U.S. labels Taliban‑led Afghanistan as ‘state sponsor of wrongful detention’ amid hostage concerns
The United States has designated Afghanistan a “State Sponsor of Wrongful Detention”, accusing the ...
The WHO has approved Abbott Laboratories' mpox diagnostic test for emergency use, marking a key step in boosting testing in outbreak-hit countries. The real-time PCR test detects mpox virus DNA from skin swabs, with more tests under review to increase diagnostic availability worldwide.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has approved Abbott Laboratories' mpox diagnostic test for emergency use, making it the first to receive such authorization in the push to improve testing in outbreak regions.
The Alinity m MPXV assay, a real-time PCR test, identifies mpox virus DNA from skin lesion swabs and is designed for trained laboratory staff.
Abbott currently has the test available and is prepared to address customer requirements. The WHO is also reviewing three more mpox diagnostic tests and working with manufacturers to broaden access. The EUL procedure helps fast-track unlicensed vaccines, tests, and treatments during health emergencies.
"This first mpox diagnostic test listed under the Emergency Use Listing (EUL) procedure represents a significant milestone in expanding testing availability in affected countries," said Yukiko Nakatani, WHO's assistant director-general.
WHO declared mpox a global public health emergency following an outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo that spread to Burundi, Uganda, and Rwanda. Two strains, clade I and the more transmissible clade Ib, have raised global concern, with confirmed cases of clade Ib in Sweden, Thailand, and India.
Mojtaba Khamenei, son of the late Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, is a hardline cleric with strong backing from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. His rise signals continuity in Tehran's anti-Western policies.
Global oil prices surpassed $119 a barrel on Monday (9 March, 2026), an almost four year high, as the Middle East conflict rumbled on.
China has urged Afghanistan and Pakistan to resolve their dispute through dialogue after Chinese envoy Yue Xiaoyong met Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi, as fighting between the two neighbours entered its eleventh day.
Welcome to our live coverage as the conflict involving Iran enters its 11th day. Tensions in the region remain high as the United States and Iran exchange increasingly sharp warnings over the strategic Strait of Hormuz, a critical artery for global oil supplies.
Entry and exit across the state border between Azerbaijan and Iran for all types of cargo vehicles, including those in transit, will resume on 9 March, according to a statement by the Cabinet of Ministers of Azerbaijan.
Measles cases across Europe and Central Asia fell sharply in 2025 compared to the previous year but health officials have warned that the risk of fresh outbreaks remains unless vaccination gaps are urgently addressed.
A Florida university has become a new hotspot in a widening U.S. measles outbreak, with health officials confirming multiple infections and hospitalisations.
The World Health Organization has added the Nipah virus to its list of the world’s top 10 priority diseases, alongside COVID-19 and the Zika virus, warning that its epidemic potential highlights the global risk posed by fast-spreading outbreaks.
Belgian authorities are examining suspected cases of infants falling ill after consuming recalled Nestle baby formula, amid warnings that confirmed infections may be underestimated due to limited testing requirements.
Two Nipah infections involving health workers in India have triggered heightened screening across Southeast Asia as authorities move to prevent the high fatality virus from spreading beyond the country.
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