LOS ANGELES -- The Los Angeles County has declared a community-wide outbreak of hepatitis A, citing a sustained rise in clinical cases and elevated levels of the virus detected in local wastewater.
A total of 165 hepatitis A cases in Los Angeles County have been reported since 2024 -- more than triple the number of cases reported in 2023, according to a release Monday by the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health.
Of the 29 hepatitis A cases confirmed so far in 2025, the majority have occurred in individuals without known risk factors such as recent travel or unstable housing, the department noted. (U.S.-LA-hepatitis A)
- - - -
PRAGUE -- A Czech court on Tuesday issued a preliminary injunction temporarily blocking the Czech firm Elektrarna Dukovany II (EDU II) from signing a final contract with South Korea's Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP) for the construction of new nuclear reactors at the Dukovany power plant.
The injunction follows a legal complaint by French energy company EDF, which had participated in the tender but lost. EDF challenged the decision of the Czech competition authority UOHS.
The regional court in Brno published the information on its official website. As a result, the contract, originally scheduled to be signed on Wednesday, has been postponed pending a final court ruling. (Czech Republic-Nuclear reactors)
- - - -
OTTAWA -- Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said Tuesday he had wide-ranging and constructive discussions with U.S. President Donald Trump in the White House, although the two leaders disagreed on tariffs lifting and the "51st state," according to the live broadcast of CBC News.
Giving a post-meeting news conference in Washington, D.C., Carney said that he and Trump agreed to have further conversations in the coming weeks and meet again in person at the G7 summit in Kananaskis, Alberta.
Carney said he told Trump it's "not useful" to repeat the 51st state idea, adding that Trump is the president who is going to say whatever he wants. "He understands that we are having a negotiation between sovereign nations," said Carney.(Canada-US-Leaders' meeting)
- - - -
CAIRO -- Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty affirmed on Tuesday Egypt's support for Sudan in response to the recent targeting of civilian infrastructure and essential facilities in the country's Port Sudan city.
In a phone conversation with Sudanese Foreign Minister Omer Siddiq, Abdelatty emphasized the critical need for de-escalation to achieve a state of calm, ultimately leading to a much-needed ceasefire, according to a statement by the Egyptian Foreign Ministry.
This, he noted, would significantly contribute to improving the delivery of humanitarian assistance to the people of Sudan.
The Sudanese foreign minister, in turn, expressed his appreciation for Egypt's support and conveyed his hope for increased coordination and consultation with Egypt in the near future. (Egypt-Sudan-Support)
- - - -
MUSCAT/SANAA -- Oman has brokered a ceasefire between Yemen's Houthi group and the United States, Omani Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr bin Hamad bin Hamood Albusaidi said in a statement on Tuesday.
"In the future, neither side will target the other, including American vessels, in the Red Sea and Bab al-Mandab Strait, ensuring freedom of navigation and the smooth flow of international commercial shipping," the statement said.
The minister also expressed his country's gratitude to both parties for their "constructive" engagement, stating that it hopes the agreement will pave the way for further progress on regional issues and contribute to achieving justice, peace, and prosperity for all.(Oman-Yemen-US Ceasefire) ■
