Global fears spread about Mpox- How worried should you be?
The World Health Organization (WHO) regional director for Europe warned on Thursday that Mpox could spread to other countries after...
WHO says 9,000 patients need emergency evacuation from Gaza
"Around 9,000 patients urgently need to be evacuated abroad for lifesaving health services, including treatment for cancer, injuries from bombardments,...
Geostrategy
Economy
UN says human progress set back five years by Covid
Depicting a gloomy picture of the state of human progress, a United Nations report argues that an unprecedented array of...
- The Human Development Index has steadily risen for decades, but began sliding in 2020 and continued its fall in 2021, erasing the gains of the preceding five years
- A large contributor to the Human Development Index's recent decline is a global drop in life expectancy, down from 73 years in 2019 to 71.4 years in 2021
Business
Juul to pay US$438m in US over marketing vapes to youth
Under the agreement, Juul would provide payments over the next 6-10 years to individual US states and pledge to not...
- Juul has been blamed for a surge in youth vaping over its marketing of fruit and candy flavored e-cigarettes, which it stopped selling in 2019
- On June 23, the FDA said it was ordering all products made by Juul Labs off the market after finding the vaping giant had failed to address certain safety concerns
Business
Pure Health to invest US$500m
It will buy stake in a US healthcare firm Ardent.
- Ardent Health Services is the fourth largest private hospital operator in the United States with operations across six states.
- Pure Health would receive board observer rights but would not have a seat on Ardent’s board of directors.
Arts & Culture
S Korean Netflix hit ‘Extraordinary Attorney Woo’ sparks autism debate
The endearing "Extraordinary Attorney Woo", featuring a neurodivergent attorney, has been Netflix's most-watched non-English show for over a month, following...
- The 16-episode series follows a rookie lawyer whose condition helps her find brilliant solutions to legal conundrums but often leaves her socially isolated
- In South Korea, some families of autistic people have described the show as pure "fantasy", saying her character is unrealistic
Science
UN says half of world’s health facilities lack basic hygiene
Sketching a dire picture of the world’s healthcare facilities, the United Nations has said that nearly four billion people are...
- The report said the newly established global estimate, based on data from 40 countries, presents an "alarming picture" of the state of hygiene in health facilities
- Facilities in sub-Saharan Africa were lagging, with only 37 percent having handwashing facilities with soap and water at toilets
Geostrategy
In risky recycling venture, Gazans burn plastic for fuel
It's an economic and practical solution in a territory blockaded by Israel for 15 years, but one which poses serious...
- In Gaza, where exchanges of fire between Palestinian militants and Israel for three days this month killed at least 49 Palestinians, health risks are outweighed by economic reality
- Unemployment has hit 47 percent and the average daily wage is around 60 shekels ($18), according to the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics.
Geostrategy
Abu Dhabi trainee doctors to benefit from Canada healthcare programs
Abu Dhabi's trainee doctor specialists, as part of Emirates academic healthcare training institutions, will now have access to Canada’s accredited...
- Per an MoU, both entities will exchange knowledge and best practices in the field of healthcare, especially in postgraduate medical education.
- Both entities will facilitate conversations and exchange experiences that support setting standards for postgraduate medical education and family medicine.
Business
Ban on single use plastic bags in Sharjah to begin from Jan 2024
Sharjah has banned single-use plastic bags and materials in the Emirate of Sharjah as of 1st January 2024. It follows...
- It follows Sharjah’s efforts of making an environment-friendly emirate and its supportive plans of conservation, said reports
- The ban was decided during a meeting of the Sharjah Executive Council (SEC) Tuesday morning at the Sharjah Ruler’s office.
Facebook bans major US anti-vaccine group
Meta spokesperson Aaron Simpson told AFP that the group's accounts at Facebook and Instagram were shuttered on Wednesday. The ban...
- The Children's Health Defense (CHD), which has been a critic of Covid vaccines, immediately accused Meta of stifling its free speech rights
- CHD said its social media accounts were followed by hundreds of thousands of people, and claimed the action by Meta came as a surprise
Business
US acts to make hearing aids affordable
In October, the cost of hearing aids will be down by an estimated $2,800 per pair as there would be...
- At $5000 a pair, safe and effective and high quality hearing aids have been unaffordable for many Americans.
- Children, as well as people with severe hearing loss, would still need a prescription.
Global fears spread about Mpox- How worried should you be?
The World Health Organization (WHO) regional director for Europe warned on Thursday that Mpox could spread to other countries after...
Company News
Latest News
SFD to provide US$20m loan to Central African Republic for development projects
MARRAKESH, MOROCCO - The CEO of the Saudi Fund for Development (SFD), Sultan bin Abdulrahman Al-Marshad, signed an additional US$20...
Business
‘Broken in two’: Libya flood survivors grapple with mental health
Last month's flood was the latest catastrophe to strike the oil-rich North African country that has been wracked by war...
EU wants to renew herbicide glyphosate for next 10 years
BRUSSELS, BELGIUM - The European Commission is proposing to renew the use of the controversial and widely used herbicide glyphosate in...
Science
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Business
EIH buys stake in Al Ain Pharmacy
Move aligns with EIH's aim to diversify sources of investment.
- The acquisition is vital for EIH as it seeks to strengthen its investment in healthcare through its subsidiary Health Plus Holding.
- The move will help provide additional and sustainable value to investors and achieve the maximum return on investment.
Geostrategy
WHO tells China to provide ‘full access’ to Covid investigators
GENEVA, SWITZERLAND - The head of the World Health Organization told the Financial Times he was ready to send a new...
- WHO chief said he had already written to China asking "to give us information " and for the organization to send a team "if they allow us to do so".
- He said WHO would not abandon its investigation and has called on China for transparency in sharing data and carrying out investigations.
Business
California sues oil giants, alleges environment, climate-risks deception
The US state of California sued five of the world's largest oil companies, alleging the firms caused billions of dollars...
- The suit follows numerous other cases brought by US cities, counties and states against fossil fuel interests over the impact of climate change.
- The suit seeks the creation of an abatement fund to pay for future damages caused by climate disasters in California.