War/Conflict – Israel-Hamas War Death Toll Surpasses 30,000 — Relatives of Gaza Hostages Storm Israeli Parliament Session
As the Israel-Hamas War rages on, families and relatives of the over 250 people kidnapped and held hostage after Hamas attacks since October 7 stormed a committee of the Knesset, the Israeli governing body. According to Reuters, protestors demanded the Israeli government to reach an agreement for the release of hostages held by Hamas, chanting slogans such as “You will not sit here while they die there.” and “Release them now, now, now!” United Nations Secretary Antonio Guterres “repeated his call for a humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza and the unconditional release of all hostages,” according to a press release from the United Nations’ Political and Peacebuilding Affairs office.
Health – Surge in Covid-19 Cases this Winter Should Not Concern Majority Population
Rumors circulated that the United States of America is experiencing its second largest Covid-19 surge with the novel JN. 1 Covid-19 variant since the Omicron spike in Winter 2021 to 2022. However, almost four years after the pandemic began, the decrease of Covid-19 surveillance and testing is making it difficult for scientists to definitively determine Covid-19 rates. According to an article from the Washington Post, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) nationwide examination of wastewater shows Covid-19 levels exceeding last winter’s, but with far fewer of the infected seriously ill. Yet according to John Brownstein, who directs the Computational Epidemiology Lab at Boston Children’s Hospital, experts are weary of declaring the second-largest surge. “We just need to be careful about extrapolating these results to numbers that could create fear and anxiety,” he says. Despite the virus’ increased rates, Dr. Ashish Jha, Dean of the Brown University School of Public Health and the Biden Administration’s former Covid-19 response coordinator, says in a Times article that “the straight facts are: [Covid-19] is not gone, it’s not irrelevant, but it’s not the risk it was four years ago, or even two years ago … It’s totally reasonable for people to go back to living their lives.” As we enter 2024, experts anticipate further relaxation of Covid-19 guidance.
Politics: Florida Governor Ron DeSantis Drops Out of Presidential Race As Questions About Trump’s Mental State Loom
On January 20, Florida Governor and Candidate for the 2024 Republican Presidential Nomination Ronald DeSantis dropped out of the race for the Republican nomination following a 30-point defeat in the Iowa Republican Caucus. According to the Associated Press, when dropping out, DeSantis threw his support and endorsement behind former President Donald Trump — who previously referred to the Governor as “Ron Desanctamonious” along with other names. As the contenders for the Republican Presidential Nomination narrow to just two candidates, Nikki Haley, the former Governor of South Carolina, and Trump’s opposition in the race, has raised concerns regarding Trump’s mental state after the former President, 77, repeatedly mistook Haley for Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi during a rally in New Hampshire on January 19. The Associated Press reported Haley’s comments on the confusion, where she said that “[t]hey’re saying [Trump] got confused, that he was talking about something else, he’s talking about Nancy Pelosi.” Throughout her campaign, Haley has also advocated for “mental competency tests” for older politicians such as Presidents Trump and Joe Biden, who share an average age of 77.
Climate – The European Union Ban on Advertisement of Misleading Environmental Terms
On January 17, the European Parliament (MEPs) voted to pass a directive that would ban the usage of misleading environmental terms. According to The Guardian, the directive aims to increase informed purchases and enhance trustworthy labels by banning phrases like “environmentally friendly,” “natural,” or “eco” without proof. Moving forward, the MEP also declares that only sustainability labels based on official certification schemes or established by public authorities will be allowed in the European Union. Many are eager to examine the impact this will have on marketing and the daily lives of Europeans. In a statement from the European Parliament, Parliament’s rapporteur Biljana Borzan says “People will be able to choose products that are… sustainable thanks to reliable labels and advertisements. Most importantly, companies can no longer… say that something is sustainable without explaining how. This is a big win for all of us.” Currently, the directive is awaiting final approval from the council, after which it will be published in the Official Journal, supplying member states with 24 months to render it national law.
