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China's daily Covid cases highest since pandemic began
China's daily Covid cases have climbed to the highest since the pandemic began, official data showed Thursday, despite the government persisting with a zero-tolerance approach involving gruelling lockdowns and travel restrictions.
Record number of children miss measles vaccine: global report
A record high of nearly 40 million children around the world missed a measles vaccine dose in 2021, according to a new report Wednesday that found immunization levels had failed to rebound from disruptions caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.
Maskless World Cup scenes spark anger in zero-Covid China
Images of maskless crowds at the World Cup in Qatar have sparked anger in China, where people worn out by harsh Covid-19 restrictions are questioning their government's exceptional approach while the rest of the world lives alongside the virus.
'Sick of everything': Beijingers fed up with tightening restrictions
Schools and businesses closed, restaurants empty, and the fear of being locked down at any moment – the Chinese capital is a cauldron of dread and fatigue as Covid curbs tighten nearly three years into the pandemic.
In US, inflation sparks tough Thanksgiving meal sacrifices
Sandra White normally has turkey for Thanksgiving dinner. But on Thursday, due to soaring inflation, she's going to have fried chicken instead.
UK says monkeypox vaccine is '78% effective'
UK public health officials on Tuesday said the monkeypox vaccine was 78 percent effective, urging men who have sex with men to take up the jab.
Confusion, fear cloud China's path out of zero-Covid
With megacities under lockdown, infection numbers climbing and sporadic protests, China's Covid-19 policy has reached a stalemate as authorities persist with seeking to contain the virus while trying to keep the economy alive.
Beijing sees record Covid cases as China outbreak spirals
China's capital Beijing posted a record number of new Covid cases on Tuesday, with the city hunkering down under a tightening chokehold of restrictions that have sent schools online, closed many restaurants and forced employees to work from home.
Bacterial infections the 'second leading cause of death worldwide'
Bacterial infections are the second leading cause of death worldwide, accounting for one in eight of all deaths in 2019, the first global estimate of their lethality revealed on Tuesday.
China reports more Covid deaths as infections surge
China reported two new deaths from Covid-19 on Monday, both elderly Beijing residents, as several major cities persisted with strict virus curbs despite a much-touted recent loosening.
Qatar looks to football, World Cup to kick obesity problem
Seven-year-old Alain trains with two dozen other children in Doha, the World Cup's host city, striving to lose weight in pursuit of his dream: becoming a professional footballer.
Madrid region's public health system on the brink
Madrid's regional system of primary public healthcare is struggling to cope with high numbers of patients, many of whom are unable to access treatment elsewhere, with some observers warning it could collapse.
Nadal 'happy' after Djokovic Australian Open visa decision
Australian Open champion Rafael Nadal on Thursday welcomed the decision to grant his Serbian rival Novak Djokovic a visa which will enable him to compete at the 2023 event, describing it as "the best news possible".
Australia confirms Aus Open visa for Djokovic
Australia's immigration minister said Thursday he "personally" intervened in a visa decision that opens the door for Novak Djokovic to play in the country's upcoming Grand Slam tennis tournament.
Ebola trial vaccines heading to Uganda: WHO
Three candidate vaccines against the strain of Ebola wreaking havoc in Uganda will be shipped to the East African country next week for trials, the World Health Organization said Wednesday.
China new home prices see sharpest decline in over seven years
Prices of new homes in China saw their sharpest decline for seven years in October, data showed Wednesday, as the real estate sector was battered by a debt crisis and a slowing economy.
Smoking cannabis may be more harmful to lungs than tobacco: study
Cannabis may do more harm to a smoker's lungs and airways than tobacco, according to a small Canadian study published Tuesday.
Walmart lifts outlook on strong earnings but hit by opioid settlement
US retailer Walmart saw its earnings top expectations in the third quarter as consumers looked for bargains amid surging inflation, but its numbers were bogged down after a settlement announced Tuesday relating to opioid cases.
Cathay won't return to pre-pandemic capacity until 'end of 2024'
Cathay Pacific said Monday it does not expect to return to pre-pandemic levels of travel until the end of 2024, highlighting how long the Hong Kong airline's return to normality could take.
Hundreds of thousands rally to defend Madrid public healthcare
Hundreds of thousands of demonstrators rallied in Madrid on Sunday in defence of the region's primary care services, warning that plans to overhaul the system would "destroy" local healthcare.
G20 ministers launch billion-dollar pandemic fund
G20 health and finance ministers launched a $1.4-billion fund Sunday to tackle the next global pandemic ahead of the bloc's leaders gathering for a summit on the Indonesian resort island of Bali but the host's president said it was not enough.
World Cup winner Stiles' family plan to sue FA over brain injuries
The family of England World Cup winner Nobby Stiles said Friday they were among a group of families planning to sue the Football Association over their failure to protect players from brain injuries.
Repeat hacks highlight Australia's cyber flaws
Inadequate privacy safeguards and the stockpiling of sensitive customer information have made Australia a lucrative target in the eyes of foreign hackers, cybersecurity experts told AFP following a series of major data breaches.
EU watchdog backs Sanofi Covid booster jab
The EU on Thursday approved a Covid booster vaccine by French drug maker Sanofi and Britain's GSK after it gave positive results against the Omicron variant in trials.
Repeat Covid infections increase risk of health problems: study
People who have had Covid more than once are two or three times more likely to have a range of serious health problems than those who have only had it once, the first major study on the subject said Thursday.
'Worried about the future': Russians despair in uncertain times
When President Vladimir Putin announced in February that Russian forces were entering Ukraine, a wave of shock washed over 22-year-old student Vasilina Kotova that turned quickly to despair and then depression.
Zimbabwe's 'mental health benches' exported to the World Cup
Sitting next to a patient with depression on a garden bench in Zimbabwe's capital Harare, 70-year-old Shery Ziwakayi speaks gently, offering accessible therapy with a warm and reassuring smile.
Hackers demand $10 mn for stolen Australian health records
Hackers on Thursday demanded US$10 million to stop leaking highly sensitive records stolen from a major Australian healthcare company, as they uploaded yet more intimate details about customers.
UK nurses vote to strike over pay
British nurses will strike over pay, the Royal College of Nursing said on Wednesday, announcing the first UK-wide strike action in the union's 106-year history.
Indonesia revokes licences of drug firms over syrups linked to child deaths
Indonesia's food and drug agency on Wednesday revoked the licences of two chemical firms to distribute materials used in syrup medicines linked to a wave of child deaths caused by kidney failure or damage.
China virus cases at six-month high despite grinding lockdowns
China reported its highest daily Covid caseload in six months Monday, despite grinding lockdowns that have heavily disrupted manufacturing, education and day-to-day life.
Indonesia child deaths blamed on syrup medicines rise to 195
Indonesia said Monday the number of child deaths from kidney failure or damage linked to harmful substances found in syrup medicines has risen to 195.