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Does Bellamy need to win back Wales fans?
After a "sleepless night", Wales boss Craig Bellamy decided to turn down the chance to manage Burnley - but has it affected what fans think of him?
Hennepin County ends recovery fund program for small businesses impacted by Metro Surge
Hennepin County has ended a program meant to help small businesses affected by Operation Metro Surge.
Health Policy Watch | LGBTIQ groups in repressive countries are worst affected by US funding cuts
HIV services, mental health and harm reduction programmes have been severely affected by the huge funding cuts to organisations providing services for LGBTIQ people over the past 18 months.
Downtown Idaho Falls businesses damaged in early morning vandalism spree
IDAHO FALLS — Business owners in downtown Idaho Falls are seeking answers after experiencing broken windows and other damage to their storefronts early Saturday morning. Shane Dial, president of the Downtown Merchants Association, says the incident happened around 5 a.m. Great Harvest Bakery Cafe, Medical Recovery Services and Idaho Mountain Trading were the businesses affected. […]
Valve Says RAM Crisis Hasn’t Affected Plans for Steam Deck 2
It might be a worry that the ongoing RAM crisis would impact Valve’s plans for a device so sensitive to component costs like the Steam Deck 2. Thankfully, Valve says its plans haven’t changed.
Scientists find a new layer of Alzheimer’s hidden in the genome
Scientists found that the 3D organization of DNA is disrupted in several types of brain cells affected by Alzheimer’s disease, altering how important genes are switched on and off. The discovery reveals a previously underexplored layer of the disease that could open new paths for understanding and eventually treating Alzheimer’s.
SBA Offers Disaster Relief to Indiana Businesses, Private Nonprofits, and Residents Affected by Adverse Weather
Press release, U.S. Small Business Administration: Low-interest disaster loans now available WASHINGTON — In response to a Presidential disaster declaration issued Aug. 25, the U.S. Small Business Administration announced the availability of low interest disaster loans for Indiana businesses, private nonprofit organizations, and residents affected by severe storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes, and flooding beginning Aug. 11. The declaration covers Indiana primary counties of Carroll, Dearborn, Decatur, Delaware, Fayette, Franklin, Hamilton, Hancock, Henry, LaPorte, Lake, Madison, Marion, Morgan, Porter, Pulaski, Randolph, Rush, Tipton, Union, and Wayne, which are eligible for both physical damage loans and Economic Injury Disaster Loans from SBA. Small businesses and most private nonprofit organizations in the following adjacent
Bone Health Without the Hype
I am at the Australasian Menopause Society meeting and we had a fantastic lecture on Bone Health on Day 2, called, “Everything you need to know about bones - except the boring bits!” Spoiler alert, there were no boring bits. The lecture was given by Dr. Amanda Beech, who is a senior staff specialist in Obstetric Medicine and Endocrinology at the Royal Hospital for Women, where she is director of the Bone Density Unit. I want to summarize my top 10 take-aways for you. Share Osteoporosis is a disease of low bone mass, disruption of bone microarchitecture, and fragility of the skeleton. It is a silent disease…until someone develops a fracture. The diagnosis of osteoporosis is based on either fragility/minimal trauma fractures or a T-score of less than -2.5 on a DXA (Dual-Energy X-ray Absorptiometry) or bone scan. It is important to recognize that about 50% of minimal trauma fractures occur when women have low bone mass (often referred to as osteopenia), but not osteoporosis. This tells us that bone strength is more complicated than a number on a DXA report. I am going to add a little here that wasn’t in the talk (one can only include so much in 25 minutes), as many women might read the above paragraph and think, “Shouldn’t we be treating everyone with low bone mass if this is when 50% of the fractures occur?” Many fractures happen for women with low bone mass because there are so many women with low bone mass –it is a statement about the population on a whole, not about the fracture risk of low bone mass. For you as an individual, bone density is only one component of fracture risk and many women with lower bone mass will not have a significantly elevated fracture risk. This is why individualized risk assessment matters. Subscribe We build bone in our teens and twenties, and by the time we are about thirty we have reached peak bone mass. This is why, when we discuss risk factors for osteoporosis, it is important to consider factors that might have affected us in our teens and twenties when we were actively building bone, such as nutritional restriction/energy imbalance. It is important to ask women about a history of eating disorders, and for those with such a history, getting a bone scan in perimenopause or at age 50 is likely warranted. (This image below isn’t from the talk, but is similar to one that was). Bone mass is relatively stable until about two years before the final menstrual period, and perimenopause marks a time of rapid bone loss for women. Using urinary markers of bone loss we know that the time of significantly accelerated bone loss starts about 1 year before the final period and ends about 2 years after the final period. The Study of Women’s Health Across the Nation (SWAN) shows that over the menopause transition women lose an average of 10.6% of the bone at their lumbar spine and 9.1% at the femoral neck While this wasn’t covered in the lecture, I want to add that the rapid bone loss during perimenopause is clearly related to more than estradiol, because during this time estradiol levels can be erratic and not uniformly low. Bone loss during perimenopause is likely a multi-hormone event. For example, rising FSH (follicle stimulating hormone) tracks with bone loss better than estradiol, and there is evidence that FSH may act directly on bone. While decreased estrogen matters, there is clearly more going on. FSH and bone is an active area of research. Subscribe Screening for osteoporosis was recommended fairly broadly before age 65, and was taken from the “Practitioner’s Toolkit for Managing Menopause,” from Monash University. Here is a screenshot from the toolkit that was used as a slide: I am going to add a little bit more about body weight here for clarification. Low body mass (typically 152.1 lb): 0 points (risk neutral) 60–69 kg (132.3–152.1 lb): 3 points (adds some risk)
AI may be denting computer science graduates’ job prospects, UK data shows
Economics graduates also appear to be affected as demand for them falls in well-paid roles in finance
Event supports businesses effected by flooding on Hertel Avenue
BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — City of Buffalo Common Council President Joel Feroleto and the Hertel Business Association collaborated Friday to sponsor an event supporting local businesses affected …
‘We have to stop the stigma of mental health’: Hope 2 Help event to provide suicide awareness in Iron Mountain
Great Lakes Recovery is a nonprofit organization that supports families affected by suicide.
Community rallies with live music after Hertel Avenue businesses recover from flooding
On Friday night, Hertel Avenue will become a gathering place for live music, local shopping and dining as residents come out to support businesses affected by the flooding.
The Sept. 11 disasters still shape people's health 25 years later
The anniversaries come and go, but the physical and mental health of workers and survivors is still being affected by September 11, 2001.
Bridge to Recovery Walk supports mental health and substance use recovery
Concord Hospital Health System (CHHS) invites community members to come together in support of individuals and families affected by mental health and substance use disorders at the annual Bridge to Recovery Walk, taking place Sunday, September 20 at Concord Hospital – Franklin. The approximately two-mile walk brings together people in recovery, their families and friends, […]
Mikel Arteta: Arsenal manager says he deliberately sabotaged his team's travel plans to prepare for difficulties on the road
Arsenal were involved in travel difficulties on the way to Naples because of the UK Air Traffic Control incident on Tuesday; Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has revealed he has deliberately sabotaged the clubs journey to stadiums, affected meal times and made changing rooms hotter
Roundup: Trauma-Affected Mental Health Linked to Future Cardiovascular Risk; and More News
A new study suggests that people who develop mental health conditions after experiencing a traumatic event may face a higher risk of serious cardiovascular problems later in life.
One month after Colombia earthquake, PAHO/WHO continues to support response and stabilization
The Organization is supporting Colombia’s health authorities to maintain essential services, strengthen disease surveillance and address the evolving health needs of affected communities.
