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Uruguayans went to the polls Sunday for a second round of voting to choose their next president, with the conservative governing party and the left-leaning coalition locked in a close runoff after failing to win an outright majority in last month's vote. The staid election has turned into a hard-fought race between Álvaro Delgado, the incumbent party's candidate, and Yamandú Orsi from the Broad Front, a coalition of leftist and center-left parties that governed for 15 years until the 2019 victory of center-right President Luis Lacalle Pou. The Broad Front oversaw the legalization of abortion, same-sex marriage and the sale of marijuana in the small South American nation of 3.4 million people. Orsi's Broad Front took 44 per cent of the vote while Delgado's National Party won 27 per cent in the first round of voting Oct. 27 . But other conservative parties that make up the government coalition — in particular, the Colorado Party — notched 20 per cent of the vote collectively, enough to give Delgado an edge over his challenger. Congress ended up evenly split in the October vote. Most polls have shown a virtual tie between Delgado and Orsi, with nearly 10 per cent of Uruguayan voters undecided even at this late stage. Many said they believed turnout would be low if voting weren't compulsory in the country. “Neither candidate convinced me and I feel that there are many in my same situation," said Vanesa Gelezoglo, 31, in the capital, Montevideo, adding she would make up her mind at “the last minute.” Analysts say the candidates' lackluster campaigns and broad consensus on key issues have generated extraordinary indecision and apathy in an election dominated by discussions about social spending and concerns over income inequality but largely free of the anti-establishment rage that has vaulted populist outsiders to power elsewhere . “The question of whether Frente Amplio (the Broad Front) raises taxes is not an existential question, unlike what we saw in the U.S. with Trump and Kamala framing each other as threats to democracy," said Nicolás Saldías, a Latin America and Caribbean senior analyst for the London-based Economist Intelligence Unit. “That doesn't exist in Uruguay.” Both candidates are also appealing to voter angst over a surge in violent crime that has shaken a nation long regarded as one of the region’s safest, with Delgado promising tough-on-crime policies and Orsi advocating a more community-oriented approach. Delgado, 55, a rural veterinarian with a long career in the National Party, campaigned on a vow to continue the legacy of current President Lacalle Pou — in some ways making the election into a referendum on his leadership. He campaigned under the slogan “re-elect a good government." Alvaro Delgado, candidate for the ruling National Party, waves to supporters after voting in Montevideo, Uruguay, Sunday, Nov. 24, 2024. (AP Photo/Jon Orbach) While a string of corruption scandals rattled Lacalle Pou's government last year, the president — who constitutionally cannot run for a second consecutive term — now enjoys high approval ratings and a strong economy expected to grow 3.2 per cent this year, according to the International Monetary Fund. Inflation has also eased in recent months, boosting his coalition. Delgado served most recently as Secretary of the Presidency for Lacalle Pou and promises to pursue his predecessor's pro-business policies. He would continue pushing for a trade deal with China that has raised hackles in Mercosur, an alliance of South American countries promoting regional commerce. "We have to give the government coalition a chance to consolidate its proposals,” said Ramiro Pérez, a street vendor voting for Delgado on Sunday. Orsi, 57, a former history teacher and two-time mayor from a working-class background, is widely seen as the political heir to iconic former President José “Pepe” Mujica, an ex-Marxist guerilla who raised Uruguay's international profile as one of the region's most socially liberal and environmentally sustainable nations during his 2010-2015 term. “He's my candidate, not only for my sake but also for my children's,” Yeni Varone, a nurse, said of Orsi. “In the future they'll have better working conditions, health and salaries.” Yeni Varone, a nurse, casts her vote in the presidential run-off election in Montevideo, Uruguay, Sunday, Nov. 24, 2024. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko) Mujica, now 89 and recovering from esophageal cancer, was among the first to cast his ballot after polls opened. “Uruguay is a small country, but it has earned recognition for being stable, for having a citizenry that respects institutional formalities,” he told reporters from his local polling station. “This is no small feat.” While promising to forge a “new left” in Uruguay, Orsi plans no dramatic changes. He proposes tax incentives to lure investment and social security reforms that would lower the retirement age but fall short of a radical overhaul sought by Uruguay's unions. The contentious plebiscite on whether to boost pension payouts failed to pass in October, with Uruguayans rejecting generous pensions in favor of fiscal constraint. Both candidates pledged full cooperation with each other if elected. “I want (Orsi) to know that my idea is to form a government of national unity,” Delgado told reporters after casting his vote in the capital's upscale Pocitos neighborhood. He said that if he won, he and Orsi would chat on Monday over some yerba mate, the traditional herbal drink beloved by Uruguayans. Orsi similarly pledged a smooth and respectful transition of power, describing Sunday's democratic exercise as “an incredible experience" as he voted in Canelones, the sprawling town of beaches and cattle ranches just north of Montevideo where he served as mayor for a decade. “The essence of politics is agreements,” he said. “You never end up completely satisfied.” __ Associated Press writer Isabel DeBre in Villa Tunari, Bolivia, contributed to this report.Azincourt Energy (CVE:AAZ) Trading Up 50% – What’s Next?Tax reform opponents, enemies of Nigeria — Okupe
