New Zealand: Plate-sized surgical tool left in woman’s abdomen for 18 months

A device “the size of a dinner plate” was left in the abdomen of a woman in New Zealand after she gave birth via a Caesarean in an Auckland hospital.…

Australia: Memorial for couple killed by wild mushroom draws hundreds

A memorial service in Australia for the couple who died after eating a mushroom beef Wellington cooked by their former daughter-in-law has drawn hundreds. Gail and Don Patterson were two…

Australia: Live worm found in woman’s brain

In a world first, scientists say an 8cm (3in) worm has been found alive in the brain of an Australian woman. The “string-like structure” was pulled from the patient’s damaged…

Japan: Authorities to release treated water in 48 hours

Japan will start releasing treated radioactive water from the tsunami-hit Fukushima nuclear plant into the Pacific Ocean on Thursday, despite opposition from its neighbours. The decision comes weeks after the…

Sudan: Authorities to launch mass measles vaccination drive

Sudan’s health ministry says it will immunise children against measles across the country, where more than three million people have been forced from their homes since fighting began in April.…

Gambia: Authorities hire US lawyers over syrup scandal

Reuters reports that the Gambia has hired a US law firm to consider legal action, after a government-funded investigation found that contaminated medicine imported from India were “very likely” to…

Vatican: Pope Francis spends night in hospital

Pope Francis spent a calm night in hospital after being admitted for a respiratory infection and is expected to remain there for a few days for treatment, a Vatican source…

Gambia: Authorities apologise as patient dies in stranded ferry

The Gambia authorities have said that a ferry which was stranded in the northern coastal region of Barra for 12 hours has been disentangled from a fishing net. The vessel…

Tanzania: Marburg virus kills five people in Kagera region

Marburg virus has killed five people in Tanzania’s north-western Kagera region, the health ministry has said. High fever is a common symptom of the deadly Ebola-like virus, often followed by…

Malaysia: Ex-PM charged with corruption over Covid spending

Malaysia’s former prime minister who led during the height of the pandemic has been charged with corruption – a move that ratchets up already bitter political tensions. Muhyiddin Yassin, 75,…