EARTHQUAKE: Disaster in Morocco
On September 8, a 6.8 magnitude earthquake struck the Al Houz province, primarily affecting the High Atlas Mountains. As of September 20, more than 3,000 people were presumed dead, and many more missing. The earthquake destroyed remote villages, historic churches and mosques, and decimated essential roadways and passageways. Over 300,000 people have been affected by aftershocks and the damage of the earthquake itself. The earthquake hit around 70 kilometers away from the city of Marrakech. Historic centers in Marrakesh have been affected as well, such as the historic Medina. Tremors were also felt in coastal cities: Casablanca, Agadir, and Essaouira.
HEALTH: Rise of Covid-19 Cases Accompanied with New Covid-19 Variants
The new Covid-19 variant, EG.5 is quickly taking the lead as the most frequently appearing cause of coronavirus cases. According to the CDC, as of September 16, EG.5 was responsible for 24.5 percent of Covid-19 cases. Despite the transmissibility, scientists are not greatly concerned as symptoms appear to be similar to previous variants. “I am not aware of data that suggests EG.5 leads to worse cases of Covid-19 compared to prior variants,” said Scott Roberts, MD, the Associate Medical Director of Infection Prevention for the Yale School of Medicine. Pfizer, Moderna, and Novavax are creating a new booster aimed at a close relative of EG.5 that should provide ample protection coming this Fall. Another new variant, BA.2.86. is under close watch as it has more mutations than previous variants. According to Chinese scientist Yunlong Richard Cao, previous boosters likely have less of an effect on BA.2.86 due to the differences in antigenic properties. However, there is not enough data on BA.2.86 and little possibility of spread at all, so it is a matter of time before scientists are able to make conclusions about it.
U.S POLITICS/ ECONOMY: An Upsetting Update on the U.S. debt
According to the U.S. Bureau of the Fiscal Service, the U.S. government just surpassed 30 trillion dollars in debt, a threshold that has never been passed in the history of the United States of America. Despite numerous efforts to limit government spending, it appears that the U.S. will be 50 million dollars in debt by the next decade at this rate. This threat could lead to a potential government shutdown, which has not occurred since 2019. A rise in debt also means a rise in interest payments, according to the Peter G. Peterson Foundation, as the U.S. spends approximately 2 billion dollars per day on interest payments, money that could be allocated to increasing infrastructure, research, and other public goods. Speaker of the United States House of Representatives Kevin McCarthy proposed a bill that would cut down government spending, while simultaneously allowing for Republican Party priorities to proceed. One of the most notable cuts would be to the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) which enforces larger taxes on big corporations that provide cheaper energy and medical care, alongside funding projects to create clean energy. The Democrats of the House note hypocrisy, as Republicans did not object to Trump’s decision to raise the debt ceiling, which many other presidents have done in their time in office.
NATURAL DISASTERS: Hurricane Lee Hits North America
The rise of global temperatures has increased the prevalence and intensity of tropical storms, according to NASA. Most recently, Hurricane Lee made its appearance on the Atlantic coast on the weekend of September 16. In its wake, the hurricane caused extreme currents along the coast of New York, creating dangerous surf and beach erosion. Although the hurricane did not have devastating effects on Massachusetts, Lee severely affected Maine and southern Nova Scotia, Canada. According to the New York Times, 213,000 people in both Nova Scotia and Maine were left without power.
