I’m Hannah Bern
And I’m will Dove, and this is the rest of the news for today, Tuesday, June 24th.
Abraham Accords countries—the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Morocco, and Sudan—have expressed concern following the recent U.S. airstrikes on Iran’s Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan nuclear sites. Afra Al Hameli, director of strategic communications for the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs, stated on Sunday via X that the UAE is “profoundly concerned” about escalating tensions and urged “immediate de-escalation.” Bahrain similarly called for de-escalation and the swift resumption of negotiations to restore peace.
Morocco, while silent on the U.S. strikes, later condemned Iran’s attack on Qatar, where Iran reportedly fired 14 missiles at a U.S. base. Sudan, embroiled in its own civil war, expressed “deep concern over recent developments,” reiterating its rejection of any violation of Iran’s sovereignty.
Asher Fredman of the Abraham Accords Peace Institute noted that while Accords nations recognize the threat posed by Iran and its proxies, they are also wary of the potential for expanded conflict and have sought to distance themselves from direct involvement in hostilities.
There has been no comment from Abraham Accords countries since the ceasefire announced late last night.
At least 16 people were killed and more than 100 wounded in Russian air strikes on Ukraine’s southeastern Dnipropetrovsk region yesterday, according to President Volodymyr Zelensky. The attacks damaged schools, hospitals, and a passenger train, though no casualties were reported on the train itself. In separate strikes on Sumy, three more victims, including a toddler, were killed.
The daytime assault coincided with Zelensky’s arrival at the Nato summit in the Netherlands, where he accused Russia of having “complete disregard for life.” Local authorities reported that a ballistic missile blast near Dnipro also claimed two lives in Samar.
Emergency services shared images of bloodied civilians being aided by rescuers. The attacks come on the heels of Russian battlefield advances in the region, which Ukrainian forces say they have since repelled. The timing has prompted accusations from Kyiv that Russia is deliberately undermining peace talks and escalating the war.
The U.S. Countermeasures Injury Compensation Program (CICP) currently has nearly 10,000 pending claims from Americans reporting injuries after receiving COVID-19 vaccines or other pandemic-related medical countermeasures. The program, established under the Public Readiness and Emergency Preparedness Act of 2005, faces possible elimination of its funding for the 2026 fiscal year under a proposal by the Trump administration’s budget. If enacted, CICP would have to rely solely on “carryover funds” from prior years, raising questions about its ability to compensate those injured and undermining trust in vaccine policy.
The vast majority—96%—of the 14,413 claims filed with CICP since 2010 relate to COVID-19 countermeasures. By June 1, 9,423 were still under review, while 4,338 had been denied. Only 75 claims so far have been found eligible for compensation, of which 39 have actually been paid out.
Further complicating matters, the Biden administration extended protections shielding vaccine makers from liability through 2029, meaning affected individuals cannot sue manufacturers.
As of April 2024, “Canada’s” Vaccine Injury Support Program has received approximately 2,233 claims for COVID-19 vaccine injuries, with at least 138 approved by December 2023 and over 1,200 likely still pending based on late 2022 estimates. The program has paid out around $14.08 million as of June 2024, supported by a budget of $111.4 million, which includes a recent $36.4 million addition. However, the VISP faces challenges with processing delays, particularly due to medical record collection, and some controversy surrounds its efficiency and strict eligibility criteria.
Advertising of unhealthy food and beverages significantly increases junk food consumption among young people, according to a major new review published in Obesity Reviews. The study, which analyzed 25 years of research and over 120 studies, found that more than 90% of research shows ad exposure raises intake of foods high in fat, sugar, and salt—leading to higher risks of obesity, Type 2 diabetes, and other diet-related illnesses.
Young people, especially those aged 13-25, are particularly vulnerable to marketing, with repeated exposure building long-lasting brand loyalty and even brief exposure—such as five minutes of food ads—resulting in children eating about 130 extra calories that day. The review highlights digital marketing as a growing concern, with influencer content on platforms like TikTok and Instagram making unhealthy ads harder to recognize and increasing preference for high-calorie, low-nutrient foods.
Notably, companies disproportionately target adolescents in lower-income and racialized communities with these ads. One U.S. study found non-white, lower-income adolescents saw 54% more sugary drink ads than their higher-income, white counterparts, with Black teens exposed to at least 50% more ads than white teens of the same age.
I’m Hannah Bern
And I’m Will Dove, and this is the rest of the news for today, Tuesday, June 24th.
