America News

Biden administration appeals Texas court decision striking down free Obamacare coverage of preventive care

The types of preventive services covered under Obamacare can range from screenings for certain types of cancers to HIV prevention drugs.

Carl Icahn blasts Illumina for nearly doubling CEO’s pay despite steep drop in market value

Activist investor Carl Icahn ramped up his proxy fight against Illumina with a blistering statement.

Judge strikes down Obamacare coverage of preventive care for cancer, diabetes, HIV and other conditions

Christian businesses sued the government, arguing the Obamacare mandate violates their religious freedom because it covers drugs that prevent HIV infection.

Illumina urges shareholders to reject Carl Icahn's board nominees as proxy fight heats up

Illumina told shareholders that Carl Icahn's board nominees would "threaten the progress" of the biotech company's core business.

People taking obesity drugs Ozempic and Wegovy gain weight once they stop medication

Some people may actually gain back more weight than they initially lost after stopping obesity drugs Ozempic and Wegovy.

American News is brought to you by CNBC

Europe News

Denmark launches website in English mapping country’s bike routes

Cycling nation Denmark has launched a new resource for two-wheeled tourists mapping out the long-distance bicycle routes that crisscross the country.

Over a million German households spend half of their income on rent

Over 15 percent of people in the country are spending at least 40 percent of their income on rent, according to the federal statistics agency.

Everything that changes in Germany in April 2023

From the €49 ticket pre-sale to higher tax allowances for employees and single parents, here's everything that's set to change in Germany in the coming month.

8 quirky festivals you should visit to feel really Swiss

Although Switzerland is a small country, its culture is diverse and, at times, surprisingly quirky. Here are five wacky traditions you may not know about but you should definitely check out at least once.

Denmark extends limit on medicine prices in response to inflation

Denmark’s health ministry has agreed with regional health boards and the representative body for the country’s pharmaceutical industry to limit the price on medicines for the next two years.

Europe News is brought to you by TheLocal

BBC World News

Andrew Tate and brother to be released into house arrest

Andrew Tate and his brother to be released from custody into house arrest with immediate effect, Romanian judge rules

King Charles at Hamburg memorial for Allied wartime air raids

King Charles laid a wreath remembering those who died in Allied wartime bombing raids on Hamburg.

We haven’t seen indictment, says Trump lawyer

Joe Tacopina says the former US president is "not worried at all" about the charges, but is upset and angry.

Oscar Pistorius parole bid collapses in South Africa

The hearing was held by mistake as the Paralympian has not served enough time in jail yet.

Robert Rundo: US white supremacist arrested in Romania

The co-founder of the Rise Above Movement is accused of carrying out violence in the US.

King Charles' first visit to Germany as monarch... in 70 seconds

The BBC's Daniela Relph looks back on King Charles' first overseas visit as monarch.

ChatGPT banned in Italy over privacy concerns

The country's data-protection regulator has serious privacy concerns over the technology.

Pope expected to leave hospital on Saturday

The Vatican says doctors will decide on the 86-year-old pontiff's discharge from hospital.

Oscar Pistorius parole: Victim Reeva Steenkamp's mother against release

A board considers parole for the former Paralympics star who has served half of his murder sentence.

Turkey approves Finland Nato membership bid

Turkish MPs vote to admit Finland to the West's defensive alliance, after blocking it for months.

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 an ongoing global pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The virus was first identified in December 2019 in Wuhan, China. The World Health Organization (WHO) declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern regarding COVID-19 on 30 January 2020, and later declared a pandemic on 11 March 2020. As of 2 June 2021, more than 171 million cases have been confirmed, with more than 3.56 million confirmed deaths attributed to COVID-19, making it one of the deadliest pandemics in history.

Symptoms of COVID-19 are highly variable, ranging from none to life-threateningly severe. COVID-19 transmits when people breathe in air contaminated by droplets and small airborne particles. 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 splashed or sprayed with contaminated fluids, in the eyes nose or mouth, and rarely via contaminated surfaces. People remain contagious for up to 20 days, and can spread the virus even if they do not develop any symptoms.

