Daily Archives: February 17, 2024

2024-02-17: News Headlines

Alexa B Kimball, Shoba Ravichandran, SUNSHINE, SUNRISE trial teams (2024-02-17). Correspondence] Revisiting the SUNSHINE and SUNRISE trials. thelancet.com The efficacy and safety findings from the SUNSHINE and SUNRISE phase 3 trials of secukinumab in moderate-to-severe hidradenitis suppurativa were first published in The Lancet on Feb 3, 2023.1 On Feb 24, 2023, a discrepancy in the labelling of the NRS30 skin pain response endpoint data reported in these trials was brought to our attention by the sponsor, Novartis Pharma.

Sonali Kolhatkar (2024-02-16). Drug Prices Should be Controlled. counterpunch.org Pharmaceutical companies are angry with Bernie Sanders. The Vermont senator has vowed to force pharma CEOs to publicly answer for why their drug prices are so much higher in the United States than in other nations. Brazenly, the CEOs of Johnson & Johnson and Merck initially refused. An attorney for Johnson & Johnson accused the senator of

Prof Michel Chossudovsky (2024-02-17). Pfizer's "Secret" Report on the Covid Vaccine. Beyond Manslaughter. The Evidence is Overwhelming. The Vaccine Should Be Immediately Withdrawn Worldwide. globalresearch.ca Pfizer was fully aware that the mRNA vaccine which it is marketing Worldwide would result in a wave of mortality and morbidity. This is tantamount to a crime against humanity on the part of Big Pharma.

Peoples Health Dispatch (2024-02-17). Cholera still poses risks in Zambia despite decrease in cases. peoplesdispatch.org A deadly cholera outbreak in Zambia continues to endanger lives despite a reduction in confirmed cases. The government and public health authorities need to carry out more public health education programs and improve living conditions that have facilitated the outbreak in the first place…

Andrew Green (2024-02-17). Obituary] Susan Abarca Salazar. thelancet.com Infectious diseases consultant and doctoral student. She was born on Sept 7, 1986, in Cusco, Peru, and died on Aug 15, 2023, in Zimbabwe, aged 36 years.

Mao-Li Xia (2024-02-17). Correspondence] China's philosophy for a healthier population. thelancet.com Richard Horton's Offline piece1 fits in well with the Confucianism philosophy of harmony and diversity advocated by the Chinese society. Both political leaders and the general public believe that harmony is the most valuable ideal. The same values are held in China's ancient medicine. The Inner Canon of Huangdi2 (the Classic of Internal Medicine, China's earliest classic work on medicine) believes that harmony between yin and yang is the key to good health and preventing disease.

newsnetwork.mayoclinic (2024-02-16). Mayo Clinic Minute: Syphilis surge is cause for concern. newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org Numbers from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show that cases of syphilis continue to rise in the U.S. This is while rates of other forms of sexually transmitted diseases such as chlamydia and gonorrhea are flat or declining. Learn more about what syphilis is, what the symptoms are and how it can be prevented in this Mayo Clinic Minute. Watch: The Mayo Clinic Minute youtu.be/hFJIE8UnNjA Journalists: Broadcast-quality video pkg (0: 58) is in the downloads…

newsnetwork.mayoclinic (2024-02-16). Mayo Clinic Minute: Red flags for heart failure during pregnancy. newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org Heart disease is the leading cause of death for women in the U.S. Deaths from heart disease in women who are pregnant or delivered a baby within one year has increased over the previous 30 years. Dr. Demilade (Demi-lad-ay) Adedinsewo (Ah-ded-in-shay-woah) a Mayo Clinic cardiologist, explains the red flags for heart failure during pregnancy and how healthcare professionals are working to detect the condition earlier. Watch: The Mayo Clinic Minute youtu.be/PsJJKSjOf1U Journalists: Broadcast-quality video pkg…

newsnetwork.mayoclinic (2024-02-16). Treating stomach cancer. newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org More than 26,000 people in the U.S. will be diagnosed with stomach cancer this year, and nearly 11,000 people will die of the disease, according to the American Cancer Society. Stomach cancer accounts for about 1.5% of all new cancers diagnosed in the U.S. each year. Stomach cancer, also known as gastric cancer, can affect any part of the stomach. In most of the world, stomach cancers form in the main part of the stomach. In the…

newsnetwork.mayoclinic (2024-02-16). Mayo Clinic Minute: Hypertension and cardiovascular disease in the Black community. newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org February is American Heart Month. Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in the U.S. African Americans are significantly affected by heart disease, resulting in higher mortality rates compared to white Americans. One of the reasons for the disparity is due to high hypertension rates in the Black community. Hypertension, also known as high blood pressure, can increase your risk of developing heart disease. Dr. LaPrincess Brewer, a Mayo Clinic cardiologist, discusses cardiovascular disease…

