Who

Five million Chinese nationals will be working in Pakistan by 2025 – expert

Health needs of millions of Chinese nationals working in Pakistan require specialised health facilities, based on both modern and traditional treatment systems, says Vice Chancellor Health Services Academy Prof Dr Shahzad Ali Khan.

Taliban’s new UN envoy urges quick world recognition of new Afghan rulers

Since they swept to power, the Taliban has appointed an all-male cabinet made up mostly of hardliners from when it previously ruled Afghanistan in the late 1990s.

WHO blames air pollution for 7 million premature deaths a year

World Health Organisation issues its first air quality guidelines since 2005, which aim to reduce deaths from key pollutants that cause cardiovascular and respiratory diseases by moving towards clean sources of energy.

WHO flies in first medical supplies to Afghanistan since Taliban takeover

The World Health Organization has established an air bridge into the northern city of Mazar-e-Sharif with the help of Pakistani authorities after warning on Friday that Afghanistan’s medical supplies would run out within days.

UN says supplies low as Kabul airport closure blocks aid efforts to Afghans

The closure of Kabul airport to commercial flights has held up deliveries of equipment, food and essential medicines as half of Afghanistan's population now relies on humanitarian aid.

Indonesian army to terminate archaic “virginity tests”

The compulsory check-up in the recruitment process of female cadets has been called abusive and discriminatory by human rights groups.

First case of deadly Marburg disease confirmed in Guinea

Officials find case of Marburg, a highly infectious disease that causes haemorrhagic fever, in southern Gueckedou prefecture.

China battles Covid-19 outbreak as WHO warns of Delta-fuelled spread

The rise in infections come as a leaked internal CDC document found fully immunised people with so-called breakthrough infections of the Delta variant can spread the disease as easily as unvaccinated people.

PAHO says Covid inflicting heavy toll on Americas – latest updates

Covid-19 pandemic has infected more than 196 million people and killed least 4.1 million around the world. Here are updates for July 28:

China rejects WHO audit of labs in second phase of Covid origin probe

China has dismissed the WHO proposal to further investigate the lab leak theory, which was deemed ‘extremely unlikely’ in its previous report but has since gained traction.

Hundreds of Ugandans duped into paying for fake Covid-19 shots

The fraudsters targeted people looking to pay for immunisation, including corporate employees, at a time when vaccines were in short supply.

Tokyo kicks off Olympic Games amid Covid threat

Tokyo 2020 Olympics kicks off in empty venues to minimise health risks as WHO chief says Games should go ahead to demonstrate to the world what can be achieved with the right plan and measures.