Briefly

DR CONGO

Lab testing confirms malaria outbreak

Testing has confirmed that an initially unidentified illness that killed more than 50 people in northwest Democratic Republic of Congo was malaria, the country's National Public Health Institute said on Monday. At least 943 people fell sick and 52 died in Equateur Province at the start of the year, with symptoms ranging from fever and fatigue to vomiting and weight loss. Health officials said in February that the condition was suspected to be either malaria or food poisoning.

AUSTRALIA

Budget unveiled as federal election looms

The Australian Labor government unveiled the federal budget on Tuesday ahead of the upcoming election. Delivering his budget speech to the parliament, Treasurer Jim Chalmers outlined five key priorities of the 2025-26 budget: easing cost-of-living pressures, strengthening Medicare, expanding housing, investing in education and boosting economic resilience. Australia's economy is set to grow from 1.5 percent this year to 2.5 percent by 2026-27, driven by a rebound in private sector demand, he said.

FRANCE

Chewing gum releases microplastics: Study

Chewing gum releases hundreds of tiny plastic pieces straight into people's mouths, researchers said on Tuesday. The study comes as researchers have increasingly been discovering small shards of plastic, called microplastics, throughout the world. They have also discovered microplastics riddled throughout human bodies, sparking fears of the potential effect this could be having on health. There is no evidence directly showing that microplastics are harmful to human health, said Sanjay Mohanty, the lead researcher behind the new study.

Agencies - Xinhua