News roundup for Tue, Jul 05, 2022
Latest predictions: The next recession might not be as severe as the ‘07-’09 Great Financial Crisis, but it could last longer. According to recent economic forecasts, while the downturn may not reach the same level of devastation as in 2008, it could stretch over a more extended period. This has raised concerns about prolonged job losses and slow recovery in key sectors. Opinion: If there’s a recession, don’t count on the government to come to the rescue with stimulus checks and boosted unemployment benefits. While federal assistance is often seen as a safety net, recent trends suggest that support may be more limited. That said, some states are already planning tax rebates or inflation relief programs to help their citizens cope. Here are tips that can help you get rid of medical debt—or avoid it altogether. Medical bills are one of the leading causes of personal bankruptcy in the U.S., so understanding your rights and options is crucial. From negotiating payments to applying for financial aid, there are steps you can take to manage this burden. The U.S. is closing off the possibility of new oil and gas leases in the Atlantic, Pacific, and Arctic Oceans, but is allowing new leases in both the Gulf of Mexico and the Cook Inlet in Alaska. This move reflects a balancing act between environmental concerns and energy security. While reducing drilling in sensitive areas is a step toward combating climate change, the continued development in other regions highlights the ongoing tension between sustainability and economic needs. Chilli peppers, coffee, wine: how the climate crisis is causing food shortages. Rising temperatures, erratic rainfall, and extreme weather events are threatening global food supplies. Crops like coffee and wine grapes are particularly vulnerable, and experts warn that these disruptions could lead to higher prices and reduced availability in the coming years. Southern China was hit by Typhoon Chaba, the first typhoon of the year. Forecasters warn of high disaster risks in Guangdong, the country’s most populous province. It is expected that extreme weather will continue in China through August, partly due to climate change. Hainan upgraded its emergency response to Level II on Saturday. The island’s railway service was suspended, and more than 400 flights were canceled. In Hong Kong, dozens of people are missing from an engineering ship that broke in two: Dramatic video shows Hong Kong rescuers pulling sailors from a sinking ship in the South China Sea. At least three people from the crew of 30 have been brought to safety, officials said. https://t.co/AZXVdjKhFX pic.twitter.com/ruw7PDmzdC — ABC News (@ABC) July 2, 2022 Due to “life-threatening†floods, 30,000 Sydney residents are under evacuation notice. Australia is experiencing its fourth round of flooding in less than a year. The flooding has been one of the worst extreme weather events for the country’s biggest city in 18 months. The water level of Lake Mead keeps dropping, exposing a WWII-era boat. Originally 185ft (56m) below the surface, the Higgins landing craft is now half-submerged. This stark visual serves as a reminder of the long-term effects of drought and water mismanagement in the American Southwest. Drought is creating climate conditions that are so extreme that California’s landscape could change profoundly and permanently, according to scientists. Some believe that the conditions in the U.S. and elsewhere are remarkably similar to those that killed ancient civilizations like the Pueblos, the Maya, and even Mesopotamia. Climate change and carbon emissions are accelerating California’s transformation, creating not only longer and more severe droughts, but also hotter ones. It’s a process known as aridification, and many say it’s here to stay. The problem could be solved by reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Opinion: A water strategy for the parched West: Have cities pay farmers to install more efficient irrigation systems. Congress was recently warned that seven Colorado River basin states – Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming – need to reduce their diversions from the Colorado River by 2 million to 4 million acre-feet in 2022. The acre-foot is enough water to cover an acre of land with a foot of water – about 325,000 gallons. States need to focus on the region’s biggest water user: agriculture. 80% of water used in the Colorado River Basin goes to farmers. Four counties in North Texas issued disaster declarations banning fireworks due to drought. 75% of the state is currently under a burn ban. California will require plastic manufacturers to pay for recycling and make sure single-use items are compostable or recyclable by 2032. Packaging manufacturers will bear the costs of recycling infrastructure, recycling plants, and collection and sorting facilities, instead of taxpayers, who currently pay for them. The first producer-responsibility laws in the country were passed last summer in Maine and Oregon. India banned single-use plastic items. Plastic bags are now exempt from the ban, but the government has asked manufacturers and importers to raise the thickness to promote reuse. Two tonnes of CO2 will be removed annually by an Australian direct air capture (DAC) company. The prototype is solar-powered and tent-sized. This is the first time an Australian company has secured a deal to remove CO2 using DAC technology. By 2027, AspiraDAC plans to deploy 180 of the machines to capture and store 500 tonnes of CO2. According to a study of 54 patients in the UK, monkeypox patients have very different symptoms than those previously reported. Patients reported less fever and fatigue and more skin lesions in their genital and anal areas than is typical for monkeypox. A review of case definitions is needed to avoid cases being overlooked, particularly since monkeypox can “mimic†(look like?) other common sexually transmitted infections (STIs) like herpes and syphilis. In the Democratic Republic of Congo, the virus is spreading to new provinces. MXP has been prevalent in the Congo Basin rainforests since the 70s but is now found in mountains and savannas. There may be more animal groups spreading the virus than we thought. It’s not clear which animals carry the virus, but in the past, rodents seemed to be the most affected. Scientists are testing different animals in the region to better understand transmission chains. Global health experts say diseases will jump from animals to humans as populations expand into previously uninhabited regions. DRC’s lack of testing capacity complicates investigations. While monkeypox has a long history in the DRC, health leaders worry a wider spread will add to malaria and typhoid outbreaks. North Korea said they will boost their military to counter the US, South Korea, and Japan’s pact. According to their southern neighbors, the country is ready for its first nuclear test in five years. Opinion: 6 historical threat patterns suggest that cyberwar could be inevitable. With increasing reliance on digital infrastructure, the risk of large-scale cyber attacks is growing. Experts warn that nations must prepare for the next phase of conflict, which may involve not just traditional warfare, but also digital sabotage and information warfare. Chronic wasting disease (CWD) has been confirmed in 30 U.S. states, four Canadian provinces, Norway, Finland, Sweden, and South Korea. Once an infection is in wild populations, there’s no stopping it. There’s no cure and no way to test live animals. As the disease progresses, deer become more vulnerable to other diseases, less able to defend themselves, and more likely to be hit by cars. An infected deer can usually survive for 18 months to two years. CWD has never been detected in humans, but several lab experiments have shown that the prion could be transferred to other mammals. CDC warns against eating meat from infected animals. Elastomeric respirators are a less-known, sustainable, and cost-effective alternative to N95s. They are mostly made in the U.S. and filter out more than 99% of pathogens. The downsides: they need to be disinfected, and communication might be muffled. A gas grill is a type of outdoor grill that uses propane or natural gas
as a fuel source to cook food. It typically has a metal cooking grate,
burners, and a hood or lid to trap heat and smoke. Gas grills are
popular because they are easy to use and offer precise temperature
control, making them ideal for grilling a variety of foods, from burgers
and hot dogs to vegetables and seafood. They can also be used
year-round, as they do not require charcoal or wood for fuel. Some gas
grills also have additional features such as side burners, rotisserie
attachments, and built-in thermometers. Gas Grill ,Portable Propane Grill,Char Broil Bbq,Small Propane Grill NingBo AoYue Technology Co., Ltd. , https://www.aoyue-tech.comIn short:
Economy & Supply Chain
Climate Change, Environment, Extreme Weather
Monkeypox
The Rest