Latest news with #WHO
South China Morning Post
an hour ago
- General
- South China Morning Post
New Covid variant may be driving up cases in parts of the world: WHO
Covid-19 cases are rising again as a new variant begins to circulate in some parts of the world. The World Health Organization said Wednesday the rise in cases was primarily in the eastern Mediterranean, Southeast Asia and western Pacific regions. Airport screening in the United States has detected the new variant in travellers arriving from those regions to destinations in California, Washington state, Virginia and New York. The new variant is called NB. 1.8.1. It arrives as the United States' official stance on Covid-19 vaccination is changing. On Tuesday, Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jnr announced that Covid-19 shots are no longer recommended for healthy children and pregnant women – a move immediately questioned by several public health experts. The new variant, increasing globally, had by mid-May reached nearly 11 per cent of sequenced samples reported.
Time of India
2 hours ago
- Health
- Time of India
After a stroke, more time in bed may affect memory, experts reveal
Research indicates that increased time in bed after a mild stroke or TIA may negatively impact cognitive function. The study, involving brain scans and cognitive assessments, revealed a link between longer time spent in bed and poorer thinking and memory skills. These findings suggest disturbed sleep could signify adverse brain health in stroke survivors. A good night's sleep is essential for health and emotional well-being. However, the same cannot be said for people who survived a stroke of transient ischemic attack (TIA). After a stroke or TIA, spending more time in bed, either sleeping or trying to sleep, may not be beneficial for cognitive function, reveals new research. According to a new study published in Neurology , added sleep duration is associated with poorer thinking and memory skills. To understand the link between sleep and brain function in individuals who suffered a stroke, the researchers studied 422 adults with an average age of 66 from Edinburgh and Hong Kong who had recently experienced a mild stroke or TIA. One to three months following the event, all participants underwent brain scans, were asked to complete sleep questionnaires, and take cognitive assessments. They found that spending more time in bed was linked to lower scores on tests of thinking and memory skills and changes in their brains that can lead to dementia or a second stroke. What is a stroke A stroke occurs when blood flow to part of the brain is interrupted or reduced, depriving brain tissue of oxygen and nutrients. A transient ischemic attack (TIA), often referred to as a 'mini stroke,' involves a brief blockage of blood flow. While symptoms usually resolve within minutes or hours, a TIA can be an early warning sign of a more serious stroke. Sleep after a stroke The researchers observed that spending more time in bed does not equate to sleep. Difficulty falling asleep, fragmented sleep, poor quality sleep, or other problems are signs of a sleep disorder. The study found that both people with longer in-bed times and with longer sleep durations were more likely to have these brain changes. The study, however, does not prove that these sleep issues cause these brain changes and thinking problems; it only shows an association. What do experts think Disturbed sleep is not great for health. 'These results show that disturbed sleep may be a marker of adverse brain health, even for people with mild strokes or TIAs. While many people know that a lack of sleep can lead to health issues, less is known about the effects of sleeping longer at night or spending a long time in bed trying to make up for having trouble sleeping—whether people are doing this consciously or not,' study author Joanna M. Wardlaw, MD, of the University of Edinburgh in the United Kingdom said in a statement. RFK Jr. Openly Tells World To Exit 'Bloated' WHO As Global Health Officials Watch Silently In the study, the researchers found that people who spent a longer time in bed were more likely to have signs of damage to small blood vessels in the brain, including a greater volume of white matter hyperintensities, or areas in the white matter of the brain where brain tissue has been damaged. These participants were also more likely to have slightly lower scores on the test of thinking and memory skills. People who had longer sleep duration were more likely to have small areas of microhemorrhages, or microbleeds, in the brain. 'More research is needed to confirm these findings and also to look at whether prolonged sleep has negative effects on people who have never had a stroke or TIA. Of course, research is also needed on whether improving people's sleep patterns after stroke could ward off some of these possible detrimental effects,' Wardlaw added. One step to a healthier you—join Times Health+ Yoga and feel the change
