Shashika Bandara

Israel must rescind outrageous decision to “take control” of Gaza City It is utterly outrageous and revolting that the Israeli cabinet has approved plans for the military to scale up their ground presence in the occupied Gaza Strip and completely take over Gaza City.

Israel must rescind outrageous decision to “take control” of Gaza City and entrench its military occupation.

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Germany's suspension of arms deliveries to Israel comes in response to Benjamin Netanyahu’s decision to expand military operations in Gaza, a move that could result in a full reoccupation of the enclave. on.ft.com/4loMkeL

An unbelievable performance! Back to back threes to close out.

Development Assistance for Health fell by 50% in 2025. I know many countries are already planning ahead - but important to recognize the massive, overnight-esq shift in #globalhealth.
Read more: www.healthdata.org/news-events/...

War wounds caused by explosive weapons in Gaza: data from a 2024 study by Médecins Sans Frontières As of July 23, 2025, Israel's military assault on Gaza has killed over 59 219 Palestinians, wounded an additional 143 045, and displaced nearly all of the 2·1 million people who live there.1 Triangula...

In a letter, @msf.ca presents data from 6 MSF-supported health facilities in Gaza on the war wounds caused by explosive weapons in 2024. As importation restrictions continue, MSF warns of critical shortages of essential medical supplies in the weeks to come.

🔗 tinyurl.com/3xdx6af8

I will speaking on the status-quo of #globalhealth, decolonizing& more at the Canadian Association for HIV Research Workshop on Sept. 25. If you like skill building&meeting experts join us.
@cahr-acrv.bsky.social
Apply by Aug 13. cahr-acrv.ca/workshops/

🙏 @madhupai.bsky.social for recommending.

Israel closes 88% of cases of alleged war crimes or abuse without charges – report Conflict monitoring group Action on Armed Violence says Israel is seeking to create a ‘pattern of impunity’ Nearly nine out of 10 Israeli military investigations into allegations of war crimes or abuses by its soldiers since the start of the war in Gaza have been closed without finding fault or left without resolution, according to a conflict monitor. Unresolved investigations include the killing of at least 112 Palestinians queueing for flour in Gaza City in February 2024, Action on Armed Violence (AOAV) said, and an airstrike that killed 45 in an inferno at a tented camp in Rafah in May 2024. Continue reading...

Israel closes 88% of cases of alleged war crimes or abuse without charges – report

The pandemic treaty: A forensic review of process and pitfalls This article examines efforts to develop a pandemic treaty through World Health Organization member state agreement from 2021 to 2025, focusing on challenges during the process. The COVID-19 pandem...

As discussions restart this week at the World Health Organization in Geneva on the #PandemicAgreement, we reflect on the process to date in a new analysis, "The Pandemic Treaty - a forensic review of process and pitfalls," just published in the journal Global Public Health.

bit.ly/accordprocess

A table with a list of countries ranked by the number of measles cases. Headline reads: "Canada Ranks Among Top Countries in Measles Cases." Source: CDC.

Measles cases in Canada have far surpassed those in the U.S. as health officials in Alberta, a western province that has become a hot spot for the outbreak, have urged the provincial leader to declare a public health emergency to stave off infections. https://nyti.ms/3J8Wfr8

Canada to recognise Palestine at UN general assembly, joining France and UK in push for new state New Zealand and Australia were signatories to a declaration that indicates they could follow suit in the coming months The Canadian prime minister, Mark Carney, has announced his country plans to formally recognise Palestine during the UN general assembly in September, after France and 14 other countries co-signed a declaration that pointed towards a wave of future recognitions of an independent Palestinian state. Canada’s plans follow similar announcements by France and the UK to formally recognise Palestine, while New Zealand and Australia were also signatories to a declaration that indicates they could follow suit in the coming months. Continue reading...

Canada to recognise Palestine at UN general assembly, joining France and UK in push for new state

Trump administration freezes $108 million for Duke Health after accusing university of ‘systemic racial discrimination’ | CNN Politics The Trump administration has frozen $108 million in federal funding for Duke Health, a senior administration official confirmed, amid allegations of “systemic racial discrimination.”

This headline should read Trump admin is weaponizing its anti-DEI policies - instead it implies a false reality.

Broader picture is that Trump is making good on his policies including those based on ‘reverse racism’ conspiracy theories.

It is sad and tiring.

www.cnn.com/2025/07/29/p...

FT editorial board has taken bold stance - on the side of humanity and humanitarian values.

No matter the origin, geography, religion etc. human right are for all.

Israel committing genocide in Gaza, say Israel-based human rights groups Reports detailing killing of children and elderly, forced displacement and starvation likely to add to pressure for action * Middle East crisis – live updates Two leading human rights organisations based in Israel, B’Tselem and Physicians for Human Rights, say Israel is committing genocide against Palestinians in Gaza and the country’s western allies have a legal and moral duty to stop it. In reports published on Monday, the two groups said Israel had targeted civilians in Gaza only because of their identity as Palestinians over nearly two years of war, causing severe and in some cases irreparable damage to Palestinian society. Continue reading...

Israel committing genocide in Gaza, say Israel-based human rights groups

Edinburgh University had ‘outsized’ role in creating racist scientific theories, inquiry finds Exclusive: Investigation finds one of Britain’s oldest and most prestigious universities benefited from transatlantic slavery and was haven for white supremacist theories

Many elite academic institutions need to check their history on contributing to/perpetuating racist ideologies.