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Women will for the first time make up a majority of state legislators in Colorado and New Mexico next year, but at least 13 states saw losses in female representation after the November election, according to a count released Thursday by the Rutgers Center for American Women and Politics. While women will fill a record number of state legislative seats in 2025, the overall uptick will be slight, filling just over third of legislative seats. Races in some states are still being called. "We certainly would like to see a faster rate of change and more significant increases in each election cycle to get us to a place where parity in state legislatures is less novel and more normal," said Kelly Dittmar, director of research at the CAWP, which is a unit of the Eagleton Institute of Politics at Rutgers University. As of Wednesday, at least 2,450 women will serve in state legislatures, representing 33.2% of the seats nationwide. The previous record was set in 2024 with 2,431 women, according to the CAWP. The number of Republican women, at least 851, will break the previous record of 815 state lawmakers set in 2024. "But still, Republican women are very underrepresented compared to Democratic women," Debbie Walsh, director of the CAWP, said. From left, House Maj. Whip Reena Szczepanski, D-Santa Fe, Rep. D. Wonda Johnson, D-Church Rock and Rep. Cristina Parajon, D-Albuquerque, talk July 18 before the start of a special session, in Santa Fe, N.M. By the most recent count, 19 states will have increased the number of women in their state legislatures, according to the CAWP. The most notable increases were in New Mexico and Colorado, where women will for the first time make up a majority of lawmakers. In New Mexico, voters sent an 11 additional women to the chambers. Colorado previously attained gender parity in 2023 and is set to tip over to a slight female majority in the upcoming year. The states follow Nevada, which was the first in the country to see a female majority in the legislature following elections in 2018. Next year, women will make up almost 62% of state lawmakers in Nevada, far exceeding parity. Women in California's Senate will make up the chamber's majority for the first time in 2025 as well. Women also made notable gains in South Dakota, increasing its number by at least nine. Four of South Carolina's Sister Senators, from left, Sen. Margie Bright Matthews, D-Walterboro, Sen. Mia McLeod, I-Columbia, Sen. Katrina Shealy, R-Lexington, and Sen. Penry Gustafson, R-Camden, stand in front of the Senate on June 26 with their John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage award in Columbia, S.C. At least thirteen states emerged from the election with fewer female lawmakers than before, with the most significant loss occurring in South Carolina. This year, the only three Republican women in the South Carolina Senate lost their primaries after they stopped a total abortion ban from passing. Next year, only two women, who are Democrats, will be in the 46-member Senate. No other state in the country will have fewer women in its upper chamber, according to the CAWP. Women make up 55% of the state's registered voters. Half the members in the GOP dominated state were elected in 2012 or before, so it will likely be the 2040s before any Republican woman elected in the future can rise to leadership or a committee chairmanship in the chamber, which doles out leadership positions based on seniority. A net loss of five women in the legislature means they will make up only about 13% of South Carolina's lawmakers, making the state the second lowest in the country for female representation. Only West Virginia has a smaller proportion of women in the legislature. West Virginia stands to lose one more women from its legislative ranks, furthering its representation problem in the legislature where women will make up just 11% of lawmakers. Many women, lawmakers and experts say that women's voices are needed in discussions on policy, especially at a time when state government is at its most powerful in decades. Walsh, director of the CAWP, said the new changes expected from the Trump administration will turn even more policy and regulation to the states. The experiences and perspectives women offer will be increasingly needed, she said, especially on topics related to reproductive rights, healthcare, education and childcare. "The states may have to pick up where the federal government may, in fact, be walking away," Walsh said. "And so who serves in those institutions is more important now than ever." November 7, 2024: Trump Victory Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter.Darajar Naira na kara farfadowa
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Kyne Lim —CONTRIBUTED PHOTO Kyne Lim is the regional business manager of Southeast Asia at Emma, the world’s largest direct-to-consumer sleep brand with revenue of $1 billion in 2023. He was the country head for the Philippines and Korea prior to his new assignment. In this interview, he shares insights into Emma’s entry into the Philippines. Question: What was Emma’s market entry strategy for the Philippines? How did you tailor your approach to fit the local market, and what challenges did you face? Answer: We had a twofold challenge in entering the Philippines: one, overcome top-of-mind brands that are synonymous with mattresses and two, differentiate ourselves from those available in the market. These are important because if people are not aware of your brand, then they won’t even consider you when they do want to make a purchase. READ: Playing to win: Entrepreneurship and the competitive