Here are some of the latest health and medical news developments, compiled by the editors of HealthDay:
Noted Journalist Gwen Ifill Dead at 61
Distinguished political journalist Gwen Ifill died Monday in a hospice from complications of uterine cancer. She was 61.
During her 30-year career, she covered national politics for PBS, The New York Times, the Washington Post and NBC.
As a black woman in a field dominated by white men, Ifill was a groundbreaking presence, The New York Times noted.
Most recently, she was the moderator and managing editor of the public affairs program "Washington Week" on PBS and she co-anchored "PBS NewsHour," with Washington journalist Judy Woodruff. They were the first all-female anchor team on network nightly news.
She was also one of the moderators of a Democratic primary debate between former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Senator Bernie Sanders, a role she had also played in vice presidential debates in the 2004 and 2008 general election campaigns, the Times reported.
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2016 Likely to be Hottest Year on Record
This year is poised to be the hottest on record, the U.N. weather agency says.
Preliminary data through October reveals worldwide average temperatures in 2016 are 1.2 degrees Celsius (2.2 degrees Fahrenheit) above pre-industrial levels, the World Meteorological Organization said Monday, the Associated Press reported.
The global climate agreement adopted in Paris last year calls for limiting the global temperature rise since the industrial revolution to 2 degrees C or even 1.5 degrees C.
Temperature measurements began in the 19th century. WMO said 16 of the 17 hottest years have occurred this century, the AP reported.
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Musician Leon Russell Dies at Age 74
Musician Leon Russell died Saturday in Nashville at age 74.
His death was announced in a Facebook posting attributed to his wife, Jan Bridges. The cause of death was not given, but Russell had heart bypass surgery in the summer, the Los Angeles Times reported.
"My husband passed in his sleep in our Nashville home. He was recovering from heart surgery in July and looked forward to getting back on the road in January. We appreciate everyone's love and support," Bridges said in an emailed statement.
Russell's song included rock numbers such as "Delta Lady" and "Roll Away the Stone," as well as ballads such as "A Song for You" and "Superstar," which became a No. 2 hit for the Carpenters in 1971, the Times reported.
