DAILY NEWS Stream – December 11, 2024

Losing Syria a “huge slap in the face” for Putin as Russia’s image as a global power is tarnished, losing a key Russian Mediterranean naval base in Tartus after Moscow failed to maintain military presence in both Syria and Ukraine (RadioFreeEurope RadioLiberty)

Following talks with Ukraine’s President Zelenskyy in Paris [France], US President Trump urges immediate Ukraine ceasefire, with Russia expressing openness while Ukraine emphasizes need for lasting peace guarantees (PA Media)

US prepares US$988 million Ukraine aid package including missiles and drones (RBC Ukraine)

US President Trump calls on “weakened” Russia to enact ceasefire in Ukraine after Kremlin ally Assad is toppled in Syria, citing massive casualties on both sides while suggesting China can help in peace negotiations (New York Post)

President Donald Trump nominates former US Senator Kelly Loeffler [Republican-Georgia] as Small Business Administration leader, citing “her experience in business and Washington to reduce red tape, and unleash opportunity for [American] small businesses to grow, innovate, and thrive,” while “cracking down on waste, fraud, and regulatory overreach” (The Current)

President Trump selects Fiserv CEO Frank Bisignano as Social Security Administration Commissioner, emphasizing his “tremendous track record of transforming large corporations” and his focus on administrative efficiency (Plan Adviser)

President Trump chooses investment banker and Iraq War veteran Daniel Driscoll as Army Secretary, praising his combined military and financial experience while highlighting his role as campaign advisor to Vice President JD Vance (American Legion)

“The image of your child getting excited when he sees me with dog meat scares me”: Restaurant owner in Thái Nguyên [Vietnam] who served dog and cat meat closes business after haunting experiences affect him emotionally. He now runs an agricultural supply store instead (VTC Now)

Arizona [US] reports its first two probable human bird flu cases in Pinal County poultry workers, with mild symptoms followed by recovery. Officials emphasize no human-to-human transmission while monitoring the situation (AZ Central)

Bird flu has spread rapidly through milk at US dairy farms, infecting 700+ herds in 15 states and 58 people since March. The virus replicates in cow udders, highlighting the dangers of milking, with California now the outbreak epicenter (The New York Times)

Analysis: It’s time to end the denial about bird flu. Industrial meat and milk production enable virus spread, even as officials downplay the risks. It’s time for those dependent on animal-based ingredients to look to the future and start replacing animal-based with animal-free protein in their products, not only for their financial security but for public and planetary health (Time)

North Carolina [US] physician Dr. Joseph Barrocas advocates shifting away from intensive animal-raising operations to prevent disease outbreaks like bird flu, supporting legislation to help farmers transition to more sustainable crop production (NC Newsline)

Illinois [US] reports record-breaking 408 whooping cough cases in October 2024, marking highest monthly total in 20 years with over 1,900 total cases statewide in 2024 (NBC5)

New York City [US] whooping cough cases surge to 2,337 in 2024, up from 687 last year; meanwhile, food insecurity affects 1.9 million residents amid 76% rise since 2021 (The City)

Minnesota [US] reports over 2,300 whooping cough cases in 2024, highest since 2012, with most cases in the Twin Cities seven-county metropolitan area and median age of 14 years (CBS)

Triangle [North Carolina, US] doctors report unprecedented surge in walking pneumonia cases, especially among children, as health officials brace for potential rise in COVID-19 and seasonal flu (ABC11)

State College [Pennsylvania, US] health department confirms norovirus outbreak at local pizzeria, prompting three-day closure and investigation after multiple customers fall ill (Centre Daily Times)

Global study reveals malaria-prevention bed nets lose effectiveness in areas with over 50% deforestation, highlighting crucial link between environmental and public health (News Medical)

University of Colorado [US] study reveals community gardeners consume 1.4 grams more fiber daily than non-gardeners, thus boosting their nutrition while experiencing reduced stress levels and increased social connections through shared cultivation (Reasons To Be Cheerful)

UK study of 13,000 women finds 3.4 minutes of daily high-intensity exercise reduces heart attack risk 45% and heart failure risk 67%, with particular benefits for women who don’t typically exercise; the findings were less clear for men, highlighting the need for gender-specific guidelines and research (Positive.News)

Mount Spurr [Alaska, US] records 1,500 earthquakes in 2024 versus normal 100, prompting yellow alert, as the last eruption in 1992 covered Anchorage in ash, disrupting flights (The Independent)

Study warns global species extinction could hit 30% by 2100 if warming exceeds 1.5ºC above the pre-industrial average temperature, with amphibians and mountain species most vulnerable. South America, Australia and New Zealand face greatest risks (Live Science)

Study of over 2,800 Catalonian [Spain] adults shows air pollution may increase Long COVID risk through heightened infection severity, with suspended particulate matter a key factor (News Medical)

Record heat in 2024 causes deadly impacts worldwide: Phoenix [US] sees 113 days above 100ºF [37.8ºC], Manila [the Philippines] faces 15-day heat wave, Paris [France] Olympics endures scorching temperatures amid Europe’s being the fastest warming continent (Science News)

University of Miami [US] study warns 41% of Miami’s native trees face heat stress from climate change, prompting officials to reconsider urban forestry plans and tree species selection (Miami Herald)

European Environment Agency Executive Director Leena Ylä-Mononen warns climate change will increase immigration pressures on Europe as the continent warms twice as fast as the global average, straining water resources and requiring new risk assessments (Financial Times)

