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London wall illuminates Covid's enduring pain at Christmas

UK families of some 240,000 people who died from Covid-19 have hung festive lights on a London wall, a symbol of love, anger and pain ahead of another Christmas overshadowed by loss.

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.

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Syria first lady diagnosed with leukaemia: presidency

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's British-born wife Asma, who recovered from breast cancer in 2019, has been diagnosed with leukaemia, the president's office said on Tuesday.

UK PM sorry for institutional cover-up in infected blood scandal

UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on Monday apologised to thousands of people infected with contaminated blood in a decades-long scandal that a damning report concluded was covered up and largely could have been avoided.

Ex-president Bolsonaro discharged from hospital

Former Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro said Friday he had been discharged from hospital after nearly two weeks of treatment for a bacterial skin infection.

Anger in Peru over decree describing transsexuality as 'mental disorder'

The Peruvian government is under fire from LGBTQ+ groups which have called a protest Friday against a new decree listing transsexualism as a "mental disorder."

Wounded Slovakia PM Fico undergoes new surgery

Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico remained in "very serious" condition after a new operation Friday, two days after an attempted assassination that has plunged the politically polarised nation into uncertainty.

Military rank affects medical care, offering societal insights: study

Human relationships are inherently shaped by power dynamics, yet quantifying their impact has remained a scientific challenge.

Easyjet CEO flies out in 2025 after seven years

Easyjet said Thursday that chief executive Johan Lundgren would step down at the start of 2025 after seven years piloting the no-frills airline, notably through Covid turbulence.

Turkey's 'mad honey' aphrodisiac that can knock you flat

Its fans swear it can cure heart palpitations, dodgy stomachs and even impotence. Yet every year hundreds of people end up in hospital after gorging themselves on Turkey's "mad honey".

UK says proposed pandemic treaty 'not acceptable'

A proposed World Health Organization treaty on preparing for future pandemics is currently "not acceptable" to Britain, a UK health minister said on Tuesday.

UN nears landmark deal on combatting biopiracy

The fight against biopiracy -- plundering genetic resources and the traditional knowledge surrounding them -- could soon be based on an international treaty which is being finalised at negotiations that began on Monday.

Attacking birth control pills, US influencers push misinformation

US wellness influencers are increasingly targeting birth control pills, pushing their followers to abandon the contraceptives with false claims about infertility and low libido that researchers say leave them vulnerable to unintended pregnancies.

Pandemic talks extended as deadline passes

Countries trying to strike a landmark global agreement on handling future pandemics decided to keep negotiating for another fortnight after their deadline passed on Friday.

French, US drug firms team up for Covid-flu shot

French pharmaceutical giant Sanofi and struggling US rival Novavax announced Friday an alliance to sell a Covid vaccine and develop another that combines with a flu shot.

Low-cost MRI paired with AI produces high-quality results

A magnetic resonance imaging device built with off-the-shelf parts and paired with AI matched the performance of high-end MRI machines, according to a study published Thursday that could pave the way for greater access to the life-saving tools.

Romania opens first crowd-funded hospital

At Romania's new crowd-funded children's cancer hospital, one-year-old Eric Ivan eagerly walked up and down the corridor, his mother holding his hands to steady him.

Flood-hit Kenya reports dozens of cholera cases

The United Nations voiced concern on Wednesday after dozens of cases of cholera were reported in flood-stricken Kenya as the death toll from rain-related disasters surpassed 250.

Chinese mill blamed for turning Serbia village red with pollution

In the eight years since Chinese company HBIS bought a steel mill near the eastern Serbian city of Smederevo, locals say they have been plagued by heavy air pollution and thick red dust.

'Get this done', WHO chief tells pandemic accord talks

WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus on Friday told countries negotiating a global agreement on handling future pandemics to "get this done", as they hit the half-way stage in last-ditch talks.

Uruguay's leftist icon Jose Mujica has cancer: doctor

Uruguay’s leftist ex-leader Jose Mujica, once known as the world's "poorest president" for giving away most of his salary and driving an old Volkswagen Beetle, will receive treatment for cancer of the esophagus, his doctor said Thursday.

Halle Berry confronts stigma around menopause

Academy Award-winning actress Halle Berry joined a group of US senators on Thursday to announce new legislation that would provide tens of millions of dollars towards menopause research and education.

Unique venues heat up sauna scene in Sweden and Finland

Deep underground in a disused iron mine and under the bluish glow of a flashlight, a small crowd emerges from a sauna, steam rising off their bodies as they plunge into a crystal clear turquoise lake.

US to reclassify cannabis as low-risk drug, in major shift

US President Joe Biden's administration is set to reclassify marijuana as a less dangerous drug, a source said Tuesday -- a historic shift that would bring federal policy more in line with public opinion.

US panel recommends all women receive breast cancer screening from 40

Women should get screened for breast cancer every other year starting from the age of 40 to reduce their risk of dying from the disease, an influential US body recommended on Tuesday.

Philips settles US sleep machine cases for $1.1 billion

Dutch medical device maker Philips said Monday it had reached a $1.1 billion deal to settle US lawsuits over faulty sleep machines that have dogged the company.

Last chance for global pandemic agreement talks

Countries returned to the negotiating table Monday for one last push to conclude an international agreement on how to handle future pandemics, with the most likely outcome being a slimmed-down accord that shelves some of the thorniest issues.

Last chance for pandemic agreement talks

Countries return to the negotiating table on Monday for one last push on concluding a pandemic agreement, now in slimmed-down form with some of the thorniest aspects stripped out and shelved.

Biden stalls on menthol cigarette ban fearing Black vote backlash

President Joe Biden's government on Friday said it was taking more time to consider a ban on menthol cigarettes, amid fears it could alienate Black voters in a tough election year.

US approves gene therapy treatment for hemophilia

Pharmaceutical giant Pfizer has received US approval for a gene therapy against a form of hemophilia, a rare and inherited blood clotting disorder, the company said Friday.

Nestle sales slump on weak North America demand for frozen food

Swiss food giant Nestle reported slimmer sales than expected in the first quarter on Thursday, weighed down by weak demand for frozen pizza and snacks in North America.

French national library quarantines 'poisonous' books

France's national library said Thursday it had removed four 19th-century books from its shelves whose emerald green covers were likely laced with highly poisonous arsenic.

France records growing number of supercentenarians

The number of people in France living beyond 110 years is growing fast, the national demographic studies institute said Wednesday, with women dominating the supercentenarian contest.

Thai trans people push to be 'truly' accepted

Stethoscope over her white coat, Thai doctor Kachisarah Sridakhot walks hospital corridors hoping to beat a path for other trans women to be fully accepted in the kingdom.

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