US official holds talks in Africa on responsible use of military AI
Abuja, Nigeria — A U.S. State Department official was in Nigeria this week to meet with local and regional authorities about the responsible use of artificial intelligence in military applications. Mallory Stewart, assistant secretary of state for the Bureau of…
UN migration agency issues $18.5 million appeal to prepare for mpox ‘surge’
Migrants and other marginalized and highly mobile populations including those uprooted from their homes by natural emergencies and conflict are far more prone to infection because of poor living conditions and the “significant barriers” many often encounter in seeking help, explained…
Botswana begins mpox screening at entry points
Gaborone, Botswana — Health officials in Botswana have started screening travelers for mpox at the country’s entry points. Neighboring South Africa has recorded three deaths as a result of the dangerous strain of mpox, and Botswana is anxious to keep…
Status quo ‘not sustainable’ in increasingly unstable Libya, Security Council hears
Stephanie Koury, Deputy Special Representative and Officer-in-Charge of the UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL), said these developments “have increased tension, further entrenched institutional and political divisions and complicated efforts for a negotiated political solution.” UNSMIL is working to promote…
Europe can defeat mpox, must support Africa in getting vaccines: WHO
Briefing journalists in Geneva, Dr. Hans Kluge, WHO Regional Director for Europe, insisted that the risk from mpox to the general population was “low”. He rejected comparisons between the fast-spreading viral disease which the agency declared an international public health emergency…
WHO: Mpox is not the new COVID
Berlin — The World Health Organization reports that basic public health measures can stop outbreaks of mpox and potentially eliminate transmission of the virus, which has caused 99,176 cases of the disease and 208 deaths globally since 2022. “We know…
Officials: Pakistan mpox strain is different from DRC strain
A case of the mpox virus detected in Pakistan last week is not the same strain of the virus spreading on the African continent, Pakistan health officials said Monday. Health officials determined that the case in Pakistan can be classified…
Tech innovations offer hope for overburdened Africa health care system
Nairobi, Kenya — Overcrowding in African hospitals is blamed on the scarcity of health facilities and doctors, especially in rural areas. According to the United Nations, there is only one doctor for every 5,000 people in Africa, a continent that…
Youth-led groups tackle famine in war-ravaged Sudan
These young Sudanese volunteers work in youth-led initiatives born in the throes of the ongoing war that has displaced millions since fighting erupted in April 2023 between rival militaries, and they are providing lifesaving assistance with limited means and strong…
Humanitarian aid to Sudan civilians stalled by floods and violence
The opening of the vital aid route on Friday was welcomed by officials, as it serves as a vital humanitarian route for delivering urgent aid to millions, according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). Reports…