‘Jeopardy!’ Host Reveals Why Politics Isn’t Just a ‘Soapbox’ for Him
‘Jeopardy!’ host Ken Jennings opened up about his political views and explained why speaking about politics is not just a “soapbox” for him. Jennings discussed political changes that affected him. Ken...
A Sprint to Decipher U.S.-Canada Tariffs: ‘Are Sprinkles on the List?’
President Trump’s levies on a long, eclectic list of products from Canada has companies scrambling to figure out of their supply chains are affected.
‘Jeopardy!’ Host Reveals Why Politics Isn’t Just a ‘Soapbox’ for Him
‘Jeopardy!’ host Ken Jennings opened up about his political views and explained why speaking about politics is not just a “soapbox” for him. Jennings discussed political changes that affected him. Ken...
The scale of 9/11's health impacts, visualized 25 years later
2,977 people were killed on 9/11. Twenty-five years later, the number affected is much higher. Here's what the impact looks like.
Rock legend undergoes brain surgery after frightening health decline
Billy Joel revealed he underwent brain surgery after normal pressure hydrocephalus affected his memory and balance.
Luminis Health cyberattack delays cancer treatment and test results
The health system said it is still trying to determine which systems and how many patients are affected across its entire organization.
The Cost of Cutting American Science: How Federal Cuts Diminish Public Health Capacity
Among the federal government’s many responsibilities is the work it does to protect public health. Federal agencies monitor our food supply to ensure safety, conduct research to better understand emerging health threats, provide funding for public health programs in communities and work to detect and respond to disease outbreaks. Americans rely on these efforts every day—in a 2024 online survey, 74% of respondents said that “if the federal government issued safety guidance about food you eat regularly,” they would follow it. Changes to Federal Public Health Capacity The Trump administration’s efforts to reshape the federal government have resulted in significant impacts on our nation’s public health capacity over the past 20 months, affecting the response to health concerns such as measles, Ebola and cyclosporiasis. Agencies with core public health, food safety and disease prevention responsibilities experienced large workforce decreases during the first year of the administration. At the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, for instance, the workforce in February 2026 was 26.7% smaller than in September 2024 before the start of the Trump administration. The Food and Drug Administration saw a similarly steep decline of 21.6%. Agencies such as the National Institutes of Health, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration and Food Safety and Inspection Service also experienced large workforce decreases. (function(){function e(){window.addEventListener(`message`,function(e){if(e.data[`datawrapper-height`]!==void 0){var t=document.querySelectorAll(`iframe`);for(var n in e.data[`datawrapper-height`])for(var r=0,i;i=t[r];r++)if(i.contentWindow===e.source){var a=e.data[`datawrapper-height`][n]+`px`;i.style.height=a}}})}e()})(); Changes can also be seen in crucial public health occupations. The number of federal food inspectors, for example, decreased by more than half between September 2024 and February 2026, going from 1,035 to 473. This is the lowest number of food inspectors employed by the federal government since at least 2005. By February 2026, there were also 33.3% fewer federal public health program specialists, whose work includes advising federal funding recipients on public health activities and analyzing the effectiveness of public health programs. Government’s capacity is diminished as employees with specialized knowledge and experience in protecting the public and responding to health risks depart, leaving agencies less prepared to carry out their public health missions. There also have been vacancies in critical high-level leadership positions at public health agencies, most notably at the CDC, which had a permanent Senate-confirmed director for less than a month between January 2025 and early August 2026. Although the CDC has previously been led by acting directors at the start of an administration, the nearly yearlong gap since the departure of the administration’s first permanent director in August 2025 is without precedent. As of August 2026, the FDA is also currently without a Senate-confirmed commissioner following the previous commissioner’s resignation in May 2026. Additionally, public health agencies are experiencing increased politicization of their leadership ranks. In agencies such as the CDC and Food Safety and Inspection Service, the number of individuals in the Senior Executive Service—the most senior career leaders in government—has declined significantly, while at the same time the number of political appointees has reached record levels. (function(){function e(){window.addEventListener(`message`,function(e){if(e.data[`datawrapper-height`]!==void 0){var t=document.querySelectorAll(`iframe`);for(var n in e.data[`datawrapper-height`])for(var r=0,i;i=t[r];r++)if(i.contentWindow===e.source){var a=e.data[`datawrapper-height`][n]+`px`;i.style.height=a}}})}e()})(); (function(){function e(){window.addEventListener(`message`,function(e){if(e.data[`datawrapper-height`]!==void 0){var t=document.querySelectorAll(`iframe`);for(var n in e.data[`datawrapper-height`])for(var r=0,i;i=t[r];r++)if(i.contentWindow===e.source){var a=e.data[`datawrapper-height`][n]+`px`;i.style.height=a}}})}e()})(); At the CDC, for example, the number of career SES decreased 42.9% between December 2024 and February 2026, while the number of non-Senate confirmed political appointees at the agency was six times larger than the agency’s historical average from 2009 and 2024. Knowledgeable career leaders are integral to the ability of public health agencies to carry out their work with scientific integrity and professional judgment, and rapid leadership turnover and increased politicization threaten agencies’ ability to make evidence-based decisions to protect our health. The upheaval and politicization in public health agencies have also negatively affected employee engagement. Strong employee engagement is crucial to the ability of agencies to carry out their mission and successfully provide essential services to the public. In the 2025 Public Service Viewpoint Survey conducted by the Partnership for Public Service, the Department of Health and Human Services—which encompasses major public health agencies such as the CDC and FDA—had an employee engagement and satisfaction score of 20.4 out of 100, one of the lowest among large agencies. Only 2.8% of HHS employees indicated trust in their political leaders and only 8.7% reported confidence that they could report a suspected violation of law or regulation without retaliation. Employees at HHS also reported that the agency’s ability to provide services to the public had suffered. Nearly half of employees at HHS, 47.5%, said their work unit was worse at delivering quality services compared to its performance in 2024. In addition, 57.8% said their work unit was performing worse at fulfilling stakeholder needs. In addition to the work done within federal agencies, the federal government also distributes significant funding for public health and disease prevention work to state and local governments, nonprofits and small businesses—funding which has been significantly disrupted. At the CDC, for example, there was a 71.9% decrease in the amount of project grant funding issued in fiscal year 2025 compared to fiscal year 2024. The FDA also issued far less funding in fiscal year 2025—a 21.3% decrease from its fiscal year 2024 funding. Changes in federal funding include the ending of grants to community organizations that worked on HIV prevention and the cancellation of funding for research into improvements to patient safety and healthcare quality. These changes go beyond federal agencies to impact the broader public health ecosystem, including the state and local health departments responsible for much of the on-the-ground public health work in their communities. About 80% of the CDC’s domestic funding is directed towards state and local partners—meaning that cuts to CDC funding can ultimately result in cuts to state and local public health capacity. Federal agencies also provide expertise and assistance to state and local health agencies as they deal with particular health challenges, but workforce cuts have resulted in fewer federal employees available to help. The Impact of Changes to Public Health Capacity These changes to federal public health capacity are not abstract concerns. Disrupted programs, reduced funding and lost expertise at public health agencies across all levels of government threaten the public’s physical well-being and safety. In some cases, this has already led to harm. The most immediate impacts of federal cuts were seen in interruptions to ongoing public health programs and crisis responses. In one instance, when CDC grants were canceled during the 2025 Texas measles outbreak—the most severe measles outbreak in 25 years—public health officials in Lubbock, Texas were forced to pause parts of their measles response work supported by the frozen funding. Lubbock’s director of public health further said that a lack of available CDC experts to reach out to for advice “definitely” impacted the department’s response to the measles crisis. Cuts to federal funding also forced Dallas County Health and Human Services to cut staff and cancel 50 community vaccination clinics during the outbreak. Public