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Alcohol Death Toll Jumps 30% in the United States

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Alcohol Death Toll Jumps 30% in the United States

According to new official data, the mortality rate related to alcohol increased by nearly 30% in the United States during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, such deaths increased between 2020 and 2021. This week’s CDC data revealed more information on which demographics have the greatest death rates and which states have the highest percentages.

“Alcohol is frequently disregarded” as a public health issue, according to Marissa Esser, the CDC’s alcohol program director. “However, it is a major preventable cause of death.”

Research on Friday focused on more than a dozen “alcohol-induced” deaths attributed to drinking. Alcohol-caused liver or pancreas failure, alcohol poisoning, withdrawal, and other disorders are examples. Last year, there were over 52,000 such deaths, up from 39,000 in 2019.

In the two decades preceding the pandemic, the rate of such deaths had been increasing by 7% or less per year.

They were up 26% in 2020, to around 13 deaths per 100,000 Americans. According to the study’s lead author, Marianne Spencer, this is the highest rate in at least 40 years.

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Excessive drinking of Alcohol

According to the report, such deaths are two and a half times more likely in males than women, but both increased in 2020. The rate remained highest for persons aged 55 to 64, but it increased considerably for some other categories, including a 42% increase for women aged 35 to 44.

The second study, published earlier this week in JAMA Network Open, looked at a broader spectrum of mortality that could be linked to alcohol, such as car accidents, suicides, falls, and malignancies.

According to data from 2015 to 2019, more than 140,000 of the broader categories of alcohol-related deaths occur each year. According to CDC experts, around 82,000 deaths result from excessive drinking over a lengthy period of time, and 58,000 are the result of causes related to acute intoxication.

According to the study, alcohol was responsible for up to one in every eight deaths among U.S. individuals aged 20 to 64. New Mexico had the greatest percentage of alcohol-related deaths, at 22%. Mississippi had the lowest rate, at 9%.

Excessive drinking is linked to long-term risks such as liver cancer, high blood pressure, stroke, and heart disease. Drinking while pregnant might result in miscarriage, stillbirth, or birth abnormalities. Health professionals say alcohol is a factor in up to one-third of major falls among the elderly.

It also puts others in danger through drunken driving or alcohol-fueled aggression. According to surveys, more than half of the alcohol sold in the United States is consumed during binge drinking episodes.

Even before the epidemic, alcohol use in the United States increased, with Americans drinking more than before Prohibition. However, mortality may have increased since the COVID-19 pandemic began for various reasons, including persons with alcohol-related disorders having more difficulty accessing medical care, according to Esser.

She said that the data suggests that initiatives to curb alcohol consumption, such as raising alcohol taxes and establishing legislation restricting where people can buy beer, wine, and liquor, are necessary.

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Geoff Thomas is a seasoned staff writer at VORNews, a reputable online publication. With his sharp writing skills and deep understanding of SEO, he consistently delivers high-quality, engaging content that resonates with readers. Thomas' articles are well-researched, informative, and written in a clear, concise style that keeps audiences hooked. His ability to craft compelling narratives while seamlessly incorporating relevant keywords has made him a valuable asset to the VORNews team.

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April’s Pink Moon: When and Where to See It

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April's Pink Moon
A "pink moon" refers to the full moon in April: File Image

Keep a watch on the skies tonight and tomorrow; you don’t want to miss the full pink moon, not the blue moon! According to The Old Farmer’s Almanac, you’ll get the best view about 7:49 p.m. ET.

This is when “peak illumination” occurs. As the full moon rises above the horizon, it will appear brightest and most vibrant to our eyes.

Where should you go to have the finest experience under the pink full moon? The Old Farmer’s Almanac suggests going somewhere with a good view of the open sky. If possible, attempt to select a location where the horizon is not covered by towering buildings or trees.

Although the pink moon will be a stunning sight to behold, it is not as colorful as it appears. It should appear rich amber at first, but it will fade to white as it rises into the night sky.

You may be wondering why it’s called a pink moon when it doesn’t look pink. According to USA now, many of the names we use for full moons now originate in much older Native American traditions. These names were mainly associated with natural events that month.

Pink Moon: Full Moon in April 2024

In April, Phlox subulata, often known as creeping phlox or moss phlox, began to flower. These rosy-hued petals were also known as “moss pink,” which is how the pink full moon got its name.

In February, we watched the snow moon rise in the sky. Last month brought the worm moon, which slightly less appetizing moniker refers to the presence of worms in nature during early spring.

According to Space.com, next month will see the floral moon. This May full moon is named after the abundance of blooms that will appear throughout this spring season.

A “pink moon” is an April full moon named for the early springtime blooms that paint landscapes in brilliant pinks and reds. It’s a celestial sight that signals nature’s rebirth after winter.

The pink hue is caused by sunlight refraction through the atmosphere, albeit it rarely seems that rosy tone.

Still, the name recalls the splendor of spring’s emergence, reminding us of the earth’s natural cycles. For many, the pink moon represents rejuvenation and new beginnings.

