BUSINESS
NEWS
New Index Reveals Middle-Class Financial Resilience Shows Gradual Improvement Amid Ongoing Economic Challenges
By Peter DuncanCED Releases Solutions Brief on U.S. Infrastructure Investment: Highlights Need for Public-Private Collaboration and Long-Term Strategy
By Maxx QuintenNew York Employers Have the 4th Smallest Hiring Struggle in the U.S.
By Helen RoschaCLIMATE
CHANGE
New Study Reveals Harmful Effects of Tire-Wear Particles on Aquatic Life
By Tina GeigerAmeriCorps Ramps Up Disaster Response in North Carolina and Florida Following Hurricanes Helene and Milton
By Sandy Di AngelisThis month Australia, the U.K. and the U.S. — all members of the AUKUS trilateral partnership — participated in Maritime Big Play, a series of integrated experiments and exercises held in the Indo-Pacific region
This month Australia, the U.K. and the U.S. — all members of the AUKUS trilateral partnership — participated in “Maritime Big Play,” a series of integrated experiments and exercises held in the Indo-Pacific region, meant to enhance capability development and improve interoperability between the partners.
As part of the experiments and exercises, the AUKUS partners tested and refined their ability to jointly operate uncrewed maritime systems, share and process naval data, and provide real-time maritime domain awareness in support of decision-making, said Madeline Mortelmans, who is performing the duties of the assistant secretary of defense for strategy, plans and capabilities.
“These experiments address the need to expand the reach, capability and capacity of our forces in the maritime environment through the use of artificial intelligence and autonomous systems,” Mortelmans said during a virtual discussion on Wednesday. “Over the past several weeks, we’ve been testing and refining the ability to jointly operate uncrewed maritime systems to share and process maritime data from all three nations and to provide real-time maritime domain awareness to support decision making.”
As part of Maritime Big Play, various private sector companies brought forth technologies and equipment that could be evaluated by all three nations as part of scenarios…
PUBLIC
INTEREST
U.S., Japan, and Philippines Hold Trilateral Talks in Manila to Tackle Economic Coercion and Foster Resilience
Today, senior government officials from the United States, Japan, and the Philippines convened an informal trilateral discussion in Manila on countering economic coercion and promoting economic resilience. The discussion was chaired by Ms. Ma. Corazon Halili—Dichosa, Executive Director for Industry Development Services at the Board of Investments of the…
U.S. and Montenegro Strengthen Economic Ties Through In-Person Dialogue and MOU Signing
Under Secretary for Economic Growth, Energy, and the Environment Jose W. Fernandez met with Montenegrin Deputy Prime Minister Nik Gjeloshaj in Washington, D.C., on October 21 for the first in-person U.S.-Montenegro Senior Economic Dialogue together with Minister of Energy Sasa Mujovic, Minister of Public Administration Marash Dukaj, Minister of…
CULTURE
NEWS
Ian Burnley Blends Victorian Floral Codes With Soap Opera Drama at UMOCA
By Emily PattersonNational Geographic Society Introduces the Museum of Exploration
By Yves DucrotRH
FINANCIAL
New Index Reveals Middle-Class Financial Resilience Shows Gradual Improvement Amid Ongoing Economic Challenges
The American Council of Life Insurers (ACLI) released a new index that measures middle-class households’CED Releases Solutions Brief on U.S. Infrastructure Investment: Highlights Need for Public-Private Collaboration and Long-Term Strategy
The Committee for Economic Development (CED), the public policy center of The Conference Board, hasTHIS WEEK'S HEADLINES
U.S. and Iraqi Forces conduct joint operations against ISIS in Central Iraq; Service members injured
On Tuesday morning, Iraqi Security Forces, working with service members from Combined Joint Task Force-Operation Inherent Resolve, conducted strikes and follow-on raids on multiple ISIS locations in central Iraq.
Two service members were injured during the raid and are now headed to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Maryland, while a third service member is being evaluated for traumatic brain injury, said the deputy Pentagon press secretary during a briefing on Friday.
“During the operation, two U.S. military personnel were wounded by an explosion while assisting Iraqi forces with site exploitation,” said Sabrina Singh. “While both service members sustained serious injuries, they are in stable condition and are currently en route to Walter Reed Medical Center for follow-on care. Additionally, we recently learned a third service member is being assessed for potential ”
During the raid, Singh said ISF targeted several senior ISIS leaders and killed at least seven ISIS operatives.
