Gunmen in Syria’s rebel-held Idlib province have killed Raed Fares, a prominent activist who ran an independent radio station in the country’s last opposition stronghold.

Fares was shot on Friday along with his colleague Hamoud Juneid in the town of Kafranbel, according to their Radio Fresh station.

Fares and Juneid were “shot dead by unknown assailants riding a van in Kafranbel”, Fresh FM, which provides independent news and satirises both President Bashar al-Assad and opposition groups, said in a post on Facebook. 

Salman, a 33-year-old mathematics teacher, who witnessed the attack, told the Middle East Eye website that attackers in a van driving “at high speed … fired shots from a machine gun, before speeding away”.

Juneid died during the attack while Fares died of his wounds at the Orient Hospital, Middle East Eye reported.

Fares gained prominence early in the uprising against Assad, which began with mass demonstrations in 2011 and slid into civil war, with protest banners that drew international attention on social media.

The banners targeted Assad, his allies Iran and Russia, Western powers that Fares portrayed as selling out ordinary Syrians through their response to the crisis, and the various armed groups who had emerged in the chaos.

Fares, who survived a 2014 gun attack by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL, known as ISIS) armed group, also distributed photographs and video clips showing the toll that war was taking in Kafranbel, providing a picture of life in rebel-held parts of Syria where it was dangerous for foreign media to visit.

In his last posts on Twitter on September 21, Fares wrote about a demonstration against “Russia, Assad and all kinds of terrorism”. 

He also posted a picture of himself with his two sons at the rally as thousands took to the streets across Idlib to protest against a potential full-fledged offensive by government forces and their allies.

Kafranbel 21 Sep 2018
Me and my sons: Mohamad & Ahmad
Kafranbel Demonstration pic.twitter.com/uye23DCODy

— Raed Fares (@RaedFares4) September 21, 2018

Kafranbel: 21 Sep 2018
Demonstration against Russia, Assad and all kinds of Terrorism
the song says: “Syria will be a Free Country”
PART 2 pic.twitter.com/SvapeBdGRq

— Raed Fares (@RaedFares4) September 21, 2018

In an opinion piece in June in the Washington Post, calling for the United States to resume financial support for Radio Fresh, Fares wrote that “the terrorist groups [and the government] see us as a direct threat”.

By his own account, his offices were targeted both by government bombardment and by armed groups, who abducted and tortured him several times.

‘Calamity’

News of Fares’ killing triggered an outpouring of grief on social media. 

Nasser Weddady, a US-based political analyst, called Fares’ death an “immense loss to the cause of freedom in Syria and beyond”, while Marietje Schaake, a member of the European Parliament, said she saw his “legacy as a task for all of us, to keep supporting Syrians who risk everything for democracy and liberty”. 

R.I.P Raed Fares, the bravest nonviolent man I ever met. An immense loss to the cause of freedom in Syria and beyond. pic.twitter.com/C7ZZVVgaK0

— Weddady (@weddady) November 23, 2018

He survived an assassination attempt by ISIS, but more than enemies, Raed had many admirers. His loved ones and the people of Syria have lost in Raed an example, a man who chose to lead and speak up, despite the harshest repression. I wish his loved ones comfort and support 2/3

— Marietje Schaake (@MarietjeSchaake) November 23, 2018

Others described Fares’ death as a “calamity”. 

The stream of terrible news continue to pummel us. Such an irreplaceable loss. Such a calamity.

— İyad el-Baghdadi | إياد البغدادي (@iyad_elbaghdadi) November 23, 2018

Awful news from Syria, that prominent activist Raed Fares from Kafranbel was assassinated alongside fellow activist Hammoud Jned. You will remember the pro-democracy banners and posters from Kafranbel, critical of the regime and Islamist extremists https://t.co/G4iYXhINBx pic.twitter.com/JLN5vk4oJb

— Joseph Willits (@josephwillits) November 23, 2018

More sad news from Syria. Raed Fares and Hammud Junayd, two of the sharp minds behind the great protest banners and activities in Kafranbel were assassinated overnight ( most likely by HTS). May their souls rest in peace.

— Haid Haid (@HaidHaid22) November 23, 2018

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a British-based war monitor, has reported a succession of assassinations in Idlib over the past year targeting leaders from the area’s major factions and political dissidents who publicly disagree with their governance.

