Prescription medication could potentially prolong lives
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Afghanistan faces a severe drought, with the UN warning that the Taliban's actions have made it difficult to mobilize resources, leading to a "perfect storm" of devastation. Meanwhile, in Sudan, famine was declared last year, and more than 25 million people are currently facing extreme hunger. Humanitarian agencies have been prevented from providing aid in both countries.
In Europe, Eastern European states have bolstered security following Moscow's invasion of Ukraine. Finland is building a wall, and Poland has added minefields. Finland and Poland are also considering restoring peat wetlands along their Russian borders as a defense against possible invasion, which also has the added benefit of being a carbon sink.
China kicked off a diplomatic and military show this weekend, hosting world leaders who are largely opposed to Western hegemony. The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit, held in Tianjin, China, was attended by member states including China, India, Russia, and Pakistan. However, Pakistan did not participate in the military parade despite attending the summit.
Meanwhile, in South America, Australia, Canada, France, and the UK are set to recognize Palestine next month in a bid to pressure Israel over its operation in Gaza. Brazil's Supreme Court will begin hearing closing arguments in the trial of former President Jair Bolsonaro, who is accused of orchestrating a coup to stay in power.
In science and technology, a major review of the literature on genetic markers in different tissue types was published this week, developing an "epigenetic atlas" of aging. Chinese scientists have turned succulents into glow-in-the-dark, rechargeable lights that shine in a variety of colors. Researchers have also used artificial intelligence to spot hidden signs of consciousness in comatose patients long before they were noticed by doctors.
Elsewhere, Long-dated government bonds worldwide have tumbled due to fears of excessive government spending, rising inflation, and political instability. Demonstrators have taken to the streets in various countries to push back against rising cost of living, with protests escalating into violence in some cases.
In geopolitics, the US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit ruled that the American leader overstepped his authority by imposing levies using emergency powers legislation. The US military killed 11 people in a strike on a vessel off the coast of Venezuela, which officials said was carrying illegal narcotics. The disruption of the EU president's plane's navigation systems was believed to be the result of "blatant interference by Russia."
In the Middle East, Israel is reportedly considering annexing parts of the occupied West Bank in response to several Western countries' plans to recognize a Palestinian state. The US military killed 11 people in a strike on a vessel off the coast of Venezuela, which officials said was carrying illegal narcotics. Syria recently exported its first official crude oil shipment since 2010, marking the return of a key driver of its economy.
In other news, a major earthquake struck near the Afghanistan-Pakistan border, killing over 800 people. Russia hammered Ukraine with 526 drones overnight, a further escalation of Moscow's aerial assault. The magnitude 6.0 quake was significant, but not huge - a tremor off Kamchatka, Russia, that triggered tsunami warnings in July released 15,000 times more energy.
In the world of sports, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit will be followed soon after by a mammoth military parade aimed at highlighting China's contributions in World War II. The displays of warmth and laughter between the leaders of India, China, and Russia in Tianjin underscored how much US President Donald Trump has shaken up global diplomacy.
In the legal system, a US federal appeals court ruled that sweeping global tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump were illegal. In Thailand, the constitutional court sacked the country's prime minister, throwing the country into renewed political turmoil.
Finally, in the health sector, about 42% of US children diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) were given drugs, usually stimulants, within 30 days, a study looking at 10,000 children's medical records found. Young children with ADHD are being prescribed drugs too readily, research suggested. Two major studies disagreed over the impacts of beta blockers for heart attack patients. One found a notable 15% reduction in deaths and major cardiovascular events among patients with impaired heart function, but another found no impact.
