News
WHO Unveils $135M Global Plan to Combat Mpox

The World Health Organization (WHO) has introduced a global Strategic Preparedness and Response Plan (SPRP) to mitigate the human-to-human transmission of Mpox.
This announcement was made in a statement released by WHO on Monday, detailing the extensive framework and strategies required to combat the ongoing Mpox outbreaks worldwide.
According to WHO, the plan will be implemented from September 2024 to February 2025 and will require an estimated 135 million U.S. dollars in funding. It is designed to bolster efforts at the global, regional, and national levels.
The core objectives of the plan are to strengthen surveillance mechanisms, enhance response strategies, ensure equitable access to critical tools like diagnostics and vaccines, and reduce zoonotic transmission (from animals to humans).
Additionally, the plan prioritizes empowering communities in their roles in outbreak control and prevention.
This initiative comes on the heels of the Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) declaration made by WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus on August 14.
WHO emphasized that a formal appeal for funding to support the SPRP’s implementation will be issued in the near future.
Building on recommendations made by Dr. Ghebreyesus, the SPRP focuses on a multifaceted approach, integrating comprehensive surveillance systems, proactive prevention measures, and enhanced readiness at all levels.
WHO highlighted the need for a coordinated response, particularly for those most at risk of infection, such as close contacts of confirmed Mpox cases and frontline healthcare workers. Targeted vaccination efforts will be critical to disrupting the transmission chain.
At the global level, WHO aims to provide strategic leadership through timely, evidence-based guidance.
There will be a concerted effort to ensure access to medical countermeasures, such as vaccines and treatments, for the most vulnerable populations in affected countries.
This global initiative will be executed in collaboration with a diverse network of international, regional, and national partners to enhance coordination across key areas of preparedness and response.
Key partners and stakeholders engaged in this effort include the Access to COVID-19 Tools (ACT) Accelerator Principals group, the Standing Committee on Health Emergency Prevention, Preparedness and Response, the R&D Blueprint for Epidemics, and the interim Medical Countermeasures Network (i-MCM Net).
Through these partnerships, WHO aims to strengthen preparedness, streamline response efforts, and ensure timely access to the necessary resources for managing the Mpox outbreak on a global scale.
News
Legal Group Files Lawsuit Against Trump Over Tariffs, Claims He Exceeded His Authority

A legal advocacy group filed a lawsuit on Monday challenging US President Donald Trump’s broad tariffs on foreign trade partners. The group, Liberty Justice Center, argues that Trump exceeded his authority by imposing these tariffs and has asked the US Court of International Trade to block them.
The lawsuit, filed on behalf of five small businesses, targets the tariffs Trump introduced on April 2, as well as the additional duties placed on China. These businesses include a wine and spirits importer from New York and a Virginia-based company making educational kits and musical instruments.
Liberty Justice Center senior counsel Jeffrey Schwab argued that only Congress, not the president, has the constitutional authority to set tax rates, including tariffs. He stated, “No one person should have the power to impose taxes with such far-reaching global consequences.”
In response, White House spokesman Harrison Fields defended Trump’s tariffs, saying they were necessary to address unfair trade practices, particularly with China. He claimed the president is standing up for American businesses and workers by correcting trade imbalances.
This lawsuit follows another similar legal challenge in Florida, where a small business owner is also seeking to block tariffs on Chinese goods.
Trump’s tariffs include a 10% duty on goods from all countries, with higher rates for those with significant barriers to US imports. While some of the tariffs were paused for 90 days, the Liberty Justice Center argues that Trump’s use of special executive powers under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act doesn’t authorize such actions.
Entertainment
Portable Sent to Prison in Ilorin After Failing to Meet Bail in Saheed Osupa Case

Controversial singer Portable, whose real name is Okikiola Badmus, has been sent to the Oke Kura Correctional Centre in Ilorin, Kwara State.
This followed his failure to meet the strict bail conditions set by an Upper Area Court, where he appeared on Monday over a defamation case filed by Fuji music legend Saheed Osupa.
The court granted him bail at N1 million with tough conditions. He is required to provide two sureties—one must be either the Chairman or Secretary of the Performing Musicians Association of Nigeria (PMAN), while the other must own a property within a Government Reserved Area in Ilorin and present a valid Certificate of Occupancy.
Until those conditions are met, Portable will remain in custody.
News
Yoon Suk Yeol’s Trial Begins Over Martial Law And Causing Political Chaos

The criminal trial of South Korea’s former president, Yoon Suk Yeol, began on Monday as he faces charges of insurrection for declaring martial law late last year, which led to months of political unrest.
The martial law declaration lasted just six hours after parliamentary staffers blocked special forces from entering the parliament building, where lawmakers voted against it.
Yoon, who left his home in a motorcade to attend the court session at the Seoul Central District Court, denied all charges. Prosecutors argued that he had no legal right to declare martial law and accused him of attempting to paralyze state institutions like parliament.
Yoon defended his actions, claiming that martial law was necessary to highlight the opposition party’s control over the legislature, which repeatedly blocked his government’s agenda. He maintained that he never intended to disrupt the country.
The charge of insurrection could result in life imprisonment or even the death penalty, though South Korea has not carried out executions in decades.
Earlier this month, Yoon was removed from office by the Constitutional Court for violating constitutional powers, with his martial law declaration on December 3 which is a serious blow to democracy. The court notes that his actions caused chaos across society, the economy, and foreign policy.
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