spirit These were the areas we dedicated our efforts to. We mainly used social media and influencers to spread our key messages. We used these channels to not only inform potential customers that Emma exists, but also to educate them about what’s different about our product. An example is how our ads, even back then, were communicating our seven-zone technology and motional isolation technology. Marketing became a cornerstone of our market entry strategy to the point that we may have appeared too often for some people. Q: I researched Emma mattresses and found that they have multiple layers of foam, including memory foam and Airgocell foam. Briefly, why do people need these? How do they differ from what’s available locally? A: Our combination and configuration of these layers of foam and spring allow us to offer our seven-zone technology and our motion isolation technology. We believed these features would help us in the Philippines. To quickly explain, our seven-zone technology is a feature wherein your body part “sinks” to a different level depending on which part of the mattress you are. This is to allow your spine to remain aligned whatever your sleeping position may be. We were probably one of the first to market these technologies extensively to the public, so Emma stood out versus other available brands. Q: Emma undercuts the price of high-end imported mattresses. Beyond price, why should people consider Emma? A: Emma really values innovation; we value the technological part of our mattresses. Our mattresses undergo validation across these third-party test companies in Europe whose main job is to rigorously test mattresses across different dimensions. So, when we say, for example, our Diamond Degree graphite foam dissipates heat, these are backed up by testing. This is genuine. Our mattresses are also consistent award-winners in multiple countries, so Emma has both the technological proof and the social proof. Q: You are an online company with no physical store. How did you come up with this channel decision? A: Our principle is centered on customer satisfaction. By operating primarily online, we can offer a 100-day home trial period, allowing customers to experience our mattresses in their own environment and ensuring they make a fully informed decision. This is in contrast to in-store trials, which only last a minute or two. Additionally, we do have physical stores in Europe to be closer to our customers, and partner with wholesalers globally to reach those who prefer to try the mattress in-store before making a purchase. In the Philippines, our products can be found in showrooms like Abenson and Habitat. There are numerous factors to consider when establishing physical stores, including the costs of construction, rent and staffing. These expenses can be substantial, especially with multiple locations. By saving on these costs and investing in online marketing instead, we can pass the savings on to our customers. This strategy allows us to offer competitive prices compared with other international brands, making us an affordable premium brand. Q: Prospects can actually try Emma in some of your partner stores like Abenson Home and Habitat. How do you protect these retailers when you also encourage prospects to buy directly from you? A: It is a win-win partnership. The sleep market is gigantic; everyone that sleeps needs a mattress. They see our potential and instead of only acting as a competitor, they want to profit from our growth. By having our products, we bring traffic to their stores and if we grow, they grow. I believe both of us, Emma and our partner stores, recognize the reality that online purchase of goods is a recent phenomenon and that a sizable number would still choose to purchase offline given the chance. But, at the same time, for us, partnering up with retailers allows us to reach that customer that still prefers to buy it offline. To give more insight, we do have marketing activities that we do for our retailers, but even when we market normally, it has a trickle-down effect wherein people who are interested—but are not yet convinced of buying an Emma mattress online despite the 100-night trial—will still head to one of our retail partners to test out. In this sense, there is no clash at the moment. Q: How does the 100-night risk-free trial work? What is your return rate for online purchases compared with in-store purchases, and how does this compare with the 12-percent industry average? When do you offer a 100-night versus a 200-night risk-free trial? A: The 100-night trial is our guarantee wherein after you receive your order but are not satisfied with it, we’ll take back the mattress and refund you how much you bought it for within the next 100 nights. This stems from our belief that it takes more than just a few minutes to understand if a mattress is for you or not; you need to have slept on it for a few days or even weeks to really know if it suits you. Emma is a company that values that local insight–this is what has helped us grow wherever we set roots on. The team here surveyed the Philippines landscape and deemed the 100-night trial was the most effective duration. In fact, from those that returned their Emma products, we see that Filipinos tend to return them much earlier than 100 nights. To add though, what I can say is that our return rate is lower than the industry average, which is a good indicator for us that Emma’s products are being accepted by the market. Q: How has influencer marketing impacted your brand’s reach and customer engagement? What strategies have you found most effective in working with influencers? How do you measure its effectiveness? A: One of the things our company is good at is performance marketing. We think of ways to measure our marketing. When available, we use the platform’s available data. For example, if we use Facebook, they have Facebook Ads Manager that allows