Here is U of Edinburgh.

www.theguardian.com/education/20...

Based on the findings and recommendations of @who.int Commission on Social Connection - Dr. Tedros et al. highlight that “loneliness is a global health threat and a political failure”

www.aljazeera.com/opinions/202...

Sri Lanka waives visa fees for 40 countries : Full list released - Newswire Sri Lanka has expanded its visa-fee waiver to 40 countries in a bid to boost tourist arrivals. While the initiativeContinue Reading

#SriLanka waives visa fee for 40 countries. Let’s hold #globalhealth conferences in Sri Lanka. #lka

I also hope this won’t increase expats exploiting Sri Lanka/ gentrification.

www.newswire.lk/2025/07/25/s...

Okay. The rationale of English language tests renewal makes no sense to me. If the test scores said I was really fluent in English 3 years ago, how can I lose all of that suddenly? Talk about extractive business models preying mostly on immigrants.

What we allow to happen in this world says a lot about us.

All major journalist orgs have come together to highlight the threat of starvation facing their colleagues and Palestinians.

Israel remains responsible and the power holder in this situation.

People in Gaza are ‘walking corpses’, says Unrwa, as agency says it has 6,000 aid trucks ready to enter – Middle East crisis live Philippe Lazzarini says Unrwa findings show one in five children is malnourished in Gaza City and says agency has food and medical supplies Palestinian health officials said Thursday that two Palestinian teenage boys were killed by Israeli fire on Wednesday night in the Israeli-occupied West Bank. Israel’s military said its forces had fired at Palestinians throwing molotov cocktails toward a highway, killing two near the West Bank town of Al-Khader. Continue reading...

People in Gaza are ‘walking corpses’, says Unrwa, as agency says it has 6,000 aid trucks ready to enter – Middle East crisis live

Florida Is Now a Haven for Unproven Stem-Cell Treatments In a measure that flouts the FDA, Florida says doctors can give unapproved stem-cell therapies for wound care, pain management, or orthopedic purposes.

A new Florida law that took effect this month sidesteps the FDA by allowing patients to access certain stem-cell treatments that have not been rigorously evaluated and approved. More states could follow under RFK's tenure. My latest for @wired.com:

As Gaza starves, Netanyahu jokes about McDonald’s with ‘manosphere’ podcasters Nelk Boys | Arwa Mahdawi The Israeli PM went on Full Send Podcast ‘to reach young people’. After his appearance, its YouTube channel lost more than 100,000 subscribers in less than a day

As Gaza starves, Netanyahu jokes about McDonald’s with ‘manosphere’ podcasters Nelk Boys | Arwa Mahdawi

I struggle with this extractive capitalist manipulation of global health so so much. Everyone’s health matters - from moral, economic, and pragmatic perspectives!

YouTube video by TRT World Now More than 100 people have died from malnutrition in Gaza

youtu.be/h686Hfsobeg

Last year’s unrest in England and Northern Ireland ‘has caused lasting harm to communities’ Charity says racially motivated riots detrimental to mental and physical health, with Muslim women and girls particularly affected A report has found that the violent disorder that swept parts of England and Northern Ireland in summer 2024 had a “devastating” long-term impact on the mental and physical health of affected communities. The research, by the charity People’s Health Trust, drew on the experiences of more than 50 community organisations working with tens of thousands of people in the neighbourhoods hit hardest by the racially motivated unrest. Continue reading...

Last year’s unrest in England and Northern Ireland ‘has caused lasting harm to communities’

Advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice on obligations of states related to Climate Crisis.

www.icj-cij.org/sites/defaul...

VIDEO: 🇮🇱 🇵🇸 Israeli activists march to denounce food shortages in Gaza

Israeli activists march in Tel Aviv with sacks of flour to denounce the ongoing food shortages in the Gaza Strip
#AFPVertical

State Dept. Opens Investigation Into Harvard’s Use of International Visas The Trump administration has continued to pressure the university despite continuing talks to settle a monthslong dispute over the federal government’s role in higher education.

Breaking News: The Trump administration opened an investigation into Harvard’s use of international visas, despite ongoing talks to end their monthslong battle.

Israel blocking aid from Gaza is creating ‘chaos and death’, say humanitarian groups Letter signed by agencies including Doctors Without Borders condemns Israeli military attacks on Palestinians More than 100 aid agencies issued a dire warning that “mass starvation” was spreading across Gaza and urged Israel to let humanitarian aid into the besieged strip to alleviate the growing man-made hunger crisis. A letter signed by 109 agencies including Doctors Without Borders, Oxfam International and Amnesty International says the Israeli government is blocking humanitarian organisations from effectively distributing life-saving aid. Continue reading...

Israel blocking aid from Gaza is creating ‘chaos and death’, say humanitarian groups

How your research can survive a US federal grant termination Researchers in the United States are filing appeals, seeking court remedies, turning to philanthropy and starting GoFundMe campaigns.

Interesting piece on navigating US funding cuts (in the U.S. mostly).

www.nature.com/articles/d41...

Crimea against humanity and violation of Geneva convention - we all know but worth repeating.