Nov 21, 2018

U.S. abortion rates dropped to record low between 2006 and 2015

A protester demonstrates for Republicans and against legalized abortion outside the U.S. Capitol. Photo: Jim Watson/AFP/Getty Images.

Abortion rates among U.S. women in all age groups dropped sharply to a decade low from 2006 to 2015, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced Wednesday.

By the numbers: Rates among teens between 15 and 19 years old decreased 54%, per Reuters. In 2015, the abortion rate was 11.8 abortions per 1,000 women 15–44 years old, down 26% from 2006. The report also showed that nearly 90% of abortions performed in 2015 were within a woman’s first 13 weeks of pregnancy.

No analysis was given by the CDC as to why abortion rates are declining, per Reuters, but many states in the U.S. have recently tried to restrict access to abortion procedures.

What to watch: The Republican-controlled Ohio House of Representatives passed one of the most restrictive abortion bills in the country on Friday, the New York Times reports. The bill penalizes doctors for performing the procedure when a heartbeat can be detected from a fetus.

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Inside hackers' pivot to medical espionage

Illustration: Aïda Amer/Axios

A wave of cyber-spying around COVID-19 medical research is once more demonstrating the perils of treating cybersecurity as a separate, walled-off realm.

Driving the news: U.S. officials recently announced an uptick in Chinese-government affiliated hackers targeting medical research and other facilities in the United States for data on a potential COVID-19 cure or effective treatments to combat the virus. Additionally, “more than a dozen countries have redeployed military and intelligence hackers to glean whatever they can about other nations’ virus responses,” reports the New York Times.

Go deeper (2 min. read)Arrow24 mins ago - Technology

The downsides of remote work

Data: Reproduced from Prudential/Morning Consult "Pulse of the American Worker Survey"; Chart: Axios Visuals

The coronavirus pandemic has forced a large-scale experiment in working from home. It has gone well enough that many companies are expanding their remote work expectations for the foreseeable future, and remote employees want to continue to work that way.

Yes, but: The downsides of remote work — less casual interaction with colleagues, an over-reliance on Zoom, lack of in-person collaboration and longer hours — could over time diminish the short-term gains.

Go deeper (2 min. read)Arrow39 mins ago - Economy & Business

Hong Kong's economic future hangs in the balance

Illustration: Sarah Grillo/Axios

As Beijing forces a sweeping national security law on Hong Kong, the once semi-autonomous city's status as one of Asia's largest financial hubs is at risk.

Why it matters: Political freedoms and strong rule of law helped make Hong Kong a thriving center for international banking and finance. But China's leaders may be betting that top firms in Hong Kong will trade some political freedoms for the economic prosperity Beijing can offer.

Go deeper (3 min. read)Arrow44 mins ago - Economy & Business