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Fresh Covid outbreaks put millions under lockdown in China
Tens of millions of people were under lockdown in China on Wednesday as businesses in a major tourist city were forced to shut their doors and fresh clusters sparked fears of a return to blanket restrictions.
New US study helps de-mystify Covid brain fog
A small new study published Tuesday by scientists at the US National Institutes of Health suggests that the immune response triggered by coronavirus infections damages the brain's blood vessels and could be responsible for long Covid symptoms.
Kellogg's loses court challenge against UK obesity strategy
Cereals giant Kellogg's on Monday lost a High Court challenge against new UK rules limiting the prominence of sugary foods in English shops to tackle child obesity.
Covid-19 misinformation bolsters anti-vaccine movement
More parents are questioning the necessity of routine vaccinations for young children. Adults are skipping shots as well, even for vaccines with a long safety record.
DR Congo drug manufacturing plan sparks safety concerns
Sitting at his desk overlooking a pharmaceutical factory floor on the outskirts of the Congolese capital Kinshasa, Joss Ilunga Dijimba, 52, cracked a jovial smile.
'They're everywhere': microplastics in oceans, air and human body
From ocean depths to mountain peaks, humans have littered the planet with tiny shards of plastic. We have even absorbed these microplastics into our bodies -- with uncertain implications.
Google to delete user location history on US abortion clinic visits
Google announced Friday it would delete users' location history when they visit abortion clinics, domestic violence shelters and other places where privacy is sought.
UK monkeypox symptoms different to prior outbreaks: study
British monkeypox patients are exhibiting symptoms that differ from previous outbreaks, the first study examining UK cases said on Friday, leading researchers to call for the definition of the disease to be updated.
WHO calls for 'urgent' action in Europe over monkeypox
The World Health Organization called on Friday for "urgent" action to prevent the spread of monkeypox in Europe, noting that cases had tripled in the region over the past two weeks.
US tells pharmas to make Covid boosters targeting BA.4 and BA.5
The US Food and Drug Administration on Thursday told vaccine makers that Covid boosters for this fall and winter should include components targeting the BA.4 and BA.5 sublineages of Omicron.
Lost in space: Astronauts struggle to regain bone density
Astronauts lose decades' worth of bone mass in space that many do not recover even after a year back on Earth, researchers said Thursday, warning that it could be a "big concern" for future missions to Mars.
Salmonella found in world's biggest chocolate plant
Salmonella bacteria have been discovered in the world's biggest chocolate plant, run by Swiss giant Barry Callebaut in the Belgian town of Wieze, the firm said Thursday.
Services, manufacturing rebound in China after Covid curbs eased
China's factory and services activity picked up in June, official data showed Thursday, fuelled by the easing of Covid-19 restrictions in major cities such as Shanghai and Beijing.
US secures 105 million doses of Pfizer vaccine for fall
The United States on Wednesday announced an agreement with Pfizer and BioNTech for 105 million doses of Covid vaccine for Americans this fall.
US ramps up monkeypox vaccination campaign, releasing 56,000 doses
US health authorities said Tuesday they were immediately releasing 56,000 doses of monkeypox vaccine -- five times the number distributed so far -- to areas of high transmission as part of a major escalation of the country's immunization strategy.
US medical experts call for Omicron-specific Covid boosters
A panel of US medical experts on Tuesday called for Omicron-specific boosters this fall, as anticipation mounts that Covid vaccines will be needed on an ongoing seasonal basis, as is the case for influenza.
French PM Borne recommends wearing masks as cases soar
French Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne urged people to wear masks in crowded spaces, after health officials on Tuesday reported a sharp rises in cases of Covid over the past week.
China halves quarantine time for overseas travellers
China on Tuesday reduced the length of mandatory quarantine for inbound travellers, in the biggest relaxation of entry restrictions after sticking to a rigid zero Covid policy throughout the pandemic.
US CVS pharmacies limit morning-after pill purchases to avoid shortage
The US drugstore chain CVS said on Monday that it had temporarily limited purchases of the morning-after pill to three boxes per transaction, in order to avoid a shortage following a recent US Supreme Court verdict that revoked the constitutional right to abortion.
Will Jordan latest All Black forced out of Ireland Test by Covid
New Zealand's Will Jordan became the latest All Black to be struck down by Covid on Tuesday, just four days before the first Test against Ireland in Auckland.
Rival camps dig in for fight after US abortion ruling
Elected leaders across the US political divide rallied Sunday for a long fight ahead on abortion -- state by state and in Congress -- with total bans in force or expected soon in half of the vast country.
Abortion pills to become next battleground in US reproductive fight
As conservative US states rush to enact abortion bans following the Supreme Court's bombshell decision, the fight over reproductive rights in America is poised to shift to a new battleground: abortion-inducing pills.
US girds for second day of protest against abortion ruling
Abortion rights supporters prepared to fan out across America Saturday for a second day of protest against the Supreme Court's thunderbolt ruling, as state after conservative state moved swiftly to ban the procedure.
French government supports enshrining abortion in constitution
Politicians representing a parliamentary majority on Saturday voiced support for a bill enshrining abortion rights in France's constitution, after the US Supreme Court revoked the nationwide legal protection for American women to terminate pregnancies.
Shanghai reports zero Covid cases for first time in months
China reported zero new Covid-19 infections in Shanghai for the first time since March on Saturday, as the country's latest outbreak subsides after months of lockdowns and other restrictions.
'A tragedy': Missouri's last abortion clinic draws protesters decrying ban
Standing outside what had been the last remaining abortion clinic in Missouri on Friday, Pamela Lukehart choked back tears as she recalled how things were before the landmark 1973 Supreme Court decision enshrining a woman's right to the procedure.
Shanghai reports zero Covid cases for first time since outbreak
China reported zero new Covid-19 infections in Shanghai for the first time since March on Saturday, as the country's latest outbreak subsides after months of virus-spurred lockdowns and restrictions.
Key reactions after top US court ends right to abortion
Divine intervention, or a "tragic error" that risks the health of millions of women: reactions to the US Supreme Court's decision on Friday to strike down constitutional protections for abortion illustrated the country's stark divides.
African economies see reasons for optimism despite crises
From Covid-19 to the war in Ukraine, external crises have put pressure on African economies, but many on the continent see opportunities to undertake radical reforms.
Thailand relaxes mask rule to bolster pandemic-hit tourism
Thailand has dropped rules requiring people to wear masks from Friday, the government says, as Covid-19 cases fall and the tourism-dependent kingdom seeks to lure back foreign visitors.
Covid vaccines saved 20 million lives in first year: study
Covid vaccines prevented nearly 20 million deaths in the first year after they were introduced, according to the first large modelling study on the topic released Friday.
WHO emergency committee decides on monkeypox outbreak
A World Health Organization committee of experts met Thursday to decide whether the monkeypox outbreak constitutes a global health emergency.