Author: Reporter

In November, the world’s most powerful democracy elected as its next president a man who schemed to overturn its last presidential election. A month later, South Koreans swarmed their legislature to block their president’s attempt to impose martial law. The contrast sums up a year that tested democracy on all sides. Incumbent parties and leaders were battered in elections that covered 60% of the world’s population, a sign of widespread discontent in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. It also was a sign of democracy working well, as it continued its core function of giving citizens the opportunity to...

Earth is moving closer to destruction, a science-oriented advocacy group said in January as it advanced its famous “Doomsday Clock” to 89 seconds till midnight, the closest it has ever been. The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists made the annual announcement — which rates how close humanity is from ending — citing threats that include climate change, proliferation of nuclear weapons, instability in the Middle East, the threat of pandemics and incorporation of artificial intelligence in military operations. The clock had stood at 90 seconds to midnight for the past two years and “when you are at this precipice,...

Winter is settling in across much of the U.S., erasing the freshness and vibrancy of months past. But the chilly season doesn’t have to usher in weeks of lifeless, colorless dinner plates. Dieticians and food experts say winter is a great time to experiment with your food, try out underappreciated seasonal produce, and cook a healthy meal for loved ones. “Embrace the cold, embrace the winter and appreciate the bounty,” said Kristen Rasmussen, a culinary dietician and chef who teaches at the University of California Berkeley. Here are tips from nutrition experts on how to “winterize” your meals. ANY...

U.S. life expectancy jumped last year, and preliminary data suggests there may be another, much smaller, improvement this year. Death rates fell last year for almost all leading causes, notably COVID-19, heart disease and drug overdoses, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report released in December. That translated to adding nearly a year the estimated lifespan of Americans. Experts note it is part of a bounce-back from the COVID-19 pandemic. But life expectancy has not yet climbed back to prepandemic levels, and the rebound appears to be losing steam. “What you’re seeing is continued improvement, but...