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Macron slammed over racist remarks Elysee denies he made

President Emmanuel Macron faced accusations of racism Friday over an alleged comment on problems in French hospitals which the Elysee strongly denies he made.

Suspect in health CEO killing faces murder charges in New York

The man accused of gunning down a US insurance executive on the streets of Manhattan appeared in front of a judge Thursday to face federal charges including murder.

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Who could take over as UK prime minister?

The race to replace Boris Johnson as Conservative leader and Britain's prime minister is down to five candidates after the second round of voting among Tory MPs on Thursday.

WHO to reconvene monkeypox emergency panel on July 21

The World Health Organization said Thursday it would reconvene its expert monkeypox committee on July 21 to decide whether the outbreak constitutes a global health emergency.

New York stresses monkeypox vaccine 'urgency' as cases rise

New York City has stressed to the US government the "urgency" with which it needs monkeypox vaccines amid a rise in cases, its mayor said Wednesday.

As Covid surges in US, health officials say vaccines remain key

Faced with a doubling of Covid hospitalizations in recent months, US health authorities reiterated the need Tuesday for vaccine vigilance to fight the pandemic, even as the jabs' immunity against new Omicron subvariants remains unclear.

Queen gives UK's health service top award, praises Covid vaccine rollout

Britain's Queen Elizabeth II on Tuesday awarded the George Cross to the state-run National Health Service (NHS) for its work over the past 74 years and praised its Covid-19 vaccine rollout.

Blow for French ham, cold meats after nitrates health warning

French health authorities said Tuesday they had confirmed a link between nitrates added to processed meat and colon cancer, dealing a blow to the country's prized ham and cured sausage industry.

China locks down city of 300,000 over single Covid case

Hundreds of thousands of people were under lockdown in a small Chinese city Tuesday after just one case of Covid-19 was detected, as Beijing's strict no-tolerance virus strategy showed no sign of abating.

Dark-skinned patients get less ICU oxygen due to flawed device: study

Racial minorities receive less oxygen in the intensive care unit than white patients because of a flaw in a medical device found in hospitals across the world, a US study said Monday.

Pharma company seeks to make its birth control over-the-counter in US

In a first, a pharmaceutical company applied Monday for US approval to make its birth control pill available over-the-counter, weeks after the US Supreme Court overturned a federal right to abortion care.

Macau lockdown begins, Hong Kong mulls health code app

Macau casino shares plunged on Monday as the Chinese city embarked on a week-long lockdown to curb its worst coronavirus outbreak while neighbouring Hong Kong said it was mulling a mainland-style health code system.

Pogacar teammate positive as Covid hits Tour de France

A teammate of the Tour de France defending champion Tadej Pogacar has tested positive for Covid-19, weakening the Slovenian's chances of retaining his current overall lead.

Indonesian farmers pay price of foot and mouth outbreak before Eid sacrifice

Indonesian farmer Okky Pratama usually sells dozens of cattle for Eid al-Adha, making his biggest earnings around the Islamic day of sacrifice, but this year he has sold just five.

Trauma of Greenland's forced contraception

"I had to spread my legs, and when it was put in it hurt terribly," said Britta Mortensen, who was 15 she when was forced to have a coil, or intrauterine device (IUD), fitted.

US abortion ruling threatens access to arthritis drug

When Alabama nurse Melissa went to pick up her regular prescription for rheumatoid arthritis last week, she was told the drug was "on hold" while the pharmacist checked she wasn't going to use it to induce an abortion.

Hong Kong suspends 'not effective' Covid flight ban

Hong Kong's new government on Thursday suspended a longstanding flight route ban that penalised airlines for bringing in coronavirus cases and severely impeded travel into the city, saying it was "not very effective".

Russia's plastic surgery sector feels pinch from western sanctions

When it comes to looking good, Russian women are happy to splash out, even on a bit of nip-and-tuck plastic surgery.

Parliamentary hearings worldwide used to spread anti-vaccine conspiracies

Standing on the podium of the Ohio Statehouse in the United States last year, a nurse pressed a key against her neck aiming to prove that Covid vaccines make people magnetic.

Commonwealth weightlifting gold medallist dies of Covid aged 40

A Commonwealth Games weightlifting champion and Olympian has become the first Covid-related death in the tiny Pacific island republic of Nauru, the world's second smallest nation.

Cyprus reinforces face mask rule indoors

Cyprus has reintroduced the mandatory use of face masks indoors for all people aged over 12, as coronavirus cases spike, the Mediterranean holiday island's health ministry announced Wednesday.

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.

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