Japan's Ishiba Vows Action on Health as Record Heat Grips Nation
Temperatures in Isesaki City, about 90 kilometers (56 miles) northwest of Tokyo, rose to 41.8C (107F) on Tuesday, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency. That followed a reading of 41.2C in Hyogo prefecture, in western Japan, on July 30, which topped a previous extreme first recorded in 2018.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Medscape
25 minutes ago
- Medscape
Now, More Than Ever, Our Nation Needs a Doctor
The libertarian Cato Institute recently argued the role of the US Surgeon General should be dissolved, claiming the position is redundant, politicized, and unnecessary. Slashing government may be all the rage in Washington, but this proposition is remarkable for its ill-timed folly. At a time when public health agencies are perceived as politically compromised, the Surgeon General — a position specifically designed to be nonpartisan and rooted in science — can serve as a stabilizing voice. The position can guide and influence national conversations about health by producing reports and recommendations grounded in evidence. And the Surgeon General isn't just a bureaucrat. They serve as the nation's top health educator. The current media landscape, where misinformation spreads unchecked, demands a visible and articulate leader who can engage directly with Americans. Why Dr Koop Was One of the Greats Surgeons General come and Surgeons General go. All play a vital role in advancing public health, but only a few among them have left behind enduring legacies. The 20th century gave us three of these leaders. Under the term of Dr Thomas Parran (1936-1948), the CDC was founded. Dr Luther Terry gave us the first Surgeon General Report on Smoking and Health during his 1961-1965 term. And then there was Dr C. Everett Koop (1981-1989). Earlier this year, the University of Massachusetts Press published Dr. Koop: The Many Lives of the Surgeon General , a biography written by the richly experienced and multitalented author Nigel M. de S. Cameron. This biography serves as an exemplary writer's workshop on how to craft a biography about a famous and richly complicated person. Cameron, who knew Dr Koop in life, gathered research from a host of individuals who were willing to share their many personal insights. The resulting opus recognizes the memories of Dr Koop's inner circle of friends and colleagues and balances those with the observations and recollections of many others with whom Dr Koop interacted professionally. C. Everett Koop became the 13th Surgeon General of the United States Public Health Service in November 1981, after many months of acrimonious debate about his nomination, and served until October 1,1989. A towering figure of enormous charisma and mystique, 'Chick' Koop was figuratively and literally 'everywhere' at his peak — and his peak lasted well beyond the conclusion of his duties as Surgeon General. A darling of the public media, Dr Koop was the best known and most influential doctor, by far, in and outside of formal medicine. Dr Koop redefined the role of Surgeon General, transforming it from a bureaucratic position into a bold and highly visible public health platform. Koop was not afraid of controversy. He took principled stands on divisive issues and became a staunch advocate for scientific truths over political lines. He publicly championed sex education to combat the AIDS epidemic, took on Big Tobacco, and worked tirelessly to make health communication direct, accessible, and memorable — earning him an extraordinary level of public trust. To this day, there are still hundreds of individuals across several fields who know Dr Koop and his work. I am honored to count myself among those who had the privilege of calling him a colleague. Dr Koop was the best known and most respected person in medicine, bar none. Everybody wanted a piece of Dr Koop, and he gave much to many. Although appointed by a conservative administration and known for his personal religious beliefs, Dr Koop consistently separated his ideology from his public health responsibilities and insisted on educating the public based on science, not fear or politics. The best Surgeon Generals in history have transcended partisanship to become trusted moral voices on health, and Dr Koop became that moral voice for America. His example underscores why the role remains essential — especially at this time in history. I don't expect us to see another Dr Koop any time soon. But I certainly hope I'm wrong. Who Gets Your Vote for Most Influential Surgeon General? Surgeons General have tackled some of the nation's most pressing public health issues, from the opioid crisis and mental health to obesity and the COVID pandemic. Some have transformed the role into a platform for bold action and public education, while others took a more behind-the-scenes approach to shaping health policy. But I'm curious about your thoughts. Which Surgeon General do you think made the biggest difference in their role? Lead image: University of Massachusetts Press Medscape Internal Medicine © 2025 WebMD, LLC Any views expressed above are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect the views of WebMD or Medscape.
Bloomberg
26 minutes ago
- Bloomberg
A Heat Dome Is About to Test Temperature Records in US Southwest
Extreme heat will sear down across Phoenix and the US Southwest this week, testing temperature records and putting about 7.5 million people under a sweltering high-pressure dome. Thursday is forecast to reach 117F (47C) in Phoenix, which would match the all-time high for August, according to the National Weather Service.
CBS News
an hour ago
- CBS News
Cache Creek Casino issues alert over tuberculosis case, contact tracing underway
Contact tracing is underway after a case of contagious tuberculosis was identified at Cache Creek Casino Resort, officials say. The casino and Yolo County Health and Human Services agencies sent out an alert about the case Tuesday. It's unclear how many people may have had close contact with the infected person, with health officials defining close contact as having a cumulative exposure of at least eight hours. No other specifics about the case were released by officials. The infected person's condition was also not disclosed. Symptoms of tuberculosis include coughs that last three weeks or longer, chest pain, coughing up blood, and weakness or fatigue. California has been averaging more than 2,000 cases of tuberculosis a year since 2023. The California Department of Public Health estimates that more than 200 people die each year from TB in the state.
