The Democratic Republic of Congo has reported its first Ebola outbreak in three years, which has already claimed 15 lives.
McGill University experts are available to discuss concerns about the world’s ability to respond quickly, particularly as recent U.S. funding cuts put global health programs under strain.
Jair Bolsonaro, the former president of Brazil, has been charged with attempting to stage a coup d’état and reclaim power following his loss of the 2022 election. The verdict and sentencing phase of the trial is now beginning.
This McGill expert can talk about Bolsonaro’s trial; the legacy of dictatorships in Brazil; the effects of U.S tariffs against Brazil; and human rights and amnesty.
In Quebec’s Montérégie region, residents are facing a growing water crisis, particularly in Mercier and Saint-Rémi, due to the depletion of resources in underground aquifers. The water scarcity has affected agriculture, forcing some farmers to abandon vegetable crops.
Meanwhile, the level of the St. Lawrence River is notably lower than usual for this time of year, affecting fishing, boating and shipping around Montreal.
A McGill expert is available to speak on this topic.
Canada’s 2023 wildfire season caused the country’s worst air pollution levels since 1998, according to a new report. It warns that if such pollution levels persist, Canadians could lose about two years of life expectancy.
New national smoking cessation guidelines caution that e-cigarettes should generally not be the first choice for people trying to quit. Published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal, the new guidelines recommend proven supports such as counselling and nicotine replacement therapies.
The first case of Rocky Mountain spotted fever was confirmed in Quebec this week. The tick-borne illness, which can be life threatening, is typically found in the United States.
Virginie Millien is an Associate Professor in the Department of Biology at McGill University and Curator of Zoology at the Redpath Museum. She can speak to how climate change and shifting habitats are enabling ticks to spread into new regions.
virginie.millien [at] mcgill.ca (English, French)
Global talks to finalize a UN treaty on plastic pollution ended in Geneva without consensus after 10 days of negotiations, highlighting sharp divisions over issues like production caps, chemicals of concern and financing. Despite the setback, countries pledged to continue negotiations, with the UN Environment Programme stressing the urgency of tackling a problem that affects ecosystems and human health worldwide.
With the first day of school fast approaching, McGill experts are available to comment on a variety of related issues.
Marie-Claude Geoffroy, Associate Professor, Department of Psychiatry and Douglas Mental Health University Institute, is the Canada Research Chair in Youth Suicide Prevention. She can discuss youth mental health.
marie-claude.geoffroy [at] mcgill.ca (English, French)
Ozempic and Wegovy are widely used to support weight loss and manage diabetes. But could this class of drugs, known as GLP-1 receptor agonists, also help treat heart failure, liver disease and even addiction?
A new study by researchers at McGill University and the Lady Davis Institute for Medical Research at the Jewish General Hospital takes a closer look at their growing list of potential uses beyond diabetes and obesity.
The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) warned yesterday of a worst-case scenario famine unfolding in the Gaza strip, as access to food and other essential items and services has become highly limited due to the ongoing conflict and displacement.
These McGill experts are available to comment:
The International Court of Justice ruled today that countries must act on the “urgent and existential threat” of climate change. The advisory opinion, backed by all 15 of the court’s judges, potentially opens the door to further legal action by states that seek to hold other states accountable.
This McGill expert is available to comment:
A coalition of 40 AI researchers – including signatories from Meta, OpenAI and Montreal-based Mila – has issued a joint position paper warning that as advanced AI systems evolve, we may be losing the ability to understand or monitor how they “think.”
As Montreal experiences the convergence of a heat wave, wildfire smoke from the Prairies, and recent extreme storms, McGill experts are available to discuss the science behind these converging climate-driven events.
About one-third of Canadians are now obese, with women and young adults most affected, according to a new study published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal. It found obesity rates accelerated significantly during the COVID-19 pandemic.
This expert from McGill University is available to comment:
U.S. President Donald Trump has announced plans to impose a 50 per cent tariff on all copper imported into the United States.
These McGill experts are available to comment:
Diya Jiang, PhD candidate and course lecturer, Department of Political Science, has expertise in Canada-U.S. relations, supply chain geopolitics, public opinion and international political economy.
Diya.jiang [at] mail.mcgill.ca (English, French)
