Life
Japan dietary supplement maker probes five deaths
TOKYO, March 29, 2024 (AFP) – A Japanese drugmaker said on Friday it is investigating five deaths potentially linked to dietary supplements meant to lower cholesterol and apologised for the “anxiety and fear” it had caused. Kobayashi Pharmaceutical has recalled three brands of over-the-counter tablets after customers reported kidney problems. The firm said it was trying to establish if the products containing red yeast rice, or “beni koji”, had caused five deaths and 114 hospitalisations. […]
Nations fail to reach pandemic accord: talks to resume April
By Robin MILLARD GENEVA, March 28, 2024 (AFP) – Two years of talks aimed at striking a landmark global agreement on handling future pandemics failed to seal a deal in time on Thursday, and will restart next month for one final push. Scarred by Covid-19, which shredded economies, overturned societies, crippled health systems and killed millions, countries are trying to craft an international accord on pandemic prevention, preparedness and response. But while they largely agree […]
Japan drugmaker reports two more deaths in supplement scare
A Japanese drugmaker whose dietary supplements are at the centre of a growing health scare reported on Thursday two more deaths potentially related to its tablets. Last week, Kobayashi Pharmaceutical recalled three supplement brands — “Beni Koji Choleste Help” and two others — after customer complaints of kidney problems. The over-the-counter products contain an ingredient called red yeast rice, or “beni koji”, which is supposed to help lower cholesterol. Thursday’s announcement brings the total number […]
Latin America, Caribbean set for record dengue season
WASHINGTON, March 29, 2024 (AFP) – Latin America and the Caribbean should prepare for their worst dengue season ever, as global warming and the El Nino climate phenomenon fuel the mosquito-borne epidemic, a UN health agency warned Thursday. In less than three months in 2024, regional health authorities have already tallied more than 3.5 million cases and a thousand deaths due to the virus, which is spread by the bite of an infected mosquito. “Probably […]
Climate change changing Earth’s time: study
By Daniel Lawler and Juliette Collen PARIS, March 27, 2024 (AFP) – Struggle to wrap your head around daylight savings? Spare a thought for the world’s timekeepers, who are trying to work out how climate change is affecting Earth’s rotation — and in turn, how we keep track of time. In a strange twist, global warming could even help out timekeepers by delaying the need for history’s first “negative leap second” by three years, a […]
Milky Way’s black hole surrounded by strong magnetic fields: astronomers
PARIS, March 27, 2024 (AFP) – Astronomers have discovered powerful magnetic fields spiralling around the black hole that sits at the centre of the Milky Way, the European Southern Observatory said Wednesday. A new image from the Event Horizon Telescope (EHT) for the first time showed in polarised light a ring of magnetic fields surrounding the Sagittarius A* black hole. The fields are similar to those observed around the M87* black hole at the heart […]
Israel’s war budget leaves top scientists in limbo
By Ilan BEN ZION BEIT DAGAN, Israel, March 27, 2024 (AFP) – Israeli scientist Ellen Graber has spent years researching ways to save chocolate crops from climate change. But with the government slashing spending to fund the war in Gaza, her project is one of hundreds now hanging in the balance. Graber’s research had already been hit by the war — she had to abandon her cacao plants when the area where they were grown […]
Almost one child in six is cyberbullied: WHO Europe
By Camille BAS-WOHLERT COPENHAGEN, March 27, 2024 (AFP) – Some 16 percent of children aged 11 to 15 were cyberbullied in 2022, up from 13 percent four years ago, a WHO Europe report covering 44 countries said on Wednesday. “This report is a wake-up call for all of us to address bullying and violence, whenever and wherever it happens,” WHO regional director for Europe Hans Kluge said in a statement. Fifteen percent of boys and […]
Japan attempts to revive Moon lander after second lunar night
TOKYO, March 26, 2024 (AFP) – Japan’s space agency said on Tuesday it will try to revive its Moon lander after a second frigid, two-week lunar night, following a surprising awakening last month. The unmanned Smart Lander for Investigating Moon (SLIM) touched down in January at a wonky angle that left its solar panels facing the wrong way. As the sun’s angle shifted, it came back to life for two days and carried out scientific […]
Japan drugmaker reports death after health supplement recall
TOKYO, March 26, 2024 (AFP) – A Japanese drugmaker said Tuesday it is investigating one death from kidney dysfunction potentially linked to health supplements recalled last week by the firm. It comes a day after the company said it was aware of 26 cases of people being hospitalised in relation to the prescription-free tablets. Kobayashi Pharmaceutical, which sells over-the-counter drugs and dietary supplements, has received an additional 50 unconfirmed reports of hospitalisations as of Tuesday […]
Russia’s Soyuz MS-25 spacecraft docks to ISS
Russia’s Soyuz MS-25 spacecraft successfully docked to the International Space Station Monday, four days after its launch was delayed due to a technical issue, the Roscosmos space agency said. On board is Belarus’ first female cosmonaut Marina Vasilevskaya, experienced Russian cosmonaut Oleg Novitsky and US astronaut Tracy Dyson, who blasted off on Saturday for a two-day journey. “Soyuz MS-25 has docked to the ISS,” Roscosmos said. Novitsky and Vasilevskaya will spend 14 days in orbit, […]
