Author: HeraldStar

A comprehensive study released by The Commonwealth Fund, an independent research organization, has revealed a startling disparity in the United States’ healthcare system. Despite investing more in healthcare than any other high-income nation, Americans are found to be the sickest and die the youngest compared to their counterparts in nine other wealthy countries. The report, which utilized data from the World Health Organization and other sources since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, assessed the healthcare systems of ten nations based on five key metrics: health equity, access to care, care process, administrative efficiency, and health outcomes. The…

Saudi Arabia’s crude oil exports plummeted to their lowest level in nearly a year in July, according to data from the Joint Organizations Data Initiative (JODI). The world’s largest crude exporter saw its oil exports fall to 5.741 million barrels per day (bpd) in July, a 5.1% decline from June’s 6.047 million bpd. This decrease comes despite a slight increase in Saudi Arabia’s overall production, which rose to 8.941 million bpd from 8.830 million bpd. However, domestic refinery throughput decreased by 0.026 million bpd to 2.397 million bpd, while direct crude burning surged by 211,000 bpd to 769,000 bpd. The…

19 September 2024, Geneva – The World Health Organization (WHO) and partners will call on world leaders to address critical global health challenges, and invest in global public health, at meetings throughout the high-level week of the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA79), to be held in New York from 20 to 30 September 2024. The second High-Level Meeting on Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) on 26 September 2024 will be the principal official, health-focused event during the UNGA high-level week. Without decisive action, such as that outlined in the final text of the draft political declaration for the meeting, AMR will cause even more…

Federal investigators are meticulously examining electronics and evidence in the apparent assassination attempt of former President Donald Trump at a Florida golf club, seeking to bring more serious charges against suspect Ryan Wesley Routh. Investigators are exploring potential foreign links, including connections to Iranian threats or Routh’s travel abroad, but have found no evidence of foreign involvement so far. Routh, who faces gun-related charges, has not cooperated with the FBI since his arrest. Prosecutors view the incident as an apparent plot to kill Trump and are working to build a case. However, complications arise from the lack of a direct…

The pledge by 43-year-old Shinjiro Koizumi, the youngest candidate in the running to be Japan’s next prime minister, to hold talks with “same generation” North Korean leader Kim Jong Un to resolve the abduction issue has garnered widespread attention. Japan and North Korea have no diplomatic relations, but Koizumi’s father, Junichiro Koizumi, was the first Japanese prime minister to visit Pyongyang and secured the return of five people abducted by North Korea in the late 1970s. If Shinjiro Koizumi wins the Liberal Democratic Party’s presidential election scheduled for Sept 27, he would become Japan’s premier, replacing incumbent Fumio Kishida, as…

Out of 1,643 top-listed companies in Japan, only 13 of them have female chief executive officers, according to a new survey from Kyodo News. The findings, which were based on analysis of fiscal 2023 financial statements, found that the percentage of female chief executives in the Tokyo Stock Exchange’s top-tier Prime Market is at 0.8%. A new survey has revealed a stark gender disparity in Japan’s corporate leadership, with only 13 female CEOs leading the country’s top 1,600 listed companies. This translates to a mere 0.8% of firms on the Tokyo Stock Exchange’s Prime Market being led by women.

Japan’s Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has demanded a thorough explanation from Beijing over the fatal stabbing of a 10-year-old Japanese schoolboy in Shenzhen, China. The boy, whose father is Japanese and mother is Chinese, was attacked by a 44-year-old man on his way to school, about 200 meters from the Japanese school gates. The suspect was apprehended at the scene and taken into custody. Kishida condemned the attack as “a despicable crime and a serious and grave matter,” urging China to protect Japanese nationals in the country. China’s Foreign Ministry expressed regret and heartache, extending condolences to the boy’s family,…

A 10-year-old Japanese student at a school in China’s southern city of Shenzhen died after being stabbed on his way to school. The attack occurred on Wednesday, about 220 yards away from the Shenzhen Japanese School, and a suspect, identified as 44-year-old Zhong, was apprehended at the scene. The motive behind the attack remains unclear. Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida strongly condemned the incident, calling it “an extremely despicable crime and a serious and grave matter”. He urged Beijing to provide all the facts pertaining to the case, while refraining from making any prejudgments about how the stabbing might affect…

China has urged all parties involved in the Middle East conflict to maintain peace and stability, following a series of deadly explosions in Lebanon that left at least 20 people dead and over 450 wounded. The blasts occurred in handheld radios used by the Iran-backed armed group Hezbollah. China’s Foreign Ministry spokesman, Lin Jian, expressed concern over the incidents, emphasizing opposition to any infringement on Lebanon’s sovereignty and security. “China is highly concerned about the relevant incidents and opposes any infringement on Lebanon’s sovereignty and security,” Lin said. The explosions are believed to have been caused by Israeli spy agency…

China’s top legislative body has approved a plan to increase the retirement age for men from 60 to 63, and for women from 55 to 58 for white-collar jobs and 50 to 55 for blue-collar work. The changes, set to begin on January 1, will be implemented over the next 15 years, with the retirement age increasing by another three to five years. The move aims to address China’s rapidly aging population and ease pressure on the social security system. However, workers are unhappy about the decision, citing concerns over job security, economic uncertainty, and inequity in pension schemes between…