has shown in recent trials to significantly improve sleep quality in menopausal women." A trial published in the Iranian Journal of Medical Sciences, found that "acupressure alone can improve sleep quality at a rate of 22% in menopausal women by massage on the effective points," and concluded that it "can be used as a complementary treatment to relieve sleep disorders in menopausal women." In addition, Lai says that "Studies have indicated that acupressure impacts hormone-related sleep problems through decreasing levels of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) as well as through increasing levels of oestradiol." "These in turn improve sleep quality related to hormonal conditions, but also in other symptoms such as hot flushes and fatigue," she explains. If you're interested in exploring acupressure and want some simple options that you can try out from the ease of your home, Dr. Parker suggests the following. Acupressure mats like the Shakti mat and Pranamat have become popular options to try at home, and both promise to help improve your sleep after just 20 minutes use. Pranamat even cites stats from Dr. Marek Dvořák's sleep tracker, which show that after using the Pranamat 20 minutes before sleep, his REM sleep increased by 2%, deep sleep increased by 7% and light sleep was reduced by 10%. Lai also shares the one piece of advice given to every patient in her practice experiencing sleep issues: "Utilise acupressure wristbands to stimulate Nei Guan (Pericardium 6). Whilst this acupoint is widely known for nausea and vomiting, it is also used frequently in traditional acupuncture for sleeplessness as well as for stress and anxiety," she says. This pressure point is found between the two tendons ont he inner aspect of the forearm, three finger widths below the wrist crease. It's important to consult your doctor if you are experiencing pain or a medical condition, however, Lai and Dr. Parker agree that acupressure is, in general, very safe for most people. "Basic self-acupressure can be safely carried out in specific circumstances such as with acupressure wristbands for nausea and vomiting," Lai says. But she notes that, "for face, body or ear acupuncture and for more complex conditions, this is safest and most effective when carried out by a TCM practitioner who is registered with an appropriate acupuncture professional body." "If you are actively under the care of a doctor or consultant for a medical condition, you should always seek their advice prior to using acupressure," she explains. It's important that certain patient groups such as children, pregnant women and the elderly should check with their doctor before using acupressure for their health concerns.
Epoch Times
2 days ago
- Epoch Times
From an Intern Doctor's Suicide to Infant Kidney Transplant: Unveiling China's Organ Harvesting Industry
The Chinese Communist Party's (CCP's) forced organ harvesting practices, once primarily targeting Falun Gong practitioners, have escalated into a broader societal issue with alarming international implications. Huang Shiwei, vice chairman of the medical ethics nonprofit Taiwan International Organ Transplant Care Association, spoke on NTD's Health 1+1 program, saying that recent revelations surrounding the suspicious suicide of an intern doctor and the use of infants' kidneys for transplant have cast a stark light on how the CCP runs its illicit organ transplant industry. 'Donor Search' at Chinese Hospitals A chilling revelation has emerged from the Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, where internal documents and audio recordings, made public by the father of the late medical intern Luo Shuaiyu on June 17, expose a systematic practice of illicit organ sourcing within Chinese hospitals. Luo, a graduate student specializing in kidney transplantation, fell to his death from a building in May 2024, just weeks before his graduation. After his death, his family discovered a trove of evidence on his computer implicating the Second Xiangya Hospital in illegal organ trafficking. His father, posting on Weibo, said that Luo refused to comply with hospital directives to source organs of untraceable origin, a stance that may have led to his death. The Luo case, according to Huang, is indicative of a broader, troubling trend in Chinese medical institutions. 'Every hospital is searching for organs,' Huang said, 'They asked [Luo] to find child donors. Where was he supposed to look? Among the children being treated at the hospital, he was tasked with identifying suitable donors.' Huang said Luo's refusal to participate in this ethically fraught practice led to intense pressure, culminating in his tragic death. Luo's parents released three audio recordings that reveal the hospital's efforts to source child donors for transplantation and research. One recording details a directive for Luo to locate 12 child donors aged 3 to 9. According to his parents, Luo was pressured to fulfill this task in the months leading up to his graduation, with his academic grades and degree at risk if he failed to comply. Facing suppression online, Luo's parents continue to seek justice, raising global awareness of the hospital's alleged involvement in illegal organ trafficking and coercive tactics to enforce compliance among medical staff. Infant Kidneys Targeted On May 21, 2024, Fudan University Medical College in Shanghai established a pediatric organ transplant center. While the hospital emphasized that the center was created to save sick children, Chinese parents increasingly fear that their loved ones are becoming targets for organ harvesting. According to the university, Li Qian, CCP secretary at the pediatric hospital, claimed that 'in just over a year, [pediatric organ transplants] have exceeded 100 cases.' State media outlet Sina reported that the hospital has performed highly complex surgeries, including kidney transplants from donors weighing less than 5 kg (11 pounds), indicating that newborns are among the donors. The practice of transplanting children's kidneys into adults has become routine in Chinese hospitals. In 2017, the First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University in Guangzhou reported that 90 percent of pediatric kidney donors were allocated to adult patients. A 2023 study by doctors from Shanghai Jiao Tong University's Renji Hospital, published in the American Journal of Transplantation, detailed two cases of kidney transplants from newborns born at 29 weeks and 29 weeks, 5 days to adult women aged 34 and 25 with end-stage kidney disease. The kidneys were harvested on the second and third days after birth, prompting ethical scrutiny. Shabih Manzar, associate professor of clinical pediatrics at Louisiana State University, questioned the procedure in the same journal, noting that one of the 29-week preterm infants had no apparent life-threatening conditions, casting doubt on the decision to withdraw life-sustaining treatment. Huang noted the high survival rates of 29-week preterm infants with modern medical technology. 