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UK PM Sunak defends pandemic hospitality scheme at Covid inquiry
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on Monday defended his scheme to encourage people to eat out following the first coronavirus wave, saying it was not responsible for a second wave of infections.
UK PM Sunak 'deeply sorry' for pandemic deaths as he faces inquiry
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on Monday said he was "deeply sorry" for those who lost family during the Covid pandemic as he was quizzed about his actions as finance minister during the global health emergency.
How unhealthy are ultra-processed foods?
Ultra-processed foods are commonly portrayed as a modern health scourge: a threat lurking on the shelves of every supermarket linked to obesity, heart disease, cancer and early death.
Ex-PM Johnson apologises to UK Covid victims' families but defends record
Boris Johnson apologised Wednesday for "the pain and the loss and the suffering" caused by the Covid-19 pandemic but defended his government at a public inquiry into its handling of the crisis.
Ex-PM Johnson apologises to families of UK Covid victims
Boris Johnson on Wednesday apologised for "the pain and the loss and the suffering" caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, as he gave evidence at a public inquiry into his government's handling of the global health crisis.
Texas woman whose fetus has fatal condition sues for abortion
A 31-year-old woman sued the state of Texas on Tuesday in order to get an abortion for a pregnancy that she and her doctors say threatens her life and future fertility.
Doctors in England to stage longest NHS strike ever
Hospital doctors in England plan to strike around Christmas in their longest industrial action in the history of Britain's state-run health service, after pay talks broke down Tuesday.
France moves to ban 'sneaky' disposable e-cigarettes
French parliament has backed a proposal to ban single-use electronic cigarettes, considered to be gateways to tobacco addiction for teenagers and harmful to the environment.
Vaping: lighting up, stubbing out
Two decades after they first appeared, e-cigarettes have been widely credited with helping people quit smoking.
Divided US high court hears challenge to $6bn Purdue opioid settlement
The US Supreme Court appeared divided on Monday as it heard a challenge to Purdue Pharma's $6 billion opioids settlement immunizing the Sackler family that controlled the drugmaker from future litigation.
Chaos in south Gaza hospitals after new Israeli strikes
Patients lie on cold, bloodstained floors in hospitals filled to overflowing. Some scream in pain, but others lie silently, deathly white, too weak even to cry out.
Israel resumes deadly Gaza bombardment after truce breaks down
Israel resumed its deadly bombardment of Gaza on Friday after a truce broke down, saying it struck more than 200 targets in the densely inhabited Palestinian territory despite international calls for a renewed pause.
Deadly fighting resumes in Gaza as truce expires
Fighting resumed in Gaza on Friday immediately after the expiry of a week-long truce between Israel and Hamas, with the first fatalities reported minutes later, according to health officials in the Palestinian territory.
Hamas open to truce extension as US urges Gaza 'safe' zones
Hamas is willing to further extend a truce for hostage and prisoner exchanges, a source close to the militant group said Thursday, and the United States urged Israel to set up safe zones for Gaza civilians as a pause in their deadly war neared expiry.
US to replace all lead water lines within 10 years
President Joe Biden's administration on Thursday announced it would require the removal of the nation's remaining lead pipes within a decade, preventing an estimated 22 million people from potential exposure to the toxic metal in their drinking water.
Israel and Hamas extend truce for one day
Israel and Hamas extended their truce by another day on Thursday as Washington's top diplomat arrived to urge a more lasting break in the devastating conflict.
Poor education, stigma fuel Philippines' soaring HIV infections
HIV infections are soaring in the Philippines, with experts blaming online dating, poor sex education and conservative attitudes in the deeply religious country for fuelling the spread of the virus.
Hamas frees more hostages as Gaza truce expiry looms
More hostages were freed from Gaza on Wednesday, as mediators raced to broker another extension to the truce between Israel and Hamas hours before it was due to expire.
Hamas set to free more hostages as Gaza truce expiry looms
Hamas was expected to free more hostages Wednesday in exchange for Palestinian prisoners held by Israel, as mediators raced to broker another extension to a Gaza truce hours before it was due to expire.
Full Gaza ceasefire urged as truce expiry looms
Efforts intensified Wednesday to extend a halt in deadly violence in Gaza as a truce was set to expire, with a source saying militant group Hamas was willing to free more Israeli hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners.
Croatia struggles to contain whooping cough epidemic
Croatia was struggling to contain a whooping cough epidemic that health officials said Wednesday was due in part to a drop in inoculation rates linked to the growth of the anti-vaccine movement.
'Citizens of the Reich': Raids and suspicion as German group grows
On the outskirts of the eastern German town of Wittenberg, a corrugated iron gate painted with green leaves welcomes visitors to the "Koenigreich Deutschland" (Kingdom of Germany).
Breathless pope delegates reading as flu persists
Pope Francis presided over his weekly audience Wednesday despite the flu that caused him to scrap a trip to Dubai, but asked an aide to deliver his reading for him.
Hamas eyes Gaza truce extension for more hostage releases
Hamas is willing to extend a truce for four days and release more Israeli hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners, a source close to the militant group said Wednesday, as mediators sought a lasting halt to the conflict.
Texas top court hears case challenging abortion ban for medical emergencies
The Texas Supreme Court heard arguments Tuesday in a case brought on behalf of some two dozen women who were denied abortions even though they had serious complications with their pregnancies that were in some cases life-threatening.
Japan trials over-the-counter 'morning-after' pill
Japan began a pilot project on Tuesday selling over-the-counter "morning-after" contraceptive pills, but campaigners criticised the scheme as far too small and called for all restrictions to be lifted.
Doctors warn of New Zealand health tragedy after smoking ban scrapped
Doctors blasted New Zealand’s conservative government on Tuesday for revoking world-leading anti-smoking laws, warning that people will die over the act of "public health vandalism".
Japan trials over-the-counter sales of 'morning-after' pill
Japan on Tuesday began trial sales of over-the-counter "morning-after" contraceptive pills, according to the country's pharmaceutical association, in a partial victory for campaigners.
Texas top court to hear case challenging abortion ban for medical emergencies
The Texas Supreme Court is set Tuesday to hear arguments in a case brought on behalf of 22 women who were denied abortions even though they had serious complications with their pregnancies that were in some cases life-threatening.
Pope's condition after illness 'good and stable': Vatican
Pope Francis is improving after suffering from flu symptoms at the weekend, the Vatican said Monday, noting that the 86-year-old pontiff was postponing some appointments during his recovery.
Incoming New Zealand govt to abandon anti-smoking laws
New Zealand's incoming conservative government will jettison world-leading measures to stub out smoking, new Prime Minister Christopher Luxon confirmed Monday, in a move described by health campaigners as a "huge win for the tobacco industry".
What we know so far about surging respiratory illnesses in China
Cases of respiratory illnesses have been surging in northern China, particularly among children, sparking speculation online of a new pandemic threat four years after Covid-19 first emerged in the country.