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Africa malaria jab rollout delivers 10 million doses

Nearly 10 million malaria vaccine doses were delivered to Africa during the first year of routine immunisation being rolled out across the continent, the Gavi vaccine alliance said Wednesday.

Syria's military hospital where detainees were tortured, not treated

Former Syrian detainee Mohammed Najib has suffered for years from torture-induced back pain. Yet he dreaded being taken by his jailers to a military hospital, where he received beatings instead of treatment.

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Trump's high-wire act on abortion angers conservatives

Donald Trump has been accused of deserting the anti-abortion movement as he seeks to negate attacks by Kamala Harris over one of the most polarizing issues of the US election.

Israel agrees 'humanitarian pauses' in Gaza for polio vaccinations

Israel has agreed to a series of three-day "humanitarian pauses" in Gaza to allow health officials to administer polio vaccinations to children in the territory, the World Health Organization said Thursday.

Death toll rises as Israeli West Bank raids enter second day

The death toll climbed Thursday as Israel pressed a large-scale military operation in the occupied West Bank for a second day, despite UN concerns it is "fuelling an already explosive situation".

Africa to secure nearly a million mpox vaccines: health watchdog

The African Union's health watchdog on Wednesday said it was close to securing almost one million mpox vaccine doses, urging manufacturers to share the vaccine-making technology to battle the disease.

South Asia air pollution fell in 2022, but remains major killer: report

A surprise improvement in air quality in South Asia in 2022 drove a decline in global pollution, with favourable weather a likely factor, a new report said Wednesday.

'Sick and scared': Burundi treats mpox patients

"I felt very sick and scared, I couldn't even walk any more," said mpox patient Samuel Nduwimana in Burundi's economic capital Bujumbura, one of around 170 confirmed cases in the small African country.

Gaza talks set to resume in Cairo as fighting rages

Negotiators geared up for a crucial weekend of Gaza ceasefire talks Saturday, as Hamas said it was sending delegates to Cairo but would not participate in the discussions, and fighting raged in the Palestinian territory.

Israelis in Cairo for Gaza talks but disputes linger

Israeli negotiators were in Cairo Friday for talks on a Gaza truce, a spokesman said, but a dispute over the presence of Israeli troops on Gaza's southern border remained among sticking points.

Israel in Gaza talks in Egypt as fighting rages

Israeli negotiators were taking part Thursday in talks on Gaza in Cairo, a government spokesman said, as fighting raged on the ground despite US pressure on Israel and Hamas to reach an agreement.

Truce hopes fade as Gaza rocked by Israeli bombardment, battles

Hopes were dwindling Thursday for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, where fighting raged despite US pressure on Israel and Palestinian militant group Hamas to reach an agreement.

Mpox vaccine maker says 'better prepared' than in 2022

Danish drugmaker Bavarian Nordic said Thursday that it was "better prepared" to supply its mpox vaccine for the current surge of the virus than it was for the 2022 epidemic.

Key Indian hospital ends strike but doctor rape protests rage

Doctors at a top Indian government hospital ended Thursday an 11-day strike in protest against the rape and murder of a doctor, but furious demonstrations continued in Kolkata.

Ceasefire hopes fade as Gaza fighting rages

Hopes were dwindling Thursday for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, where fighting raged despite pressure from the United States on Israel and Palestinian militants Hamas to reach an agreement.

War-battered Gaza faces uphill battle against polio

The Gaza Strip's first recorded polio case in 25 years has health workers and aid agencies grappling with the steep obstacles to conducting mass vaccination in the war-torn Palestinian territory.

Mpox disease presents hard-to-weigh risks

As fears mount globally about mpox, apparently simple questions such as the danger it poses and differences between variants do not have clear and simple answers.

Israel kills top Palestinian militant as Gaza truce talks stumble

Israel killed a senior militant from Fatah's armed wing Wednesday in a strike on Lebanon, leading to accusations from the Palestinian movement that Israel is trying to "ignite a regional war".

Thailand reports suspected case of new mpox strain

Thailand on Wednesday reported a suspected first case of the new more dangerous strain of mpox, which the World Health Organization has declared a global public health emergency.

War-ravaged Sudan battles cholera epidemic

Lying on a hospital bed, Aisha Mohammed said she is "suffering" from cholera symptoms, an increasingly common ailment in Sudan where a prolonged war has ravaged the healthcare system.

Blinken wraps up Mideast tour with Gaza truce plea

Top US diplomat Antony Blinken said Tuesday that "time is of the essence" to secure a Gaza truce as he wrapped up a Middle East tour with a plea for a deal.

Blinken in Qatar on Mideast tour to push for Gaza truce

Top US diplomat Antony Blinken arrived Tuesday in Qatar, the latest stop in a Middle East tour aimed at securing a Gaza truce, after urging Hamas to accept a "bridging proposal" for a deal.

Scotland drug deaths rise, among worst in Europe

Scotland recorded an increase in drug deaths last year, official figures showed Tuesday, as the country continues to have one of the highest rates of such deaths in Europe.

Blinken takes Gaza truce push to Egypt

Top US diplomat Antony Blinken was in Egypt on Tuesday for talks on a Gaza ceasefire after saying Israel had accepted a US "bridging proposal" for a deal and urging Hamas to do the same.

Protests over Indian doctor's rape and murder unite rival soccer fans

Thousands of outraged Indian protesters, including arch-rival football fans, called for justice on Monday after the rape and murder of a doctor as widespread strikes by healthcare workers entered a second week.

Blinken in Israel as Netanyahu, Hamas trade blame over Gaza talks

Israel's under-pressure prime minister traded blame with Hamas militants on Sunday for delays in reaching a Gaza truce accord as top US diplomat Antony Blinken landed in Tel Aviv to push for a deal.

Blinken in Israel as under-pressure Netanyahu blames 'obstinate' Hamas

Israel's prime minister, under pressure at home and from abroad to reach a ceasefire deal with Hamas, on Sunday accused the militants of obstinance in Gaza truce talks as top US diplomat Antony Blinken landed in Israel.

Blinken due in Israel as Hamas rejects US 'diktats' in Gaza truce push

Top US diplomat Antony Blinken headed to Israel on Sunday seeking a Gaza ceasefire deal that could help avert a wider war, while a senior Hamas official dismissed "American diktats" in negotiations.

Blinken returns to Israel in Gaza truce push as Hamas rejects US 'diktats'

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken was due in Israel on Sunday as mediators seek to cement a Gaza ceasefire deal, while a senior Hamas official dismissed "American diktats" in negotiations.

Fear grips east DR Congo as displaced await mpox vaccine

An ever-growing number of patients have been flocking to a Goma hospital in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, where a rapidly-spreading epidemic of mpox has erupted in recent months.

Hamas official dismisses 'illusion' that Gaza truce nearer

A senior Hamas official on Saturday dismissed optimistic talk by US President Joe Biden that a Gaza truce is nearer after negotiations in the Gulf emirate of Qatar.

Indian doctors stage nationwide strike over colleague's murder

Indian doctors launched a nationwide strike Saturday, escalating protests after the "barbaric" rape and murder of their colleague that has channelled outrage at the chronic issue of violence against women.

Thousands of wildfire evacuees return to Jasper, Canada

Thousands of residents who evacuated Jasper, a beloved tourist town in western Canada partly destroyed by a massive wildfire, were able to return Friday, authorities said.

WHO seeks mpox vaccine production surge

The World Health Organization on Friday urged manufacturers to ramp up production of mpox vaccines to rein in the spread of a more dangerous strain of the virus.

The Japan Times - Health (English)