health work outside of major outbreak responses was also disrupted. For example, in April 2025, the Milwaukee Public Health Department was unexpectedly unable to reach experts on lead poisoning due to firings at the CDC when responding to concerns about lead contamination in Milwaukee public schools. Due to federal workforce cuts, several programs at the CDC, including Alzheimer’s and epilepsy programs, have also become trapped in limbo—existing on paper, but without the staff necessary to operate. More recent crises reveal how federal cuts have weakened the public health infrastructure needed to prevent and respond to dangerous new outbreaks. Internationally, cuts at the U.S. Agency for International Development eliminated funding for disease testing and contact tracing abroad, which delayed detection of and responses to the 2026 Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo. While international outbreaks may seem far removed, the unchecked spread of disease in any country can quickly pose a danger to economic well-being, security and health around the world. Within the United States, public health cuts inhibited responses to the summer 2026 outbreak of the food-borne parasite cyclospora. At the federal level, cuts to funding for lab equipment and for CDC staff with expertise in parasitic infections—including 9 out of 11 staff members at the lab responsible for identifying parasitic outbreaks in 2025— contributed to the largest reporting delay in outbreak cases at the CDC in 15 years. Conflicting communications from the FDA about the source of the outbreak, which followed cuts to the agency’s communications department, additionally led to confusion among the public about how to best avoid infection. At the same time, cuts to HHS funding and support for local and state public health slowed some health departments’ responses to the crisis. The exact costs of these delays, constraints and confusion in public health responses are difficult to estimate. However, their message is clear: federal cuts have already made containing threats to public health even more of a challenge. Conclusion Protecting public health—from food safety to disease prevention—is one of the federal government’s most important missions. Dramatic and haphazard cuts to federal agencies and funding have already disrupted the public health system, impacting the response to challenges such as measles, lead poisoning and cyclosporiasis. The U.S. public health system needed improvement before these disruptions. Since 2022, federal leadership and coordination in response to public health outbreaks has been on the Government Accountability Office’s High-Risk List of areas in need of attention to improve government effectiveness and efficiency. Recent cuts only compound these concerns. The chaotic dismantling of government and resulting disruptions to crucial functions like public health and disease prevention highlight the need for meaningful reform and concrete policy proposals to reimagine how government can better serve the public and be more effective, responsive and accountable. To learn more about the impact of federal cuts to public health and science more broadly, visit The Cost of Cutting American Science. Learn more For more information on the Partnership for Public Service’s government reform initiative, visit Government for a New Era. View here In line with The Cost of Cutting American Science, federal workforce data in this brief is as of February 2026
The Cost of Cutting American Science: How Federal Cuts Diminish Public Health Capacity
Among the federal government’s many responsibilities is the work it does to protect public health. Federal agencies monitor our food supply to ensure safety, conduct research to better understand emerging health threats, provide funding for public health programs in communities and work to detect and respond to disease outbreaks. Americans rely on these efforts every day—in a 2024 online survey, 74% of respondents said that “if the federal government issued safety guidance about food you eat regularly,” they would follow it. Changes to Federal Public Health Capacity The Trump administration’s efforts to reshape the federal government have resulted in significant impacts on our nation’s public health capacity over the past 20 months, affecting the response to health concerns such as measles, Ebola and cyclosporiasis. Agencies with core public health, food safety and disease prevention responsibilities experienced large workforce decreases during the first year of the administration. At the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, for instance, the workforce in February 2026 was 26.7% smaller than in September 2024 before the start of the Trump administration. The Food and Drug Administration saw a similarly steep decline of 21.6%. Agencies such as the National Institutes of Health, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration and Food Safety and Inspection Service also experienced large workforce decreases. (function(){function e(){window.addEventListener(`message`,function(e){if(e.data[`datawrapper-height`]!==void 0){var t=document.querySelectorAll(`iframe`);for(var n in e.data[`datawrapper-height`])for(var r=0,i;i=t[r];r++)if(i.contentWindow===e.source){var a=e.data[`datawrapper-height`][n]+`px`;i.style.height=a}}})}e()})(); Changes can also be seen in crucial public health occupations. The number of federal food inspectors, for example, decreased by more than half between September 2024 and February 2026, going from 1,035 to 473. This is the lowest number of food inspectors employed by the federal government since at least 2005. By February 2026, there were also 33.3% fewer federal public health program specialists, whose work includes advising federal funding recipients on public health activities and analyzing the effectiveness of public health programs. Government’s capacity is diminished as employees with specialized knowledge and experience in protecting the public and responding to health risks depart, leaving agencies less prepared to carry out their public health missions. There also have been vacancies in critical high-level leadership positions at public health agencies, most notably at the CDC, which had a permanent Senate-confirmed director for less than a month between January 2025 and early August 2026. Although the CDC has previously been led by acting directors at the start of an administration, the nearly yearlong gap since the departure of the administration’s first permanent director in August 2025 is without precedent. As of August 2026, the FDA is also currently without a Senate-confirmed commissioner following the previous commissioner’s resignation in May 2026. Additionally, public health agencies are experiencing increased politicization of their leadership ranks. In agencies such as the CDC and Food Safety and Inspection Service, the number of individuals in the Senior Executive Service—the most senior career leaders in government—has declined significantly, while at the same time the number of political appointees has reached record levels. (function(){function e(){window.addEventListener(`message`,function(e){if(e.data[`datawrapper-height`]!==void 0){var t=document.querySelectorAll(`iframe`);for(var n in e.data[`datawrapper-height`])for(var r=0,i;i=t[r];r++)if(i.contentWindow===e.source){var a=e.data[`datawrapper-height`][n]+`px`;i.style.height=a}}})}e()})(); (function(){function e(){window.addEventListener(`message`,function(e){if(e.data[`datawrapper-height`]!==void 0){var t=document.querySelectorAll(`iframe`);for(var n in e.data[`datawrapper-height`])for(var r=0,i;i=t[r];r++)if(i.contentWindow===e.source){var a=e.data[`datawrapper-height`][n]+`px`;i.style.height=a}}})}e()})(); At the CDC, for example, the number of career SES decreased 42.9% between December 2024 and February 2026, while the number of non-Senate confirmed political appointees at the agency was six times larger than the agency’s historical average from 2009 and 2024. Knowledgeable career leaders are integral to the ability of public health agencies to carry out their work with scientific integrity and professional judgment, and rapid leadership turnover and increased politicization threaten agencies’ ability to make evidence-based decisions to protect our health. The upheaval and politicization in public health agencies have also negatively affected employee engagement. Strong employee engagement is crucial to the ability of agencies to carry out their mission and successfully provide essential services to the public. In the 2025 Public Service Viewpoint Survey conducted by the Partnership for Public Service, the Department of Health and Human Services—which encompasses major public health agencies such as the CDC and FDA—had an employee engagement and satisfaction score of 20.4 out of 100, one of the lowest among large agencies. Only 2.8% of HHS employees indicated trust in their political leaders and only 8.7% reported confidence that they could report a suspected violation of law or regulation without retaliation. Employees at HHS also reported that the agency’s ability to provide services to the public had suffered. Nearly half of employees at HHS, 47.5%, said their work unit was worse at delivering quality services compared to its performance in 2024. In addition, 57.8% said their work unit was performing worse at fulfilling stakeholder needs. In addition to the work done within federal agencies, the federal government also distributes significant funding for public health and disease prevention work to state and local governments, nonprofits and small businesses—funding which has been significantly disrupted. At the CDC, for example, there