Singh said Iraqi and U.S. forces partnered again as part of the Defeat-ISIS mission.
“Earlier today, U.S. forces participated in an Iraqi-led operation against ISIS fighters in the Anbar province in Iraq,” Singh said. “Our assessment of the operation is still ongoing, and to my knowledge, there were no U.S. personnel injured in the operation.”
Both raids were led by Iraqis, with the U.S. participating in an assistance role, Singh said.
While Singh said there is no indication of an ISIS “resurgence,” she did say ISIS continues to be a threat that warrants attention.
“ISIS is not what it was from 10 years ago,” she said. “I think we continue to see ISIS operate within Iraq and Syria, and their footprint has spread to other parts of the…
CURRENT EDITION
Tire-wear particle leachate at environmentally relevant concentrations exert a hepatotoxic impact on the black-spotted frog by disrupting the gut–liver axis
By Tina Geiger / Staff WriterIn a study published in Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, researchers from Hangzhou Normal University uncovered the adverse health effects of tire-wear particles (TWPs) on aquatic organisms. The study, led by Zhiquan Liu, focused on the hepatotoxicity of TWP leachates, revealing significant impacts on the gut-liver axis and oxidative stress levels in test organisms.
“TWPs, primarily produced through tire-road friction, are released into the environment in vast quantities,” says Liu. “Each year, approximately 6.1 million tons of TWPs are estimated to enter aquatic ecosystems, posing a significant threat to biodiversity.”
This prompted the researchers to investigate the effects of TWP leachates on black-spotted frogs (Pelophylax nigromaculatus), a highly susceptible amphibian species.
“We found that TWP leachates induced hepatic oxidative stress, inflammation and histopathology changes in the frogs. Specifically, increased levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and activation of signaling pathways closely related to immunity were observed,” shares Liu.
These changes were accompanied by disruptions in the gut microbiota, with a notable increase in Proteobacteria, a major source of gut-derived endotoxic lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Such disruptions in the gut-liver axis and oxidative stress levels can lead to long-term health issues for affected organisms.
The team also found that zinc, a trace metal commonly found in TWP leachates, accumulated in the intestine, liver and kidney of the test frogs, further confirming the absorption and bioaccumulation of TWP leachates by aquatic organisms.
Improvements Found in Q2 as Inflation and Cost Pressures Continued to Moderate even while Wage Growth Decelerated
The American Council of Life Insurers (ACLI) released a new index that measures middle-class households’ ability to manage financial challenges and plan for a stable future. ACLI’s Financial Resilience Index analyzes key middle-class economic considerations to assess the direction and degree of change in middle-class financial resilience. By examining both cost-side and resource-side factors, the index offers a holistic picture of the drivers of financial resilience.
ACLI will release the Financial Resilience Index quarterly and use movements in the index to provide policymakers and others with insights about how middle-class America is faring.
“Helping Americans navigate financial shocks is at the heart of what life insurers do. We provide financial and retirement security to 90 million families through all stages of life,” said ACLI President and CEO David Chavern. “The Financial Resilience Index generates a holistic picture of how middle-class households are navigating costs and sustaining their resources. Life insurers are part of the solution to help households build financial resilience, and we hope the index can inform those who share that goal.”
October 2024 Financial Resilience Index Report
In Q2 2024, the Headline Index, the score used to measure household resilience, was 24.8, down 7 points from the previous quarter but up 34 points from Q2 last year. This suggests that middle-class financial resilience improved but more slowly than it has in previous quarters.
The data for Q2 indicates that inflation and…
CURRENT EDITION
CED Releases Solutions Brief on U.S. Infrastructure Investment: Highlights Need for Public-Private Collaboration and Long-Term Strategy
The Committee for Economic Development (CED), the public policy centerNew York Employers Have the 4th Smallest Hiring Struggle in the U.S.
With the labor force participation rate at 62.7% and slightlyNew York Claims 44% More Unemployment Benefits Than National Average
A new study has revealed the states with the mostSeptember’s Booming Job Gains Underscore US Economy’s Resilience
The US labor market proved resilient in September, adding 254,000Ericsson and INFORM to Strengthen Financial Services Security and Combat Advanced Fraud
Ericsson and INFORM collaborate to integrate RiskShield, an advanced Anti-Money-LaunderingThe State of the Union in the Direct-to-Consumer Space: Strategic Shifts and Challenges
As we head into budgeting season, retail executives are increasingly- Loading stock data...