The Hay’et Tahrir al-Sham alliance is the most powerful of several groups present in Idlib province.

A Russian-Turkish deal to prevent further fighting in northwest Syria has for now averted a planned government offensive.

SOURCE:
Al Jazeera and news agencies

NCT 127 are anything but conventional. The group have been releasing some of the most sonically unique and confident songs in K-Pop since the unit’s loud, frenetic introduction with “Fire Truck” in 2016. But with the release of their latest single “Simon Says,” off their repackaged album Regulate (out now), NCT 127 deliver a track that feels more reminiscent of the hypnotic, trap vibe of NCT’s debut, “The 7th Sense.”

Bass-heavy beats, layered production, and charismatic swagger have become hallmarks of NCT 127’s discography, and “Simon Says” has all of that in spades. It’s a commanding hip-hop track that opens with a traditional Maori haka war cry — a challenge to opponents — and ends with rapper Mark casually singing “we don’t pay no attention.” The striking visual and intricate choreography are just as intimidating:

And while the 10-member group lean heavily toward hip-hop — led by magnetic rappers and dynamic duo Taeyong and Mark — it wouldn’t be a proper NCT comeback without a powerful showing from the vocal line — particularly Taeil and Haechan, who truly get to flex on the bridge. (I’m breathless just thinking about Taeil hitting that extended high note.)

“Simon Says” is the lead single off Regulate, a repackage of their first full-length album, Regular-Irregular. Lyrically, the song stays true to the album’s concept, which flows between two states: reality and fantasy. On “Simon Says,” NCT 127 ask listeners to embrace their authentic selves instead of doing whatever society tells them to do and acting the way society tells them to act, just like a game of Simon Says.

Regulate also features the playful and melodic new song “Welcome To My Playground,” as well as the long-awaited Korean version of their Japanese single “Chain.” Better yet: It’s all available to stream now.

With “Simon Says,” NCT 127 stay true to themselves as artists and entertainers with a wholly original track about the power of individuality. And while the experimental group have yet to produce a smash hit in their native Korea, they don’t seem bothered by it. In fact, it seems to be positively fueling their creative decisions.

The mayor of Tijuana declared an international humanitarian crisis on Thursday over the arrival of more than 5,000 mostly Central American migrants traveling in a caravan.

The migrants have streamed into the border city in the past week to seek asylum in the United States. 

During a press conference Thursday, Mayor Juan Manuel Gastelum asked international groups like the United Nations to step in help the city deal with the influx of migrants, amid a lagging response from the Mexican federal government, which he accused of neglecting their responsibilities to deal with migrant and immigration issues.

“They have categorically omitted and not complied with their legal obligations,” he said. “So we’re now asking them and international humanitarian aid groups to bring in and carry out humanitarian assistance.” 

MORE: Busloads of migrants arrive as Tijuana shelter overflows

For years now, large numbers of migrants have flocked to Tijuana in their quest to seek asylum at border ports of entry along Southern California.

But the pace of arrivals stepped up this year with the organization of several migrant caravans, whose intended destination has been this border community. Since last week, more than 5,000 migrants who took off from Honduras in October arrived in Tijuana, raising tensions with local residents and straining government services.

The municipal government estimated it has spent nearly $27,000 daily to house and care for the nearly 4,700 migrants currently in the city. They are housed mostly in the Unidad Deportiva Benito Juarez, a sport complex converted into a makeshift shelter, but well over capacity since the start of the week. 

“I will not compromise public services,” Gastelum told reporters from city hall. “I will not spend Tijuanans’ money, I will not bring Tijuana into debt now, in the same way we haven’t done so these past two years.”

The Baja California state government also asked the federal government to step up its assistance. State officials have allocated resources, and opened up shelter space in the nearby city of Mexicali, 90 miles away. That city, and state capital, is the last stop and staging ground for the waves of migrants seeking to reach Tijuana. 

READ MORE: More migrants staying as Mexicali braces for second caravan arrival

The state government estimates there are at least 1,500 migrants currently in Mexicali, with a second caravan making its way to the city. But an increasing number are opting to stay there, rather than face additional hardships in Tijuana.

Gastelum has drawn criticism, as well as support, in recent days over his approach to the migrant caravan. Last week, he was spotted wearing a red hat that reads “Make Tijuana Great Again,” in reference to President Donald Trump’s election slogan.