was a 71.9% decrease in the amount of project grant funding issued in fiscal year 2025 compared to fiscal year 2024. The FDA also issued far less funding in fiscal year 2025—a 21.3% decrease from its fiscal year 2024 funding. Changes in federal funding include the ending of grants to community organizations that worked on HIV prevention and the cancellation of funding for research into improvements to patient safety and healthcare quality. These changes go beyond federal agencies to impact the broader public health ecosystem, including the state and local health departments responsible for much of the on-the-ground public health work in their communities. About 80% of the CDC’s domestic funding is directed towards state and local partners—meaning that cuts to CDC funding can ultimately result in cuts to state and local public health capacity. Federal agencies also provide expertise and assistance to state and local health agencies as they deal with particular health challenges, but workforce cuts have resulted in fewer federal employees available to help. The Impact of Changes to Public Health Capacity These changes to federal public health capacity are not abstract concerns. Disrupted programs, reduced funding and lost expertise at public health agencies across all levels of government threaten the public’s physical well-being and safety. In some cases, this has already led to harm. The most immediate impacts of federal cuts were seen in interruptions to ongoing public health programs and crisis responses. In one instance, when CDC grants were canceled during the 2025 Texas measles outbreak—the most severe measles outbreak in 25 years—public health officials in Lubbock, Texas were forced to pause parts of their measles response work supported by the frozen funding. Lubbock’s director of public health further said that a lack of available CDC experts to reach out to for advice “definitely” impacted the department’s response to the measles crisis. Cuts to federal funding also forced Dallas County Health and Human Services to cut staff and cancel 50 community vaccination clinics during the outbreak. Public health work outside of major outbreak responses was also disrupted. For example, in April 2025, the Milwaukee Public Health Department was unexpectedly unable to reach experts on lead poisoning due to firings at the CDC when responding to concerns about lead contamination in Milwaukee public schools. Due to federal workforce cuts, several programs at the CDC, including Alzheimer’s and epilepsy programs, have also become trapped in limbo—existing on paper, but without the staff necessary to operate. More recent crises reveal how federal cuts have weakened the public health infrastructure needed to prevent and respond to dangerous new outbreaks. Internationally, cuts at the U.S. Agency for International Development eliminated funding for disease testing and contact tracing abroad, which delayed detection of and responses to the 2026 Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo. While international outbreaks may seem far removed, the unchecked spread of disease in any country can quickly pose a danger to economic well-being, security and health around the world. Within the United States, public health cuts inhibited responses to the summer 2026 outbreak of the food-borne parasite cyclospora. At the federal level, cuts to funding for lab equipment and for CDC staff with expertise in parasitic infections—including 9 out of 11 staff members at the lab responsible for identifying parasitic outbreaks in 2025— contributed to the largest reporting delay in outbreak cases at the CDC in 15 years. Conflicting communications from the FDA about the source of the outbreak, which followed cuts to the agency’s communications department, additionally led to confusion among the public about how to best avoid infection. At the same time, cuts to HHS funding and support for local and state public health slowed some health departments’ responses to the crisis. The exact costs of these delays, constraints and confusion in public health responses are difficult to estimate. However, their message is clear: federal cuts have already made containing threats to public health even more of a challenge. Conclusion Protecting public health—from food safety to disease prevention—is one of the federal government’s most important missions. Dramatic and haphazard cuts to federal agencies and funding have already disrupted the public health system, impacting the response to challenges such as measles, lead poisoning and cyclosporiasis. The U.S. public health system needed improvement before these disruptions. Since 2022, federal leadership and coordination in response to public health outbreaks has been on the Government Accountability Office’s High-Risk List of areas in need of attention to improve government effectiveness and efficiency. Recent cuts only compound these concerns. The chaotic dismantling of government and resulting disruptions to crucial functions like public health and disease prevention highlight the need for meaningful reform and concrete policy proposals to reimagine how government can better serve the public and be more effective, responsive and accountable. To learn more about the impact of federal cuts to public health and science more broadly, visit The Cost of Cutting American Science. Learn more For more information on the Partnership for Public Service’s government reform initiative, visit Government for a New Era. View here In line with The Cost of Cutting American Science, federal workforce data in this brief is as of February 2026
Health: The Fight For The Health Of 9/11 First Responders
A quarter century after 9/11, the health of those who responded to the attacks continues to be affected.Some 3,000 people died across three locations that day. An estimated 400,000 people were exposed to toxic contaminants and risked physical injury in the hours and days that followed. That’s according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Since the dust and debris have settled, more than 96,000 have been diagnosed with physical and mental health conditions related to 9/11.In 2010, President Barack Obama signed the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act, establishing the World Trade Center Health Program and reopening the 9/11 Victims Compensation Fund. Today, more than 150,000 people are enrolled in the program.But that program wouldn’t exist without the advocacy of survivors and first responders who put their bodies and lives on the line following the attacks. How did that fight for care unfold?For more information about the Rutgers WTC Health Program, click here. And to learn more about applying, click here.Find more of our programs online. Listen to 1A sponsor-free by signing up for 1A+ at plus.npr.org/the1a.
More than 1.6 million people die each year from secondhand smoke
The share of the population exposed to tobacco smoke is falling, but more than 2.7 billion people worldwide are still affected
Publish council changes legal advice, Surrey politicians say
The government says Surrey will not be affected by a review of plans to merge councils in England.
FuturLab cuts staff after cancelling non-Powerwash Simulator title
Sources claim employees were instructed not to use the term "redundancy" and refer to those affected as "the leavers"
"All Kinds of Banged Up Right Now": Shohei Ohtani Gets Huge Dodgers Injury Update as Pitching Future Takes Grim Turn
Concerns surrounding Shohei Ohtani are mounting as the Los Angeles Dodgers scratched him from the lineup for a fourth straight game on Sunday. He was already sidelined from pitching, and now his hitting has been affected as well.
Phillies, Nemours Children’s Health honor young cancer warriors for Childhood Cancer Awareness Day
The Phillies and Nemours Children’s Health will host their 10th annual Childhood Cancer Awareness Day on Sunday, September 6, at Citizens Bank Park, featuring heartwarming moments and once-in-a-lifetime experiences for children and families affected by cancer before and during the game against the Atlanta Braves. The on-field tribute will begin
‘Politics of disaster’ does little to help those on the ground
China was affected by the mudslide. China then mobilized to respond to it. China assisted Nepal in responding to it. Turning an evolving humanitarian crisis into an immediate geopolitical morality play does little to help those on the ground.
INVESTOR DEADLINE ALERT: Hims & Hers Health, Inc. (HIMS) Investors with Substantial Losses Have Opportunity to Lead Class Action Lawsuit
Did you buy HIMS securities between August 4, 2025 and July 29, 2026? Affected HIMS Investor Summary Who: Hims & Hers Health, Inc. (NYSE: HIMS) What:...
Plain Language as Scientific Accountability: How to Communicate Science Beyond Academic Audiences
This joint UW/Fred Hutch—Penn CFAR session brings the two CFARs together in conversation around how we communicate science beyond academic audiences. This session will present examples of technical language from HIV cure, prevention, and treatment research and ask what happens when the people most affected by the science cannot easily understand what researchers are saying. […]
The Small Business Administration offers advice to businesses hurt by flooding - WHIZ - Fox 5 / Marquee Broadcasting
ZANESVILLE, Ohio – The Small Business Administration, or SBA, held an information session for Perry and Muskingum County businesses affected by the August storms and flooding. Around 50 business owners came to EagleSticks Golf Club in Zanesville on Friday morning to learn about how the SBA can help their business recover from recent natural disasters. The Ohio director of the...
