Top Stories
TOP STORY
TOP STORY
Study finds multivitamins don’t prolong life
Taking a daily multivitamin doesn’t help people live any longer and may increase the risk of an early death, a major study has found.
US researchers analyzed health records from nearly 400,000 adults with no major long-term diseases to see whether daily multivitamins reduced their risk of death over 20 years.
People consuming daily multivitamins were marginally more likely than non-users to die, prompting the study to point out that “multivitamin use to improve longevity is not supported.”
The global market for the supplements is estimated to be worth tens of billions of dollars annually. In the US, a third of adults use multivitamins to prevent disease.
Dr. Neal Barnard, professor of medicine, said vitamins were helpful in specific cases, but “multivitamins overpromise and underdeliver. The main point is multivitamins are not helping. The science is not there.”
Instead of taking multivitamins, he said people need to eat healthy foods, which provide a broad range of micronutrients, macronutrients and fiber while limiting saturated fat and cholesterol.
Running Stories
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Kenya president backs down on tax hikes after deadly unrest.WORLD
WORLD
Bolivian police arrest leader of coup attempt
Bolivian police arrested the leader of an attempted coup hours after soldiers stormed the presidential palace in the capital, La Paz.
Armored vehicles and troops had taken up positions on Murillo Square, where key government buildings are located. They all later withdrew.
The rebel military leader in charge, Gen Juan José Zúñiga, said he wanted to "restructure democracy” and there would be a change of government. He is now under arrest.
President Luis Arce condemned the coup attempt, calling on the public to “organize and mobilize ... in favor of democracy.” He said, “We cannot allow once again coup attempts to take lives.”
His words resonated, with pro-democracy demonstrators taking to the streets to support the government. Arce also announced he was appointing new military commanders.
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HEALTH
HEALTH
Americans face a higher risk of dengue
Americans are at a higher risk of catching dengue fever this year, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) warned.
In a health alert issued on June 25, CDC representatives said that people should be extra vigilant about this potentially deadly viral infection, spread by the bite of an infected mosquito.
Dengue fever is endemic to tropical and subtropical regions. Across the Americas, more than 9.7 million dengue cases were reported Jan. 1–June 24, twice that recorded in 2023.
As global cases rise, experts say so will dengue-infected travelers returning to the US. Transmission is rare in the US, but cases have occurred in Florida, Hawaii, Texas, Arizona and California.
“We also need to be on the lookout for dengue in regions of the US where transmission hasn't been detected, said Dr. Albert Ko, a professor of public health at Yale University, who said climate change is expanding its presence.
BUSINESS & ECONOMICS
BUSINESS & ECONOMICS
New home sales plummet to 6-month low
New home sales hit a six-month low in May as high mortgage rates weighed on potential buyers.
According to Census Bureau data released Wednesday, sales of new single-family homes fell 11.3% from the previous month to a seasonally adjusted rate of 619,000.
On an annual basis, sales plunged 16.5%. May's rate was the lowest since November. It also missed analyst expectations of 633,000 units.
Meanwhile, home prices have been hitting record highs. Prices in the 20 largest US metros increased 7.2% in the last 12 months ending in April, according to S&P CoreLogic Case-Shille data.
“Homebuilders had been enticing buyers with rate buydowns and other concessions, but for some, those financial incentives are no longer enough,” Bright MLS chief economist Lisa Sturtevant said.
OTHER NEWS
OTHER NEWS
Danish farmers face flatulent livestock tax
Denmark will tax livestock farmers for the greenhouse gases emitted by their cows, sheep and pigs from 2030.
The aim is to reduce Danish greenhouse gas emissions by 70% from 1990 levels by 2030. Methane emissions from livestock are one of the most potent gases contributing to global warming.
As of 2030, Danish livestock farmers will be taxed 300 kroner ($43) per ton of carbon dioxide equivalent in 2030. The tax will increase to 750 kroner ($108) by 2035.
New Zealand had passed a similar law due to take effect in 2025. However, the legislation was removed from the statute book after hefty criticism from farmers and a change of government.
According to the UN Environment Program, livestock accounts for about 32% of human-caused methane emissions.
TECHNOLOGY
TECHNOLOGY
Google rolls out AI add-ons for Gmail
Gmail is getting more AI features that could make it easier for Gemini’s subscribed users to stay on top of their emails.
Google is beginning to roll out a Gemini side panel to summarize email threads and draft emails. The tool will offer “proactive prompts,” but “freeform questions” can be asked.
In the Gmail mobile app, Google will also allow subscribers to have Gemini summarize threads. Users can have Gemini search their inbox for specific information.
Google is adding Gemini features to the Docs, Sheets, Slides, and Drive side panels. Some AI features are still to come for Gmail, including “Contextual Smart Reply.”
OFFBEAT
OFFBEAT
Snake has 14 babies after ‘virgin birth’
College staff and students were taken by surprise when their six-foot rainbow boa had a rare “virgin birth,” producing 14 babies.
Peter Quinlan, reptile specialist at City of Portsmouth College, said the 13-year-old snake was thought to be male. It had not been in contact with other snakes for at least nine years.
He explained that the births were due to the rare phenomenon of parthenogenesis, a natural form of asexual reproduction where embryos develop without fertilization.
“I’ve been breeding snakes for 50 years, and I’ve never known this to happen. Ronaldo [the snake] had been looking slightly fatter, but we never thought he, or should we say she, was pregnant.”
Otherweb Editorial Staff
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David WilliamsEditor in Chief
Angela PalmerContent Manager
Dan KriegerTechnical Director