That coupled with widespread coverage of an anti-immigrant march in Tijuana and anti-immigrant sentiment flooding social media have garnered attention since the caravan’s arrival in Mexico.

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Image: Furbo

By Mashable DealsMashable Deals2018-11-23 13:59:12 UTC

This Black Friday, don’t forget about the most important being in your life — your dog. 

If we could stay home with our dogs at all times, we would, but unfortunately we need to go to work so we can pay for their food and toys. Thanks to the magic of technology, though, we can play with our furry friends all day long. With Furbo, a Wi-Fi-enabled camera with two-way audio built to keep tabs on your pet, you can toss them treats from anywhere in the world. 

SEE ALSO: All the best Black Friday 2018 sales, right in one place

In addition to barking alerts that let you know when your dog is agitated, the software can also recognize your dog’s face and send you a “selfie” when she gets close to the camera. It supposedly learns her activities and alerts you to specific events, like if a person enters the house. 

Furbo is the number one bestselling pet camera on Amazon. It topped the list in both the pet and camera categories on Amazon Prime day and now it’s on sale again for $134.99. That’s 46% off the retail price of $249 and $30 less than last Black Friday. Pro tip: This makes a great gift for dog owners.

Pick up a Furbo now and treat your dog (or the dog lover in your life) to a gift this year. 

 

Black Friday 2018 deals by store

• Amazon: Shop sales on Fire tablets, Echo Spot, and more

• Walmart: Shop sales on Xbox One S, Instant Pot, Nintendo Switch

• Macy’s: Shop sales on Vitamix, Dyson, Instant Pot, Roomba

• Target: Shop sales on iPhone XS, Apple Watch, 23andMe, TVs, and more

• Best Buy: Shop sales on QLED TVs, Microsoft laptops, Nintendo, and more

Black Friday 2018 deals by category

• Gaming deals: Xbox One X, PlayStation 4, Nintendo, Alienware laptops, and more

• Laptop deals: Lenovo Yoga, Alienware, Dell, HP, Asus, and more

• TV deals: OLEDs from Best Buy, Amazon, Walmart, and more

• Smart home deals: Amazon Echo, Roomba, Google Home, Apple HomePod

• Instant Pot deals: Where to get the cheapest price

• Clothing deals and promo codes: J.Crew, Macy’s, Kohl’s, Nordstrom, Lord & Taylor

• Mattress deals: Nectar, Casper, Leesa, Eight Sleep, and more

When we arrived in Kiev, Ukraine’s picturesque capital, there was tension in the air. The ongoing war with Russian-backed separatists, almost a thousand kilometres to the east, had profoundly affected the atmosphere, and it was no surprise to see large groups of men in paramilitary uniform on the streets.

Combined with the relentless rise of right-wing demagogues, which seems to be a feature of much of Eastern Europe these days, it had created a climate of ultra-nationalism and disturbing levels of xenophobia.

In a country that suffered terribly at the hands of the Nazis during the second world war, the unthinkable had started to happen: pogroms against an ethnic minority, in this case, the Roma, have somehow become commonplace.

The C14 affair

It all began in April 2018 (on a day that many members of the far-right still mark as Hitler’s birthday) when a neo-Nazi group calling itself C14 launched a violent assault on a temporary Roma camp in a park in Kiev.

Mobile phone footage showing women and children fleeing the attackers soon went viral on the internet.

Lesia Kharchenko, from Amnesty International, tracked the tweets that followed, “Roma people were just taken out of their homes and they had to run away. They were attacked by a group of young people who had gas sprays and other things, but because nobody had died at that time, there was not a lot of reaction from the state and then there were other attacks.”

The C14 affair and the apparent impunity of those responsible inspired other neo-Nazi groups and, before long, a vicious wave of anti-Roma raids began to sweep across the country.

The first fatality came at another temporary camp on the outskirts of Lviv one night in June when 24-year-old David Popp was stabbed to death by knife-wielding youths. His widow, Iboya, showed us the wounds she received that night.

“There were 17 of us who were stabbed,” she told us. “When they were stabbing David my mind went blank. I didn’t understand anything … I was crying: ‘Don’t hurt the child! Don’t! He’s a child!’”

Uniquely in this unfolding crisis, police did at least arrive and arrest the culprits.