us to see this information. For influencers, it’s a mix of a few things. We have our own created attribution model, which is a mix of factors–part of it is the coupon code usage. For influencers, we ask them to also include a coupon code that they can share to their followers, so we’re able to measure performance through that. In addition, if we use influencers in our ads–we’d measure those ads’ performance too. We then put it all together, we have a better view of how this influencer was able to help us. We learned that in working with influencers, it is very important to play to our strengths. This means that instead of dictating 100 percent of the content, we work with their branding and their style to communicate the key messages that Emma wants to say. We follow and watch influencers because we enjoy the way they present after all. Q: Filipinos appear to be sleeping an average daily of six hours and 22 minutes, less than the seven hours recommended average. What should Filipinos know about quality sleep? A: Quality sleep is very important. We need good quality sleep to tackle the next day ahead. In the Philippines, we chose our influencers such as Kryz Uy, Small Laude, Anne Curtis-Smith–all of whom are personalities who demonstrate a tight schedule juggling different things. At Emma, we believe that they are able to perform at their 100 percent all day because of having a good-night sleep. Our mission statement is to “awaken your best,” because we believe in the power of good sleep. It allows you to rejuvenate not just your body, but also your mind–and that in return allows you to do your best in your day ahead, to achieve whatever you want to achieve. —CONTRIBUTED Disclosure: This interview had been requested by Emma but no compensation or other considerations were received in exchange. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy . Josiah Go is the chair and chief innovation strategist of Mansmith and Fielders Inc., as well as the coauthor of Marketing For Beginners (the No.1 book in marketing) and Entrepreneurship: The Four-Gate Model (the No. 1 book in entrepreneurship.)
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Former UFC champion Eddie Alvarez has revealed why Conor McGregor will struggle to escape his UFC contract. McGregor hasn’t fought in the UFC since 2021 when he broke his leg against Dustin Poirier in their trilogy bout. He became the first fighter in Dana White’s promotion to hold two belts simultaneously after knocking out Alvarez eight years ago at UFC 205. Since dropping his lightweight title to McGregor, Alvarez has left the UFC and debuted for ONE Championship. Now, he’s working with the Irishman once again as a star of the Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC). “Realistically, I think he still has two fights left on his UFC contract,” Alvarez told MMA Fighting on Wednesday. “I just know how difficult it is, especially when you’re that valuable to a company. “I haven’t been as valuable as Conor, but back when I was basically Bellator’s main guy, I know how difficult it is to get out of those contracts. “They don’t make it easy.” Alvarez makes his third appearance under the BKFC banner against Jeremy Stephens at KnuckleMania 5 in January 2025. McGregor has also reportedly been exploring a move into the bare-knuckle promotion that he became a part-owner of in April. However, the former two-division UFC champion announced this month on social media that he was in talks with YouTuber-turned-WWE star Logan Paul for an exhibition boxing contest. He posted on X: “I am in preliminary agreements with the Ambrani family to face Logan Paul in a boxing exhibition in India. "I have agreed. I will then seek my return to the Octagon." Just two hours after his claim, Jake Paul — Logan’s younger brother, who fought Mike Tyson in November — respoded by stating McGregor had initially contacted him over a possible meeting. He said: "Now it all makes sense why Conor McGregor and his management team have been desperately trying to get MVP to negotiate for a fight between us. "As we told them privately and I’m now saying it publicly... "The only way we’re willing to explore me vs Conor in a pro boxing/MMA fight is if Dana White/UFC are at the table directly or make it clear they are okay with discussions. "Conor is washed. Needs the Paul’s. Logan [to win] by however he wants." Jake and White have gone back and forth in a bitter feud now in recent years and the UFC President has previously declared he would never work with him or his brother. This leaves McGregor in a sticky situation, as he would have to get permission from his boss White to compete against either Paul brother in a boxing bout, just like when he fought Floyd Mayweather . Speaking on McGregor’s potential endeavours into BKFC, Alvarez admitted that a move is unlikely to take place. “For him, making the company hundreds of millions of dollars, I don’t think it’s going to be an easy exit,” he said. “I think he still has two more fights with the UFC, and I’m not sure how old Conor is, but he’s not getting any younger. “It’s going to be tough for him to fight those fights out and move onto another contract. “So realistically, I don’t know if he could fight BKFC, and if he does, it’ll be maybe when he’s older.”Clayton scores 34 as Ohio knocks off Portland 85-73
