Effect

• Economic disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz are expected to have a delayed impact, with the full effects potentially not manifesting until the second half of 2026. • The situation involves critical intersections of energy, trade, and food security within the Middle East and North Africa region. • This delay is significant as it suggests a prolonged period of instability that could eventually destabilize global markets and supply chains.

• Leading researchers are warning that a recent FDA policy shift may lead to the approval of ineffective medicines. • In February, the FDA announced that drug sponsors could seek approval based on a single clinical trial and confirmatory evidence, departing from a 1960s-era requirement for two clinical studies. • This change is concerning to experts because it may allow drugs with conflicting trial data to enter the market, potentially compromising patient safety and efficacy.

• The article examines whether the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) can transition from electoral success to effective governance, drawing on the political history of the region. • It contrasts the legacy of the previous administration, which is credited with strong GDP growth, expanded electricity access, and digital governance, against criticisms of weakened press freedom and institutional independence. • The analysis highlights the tension between prioritizing economic stability and infrastructure development versus maintaining political pluralism and democratic norms.

• Dr. Daniel Pilch of Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School and co-founder of TAXIS Pharmaceuticals has detailed the effectiveness of a new drug, TXA079, designed to combat MRSA. • Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is highlighted as a critical danger due to its resistance to common antibiotics, making it difficult to treat. • The drug's development is significant because the CDC identifies MRSA as one of the top five major public health threats both in the United States and globally.

• South Korea began enforcing a new law on Tuesday that allows for steep punitive damages against news outlets and social media influencers who spread false information. • Journalist groups have raised alarms that the legislation could invite state censorship and chill public discourse by penalizing critical reporting. • The law arrives amid high political polarization, with critics citing figures like Yoon who have used unsubstantiated election fraud claims to rally conservative supporters.

The network disruption – which brought trains, traffic lights and Eftpos payments to a halt – raises questions about the resilience of servicesFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updates Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastWednesday’s national Telstra mobile outage serves as another stark reminder of how reliant on connectivity Australia now is, and how single points of failure can have widespread consequences across the country.The nearly five-hour outage – which brought train lines to a halt, affected traffic lights, stopped Eftpos payments and even people being able to charge their electric vehicles – was caused by what Telstra chief financial officer Michael Ackland said was time-keeping servers that feed out up-to-date information to the rest of the network. Continue reading...

• South Korea has implemented a new "fake news" law allowing courts to award damages up to five times the proven losses against media outlets and large social media accounts that spread false information. • The legislation follows a political crisis where YouTube claims of election fraud exacerbated the fallout from a brief martial-law order. • While the government argues the law protects democracy, journalists and critics warn it could create a "chilling effect" on free speech and press freedom.

Researchers testing a cheap, homegrown oil in Uganda found what cats knew all along – it worked as well as the artificial chemical used globally A homegrown catnip lotion has proven “just as effective as Deet” as a mosquito repellant in trials carried out in Uganda.Catnip, or Nepeta cataria, is a common herb from the mint family. The chemical in the plant that causes feline euphoria – nepetalactone – also has insect-repelling properties but this has not previously been commercialised. Continue reading...

• South Korea has implemented a new law targeting "fake news" following a surge in online misinformation, including false claims of Chinese interference in the electoral system after the failed 2024 martial law attempt. • Under the new regulations, repeat offenders whose content is ruled illegal by the courts can face significant financial penalties of up to 1 billion won (€573,000). • Journalists' groups have raised concerns that the law could be weaponized to stifle press freedom and suppress legitimate reporting through legal intimidation.

• South Korea began enforcing a new law on Tuesday that allows for steep punitive damages against news outlets and social media influencers who spread false information. • The legislation targets "fake news" by imposing significant financial penalties on those found to be disseminating misinformation. • Journalist groups have raised alarms, warning that the law could invite government censorship and chill public discourse.

• South Korea has implemented a new law allowing for steep punitive damages against news outlets and social media influencers who spread false information. • Journalist groups warn that the legislation could stifle public discourse and be weaponized by the state to invite censorship. • The law arrives amid political polarization, with critics noting that figures like Yoon have previously promoted unsubstantiated election fraud claims to rally conservative supporters.

