Covid-19

Global Public Debt to Exceed $100tn Says IMF

Global public debt is expected to reach a record $100 trillion this year, the IMF said Tuesday, warning that the fiscal outlook for many countries may be even "worse than expected." In its latest report on fiscal policy, the International Monetary Fund said it expects global public debt to hit 93 percent of global gross domestic product (GDP) ...

The Hour of Epidemics Has Struck

Between environmental disasters and geopolitical crises, the proliferation of epidemics is emerging as an inevitable consequence of the erosion of ecological balances. The 21st century will be dominated by epidemics. This is neither superstition nor a conspiracy theory. The planet is in distress. The great ecological balances that have sustained ...

Mpox: An International Emergency, but (Still) Not a Pandemic

In response to the resurgence of mpox, the World Health Organization has declared, for the second time in two years, a "Public Health Emergency of International Concern." However, this viral disease is far from being the "new COVID-19." In 2022, as SARS-CoV-2 was mutating into less virulent strains, monkeypox (mpox) infections were gradually ...

Olympics Sees 40+ Covid Cases as Global Figures Rise

More than 40 athletes at the 2024 Paris Olympics have tested positive for Covid-19, highlighting a new global rise in cases, the World Health Organization (WHO) said Tuesday. The WHO said the virus behind the Covid-19 pandemic is still circulating and countries need to sharpen their response systems. Several high-profile athletes have suffered ...

UK Concert Venues Face Existential Crisis Amid Soaring Costs

Independent music venues across the United Kingdom are struggling to survive as they grapple with skyrocketing expenses, dwindling alcohol sales, and changing consumer habits post-pandemic. In a dimly lit room at Earth Hackney, an arts center in London, singer Cosmo Sheldrake captivates the audience with his electronic and vocal compositions. The ...

Covid-19 and Olfaction: A Troubling Scent 

The long-term effects of Covid-19 continue to pique researchers’ interests. A recent study delves into the enduring loss of smell and taste, one year after exposure to SARS-CoV-2. The Covid-19 pandemic is far from over, and it seems this reality won't change anytime soon. Scientific studies are continuously yielding new insights into the virus' ...

COVID-19 Vaccines and Adverse Effects: Sorting True From False

An observational study involving over 99 million vaccinated persons reveals that most adverse effects conform with theoretical risks. It also highlights certain increased risks depending on the type of vaccine. Since March 2020, when the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the COVID-19 outbreak a pandemic, over 13.5 billion vaccine doses ...

Gold Prices Soared to New Record

The price of gold broke its all-time high on Monday, reaching more than $2,100 per ounce (31.1 g), as traders bet on a cut in interest rates from the US Federal Reserve (FED) next year, following statements by FED boss Jerome Powell, who announced on Friday that rates are "well into restrictive territory," fanning hopes that the bank could begin ...