Breaking News, Business, Financial and Economic News, World News from EconoTimes

Become a contributor

Bookmark Econotimes

Sun, Jun 22, 2025 09:16 AM All times are UTC

Follow Series

©Econometrics LLC . All Rights Reserved.

Michael Head

Senior Research Fellow in Global Health, University of Southampton
Dr Michael Head is a Senior Research Fellow in Global Health, based in the Clinical Informatics Research Unit at the University of Southampton, UK. He has a background in public health research and infectious disease epidemiology, with research links in Ghana, Togo, Ethiopia and Brazil. His main research interests are pneumonia and also Neglected Tropical Diseases, including scabies and onchocerciasis. Michael also analyses portfolios of research, to review levels of funding for different diseases and to provide insight into research strength, knowledge gaps, and future priorities. He has communicated extensively with the written and TV media throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.

Europe faces worst measles outbreak since 1997 – new data

Mar 18, 2025 15:08 pm UTC| Insights & Views Health

Europe has had the highest number of measles cases since 1997, according to a new report from the World Health Organization (WHO). There were 127,350 cases in 2024 about double the number from 2023. Measles is back, and...

Why is whooping cough surging in the UK? Falling vaccination rates may be answer

May 15, 2024 07:27 am UTC| Health

A large outbreak of pertussis (more commonly known as whooping cough) has been ongoing in the UK since the beginning of 2024. There have been 2,793 confirmed cases so far this year. Sadly, five infant deaths due to...

AstraZeneca’s COVID vaccine withdrawn – right to the end it was the victim of misinformation

May 09, 2024 07:10 am UTC| Insights & Views Health

The Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine was a critical part of the COVID-19 pandemic response. However, on May 7 2024, the European Commission announced the vaccine is no longer authorised for use. This EU announcement was...

Food prices will climb everywhere as temperatures rise due to climate change – new research

Mar 25, 2024 05:09 am UTC| Insights & Views Life Economy

Climate change, and specifically rising temperatures, may cause food prices to increase by 3.2% per year, according to a new study by researchers in Germany. As climate change continues to worsen, this price inflation will...

Scabies: UK facing unusually large outbreaks – and treatment shortages appear mostly to blame

Jan 08, 2024 22:24 pm UTC| Health

Scabies is an unpleasant skin infection thats common all around the world. Outbreaks happen regularly with an estimated 450 million cases occurring globally each year. But since the start of winter, outbreaks in the UK...

Billions is spent on cancer research globally – but is it money well spent?

Jun 03, 2023 03:27 am UTC| Insights & Views Business

In 2020, 19 million people around the world received a cancer diagnosis. By 2040, that number is expected to reach 28 million. Poorer countries will be especially hard hit, with an increasing number of cases and more...

Leprosy, scabies and yaws - Togo's neglected tropical skin diseases need attention

Mar 28, 2023 14:17 pm UTC| Health

Neglected tropical diseases are a group of 20 diseases found mostly in tropical regions that are strongly associated with poverty. Among them are skin diseases like scabies, leprosy and yaws. They are caused by some...

1 2

Economy

UK Pledges £275M to Boost Skilled Workforce and Cut Reliance on Foreign Labor

The UK government has announced a 275 million ($371 million) investment to strengthen its skilled workforce, targeting critical industries like engineering and defense. Prime Minister Keir Starmer revealed the funding on...

U.S. Strikes on Iran Fuel Market Jitters, Oil Prices Expected to Spike

Global markets are bracing for volatility after the U.S. launched airstrikes on Irans nuclear facilities, a move President Donald Trump called a spectacular military success. Investors expect a sharp rise in oil prices and...

UK Unveils £10 Billion Industrial Strategy to Boost Jobs and Innovation

The UK government is set to unveil a 10-year industrial strategy aimed at boosting economic growth, job creation, and investment across high-growth sectors. Part of Prime Minister Keir Starmers Plan for Change, the...

Middle East Conflict Spurs Oil Surge and Market Uncertainty as U.S. Weighs Involvement

As tensions escalate between Israel and Iran, investors are bracing for potential U.S. military involvement and its economic ripple effects. Markets are watching closely as the Trump administration considers joining...