UN expert: Myanmar's desperate military ramps up attacks including beheadings, rapes and tortureKYIV, Ukraine — NATO and Ukraine will hold emergency talks Tuesday after Russia attacked a central city with an experimental, hypersonic ballistic missile. escalating the nearly 33-month-old war. The conflict is “entering a decisive phase,” Poland’s Prime Minister Donald Tusk said Friday, and “taking on very dramatic dimensions.” Ukraine’s parliament canceled a session as security was tightened following Thursday’s Russian strike on a military facility in the city of Dnipro. In a stark warning to the West, President Vladimir Putin said in a nationally televised speech the attack with the intermediate-range Oreshnik missile was in retaliation for Kyiv’s use of U.S. and British longer-range missiles capable of striking deeper into Russian territory. Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks Friday during a meeting with the leadership of the Russian Ministry of Defense, representatives of the military-industrial complex and developers of missile systems at the Kremlin in Moscow. Putin said Western air defense systems would be powerless to stop the new missile. Ukrainian military officials said the missile that hit Dnipro reached a speed of Mach 11 and carried six nonnuclear warheads, each releasing six submunitions. Speaking Friday to military and weapons industries officials, Putin said Russia will launch production of the Oreshnik. “No one in the world has such weapons,” he said. “Sooner or later, other leading countries will also get them. We are aware that they are under development. “We have this system now,” he added. “And this is important.” Putin said that while it isn’t an intercontinental missile, it’s so powerful that the use of several of them fitted with conventional warheads in one attack could be as devastating as a strike with strategic — or nuclear — weapons. Gen. Sergei Karakayev, head of Russia’s Strategic Missile Forces, said the Oreshnik could reach targets across Europe and be fitted with nuclear or conventional warheads, echoing Putin’s claim that even with conventional warheads, “the massive use of the weapon would be comparable in effect to the use of nuclear weapons.” In this photo taken from a video released Friday, a Russian serviceman operates at an undisclosed location in Ukraine. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov kept up Russia's bellicose tone on Friday, blaming “the reckless decisions and actions of Western countries” in supplying weapons to Ukraine to strike Russia. "The Russian side has clearly demonstrated its capabilities, and the contours of further retaliatory actions in the event that our concerns were not taken into account have also been quite clearly outlined," he said. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, widely seen as having the warmest relations with the Kremlin in the European Union, echoed Moscow’s talking points, suggesting the use of U.S.-supplied weapons in Ukraine likely requires direct American involvement. “These are rockets that are fired and then guided to a target via an electronic system, which requires the world’s most advanced technology and satellite communications capability,” Orbán said on state radio. “There is a strong assumption ... that these missiles cannot be guided without the assistance of American personnel.” Orbán cautioned against underestimating Russia’s responses, emphasizing that the country’s recent modifications to its nuclear deployment doctrine should not be dismissed as a “bluff.” “It’s not a trick ... there will be consequences,” he said. Czech Republic's Foreign Minister Jan Lipavsky speaks to journalists Friday during a joint news conference with Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andriiy Sybiha in Kyiv, Ukraine. Separately in Kyiv, Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavský called Thursday’s missile strike an “escalatory step and an attempt of the Russian dictator to scare the population of Ukraine and to scare the population of Europe.” At a news conference with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha, Lipavský also expressed his full support for delivering the necessary additional air defense systems to protect Ukrainian civilians from the “heinous attacks.” He said the Czech Republic will impose no limits on the use of its weapons and equipment given to Ukraine. Three lawmakers from Ukraine's parliament, the Verkhovna Rada, confirmed that Friday's previously scheduled session was called off due to the ongoing threat of Russian missiles targeting government buildings in central Kyiv. In addition, there also was a recommendation to limit the work of all commercial offices and nongovernmental organizations "in that perimeter, and local residents were warned of the increased threat,” said lawmaker Mykyta Poturaiev, who said it's not the first time such a threat has been received. Ukraine’s Main Intelligence Directorate said the Oreshnik missile was fired from the Kapustin Yar 4th Missile Test Range in Russia’s Astrakhan region and flew 15 minutes before striking Dnipro. Test launches of a similar missile were conducted in October 2023 and June 2024, the directorate said. The Pentagon confirmed the missile was a new, experimental type of intermediate-range missile based on its RS-26 Rubezh intercontinental ballistic missile. Thursday's attack struck the Pivdenmash plant that built ICBMs when Ukraine was part of the Soviet Union. The military facility is located about 4 miles southwest of the center of Dnipro, a city of about 1 million that is Ukraine’s fourth-largest and a key hub for military supplies and humanitarian aid, and is home to one of the country’s largest hospitals for treating wounded soldiers from the front before their transfer to Kyiv or abroad. We're all going to die someday. Still, how it happens—and when—can point to a historical moment defined by the scientific advancements and public health programs available at the time to contain disease and prevent accidents. In the early 1900s, to improve sanitation, hygiene, and routine vaccinations were still in their infancy. Maternal and infant mortality rates were high, as were contagious diseases that spread between people and animals. Combined with the devastation of two World Wars—and the Spanish Flu pandemic in between—the leading causes of death changed significantly after this period. So, too, did the way we diagnose and control the spread of disease. Starting with