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Health

Japan's Largest Pharmaceutical Company Halts Supply of Oseltamivir Amid Flu Outbreak

The current flu season in Japan has brought unprecedented challenges to the country's medical system, with over 9.5 million reported cases and a severe shortage of flu medication, including the antiviral drug Oseltamivir. The shortage has been exacerbated by excessive stockpiling by some medical institutions, leading to uneven distribution of the medication. In response, the Japanese government has called on medical institutions and pharmacies to avoid over-ordering and to consider using alternative medications produced by other companies.

Culture

Pricing the Difference: A Comparative Look at UK and China's Cost of Living

The disparity in prices between the UK and China has been a topic of discussion on social media, with many using the Chinese yuan to compare and contrast the cost of living in both countries. This has led to reflections on income, living costs, and the Engel coefficient, which measures the proportion of income spent on necessities like food and housing. The UK's Engel coefficient is around 10.6%, while China's is approximately 30%. This significant difference raises questions about the affordability of life in the UK compared to China. In fact, the Engel coefficient is used to measure the richness of a population, with a coefficient above 59% indicating poverty, 50-59% indicating a moderate level of well-being, 40-50% indicating a comfortable life, 30-40% indicating wealth, and below 30% indicating a high level of wealth. China has reached a coefficient of around 30%, indicating a wealthy status.

Sports

Korean Go Association Abolishes Controversial Cumulative Foul Rule

The Korean Go Association has announced the cancellation of the "cumulative foul direct loss" rule, a decision made in response to the controversy surrounding the recent LG Cup World Go Championship final. This rule had previously led to Chinese Go player Ke Jie being penalized and ultimately losing the match. The decision to cancel the rule was made at the first meeting of the KGA's Operations Committee, held on February 3 in Seoul.