However, the alarming truth is that, on a number of other occasions, not only have the police stood by and allowed such attacks to take place but, according to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), in some cases, they have actually participated.

‘They don’t see it any more. They’re so used to discrimination’

A recent OHCHR paper entitled Report on the human rights situation in Ukraine describes raids on Roma communities during which “police were physically aggressive; beating people, damaging or destroying private possessions, and treating the Roma in a humiliating manner.”

Most of Ukraine’s estimated 250,000 Roma are fully integrated into mainstream society but many still endure shocking levels of poverty, particularly in the Transcarpathia region, 800 kilometres south-west of the capital, where the inhabitants of most Roma settlements speak Hungarian.

It is from within these communities that small groups of families migrate to Ukraine’s more prosperous cities in search of seasonal work, setting up temporary camps and sending money home, just as their parents and grandparents have done before them. But in the current climate, such people have become targets of ultra-right paramilitaries – attacks usually justified in typically contemptuous terms.

If you will go to a Roma community and you ask: ‘Do you face discrimination in your everyday life?’ they will not even be able to answer because they don’t see it any more. They are so used to it.

Zola Kondur, Coalition of Roma NGOs

“These conflicts with the Roma nationality always take place because the Roma mostly live by robbery … without work, by drug trade, by fraud,” says Ilya Kiva, a former paramilitary and presidential candidate in next year’s election, when we meet him at his headquarters in downtown Kiev. “They must be taught to live according to the law of the country in which they live. That’s it.”

Such views are not uncommon in Ukraine.

“When we speak about the Roma situation in Ukraine, it’s the same as is in many European countries, the challenges and the problems are the same … the stereotypes that the majority of the population have towards Roma, and its influence on their relations with society,” says Zola Kondur, of the Coalition of Roma NGOs.

She believes that prejudice is now so prevalent that it has become the norm.

“If you will go to a Roma community and you ask: ‘Do you face discrimination in your everyday life?’ they will not even be able to answer because they don’t see it any more. They are so used to it.”

Forgotten by the state

It is to one of these Roma communities – in Transcarpathia – that we go next.

The first thing you notice when entering the Roma settlement on the outskirts of the city of Berehove is the wall that surrounds it. On the outside it appears to be a typical Ukrainian locale, the sort you are likely to find anywhere in this part of Eastern Europe; on the inside, it’s as if you’ve entered another world, one populated by malnourished children and gaunt, prematurely aged adults.

Horses and carts clunk along the pothole-filled roads, passing grimy ramshackle dwellings thrown together from pieces of discarded timber.

The narrow streets are squalid and filthy, Dickensian even; to find such deprivation in a modern European country is deeply shocking. Nevertheless, it seems that the inhabitants of this miserable shanty town have been forgotten by the state. Most are unregistered, apparently uncared for, without any documents or status as citizens – though, of course, citizens is what they are.

A Ukrainian parliamentarian, Iryna Suslova, has tried to agitate for change and action on their behalf but admits it’s an uphill struggle.

“If they have no documents they won’t get [an] education. They can’t get medical help. They can’t get hired. So, they have no resources to live a normal way of life.”

Unsurprisingly, there is much sickness here and life expectancy is considerably lower than elsewhere in Ukraine. According to Olena Rovza, the community’s nurse (in effect the sole health provider for seven thousand inhabitants), “children and adults often suffer from cold-related diseases and tuberculosis.” 

Small wonder then, that so many from here want to migrate to the suburbs of Kyiv, Odessa and Lviv, albeit on a temporary basis, to earn a little money – or even to beg if they have no other choice.

Chilling echoes of the past

But since the attacks began, most Roma migrants have fled the cities and returned to Transcarpathia. Yet, even in places like Berehove, there is danger.

While we were filming there, we came across Amelia Rakoshi, an elderly woman carrying a photograph of her daughter through the muddy streets and crying inconsolably.

She invited us back to her shack where she described how her daughter Isabela had been brutally killed just a short distance from the Roma settlement. An unknown assailant had cut her throat.

Amelia wasn’t hopeful of getting justice any time soon.

“Here the police have a strong bond, they are not interested in this case. When I asked them about the investigation into my daughter’s murder, they said there was no one in the office. Another day they said they were all on holiday. They cover for each other and they are not interested in my case at all.”