reforms as part of Roosevelt's New Deal in the 1930s, massive-scale, federal interventions in the U.S. eventually helped stave off disease transmission. It took comprehensive government programs and the establishment of state and local health agencies to educate the public on preventing disease transmission. Seemingly simple behavioral shifts, such as handwashing, were critical in thwarting the spread of germs, much like discoveries in medicine, such as vaccines, and increased access to deliver them across geographies. Over the course of the 20th century, and is estimated to keep increasing slightly, according to an annual summary of vital statistics published by the American Academy of Pediatrics in 2000. examined data from the to see how the leading causes of death in America have evolved over time and to pinpoint how some major mortality trends have dropped off. According to a report published in the journal Annual Review of Public Health in 2000, in the early 1900s, accounting for nearly 1 in 4 deaths. By the time World War I ended in 1918, during which people and animals were housed together for long periods, a new virus emerged: the Spanish Flu. Originating in a bird before spreading to humans, the virus killed 10 times as many Americans as the war. Many died of secondary pneumonia after the initial infection. Pneumonia deaths eventually plummeted throughout the century, partly prevented by increased flu vaccine uptake rates in high-risk groups, particularly older people. Per the CDC, tuberculosis was a close second leading cause of death, in 1900, mainly concentrated in dense urban areas where the infection could more easily spread. Eventually, public health interventions led to drastic declines in mortality from the disease, such as public education, reducing crowded housing, quarantining people with active disease, improving hygiene, and using antibiotics. Once the death rates lagged, so did the public health infrastructure built to control the disease, leading to a resurgence in the mid-1980s. Diarrhea was the third leading cause of death in 1900, surging every summer among children before the impacts of the pathogen died out in 1930. Adopting water filtration, better nutrition, and improved refrigeration were all associated with its decline. In the 1940s and 1950s, polio outbreaks killed or paralyzed upward of half a million people worldwide every year. Even at its peak, polio wasn't a leading cause of death, it was a much-feared one, particularly among parents of young children, some of whom kept them from crowded public places and interacting with other children. By 1955, when Jonah Salk discovered the polio vaccine, the U.S. had ended the "golden age of medicine." During this period, the causes of mortality shifted dramatically as scientists worldwide began to collaborate on infectious disease control, surgical techniques, vaccines, and other drugs. From the 1950s onward, once quick-spreading deadly contagions weren't prematurely killing American residents en masse, scientists also began to understand better how to diagnose and treat these diseases. As a result, Americans were living longer lives and instead succumbing to noncommunicable diseases, or NCDs. The risk of chronic diseases increased with age and, in some cases, was exacerbated by unhealthy lifestyles. Cancer and heart disease shot up across the century, from 1900 to 1998, according to CDC data. Following the post-Spanish Flu years, heart disease killed more Americans than any other cause, peaking in the 1960s and contributing to 1 in 3 deaths. Cigarette smoking rates peaked at the same time, a major risk factor for heart disease. Obesity rates also rose, creating another risk factor for heart disease and many types of cancers. This coincides with the introduction of ultra-processed foods into diets, which plays a more significant role in larger waistlines than the increasing predominance of sedentary work and lifestyles. In the early 1970s, deaths from heart disease began to fall as more Americans prevented and managed their risk factors, like quitting smoking or taking blood pressure medicine. However, the disease remains the biggest killer of Americans. Cancer remains the second leading cause of death and rates still indicate an upward trajectory over time. Only a few types of cancer are detected early by screening, and some treatments for aggressive cancers like glioblastoma—the most common type of brain cancer—have also stalled, unable to improve prognosis much over time. In recent years, early-onset cancers, those diagnosed before age 50 or sometimes even earlier, have seen a drastic rise among younger Americans. While highly processed foods and sedentary lifestyles may contribute to rising rates, a spike in cancer rates among otherwise healthy young individuals has baffled some medical professionals. This follows the COVID-19 pandemic that began in 2020. At its peak, high transmission rates made the virus the third leading cause of death in America. It's often compared to the Spanish Flu of 1918, though COVID-19 had a far larger global impact, spurring international collaborations among scientists who developed a vaccine in an unprecedented time. Public policy around issues of safety and access also influences causes of death, particularly—and tragically—among young Americans. Gun control measures in the U.S. are far less stringent than in peer nations; compared to other nations, however, the U.S. leads in gun violence. Firearms are the leading cause of death for children and teens (around 2 in 3 are homicides, and 1 in 3 are suicides), and deaths from opioids remain a leading cause of death among younger people. Globally, the leading causes of death mirror differences in social and geographic factors. NCDs are primarily associated with socio-economic status and comprise 7 out of 10 leading causes of death, occurring in low- and middle-income