America News

Mounjaro is more effective than Ozempic for weight loss in overweight and obese adults, real-world study says

Patients on Eli Lilly's Mounjaro were more likely to lose weight and experienced larger reductions in body weight compared to those on Novo Nordisk's Ozempic.

Jim Cramer knocks down a new analyst sell rating on a medtech stock as shortsighted

The Investing Club holds its "Morning Meeting" every weekday at 10:20 a.m. ET.

Here's how the American Red Cross makes money from donated blood

In 2022, the American Red Cross made $1.8 billion selling blood to hospitals and medical facilities across the country.

China reports no 'unusual or novel pathogens' after WHO seeks data on respiratory illness outbreak

The WHO said that the surge was likely linked to the lifting of Covid-19 restrictions as China experiences its first full winter season since declaring an end to the pandemic in December.

U.S. to offer another round of free at-home Covid tests starting Monday

Starting Monday, American households can request four additional free at-home Covid-19 test kits through the Biden administration's website.

American News is brought to you by CNBC

Europe News

France seeks to ban far-right groups after weekend violence

France's interior minister said on Tuesday he would ask for three right-wing extremist groups to be dissolved following violent demonstrations over the weekend.

Why Madrid is struggling with its explosion of illegal holiday lets

If you’re going on a trip to Madrid and have booked a tourist apartment rather than a hotel, chances are that you’ve reserved one of the circa 25,000 illegal holiday lets in the Spanish capital. In fact, only one in 25 is reportedly legit.

Hotels, tickets and scams: What to know about visiting Malmö for Eurovision 2024

As excitement mounts for Eurovision in Malmö next year, many are thinking about where they should stay, how much they should budget, and how to avoid scams. Here's The Local's guide for visitors to the southern Swedish city.

Swedish court orders transport agency to let Tesla collect number plates

A Swedish court ruled in favour of Tesla in a provisional decision over a strike by postal workers blocking deliveries of licence plates for its new cars.

Could the Madrid to Lisbon night train make a return?

Members of the Spanish government’s new junior coalition partner Sumar have called for the sleeper train that once connected Madrid with Lisbon before it was halted during the Covid-19 pandemic to make a return.

Europe News is brought to you by TheLocal

BBC World News

Japan begins trial sales of prescription-free morning-after pills

Access to emergency contraception pills s normally available only with a prescription in Japan.

Ukraine spy chief's wife Marianna Budanova ill in suspected poisoning

Kyrylo Budanov's wife, Marianna, is being treated in hospital, a Ukrainian intelligence source says.

Israeli children taken hostage by Hamas reunite with family dog after release

Yuval, Ofri and Oria Brodtz hugged their dog Rodney after being released by Hamas.

Moment transatlantic flight using 100% green fuels takes off from Heathrow

It is the first transatlantic flight powered solely by alternative fuels.

Impala Platinum mine accident in South Africa kills 11

Leading mining company Impala Platinum describes the accident as the "darkest day" in its history.

Crépol murder: French pledge to tackle ultra-right after teen killing sparks protests

The interior minister wants to ban small extremist groups after a boy's stabbing triggered riots.

Tiffany Haddish DUI: Comedian says she will get help after driving under influence arrest

The Girls Trip actress says "this will never happen again" after being arrested for driving under the influence.

Released 12-year-old Israeli hostage hugs mum

Eitan Yahalomi and his father were taken to Gaza by Hamas on the back of motorcycles, his mother said.

'Granny, I've been shot,' said Palestinian student targeted in Vermont

With a bullet lodged in his spine, Hisham Awartani phoned his British-born grandmother after Saturday's shooting.

Israel Gaza: 33 Palestinians released on fourth day of truce

It brings the total number of Palestinians released since the first swap on Friday to 150.

BBC World News is brought to you by BBC

Coronavirus COVID-19 Global Case Tracker

Provided by Johns Hopkins University this COVID-19 Global Case Tracker Dashboard shows you the most up-to-date information about the global spread of the new corona virus.