newsnetwork.mayoclinic (2024-02-16). Mayo Clinic Minute: What is vascular dementia? newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org An estimated 55 million people are believed to be living with dementia, according to the World Health Organization. Vascular diseases contribute to approximately 25% of all diagnoses. When blood vessels are damaged or blocked, it can deprive your brain of vital oxygen and nutrients, which could lead to a condition called vascular dementia. Watch: The Mayo Clinic Minute youtu.be/Q-kourqRrPQ Journalists: Broadcast-quality video pkg (1: 03) is in the downloads at the end of…

newsnetwork.mayoclinic (2024-02-16). Mayo Clinic Minute: How a coronary calcium scan assesses heart attack risk. newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org Do you know your risk of coronary artery disease, the most common form of heart disease? Dr. Regis Fernandes, a Mayo Clinic cardiologist, says an easy and efficient test called a coronary calcium scan can help determine your risk before you show symptoms. Watch: The Mayo Clinic Minute youtu.be/r1Q45bi8nhM Journalists: Broadcast-quality video (1: 04) is in the downloads at the end of this post. Please courtesy: "Mayo Clinic News Network." Read the script. What a coronary calcium scan measures…

newsnetwork.mayoclinic (2024-02-16). Heart attack symptoms in women are often different than men. newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org MANKATO, Minn. — Sweating, nausea, dizziness and unusual fatigue may not sound like typical heart attack symptoms. However, they are common for women and may occur more often when resting or asleep.Unlike with men, pain, pressure or discomfort in the chest are not always severe or even the most prominent heart attack symptom in women. That's why women need to understand their unique symptoms while also working to reduce their risk of heart disease. "It's…

newsnetwork.mayoclinic (2024-02-16). Understanding whooping cough with a Mayo Clinic expert. newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org Whooping cough (pertussis) is caused by Bordetella pertussis bacteria. Some areas of the U.S. —and abroad — are seeing an uptick in whooping cough (pertussis) cases — including in parts of Wisconsin. Whooping cough is an infectious respiratory illness caused by Bordetella pertussis bacteria. It spreads through the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes. "This is an infection that causes quite a significant cough," says Dr. Nipunie Rajapakse, a pediatric infectious diseases expert with the Mayo…

newsnetwork.mayoclinic (2024-02-16). Lifestyle links to heart health go beyond food, exercise, Mayo Clinic Healthcare expert explains. newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org Countries around the world observe Heart Month in February LONDON — What are steps you can take beyond a healthy diet and exercise to improve your heart health? In this expert alert, Gosia Wamil, M.D., Ph.D., a cardiologist at Mayo Clinic Healthcare in London, answers that question and more. Gosia Wamil, M.D., Ph.D. 1. Does loneliness affect heart health? Loneliness and social isolation have been linked to heart disease, Dr. Wamil says. "Studies suggest that…

Norman Solomon (2024-02-16). Dodging Biden's Moral Collapse Is No Way to Defeat Trump. counterpunch.org For more than four months, President Biden has been the main enabler for Israel's mass murder of Palestinian people in Gaza. Every day, hundreds of civilians are killed by U.S. weaponry and, increasingly, by hunger and disease. The cruelty and magnitude of the slaughter are repugnant to anyone who isn't somehow numb to the human agony.

newsnetwork.mayoclinic (2024-02-17). Mayo Clinic Minute: Red flags for heart failure during pregnancy. newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org Heart disease is the leading cause of death for women in the U.S. Deaths from heart disease in women who are pregnant or delivered a baby within one year has increased over the previous 30 years. Dr. Demilade (Demi-lad-ay) Adedinsewo (Ah-ded-in-shay-woah) a Mayo Clinic cardiologist, explains the red flags for heart failure during pregnancy and how healthcare professionals are working to detect the condition earlier. Watch: The Mayo Clinic Minute youtu.be/PsJJKSjOf1U Journalists: Broadcast-quality video pkg…

newsnetwork.mayoclinic (2024-02-17). Treating stomach cancer. newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org More than 26,000 people in the U.S. will be diagnosed with stomach cancer this year, and nearly 11,000 people will die of the disease, according to the American Cancer Society. Stomach cancer accounts for about 1.5% of all new cancers diagnosed in the U.S. each year. Stomach cancer, also known as gastric cancer, can affect any part of the stomach. In most of the world, stomach cancers form in the main part of the stomach. In the…

newsnetwork.mayoclinic (2024-02-17). Mayo Clinic Minute: Hypertension and cardiovascular disease in the Black community. newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org February is American Heart Month. Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in the U.S. African Americans are significantly affected by heart disease, resulting in higher mortality rates compared to white Americans. One of the reasons for the disparity is due to high hypertension rates in the Black community. Hypertension, also known as high blood pressure, can increase your risk of developing heart disease. Dr. LaPrincess Brewer, a Mayo Clinic cardiologist, discusses cardiovascular disease…