countries, according to the World Health Organization. However, one of the best health measures is life expectancy at birth. People in the U.S. have been living longer lives since 2000, except for a slight dip in longevity due to COVID-19. According to the most recent CDC estimates, Americans' on average and is expected to increase slightly in the coming decades. Get local news delivered to your inbox!Hezbollah fires about 250 rockets and other projectiles into Israel in heaviest barrage in weeks BEIRUT (AP) — Hezbollah has fired about 250 rockets and other projectiles into Israel, wounding seven people in one of the militant group’s heaviest barrages in months. Sunday's attacks in northern and central Israel came in response to deadly Israeli strikes in central Beirut on Saturday. Israel struck southern Beirut on Sunday. Meanwhile, negotiators press on with cease-fire efforts to halt the all-out war. And Lebanon's military says an Israeli strike on a Lebanese army center in the southwest killed one soldier and wounded 18 others. Israel's military has expressed regret and said its operations are directed solely against the militants. Israel cracks down on Palestinian citizens who speak out against the war in Gaza UMM AL-FAHM, Israel (AP) — In the year since the war in Gaza broke out, Israel's government has been cracking down on dissent among its Palestinian citizens. Authorities have charged Palestinians with “supporting terrorism” because of posts online or for demonstrating against the war. Activists and rights watchdogs say Palestinians have also lost jobs, been suspended from schools and faced police interrogations. Palestinians make up about 20% of Israel's population. Many feel forced to self-censor out of fear of being jailed and further marginalized in society. Others still find ways to dissent, but carefully. Israel's National Security Ministry counters that, “Freedom of speech is not the freedom to incite.” Somalia says 24 people have died after 2 boats capsized in the Indian Ocean MOGADISHU, Somalia (AP) — Somalia's government says 24 people died after two boats capsized off the Madagascar coast in the Indian Ocean. Somalia’s Foreign Minister Ahmed Moalim Fiqi said 46 people were rescued. Most of the passengers were young Somalis, and their intended destination remains unclear. Many young Somalis embark every year on dangerous journeys in search of better opportunities abroad. A delegation led by the Somali ambassador to Ethiopia is scheduled to travel to Madagascar on Monday to investigate the incident and coordinate efforts to help survivors. Forecasts warn of possible winter storms across US during Thanksgiving week WINDSOR, Calif. (AP) — Forecasters in the U.S. have warned of another round of winter weather that could complicate travel leading up to Thanksgiving. California is bracing for more snow and rain while still grappling with some flooding and small landslides from a previous storm. The National Weather Service has issued a winter storm warning for California's Sierra Nevada through Tuesday, with heavy snow expected at high elevations. Thousands remained without power in the Seattle area on Sunday after a “bomb cyclone” storm system hit the West Coast last week, killing two people. Republicans lash out at Democrats' claims that Trump intelligence pick Gabbard is 'compromised' FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — Republican lawmakers are pushing back against criticism from some Democrats that President-elect Donald Trump’s pick to lead U.S. intelligence services is “compromised” by her comments supportive of Russia and a meeting with an ally of that country. The accusation came from Sen. Tammy Duckworth. The Illinois Democrat says she has concerns about the pro-Russian views expressed by Tulsi Gabbard, who was tapped for the post of director of national intelligence. Duckworth’s comments on Sunday drew immediate backlash from Republicans. The rising price of paying the national debt is a risk for Trump's promises on growth and inflation WASHINGTON (AP) — Donald Trump has big plans for the economy. He also has big debt problem that'll be a hurdle to delivering on those plan. Trump has bold ambitions on tax cuts, tariffs and other programs. But high interest rates and the price of repaying the federal government’s existing debt could limit what he’s able to do. The federal debt stands at roughly $36 trillion, and the spike in inflation after the pandemic has pushed up the government’s borrowing costs such that debt service next year will easily exceed spending on national security. Moscow offers debt forgiveness to new recruits and AP sees wreckage of a new Russian missile KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a law granting debt forgiveness to new army recruits who enlist to fight in Ukraine. The measure, whose final version appeared on a government website Saturday, underscores Russia’s needs for military personnel in the nearly 3-year-old war, even as it fired last week a new intermediate-range ballistic missile. Russia has ramped up military recruitment by offering increasing financial incentives to those willing to fight in Ukraine. Ukraine’s Security Service on Sunday showed The Associated Press wreckage of the new intermediate-range ballistic missile that struck a factory in the central Ukrainian city of Dnipro on Thursday. After Trump's win, Black women are rethinking their role as America's reliable political organizers ATLANTA (AP) — Donald Trump's victory has dismayed many politically engaged Black women, and they're reassessing their enthusiasm for politics and organizing. Black women often carry much of the work of getting out the vote, and they had vigorously supported the historic candidacy of Kamala Harris. AP VoteCast, a survey of more than 120,000 voters, found that 6 in 10 Black women said the future of democracy was the single most important factor for their vote