HEALTH/FITNESS

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The pharmaceutical giant announced Tuesday it has agreed to acquire three vaccine development companies in deals worth a combined total of nearly $4 billion in cash, marking a significant push into infectious disease prevention as the company looks to diversify beyond its enormously profitable weight loss franchise.

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The U.S. Department of Justice has officially reclassified cannabis, moving it from a Schedule I narcotic to a Schedule III drug. This historic shift in federal policy places marijuana in the same legal category as Tylenol with codeine. The change follows an executive order signed by President Donald Trump last year, which directed the administration to begin the process to expand medical research and improve access.

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A deadly Ebola outbreak is spreading, and Americans are now caught in the middle of it.

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The world’s largest condom manufacturer, Karex, is preparing to significantly increase its prices as global supply chains continue to feel the strain of the ongoing conflict involving Iran. According to the company’s chief executive, Goh Miah Kiat, prices could rise by as much as 30 percent or even higher if disruptions persist.

Karex, which produces more than five billion condoms annually, supplies major international brands such as Durex and Trojan, as well as public health systems including the United Kingdom’s NHS. This makes the company a critical player in global sexual health supply chains. Any change in its pricing has wide reaching implications for both consumers and public health programs.

The rising costs are closely tied to disruptions in global energy markets. Since Iran responded to military actions by the United States and Israel with threats targeting shipping routes, the Strait of Hormuz has effectively been compromised. This narrow passage is vital to global trade, with roughly one fifth of the world’s crude oil and liquefied natural gas passing through it under normal conditions.

As shipments slow and costs rise, industries that depend on petroleum based materials are facing increasing pressure. Karex is one such company. Its production relies heavily on oil derived inputs, including ammonia used in latex preservation and silicone based lubricants. As oil prices and transport costs climb, so too does the cost of manufacturing condoms.

Goh noted that production expenses have risen sharply since the conflict began. At the same time, demand for condoms has surged by around 30 percent this year. This increase is partly driven by economic uncertainty, with more people seeking to avoid unplanned pregnancies during unstable times. Goh explained that in uncertain conditions, individuals become more cautious about their financial future, making family planning even more important.

The impact of the conflict is not limited to the condom industry. Rising fuel prices and disrupted shipping routes are pushing up costs across a wide range of sectors. Air travel has become more expensive, with economy ticket prices rising significantly compared to last year. Fertiliser costs are also increasing, which could have long term effects on food production. In addition, shortages of helium, a key component in semiconductor manufacturing, are beginning to affect the technology sector.

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Billie Eilish is standing firm after sparking backlash with her recent remarks about meat consumption.

In an interview with Elle, the singer was asked what "hill" she would die on. She hesitated, warning, "Ya'll ain't gonna like me for this one," before saying: "Eating meat is inherently wrong."

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Just days after OpenAI’s entry into the space, Anthropic has unveiled healthcare features for Claude that allow the AI to access and analyze sensitive medical records. While this signals a major technological push into life sciences, the move highlights the growing role of AI in high-stakes fields where accuracy and privacy are paramount. The launch positions healthcare as the ultimate testing ground for whether generative AI can safely handle the world's most personal data.

Both tools will allow users to share information from health records and fitness apps, including Apple’s Health app, to personalize health-related conversations.

At the same time, the expansion comes amid heightened scrutiny over whether AI systems can safely interpret medical information and avoid offering harmful guidance.

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The World Health Organization confirmed Tuesday, May 5 that it is tracing individuals who were on an April 25 flight between Saint Helena and Johannesburg after a cruise ship passenger died from hantavirus.

 The Dutch woman, whose husband had previously died from the virus aboard the vessel, fell ill during the flight and passed away shortly after arriving at a Johannesburg hospital on April 26.

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OpenAI has introduced a health-focused feature in the U.S. designed to provide personalized advice by analyzing users' medical records and data from fitness apps like MyFitnessPal. While the company emphasized that "Chat Health" data is stored separately and not used to train its AI models, the launch has sparked warnings from privacy campaigners. OpenAI also clarified that the tool is strictly for informational purposes and is not intended to provide professional medical "diagnosis or treatment.”