newsnetwork.mayoclinic (2024-02-17). Mayo Clinic Minute: What is vascular dementia? newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org An estimated 55 million people are believed to be living with dementia, according to the World Health Organization. Vascular diseases contribute to approximately 25% of all diagnoses. When blood vessels are damaged or blocked, it can deprive your brain of vital oxygen and nutrients, which could lead to a condition called vascular dementia. Watch: The Mayo Clinic Minute youtu.be/Q-kourqRrPQ Journalists: Broadcast-quality video pkg (1: 03) is in the downloads at the end of…

newsnetwork.mayoclinic (2024-02-17). Mayo Clinic Minute: What high triglycerides mean and why it matters to your heart. newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org You may be familiar with high-density, or good cholesterol; low-density lipoproteins (LDL), or bad cholesterol; and their connections to heart health. But what about triglycerides? Often that word gets skimmed over when talking about cholesterol levels. Dr. Regis Fernandes, a Mayo Clinic cardiologist, says triglycerides provide the body with energy from food. High levels can indicate signs of other conditions, like diabetes or prediabetes, that can increase the risk of heart disease and stroke. Watch: The Mayo…

newsnetwork.mayoclinic (2024-02-17). Heart attack symptoms in women are often different than men. newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org MANKATO, Minn. — Sweating, nausea, dizziness and unusual fatigue may not sound like typical heart attack symptoms. However, they are common for women and may occur more often when resting or asleep.Unlike with men, pain, pressure or discomfort in the chest are not always severe or even the most prominent heart attack symptom in women. That's why women need to understand their unique symptoms while also working to reduce their risk of heart disease. "It's…

newsnetwork.mayoclinic (2024-02-17). Mayo Clinic Minute: Health disparities in gynecologic cancers. newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org Each year, thousands of women are diagnosed with gynecologic cancers in the U.S. While cervical, ovarian and uterine cancer affects all races, Black women are often diagnosed at later stages and are more likely to die from these diseases. Dr. Kristina Butler, a Mayo Clinic gynecologic oncologist, discusses health disparities and prevention. Watch: The Mayo Clinic Minute youtu.be/qnJg1eEtcN0 Journalists: Broadcast-quality video (1: 05) is in the downloads at the end of this post. Please courtesy: "Mayo…

newsnetwork.mayoclinic (2024-02-17). Lifestyle links to heart health go beyond food, exercise, Mayo Clinic Healthcare expert explains. newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org Countries around the world observe Heart Month in February LONDON — What are steps you can take beyond a healthy diet and exercise to improve your heart health? In this expert alert, Gosia Wamil, M.D., Ph.D., a cardiologist at Mayo Clinic Healthcare in London, answers that question and more. Gosia Wamil, M.D., Ph.D. 1. Does loneliness affect heart health? Loneliness and social isolation have been linked to heart disease, Dr. Wamil says. "Studies suggest that…

newsnetwork.mayoclinic (2024-02-17). Celebrating the gift of life: Cousins raise awareness for organ donation on National Donor Day. newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org Lisa Brown, 53, of Jacksonville, suffered from severe pelvis and back pain for years. She later learned that her bladder wasn't working due to follicular cystitis, a rare and non-specific inflammatory disease of the bladder, and inflammatory pseudotumor of the bladder. In 2017, her bladder was removed using robotic-assisted surgery and replaced with a "neobladder" that was attached to her ureters, which are the tubes that carry urine produced by the kidneys. Unfortunately, ongoing challenges…

Ileana Ferrer Fonte (2024-02-16). NGOs demand ceasefire in Gaza and more aid for Palestinians. plenglish.com Ramallah, Feb 16 (Prensa Latina) Several non-governmental organizations (NGOs) called on Friday for an immediate ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and a massive increase in humanitarian aid to prevent famine in the territory, which is home to more than two million Palestinians.

Jordan Atwood (2024-02-16). Expert warns: Gaza faces unprecedented famine in decades as Israel tightens grip. nationofchange.org Experts alarm over the rapid deterioration of life in Gaza, citing Israel's stringent blockade as a catalyst for a famine crisis unseen in modern history.

UN Children's Fund (2024-02-16). oPt: UNICEF State of Palestine Humanitarian Situation Report (Escalation) – 07 February 2024. reliefweb.int Countries: Israel, occupied Palestinian territory | Source: UN Children's Fund | Please refer to the attached file. | Reporting Period: 25 January to 7 February 2024 | Highlights | ‚Ä¢ The risk of famine in Gaza is increasing by the day, particularly for an estimated 300,000 people in northern Gaza who have been predominantly cut off from assistance and where food security assessments show the greatest needs, according to WFP. The UN warns that humanitarian aid reaching Gaza city is "not enough to prevent a famine." | ‚Ä¢ At least 17,000 children in the Gaza Strip are unaccom…

Famine Early Warning System Network (2024-02-16). World: Global Weather Hazards Summary February 16 — 22, 2024. reliefweb.int Countries: Afghanistan, Angola, Botswana, Burundi, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Dominican Republic, Ethiopia, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mozambique, Namibia, Nicaragua, Panama, Rwanda, Somalia, South Africa, South Sudan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uganda, United Republic of Tanzania, Uzbekistan, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), World, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe | Source: Famine Early Warning System Network | Please refer to the attached file. | Abnormally dry conditions worsen in much of Southern Africa; floods contin…

Staff (2024-02-17). No One Uninvolved — The Grayzone live. youtube.com Max Blumenthal and Aaron Mate discuss the untimely death of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, the US-Israeli assault on multilateral institutions seeking to prevent famine in Gaza, the renewal of US starvation sanctions on Syria, and the looming catastrophe in Rafah.

