What's Happening

Economy

The Hot Labor Market Is Cooling Off

What's going on: The only thing more confusing than Gen Z’s ever-evolving internet lingo might be the current state of the labor market. Mass layoffs are no longer dominating headlines (despite hitting a five-month high in August), so some workers might be feeling strong job security. But at the same time, hiring has slowed and job hunters are struggling to secure offers. Earlier this week, the Labor Department reported that the number of job openings this summer hit the lowest level in more than three years. However, some economists say this was bound to happen as the job market stabilized after the pandemic. More than 22 million jobs were lost in 2020, and it took less than three years to recover. During that boom, workers had leverage to push for higher wages and bonuses as companies competed for talent.

What it means: For now, you might not see as many LinkedIn career updates on your feed. The cooling job market is adding to concerns that the US is heading toward a recession. But some economists say this isn’t the case as the US economy grew at a healthy 3% annual rate last quarter. In the meantime, there’s plenty of growing anticipation ahead of this morning’s job report, with experts looking to see if the slowdown in hiring is a blip or here to stay. Whatever the data says, it’s expected to play a major factor in the size of the Federal Reserve’s interest rate cut later this month.

Related: Is It Time to Consider Taking a “Mini-Retirement”? (WSJ Gift Link)

International

Olympic Runner’s Death Prompts Outcry, Sheds Light on Femicide

Warning: This story mentions domestic violence, which could be triggering to some readers.

What’s going on: Women's rights campaigns and athletic organizations are calling for justice in the death of Olympian Rebecca Cheptegei. The 33-year-old Ugandan athlete, who ran in the Paris Olympics women’s marathon, died in Kenya yesterday — days after her ex-boyfriend burned her in a gasoline attack in front of her two children. A doctor, who treated Cheptegei, said the Olympian died of organ failure after sustaining burns to 80% of her body. Cheptegei’s father said she had reported her ex, Dickson Ndiema, several times for domestic violence to the police, but “they were so slow” to handle it. Most recently, Ndiema allegedly tried to take control of Cheptegei’s house and property. Kenyan police said they plan to charge Ndiema, who's in the hospital recovering from burns, with murder. Sebastian Coe, the president of World Athletics, said Cheptegei still “had lots left to give on the roads, mountains, and cross country trails.”

What it means: Violence against women persists across the world (see: recent stories coming out of France and India), and now Cheptegei’s death highlights an alarming increase of femicides in Kenya. Between 2016 and 2023, at least 500 women in Kenya have been murdered by their intimate partners, according to one analysis. It’s a crisis that extends across Africa, with the United Nations reporting it as the continent with the highest rate of gender-related killings in 2022. There’s also a pattern of athletes, like Cheptegei, facing brutality in Kenya. Within the last three years, long-distance runners Agnes Jebet Tirop and Damaris Muthee Mutua were murdered in the country. To prevent future tragedies, Coe said he’s been talking with World Athletics’ leaders on how to better protect their athletes “from abuse of all kinds.”

Related: Kenyan Marathon Runner Opens “Safe Place” for Female Athletes (BBC)

Health

Parkinson’s Disease May Start in the Gut, Not the Brain 

What's going on: We’re learning more about the root of Parkinson’s disease, a condition that progressively impacts the nervous system, often causing tremors and stiffness. A new JAMA study suggests that Parkinson’s could start in the gut, building on a theory first proposed in 2003 after decades of belief that it originated in the brain. Researchers hypothesize that damage to the gastrointestinal mucosal membranes, like if you have an ulcer, could be an inciting event that increases the risk of the condition. In the new study, researchers examined over 9,000 patients and found that those with mucosal damage had a 76% greater risk of developing the condition during the average of about 15 years they followed them. This thinking checks out, because neurodegenerative conditions tend to go hand-in-hand with stomach issues.

What it means: This is big news, as Parkinson’s diagnoses are growing faster than any other neurological disorder in the world, per the Global Burden of Disease Study. And researchers have found many cases to be inexplicable and “sporadic,” with only 10% linked to genetics. So, this study could ultimately help pinpoint why people develop Parkinson’s, potentially leading to a cure or better prevention methods. But until the gut hypothesis is proven, the study’s authors recommend closer monitoring and quicker treatment for people who have mucosal damage. In other words, more research is needed to “gut-check” this theory.

Related: Could Treating Eyesight Issues Prevent Dementia? (The Guardian)