Study reveals deforestation in Brazil’s Cerrado biome has delayed agricultural rainy season by 36 days since the 1980s, reducing rainfall 36.7%, raising temperatures 1.5ºC, and threatening soy-maize farming (Nature)

Harvard University and Stanford University [US] research finds climate change is responsible for an extra 45 million annual dengue cases in Latin America and the Caribbean over the past decade, and projecting a 61% increase by 2050 under a high carbon emissions scenario (Health Policy Watch)

Survey of 430 US frontline clinic workers reveals 84% report climate change impacts on patient health, yet only 36.2% discuss these risks with patients, as hurricanes, floods and power outages increasingly disrupt patient care (Healthcare Brew)

Scientists analyze 9,000+ studies to reveal crucial role of elderly animals in species survival, showing “old and wise” animals maintain vital cultural knowledge, survival know-how and social structures essential for population stability. Examples are prolific,

including primates, whales, elephants, fish, and pack animals (The Guardian)

Latvian animated film “Flow” follows a lone cat navigating a flooded Earth alongside animal companions, offering a poetic parable about climate change through surreal computer graphics (ABC)

Global meat industry kills 10 cows, 47 pigs, and 2,400 chickens every second, with 99% of US livestock imprisoned in animal factories amid widespread welfare concerns (Our World in Data)

Investigation reveals global fishing industry destroys marine ecosystems through bottom trawling, longline fishing, illegal operations, and fish factories, killing billions of sentient individuals every year while prioritizing profits over animal welfare (CounterPunch)

Hyderabad [Telangana, India]: Expert panelists at event “Climate Action in Everyday Life” advise everyone to tweak their lifestyles to counteract climate change by being conscious about what we use, eat and wear, as everything has a larger environmental impact (The Times of India)

UK opens its first hydrogen-powered clothing recycling plant in Kettering [Northamptonshire], aiming to process 2,500 metric tons of polyester waste annually through the “Project Re:claim” facility (Positive.News)

University of South Australia researchers achieve breakthrough in seawater desalination using clay minerals, increasing solar-powered evaporation rates 18.8% through ion exchange process (Good News Network)

Chinese researchers develop color-changing material that mimics chameleon camouflage, adapting its color at a molecular level using light to achieve active cloaking through molecular compounds without electronics or external power (The Jerusalem Post)

Taiwan’s Ministry of Agriculture considers comprehensive ban on deadly animal traps and establishes an animal protection hotline – call “1959” – for reporting traps as authorities work to identify and fine perpetrators (Taipei Times)

New York University [US]’s More-Than-Human Life [MOTH] Program develops legal and ethical principles for emerging animal communication technologies such as tools to translate a species’ language, aiming to protect animal welfare while enabling better understanding of their communication (Open Global Rights)

Australia launches first national handbook on disaster planning for animals, emphasizing “your animal, your responsibility” and the need for advance evacuation strategies for pets and domestic animals (The Saturday Paper)

Health tip: Ginger and turmeric shots boost immunity and offer health benefits including reduced inflammation, improved skin clarity, strengthened immune system, and better heart health through lowered blood pressure (The Times of India)

Health experts caution against eating 7 fruits for breakfast on an empty stomach, as they can interact unfavorably with stomach acid and potentially cause digestive issues: 1) Raw tomatoes, 2) Persimmons, 3) Oranges and orange juice, 4) Pears, especially hard varieties, 5) Pineapple, 6) Cucumber, 7) Banana (Kenh14.vn)

Experts recommend washing your feet immediately upon returning home, citing improved circulation, better sleep quality and overall health benefits according to both Indian Ayurvedic tradition and modern science (Kenh14.vn)

Introducing Vietnamese Border Guard officer Nguyễn Văn Hưởng and hero police dog Vát from Search and Rescue Unit 24 Border Guard School, who helped find 38 earthquake victims in Türkiye including two survivors during a 12-day mission in 2023 and now search for victims in Vietnam, including in Nủ Village following deadly flash floods in September 2024 (VTV3)

UK’s National Health Service faces “quad-demic” as flu hospitalizations quadruple to 1,099 patients, alongside rising Covid, norovirus and RSV [respiratory syncytial virus] cases (The Guardian)

Study: US life expectancy gains expected to stall by 2050 as health progress fails to keep pace with other countries, with global ranking projected to fall from 49th to 66th among 204 countries (MedicalXpress)

Study estimates 151 million US mental health diagnoses linked to historical lead exposure from gasoline [phased out since 1996], affecting behavior, personality and cognitive function (CNN)

US issues urgent warning as new drug carfentanil, an elephant tranquilizer 100 times stronger than fentanyl, causes 513 overdoses across 37 states since 2021 (Daily Mail)

Analysis: Disaster for Russian Army in Syria will influence the war in Ukraine, as Syrian rebel forces’ victory

threaten Russian supply lines via Syria, likely detracting from their military resources (Denys Davydov)

US issues urgent warning as new drug carfentanil, an elephant tranquilizer 100 times stronger than fentanyl, causes 513 overdoses across 37 states since 2021 (Daily Mail)

Author Lynne Peeples’ new book “The Inner Clock” explores how modern life disrupts human circadian rhythms that regulate biological functions from sleep to metabolism, with natural light exposure essential for healthy timing (Bài Học Sống)

Elevating quote of the day: “When one realizes God, He grants knowledge and illumination from within; one knows it oneself. In the fullness of one’s spiritual realization one will find that He who resides in one’s heart, resides in the hearts of others as well – the oppressed, the persecuted, the untouchable, and the outcast.” – The Venerable Sri Sarada Devi (vegetarian)

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