The authorities’ refusal to treat this murder as a hate crime, Amelia’s neighbours told us, is just another example of how Ukraine’s Roma community has been abandoned by the state.

If they have no documents they won’t get [an] education. They can’t get medical help. They can’t get hired. So, they have no resources to live a normal way of life.

Iryna Suslova, Ukrainian parliamentarian

Of course, it is only fair to point out that many Ukrainians find these attacks as abhorrent as anyone else might and would like the government to do more to stop them.

But it is also true that it is hard to find articles in the Ukrainian media that don’t reinforce the negative stereotypical view that a distressingly large section of the public here seem to have of the Roma as drug pushers, petty criminals and beggars.

Intolerance has become disturbingly deeply embedded and so it is perhaps no surprise where that has led.

It is why, too, some believe that the recent events in Ukraine carry all-too chilling echoes of last century’s horrors.

In September, Dr Boris Zabarko, chairman of the Ukrainian Holocaust survivors’ association, led the Babi Yar memorial walk – a candle-lit procession to remember the tens of thousands – mostly Jews, but also many Roma and others – murdered by German Nazis and Ukrainian police at the Babi Yar ravine in Kiev.

Zabarko, who lived through those awful times, is acutely aware of the danger now facing Ukraine and the disturbing parallels with the past.

“Unfortunately, there were a lot of such pogroms in our history. If they had been stopped at the time, then maybe we wouldn’t have had the pogroms in 1941,” he says. “If they had been stopped and condemned back then, then maybe today there would not be such intolerance by some people towards others.”

An American missionary who traveled to an off-limits remote tribe in the Bay of Bengal left behind a diary that detailed his desire to evangelize the people who killed him. 

John Allen Chau, 26, was killed by arrows, police said earlier this week, after traveling to the Andaman Islands in North Sentinel, an Indian territory. In a diary shared with The Washington Post by Chau’s mother, the adventurer from Washington state tells of how he “hollered” at the isolated tribe: “My name is John, I love you and Jesus loves you.” The entry also shares how a child shot at him with an arrow that pierced his waterproof Bible. 

Indian government regulations forbid interaction with the Sentinelese, who are known to shoot arrows at outsiders. P.C. Joshi, an anthropology professor at Delhi University who has studied the islands said the isolated tribe has little resistance to diseases and could die from contact with outsiders. 

“You guys might think I’m crazy in all this but I think it’s worthwhile to declare Jesus to these people,” he wrote in his last note to family, the Post reports. “God, I don’t want to die.”

Authorities have since arrested seven people accused of helping Chau reach the island. Chau paid the fisherman $325 to take him close to the island, and he then paddled to shore on a kayak with a Bible, gifts and food, according to officials.   

“Why does this beautiful place have to have so much death here?” he wrote in a diary hours before his death. “I hope this isn’t one of my last notes but if it is ‘to God be the Glory.’ “

Days after Chau arrived at the island, fishermen saw tribesmen drag Chau’s body along the beach and bury his remains.

His family said in a statement shared on Chau’s Instagram account that he had “nothing but love for the Sentinelese people” and they “forgive those reportedly responsible for his death.” They also asked for the release of those who helped him travel to the island, saying Chau “ventured out on his own free will.”

More: American on ‘misplaced adventure’ killed by hostile tribe on remote island

Chau was a graduate of Oral Roberts University, a Christian college in Oklahoma. He was known to spend summers alone in a California cabin as a wilderness emergency responder, led backpacking expeditions in the Northwest’s Cascade Mountains, almost lost his leg to a rattlesnake bite, and coached soccer for poor children in Iraq and South Africa.

“I have never known a more courageous, selfless, compassionate man and friend,” said Bobby Parks, a former director of Oral Roberts University’s department of missions and outreach. “John lived and gave his life to share the love of Jesus with everyone.”

Contributing: Jorge L. Ortiz, USA TODAY; The Associated Press. Follow Ashley May on Twitter: @AshleyMayTweets

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Image: Bob Al-Greene / Mashable

If there’s one thing to be said for this garbage year, it’s that at least it gave us Gritty.

Terrifying yet endearing, with wild eyes and a wide fixed grin, the orange mascot may have begun life as a Philadelphia Flyers mascot, but he’s since grown into so much more. He’s a meme, a Halloween costume, an antifa icon—to put it simply, Gritty is the gift that keeps on giving.