$3.35M available for O‘ahu businesses affected by Kona Low storms
The O‘ahu Kona Low Business Recovery Program is a new grant program from the state Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism that's being…
Protecting Health Before, During, and After Wildfires
Recognizing wildfires as an increasingly complex public health and health care challenge, the National Academies’ Forum on Medical and Public Health Preparedness for Disasters and Emergencies convened a webinar series this summer on wildfire preparedness, response, and recovery. The series brought together experts from health care, emergency management, environmental science, engineering, academia, nonprofit organizations, government agencies, and affected communities.
‘Open your mail’: Pennsylvania begins notifying over 700,000 Medicaid enrollees about work requirements
In Philadelphia, city officials have plans to increase awareness and support services for residents who will be affected by the Medicaid changes.
Oklahoma butcher says beef prices haven’t hurt his business
Despite nationwide concerns over rising beef prices and cattle shortages, a local butcher says his business remains unaffected and continues to thrive.
Small Business Administration to provide relief in Randolph, Saline County following severe weather
Low-interest federal disaster loans will be available to those affected by severe weather in Randolph and Saline Counties last spring.
Phillies and Nemours Children’s Health Honor Young Cancer Warriors at Childhood Cancer Awareness Day on Sunday, September 6
The Phillies and Nemours Children’s Health will host their 10th annual Childhood Cancer Awareness Day on Sunday, September 6, at Citizens Bank Park, featuring heartwarming moments and once-in-a-lifetime experiences for children and families affected by cancer before and during the game against the Atlanta Braves. The on-field tribute will begin
Health data breaches are surging. What to do when personal and medical records are exposed
Personal and medical information — including physical and mental health records — is increasingly being compromised in cyberattacks, with an average of 136,300 people affected per breach.
Health data breaches are surging. What to do when personal and medical records are exposed
Personal and medical information — including physical and mental health records — is increasingly being compromised in cyberattacks, with an average of 136,300 people affected per breach.
Health data breaches are surging. What to do when personal and medical records are exposed
Personal and medical information — including physical and mental health records — is increasingly being compromised in cyberattacks, with an average of 136,300 people affected per breach.
Health data breaches are surging. What to do when personal and medical records are exposed
Personal and medical information — including physical and mental health records — is increasingly being compromised in cyberattacks, with an average of 136,300 people affected per breach.
Los Angeles County Sues State Farm for Unfair Business Practices in Handling 2025 Wildfire Claims
Los Angeles County Supervisors Lindsey P. Horvath and Kathryn Barger announced that LA County has sued State Farm, alleging unfair business practices in the company’s handling of insurance claims filed by policyholders affected by the January 2025 Eaton and Palisades Fires.
Funding Cuts, Public Trust, and AI Dominate Concerns for Physical Scientists, Survey Reveals
A new AIP survey finds nearly a fifth of physical scientists have lost federal funding since early 2025, with international travel and recruitment also affected.
Is it true that … mental health is affected by inflammation?
Studies have found that anti-inflammatory drugs can improve your mood. But what does that mean for conditions such as depression and anxiety?
Gamescom Says Exhibitors Have To Protect Against Theft
Gamescom's official statement noted that while they treat the theft 'very seriously and understand the frustration of affected exhibitors,' there's also options to pay extra for 'individual stand security'
High levels of lead found in Interbay, Public Health urges all to avoid affected area
Public Health recommends you stay away from the block unless necessary.
Ebola outbreak in Congo spreads to 2 new health zones, bringing total to 60 areas affected
The two new zones affected are Biena and Manguredjipa in Congo’s North Kivu province, where the case fatality rate is much higher than the overall rate of 48%, due in part to delayed response efforts, according to Congo’s Ministry of Health data.
Louisiana fertilizer plants lay off 200 as war with Iran drives up cost of key raw material
The company said it is reducing staffing at the plants in Convent and St. James, because of the availability and cost of sulfur, one of the key components of phosphate fertilizer production. Ammonia production at the Faustina plant in St. James will not be affected.
Louisiana fertilizer plant lays off 200 as war with Iran drives up cost of key raw material
The company said it is reducing staffing at the plants in Convent and St. James, because of the availability and cost of sulfur, one of the key components of phosphate fertilizer production. Ammonia production at the Faustina plant in St. James will not be affected.
More than 200 employees laid off at St. James Parish fertilizer plant
The company said it is reducing staffing at the plants in Convent and St. James, because of the availability and cost of sulfur, one of the key components of phosphate fertilizer production. Ammonia production at the Faustina plant in St. James will not be affected.
Ebola outbreak in eastern Congo spreads to 2 new health zones with a total of 60 areas now affected
BUNIA, Congo (AP) — The fastest-growing Ebola outbreak in history has spread to two new health zones in eastern Congo, with a total of 60 now affected, according to the latest government figures pu…
Ebola outbreak in eastern Congo spreads to 2 new health zones with a total of 60 areas now affected
BUNIA, Congo (AP) — The fastest-growing Ebola outbreak in history has spread to two new health zones in eastern Congo, with a total of 60 now affected, according to the latest government figures pu…
Ebola outbreak in eastern Congo spreads to 2 new health zones with a total of 60 areas now affected
Congo government figures show that the fastest-growing Ebola outbreak in history has spread to two new health zones in eastern Congo. A total of 60 zones are now affected. The two new zones affected are Biena and Manguredjipa in Congo’s North Kivu province. The case fatality rate there is much hi...
Ebola outbreak in eastern Congo spreads to 2 new health zones with a total of 60 areas now affected
Congo government figures show that the fastest-growing Ebola outbreak in history has spread to two new health zones in eastern Congo.
Lamar Jackson says health limited his mobility in 2025, will still do 'whatever it takes to win'
Lamar Jackson says his health prevented him from playing his brand of football in 2025, which inevitably affected the entire Baltimore offense.
Denver murder, assault convictions reversed due to faulty jury instructions
Colorado’s second-highest court reversed a defendant’s convictions for murder and assault last week after concluding a Denver judge incorrectly omitted key jury instructions that could have affected the verdict and sentencing. Stephen C. Swainson fatally stabbed Israel Casillas in downtown Denver one night in September 2020. He also stabbed Levi Casillas, Israel’s brother, who survived. […]
Boston Scientific hit by cyberattack causing ‘disruptions’ to parts of its business
This year has seen a growing number of medtechs hit by cyberattacks, and now Boston Scientific has become the latest victim. In an SEC filing posted Aug. 26, the medtech giant said it had detected a “cybersecurity incident” the day before. The incident has affected certain parts of its information technology systems, something that “has resulted in a global disruption to the company’s operations.” The incident has hit not just its information systems but also its business applications, which “support aspects of the Company’s operations,” it said in the filing. This includes its ability to process and ship customer orders. Boston Scientific said it is working to restore the systems, but the timeline remains unknown. Related Baylor Genetics hit by cybersecurity attack targeting patient, staff information As the company investigates the incident, it remains unclear how significantly its business will be affected. “Accordingly, the Company has not yet determined whether the incident is reasonably likely to have a material impact.” The company’s shares were down 3.5% in premarket trading as the news broke. This adds another layer of pressure for the medtech, which last month revealed a new global restructuring program that starts this year and is slated to be completed by 2029. The company said at the time that it “does expect some headcount reductions to result from these restructuring activities,” but did not provide any numbers or specify areas where the cuts may be made. It added, however, that new jobs are also set to be “created in areas of growth.” It was also forced to cut its sales guidance in Q2, saying in late July that it now expects full-year 2026 organic revenue growth of 5% to 6%, down from its previous guidance of 6.5% to 8%. Boston Scientific is one of a growing number of life sciences companies, notably medtechs, that have been hit by cyberattacks this year. These include Abbott, iRhythm, Medtronic and Stryker, as well as Big Pharmas Amgen and Novo Nordisk.