FIFA Nears $1 Billion Deal with Apple TV Plus

FIFA Nears $1 Billion Deal with Apple TV Plus

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Trump Called This Visa ‘Very Bad’ For Americans. Truth Social Applied For One

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MIAMI (AP) – The social media corporation established by ex-President Donald Trump has submitted an application for a business visa program that he aimed to limit during his tenure and that numerous of his supporters desire him to reduce if he were to serve a second term.

Trump Media & Technology Group, the company responsible for Truth Social, submitted an application in June 2022 for an H-1B visa for an employee earning an annual salary of $65,000, which is the minimum wage level permitted by the program. According to federal immigration data, the corporation received approval for a visa a few months after. The corporation asserts that it did not employ the worker.

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Trump Called This Visa ‘Very Bad’ For Americans. Truth Social Applied For One

The act of applying for the visa highlights the contradiction between Trump the candidate, who has advocated for a protectionist approach that encourages corporations to prioritize American workers, and Trump the businessman, who has expressed his intention to utilize all available means for his companies. The investment firm established by Jared Kushner, who is both President Trump’s son-in-law and a White House adviser, submitted an application and received approval to employ a foreign individual as an associate through the visa program.

According to a statement from Trump Media & Technology Group, the application was submitted when the company was under previous management. However, it is worth noting that the current CEO, Devin Nunes, who was already leading the company, was involved in the application process when it was initially filed with the U.S. Department of Labor.

The company has never employed, and has no intentions of employing, a worker through the H-1B visa program. The company stated that upon discovering the application, which was submitted under a previous management period, the present management promptly halted the process in November 2022.

The cost for corporations to file an H-1B visa petition is approximately $5,000 per employee. Companies have the ability to retract applications even after they have been granted approval. The data maintained by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services does not include information about visa revocations. However, a representative from the Labor Department, which also monitors H-1B applications, stated that they have no documented evidence of Truth Social submitting a request for withdrawal.

An ubiquitous instrument utilized by technology enterprises.
Technology companies frequently employ individuals through the H-1B program. Prior to assuming the presidency, Trump openly acknowledged his utilization of visas, mostly for the purpose of importing foreign models and a limited number of workers for his hotels and resorts. This information is based on an examination of the petitions filed since 2009.

However, apart from renewing current applications, his companies seemed to have ceased requesting H-1B visas until the creation of Truth Social.

According to the Labor Department, Trump Media & Technology Group submitted an application for an employee to receive a salary of $65,000. The employer is listed as Will Wilkerson, who is a co-founder of the company and a former senior vice president of operations. The employment is located in Atlanta, as indicated by the provided address.

In August 2022, Wilkerson submitted a whistleblower complaint to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, accusing the corporation of committing securities breaches. He lost his job, and The Washington Post reported that he is now actively working with federal investigators. His legal representatives stated that he would refrain from providing any comments.

‘I should be prohibited from using it.’
Trump often discusses the influx of migrants who unlawfully cross the U.S.-Mexico border, but his policy agenda throughout his presidency also involved restrictions on legal immigration, such as family-based visas and the visa lottery program.

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Trump Called This Visa ‘Very Bad’ For Americans. Truth Social Applied For One

During a primary debate in 2016, Trump expressed his disapproval of the H-1B visa program, describing it as both “very detrimental” and “inequitable” for American workers.

“To begin with, I possess extensive knowledge and understanding of the H-1B visa.” And it’s a tool that I frequently utilize, even though I should not have permission to do so. “We should not possess it,” he stated. “Furthermore, it is crucial to acknowledge that I am a businessman and I must prioritize my actions based on necessity.”

Three months into his presidency, Trump issued an executive order titled “Buy American and Hire American.” This order instructed Cabinet members to propose changes that would prioritize the allocation of H-1B visas to applicants who were either well paid or highly talented, with the aim of safeguarding American workers. He has previously asserted that the program was utilized by technology businesses to acquire overseas employees at a reduced salary.

Under his administration, a research conducted by the nonpartisan National Foundation for American Policy revealed that the government was intensifying its examination of cases by issuing additional information requests to companies seeking to employ foreign workers and rejecting a higher number of petitions.

The “Project 2025” handbook, created by supporters anticipating Trump’s potential assumption of power, suggests that the H-1B program should be restructured to function as an exclusive mechanism for attracting the most talented individuals at competitive wages, while also ensuring that American workers are not put at a disadvantage by the program.

Nicolas Morales, an economist specializing on labor and migration at the research department of the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond, stated that over 60% of the total visas granted are attributed to companies in the professional, scientific, and technical services sectors. Morales stated that he has discovered that the visa program has proven advantageous for small enterprises in maintaining their operations.

Participating in and being selected in the H-1B lottery is advantageous for them. “It enhances their likelihood of survival,” he stated. “Over the next five years, small companies that heavily rely on skilled labor are expected to remain active.”

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Trump Called This Visa ‘Very Bad’ For Americans. Truth Social Applied For One

The applications necessitate employers to affirm that they will furnish foreign workers with equivalent benefits as those provided to U.S. workers, and remunerate them at a higher rate than individuals with comparable expertise and qualifications, or above the standard wage for that particular occupation. Companies are required to notify their workers of the filing by displaying a notice in two locations at the workplace.