And there’s certainly no reason for that to stop now that we’re in the season of giving. Gritty was made for Christmas! Christmas was made for Gritty! So without further ado, we present to you the 12 days of Gritty.

On the twelfth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me…

12 Grittys grumping…

Image: BOB AL-GREENE / MASHABLE

… 11 Grittys gliding…

Image: BOB AL-GREENE / MASHABLE

… 10 Grittys pranking…

Image: BOB AL-GREENE / MASHABLE

… 9 Grits believing…

Image: BOB AL-GREENE / MASHABLE

… 8 Grits a-gifting…

Image: BOB AL-GREENE / MASHABLE

… 7 Grits regretting…

Image: BOB AL-GREENE / MASHABLE

… 6 Grits escaping… 

Image: BOB AL-GREENE / MASHABLE

… 5 orange flings…

Image: BOB AL-GREENE / MASHABLE

… 4 Gritty firs…

Image: BOB AL-GREENE / MASHABLE

… 3 Grit friends… 

Image: BOB AL-GREENE / MASHABLE

… 2 Gritty subs…

Image: BOB AL-GREENE / MASHABLE

… And a mascot in an orgy

Image: Bob Al-Greene / Mashable

Martin Griffiths, the UN envoy for Yemen, has arrived in the strategic port city of Hodeidah to discuss plans with Houthi rebels to cede control of the port to the world body, and lay the groundwork for restarting peace talks.

UN spokesman Rheal LeBlanc said on Friday that the international agency was ready to play a supervisory role in managing the port, which before the war in March 2015, handled more than 70 percent of the country’s imports.

Earlier this year, Abdul Malik al-Houthi had said he was prepared to hand over control of Hodeidah’s port to the UN if the Saudi-UAE military alliance halted its offensive on the city.

Riyadh and Abu Dhabi see the port as the main entry point of weapons for the Houthis and have accused their regional rival Iran of sending missiles to the rebels, a charge Tehran has denied.

In the past week, fighting has all but diminished with the rebels and pro-government forces, backed by Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, expressing support for the UN envoy’s plan to end the more than three-year-war.

Griffiths is expected to meet with local officials in Hodeidah later on Friday, and according to UN sources will push for calm ahead of upcoming peace talks.

No date has yet been set for the negotiations, but the warring parties are expected to meet in Sweden in early December.

Al Jazeera’s Mohammed Adow, reporting from neighbouring Djibouti, said Griffiths and the international community were aware that “there can be no solution to the massive humanitarian crisis as long as fighting continues in places that are crucial to aid workers”.

According to the World Food Programme, up to 14 million Yemenis are now at risk of starvation.

Years of war

Griffiths arrived in the capital Sanaa on Wednesday and met with rebel leader al-Houthi to discuss their attendance in the next round of consultations.

Mohammed Abdul Salam, a spokesman for the Houthis, said in a statement on Twitter on Thursday that conditions for a ceasefire and an offer for Houthis to receive overseas medical treatment were discussed.

According to the statement, al-Houthi also asked for an end to economic restrictions on rebel-held areas.

Nader Hashemi, the director of the Center for Middle East Studies at the University of Denver, said pressure was rising on Riyadh and Washington to end the war in Yemen because of the international outcry following the murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi.

The war in Yemen, the Arab world’s poorest country, started in 2014 when the Yemeni government slashed fuel subsidies prompting massive protests in Sanaa.

The Houthis seized the opportunity and marched south from their stronghold of Saada province to the capital, where they toppled Hadi’s government.

Concerned by the rise of the Houthis, a Saudi-led military coalition, backed by the United States, intervened in 2015 with a massive air campaign aimed at reinstalling Hadi’s government.

Since then, data collected by Al Jazeera and the Yemen Data Project has found that more than 18,000 air raids have been carried out in Yemen, with almost one-third of all bombing missions striking non-military sites.

Weddings, funerals, schools and hospitals, as well as water and electricity plants, have been hit, killing and wounding thousands.

Insulin use is expected to rise 20 percent by 2030, and many people who need it for type 2 diabetes won’t have access, a study from Stanford University suggests.

Globally, 511 million adults are expected to have type 2 diabetes in 12 years, up from 406 million this year, the study found. Over half of those people come from China, India and the U.S.

