Covid-19 Update

Pacific

Ebola at the Gates? Why Vanuatu Says There’s No Need to Panic—Yet

With global attention now focusing on a renewed outbreak of Ebola that has occurred, including within Central and East Africa, the Pacific island nation of Vanuatu is being careful not to take unnecessary precautions or to panic. The Vanuatu Ministry of Health has promptly provided reassurance to their citizens that the chance of Ebola arriving in Vanuatu is very low, despite increased international health authorities monitoring the recent outbreak of Ebola, which is being caused by a rare strain called Bundibugyo, occurring primarily in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Uganda. While the word “Ebola” can invoke an...
Mena

32 million Visitors and Rising: How the UAE Quietly Became a Global Tourism Powerhouse

Asanga Divulweva -
Even in 2025, the UAE thrives as an innovative and attractive region for travel and tourism, building on their strong record of year-to-date growth achieved from both 2023 and 2024. It is estimated that there were over 32,340,000 guests who stayed at hotel properties in the United Arab Emirates during 2025, making this a new all-time record of visitors. This also represents a year-over-year increase of 5.2% from the...
Business & Trade

YouTube’s ‘Second Chance’ Policy Signals a New Era for Platform Accountability

Dana de Silva -
YouTube has moved decisively to roll back prior bans for certain creators with the introduction of a pilot “second chance” programme, allowing previously terminated users to potentially return under stricter conditions.   The New Policy in Brief The new policy from YouTube allows some permanently banned creators, especially those penalised under the now-obsolete COVID-19 or election misinformation rules, to apply for reinstatement. YouTube will vet applicants based on the severity of past violations,...
Healthcare

Shocking Link Found Between Vitamin D Deficiency and COVID-19 Hospitalisations!

S De Silva -
Healthcare (Commonwealth Union) – Vitamin D, is generally called the "sunshine vitamin," plays a crucial role in keeping the overall health and well-being. Unlike other vitamins, it plays its role like a hormone, influencing numerous bodily processes. One of its most well-known functions is enhancing calcium absorption, which is vital for strong bones and teeth. Without sufficient vitamin D, the body is unable to effectively absorb calcium, leading to...
Lead_Story

Thousands Injured, Millions Spent — But Is Canada’s Vaccine Compensation Program Failing?

Wasana Nadeeshani -
Commonwealth_ When Canada launched Vaccine Injury Support Program (VISP) in 2021, it was aimed to be a safety net for individuals who were seriously and irreversibly harmed after they were vaccinated by a Health Canada-licensed vaccine, particularly amid the country's record COVID-19 vaccination program. The promise was then thus: offer fair and timely compensation to the select few Canadians harmed by vaccines that helped millions.". More than three years on,...
Asia

New Covid Surge Sweeps Asia: Is the JN.1 Variant the Start of a Summer Wave?

Sarojini P -
India (Commonwealth Union)_ A renewed surge in Covid-19 cases is sweeping through parts of Asia, with countries such as Hong Kong, Singapore, China, and Thailand reporting a noticeable uptick in infections. The resurgence is largely attributed to the JN.1 variant, a descendant of the Omicron lineage, prompting health authorities across the region to issue advisories and urge citizens, particularly high-risk groups, to receive booster vaccinations. Also read:  Malaysia’s Bold Anti-Tobacco...
Europe

Post-COVID Shock: The Radical Ways UK Small Businesses Are Thriving in 2025

admin -
(Commonwealth_Europe) Five years after the onset of the first COVID-19 lockdown, small businesses across the United Kingdom have done more than simply adapt to a post-pandemic landscape—they have been fundamentally reshaped. Recent research by Funding Circle reveals that 92% of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) that modified their operations during the pandemic have since made those changes permanent. Initially developed as short-term survival measures, these strategies have evolved into...