The American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) announced it could not endorse gender-related surgical interventions for minors, citing uncertainties about the procedures' long-term effects, while the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy are underway, and the issue of black carbon pollution in the Arctic is gaining attention. Additionally, a Tennessee hospital destroyed by a hurricane is slated to be rebuilt in a flood plain, and the United States is grappling with nuclear waste disposal challenges.
Dr. Bob Basu, president of the ASPS, told Fox News Digital that the organization decided to raise caution about the "irreversible nature" of these procedures. "Based on what we see today, we cannot endorse gender-related surgical intervention in minors and adolescent patients, given the uncertainties that we've discovered," Basu said.
Meanwhile, the 2026 Winter Olympics began on February 4 in Italy, with the closing ceremony scheduled for February 22. The Paralympics will follow in March. American viewers need to account for the time difference, with venues six hours ahead of Eastern Standard Time and nine hours ahead of Pacific Standard Time, according to CBS News. The schedule for Monday, February 9, included the sliding sports of skeleton and luge.
In the Arctic, increased marine traffic due to melting sea ice is raising environmental concerns. Ships are emitting black carbon, or soot, which accelerates ice melt, according to CBS News. Several countries are advocating for cleaner fuels in the Arctic to mitigate pollution.
In Tennessee, the Unicoi County Hospital, destroyed by Hurricane Helene, is set to be rebuilt in a flood plain, according to a KFF Health News analysis reported by CBS News. The new 10-bed facility is planned for a field behind a Walmart, about seven miles from the original site. The original hospital was subject to catastrophic flooding, and patients and staff had to evacuate to the roof.
Finally, the United States is facing challenges with nuclear waste disposal. President Donald Trump has announced a vision to quadruple America's nuclear capacity by 2050, and 33 countries have signed a declaration to triple nuclear capacity over the same period, according to Fox News.
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