Author: admin

The World Health Organization (WHO) wrapped up Exercise Polaris II, a 2-day high-level simulation exercise, based around an outbreak of a fictional new bacterium spreading across the world. Bringing together 26 countries and territories, 600 health emergency experts and over 25 partners, the exercise, which took place on 22 and 23 April, allowed countries to test their preparedness for pandemics and other major health emergencies, including activating their emergency workforce structures, information flow and coordination with each other, partners and WHO.Building on the success of Polaris I held in April 2025, which centered on a fictional virus, each participating country…

Global efforts to combat viral hepatitis are delivering measurable progress in reducing infections and deaths, but the disease remains a major global health challenge, according to a new World Health Organization (WHO) report released today at the World Hepatitis Summit.Viral hepatitis B and C – the two infections responsible for 95% of hepatitis-related deaths worldwide – claimed 1.34 million lives in 2024, the latest data show. At the same time, transmission continues, with more than 4900 new infections every day, or 1.8 million each year.The 2026 Global hepatitis report documents significant gains made since 2015. The annual number of new hepatitis B…

The World Health Organization (WHO) has validated Australia for eliminating trachoma as a public health problem, marking a significant milestone in the health of Indigenous peoples and in global efforts to combat neglected tropical diseases (NTDs). Trachoma, the world’s leading infectious cause of blindness, no longer represents a public health problem in the country.Australia is among a growing number of countries that have successfully eliminated trachoma, contributing to global progress towards the targets set out in the WHO road map for NTDs 2021–2030.Trachoma is caused by the bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis and spreads through close contact with infected individuals, contaminated surfaces,…

AI signage at the Robert Bosch booth at the Beijing Auto Show in Beijing, China, on Saturday, April 25, 2026.Bloomberg | Bloomberg | Getty ImagesBEIJING — Electric carmakers in China are layering on more of the same artificial intelligence features as they try to survive a prolonged price war in the world’s largest auto market.The competition has shifted over the last few years, from extending battery range to rolling out driver-assist systems and using more powerful automotive chips. Now, automakers are focusing on a suite of in-car AI features.More than 50 car brands now use ByteDance’s Doubao AI model, the…

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – MARCH 7: A Japan Airlines Boeing 787 Dreamliner departs Los Angeles International Airport en route to Tokyo on March 7, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevin Carter/Getty Images)Kevin Carter | Getty Images News | Getty ImagesJapan Airlines began testing humanoid robots for ground operations at Tokyo’s Haneda Airport amid chronic labor shortages.The airline is partnering with GMO AI & Robotics to trial robots for tasks such as baggage loading and cabin cleaning starting in May, according to a joint statement Monday.The initiative comes as Japan’s aviation sector struggles with rising tourism demand and a shrinking…

Apple CEO Tim Cook gestures as Apple holds an event at the Steve Jobs Theater on its campus in Cupertino, California, U.S. Sept. 9, 2025.Manuel Orbegozo | ReutersThe global memory crisis played an outsized role in tech earnings season, which hit an apex this week. Apple CEO Tim Cook warned it’s just the beginning.”We believe memory costs will drive an increasing impact on our business,” Cook said in the Q&A portion of his company’s earnings call on Thursday after repeatedly telling analysts that the company faced “supply constraints” in the latest quarter. “We’ll continue to evaluate this.”Apple’s earnings report, which…

Pedestrians at Pitt Street Mall in Sydney, Australia, on Thursday, July 24, 2025. Brendon Thorne | Bloomberg | Getty Images Markets in Australia and Japan rose Friday, mirroring gains on Wall Street that saw both the S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite reach new highs.This comes as investors took in strong earnings from Apple and Caterpillar, looking past weaker-than-expected economic data and threats of escalation in Iran by U.S. President Donald Trump.Brent crude prices briefly surged to $126 a barrel after Axios reported that the U.S. military would brief Trump on potential action against Iran.However, Brent’s June contract, which expired on Thursday,…

U.S. President Donald Trump and King Charles III during a meeting in the Oval Office of the White House on April 28, 2026 in Washington, DC.Andrew Harnik | Getty Images News | Getty ImagesU.S. President Donald Trump repealed tariffs on a key U.K. export on Thursday, after a state visit from King Charles III and Queen Camilla appeared to help mend transatlantic relations dampened by a series of political standoffs. “In Honor of the King and Queen of the United Kingdom, who have just left the White House, soon headed back to their wonderful Country, I will be removing the…

The United Kingdom’s Metropolitan Police have charged a man with attempted murder following an investigation into the stabbing of two Jewish men in Golders Green, north London.Following the stabbings in a residential area of the UK capital on Wednesday, officials raised the national terrorism threat to its second-highest level, signalling that an attack within the next six months is “highly likely”.Recommended Stories list of 3 itemsend of listThis week, Prime Minister Keir Starmer pledged stronger action will be taken to protect Jewish people.Police said Essa Suleiman, 45, had been charged with two counts of attempted murder and one count of…

Ukraine used its latest technology to deepen strikes against Russian oil storage, ports and refineries in the past week, bombing targets in the Urals 1,600 kilometres (990 miles) from its borders and prompting protests about “terrorist attacks” from the Kremlin spokesman.President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Wednesday announced “a new stage in the use of Ukrainian weapons to limit the potential of Russia’s war”.Recommended Stories list of 4 itemsend of listThe Ukraine Security Service (SBU) later clarified it had struck Transneft’s oil pumping and distribution facility in the city of Perm that day, from where oil was pumped to the Perm refinery…