The study found 79 million people worldwide will require insulin to treat the disease, but only 38 million will have access.

“These estimates suggest that current levels of insulin access are highly inadequate compared to projected need, particularly in Africa and Asia, and more efforts should be devoted to overcoming this looming health challenge,” said Sanjay Basu, lead author on the study and an assistant professor of medicine at Stanford, in a statement.

The study was published Tuesday in the journal The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology.

It used data from the International Diabetes Federation and 14 studies, which represent more than 60 percent of people with type 2 diabetes worldwide.

Researchers are urging governments to make insulin more available and affordable to boost access, especially in Africa, where global access could lead to a 7-fold increase in insulin use, said researchers. 

More: 5 facts about diabetes, the third most common health condition in America

The study also predicts using a higher treatment target for A1C levels, a measure for tracking blood glucose, could reduce the number of people who need to use insulin. 

Authors warn the results come with several caveats, most notably estimates don’t consider how changes in diet and physical activity could affect how much insulin would be required.

In a commentary attached to the study, Hertzel Gerstein, an endocrinologist and professor at McMaster University in Canada, said predictions made in the study should be viewed with caution.

“They are based on mathematical models that are in turn based on other
mathematical models,” Gerstein said. “They are also based on various assumptions, including that type 2 diabetes prevalence will continue to increase linearly.”

A big concern with accessibility to insulin is high costs. In May, William T. Cefalu, the chief scientific, medical and mission officer with the American Diabetes Association, testified before Senate to discussing insulin price, which have tripled between 2002 and 2013.

“Many people with diabetes are experiencing increased burdens due to the high out-of-pocket costs for insulin, which can negatively impact their lives and health,” said Cefalu in a statement in May.

More: Soaring insulin prices prompt insurance shift

Follow Brett Molina on Twitter: @brettmolina23.

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Image: Propel

By Team CommerceMashable Deals2018-11-23 12:00:00 UTC

Black Friday is finally here, and there’s no shortage of deals to choose from in our shop. 

From Star Wars drones to robot vacuums, here are 20 amazing Black Friday deals you won’t find anywhere else, and you can get them for even less than their sale price. Just use the code BFSAVE20 to save an additional 20% at checkout.

Fight for the Rebel Alliance or the Galactic Empire with these awesome drones, available in X-Wing, TIE Fighter, or Speeder Bike versions. Normally they cost $149.95 each, but you can take 66% off and get one for just $49.99. Use the code BFSAVE20 to save an additional 20%.

These wireless headphones have state-of-the-art active noise-cancelling technology, allowing you to enjoy high-quality sound without interruption. Get a pair at 8% off the standard price of $69.99 for just $63.99, and take an additional 20% off with the code BFSAVE20.

Keep your home or office secure with this motion-sensing HD camera that can record in night vision and stream footage directly to your smartphone. It usually sells for $99, but you can get one at $79. Use the code BFSAVE20 to save a further 20%.

These Bluetooth speakers are small enough to carry back and forth between home, work, or anywhere else you like, delivering crisp, clear quality sound for several hours on a single charge. Normally these speakers sell for $29.98, but right now you can get them at 33% off for $19.99. Save an additional 20% when you enter BFSAVE20 at checkout.

This fitness tracker connects with your smartphone to track your progress through several fitness activities, including running, cycling, and yoga. Normally, it sells for $193.99, but you can get one at 84% off for $29.99. Enter the code BFSAVE20 to save an additional 20%.

This compact PC has an Intel Quad Core processor and 2GB of ram and is smaller than most textbooks, so you can finally replace your old bulky tower and save space on your desktop. Right now you can take 28% off the standard price of $250 and get one for $180. Use the code BFSAVE20 to save an additional 20%.

This magnetic mount easily fixes your smartphone in place anywhere in your car, allowing for safe, hands-free use of your GPS and other apps. Normally, it sells for $24.99, but you can get it at 39% off for $15. Save an additional 20% off by entering BFSAVE20 at checkout.

The Tesvor Robot Vacuum integrates with Google Home and Alexa, allowing for easy voice-activated commands to direct the vacuum as it cleans. Normally the Tesvor sells for $199.99, but you can take 5% off and get one for $189.99. Enter the code BFSAVE20 at checkout to save an additional 20%.