this year, a higher share than for other demographic groups. But now, some Black women are renewing calls to emphasize rest, focus on mental health and become more selective about what fight they lend their organizing power to. Pakistani police arrest thousands of Imran Khan supporters ahead of rally in the capital ISLAMABAD (AP) — A Pakistani security officer says police have arrested thousands of Imran Khan supporters ahead of a rally in Islamabad to demand the ex-premier’s release from prison. Khan has been behind bars for more than a year. But he remains popular and his party says the cases against him are politically motivated. Police Sunday arrested more than 4,000 Khan supporters in eastern Punjab province, a Khan stronghold. They include five parliamentarians. Pakistan has sealed off the capital with shipping containers. It also suspended mobile and internet services “in areas with security concerns.” 'Wicked' and 'Gladiator' make gravity-defying theater debuts NEW YORK (AP) — “Wicked” and “Gladiator II” have debuted in theaters with a combined $270 million in ticket sales. Their worldwide performance breathed fresh life into global box office results that have struggled lately. Together the films turned the moviegoing weekend into one of the busiest of the year. Jon M. Chu’s lavish big-budget musical “Wicked,” starring Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo, debuted with $114 million domestically and $164.2 million globally. Ridley Scott’s “Gladiator II” is a sequel to his 2000 best picture-winning original and launched with $55.5 million in ticket sales. “Moana 2” is being released Wednesday, so it looks like Hollywood might be looking at historic sales over the Thanksgiving holiday.
PLAINS, Ga. — Jimmy Carter, the 39th President of the United States and a Nobel Peace Prize winner whose post-White House life was steeped in fighting for human rights and personally helping build homes through Habitat for Humanity, has died. He was 100. Carter passed away Sunday afternoon in Plains, Georgia, The Carter Center announced . The organization shared in Feb. 2023 that the former president had entered home hospice care. A few months later, the family shared that former first lady Rosalynn Carter was diagnosed with dementia. She passed away in November 2023. While family members have since shared they didn’t expect the former president to go on much longer after Rosalynn’s death, Carter defied expectations and on Oct. 1 became the first U.S. president to live a full century. James Earl Carter, Jr. was born in Plains, Georgia, on Oct. 1, 1924. Peanut farming and devotion to the Baptist Church were mainstays of his upbringing. After graduating from the Naval Academy in 1946, Carter went on to marry Rosalynn Smith. After he served seven years as a naval officer, Carter returned to Plains. He first entered the political world in 1962, serving two terms in the Georgia state senate. Eight years later, Carter was elected governor of Georgia, and held that office from 1971 to 1975. Carter was the Democratic nominee for president in 1976 and went on to defeat incumbent Pres. Gerald Ford in the general election, 297 electoral votes to 240. Carter is the last Democratic presidential nominee to win the states of Alabama, Mississippi and Texas. “I would hope that the nations of the world might say that we had built a lasting peace, based not on weapons of war, but on international policies that reflect our own most precious values,” Carter said in his inaugural address. Among his accomplishments in the Oval Office, Carter helped calm tensions in the Middle East as he facilitated the Camp David Accords, signed by Egyptian President Anwar Sadat and Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin in 1978. Carter also created two new cabinet-level departments – the Department of Energy and the Department of Education. But there were controversies, particularly in the final 14 months of his presidency. The Iran Hostage Crisis saw 66 American diplomats and citizens held hostage in the U.S. Embassy in Iran. In an attempt to free the hostages, Carter ordered a military operation that failed, killing eight American servicemen. After 444 days, the hostages were freed on January 20, 1981 -- the day Carter's successor, Ronald Reagan, took office. Carter also ordered a U.S. boycott of the 1980 Summer Olympic Games in Moscow to protest the Soviet Union invading Afghanistan. Sixty other nations also boycotted. The Soviets would return the gesture by boycotting the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles. Carter lost a bid for a second term to Reagan in what was both an electoral vote and popular vote landslide . After leaving Washington, Carter’s spent his time advancing human rights around the world. In 1982, he established The Carter Center in Atlanta. “I’ve been humbled to get to know people around the world and to see that, in effect, all people on earth are the same in the eyes of God, and should be the same in the eyes of each other – worthy of respect, care and love,” Carter said. His work abroad won him the 2002 Nobel Peace Prize. Carter also continued to give back at home through his involvement with Habitat for Humanity. He also taught Sunday school and was a deacon at the Maranatha Baptist Church of Plains. "We can choose to alleviate suffering. We can choose to work together for peace. We can make these changes — and we must," Carter once said. Carter holds the distinction of living longer than any other former president. He and wife, Rosalynn, also hold the record of the longest-married couple in presidential history – with the couple celebrating their 77th wedding anniversary on July 7, 2023. Carter is survived by three sons, one daughter, 11 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren.Kuwait affirms GCC unified stance on Syria sovereigntyThree Americans Released From China in Fresh Prisoner Swap