Celine Dion makes musical comeback at Paris Olympics with Eiffel Tower serenade

PARIS — PARIS (AP) — Celine Dion made a triumphant return Friday with a very public performance: closing out the Paris Olympics’ opening ceremony from the Eiffel Tower. Nearly two years after revealing her stiff person syndrome diagnosis, Dion belted Edith Piaf’s “Hymne à l’amour” (“Hymn to Love”) as the finale of the roughly four-hour … Read more

What you need to know as India issues an alert

Fruit bats seen hanging on tree branches in daylight. Bats are believed to be one of the carriers of Nipah virus, a zoonotic disease that spreads from animals to humans. Eyepix Group | Future Publishing | Getty Images Health authorities in the southern Indian state of Kerala are on high alert following the latest flare-up of the … Read more

Inquiry finds Britain was ill-prepared for COVID-19 pandemic and failed its citizens

LONDON — The U.K. government was ill-prepared for the COVID-19 pandemic and serious errors in planning failed its citizens, an inquiry found Thursday. Retired judge Heather Hallett, who is leading the ongoing inquiry, said the government wrongly believed in 2019 that it was one of the best-prepared countries in the world for an outbreak and … Read more

North Carolina’s restrictions on public mask-wearing are now law after some key revisions

RALEIGH, N.C. — North Carolina’s contentious restrictions on public mask-wearing became law on Thursday after GOP lawmakers successfully overrode a veto by the state’s Democratic governor. The Senate gave its final stamp of approval in a 30-14 override vote along party lines. The state House initiated the process Wednesday when it voted to override Gov. … Read more

Marsha Ambrosius’ new ‘CASABLANCO’ album is just what Dr. Dre ordered

NEW YORK — Marsha Ambrosius was done with the demands required of a successful R&B star, including the wear-and-tear of touring and fickle music industry politics. She was at peace working behind the scenes and writing for other artists. But Dr. Dre had a prescription to rejuvenate her on-stage desire. “I didn’t want to do … Read more

Cancer patient’s long wait for treatment highlights frustration with UK government as election nears

LONDON — Nathaniel Dye believes he probably won’t live to see Britain’s next election. But the music teacher diagnosed with stage 4 bowel cancer is doing everything he can to make sure the Labour Party wins this one. Dismayed by delays in his diagnosis by the National Health Service, the 38-year-old says he feels let … Read more

France’s Macron, African leaders push for vaccines for Africa after COVID-19 exposed inequalities

PARIS — French President Emmanuel Macron is joining several African leaders on Thursday to kick off a planned $1 billion project to accelerate the rollout of vaccines in Africa, after the coronavirus pandemic exposed gaping inequalities in access to them. The launch of the African Vaccine Manufacturing Accelerator, which will provide financial incentives to vaccine … Read more

Met Opera in New York sold 72% of tickets this season, up from 66% and highest since pandemic

NEW YORK — NEW YORK (AP) — The Metropolitan Opera sold 72% of its available tickets this season, up from 66% in 2022-23 and an increase from 61% from its first season following the pandemic. Box office remained down from 75% in 2018-19 and a projected 76% for 2019-20 before the mid-March shutdown caused by … Read more

How to find the right balance between telemedicine and in-person care

Patients can now see an array of doctors without leaving their recliner thanks to telemedicine. But that doesn’t mean trips to the office should end. Finding the right balance between virtual and in-person visits can be a key to getting good care. Here’s what you need to know about which form of care may be … Read more

WHO member countries approve steps to bolster health regulations to better brace for pandemics

GENEVA — The World Health Organization said member countries on Saturday approved new steps to improve global preparedness for and response to pandemics like COVID-19 and mpox, and set a new deadline for agreeing on a broader treaty. Countries agreed by consensus to amend the International Health Regulations, which were last changed in 2005, such … Read more