Fourteen killed in Nepal in 'Gen Z' protest over social media ban
At least 14 people were reported dead and dozens more injured in Nepal’s capital on Monday, state television said, after police fired tear gas and r...
Chinese researchers have discovered a new bat coronavirus, HKU5-CoV-2, which shares the same human receptor as COVID-19, raising concerns about potential animal-to-human transmission.
A Chinese research team has identified a new bat coronavirus, HKU5-CoV-2, that could pose a potential risk for animal-to-human transmission. The study, published in Cell and conducted by the Guangzhou Laboratory in collaboration with Wuhan University and the Wuhan Institute of Virology, reveals that the virus shares the same human receptor—ACE2—used by both the COVID-19 and SARS viruses.
HKU5-CoV-2 was discovered in Japanese pipistrelle bats in Hong Kong. Laboratory tests show that it can infect human cells and bind to ACE2 receptors in humans, bats, and other animals, increasing the likelihood of cross-species transmission. While it has a stronger binding ability and broader host range compared to its predecessor, researchers stress that the virus is less potent than SARS-CoV-2, and the risk of widespread human transmission remains low.
Shi Zhengli, the study’s lead scientist, is renowned for her work at the Wuhan Institute of Virology, which has faced scrutiny over theories that COVID-19 may have originated from a lab leak—a claim that China has rejected. Despite the ongoing investigation into the origins of the pandemic, the discovery of HKU5-CoV-2 highlights the continuing need for vigilance in monitoring emerging viruses.
AnewZ has learned that India has once again blocked Azerbaijan’s application for full membership in the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, while Pakistan’s recent decision to consider diplomatic relations with Armenia has been coordinated with Baku as part of Azerbaijan’s peace agenda.
A powerful eruption at Japan’s Shinmoedake volcano sent an ash plume more than 3,000 metres high on Sunday morning, prompting safety warnings from authorities.
A day of mourning has been declared in Portugal to pay respect to victims who lost their lives in the Lisbon Funicular crash which happened on Wednesday evening.
The UK is gearing up for Exercise Pegasus 2025, its largest pandemic readiness test since COVID-19. Running from September to November, this full-scale simulation will challenge the country's response to a fast-moving respiratory outbreak.
A Polish Air Force pilot was killed on Thursday when an F-16 fighter jet crashed during a training flight ahead of the 2025 Radom International Air Show.
The World Health Organization has added GLP-1 drugs to treat diabetes to its essential medicines list, alongside treatments for cystic fibrosis and cancer, and said it hopes this will improve global access to the costly drugs.
Zambia has formalised a strategic partnership with the International Vaccine Institute (IVI) to bolster domestic vaccine manufacturing capacity, the Zambia National Public Health Institute (ZNPHI) announced on Friday.
Four-time Tour de France winner Chris Froome was airlifted to hospital in Toulon after suffering a training crash which left him with broken ribs, a collapsed lung and a back fracture, his team Israel-Premier Tech said on Thursday (August 28).
Bulgaria reported outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza on three farms in the southern part of the country, the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) said on Monday, as Europe faces a seasonal upturn in the deadly disease.
Africa has unveiled a continental emergency preparedness and response plan to tackle cholera from September 2025 to February 2026.
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