Ed Holt (2024-02-17). World Report] Czech Republic latest country to ban hexahydrocannabinol. thelancet.com Several countries already prohibit or regulate sale of the semi-synthetic cannabinoid HHC on health grounds. Ed Holt reports.

Julia-Tatjana Maul, Antonios G A Kolios, Simon Francis Thomsen, Hans Christian Ring (2024-02-17). Correspondence] Secukinumab treatment of hidradenitis suppurativa: questions remain. thelancet.com In the phase 3 trials of secukinumab for the treatment of hidradenitis suppurativa (SUNSHINE and SUNRISE), Alexa B Kimball and colleagues1 reported clinical response rates of 45% and 42%, respectively, in patients who received secukinumab 300 mg subcutaneously every 2 weeks compared with 34% and 31%, respectively, in patients who received placebo, yielding placebo-deducted response rates of 11% across both trials. This modest efficacy could indicate that secukinumab has little effect on hidradenitis suppurativa, which would suggest that the observed improvements in health-related quality of life and physical func…

Lioba A Hirsch (2024-02-17). Perspectives] Can I be seen? Birthing while Black. thelancet.com Black women in the diaspora are at risk of experiencing obstetric racism, which can contribute to mistreatment during the perinatal period and childbirth and increased risks of poor maternal and neonatal outcomes. Birthing experiences and perinatal care are generally worse for Black women than white women. We have known this for some time. Arline Geronimus' study on "weathering", which highlighted the impact racism has on Black maternal health outcomes in the USA, was published in 1992. And yet, more than 30 years later insufficient progress has been made to address these disparities.

Rashmi D'Souza, Barsha Prakash, Nirala Kumari Yadav, Oliver Ross, Kalpana Subedi (2024-02-17). Correspondence] Small vulnerable newborns in Nepal: the need for data. thelancet.com The Lancet Series on small vulnerable newborns (SVNs) highlights a key issue in Nepal and across low-income and middle-income countries: the inconsistent data impede the ability of health systems to deliver care proactively and proportionately. We would like to share the complexities of the current system in Nepal and suggested solutions.

Susan Jaffe (2024-02-17). Perspectives] Monica Bertagnolli: Director of the National Institutes of Health. thelancet.com Monica Bertagnolli, the new Director of the US National Institutes of Health (NIH), brings unique experience to this leadership role: as a surgical oncologist, an NIH-funded researcher, a cancer patient, and a participant in an NIH clinical trial. She is also the first surgeon and only the second woman to take the helm at the NIH. And she may be the only NIH Director who grew up on a US sheep and cattle ranch, which her family has run in central Wyoming for three generations.

The Lancet (2024-02-17). Editorial] Severe mental illness in the UK: a crisis of compassion. thelancet.com If a society is to be judged on how it treats its most vulnerable, the UK faces some uncomfortable home-truths. Despite a raft of mental health awareness campaigns, pervasive discriminatory attitudes regarding severe mental illness remain. In June, 2023, Valdo Calocane—who had been diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia—fatally stabbed three people in Nottingham. He received a hospital order, having pleaded guilty to manslaughter on grounds of diminished responsibility. The case is deeply tragic.

Udani Samarasekera (2024-02-17). World Report] Huge health needs for refugees in Chad. thelancet.com Humanitarian organisations call for support for hundreds of thousands of people who have fled conflict in Sudan. Udani Samarasekera reports.

Usman Ayub Awan, Xingyi Guo, Aamer Ali Khattak, Usman Hassan, Suliman Khan (2024-02-17). Correspondence] Economic crises and cancer care in Pakistan—timely action saves lives. thelancet.com Cancer treatment is often ignored during economic crises; Sri Lankans are still striving to stabilise their health-care system.1 Currently, the health systems in low-income and middle-income countries are least prepared to operate independently in emergencies and combat global cancer inequities. Alarmingly, in Pakistan, political turmoil has contributed to a catastrophic decline in the economy and looming bankruptcy.2 Being the world's fifth most populous country (with a population of >232 million people), due to depleting reserves, rising inflation, and calamitous recent floods, the value of currency in Pakis…

akweb.de (2024-02-16). Talking to the left. indybay.org Developing a common transformational project and building counter-power remains the central task of the left. Especially in areas of social infrastructure, such as housing and healthcare, profit maximization has a particularly devastating effect. The strategy of socialization, i.e. the transfer of private property into democratic structures, can provide orientation here.

