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US official backs off promise to solve cause of autism by September

A top US science official on Tuesday backed away from a bold promise made by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to reveal the cause of autism by September.

Trump's administration moves to ban artificial food dyes

President Donald Trump's administration on Tuesday announced plans to ban synthetic dyes from the US food supply -— a move welcomed by health experts and marking a rare point of bipartisan agreement in an otherwise sharply divided political climate.

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US aid cuts strain response to health crises worldwide: WHO

The United States slashing foreign aid risks piling pressure on already acute humanitarian crises across the globe, a World Health Organization official said Sunday, also warning against withdrawing from the UN agency.

Neighbours improvise first aid for wounded in besieged Sudan city

For a week, eight-year-old Mohamed has suffered the pain of shrapnel stuck in his arm. But he is one of the lucky ones in Sudan's western city El-Fasher, which is under paramilitary attack.

White House touts Covid-19 'lab leak' theory on revamped site

The White House on Friday unveiled a revamped Covid-19 website that promoted the contentious theory that the virus leaked from a Chinese laboratory, framing it as the pandemic's "true origins."

Etzebeth returns to Sharks lineup after concussion absence

Veteran Springbok lock Eben Etzebeth will return to action on Friday after four months out with injuries that included concussion, his Durban-based Sharks team announced on Thursday.

As war grinds on, Ukraine's seniors suffer

Like thousands of senior citizens in Ukraine, Zinaida Gyrenko was spending the sunset years of her life in a shelter, her retirement upended by Russia's invasion.

Pope leaves faithful guessing over Easter appearances

Pope Francis may be on the mend, but as Easter nears, Catholic faithful are wondering how much of the celebrations the 88-year-old will be able to take part in after battling life-threatening pneumonia.

WHO countries reach landmark agreement on tackling future pandemics

Years of negotiations culminated early Wednesday with countries agreeing the text of a landmark accord on how to tackle future pandemics, aimed at avoiding a repeat of the mistakes made during the Covid-19 crisis.

Pandemic agreement: key points

After more than three years of thorny negotiations, World Health Organization member states finalised early Wednesday a major agreement on pandemic prevention, preparedness and response.

Landmark agreement reached at WHO over tackling future pandemics

Years of negotiations culminated in the wee small hours of Wednesday with countries agreeing the text of a landmark accord on how to tackle future pandemics, aimed at avoiding a repeat of the mistakes made during the Covid-19 crisis.

Pandemic treaty talks fight late hurdles

The head of the World Health Organization made a new plea for action Tuesday as talks on a landmark agreement on tackling future pandemics struggled to overcome late obstacles.

More than 10% of Afghans could lose healthcare by year-end: WHO

More than 10 percent of the Afghan population could be deprived of healthcare by the end of the year due to the termination of US aid, the World Health Organization warned Tuesday.

Pandemic treaty talks inch towards deal

Countries hoping to end more than three years of negotiations on battling future pandemics met for talks on Tuesday, after reaching a preliminary agreement last week.

USAID cuts rip through African health care systems

As clouds gather and humidity rises across west Africa, whose annual rains bring an uptick of deadly, malaria-carrying mosquitoes, Musa Adamu Ibrahim, a nurse, is sitting at home, unemployed.

Brazil ex-president Bolsonaro surgery ends 'with success'

Brazil's ex-president Jair Bolsonaro underwent a successful intestinal surgery in Brasilia on Sunday, his wife said, going through a marathon operation after being hospitalized for "unbearable" pain linked to a 2018 stabbing attack.

Ailing Bolsonaro says he will 'probably' need surgery

Brazil's ex-president Jair Bolsonaro said Saturday that he will "probably" need surgery, after being hospitalized a day earlier in the northeastern city of Natal with what he called "unbearable" abdominal pain.

RFK Jr's autism 'epidemic' study raises anti-vaxx fears

US Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr's announcement of a vast study to reveal the cause of a so-called autism "epidemic" has alarmed medical experts, who fear it could rekindle thoroughly debunked conspiracy theories about vaccines.

Trump -- oldest elected US president -- undergoes physical

Donald Trump had his first annual medical checkup Friday since returning to power, putting focus on the fitness of the 78-year-old who is the oldest US president ever elected and has been accused of dodging questions about his health.

Brazil's Bolsonaro hospitalized with abdominal pain, 'stable'

Brazil's far-right former president Jair Bolsonaro was "stable" Friday after being hospitalized with severe abdominal pain six years after he barely survived being stabbed in the stomach, doctors said.

Moment of reckoning for pandemic agreement talks at WHO

Negotiations toward a global agreement on tackling future pandemics came down to the wire Friday, with observers voicing hope that a consensus could be found to seal a landmark deal.

Recovering pope 'happy' to get out and about: Vatican

Pope Francis was "happy" to get out and about this week but while his health is improving, it is too soon to confirm his participation in Easter celebrations, the Vatican said Friday.

US firm says it brought back extinct dire wolves

They whimper, drink from baby bottles and crawl oh so tentatively -- they look like cute white puppies, not the fruit of a daring project to resuscitate an extinct species.

Australian IVF clinic admits embryo mix-up

An Australian IVF clinic has admitted a mix-up led to a mother giving birth to someone else's baby.

Nose job boom in Iran where procedure can boost social status

All of the women in Iranian model Azadeh's family have had nose surgeries, each feeling the pressure to conform with Western beauty standards in a country where female bodies are heavily policed.

Second US child dies of measles, almost 650 ill: officials

A measles outbreak has killed a second child in the southwestern United States, authorities said Sunday, with almost 650 people now infected as the highly contagious disease spreads.

Research on multiple sclerosis wins 'Oscars of science'

An American neurologist and an Italian epidemiologist whose work revolutionized the treatment of multiple sclerosis on Saturday won a prestigious Breakthrough Prize, the award nicknamed the "Oscars of science."

Italy's ski star Brignone takes on 'new challenge' after serious leg injury

Italy's newly-crowned overall World Cup ski champion Federica Brignone said the double leg fracture she sustained just 11 months out from a home Winter Olympics was a "new challenge" she would take on "as always".

'Unprecedented crisis' in Africa healthcare: report

Africa's Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said Thursday that the continent faces "an unprecedented financing crisis" that could lead to between two to four million additional deaths annually.

UK drawing up new action plan to tackle rising TB

Britain on Wednesday urged health experts and sufferers of tuberculosis (TB) to come forward to help draw up a new five-year action plan as it deals with record rises in the disease.

Mass layoffs targeting 10,000 jobs hit US health agencies

Mass layoffs began at the major US health agencies on Tuesday as the Trump administration embarks on a major restructuring that will cut 10,000 jobs.

US seeks death penalty for accused killer of insurance CEO

US Attorney General Pam Bondi on Tuesday asked federal prosecutors to seek the death penalty for Luigi Mangione, who allegedly gunned down an American health care CEO in a brazen attack.

Brain implant turns thoughts into speech in near real-time

A brain implant using artificial intelligence was able to turn a paralysed woman's thoughts into speech almost simultaneously, US researchers said Monday.

Utah becomes first US state to ban fluoride in drinking water

The western US state of Utah has become the first to prohibit fluoridation of its public drinking water, part of a growing movement reexamining the decades-old public health practice.

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