Health – Increasing Push for Dengue Vaccine in Latin America
Over the past three months, an outbreak of dengue fever, also known as breakbone fever, has unfolded in Latin America. Over a million cases of the quick-spreading disease were recorded in Brazil over the past few weeks, and a state of emergency has been declared in both Peru and Puerto Rico as a result. According to “The New York Times,” more than 3.5 million cases have been confirmed by governments of Latin America. This data represents only the cases from the first three months of 2024, substantial compared to the 4.5 million cases recorded from the entire year of 2023. Recently, researchers from Brazil announced a clinical trial of a new dengue vaccine that uses live, weakened forms of all four strains of the virus, and is said to provide strong protection against the disease. Butantan, the institution that will make the vaccine, plans to submit the vaccine to Brazil’s regulatory agency for approval in the next few months.
Sources:
https://www.nytimes.com/2024/04/11/health/dengue-vaccine-brazil.html
https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2301790
War/Conflict – Iran’s Aerial Attack on Israel
This past Saturday, Iran launched a large-scale aerial attack on Israel, firing more than 170 drones and 120 ballistic missiles. The attack is the first direct attack launched from Iranian ground after decades of indirect warfare between the two nations. According to “The New York Times,” the assault was in response to a recent strike on a building in the Iranian Embassy in Syria that killed some of Iran’s top commanders. As reported by “CNN World,” 99 percent of the missiles and drones fired in the event were intercepted, with the United States of America, Britain, and France playing a part in the interception. The attack caused no deaths thus far, but 12 people were hospitalized in southern Israel overnight. Though Israel’s war cabinet meeting ended Sunday without a clear decision on Israel’s response, the Israeli government is still determined to take action, according to “CNN World.”
Sources:
https://www.cnn.com/middleeast/live-news/israel-hamas-war-gaza-news-04-14-24/index.html
https://www.cnn.com/2024/04/14/middleeast/why-iran-attack-israel-intl/index.html
https://www.nytimes.com/2024/04/14/world/middleeast/iran-israel-drones-attack.html
Climate – Swiss Government Found Guilty in Climate Rights Case
Last Tuesday, Europe’s top human rights court claimed that the Swiss government had violated its citizens’ human rights by striking action to stop climate change. “The New York Times” reported that experts claim this as a landmark ruling that could potentially reinforce the power of activists using human rights laws to hold governments to account. Initiated by a group called KlimaSeniorinnen, or Senior Women in Climate Protection, the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg, France, ruled that Switzerland had failed to meet its target in reducing carbon emissions and must address that problem promptly. The women from KlimaSeniorinnen, all older than 64 years old, claimed that their health was at risk due to heat waves produced by global warming. They argued that the Swiss government, by not prioritizing the fight against climate change, had violated their human rights.
Sources:
https://en.klimaseniorinnen.ch/
https://www.nytimes.com/2024/04/09/world/europe/climate-human-rights.html?searchResultPosition=2
Economy – Immigrants in Maine Filling Labor Gaps
Maine, with the oldest population of any U.S. state, has a median age of 45.1 years, and one of the state’s key economic regulators is its export of lobsters, making up a one billion dollar industry for the state. However, the large population of older people makes it difficult for the state to sustain this industry — more and more people are becoming less willing to catch, clean, and sell the lobsters. According to “The New York Times,” this situation poses a preview for the vital role that immigrants play in filling the labor market holes that will be created as native-born workers retire. On a national view, immigration is expected to become an increasingly critical source of new workers and a healthy economic flow in the coming decades. Maine’s initiatives, like the creation of the Office of New Americans, aim to integrate immigrants into the workforce, promoting both innovation and economic vibrancy in the state.
Sources:
https://www.nytimes.com/2024/04/12/business/economy/immigrants-maine-lobster-aging-workforce.html
Politics – Kamala Harris Attacks Donald Trump Over Abortion Rights
This past Friday, Vice President Kamala Harris criticized former President Donald Trump over abortion rights at a campaign rally in Arizona. According to “The New York Times,” Harris accused Trump of being directly responsible for a court decision this week that upheld the state’s 160-year-old near-total abortion ban. Harris then went on to call abortion restrictions in states similar to Arizona “Trump’s abortion bans,” instigating campaigns using the headline “Donald Trump did this.” Through this, Harris highlighted the potential impact of abortion restrictions, framing them as a part of a larger assault on women’s rights in general. Compared to President Joe Biden’s more reserved approach, the Vice President’s vocal stance on abortion signals her role as a prominent advocate of reproductive and feminist rights within the administration, reports “ABC News.”
Sources:
https://www.nytimes.com/live/2024/04/12/us/election-trump-biden-news
