International

Mpox cases decline in Africa as vaccination efforts continue

The mpox epidemic, formerly known as monkeypox, is showing signs of decline in Africa, with a drop in infections recorded during the past week, the African Union’s public health agency reported Thursday.

Authorities described this trend as “very encouraging” on the path toward controlling the outbreak.

Since January 2024, there have been 150,880 suspected cases and 41,292 confirmed infections, along with 1,830 verified deaths and 205 suspected deaths across 26 African countries, according to data from the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC).

“This week, we continue to observe a downward trend in the number of suspected cases as well as confirmed cases,” said Yap Boum, incident deputy manager of Africa CDC, at a press conference. “This is very encouraging as it helps us see the light at the end of the tunnel as we move forward,” he added.

During the last week, 3,113 new cases (879 confirmed) were reported, a decrease from the 3,323 cases (957 confirmed) reported the previous week. The decline was especially notable in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), the epicenter of the epidemic, as well as in Uganda and Sierra Leone.

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Boum also emphasized that “we continue to encourage intensified surveillance and other public health measures to sustain and accelerate the decline” in cases. He urged the strengthening of vaccination programs in the most affected countries and called for the mobilization of additional vaccine doses.

Currently, eleven African countries have received mpox vaccines, and seven are conducting vaccination campaigns. According to Boum, just over three million doses have been distributed in total. “We understand,” he added, “that vaccination is not a silver bullet, but it is a key component of the response” to the epidemic.

The African Union health agency declared mpox a continental public health emergency on August 13. The World Health Organization (WHO) issued an international health alert the following day, which has remained in effect since June 9.

Mpox is an infectious disease characterized by skin rashes, fever, swollen lymph nodes, muscle aches, headaches, back pain, and general fatigue.

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International

IEA warns Middle East conflict could spark worst energy crisis in decades

The ongoing conflict in the Middle East could trigger the worst energy crisis in decades, warned Fatih Birol, head of the International Energy Agency (IEA), who described the situation as “very serious.”

Speaking at the National Press Club in Canberra, Birol compared the current scenario to the oil crises of the 1970s, noting that during those events the world lost around five million barrels of oil per day in each crisis.

“Today, we have lost 11 million barrels per day—more than the two major oil shocks combined,” he said.

The Turkish economist referred to the conflict that began on February 28, following attacks by the United States and Israel against Iran, which have significantly disrupted global energy markets and driven oil prices higher.

Birol warned that the global economy is facing a “very, very serious threat” and expressed hope that the crisis will be resolved soon.

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“No country will be immune to the effects of this crisis if it continues in this direction. Global efforts are urgently needed,” he emphasized.

International

Colombian Air Force Hercules plane crashes during takeoff with troops onboard

A Lockheed C-130 Hercules operated by the Colombian Air Force was involved in a “tragic accident” while taking off from Puerto Leguízamo, in the Putumayo department of southern Colombia, as it was transporting troops, Defense Minister Pedro Sánchez reported on Monday.

The minister stated on social media that the exact number of victims and the causes of the crash have not yet been determined. He also extended his condolences to the families affected and urged the public to avoid speculation until official information is confirmed.

“This is a deeply painful event for the country. Our prayers are with the victims and their families,” Sánchez said, adding that emergency protocols have been activated and an investigation is underway.

Meanwhile, President Gustavo Petro expressed hope that there would be no fatalities in what he described as a “horrific accident that should not have happened.”

Petro also highlighted ongoing efforts to modernize the country’s air fleet and reiterated the need to acquire new helicopters and transport aircraft to strengthen military mobility, particularly in remote regions.

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According to local media reports, approximately 110 soldiers were on board the aircraft. So far, at least 20 injured military personnel have been rescued.

International

Paris prosecutors alert U.S. over alleged deepfake strategy linked to Elon Musk

The Paris Prosecutor’s Office said on Saturday that it had alerted authorities in the United States over suspicions that tech entrepreneur Elon Musk may have encouraged the spread of sexualized deepfake content on the social platform X to artificially boost the company’s valuation.

According to prosecutors, the controversy surrounding explicit AI-generated videos—reportedly linked to Grok, the platform’s artificial intelligence system—may have been deliberately triggered to increase the market value of X and X AI.

The office added that the alleged strategy could be tied to the planned June 2026 public listing of a new entity formed through the merger of SpaceX and X AI.

French authorities said they contacted the U.S. Department of Justice as well as legal representatives at the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) earlier this week to share their concerns.

Responding on X in French to a report about the case, Musk referred to French prosecutors using an offensive term.

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When contacted, X’s legal representative in France did not immediately comment.

Grok, the platform’s AI system, has its own account on X, allowing users to interact with it or request content generation. For a period, users were able to tag the bot in posts to generate or edit images, a feature that may have facilitated the spread of such material.