Daily News Brief

The fire on the oil tanker involved in the crash in the North Sea has been extinguished, with no visible signs of smoke or flame reported by Crowley, the maritime company managing the Stena Immaculate. However, the Solong cargo ship, owned by Ernst Russ, remains alight and continues to emit smoke with occasional reports of flames. The captain of the Solong, a Russian national, has been arrested on suspicion of gross negligence manslaughter in connection...

Taiwan's Ministry of National Defence (MND) reported 20 sorties of People's Liberation Army (PLA) aircraft, seven People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) vessels, and one official ship operating around Taiwan until 6 am local time on Thursday. Out of these sorties, 11 crossed the median line and entered Taiwan's northern and southwestern Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ). The MND closely monitored the situation and responded accordingly to the activities detected. Full Article

The government is facing a critical moment to recruit 6,500 new teachers in England by the end of its term, as vacancies reach a record high and recruitment remains low. Despite investment and bursary changes, recruitment targets are still being missed. The National Foundation of Educational Research calls for increased funding, pay rises, and flexible working practices to attract and retain teachers. Teaching unions support these recommendations, with potential industrial action looming. The government is...

Roche has agreed to a $5.3 billion deal with Zealand Pharma to develop the obesity drug candidate petrelintide, including a fixed-dose combination with Roche's CT-388, aiming to compete in the weight loss drug market. Zealand Pharma will receive $1.65 billion upfront and potential milestone payments, with shares of both companies rising after the announcement. The partnership will see Roche and Zealand jointly commercialize petrelintide in the U.S. and Europe, sharing profits and losses equally, while...

An Emirati diplomat visited Iran's foreign minister in Tehran, carrying a letter from President Trump regarding talks over Iran's nuclear program, despite Supreme Leader Khamenei's reluctance. Iran faces economic challenges amid US sanctions and internal unrest, while tensions rise with Israel. Trump's overtures come as Iran enriches uranium, prompting fears of military conflict and highlighting the ongoing diplomatic struggle between the two nations. Full Article

Summary: Until recently, the Mekong sub-region in Southeast Asia was making progress towards eliminating malaria by 2030. However, with the outbreak of civil war in Myanmar in 2021, cases have increased significantly. The Trump administration's cuts to foreign aid, including the dismantling of USAID, have raised concerns about losing progress made in combating malaria in the region. The suspension of anti-malaria programs in Myanmar could lead to a resurgence of the disease in Southeast Asia....