- Wednesday, 20 August 2025
Reuters
Tokyo June heatwave worst since 1875 as power supply creaks under strain
Japan baked under scorching temperatures for a fourth successive day on Tuesday, as the capital's heat broke nearly 150-year-old records for June and authorities warned power supply remained tight enough to raise the spectre of cuts.
Pakistan orders masks on domestic flights as COVID numbers rise
Pakistan’s aviation regulator has made masks mandatory on domestic flights given a gradual rise in the number of COVID-19 cases across the country, said a statement.
WHO says monkeypox is not yet a health emergency
Monkeypox is not yet a global health emergency, the World Health Organization (WHO) has ruled, although WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said he was deeply concerned about the outbreak.
WHO says over 900 probable cases of acute hepatitis reported in children
Thirty-three countries have reported 920 probable cases of severe acute hepatitis in children so far, a jump of 270 from May, the World Health Organization (WHO) said. The WHO said that the European Region accounted for half the probable cases, including 267 from the United Kingdom, while a third of the probable cases were from the United States.
Monkeypox 'emergency' decision due from WHO sparks African criticism
The World Health Organization (WHO) will decide on Thursday whether to declare monkeypox a global health emergency, stirring criticism from leading African scientists who say it has been a crisis in their region for years.
WHO panel backs use of Omicron-adapted vaccine as booster dose
A modified coronavirus vaccine that targets the Omicron variant can be administered as a booster dose to broaden immunity, a technical advisory group set up by the World Health Organization said.
WHO looks into reports of monkeypox virus in semen
The World Health Organisation is looking into reports that the monkeypox virus is present in the semen of patients, exploring the possibility that the disease could be sexually transmitted, a WHO official said on Wednesday.
Rune Labs gets FDA clearance to use Apple Watch to track Parkinson's symptoms
San Francisco-based startup Rune Labs has said that it received clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to use the Apple Watch to monitor tremors and other common symptoms in patients with Parkinson’s disease.
Canada, in a world first, proposes health warnings on individual cigarettes
Canada is proposing that written health warnings be printed on individual cigarettes, the first country in the world to do so, a federal minister has said.
Seven bodies found at scene of helicopter crash in Italy
Rescuers have found the bodies of seven people killed in a helicopter crash in Italy, local authorities said on Saturday, two days after the aircraft disappeared from radar screens.
U.S. drops COVID testing for incoming international air travellers
The United States has rescinded a 17-month-old requirement that people arriving in the country by air test negative for COVID-19, a move that follows intense lobbying by airlines and the travel industry.
'Moderna COVID vaccine effective and safe for children'
US Food and Drug Administration staff reviewers have said that the Moderna Inc's (MRNA.O) COVID-19 vaccine appears safe and effective for use in children aged 6 months to 17 years old as a committee of scientists will meet next week to vote on whether to recommend the regulator authorize the vaccine in children.
Diabetes may increase long COVID risk; COVID while pregnant linked to baby brain development issues
According to new research, diabetes may increase the risk of long COVID. Similarly, it may increase long COVID risk also.
Thailand legalises consumption of marijuana
By Chayut Setboonsarng and Jiraporn Kuhakan, June 9: BANGKOK, June 9: Thailand legalised the growing of marijuana and its consumption in food and drinks on Thursday, the first Asian country to do so, with the aim of boosting its agriculture and tourism sectors but smoking pot is still against the law.Shoppers queued up at outlets selling cannabis-infused drinks, sweets and other items as advocates of the plant welcomed the reform in a country that has long had a reputation for strict anti-drug laws.Among those at the front of the queue at one Bangkok shop was Rittipong Dachkul, 24, waiting since Wednesday evening to buy his first-ever legal marijuana."I took a bus here after I got off work," Rittipong told Reuters."We're now able to find it easily, we don’t have to worry about the source, but I have no idea about the quality," he said, referring to the strength of the products on offer.Thailand, which has a tradition of using cannabis to relieve pain and fatigue, legalised medicinal marijuana in 2018.The government, banking on the plant as a cash crop, plans to give away a million plants to encourage farmers to take up its cultivation."After COVID, the economy going down the drain, we really do need this," said Chokwan Kitty Chopaka, who owns a shop selling cannabis gum sweets.But authorities aim to head off an explosion of recreational use by limiting the strength of the products on offer.The possession and sale of cannabis extracts containing more than 0.2% of its psychoactive ingredient, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), is not allowed, which will mean smokers of the drug known as "pot", "weed" and a host of other names, will struggle to get "stoned"."Buds with 0.2% THC is considered low, so you would need to consume a lot to get high," said Suphamet Hetrakul, co-founder of the Teera Group, which grows cannabis for medical use. THC is concentrated in the plant's flowers or buds.Those who break the law can still face jail and fines.GROWERS' APPCannabis growers have to register on a government app called PlookGanja or grow ganja, another nickname for the spikey-leafed plant. Nearly 100,000 people have signed up for the app, said health ministry official Paisan Dankhum.Suphamet said he was concerned about quality control among the many new cultivators."It will be hard to control the level of THC and other contaminants in their products and that could be dangerous for consumers,” Suphamet said.The health ministry said it has approved 1,181 products including cosmetics and food, containing cannabis extracts and it expects that the industry will earn as much as 15 billion baht ($435.16 million) by 2026.Big business is jumping in.Agro-industrial conglomerate Charoen Pokphand Foods Pcl (CPF.BK) and energy firm Gunkul Engineering (GUNKUL.BK) have teamed up to produce food and drinks infused with the extract.
More than 1,000 monkeypox cases reported to WHO
There have been more than 1,000 monkeypox cases reported to the World Health Organization in the current outbreak outside the countries in Africa where it more commonly spreads.
