Death toll from powerful Afghan quake tops 2,200 as search for survivors continues
The death toll from Sunday’s powerful earthquake in eastern Afghanistan has risen above 2,200, with search and rescue operations ongoing. Local offi...
U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has announced that COVID-19 vaccines will no longer be recommended for healthy children and pregnant women — a move that has sparked sharp criticism from public health experts.
In a short video posted on social media, Kennedy said he had removed the groups from the CDC's official guidance. However, no CDC officials appeared in the video, and no scientific data or detailed explanation accompanied the announcement. The Department of Health and Human Services has not yet commented on how the decision was made.
Health professionals expressed concern over the abrupt change, which bypasses the usual scientific review process
The CDC has been recommending annual COVID boosters for nearly all age groups. Experts have been discussing the possibility of narrowing that to high-risk groups, but the official advisory panel has not yet made a formal decision. That panel is expected to meet in June.
Kennedy, once known for his anti-vaccine stance, has made several policy changes since taking office under President Trump. Last week, the FDA also introduced new limits, approving routine COVID vaccines only for seniors and people with medical risks — not healthy adults or children.
Doctors warn the latest decision could lead to confusion and reduced vaccine access, especially for those still at risk. They also pushed back on the idea that pregnancy is not a risk factor for COVID. "That is simply incorrect," said Dr. Sean O’Leary of the American Academy of Pediatrics.
Medical experts maintain that vaccines remain a crucial tool for protecting both pregnant women and young children, especially as the virus continues to circulate.
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.
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.
Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko said on Sunday he had undergone a full medical exam for the first time in his life and was found to be in good health.
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