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Maldives begins 'generational ban' on smoking

The Maldives began implementing a smoking ban Saturday on anyone born after January 2007, becoming the only nation with a generational prohibition on tobacco, the Health Ministry said.

Panic across US as health insurance costs set to surge

Rachel Mosley, a Florida pre-school teacher, recently learned her family's health insurance premiums are set to nearly triple to a staggering $4,000 a month next year when US government subsidies expire.

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RFK Jr defends health agency shake up, Democrats call for his ouster

US Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy said Thursday that firing the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) was "absolutely necessary" to restore high standards, as he faced blistering criticism from Democrats urging him to resign.

Florida to scrap all vaccine mandates, West Coast states push back

A top health official in Florida on Wednesday vowed to end all vaccine mandates in the state, including school requirements, likening the measure to prevent childhood diseases to "slavery."

Florida to end 'slavery' of vaccine mandates

A top Florida health official on Wednesday vowed to end all vaccine mandates, including school immunization requirements, likening the measures to prevent childhood diseases to slavery.

US West Coast states announce new agency for vaccine guidelines

California, Washington and Oregon announced Wednesday they will form a new public health body to issue vaccine guidelines, saying the move is needed to counter the Trump administration's growing "politicization" of science.

ChatGPT to get parental controls after teen's death

American artificial intelligence firm OpenAI said Tuesday it would add parental controls to its chatbot ChatGPT, a week after an American couple said the system encouraged their teenaged son to kill himself.

RFK Jr 'endangering' all Americans, health agency ex-chiefs warn

Nine former leaders of the top US health body sounded the alarm Monday about the Trump administration's evisceration of the agency and warned that vaccine skeptic Robert F. Kennedy Jr is "endangering every American's health."

Directors who quit US health agency warn it is 'destroying' protections

Senior experts who recently resigned in protest from the top US public health agency denounced Sunday growing politicization of the organization, warning of a breakdown in the "firewall" between science and ideology.

Lay off our eggs market, French producers tell Ukraine

The leading French eggs association has sounded alarm over the import of hundreds of thousands of eggs from Ukraine, warning they breach with European production standards and may contain banned antibiotics.

Mistrust undermines Ivory Coast's universal healthcare dream

As patients enter a major Abidjan hospital, a large sign informs them that Ivory Coast's universal health insurance will cover some of their medical expenses.

White House fires US health agency head after she refused to quit

The Trump administration confirmed Wednesday it was firing the head of the top US public health agency after she refused to step down during a stand-off with vaccine skeptic Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

1 in 4 people lack access to safe drinking water: UN

More than two billion people worldwide still lack access to safely-managed drinking water, the United Nations said Tuesday, warning that progress towards universal coverage was moving nowhere near quickly enough.

A healer and a fighter: The double life of UFC star Shi Ming

By day Shi Ming heals patients as a traditional Chinese medicine doctor. By night she trains to deliver brutal knockouts in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC).

AI helps UK woman rediscover lost voice after 25 years

A British woman suffering from motor neurone disease who lost her ability to speak is once again talking in her own voice thanks to artificial intelligence and a barely audible eight-second clip from an old home video.

Canada measles cases pass 4,500, highest count in Americas

Canada's measles case count has passed 4,500, with the western province of Alberta -- which has about five million people -- recording more cases this year than the United States, figures updated Thursday showed.

Record number of mosquito-borne disease outbreaks in Europe: health agency

Europe has registered a record number of outbreaks of mosquito-borne illnesses such as chikungunya and West Nile virus this year, the EU health agency said Wednesday, saying climate change was contributing to a "new normal".

Sounds serious: NYC noise pollution takes a toll

Tim Mulligan moved to central Manhattan so he could be closer to work and avoid a daily ordeal on the rattling, screeching subway, just one part of the urban noisescape that tests New Yorkers every day.

Majority of Americans think alcohol bad for health: poll

A narrow majority of Americans now believe even moderate consumption of alcohol negatively affects health, as US drinking levels continue to decline, according to a recent survey.

New compromise but still no deal at plastic pollution talks

Countries trying to break the deadlock and strike a landmark global treaty on combating plastic pollution negotiated through the night into Friday on a last-minute revised proposal.

Tainted fentanyl blamed for 87 hospital deaths in Argentina

At least 87 people have died in Argentina after being administered bacteria-infected fentanyl in hospitals, a judge investigating the deaths said Wednesday.

New cancer plan urged as survival improvements in England slow

Improvements in cancer survival rates in England and Wales have slowed down significantly since 2010, according to a major study released Wednesday, leading to calls for an urgent national cancer plan.

Gambia baby death heightens alarm over female genital mutilation

Rights activists in The Gambia are calling for justice after a one-month-old baby's death was linked to female genital mutilation, a widely practised but illegal procedure up for review before the country's Supreme Court.

Indian top court orders roundup of stray dogs in Delhi

India's Supreme Court on Monday ordered the removal of tens of thousands of stray dogs from the capital, citing public safety concerns after a surge in dog bites.

New York declares total war on prolific rat population

New York is waging a war on multiple fronts to combat the near ubiquitous rats that plague city streets and the subways, leaving some residents afraid to let their children walk on sidewalks.

US health chief based vaccine cuts on misinformation, researchers say

US Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. cited false claims to justify terminating 22 federal contracts for mRNA-based vaccines, researchers said Friday, a day after the World Health Organization called the decision a major blow.

Plastic pollution treaty talks deadlocked

Negotiations on a global treaty on plastic pollution are being blocked by oil-producing countries and getting bogged down in a "dialogue of the deaf", sources at the talks told AFP on Thursday.

Americans eating (slightly) less ultra-processed food

Americans still get most of their calories from ultra-processed foods, but consumption is trending down among both adults and children, official data showed Thursday.

Plastic pollution treaty talks stuck in 'dialogue of the deaf'

Negotiations aimed at forging a global treaty on plastic pollution are being blocked by oil-producing countries and getting bogged down in a "dialogue of the deaf", sources in and around the talks told AFP.

Chikungunya in China: What you need to know

Cases of chikungunya fever are rising in southern China, prompting local authorities to take measures to curb its spread.

US axes mRNA vaccine contracts, casting safety doubts

President Donald Trump's administration on Tuesday announced it would terminate 22 federal contracts for mRNA-based vaccines, questioning the safety of a technology credited with helping end the Covid pandemic and saving millions of lives.

Summer 2025 already a cavalcade of climate extremes

Record heat, massive fires, deadly floods... August has barely begun, but the summer of 2025 is already marked by a cascade of destructive and deadly weather in the northern hemisphere.

UN experts call for GHF to be dismantled

United Nations special rapporteurs called Tuesday for the Israel- and US-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation to be immediately dismantled, saying aid was being "exploited for covert military and geopolitical agendas".

Decision time as plastic pollution treaty talks begin

Countries were to start the clock Tuesday on 10 days of talks aimed at hammering out a landmark global treaty on combating the scourge of plastic pollution.

The China Mail - Health (English)