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US bat decline triggered pesticide surge, 1,300 baby deaths: study
A collapse in North America's bat population led to a surge in pesticide use by farmers as an alternative way to protect crops from insects -- in turn triggering a rise in infant mortalities, a study revealed Thursday.
Mpox epicentre DRC receives first vaccines to contain outbreak
The Democratic Republic of Congo, the epicentre of an mpox outbreak, on Thursday received its first vaccines -- almost half of 200,000 doses donated by the European Union and due to arrive by the end of the week to fight its spread.
Mpox epicentre DRC set to receive first vaccines to contain outbreak
The Democratic Republic of Congo was Thursday awaiting almost 100,000 mpox vaccine doses from the European Union, with 200,000 due to arrive by the end of the week.
Dozens of viruses detected in Chinese fur farm animals
Dozens of viruses have been detected mixing in animals at fur farms in China, some of which are new and have the potential to spill over into humans, researchers said Wednesday.
Moderna mRNA mpox vaccine shows promise in animal study
An experimental Moderna mRNA vaccine for mpox has demonstrated greater effectiveness than current shots in reducing disease symptoms and duration, according to an animal study published in the journal Cell on Wednesday.
Changed 'forever': Morocco slowly rebuilds a year after quake
For the past year Kebira Ait Bellaid has been living in a tent in a mountain village in Morocco, haunted by the memory of losing her daughter and three grandchildren.
Time for a Gaza truce deal, says US
The United States said Tuesday it was time to "finalise" a deal between Israel and Hamas to end the Gaza war, after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's refusal to bow to pressure.
Frenchman on trial for recruiting strangers to rape drugged wife
A French pensioner went on trial Monday on charges of allowing scores of strangers to rape his wife after he drugged her, in a case that has horrified the country.
Biden, unions pile pressure on Israel's Netanyahu for hostage release deal
Pressure mounted Monday on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as a major strike was held and US President Joe Biden said he was not doing enough to secure the release of Gaza hostages, following the killing of six captives.
Israel set for general strike after Gaza hostages found dead
Israel's main union on Sunday ordered a nationwide general strike after soldiers recovered the bodies of six dead hostages from the Gaza Strip where the military is battling Palestinian militants.
Israel recovers hostage bodies from Gaza tunnel as West Bank violence rages
Israel announced Sunday its troops had found six dead hostages in a Gaza tunnel, while Israeli police said a "shooting attack" in the occupied West Bank killed three officers.
Israel finds six dead hostages in tunnel as Gaza medics begin polio vaccines
Israel's military announced Sunday the discovery of six dead hostages in a Gaza tunnel, as medics in Palestinian territory braced for pauses in fighting for a polio vaccination drive.
UNICEF launches tenders for mpox vaccines
UNICEF said Saturday that it has launched an emergency tender for mpox vaccines to help countries hardest hit by the recent outbreak of the disease.
Health official says polio vaccine campaign begins in war-torn Gaza
A health official said a polio vaccination campaign had begun in Gaza on Saturday after the war-torn territory recorded its first case of the disease in a quarter of a century.
Trump's high-wire act on abortion angers conservatives
Donald Trump has been accused of deserting the anti-abortion movement as he seeks to negate attacks by Kamala Harris over one of the most polarizing issues of the US election.
Israel agrees 'humanitarian pauses' in Gaza for polio vaccinations
Israel has agreed to a series of three-day "humanitarian pauses" in Gaza to allow health officials to administer polio vaccinations to children in the territory, the World Health Organization said Thursday.
Death toll rises as Israeli West Bank raids enter second day
The death toll climbed Thursday as Israel pressed a large-scale military operation in the occupied West Bank for a second day, despite UN concerns it is "fuelling an already explosive situation".
Africa to secure nearly a million mpox vaccines: health watchdog
The African Union's health watchdog on Wednesday said it was close to securing almost one million mpox vaccine doses, urging manufacturers to share the vaccine-making technology to battle the disease.
South Asia air pollution fell in 2022, but remains major killer: report
A surprise improvement in air quality in South Asia in 2022 drove a decline in global pollution, with favourable weather a likely factor, a new report said Wednesday.
'Sick and scared': Burundi treats mpox patients
"I felt very sick and scared, I couldn't even walk any more," said mpox patient Samuel Nduwimana in Burundi's economic capital Bujumbura, one of around 170 confirmed cases in the small African country.
Gaza talks set to resume in Cairo as fighting rages
Negotiators geared up for a crucial weekend of Gaza ceasefire talks Saturday, as Hamas said it was sending delegates to Cairo but would not participate in the discussions, and fighting raged in the Palestinian territory.
Israelis in Cairo for Gaza talks but disputes linger
Israeli negotiators were in Cairo Friday for talks on a Gaza truce, a spokesman said, but a dispute over the presence of Israeli troops on Gaza's southern border remained among sticking points.
Israel in Gaza talks in Egypt as fighting rages
Israeli negotiators were taking part Thursday in talks on Gaza in Cairo, a government spokesman said, as fighting raged on the ground despite US pressure on Israel and Hamas to reach an agreement.
Truce hopes fade as Gaza rocked by Israeli bombardment, battles
Hopes were dwindling Thursday for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, where fighting raged despite US pressure on Israel and Palestinian militant group Hamas to reach an agreement.
Mpox vaccine maker says 'better prepared' than in 2022
Danish drugmaker Bavarian Nordic said Thursday that it was "better prepared" to supply its mpox vaccine for the current surge of the virus than it was for the 2022 epidemic.
Key Indian hospital ends strike but doctor rape protests rage
Doctors at a top Indian government hospital ended Thursday an 11-day strike in protest against the rape and murder of a doctor, but furious demonstrations continued in Kolkata.
Ceasefire hopes fade as Gaza fighting rages
Hopes were dwindling Thursday for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, where fighting raged despite pressure from the United States on Israel and Palestinian militants Hamas to reach an agreement.
War-battered Gaza faces uphill battle against polio
The Gaza Strip's first recorded polio case in 25 years has health workers and aid agencies grappling with the steep obstacles to conducting mass vaccination in the war-torn Palestinian territory.
Mpox disease presents hard-to-weigh risks
As fears mount globally about mpox, apparently simple questions such as the danger it poses and differences between variants do not have clear and simple answers.
Israel kills top Palestinian militant as Gaza truce talks stumble
Israel killed a senior militant from Fatah's armed wing Wednesday in a strike on Lebanon, leading to accusations from the Palestinian movement that Israel is trying to "ignite a regional war".
Thailand reports suspected case of new mpox strain
Thailand on Wednesday reported a suspected first case of the new more dangerous strain of mpox, which the World Health Organization has declared a global public health emergency.
War-ravaged Sudan battles cholera epidemic
Lying on a hospital bed, Aisha Mohammed said she is "suffering" from cholera symptoms, an increasingly common ailment in Sudan where a prolonged war has ravaged the healthcare system.