Rorisang Modiba delivers daily updates from around the world.
Burundi – Schools and parents in Burundi are being extra cautious as the new school year begins, implementing safety measures like social distancing and handwashing. Mpox cases in Burundi have risen by 40% since July, with 33% of cases now affecting children aged 5 to 19. The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is also seeing an increase in cases, with the WHO stating that the DRC accounts for most of Africa’s nearly 30,000 cases this year. In August, the WHO declared mpox a public health emergency in parts of Africa, with a few cases also reported in Sweden and Pakistan.
California – A jury in California has ordered MGA Entertainment to pay $71.5 million (R1.2 billion) to the OMG Girlz after the toy company was found guilty of copying the group’s “style and identity” for their LOL Surprise! OMG dolls. The group, formed in 2009, sued MGA, and after a lengthy legal battle, were awarded $17.9 million (R300 million) in real damages and $53.6 million (R900 million) in extra penalties.
Israel – Israel’s air defences have intercepted a missile launched by Hezbollah near Tel Aviv. This was the first time the militant group had targeted the city. Hezbollah stated that they aimed the missile at Mossad’s headquarters in retaliation for Israeli strikes on its members and to support Palestinians in Gaza. In response, Israel bombed the missile launcher in southern Lebanon. The ongoing conflict has led to the deaths of 569 people in Lebanon, raising concerns about the war escalating.
US – Sean “Diddy” Combs’ children—Quincy, Christian, Jessie, and D’Lila—released a statement rejecting a newly published memoir, Kim’s Lost Words, which falsely claims to have been written by their late mother, Kim Porter. The children called the book fake and said Porter, who died in 2018 from pneumonia, did not write it. They also denied negative claims made about their father, Diddy, and asked for privacy as they continued to mourn their mother’s death. Despite their protests, the book’s publisher is standing by its release.
Pictured above: WHO.
Source: WHO Burundi
