With Eris on the rise, US CDC sees no major shift in COVID variants
CURRENTLY spreading COVID-19 variants such as EG.5, or Eris, do not represent a major shift and updated vaccines in September will offer protection, the...
Ukraine completes questionnaire for EU membership — official
Ukraine has completed a questionnaire which will form a starting point for the European Union to decide on membership for Kyiv, Ihor Zhovkva, deputy head of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s office, said.
Only Russia’s nuclear arms preventing West from declaring war — Putin ally
RUSSIA’S nuclear arsenal and the rules Moscow has laid out for its use are the only factors preventing the West from starting a war...
US healthcare spending rises to $4.8 trillion in 2023, outpacing GDP
WASHINGTON - Healthcare spending in the US is projected to have risen 7.5% in 2023 to $4.8 trillion, federal data showed on Wednesday, outpacing the projected...
Australia’s top economists call for budget measures to speed the switch to electric cars
Australia’s top economists overwhelmingly back government measures to speed the transition to electric cars in order to meet emission reduction targets.
Iran condemns EU, UK sanctions on Tehran, denies providing ballistic missiles to Russia
DUBAI — Iran condemned new European Union (EU) and British sanctions on Tehran and denied providing ballistic missiles to Russia, spokesperson for Iran’s Foreign...
Japan’s Mount Fuji eyes China-made tram to transport hikers, source says
TOKYO — Japanese authorities seeking to reduce the carbon footprint and overcrowding at Mount Fuji will propose a trackless, rubber-tired tram system made by...
US to declare 23 species, including ivory-billed woodpecker, officially extinct
The ivory-billed woodpecker, whose last confirmed sighting was nearly 80 years ago, is one of 23 federally protected species that would be officially declared...
Blow for Hong Kong democracy camp in key elections
HONG KONG -- Hong Kong’s democracy camp failed to claw back all their lost seats Monday in controversial by-elections as the city’s pro-Beijing establishment...
China conducted ‘readiness patrol’ around Taiwan
BEIJING — The Chinese military said on Wednesday it had conducted a combat “readiness patrol” in the seas and airspace around Taiwan in recent days, saying it was a necessary action to respond to “collusion” between Washington and Taipei.
Kim wants to denuclearize during Trump’s term, South Korea says
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un signaled a willingness to revive stalled nuclear talks, with South Korean officials saying he wanted to “achieve denuclearization”...
University of Pennsylvania president resigns after antisemitism testimony
WASHINGTON — University of Pennsylvania President Liz Magill, who came under fire for her stance on antisemitism on campus, has resigned, the Ivy League...