Gavi Purchases 500,000 Mpox Vaccine Doses Amid Africa's Outbreak; Global Health Efforts Accelerate
Gavi buys 500,000 doses of mpox vaccine for Africa's outbreak. UAE mandates at least one board seat for women in private companies by 2025.
To address Africa's ongoing mpox outbreak, Gavi is purchasing 500,000 doses of Bavarian Nordic’s mpox vaccine for up to $50 million, primarily targeting the Democratic Republic of Congo, where over 25,000 suspected cases and 723 deaths have been reported this year. Complementing the WHO's global health emergency declaration, these efforts aim to fast-track vaccination in the region, with additional support from the Global Fund.
Meanwhile, in Pakistan, police in Jacobabad, Sindh province, have arrested Ahmad Jakhrani, a key suspect in the gang rape of a polio worker. This alarming incident, part of a troubling trend of violence against vaccination teams, also led to the dismissal of a local police chief for negligence and threats from the victim’s husband.
In international conflict news, Ukrainian drones have struck a major Russian military depot in Toropets, northwest of Moscow, destroying North Korean KN-23 missiles and igniting a large blaze, prompting evacuations. This attack is part of Ukraine's broader strategy to bring Russia to the negotiating table, with President Volodymyr Zelensky hinting at a plan to win the war.
Turning to Europe, Southern Poland is bracing for rising river threats as Central Europe continues to recover from devastating floods that have claimed 23 lives. Efforts near Wroclaw aim to protect homes and businesses, while improved weather aids cleanup, with the EU pointing to these floods and wildfires in Portugal as clear signs of a “climate breakdown.”
In a move toward cultural preservation and economic growth, Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund has launched QSAS, the National Interactive Entertainment Co., to create immersive experiences based on the Kingdom's heritage and Islamic history. Aiming to generate over 11,000 jobs by 2030 and attract 150 million visitors annually, this initiative supports the Pilgrim Experience Program and the National Tourism Strategy.
Lastly, focusing on gender equality, the UAE has mandated that private joint-stock companies must reserve at least one board seat for women by January 2025. Building on previous mandates, this initiative underscores the UAE’s strides in empowering women, highlighted by its impressive rise to 7th place in the UN's 2024 Gender Inequality Index.
Meanwhile, in Pakistan, police in Jacobabad, Sindh province, have arrested Ahmad Jakhrani, a key suspect in the gang rape of a polio worker. This alarming incident, part of a troubling trend of violence against vaccination teams, also led to the dismissal of a local police chief for negligence and threats from the victim’s husband.
In international conflict news, Ukrainian drones have struck a major Russian military depot in Toropets, northwest of Moscow, destroying North Korean KN-23 missiles and igniting a large blaze, prompting evacuations. This attack is part of Ukraine's broader strategy to bring Russia to the negotiating table, with President Volodymyr Zelensky hinting at a plan to win the war.
Turning to Europe, Southern Poland is bracing for rising river threats as Central Europe continues to recover from devastating floods that have claimed 23 lives. Efforts near Wroclaw aim to protect homes and businesses, while improved weather aids cleanup, with the EU pointing to these floods and wildfires in Portugal as clear signs of a “climate breakdown.”
In a move toward cultural preservation and economic growth, Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund has launched QSAS, the National Interactive Entertainment Co., to create immersive experiences based on the Kingdom's heritage and Islamic history. Aiming to generate over 11,000 jobs by 2030 and attract 150 million visitors annually, this initiative supports the Pilgrim Experience Program and the National Tourism Strategy.
Lastly, focusing on gender equality, the UAE has mandated that private joint-stock companies must reserve at least one board seat for women by January 2025. Building on previous mandates, this initiative underscores the UAE’s strides in empowering women, highlighted by its impressive rise to 7th place in the UN's 2024 Gender Inequality Index.