• South Korea implemented a new disinformation law on Tuesday, introducing punitive damages and stricter obligations for digital platforms. • Major platforms must now establish formal procedures for reporting and managing disinformation, hate speech, and discriminatory content. • The Democratic Party of Korea argues the law is essential to combat social damage caused by "cyber wreckers" who spread false claims for profit.

• A comprehensive review published in The Lancet reaffirms that approved mRNA vaccines are safe and highly effective across diverse populations, including children and immunocompromised patients. • Led by researchers from the University of British Columbia and Imperial College London, the study analyzed data from billions of doses, combining clinical trials with real-world surveillance. • The findings confirm that these vaccines significantly reduce documented SARS-CoV-2 infections, hospitalizations, and mortality within 14 to 42 days post-vaccination.

• The PARTNERS clinical trial has officially opened patient enrolment in the Democratic Republic of the Congo to identify the first effective treatments for Bundibugyo virus (BVD). • This international effort focuses on evaluating potential therapies for Ebola disease specifically caused by the BVD strain, utilizing facilities like the ALIMA Ebola Treatment Centre. • The trial is critical because it addresses a specific gap in medical countermeasures for a dangerous virus that causes severe hemorrhagic fever.

New study on fluazinam’s neurotoxicity comes up with different findings from earlier report based on manufacturer’s dataResearchers who re-ran a crucial fungicide study on neurotoxicity have come up with significantly different findings, and campaigners argue that the substance should now be withdrawn from the market.In 2005, a study conducted by Huntingdon Life Sciences on behalf of ISK, the manufacturer of fluazinam, on the development of neurotoxicity of fluazinam in pregnant rats concluded there were no statistically significant effects in relation to brain development in the rats’ offspring. Continue reading...

• NPR's Michel Martin interviewed Jonah Goldberg of The Dispatch to analyze how recent Supreme Court rulings influence Donald Trump's executive power and policy agenda. • Goldberg highlighted a concerning trend of "atrophying" legislative skills within Congress, suggesting that lawmakers are increasingly unable to draft effective legislation. • The discussion emphasized the irony that many of the policies Trump is advancing remain deeply unpopular with the general public despite judicial shifts.

• A new review published in The Lancet on Tuesday confirms that mRNA vaccines from Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna are safe and effective. • Led by Manish Sadarangani of B.C. Children's Hospital, researchers analyzed laboratory data, clinical trials, and real-world surveillance from January 2020 through December 2025. • The findings are significant because they validate the scientific and public health impact of mRNA technology during the pandemic.

CMA says developers should be able to steer users away from app stores for payments to increase competitionBusiness live – latest updatesThe UK’s competition watchdog is challenging Apple and Google’s “effective duopoly” over mobile platforms by allowing developers to steer users away from their app stores to make purchases.The Competition and Markets Authority argues that consumers and app owners are being let down by Apple and Google restrictions on spending money outside their app stores. Continue reading...

Muslims say anti-Islamic rhetoric making everyday life difficult – and threats and harassment not uncommon Following a brutal Republican primary runoff in which Islamophobia took center stage, anti-Muslim hatred continues spilling into public life in Texas.Texans say that the hate speech shared by elected officials is increasingly echoed by people in their everyday interactions, including discussions about education or interactions at a store, in a park, at university and at elementary school. In one case, students at the University of Houston were praying when a man approached them and burned a Qur’an. In other cases, people have been verbally attacked for wearing traditional garments. Continue reading...

• More than 100 emergency laws covering education, healthcare, and crime prevention are set to take effect in Oklahoma this Wednesday. • Key legislation includes Senate Bill 1859, which creates a cybercrime and fraud unit within the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation, and Senate Bill 1344, the Insulin Access and Affordability Program. • Senate Bill 2030 will expand the Clean Slate Act, allowing eligible individuals to expunge their records to remove barriers to employment, housing, and education.

