Blog

By Leah Douglas and Tom Polansek, Reuters A digitally-colorized microscopic image of Avian Influenza A (H5N1) virus particles (seen in gold), grown in epithelial cells (green). Photo: CDC/ Cynthia Goldsmith, Jacqueline Katz, Sherif R Zaki The US has reported its first severe human case of bird flu in a Louisiana resident who is hospitalised in critical condition after suspected contact with an infected backyard flock. The illness shows increased risks from the virus that previously caused eye redness, or conjunctivitis, in infected farm workers. H5N1 bird flu still represents a low risk to the general public, the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention said. CDC has confirmed 61 human cases since April, mostly in workers on dairy farms where the virus infected cattle. Workers c...

By Jackie Wattles and Ross Levitt, CNN In this photo from NASA, astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams appear inside the vestibule between the forward port on the International Space Station's Harmony module and Boeing's Starliner spacecraft in June. Photo: NASA/AP via CNN Newsource NASA has announced that it is delaying the SpaceX Crew-10 launch, a move that will keep astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams - who already had their stay aboard the International Space Station unexpectedly extended - in orbit even longer. Williams and Wilmore launched to space in June, piloting the first crewed test flight of Boeing's Starliner spacecraft. Their trip, expected to last about a week, ballooned into a monthslong assignment after their vehicle experienced technical issues en route t...

By Zoe Sottile, Josh Campbell and Artemis Moshtaghian, CNN Photo: Brian Glenn/TMX/AP via CNN Newsource Mysterious flying objects overhead. Concern and confusion. And calls for military intervention. This isn't the plot of "War of the Worlds," but rather the result of numerous possible drone sightings in the US in recent weeks. The flying objects have been spotted over residential neighborhoods, restricted sites and critical infrastructure. The sightings have put intense pressure on federal agencies to provide more information about the aircraft, as officials have urged calm and emphasized there is no evidence suggesting the sightings pose a security threat. The Biden administration has not identified "anything anomalous or any national security or public safety risks over the civilian...

By Andrew Osborn and Dmitry Antonov, Reuters Lieutenant General Igor Kirillov was the chief of Russia's Nuclear, Biological and Chemical Protection Troops. Photo: Russian Ministry of Defence / SUPPLIED Russia says it has detained an Uzbek man who had confessed to planting and detonating a bomb which killed a top general, Igor Kirillov, in Moscow on the instructions of Ukraine's SBU security service. Kirillov, who was chief of Russia's Nuclear, Biological and Chemical Protection Troops, was killed outside his apartment building on Tuesday along with his assistant when a bomb attached to an electric scooter went off. He is the most senior Russian military officer to be assassinated in Russia by Ukraine. Ukraine's SBU intelligence service took responsibility for the killing after Ukrain...

Rescuers search damaged buildings in Vanuatu for anyone trapped after the 7.3 earthquake. Photo: Supplied / Vanuatu Police Force There are warnings the death toll is likely to rise as rescue efforts continue in Vanuatu for people trapped in collapsed buildings. The government confirmed yesterday at least 14 people had died, though a former Vanuatu prime minister said officials told him that had already risen to 19. Hundreds more were injured. International military and emergency support was on the way, including from New Zealand. But access was difficult with the international airport still closed for commercial flights. Follow RNZ's liveblog for the latest updates: Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every w...

Vanuatu seasonal workers check into a hotel in Nadi to await the resumption of commercial airline services to Port Vila. December 2024 Photo: RNZ Pacific/Koroi Hawkins Dozens of Vanuatu workers returning home from working on orchards and vineyards in New Zealand are stuck in Fiji with commercial flights yet to resume to the quake-stricken country. Local authorities said on Wednesday the Bauerfield International Airport would likely remain closed until at least Saturday. Similar scenes were playing out for their colleagues across the ditch, with Australian airlines the first to announce the cancellation of flights to Port Vila. RNZ Pacific caught up with a cohort of more than 80 workers trying to sort out their accommodation for the night at the Grand Melanesian Hotel in Nadi. Danson Kir...