ecns.cn (2024-02-16). Comicomment: Lingering shadows of the East Palestine train derailment. ecns.cn One year ago, a Norfolk Southern freight train derailed in East Palestine, Ohio, displacing a community, jeopardizing health, harming the local environment, and exposing the country's inability to handle disasters effectively. Now, a year later, federal and local officials insist East Palestine and the surrounding regions are safe, health issues still linger there.

greenleft.org.au (2024-02-16). Health worker: 'Everyone with a conscience must come together to stop Israel's ethnic cleansing'. greenleft.org.au

Jeffrey St. Clair (2024-02-16). A Cry in the Darkness: "Please Come, Come Take Me" counterpunch.org The massacre on that street in Tel al-Hawa took place three days after Israel had been put on notice by the International Court of Justice that it needed to stop committing acts of genocide, stop killing civilians, stop killing children and health care workers, a ruling that Israel has not just ignored but openly defied. Instead, Israel blames the victims of its atrocities. Tel al-Hawa was a closed military zone, the IDF says. Any Palestinians moving on the streets were legitimate targets, the IDF says. The rules of engagement were those of the US troops at My Lai: shoot anything that moves. Even young girls and…

newarab (2024-02-16). Unveiling the mental health crisis at Al-Hol camp in Syria. newarab.com Displaced Syrians living in the Described as a "massive outdoor prison", the Al-Hol camp sits in northeast Syria, close to the border of Iraq. Some 40,000 people have been detained in the camp since 2018 following displacement during fighting between the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and Islamic State (IS…

newsnetwork.mayoclinic (2024-02-16). Mayo Clinic Minute: Closing the gaps in cancer care. newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org 2024 could mark a grim milestone in the battle against cancer. In January, the American Cancer Society announced that, for the first time ever, new cancer cases could exceed the 2 million mark. Early detection and the right treatment are among the best weapons to fight cancer. However, today many people don't have equitable access to cancer care because of systemic barriers and health disparities. Mayo Clinic is working to change that with strategic initiatives aimed at health…

newsnetwork.mayoclinic (2024-02-16). World Cancer Day: Making a commitment to close the cancer care gap. newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org The Union for International Cancer Control (UICC) recognizes World Cancer Day annually on February 4. The UICC's 2024 theme for World Cancer Day is "Close the Care Gap." The care gap is the gap between people who can obtain healthcare related to the prevention, early detection, diagnosis and treatment of cancer and those who cannot. The factors that create this gap include income, education and geographical location barriers. Discrimination based on ethnicity, race, gender, sexual orientation, age,…

newsnetwork.mayoclinic (2024-02-16). Aspiring innovators aim to transform medicine with the next big idea. newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org Residents and students at Mayo Clinic learning the craft of their careers are also adopting a mindset to transform healthcare. Programs at Mayo are helping these enterprising inventors ask the right questions and take the steps to bring their innovative ideas to market.

The Independent (2024-02-16). Three dead, 100 admitted after alleged poisoning at funeral. independent.co.ug Jinja, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Three people are dead and 100 others are admitted at different health facilities following alleged poisoning at a funeral in Bukasami village, in Buyengo town council, Jinja district. The deceased include; Faisal Magumba aged 20 years, Suleiman Byanguwa aged four years and six year old Shamim Nangobi. A health …

WSWS (2024-02-16). Health workers in Sri Lanka and Australia denounce the doxxing of Australian medical practitioners speaking out against Gaza genocide. wsws.org "Despite our diverse backgrounds, our profession is committed to upholding the sanctity of human life and promoting health for all."—Health Workers Action Committee in Sri Lanka…

WSWS (2024-02-16). Health workers prominent at Australian protests against Gaza genocide: "I'd never vote Labor again" wsws.org "They're not all that different from the Liberal Party. Labor has become a non-labour party."

albawaba (2024-02-17). Russian opposition figure Alexey Navalny reportedly dies in custody. albawaba.com ALBAWABA – Russian opposition figure Alexey Navalny has passed away while in custody in Russia, according to reports from the Federal Penitentiary Service (FSIN). Navalny, who was imprisoned in the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Region, experienced a decline in health and lost consciousness.Despite efforts by medical staff, Navalny's condition did not improve, leading to his death. The cause of death is currently being investigated.The Kremlin has confirmed that Navalny's death is under investigation by the Federal Penitentiary Service, following standard procedures without requiring specific directives. Kremlin spokes…

ecns.cn (2024-02-17). Comicomment: Lingering shadows of the East Palestine train derailment. ecns.cn One year ago, a Norfolk Southern freight train derailed in East Palestine, Ohio, displacing a community, jeopardizing health, harming the local environment, and exposing the country's inability to handle disasters effectively. Now, a year later, federal and local officials insist East Palestine and the surrounding regions are safe, health issues still linger there.