How Mass. consumers and businesses stand to be affected by Canada trade war
Building materials, sporting equipment and food products are among the Canadian goods sold in Massachusetts to be impacted by new 50% tariffs.
Historic Kenyan drought reshaped livelihoods, health and daily life
The historic drought in northern Kenya affected nearly every part of life for a pastoralist community, from health and food security to where people lived and how they made a living, including a shift toward fishing as an important source of food and income.
Fishy business: who really profits when sardines go viral?
Once a cheap store-cupboard staple, sardines are fast becoming a luxury food item. Last year, #SardineGirlSummer saw influencers promoting the health benefits of sardinemaxxing, while sardinecore became the must-have fashion trend. Now, demand is accelerating just as Morocco’s sardine stock has collapsed, causing shortages on supermarket shelves. The Guardian travels to Matosinhos in Portugal, the cultural home of the sardine industry, to investigate who is profiting from the boom, how it has affected local fishermen, and what sustainability looks like in an era of global heating
Cheaper health insurance changed their lives. Then it went away.
Part 1 of an occasional series on how people are being affected by the expiration of Affordable Care Act subsidies. EDWARDS, Miss. — Every now and then a freight train rumbles through, creaking and groaning on the rusted tracks that run along the edge of the largely deserted downtown. On some days, that train is […]
Gov. Reeves Announces Investment In Mental Health Services For Mississippi Youth » Office of Governor Tate Reeves
Gov. Tate Reeves today announced the state of Mississippi is deploying $3,375,709 to support expanded mental health services for children, adolescents and young adults who were negatively affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Through the Community Development Block Grant CARES Act Coronavirus Relief (CDBG‑CV) program, the Mississippi Development Authority has approved targeted funding to modernize treatment environments and establish new programming focused on long-term recovery.
Traffic lights, businesses along Pelham Road affected by power outage
Traffic and businesses along a portion of Pelham Road in Greenville County are being impacted by a power outage on Monday morning.
Apple Preparing to Increase iPhone Prices
Apple is preparing to raise iPhone prices following similar moves from Samsung and Google, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. Apple raised prices on almost every major product category two months ago, with affected Macs and iPads rising about 23% on average. In the latest edition of his "Power On" newsletter, Gurman said that the iPhone faces the same memory and chip supply chain issues affecting Apple's other products, so a price increase "remains inevitable".
Why ‘salt finger mixing’ draws Rutgers scientists to warming ocean
Studying how phytoplanktons are affected when two types of water meet, and what may happen to the marine food chain
Eastlake science students make district history
Three Eastlake High School students made Sweetwater Union High School District history this year when they became the first students from the district to qualify for the International Science and Engineering Fair, an international competition that brings together some of the top high school researchers from around the world. Ronald Wyatt, Giles Del Priore and Ihan Sung advanced to the competition after successful runs at regional and state science fairs. Sung went a step further, placing fourth in the chemistry category at ISEF. The students were recognized on Aug. 10 during a Sweetwater Union High School District board meeting at the district office in Chula Vista.For Wyatt and Del Priore, recent Eastlake graduates, the journey began with a shared concern about dementia and the challenges faced by families caring for loved ones with memory impairment. Their engineering project, “Design and Evaluation of a Behaviorally Grounded Caregiver-Governed AI Companion for Individuals with Memory Impairment,” earned the Sweepstakes Award at the Sweetwater District STEM Fair and first place in its division at the Greater San Diego Science and Engineering Fair. The project explored whether Artificial Intelligence could provide companionship and support while helping reduce stress for people with dementia and their caregivers. “Our inspiration came from personal experience. Both of us have seen family members and loved ones affected by dementia, and we’ve witnessed how overwhelming the caregiving process can be,” Wyatt said. Del Priore said the students also wanted to address the high cost of third-party health care services while creating something that could potentially help their own families as well as people elsewhere. The students developed an AI system designed with safeguards intended to prevent misinformation reinforcement, emotional escalation and unsafe responses. In 240 controlled trials involving memory, identity, agitation and neutral scenarios, they said the system consistently prevented harmful incorrect reinforcement while using context-aware silence, de-escalation and caregiver verification. The project required the students to combine Artificial Intelligence, psychology, neuroscience and human-computer interaction. For Del Priore, one of the biggest technical challenges was getting the AI companion to communicate verbally with a patient. Hardware limitations required the students to collaborate with multiple Python libraries for speech-to-text and text-to-speech functions while keeping the cost of the companion low. “For us, the biggest challenge was translating complex behavioral and cognitive care principles into a functioning AI system,” Wyatt said.Qualifying for ISEF was a milestone that student expected. The international competition proved to be another milestone. “Competing at ISEF was an incredible experience and unlike anything we’ve ever done before,” Del Priore said. “Being surrounded by some of the most talented young researchers from around the world was both inspiring and motivating.” He said the experience stood out because of the emphasis on collaboration, innovation and scientific discovery. “The most memorable part was seeing how people from completely different backgrounds and disciplines approached solving real-world problems with creativity and passion,” he said. The students also credited teachers and mentors who supported their work. Del Priore said his sophomore-year AP Physics teacher, Dr. Price, was particularly influential. “Through all of my personal and academic struggles, Dr. Price always believed in me,” Del Priore said. “All of his faith in me really molded me into the person I am today and helped create my love for science even through tough times.” Wyatt is continuing his education at UC Santa Cruz, where he plans to study biomolecular engineering and bioinformatics, with an interest in research involving Artificial Intelligence, biology and health care. Del Priore plans to double major in chemistry and accounting. Sung, a rising Eastlake senior, qualified for ISEF after winning first place in the Engineering: Energy, Materials & Transport category at the Greater San Diego Science and Engineering Fair and first place in chemistry at the California Science and Engineering Fair. His project, “Renewable Ammonia Electrochemical Synthesis by Glow Discharge with an Iron-Based Catalyst,” involved a device he designed and engineered to produce renewable ammonia, with potential applications in fertilizer production and energy storage. Sung became interested in the project after considering the relationship between food insecurity and fertilizer costs. His system uses plasma to break apart nitrogen molecules so they can interact with hydrogen and form ammonia. At ISEF, Sung competed against more than 1,700 students from 65 countries and earned fourth place in chemistry. “I am proud to become one of te first students in the district to qualify for ISEF because this milestone can inspire others in the district to attain similar goals,” Sung said.
Colombian Entertainment Unites in Solidarity to Raise Funds After Earthquake
Colombian entertainment figures are joining other celebrities in a fundraising campaign for affected by the earthquake that struck Colombia
Trump’s visa ban on 75 countries struck down by federal judge
A federal judge said the indefinite pause, which affected nationals of countries in every corner of the globe, ran afoul of antidiscrimination protections.
Chicago business offers free laundry service after storms | ChicagoLIVE
Rinse Cycle Valet owner DeAndra Gathings is providing free laundry and delivery for storm-affected families throughout Chicagoland and Northwest Indiana.
Storms, days of heavy rain upend businesses, nonprofits statewide
Cleanup has only just begun for the thousands of Hoosier residents and businesses affected by widespread power outages and flooding.