India.com
2 hours ago
- Health
- India.com
Coronavirus in India LIVE: Active cases climb to 1,010; Kerala tops with over 340 cases, Noida reports 19 infections
File/Representational Covid in India Updates: India is witnessing a concerning rise in the covid cases. As of May 27, India has a total of 1,010 active cases. The rise in cases comes amid the detection of two new sub-variants – NB.1.8.1 and LF.7 – which are currently under observation by global health authorities. The World Health Organisation (WHO) has classified the LF.7 and NB.1.8 subvariants as 'Variants Under Monitoring', not as Variants of Concern or Interest. 'Surveillance is underway to determine the reasons behind the increase in cases, and the government is making necessary preparations. The four variants that we have found are subvariants of Omicron — LF.7, XFG, JN.1 and NB. 1.8.1. But more samples are being tested for further information,' ANI news agency quoted ICMR DG Dr Rajiv Bahl. Coronavirus in India LIVE UPDATES The COVID-19 hotspot states across India are Kerala, Maharashtra, Delhi, and Karnataka. Kerala continues to report the highest number of active COVID cases in India
Japan Forward
2 hours ago
- Health
- Japan Forward
To Reform WHO, Prevent US Withdrawal, Taiwan's Exclusion
このページを 日本語 で読む Taking in the lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic, the World Health Assembly (WHA) of the World Health Organization (WHO) recently adopted the Pandemic Accord. It calls for strengthening measures to improve international cooperation to prevent and respond to future pandemics. For example, it promotes the transfer of technology and knowledge related to vaccine manufacturing to developing countries. Likewise, it advocates for the rapid sharing of information on pathogens. We remember the challenges and welcome the adoption of the accord. After all, viruses recognize no borders. That's why the denial of Taiwan's participation as an observer in the WHO General Assembly is so problematic. Once again, as in the past, this was due to obstruction from China. Eight countries, including Japan, the United Kingdom, France, and Germany, issued a joint press statement contending that excluding Taiwan was "completely unjustified." Nevertheless, Taiwan remains excluded from the General Assembly. World Health Organization headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland (©Kyodo) A Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson declared that Taiwan has sufficient unimpeded channels to communicate and cooperate with WHO in the technical domain. Then he claimed the "so-called 'gap' in global anti-epidemic efforts is nothing but a politically-driven lie." On the contrary, the truth is that it is Beijing that is peddling political lies. China cannot be allowed to willfully create blank spaces on the world health map. Unfortunately, the United States has announced its intention to withdraw from the WHO and did not attend the WHA. In a video address to the general assembly, US Health and Human Services Secretary Robert Kennedy Jr criticized the organization. "Not only has the WHO capitulated to political pressure from China, it's also failed to maintain an organization characterized by transparency and fair governance by and for its Member States," said Secretary Kennedy. He observed that the Pandemic Accord would "lock in all of the dysfunction of the WHO pandemic response." Saying, "we're not going to participate in that," he also suggested other nations consider leaving the WHO. Secretary Kennedy's views of China's influence on WHO are certainly valid. When the COVID-19 outbreak first occurred, China's government under Xi Jinping failed to disclose information promptly. The time lag allowed the virus to spread around the world with calamitous results. US Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert Kennedy. (©Getty via Kyodo） WHO's declaration of a global health emergency was also delayed. Despite those facts, Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus bent over backwards to please China in words and deeds. He even commended China for taking "swift and effective measures" after its repeated failures. Meanwhile, the US is a major manufacturer of vaccines. Its withdrawal from the WHO will create a tremendous vacuum. Moreover, China will replace the US as the number one contributor to the WHO budget, further increasing Beijing's influence. In that case, the WHO will lose even more transparency and fair governance. Such an outcome would not be desirable for either the world or America itself. Washington should reconsider its withdrawal from WHO and act responsibly as a member of the international community. Japan, the United States, Europe, and other nations must work together to reform the WHO. Simultaneously, they should begin planning for the election of WHO's next director general in 2027. Chinese Vice Premier Liu Guozhong attended the 2025 WHA and met with Tedros. He told the director general, "China stands ready to work with the WHO to promote the building of a global community of health for all." The fact is, however, that a WHO led by China will do the exact opposite. Author: Editorial Board, The Sankei Shimbun このページを 日本語 で読む
