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Canada and China aren’t getting along of late thanks to the whole Huawei fiasco. So why did researchers from Canada’s National Microbiology Laboratory send samples of Ebola and Henipah viruses to scientists in Beijing? Some experts believe Chinese researchers in Canada were engaged in industrial espionage. “If China was leveraging these scientists in Canada to gain access to a potentially valuable pathogen or to elements of a virus without having to license the patent . . . it makes sense with the idea of China trying to gain access to valuable IP without paying for it,” says Leah West, an expert in national security law at the Norman Paterson School of International Affairs, in an interview with CBC News. http://bit.ly/2YZZGE6
While we’re on the subject of Canada, they’re not too thrilled with U.S. President Donald Trump’s idea of buying up affordable Canadian prescription medications in an attempt at lowering American costs. Of course, it would raise prices in Canada (that supply and demand thing) and experts are saying Canadians can potentially die. Apparently, 80% of Americans support the idea. Does that surprise anyone though? http://bit.ly/2H1jLU4
Andrew Trister, one of the leads in Apple’s healthcare unit, is moving to the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. According to FierceBiotech, “In an interview with CNBC, Trister said he will work with U.S. companies hoping to bring their health technology to the developing world, where smartphone use is growing. Additionally, he will help guide investments in local companies in low-income countries and areas. This could include telehealth applications as well as portable diagnostics, according to the report.” http://bit.ly/2H01tm7
There was a missile test. Then an unexpected explosion. (Sort of a mushroom cloud.) Then a spike in radiation. It was probably the worst nuclear energy accident in the Russian region since Chernobyl. As per the New York Times, “American intelligence officials are racing to understand a mysterious explosion that released radiation off the coast of northern Russia last week, apparently during the test of a new type of nuclear-propelled cruise missile hailed by President Vladimir V. Putin as the centerpiece of Moscow’s arms race with the United States.” Perhaps the centerpiece should be shelved? https://nyti.ms/2H3fsYC
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