Elizabeth Donald, Portside. (2024-02-17). Unions Added 139,000 Members In 2023, But Density Remains Stubbornly Low. popularresistance.org Unions added 139,000 more workers in historic gains in 2023, but union density remains stubbornly low, with only 10 percent of American workers represented by a union as of the end of the year, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. | This is an all-time low and a big surprise to many, given the historic strikes by auto workers, Hollywood creatives and Kaiser healthcare workers, according to a Washington Post analysis. | Union density vs. union membership is a frustrating comparison. Even with the historic membership growth, the country added 2.7 million jobs in 2023, many of them non-union, meaning the membe…

greenleft.org.au (2024-02-17). Health worker: 'Everyone with a conscience must come together to stop Israel's ethnic cleansing'. greenleft.org.au

newarab (2024-02-17). Ireland to give UNRWA 20 mln euros. newarab.com Ireland announced 20 million euros ($21.46 million) in support for the UNRWA, which provides healthcare, education and other services, has been pitched into crisis since Israel alleged that 12 of its 13,000 staff in Gaza were involved in the Oct. 7 Hamas-led attack on Isr…

newarab (2024-02-17). Israel pounds Gaza, makes arrests at Nasser Hospital. newarab.com Israeli forces carried out arrests in Gaza's largest functioning hospital, health officials and the military said on Saturday, as airstrikes hit across the enclave and rain battered Israeli forces raided the "Occupation forces detained a large number of medical staff members inside Nasser Medical Comple…

presstv.ir (2024-02-17). Gaza patients die after oxygen cut at besieged Nasser Hospital. presstv.ir The Health Ministry in the Gaza Strip says four patients have died due to lack of oxygen at a medical complex in southern part of the besieged coastal territory.

Anna Lekas Miller (2024-02-16). 'Operation Al-Aqsa Flood' Day 133: Israel cuts electricity to critical Nasser Hospital patients, forces staff to evacuate. mondoweiss.net Medicins Sans Frontiers reports "an unknown number of dead and wounded" following Israel's attack on Nasser Hospital. UNRWA says 84% of Gaza health facilities have been impacted by Israeli attacks, and 70% of civilian infrastructure has been damaged.

Jake Johnson (2024-02-16). Power Outage at Hospital IDF Stormed Kills at Least 5 Oxygen-Dependent Patients. truthout.org Several oxygen-dependent patients at southern Gaza's largest hospital died Friday due to a power outage at the facility, which Israeli forces raided and shelled 24 hours earlier as thousands of people who were sheltering at the complex scrambled to flee. Gaza's Ministry of Health wrote on social media that at least five patients have died at Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis "as a result of a power… |

presstv.ir (2024-02-16). Gaza patients die after oxygen cut at besieged Nasser Hospital. presstv.ir The Health Ministry in the Gaza Strip says four patients have died due to lack of oxygen at a medical complex in southern part of the besieged coastal territory.

Staff (2024-02-16). Gaza: 112 Palestinians killed, 157 injured by Israeli bombing 15-16 Feb. muslimnews.co.uk Gaza City, (Wafa, Al Jazeera, OCHA): Between the afternoon of 15 February and 11: 00 on 16 February, according to the Ministry of Health (MoH) in Gaza, 112 Palestinians were killed, and 157 Palestinians were injured. At least 28,775 Palestinians were killed, including 12,000 children, and 68,552 injured by Israeli indiscriminate bombing in Gaza since 7 …

Pan American Health Organization (2024-02-16). World: Alerta Epidemiológica – Aumento de casos de dengue en la Región de las Américas – 16 de febrero del 202. reliefweb.int Countries: Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Belize, Bolivia (Plurinational State of), Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Grenada, Guadeloupe (France), Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Jamaica, Martinique (France), Mexico, Montserrat, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Puerto Rico (The United States of America), Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), World | Source: Pan American Health Organization | Please refer to the attached file. | Teniendo en cuenta el comportamiento del dengue registrado en las primeras semanas del 2024, con aumento exponencial de casos notificado…

Pan American Health Organization (2024-02-16). World: Epidemiological Alert – Increase in dengue cases in the Region of the Americas – 16 February 2024. reliefweb.int Countries: Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Belize, Bolivia (Plurinational State of), Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Grenada, Guadeloupe (France), Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Jamaica, Martinique (France), Mexico, Montserrat, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Puerto Rico (The United States of America), Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), World | Source: Pan American Health Organization | Please refer to the attached file. | Considering the number of dengue cases reported in the first weeks of 2024, with an exponential increase in several countries of the Reg…