Recommended preventive measures include social distancing, wearing face masks in public, ventilation and air-filtering, hand washing, covering one's mouth when sneezing or coughing, disinfecting surfaces, and monitoring and self-isolation for people exposed or symptomatic. Several vaccines have been developed and widely distributed since December 2020. Current treatments focus on addressing symptoms, but work is underway to develop medications that inhibit the virus. Authorities worldwide have responded by implementing travel restrictions, lockdowns and quarantines, workplace hazard controls, and business closures. Numerous jurisdictions have also worked to increase testing capacity and trace contacts of the infected.

The pandemic has resulted in significant global social and economic disruption, including the largest global recession since the Great Depression of the 1930s. It has led to widespread supply shortages exacerbated by panic buying, agricultural disruption, and food shortages. However, there have also been decreased emissions of pollutants and greenhouse gases. Numerous educational institutions and public areas have been partially or fully closed, and many events have been cancelled or postponed. Misinformation has circulated through social media and mass media, and political tensions have been exacerbated. The pandemic has raised issues of racial and geographic discrimination, health equity, and the balance between public health imperatives and individual rights.

Source: Wikipedia (June 2, 2021)

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

WHO sends health supplies to reach 400 000 people impacted by the earthquakes in Türkiye and the Syrian Arab Republic

In response to the devastating earthquakes impacting Türkiye and the Syrian Arab Republic, the World Health Organization delivered 72 metric tons of trauma and emergency surgery supplies, including treatments,  to both countries to support ongoing response efforts.  

A first charter flight departed to Türkiye on 9 February carrying 37 metric tons of life-saving supplies, and a second flight is scheduled to deliver 35 metric tons of supplies to the Syrian Arab Republic today.   

In total, these life-saving supplies from both flights will be used to treat and care for 100 000 people as well as for 120 000 urgent surgical interventions in both countries.  

A third flight is scheduled to reach the Syrian Arab Republic on 12 February and expected to carry 37 metric tons of emergency health supplies to reach an additional 300 000 people. 

The trauma and emergency surgery supplies are designed to treat those injuries sustained during an earthquake as well as to treat illnesses such as pneumonia that are expected to rise over the next days and weeks as people are exposed to cold temperatures and many are sheltering outside or in temporary shelters. The supplies also follow WHO’s immediate release, on Monday 6 February, of prepositioned medical and surgical supplies in Syria to 16 hospitals treating survivors of the earthquake in the northwest of the country.

WHO has released more than US$ 16 million from the Contingency Funding for Emergencies, including US$ 3 million within hours of the disaster, including for these chartered flights. These 110 metric tons of supplies, valued at USD 826 000 in total, are being sent from the WHO Global Logistics Hub located within the International Humanitarian City (IHC) in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The flights, donated by the IHC, are providing a vital link to those impacted by this devastating event.

“These life-saving health supplies are critical for treating the wounded and providing urgent care to all those affected by this tragedy in both countries,” said WHO Director-General, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. “Survivors are facing freezing conditions, continuing aftershocks and very limited access to shelter, food, water, heat and medical care. We’re in a race against time to save lives.” 

Working around the clock, the Global Logistics Hub immediately mobilized the dispatch of 110 metric tons to answer the call to a major public health disaster. WHO is grateful for the support and partnership with the IHC, the Dubai Government, and the Government of the United Arab Emirates to transport these supplies quickly to those in greatest need. 

Longstanding WHO partners to enter into official relations with the Organization

The new status, to be ratified at the World Health Assembly in May, enables these valued partner organizations to engage more directly with WHO processes; they may participate at sessions of WHO governing bodies, propose agenda items and organize side events as a non-State actor. The Carter Center is a WHO contributor and a recognized pioneer in the fight against neglected tropical diseases. Since 1986, The Carter Center has worked with WHO and other partners to eliminate Guinea-worm disease (dracunculiasis).