3 minutes of sprinting does something 90 minutes of exercise does not
A few minutes of sprinting may reshape the bloodstream far more dramatically than a much longer moderate workout. Six 30-second sprints altered nearly a quarter of the blood proteins measured and more than 200 metabolites, while 90 minutes of moderate cycling produced far smaller immediate changes. Many of the proteins affected by sprinting were also associated with lower risks of obesity, type 2 diabetes, and other metabolic diseases.
Thousands of Dallas city employees may be affected by proposed health insurance changes
Are You One of 3.8 Million Affected? A Major Health Data Breach Expands
The massive health data breach from CareCloud is 10 times worse than thought. It included social security numbers and other private info.
Baltimore’s fight with Agora tests the limits of its new consumer protection powers
Baltimore is testing its new consumer protection powers in a lawsuit against Agora, alleging it gave predatory investment advice that targeted older adults. While the city lawsuit does not name local victims, some families here have been affected.
Small businesses affected by Boyle Heights warehouse disaster can apply for federal assistance
The U.S. Small Business Administration approved California's request for a disaster declaration, making loans available to eligible small businesses, private nonprofit organizations, including faith-based organizations, that experienced financial losses directly related to the fire.
Stolen, Broken, Destroyed: How Impunity Has Fueled Ongoing Attacks on Health Care in Ethiopia
Attacks on health care have become a major feature of armed conflict in Ethiopia. Attacks and threats to health care infrastructure, supply chains, and the health care workforce continue to be used as a tactic in conflict-affected regions of Ethiopia, including Tigray, Amhara, and Afar.
Trump 2.0 has deleted or altered nearly 400 US datasets, endangering public health, education and more
Health data appears to be most affected by administration’s attempt to wipe findings that don’t align with its priorities, tracker shows
South African Business Confidence Edges Higher Amid War Headwind
South African business confidence improved sightly in July, though the economy continues to be affected by inflationary pressures stemming from the Iran war, the country’s main commerce chamber cautioned.
WakeMed-Atrium Health hearing draws differing opinions
Skeptics want more clarity on how the price of healthcare will be affected by a merger, whereas supporters believe it will improve care in several ways.
Bethesda Warns Skyrim & Fallout 4 Players of Mod-breaking Update
Steam players on PC will be especially affected once Bethesda releases the patches for its RPGs on August 18.
Niagara County radiation investigation collides with governor’s race
Some affected homeowners have spent weeks asking Gov. Kathy Hochul to visit their neighborhood and hear their concerns firsthand.
World Humanitarian Day 2026: honouring fallen humanitarians and calling for greater protection of health care
As we mark World Humanitarian Day on 19 August, WHO pays tribute to humanitarian and health workers who put their duty of care above their own safety and, too often, their own lives as they serve communities affected by conflict and crises.World Humanitarian Day was designated by the UN General Assembly in 2008 to commemorate the 2003 bombing of the UN headquarters in Baghdad and honour aid workers worldwide.
Aesto Health Data Security Incident Affects Multiple Healthcare Provider Clients
A data breach at Aesto Health, a Birmingham, Alabama-based healthcare technology company, has affected several of its healthcare provider clients. Aesto A security incident at the Alabama healthcare technology company Aesto Health has affected at least 27 of its healthcare provider clients and exposed the protected health information of hundreds of thousands of patients.
When summer becomes a health hazard
Wildfire smoke and extreme heat are raising health risks across Washington, especially for people with chronic conditions or medications affected by heat,…
Asia-Pacific parliamentarians urge bolder action for universal health coverage, climate resilience and responsible AI
Parliamentarians representing 16 countries from across the Asia-Pacific region concluded the Ninth Meeting of the Asia-Pacific Parliamentarian Forum on Global Health (APPFGH) today, reaffirming their key role in advancing universal health coverage (UHC) amid the risks and opportunities posed by AI and climate change. In adopting the Phnom Penh Communiqué, parliamentarians urged fellow legislators regionwide to strengthen sustainable financing for UHC to widen access to health for all, including the most vulnerable populations; promote responsible governance of AI amid ethical concerns over this fast-evolving technology; and build climate-resilient health systems to anticipate and respond to mounting pressures ranging from rising sea levels in coastal areas to air pollution and other environmental degradation.The National Assembly of Cambodia, with support from Cambodia’s Ministry of Health and the World Health Organization (WHO), hosted the Forum in Phnom Penh from 11 to 13 August 2026 – the first time the Forum has convened in a Mekong country.Parliamentarians urge action to close gaps in accessIn the Communiqué, parliamentarians recognized that at-risk and marginalized groups are the ones most severely affected by gaps in access to health services. These groups include people living in poverty, women and children, persons with disabilities, older people, migrants, refugees, and those in rural, remote or island communities. The Communiqué urges fellow parliamentarians and policy-makers to advocate for laws and policies that support sustainable financing to protect people from financial hardship, with a focus on primary health care, prevention and equity. "The Communiqué is a call to action. It sets out ambitious, concrete measures that deliver meaningful impact on the ground. We are all accountable for advancing universal health coverage and translating our commitments into tangible results. Cambodia is fully committed to advancing UHC, including the promotion of ‘healthy people, prosperous country’ campaign,” said Samdech Maha Rathsapheathika Thipadei Khuon Sudary, President of the National Assembly of the Kingdom of Cambodia.His Excellency Professor Chheang Ra, Minister of Health of the Kingdom of Cambodia, highlighted the need for collaboration beyond the health sector. “Universal health coverage cannot be achieved by the Ministry of Health alone. It requires support, particularly from parliamentarians, across political, legislative, financial, social protection, education, infrastructure, and environmental domains. While each country follows its own path, one factor is universally critical for success: strong governance and leadership. We all believe in this principle, and in our respective political roles, we remain committed to strengthening these key success factors to ensure that no one is left behind.”Promoting responsible AI adoption Parliamentarians acknowledged that, while AI has already demonstrated its ability to improve access to health services and support delivery, careful and ethical governance is necessary to safeguard quality, safety, privacy and public trust. This underscores the importance of parliamentarians in promoting legal and regulatory frameworks addressing liability, records ownership and data governance, while embracing innovation that protects ethical practice.“Without strong governance, safeguards for privacy and data security, sustainable financing, and attention to those most at risk of exclusion, new technologies may widen existing gaps instead of closing them. This is why parliamentarians matter. We pass laws. We approve budgets. We scrutinize government action. We represent communities. We can ask whether health services are reaching rural, remote, ageing, poor, and marginalized populations. We can ask whether innovation is being guided by equity, evidence, and ethics,” said Hon. Man Hee Lee, President of the Asia-Pacific Parliamentarian Forum on Global Health.Building climate-resilient health systemsParliamentarians also reiterated that the climate crisis is a direct threat to people’s health and to achieving UHC more broadly, deepening the same gaps in access already faced by at-risk and marginalized communities. They recognized the need for WHO Member States to ensure sufficient national appropriations and oversight, and for parliamentarians to raise awareness in their constituencies and mobilize local action in building climate-resilient and sustainable health systems.