A significant portion of the criticism surrounding the H-1B program is to corporations providing foreign workers with salaries that fall under the lower wage brackets. The application submitted by Kushner’s investment firm to employ a foreign worker seems to address the allegation adequately.

The Labor Department approved a document in which Kushner’s investment firm stated that it would provide a salary of $200,000 to this employee. This amount falls inside the highest compensation range for H-1B visas, which are usually granted to individuals who are highly skilled in their industry and hold senior positions. According to recent data from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, the company has been granted a visa approval.

Kushner has abstained from joining the Trump campaign and has been actively pursuing his own business ventures by submitting applications for tourism projects in the Balkans.

SOURCE – (AP)

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Haiti Health System Nears Collapse As Medicine Dwindles, Gangs Attack Hospitals And Ports Stay Shut

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The city of Port-au-Prince in Haiti is the subject of this news article. During a recent morning in a hospital located in the center of gang-infested territory in Haiti’s capital, a woman experienced convulsions followed by a loss of consciousness, prompting a doctor and two nurses to swiftly intervene in an attempt to save her.

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Haiti Health System Nears Collapse As Medicine Dwindles, Gangs Attack Hospitals And Ports Stay Shut

Electrodes were attached to her chest and an oxygen machine was activated, while the observers monitored a computer screen displaying a critically low oxygen level of 84%.

The cause of her ailment remained unknown to everyone.

Additionally, there is a severe lack of crucial medications used to treat seizures at the Doctors Without Borders hospital in the Cite Soleil slum.

“We have a severe shortage of the medication that she urgently requires,” stated Dr. Rachel Lavigne, a physician affiliated with the medical aid organization.

Every day, at hospitals and clinics throughout Port-au-Prince, a similar situation unfolds. Vital medication and equipment are becoming scarce or completely unavailable due to the increasing control of ruthless gangs over the capital and surrounding areas. They have obstructed roadways, compelled the early closure of the primary international airport in March, and halted operations at the nation’s largest seaport, where containers containing essential supplies are still immobile.

“All systems are experiencing a complete failure,” Lavigne stated.

The health system in Haiti has historically been vulnerable, but it is currently on the verge of complete collapse following the coordinated assaults by gangs on February 29th, which specifically targeted essential facilities in the capital and surrounding areas.

Due to the violence, numerous medical institutions and dialysis clinics, including Haiti’s primary public hospital, have been compelled to shut down. Situated in the heart of Port-au-Prince, the Hospital of the State University of Haiti was scheduled to resume operations on April 1 following its closure during the onset of the onslaught. However, there has been a compromise of the facility due to gang infiltration.

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Haiti Health System Nears Collapse As Medicine Dwindles, Gangs Attack Hospitals And Ports Stay Shut

An escalating state of disorder has resulted in an increasing number of individuals suffering from cancer, AIDS, and other severe diseases being left without any viable options for treatment. Additionally, criminal gangs have been pillaging and setting ablaze pharmacies located in the central district of the capital city.

Doctors Without Borders has depleted its supply of certain pharmaceuticals often used to treat diabetes, high blood pressure, and asthma. Additionally, Lavigne reported that asthma inhalers, which are essential for preventing life-threatening attacks, are currently unavailable in the capital.

According to her, the medical personnel at the Doctors Without Borders facility made an attempt to rescue a youngster suffering from a severe asthma attack by administering oxygen. The previous treatment was ineffective, as was an alternative medicine. Ultimately, they administered him with adrenaline, a medication employed in critical situations to manage anaphylactic shock.

“We engage in improvisation and exert our utmost effort for the individuals present,” Lavigne stated.

Doctors Without Borders project coordinator Jacob Burns cautioned that the unavailability of regular medicines for chronic diseases is causing a decline in people’s health.

“The situation worsens and they exhaust all available alternatives,” he stated. Currently, there is a limited range of choices available to specific individuals.

Due to the urgent demand for medical assistance, the Doctors Without Borders hospital in Cite Soleil has been compelled to reduce the daily number of outpatients it attends to from 150 to 50, as stated by Burns. However, all emergency cases are still promptly addressed.

Every day, numerous individuals queue outside the hospital, exposing themselves to the danger of being shot by gang members who dominate the vicinity, all in anticipation of receiving medical attention.

Access to the hospital compound is granted to all individuals, however, the medical personnel have established a triage system to ascertain which 50 individuals will receive medical attention. Burns requested that individuals with less pressing need come back on a different day.

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Haiti Health System Nears Collapse As Medicine Dwindles, Gangs Attack Hospitals And Ports Stay Shut

On Friday morning, a 51-year-old individual named Jean Marc Baptiste entered the emergency room with a blood-soaked bandage wrapped over his right hand. He claimed that the day before, while he was gathering firewood to sell as kindling in an area where criminal organizations predominate, law enforcement officers in a heavily protected vehicle fired at him.

Upon entering, the staff proceeded to remove the bandage, exposing a significant laceration on his thumb, causing him to cry out in agony. Lavigne advised him to seek the services of a plastic surgeon, which the hospital lacks, and requested X-rays to confirm the absence of a fracture.

SOURCE – (AP)

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