'Whether it's the parents or the medical system, everyone would typically do everything possible to save these preterm newborns,' he said. 'No one would give up and simply designate them as organ donors. Yet, we see that they are using 29-week preterm infants as organ donors.' China's Organ Harvesting Industry 2000–2006: Explosive Growth in Organ Transplants Following CCP's Persecution of Falun Gong China's organ transplant industry, which began using organs from executed prisoners—including political prisoners and prisoners of conscience—following a 1984 regulation allowing organ procurement from executed prisoners, saw explosive growth after the CCP's persecution of Falun Gong began in 1999. Huang noted that after former CCP leader Jiang Zemin initiated the persecution campaign against Falun Gong, practitioners were branded as 'class enemies,' making them prime targets for forced organ harvesting. This period marked an unprecedented surge in organ transplants. According to data from the World Organization to Investigate the Persecution of Falun Gong, compiled from Chinese state media reports, only 135 liver transplants were recorded in China over more than two decades before 1999, averaging five to six cases annually. In stark contrast, from 1999 to 2006, liver transplants skyrocketed to 14,085 cases over eight years, averaging more than 1,700 cases per year—a staggering 180-fold increase. 'Organ transplantation in China suddenly became a massive industry,' Huang said. 'With countless patients in China and worldwide needing organs, there are enormous commercial interests at play.' 2007: A Fault Line in Organ Shortage In March 2006, a whistleblower using the pseudonym Annie, a former employee of Sujiatun Thrombosis Hospital in Shenyang, Liaoning Province, revealed to The Epoch Times the CCP's horrific practice of forced organ harvesting from Falun Gong practitioners. This exposure had a significant impact on China's organ transplant industry. According to the China Liver Transplant Registry, cited by state media People's Daily, liver transplants peaked at 2,970 cases in 2005 and 2,781 in 2006 but fell by roughly one-third to 1,822 cases in 2007. Huang attributed this decline to the 2006 revelations. 'The reason for the decrease in organ transplants in China in 2007 was the exposure of the CCP's forced organ harvesting from Falun Gong practitioners,' Huang said. 'As relatives relentlessly searched for family members detained for practicing Falun Gong, it became increasingly difficult for the CCP's public security and medical personnel to continue using Falun Gong practitioners' organs on such a large scale.' He said the drop in transplant numbers underscores the international scrutiny and domestic pressure that began to disrupt the CCP's organ harvesting operations. Expansion to More Victims Facing international scrutiny and domestic pressure over its forced organ harvesting from Falun Gong practitioners, China's organ harvesting industry began targeting other vulnerable groups, including Uyghurs, and other ethnic groups, as well as young people, children, and infants. Huang said: 'In most countries, organ donors tend to be older, 50, 60, or even 70 years old. But in China, the organ transplant industry operates differently. When organs are supplied to wealthy individuals, they naturally demand those from younger people. The focus has shifted to young individuals and, increasingly, to children.' Recent years have seen a surge in mysterious disappearances of adolescents across multiple Chinese provinces. Despite China's extensive surveillance infrastructure—boasting the world's largest network of monitoring cameras, big data analytics, and facial recognition technology—these incidents remain unresolved, fueling public suspicion of forced organ harvesting. In October 2022, Hu Xinyu, a first-year high school student in eastern China's Jiangxi Province, mysteriously disappeared from school. Various reports from insiders and overseas whistleblowers allege that the Hu case is linked to forced organ harvesting, a practice purportedly known within the local government. These claims suggest the existence of an organ trafficking network involving government officials, hospitals, and public security entities. In August 2023, 8-year-old Wang Sijun, who had a rare Rh-negative blood type, died unexpectedly while receiving treatment at Yunnan Red Cross Hospital. According to viral videos posted by her family on platforms such as Douyin, Wang was admitted for a routine examination while accompanying a relative, only to die in the nephrology ward. Her autopsy cited hemorrhagic shock as the cause of death, with traces of the anticoagulant enoxaparin sodium detected, leading her family to suspect blood extraction and organ theft. Although no definitive evidence confirms organ harvesting in the case, Huang noted that widespread allegations of hospitals engaging in such practices have created a climate of heightened anxiety. Documented cases, such as a fraudulent organ donation scandal in Anhui Province's Bengbu City, lend credence to these concerns. Between 2017 and 2018, six defendants, including four doctors, were convicted of deceiving families and illegally harvesting organs from at least 11 patients. Huang said: 'China's organ transplant industry, driven by the Communist Party's ideology, has evolved into a vast commercial enterprise. These cases show it has become an unregulated beast, with rampant, unchecked organ harvesting.' He further noted that the industry's expansion to new victim groups highlights a deepening ethical crisis in China's transplant system, raising critical concerns about oversight and accountability. US Legislative Efforts to Counter Forced Organ Harvesting As global awareness of forced organ harvesting grows, the United States is taking decisive steps to address the issue through robust legislation. On May 7, the House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed the Stop Forced Organ Harvesting Act of 2025 with a bipartisan vote of 406–1. The bill targets individuals involved in forced organ harvesting, imposing severe penalties such as asset freezes, financial transaction bans, and visa revocations. Currently, the legislation awaits a Senate vote. During a House Foreign Affairs Committee hearing on May 21, Rep. Chris Smith (R-N.J.) urged Senate support for the bill. In response, Secretary of State Marco Rubio called forced organ harvesting concerning and pledged to advocate for the legislation's passage in the Senate.