The Hindu
2 hours ago
- Business
- The Hindu
As U.S. pulls back from WHO and Paris climate deal, China is primed to expand its soft power
Under President Donald Trump, the U.S. has been withdrawing from several key international commitments it had long supported and invested in. It announced its departure from the World Health Organization (WHO) and then from the Paris Agreement. With the U.S. pulling back from global commitments, China has quietly been advancing its position on the world stage. Through promises of financial aid, Beijing has positioned itself as a potential alternative to the Western superpower. With over a quarter of global bilateral sovereign debt now owed to China, and the country's investments spanning continents, the Asian giant has been steadily expanding its soft power influence. Is China trying to fill the void left by a retreating U.S. in the international arena? The 78th World Health Assembly, the decision-making body of the WHO, approved the budget this month for the first time without the participation of the U.S., a founding member and a top donor of the WHO. Mr. Trump has accused the WHO of being biased towards China and mishandling the COVID-19 pandemic. He has also said that the WHO demands onerous payments, which are out of proportion with other countries' assessed payments. While the U.S.'s exit has left a significant void in the WHO, China has committed an additional $500 million over the next five years. China has also been increasing its membership dues to the WHO in recent years. China's share in the WHO's total assessed payments more than doubled post the pandemic, from 6.5% in 2015-16 to 15% in 2024-25 (Chart 1). Chart 1 | The chart shows the country-wise share of assessed contributions to the WHO. Figures in % While China's contribution still falls short of that of the U.S. — which has accounted for around 20% of the WHO's total assessed funding every year — it continues to inch closer. With the U.S. stepping back and China pledging increased support, its share is poised to rise even further. The Trump administration also announced the U.S.'s withdrawal from the Paris Agreement and said it will immediately cease or revoke any purported financial commitment made under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). The U.S.'s share in contributions to the UNFCCC was close to 22% of its core budget, followed by China (17%) — the second highest globally (Chart 2). Chart 2 | The chart shows the country-wise share of contributions made to the UNFCCC's core budget (%) China also holds strategic investments across numerous countries, and many of them owe China a significant share of their external debt. Data show that China is the world's largest debt collector. China's share in bilateral global debts owed remained around 1% until 2003. In just two decades, this share surged to 26%. On the other hand, the U.S.'s share in bilateral global debts owed plummeted from 36% in 1973 to just 4% in 2023 (Chart 3). Chart 3 | The chart shows the share of external debt stock owed to top lenders in the 1973 to 2023 period This influence is also impacting attitudes towards China. A survey conducted by the Pew Research Center in 2024 shows that more than 60% of the respondents across 21 countries believe that China influences their economy by a great deal or by a fair amount (Chart 4). Chart 4 | The share of respondents (in %) who said in 2024 that China is having _ (of) influence on economic conditions in their country Note: The above chart shows data for only 21 countries out of the 35 that were surveyed. The median value is for all the countries surveyed. The question was asked as a part of Pew Research Center's Spring 2024 Global Attitudes Survey across 35 countries. The Democracy Perception Index survey, published by the Alliance of Democracies Foundation, revealed that most countries have a more favourable view of China compared to the U.S. this year. Of the 96 countries surveyed this year, respondents from 76 countries had a more positive view of China, whereas only 20 had a positive view of the U.S. As Chen Xu, China's Ambassador to Geneva, told reporters last month, 'We have to adapt ourselves to multilateral organisations without the Americans. Life goes on.' The data for the charts are sourced from the WHO Budget Portal, UNFCCC, Pew Research Center, World Bank and Reuters