About the COVID-19 Pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic, also known as the coronavirus pandemic, is a global pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The novel virus was first identified in an outbreak in the Chinese city of Wuhan in December 2019. Attempts to contain it there failed, allowing the virus to spread to other areas of Asia and later worldwide. The World Health Organization (WHO) declared the outbreak a public health emergency of international concern on 30 January 2020, and began referring to it as a pandemic on 11 March 2020. As of 25 May 2023, the pandemic had caused 766,894,311 cases and 6,935,876 confirmed deaths, making it one of the deadliest in history.

COVID-19 symptoms range from undetectable to deadly, but most commonly include fever, dry cough, and fatigue. Severe illness is more likely in elderly patients and those with certain underlying medical conditions. COVID-19 transmits when people breathe in air contaminated by droplets and small airborne particles containing the virus. The risk of breathing these in is highest when people are in close proximity, but they can be inhaled over longer distances, particularly indoors. Transmission can also occur if contaminated fluids reach the eyes, nose, or mouth, or, more rarely, through contaminated surfaces. Infected individuals are typically contagious for 10 days and can spread the virus even if they do not develop symptoms. Mutations have produced many strains (variants) with varying degrees of infectivity and virulence.

The COVID-19 vaccines have been approved and widely distributed in various countries since December 2020. According to a June 2022 study, COVID-19 vaccines prevented an additional 14.4 million to 19.8 million deaths in 185 countries and territories from 8 December 2020 to 8 December 2021. Other preventive measures include social distancing, wearing masks, improving ventilation and air filtration, and quarantining those who have been exposed or are infected. Treatments include novel antiviral drugs and symptom control. Common public health mitigation measures during the emergency phase included travel restrictions, lockdowns, business restrictions and closures, workplace hazard controls, mask mandates, quarantines, testing systems, and contact tracing of the infected, which, together with treatments, served to bring about the control of the pandemic.

The pandemic has triggered severe social and economic disruption around the world, including the largest global recession since the Great Depression. Widespread supply shortages, including food shortages, were caused by supply chain disruptions and panic buying. Reduced human activity led to an unprecedented decrease in pollution. Educational institutions and public areas were partially or fully closed in many jurisdictions, and many events were cancelled or postponed during 2020 and 2021. Many white-collar workers began working from home. Misinformation has circulated through social media and mass media, and political tensions have intensified. The pandemic has raised issues of racial and geographic discrimination, health equity, and the balance between public health imperatives and individual rights.

The WHO ended its declaration of COVID-19 being a global health emergency on 5 May 2023, but continued to refer to it as a pandemic. Prior to this, some countries had already transitioned their public health approach towards regarding COVID-19 as an endemic disease.

Source: Wikipedia (May 25, 2023)

Please find below further updates from The World Health Organization (WHO).

WHO calls for access to health and humanitarian assistance on fourth day of conflict in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territory

The World Health Organization (WHO) repeats its call for an end to the hostilities that are causing untold suffering in Israel and the Gaza Strip. Over 1000 people have died and many more injured following horrific acts of violence by Hamas and others on Saturday in Israel. Nine hundred people have died and many more injured in days of bombing by Israel in Gaza. The pain of so many families must be unbearable.

WHO has offered assistance to health officials in both Israel and the occupied Palestinian territory.   

On 9 October, WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus met with the Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, who agreed to a WHO request to facilitate the delivery of health and other humanitarian supplies from WHO to Gaza via the Rafah crossing. Such humanitarian corridors must be protected.  

In the Gaza Strip, hospitals are running on back-up generators with fuel likely to run out in the coming days. They have exhausted the supplies WHO pre-positioned before the escalation. The life-saving health response is now dependent on getting new supplies and fuel to health care facilities as fast as possible.   

WHO is urgently working to procure medical supplies locally to meet demand, and preparing supplies from its Global Medical Logistics Hub in Dubai, UAE.  

WHO is also gravely concerned about the health and well-being of hostages, including elderly civilians, seized from Israel by Hamas in attacks on 7 October. The hostages’ health and medical needs must be addressed immediately, and we call for their safe release.   

 

New funding to ensure 370 million children receive polio vaccinations and to boost health innovation in low-income countries

Today, the European Commission, the European Investment Bank and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation announced a new financing partnership to address critical global health opportunities: eradicating polio and ensuring that innovations in health are more accessible to the people who need them most.