Trump Health and Human Services nominee defends past statements about vaccines, COVID, health care
Robert F. Kennedy Jr., President Donald Trump’s nominee to serve as the nation’s top health official, faced tough questions from senators Wednesday about his views on vaccinations, COVID-19 and the nation’s health care system. A member of one of America’s…
Generative AI makes Chinese, Iranian hackers more efficient, report says
A report issued Wednesday by Google found that hackers from numerous countries, particularly China, Iran and North Korea, have been using the company’s artificial intelligence-enabled Gemini chatbot to supercharge cyberattacks against targets in the United States. The company found —…
Kennedy struggles to answer questions at confirmation hearing for top health post
WASHINGTON — In a contentious confirmation hearing on his nomination to become the nation’s top health official, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. struggled to answer questions about how he would reform Medicaid or Medicare, the government health care programs used by…
WHO warns polio progress in Afghanistan, Pakistan at risk due to US funding cut
ISLAMABAD — A senior World Health Organization official cautioned Wednesday that the eradication of polio in Afghanistan and Pakistan, the only countries where the paralytic virus persists, is threatened by the suspension of funding from the United States. In an…
Aid efforts in Gaza escalate, as risk from deadly unexploded ordnance grows
“Hope returns to Gaza, but it’s fragile,” said Corinne Fleischer, World Food Programme (WFP) Regional Director for the Middle East and North Africa. “With open crossings and sustained efforts, Gaza’s recovery can take root,” she emphasised. The WFP has doubled…
Four years after the coup, Myanmar remains on the brink
Myanmar’s Enduring Polycrisis: Four Years into a Tumultuous Journey, launched on Wednesday, points to the bleak picture of a nation in freefall, with nearly half the population living below the poverty line, essential services crumbling and the economy in disarray….
DR Congo crisis: A public health ‘nightmare’ is unfolding, warns WHO
The internet also remains down in the provincial capital and only mobile phone networks are functioning, with M23 fighters apparently in control of “a significant portion of the city” after intense clashes with the Congolese army, UN agencies reported on Wednesday. Aid…
From policy to progress: UN deputy chief Mohammed outlines path for Africa’s clean energy transformation
“Access to electricity is not just a matter of convenience; it is a fundamental human right that underpins economic growth, education, healthcare, and gender equality,” Ms. Mohammed told African Heads of State attending the Mission 300 Africa Energy Summit in…
Israel’s new laws banning UNRWA already taking effect
If implemented, the two new laws passed in October will simultaneously prohibit Israeli authorities from contacting UNRWA and ban the agency from operating in war-ravaged Gaza and East Jerusalem and the West Bank, according to UNRWA spokesperson Jonathan Fowler. As…
Russia reports destroying 104 drones as Ukraine targets some areas far from border
Russia said Wednesday it shot down 104 Ukrainian drones overnight as attacks targeted several areas that Ukrainian forces do not routinely assault deeper inside of Russia. The Russian Defense Ministry reported shooting down about three-quarters of the drones in areas…