• The Bank for International Settlements (BIS) has warned that a potential artificial intelligence (AI) bust is one of the most alarming threats to current global prosperity. • Along with an AI market correction, the BIS identified persistent inflation and fiscal stress as critical risks that could destabilize the global economy. • This warning highlights the danger of "ripple effects," where a collapse in AI growth could trigger broader credit instabilities and financial volatility.

• The Bank for International Settlements (BIS) has identified a potential AI bust, persistent inflation, and fiscal stress as the primary threats to global economic prosperity. • BIS chief Pablo Hernandez de Cos warned that memories of the 2022 cost-of-living shock increase the likelihood of "second-round effects" on inflation. • The organization highlighted risks stemming from high sovereign debt and the volatility of "fleet-footed" investors who may quickly withdraw funding from government bonds.

As extreme weather events become more common, economists say government will need to take more active role to protect consumersAnyone attempting to notch up a productive day’s work in the searing heat of southern England this last week was left in little doubt about the impact of extreme weather.But the economic effects of the climate crisis for the UK are not confined to the many hours lost to quietly perspiring – or fetching kids dismissed early from scorching classrooms. Continue reading...

• China’s Zhipu AI has released GLM-5.2, a cost-effective coding model designed to challenge global leaders in artificial intelligence. • The model marks a significant milestone as the first Chinese release to rank in the top three globally on a major industry benchmark. • This achievement is being described as a new "DeepSeek moment," signaling China's growing ability to produce high-performance models with lower computational costs.

Review shows majority of procedures offered alongside standard IVF not backed by reliable evidence Most IVF “add-on” treatments sold to people hoping to boost their chances of having children are not backed by reliable evidence, fail to boost fertility and may be a complete waste of money, the largest study of its kind has concluded.There has been a surge in extra procedures, medicines or techniques offered to patients in addition to standard IVF with bold claims they will increase the probability of success. Take-up is widespread, with more than 70% of IVF patients in the UK, Australia and New Zealand paying for one or more add-on during IVF treatment.Acupuncture – inserting thin needles into points on the body.Corticosteroids – medication to reduce inflammation and suppress immune system activity.Endometrial receptivity testing – a biopsy of the uterine lining to assess gene expression patterns.Intralipid infusion – a liquid containing fats that is administered into the blood.Intraovarian injection of platelet-rich plasma – injecting platelet-rich plasma into the ovaries.Intrauterine infusion of platelet-rich plasma – insertion of platelet-rich plasma into the uterus.Pre-implantation genetic testing for aneuploidy – a screening test to check whether embryos have the expected number of chromosomes.EmbryoGlue – an embryo transfer medium containing hyaluronic acid. The evidence review found it may increase the probability of pregnancy and live birth; however, the effect on live birthrates was not robust.Endometrial scratching – a minor procedure undertaken to scratch or disturb the lining of the uterus. The review found this may increase the probability of pregnancy and live birth.Physiological intracytoplasmic sperm injection (PICSI) – a technique used to select sperm based on their ability to bind to hyaluronic acid. There was weak evidence this may lower the risk of miscarriage. Continue reading...

• South Korea's KOSPI benchmark crashed over 8%, triggering a regional domino effect that saw Japan's Nikkei fall 3% and Taiwan's markets retreat. • The sell-off was driven by an "AI trade unwind," as investors rotated out of major technology stocks due to concerns over stretched valuations and rising AI spending. • Other regional markets were impacted, with Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index slipping 0.4% to 23,678 and India's Nifty 50 remaining flat as foreign institutional investors paused emerging market allocations.

• Mike Bloomberg has called for a shift in Washington's leadership, emphasizing the need for "fresh ideas" and a focus on effectiveness. • He highlighted the importance of assembling results-oriented teams to address governance challenges and drive meaningful progress. • This push for innovation suggests a critique of current political stagnation and a desire for a more pragmatic, data-driven approach to policy.

• US President Donald Trump and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian have electronically signed a memorandum of understanding to end a nearly four-month conflict involving the US, Israel, and Iran. • The 14-point plan mandates an immediate cessation of military operations on all fronts and the full reopening of the Strait of Hormuz to global shipping. • A critical component of the deal is a commitment to prevent Iran from developing or acquiring nuclear weapons, addressing a primary security concern for the US and Israel.