UOFCHA (2024-02-16). Haiti: Latin America & The Caribbean Weekly Situation Update as of 16 February 2024. reliefweb.int Countries: Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Guatemala, Haiti, Peru | Source: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs | PERU: DENGUE, | Peru's Ministry of Health (MINSA) reports over 13,000 dengue cases so far in 2024, marking a 53.4 per cent increase from 2023, with 3,192 cases in the fifth week of 2024 alone. This surge coincides with prolonged El Niño-induced heatwaves. In the northern region of Piura, the region with the highest number of dengue cases, MINSA has reported more than 100 consecutive unusually warm days and over 200 warm nights, with the town of Mallares reaching a record summer tempera…

UN Children's Fund (2024-02-16). UNICEF Zimbabwe Polio Response Situation Report No. 1 for 02-16 February 2024. reliefweb.int Country: Zimbabwe | Source: UN Children's Fund | Please refer to the attached file. | Highlights | Zimbabwe detected seventeen (17) circulating vaccine derived polio virus type 2 (cVDPV2) from environmental samples in Harare since October 2023. The samples were from four polio environmental surveillance sites in Harare. | Polio outbreak was declared a public health emergency (PHE) by the Minister of Health and Child Care in October 2023. | An index human cVDPV2 was reported in a 10-year-old female AFP case in January 2024. | Two newly confirmed AFP cases (samples from contacts) have been reported this week…

UN Children's Fund (2024-02-16). UNICEF Central African Republic Humanitarian Situation Report No. 4 for 01 January-31 December 2023. reliefweb.int Countries: Central African Republic, Chad, Sudan | Source: UN Children's Fund | Please refer to the attached file. | HIGHLIGHTS | In 2023, despite ongoing clashes between armed forces and nonstate armed groups compounded by frequent natural disasters, there have been signs of some improvement in the general humanitarian situation in the Central African Republic (CAR); | The 2024 Humanitarian Needs Overview (HNO) estimates 2.8 million people, or 46 percent of the CAR population, will be in need of humanitarian assistance and protection; | UNICEF-supported health facilities have provided medical care to 38,12…

akweb.de (2024-02-17). Talking to the left. indybay.org Developing a common transformational project and building counter-power remains the central task of the left. Especially in areas of social infrastructure, such as housing and healthcare, profit maximization has a particularly devastating effect. The strategy of socialization, i.e. the transfer of private property into democratic structures, can provide orientation here.

albawaba (2024-02-17). Navalny's Death Raises Questions: Europe and NATO Point Finger at Putin. albawaba.com ALBAWABA – The Russian Federal Prison Service (FSIN) has confirmed the passing of Russian opposition figure Alexei Navalny, aged 47, in the penal colony where he was incarcerated on the Yamal Peninsula. This news has prompted reactions from European leaders and NATO.According to FSIN, Navalny fell ill and lost consciousness after going for a walk on February 16th in Penal Colony No. 3. Despite efforts by prison healthcare staff and emergency responders, Navalny could not be revived. The cause of his death is currently under investigation.Following the announcement of Navalny's death, European politicians and NATO…

newsnetwork.mayoclinic (2024-02-17). Try a cholesterol-lowering diet for heart health. newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org MANKATO, Minn. — With those New Year's resolutions six weeks behind us, some people may have reverted to less healthy ways of eating. Heart Month is a great time to remind yourself why a healthy diet is important for more than just your waistline. "What you eat and drink affects your cholesterol and triglyceride levels, and if you have high cholesterol or triglyceride levels, your healthcare team may recommend following a cholesterol-lowering diet," says Ripu…

newsnetwork.mayoclinic (2024-02-17). Aspiring innovators aim to transform medicine with the next big idea. newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org Residents and students at Mayo Clinic learning the craft of their careers are also adopting a mindset to transform healthcare. Programs at Mayo are helping these enterprising inventors ask the right questions and take the steps to bring their innovative ideas to market.

newsnetwork.mayoclinic (2024-02-17). Little by little: Small changes can lead to heart health, Mayo Clinic expert says. newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org Several countries observe Heart Month in February JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Switching from an unhealthy diet and sedentary lifestyle to healthy eating and exercise can be daunting. In this expert alert, Juan Cardenas Rosales, M.D., an internal medicine physician and medical director of the international medicine practice at Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Florida, shares small steps and one big one that can lead to a heart-healthy life. Taking the first step can be difficult, whether trying…

Mark Gruenberg (2024-02-16). Unions launch crash drive against GOP commission to cut Social Security. peoplesworld.org WASHINGTON—The nation's unions have launched a crash drive, trying to mobilize members quickly against a Republican plan for a secretive commission to cut Social Security and Medicare, before House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., can rush it through. In a jammed D.C. press conference on February 15, AFGE President Everett Kelley, Rep. John Larson, D-Conn., and …

Global Research News (2024-02-16). Selected Articles: Turbo Brain Cancer Due to University COVID-19 Vaccine Mandates in the United States. globalresearch.ca By Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 mRNA Vaccines cause Turbo Brain Cancers, which, in my estimation are in the Top 3 …

