New Study Raises Questions After Researchers Report Higher Rates of Two Birth Defects Following Early Pregnancy COVID Vaccination : A new study is raising questions about COVID vaccination timing during the earliest weeks of pregnancy. Researchers reported higher rates of two rare birth defects among infants whose mothers received a vaccine during the first trimester. The findings do not prove cause and effect, but they are prompting calls for more research into pregnancy outcomes and vaccine safety monitoring. The debate highlights the challenges of making medical decisions when new evidence continues to emerge.
Iran Strikes Back as Gulf Tensions Spiral After Second Wave of U.S. Air Attacks : Iran’s retaliation after a second wave of U.S. strikes has pushed tensions higher across the Gulf, with missile and drone activity reported toward Kuwait and Bahrain. The escalation underscores how quickly the conflict is widening and how vulnerable regional allies have become as the standoff intensifies.