The Beddi 2 Smart Alarm Clock acts as an alarm, a smartphone charger, a sunlight simulator, and a white noise machine all in one. Normally it sells for $99.99, but you can get it at 35% off for just $64.99. Enter BFSAVE20 at checkout for an additional 20% off.

This upright vacuum cleaner is specifically designed for pet owners, with a reusable dust cup, two brush rolls, and an allergen filter. Take 35% off the standard price of $139.99 and get one for $89.99. Use the code BFSAVE20 to take an additional 20% off.

This HD dash cam uses G-sensor technology to start recording both audio and video the moment an accident happens. It usually sells for $149.95, but you can take 83% off and take advantage of an additional price drop to get one for only $24.99. Use the code BFSAVE20 to save a further 20%.

These UltraBright flashlights offer focused illumination for up to 1 mile, making them perfect for any camping trip or emergency kit. They normally sell for $100, but you can get two at 85% off for just $14.99. Take an additional 20% off by entering the code BFSAVE20 at checkout.

These wireless earphones come with a charging travel case and are protected by IP67 waterproofing, so you can wear them in the rain without damaging them. Normally they sell for $249.99, but you can get a pair at a 60% discount plus an additional price drop for $99.99. Enter the code BFSAVE20 to save a further 20%.

With a 6-month subscription to J.K. Rowling’s Wizarding World Crate, you’ll score a box of exclusive Harry Potter collectibles every other month for an entire year. This subscription is valued at $128.97, but you can take 33% off that price and sign up for $85.98. Enter BFSAVE20 at checkout to save an additional 20%.

Charge up to six of your USB devices 85% faster than standard chargers with the Kinkoo 40W 6-Port High-Speed Charger. Normally, it sells for $29.99, but you can get it at 26% off for $21.99. Save an additional 20% by entering BFSAVE20 at checkout.

This micro receiver connects to any pair of wired headphones and makes them wireless. Take 60% off the standard price of $49.99 and get one for $19.99. Use the code BFSAVE20 to save an additional 20%.

This pocket-sized sensor can scan any surface and match the color to a library of over 31,000 brand name paint colors, taking all the guesswork out of repainting a room, matching furniture, and plenty of other tasks. Normally it sells for $99, but you can take 30% off and get one for $69. Enter the code BFSAVE20at checkout to save an additional 20%.

ANTOP is a digital antenna that feeds free over-the-air TV signals to several different televisions at the same time, with support for HDTV, 1080p TV, and 4K Ultra HD. Normally, it sells for $129.99, but you can take 38% off that price and get one for $79.99. Enter BFSAVE20 at checkout to save an additional 20%.

This 360-degree camera lets you capture fully VR-compatible footage and stills on the go, and easily edit your shots on your smartphone or desktop using the included app. Normally it sells for $299.99, but right now you can get one at a 76% discount plus an additional price drop for $69.99. Use the code BFSAVE20 to save a further 20%.

This DIY drone kit lets you assemble virtually any drone you can imagine using your favorite toy building blocks and then take to the skies. Normally, it sells for $49.99, but you can get it on sale for $39.99. Enter the code BFSAVE20 at checkout to save a further 20%.

 

Black Friday 2018 deals by store

• Amazon: Shop sales on Fire tablets, Echo Spot, and more

• Walmart: Shop sales on Xbox One S, Instant Pot, Nintendo Switch

• Macy’s: Shop sales on Vitamix, Dyson, Instant Pot, Roomba

• Target: Shop sales on iPhone XS, Apple Watch, 23andMe, TVs, and more

• Best Buy: Shop sales on QLED TVs, Microsoft laptops, Nintendo, and more
   

Black Friday 2018 deals by category

• Gaming deals: Xbox One X, PlayStation 4, Nintendo, Alienware laptops, and more

• Laptop deals: Lenovo Yoga, Alienware, Dell, HP, Asus, and more

• TV deals: OLEDs from Best Buy, Amazon, Walmart, and more

• Smart home deals: Amazon Echo, Roomba, Google Home, Apple HomePod

• Instant Pot deals: Where to get the cheapest price

• Clothing deals and promo codes: J.Crew, Macy’s, Kohl’s, Nordstrom, Lord & Taylor

• Mattress deals: Nectar, Casper, Leesa, Eight Sleep, and more