Rhoda Wilson (2024-02-17). Network of New Zealand authorities still deceives and denies covid injection harms. expose-news.com There was a lack of long-term safety testing of mRNA vaccines before their widespread rollout and mandated in New Zealand and there is a continued failure by authorities to properly investigate vaccine …

Rhoda Wilson (2024-02-17). Is vaccine shedding possible? Over 1,000 reports say it's real and it's happening. expose-news.com An analysis of over 1,000 reports of covid vaccine shedding reveals that the most common symptoms, by far, are gynaecological. Outside of menstrual abnormalities, the most commonly reported symptoms include headaches, tinnitus, …

Paul Anthony Taylor (2024-02-16). British Prime Minister Confronted Over COVID-19 Vaccine Injuries on Live Television. globalresearch.ca

Gabisile (2024-02-16). SA records an increase in research and development expenditure after COVID-19. sanews.gov.za SA records an increase in research and development expenditure after COVID-19 | Gross domestic expenditure on research and development (GERD) has increased in real terms for the first time in four years. | GERD as a percentage of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) reached 0.62% in 2021/22, up from 0.60% in the previous year, indicating a slight improvement in research and development (R&D) intensity. | This represents a 6.9% year-on-year increase from R25.965 billion in 2020/21 to R27.756 billion in 2021/22, in terms of 2015 prices. | This is according to the latest South African National Survey of Research and Exp…

Greg Ruiters, Patrick Bond (2024-02-16). South Africa's failed infrastructure privatisation and deregulation. cadtm.org Introduction
| The South African state is commonly said to be 'failing' — not only because yet again at the end of 2023, a recession hit. An alleged fiscal crisis, in the form of a public debt to GDP ratio in excess of 70 percent (mostly due to Covid-19 revenue shrinkage), prevents the kind of institutional rescue and expansion of infrastructure and services typical of prior eras of developmental- or welfare-state construction.
| A typical articulation of the terrain of infrastructure financing (…) | – |

Rhoda Wilson (2024-02-16). Canada: Class action lawsuit launched to bring justice to small businesses in Alberta that were forced to obey covid lockdowns. expose-news.com

Patricia Harrity (2024-02-17). Are "Phantom Covid Records" — "NHS Incompetence, Low Level Identity Theft or Higher Level, Systematic Data Fraud?" expose-news.com It appears that the NHS have recorded individuals as being "vaccinated" on their personal COVID app, even when they have never received one jab. Joel Smalley has previously reported that after checking …

Tamanisha John, Black Agenda Report. (2024-02-17). Exercise Tradewinds: 40 Years Of US Counterinsurgency In The Caribbean. popularresistance.org Between December 5-7, 2023, in San Antonio, Texas military planners from the United States, Canada, Barbados, and other CARICOM entities met to make plans for Tradewinds '24.[1] There, it was determined that the 39th iteration of Exercise Tradewinds (EXTW24) would take place, at least in the first phase, in Barbados. Although Exercise Tradewinds "began" in 1984, EXTW24 will only mark the 39th iteration of these exercises versus the 40th iteration, given that no exercise was held in 2020 given the (ongoing) global COVID-19 pandemic.[2] Between January 29, 2024, and February 2, 2024 military planners met again, thi…

The Exposé (2024-02-17). From One to Another: Doctors find Graphene is shedding from the COVID-19 vaccinated to the Unvaccinated, forming Deadly Blood Clots & Decimating Blood Cells. expose-news.com In his latest set of slides of blood samples taken from both "vaccinated" and unvaccinated people, Dr. Philippe van Welbergen demonstrated that the graphene being injected into people is organising and growing …

WSWS (2024-02-17). The WHO and the inability of capitalism to prevent future pandemics. wsws.org The international working class must assimilate the lessons of the COVID-19 pandemic, above all the inability of capitalism to organize on a global scale to address the current pandemic and prevent future ones.

Dr. William Makis (2024-02-16). UCSF Chair of Medicine Dr. Bob Wachter (6x COVID-19 Vaccinated) Collapsed in the Shower. globalresearch.ca

Greg Ruiters, Patrick Bond (2024-02-17). South Africa's failed infrastructure privatisation and deregulation. cadtm.org Introduction
| The South African state is commonly said to be 'failing' — not only because yet again at the end of 2023, a recession hit. An alleged fiscal crisis, in the form of a public debt to GDP ratio in excess of 70 percent (mostly due to Covid-19 revenue shrinkage), prevents the kind of institutional rescue and expansion of infrastructure and services typical of prior eras of developmental- or welfare-state construction.
| A typical articulation of the terrain of infrastructure financing (…) | – |

Chauncey K. Robinson (2024-02-16). Journalism is in danger—be part of the rescue. peoplesworld.org According to news reports, 2023 was the worst year for journalism since the COVID-19 pandemic began in 2020. Nearly 3,000 journalism jobs were slashed last year, with more to follow in 2024. Despite a number of large corporate outlets being owned by billionaires like Jeff Bezos (The Washington Post), John Henry (The Boston Globe), and …

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