Russian Stocks Flat as MOEX Index Stalls, Commodities Mixed

Russian equities closed flat on Saturday, with the MOEX Russia Index posting no change at 0.00%. Market activity remained muted, with top-traded stocks like AFK Sistema PJSC (MCX:AFKS), Aeroflot PJSC (MCX:AFLT), and...

Politics

Trump’s Iran Strike Sparks Global Tensions, Risks Wider Conflict

In a stunning reversal of his long-held stance against foreign wars, U.S. President Donald Trump authorized direct strikes on Irans nuclear sites, joining Israel in escalating the Middle East conflict. The attack,...

Iran Warns of "Everlasting Consequences" After U.S. Strikes Nuclear Sites

Iran has issued a sharp warning following U.S. airstrikes on three of its nuclear facilities, declaring the attacks will bring everlasting consequences. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, who also leads the countrys...

Middle East Airspace Avoided After U.S. Strikes on Iran, Airlines Reroute Flights

Airlines are continuing to reroute flights to avoid key parts of the Middle East after the U.S. carried out airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities. According to FlightRadar24, commercial air traffic is steering clear of...

U.S. Lawmakers React Sharply to Trump’s Iran Airstrikes

U.S. lawmakers issued swift and polarized reactions to President Donald Trumps decision to bomb Iranian nuclear facilities early Sunday, sparking debate over legality, foreign policy, and the risk of broader conflict....

B-2 Stealth Bombers Lead Precision Strikes on Iran’s Nuclear Sites

The U.S. Air Forces B-2 Spirit stealth bombers spearheaded a high-impact mission on Saturday, striking three of Irans key nuclear sites. President Donald Trump confirmed the very successful attack, announcing that the...

Science

SpaceX Starship Explodes in Texas During Test, Citing Nitrogen Tank Failure

SpaceXs Starship spacecraft exploded in a dramatic fireball during a late-night test at the companys Starbase facility in Brownsville, Texas, on June 18, 2025. The 400-foot Mars-bound rocket, a key part of Elon Musks...

NASA Astronauts Wilmore and Williams Recover After Boeing Starliner Delay

NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams are steadily recovering after spending nine unexpected months aboard the International Space Station (ISS) due to issues with Boeings Starliner capsule. Initially intended...

SpaceX Starship Test Flight Reaches New Heights but Ends in Setback

SpaceXs massive Starship rocket, central to Elon Musks vision for interplanetary travel, launched its ninth uncrewed test flight from Starbase, Texas, on May 27, 2025. The two-stage vehiclecomprising the upper-stage...

Trump’s nomination for NASA leader boasts business and commercial spaceflight experience during a period of uncertainty for the agency

Jared Isaacman, billionaire, CEO and nominee to become the next NASA administrator, faced questions on April 9, 2025, from members of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation during his confirmation...

Lab-grown meat: you may find it icky, but it could drive forward medical research

Lab-grown meat causes heated debates. Proponents see benefits for the climate and animal welfare. Opponents worry about a Frankenstein food they regard as risky and unnatural. Whatever your opinion, the technology...

Technology

Meta and Oakley Launch AI Smart Glasses with Meta AI and Camera Features

Meta has expanded its wearable tech portfolio by partnering with Oakley to release AI-powered smart glasses, following the strong market response to its Ray-Ban Meta line. The collaboration with EssilorLuxottica, parent...

US Considers Revoking Chipmaker Authorizations in China Amid Trade Tensions

The U.S. Department of Commerce is reportedly weighing the revocation of special authorizations granted to global chipmakers Samsung, SK Hynix, and TSMC, potentially limiting their access to American chipmaking equipment...

Apple Reportedly Eyes AI Startup Perplexity Amid Rising Search Tech Competition

Apple is reportedly exploring a potential acquisition of artificial intelligence startup Perplexity, according to Bloomberg News. The internal discussions, which involve Apples MA chief Adrian Perica, services head Eddy...

Meta and Oakley Unveil AI Smart Glasses for Athletes and Adventurers

Meta Platforms Inc. (NASDAQ: META) has partnered with Oakley to launch the Oakley Meta HSTN, a high-performance AI smart eyewear product blending advanced technology with athletic design. Targeting athletes and active...

BBC Considers Legal Action Against AI Firm Perplexity Over Content Use

The BBC is reportedly preparing legal action against AI search engine Perplexity for allegedly using its content without permission to train artificial intelligence models. According to the Financial Times, the UK public...