“Universal health coverage, climate change and AI cannot be addressed in isolation. The same communities struggling to access health services today are often the ones most exposed to climate shocks, and most in need of the opportunities AI can offer if this technology is governed responsibly,” said Dr Saia Ma’u Piukala, WHO Regional Director for the Western Pacific. “Having served previously in this Forum myself as a parliamentarian from Tonga, I recognize how the Phnom Penh Communiqué reflects the shared resolve of legislators across the Asia-Pacific region: the laws parliamentarians pass and the budgets they approve help ensure this progress reaches the people who need it most.”As the Forum drew to a close, delegates reflected on what they would carry back to their own parliaments and constituencies.“I wish to share three points here worth carrying home from Phnom Penh: we need to invest in primary health care as the foundation of coverage; we need to remove the barriers that keep people from care, whether financial, geographic or social; and we need to build systems that are inclusive by design, protecting those most at risk of being left behind,” added Hon. Ouch Borith, First Vice-President of the Senate of the Kingdom of Cambodia.###Notes for editors:The Asia-Pacific Parliamentarian Forum on Global Health (APPFGH) is a platform for parliamentarians to exchange ideas, build political will, strengthen capacity and foster collaboration towards sustainable health action. This was the ninth meeting of the APPFGH, with the theme “Universal Health Coverage in the era of Climate Change and Artificial Intelligence”. Target 3.8 of the Sustainable Development Goals calls on countries to achieve universal health coverage, including financial risk protection, access to quality essential health services, and access to safe, effective, quality and affordable essential medicines and vaccines for all. In the Western Pacific, UHC service coverage index (SDG 3.8.1) rose from 63 in 2000 to 81 in 2023 (figures include Indonesia), and roughly one in four people in the Western Pacific have experienced financial hardship (SDG 3.8.2). Progress towards UHC in the Asia-Pacific region remains uneven, with hundreds of millions of people still lacking access to essential health services or facing financial hardship due to health-related expenses. Strengthening the role of parliaments – through legislation, financing and oversight – is central to closing this gap and accelerating progress towards UHC across the region.Parliamentarians participating in APPFGH in Cambodia this week include: Hon. Pehin Dato Adanan YUSOF, Brunei Darussalam; Hon. Rosmawatty ABDUL MUMIN, Brunei Darussalam; Hon. LORK Kheng, Kingdom of Cambodia; Hon. YOS Phanita, Kingdom of Cambodia; Hon. KHOUN Khundy, Kingdom of Cambodia; Hon. HENG Halim, Kingdom of Cambodia; Hon. KHOENG Noupheap, Kingdom of Cambodia; Hon. SENG Nhak, Kingdom of Cambodia; Hon. LY Sukry, Kingdom of Cambodia; Hon. NHOEURN Raden, Kingdom of Cambodia; Hon. Dr Ratu Atonio LALABALAVU, Republic of Fiji; Hon. Vijay NATH, Republic of Fiji; Hon. Man Hee LEE, Republic of Korea; Hon. Dr Jiho CHA, Republic of Korea; Hon. Jonghun BAEK, Republic of Korea; Hon. Youngsuk SEO, Republic of Korea; Hon. Dr Phayvanh KEOPASEUTH, Lao People’s Democratic Republic; Hon. Suhaizan Bin KAIAT, Malaysia; Hon. Dr Perpetua KONMAN, Federated States of Micronesia; Hon. Ganmaa DAVAASAMBUU, Mongolia; Hon. Charmaine SCOTTY, Republic of Naoero; Hon. Vincent Ambance KUMURA, Papua New Guinea; Hon. Dr Edwin CRUZADO, Republic of the Philippines; Hon. AUUAPAAU Mulipola Aloitafua Mulipola, Samoa; Hon. ASIATA TAVUI Tafu Salevao, Samoa; Hon. Dr Alani Petelo TANGITAU, Tonga; Hon. Paul PAOLO, Republic of Vanuatu; Hon. Franklyn Ezra WILLIAM, Republic of Vanuatu.For more information, contact: WHO Regional Office for the Western Pacific: wprocom@who.int National Assembly of the Kingdom of Cambodia (International Relations Department): ir.nacambodia@gmail.com
ROUNDUP: Katie Hobbs Meets With Kingman Small Business Owners and Rallies Supporters in Bullhead City
KINGMAN – Last week, Gov. Katie Hobbs stopped by Mudd on 66 in Kingman, Arizona to tour the establishment and hear directly from the owners about how rising costs driven by Washington, D.C. policies have affected their day-to-day operations and their ability to thrive. She later joined local leaders, organizers, and volunteers to officially open the […]
Shedeur Sanders says blister on hand has healed
In recent days, there's been chatter that Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders has been dealing with a blister on his hand that's affected his throwing.
Tafoya makes 'common sense' pitch to disaffected Democrats as she vows to fight Minnesota’s ‘socialist lurch’
Michele Tafoya won the Minnesota GOP Senate primary and now faces Peggy Flanagan, pitching common sense to voters across the political spectrum.
Health insurers are dumping Medicare Advantage plans. Here’s how many seniors could be affected.
Older adults could be scrambling for new health coverage next year, especially in rural markets that have fewer insurance choices.
Supermassive Games announces layoffs, up to 75 workers may be affected
This marks the third round of job cuts at the Guildford-based studio in three years
Roundup: AI construction jobs / Jalapeño recall / US battery production
BlackRock partnership: BlackRock and its AI Infrastructure Partnership are partnering with North America’s Building Trades Unions to connect upcoming data center and energy projects with skilled construction workers. The agreement aims to address labor shortages while promoting fair wages, job protections and training, amid concerns about AI’s impact on employment and communities affected by large […]
'We're Totally Supporting It' — Take-Two Boss Says Borderlands 4 Performance 'Has Not Affected Our Plans at All' as Fans Await Year 2 Roadmap
Take-Two boss Strauss Zelnick has insisted publisher 2K remains committed to Borderlands 4, and that the looter shooter's commercial performance hasn’t affected plans to support the game.
How should states reach out to Medicaid enrollees affected by changes? Our research gives a hint
Experts ask: How can we better reach out to people facing Medicaid renewal deadlines and support them through the paperwork requirements?
Strengthening Indonesia’s health emergency response through after action review of disaster response in Aceh, North Sumatra and West Sumatra
Severe floods and landslides that struck Aceh, North Sumatra and West Sumatra in late 2025 exposed both the strengths and gaps in Indonesia’s health emergency response, prompting a nation-wide effort to strengthen preparedness for future crises. In the early phase, the scale and speed of the crisis challenged coordination, data systems and surge capacity. To assess the response, the World Health Organization (WHO) Indonesia supported the Ministry of Health’s Center for Health Crisis in conducting a multi-stakeholder after-action review (AAR). The review brought together government agencies, health sub-clusters, NGOs, and partners. “The AAR is a critical process for strengthening our collective response capacity,” said Agus Jamaludin, Head of the Center for Health Crisis at the Ministry of Health. “It provides valuable lessons not only for the Health Crisis Center but also for all stakeholders involved and serves as an important reference for improving future responses across regions.” After Action Review (AAR) brought together key stakeholders to reflect on the emergency response, identify lessons learned, and strengthen preparedness for future health crises. (WHO/Resty Armis)Through structured discussions across four pillars – leadership and governance, information-based decision-making, service delivery and resource management – the AAR identified several strengths. These included the rapid mobilization of national surge capacity, such as health reserve workforce (tenaga cadangan kesehatan) and emergency medical teams (EMT) and the continued provision of essential health services in affected areas. At the same time, the review highlighted challenges. Among them were uneven functionality of Health Emergency Operation Center (HEOC), fragmented early data reporting and reactive logistics deployment. The findings informed five strategic priorities for strengthening the system, including HEOC standardization, integration of the One Crisis Data system, establishing disaster-resilient hospitals and reforming surge capacity mechanisms. The AAR demonstrates that Indonesia’s health emergency response has strong foundations but requires system-level strengthening to shift from reactive to proactive preparedness. By mainstreaming the strengths and recommendations identified, Indonesia can build a faster, more coordinated and more resilient health system – better equipped to protect communities during future crises. Written by Lintang Sibarani, NPO Emergency and Humanitarian Actions, WHO Indonesia
Spokane jewelry business offers free restoration help
Tracy Jewelers is offering to restore people's jewelry affected by the Spokane Area Fires.