‘Heat Poverty’ Increasing in India Amidst Record-Breaking Temperatures
Heatwave frequency and intensity are increasing in India, with the current 2024 heatwave bringing temperatures of 126F (52C). Extreme heat has pushed many into “heat poverty,” a now-common term in India that describes the significant costs of making life safe and bearable during high temperatures. Impoverished citizens have been forced to purchase life-saving air conditioning units with sizable loans, which they are unsure of when or how they can pay back. With the effects of climate change increasing the heat annually, heat poverty is expected to get worse.
Continue reading “‘Heat Poverty’ Increasing in India Amidst Record-Breaking Temperatures”Urban Transit Workers Face Ongoing Violence, Research Aims to Manage Stress
New York City transit workers are often put in stressful and unpredictable environments as they help maintain one of the largest metropolitan transit systems in the world. The daily stressors of the job have recently come to light due to ongoing violent attacks against transit workers. Researchers, including New York University’s Dr. Alexis Merdjanoff, are studying ways to improve mental health for transit workers amidst the growing concern.
Continue reading “Urban Transit Workers Face Ongoing Violence, Research Aims to Manage Stress”Tech Outage Causes Worldwide Disruptions
On the morning of Friday, July 19th, CrowdStrike customers experienced a major digital blackout as outages hit banks, hospitals, airports, and other services worldwide. Businesses scrambled to mitigate the effects of the sudden disruption, implement plans, rely on backup systems, and maintain operations to provide customer service.
Continue reading “Tech Outage Causes Worldwide Disruptions”World Far From Reaching “Zero Hunger” by 2030, According to UN Report
The 2024 United Nations (UN) State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World (SOFI) report found that one in 11 people around the world, and one in five people in Africa, face hunger. The report warns that these numbers are not showing any signs of improvement. Currently, none of the nutrition improvement goals outlined by the World Health Organization for 2030 are on trend to be met.
Continue reading “World Far From Reaching “Zero Hunger” by 2030, According to UN Report”Surgeon General Declares Gun Violence a Public Health Crisis
On June 25, 2024, U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy proclaimed gun violence a public health crisis, comparing it to previous efforts against smoking and traffic fatalities. This historic declaration indicates a shift toward tackling firearm-related mortality through a public health lens rather than political debate.
Continue reading “Surgeon General Declares Gun Violence a Public Health Crisis”WHO Declares Mpox Outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern
Updated August 29, 2024: The World Health Organization (WHO) has formally declared a global health emergency of international concern for the mpox (formerly monkeypox) outbreak concentrated in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Over 14,000 cases and 524 deaths have been recorded in the DRC in 2024 so far, with the outbreak rapidly spreading to surrounding countries such as Kenya and Uganda. Vulnerable populations, and those the most at risk, include women, children, and the immunocompromised.
Continue reading “WHO Declares Mpox Outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern”E-Cigarette Marketing Gimmicks Increase Rates of Adolescent Smokers
Tobacco usage among children and adolescents has increased tremendously alongside the use of e-cigarettes. According to a 2024 report from the World Health Organization (WHO), an estimated 37 million children worldwide reported using tobacco. As of 2023, e-cigarettes are the most commonly used tobacco product in the United States, with approximately 7.7% of middle- and high-school students reporting usage.
Continue reading “E-Cigarette Marketing Gimmicks Increase Rates of Adolescent Smokers”WHO Report Reveals Life Expectancy Decreases Since COVID-19 Pandemic
The World Health Organization (WHO) revealed its latest World Health Statistics through May 2024, showing that the COVID-19 pandemic led to a reversal in the upward trend in life expectancy. The organization’s data shows that the pandemic “wiped out nearly a decade of progress in improving life expectancy” within only two years—from 2019 to 2021. Global life expectancy is now at 71.4 years, a decrease of 1.8 years since the start of the pandemic.
Continue reading “WHO Report Reveals Life Expectancy Decreases Since COVID-19 Pandemic”USAID Aims to Strengthen Southeast Asia’s Climate Resilience
As the world continues to prepare for the deleterious effects of climate change, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is focusing its international efforts on assisting the highly at-risk region of Southeast Asia. The agency aims to increase the region’s resilience to climate change-induced disasters such as flooding, droughts, and heat waves by encouraging international cooperation.
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