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Zelensky Faces Stark Choices as Trump Pushes Peace Framework

Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner, U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, U.S. Army Secretary Daniel Driscoll sit before closed-door talks with Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine Andriy Yermak (not pictured). As pressure mounts in the ongoing war between Ukraine and Russia, U.S. President Donald Trump has intensified efforts to secure a peace deal , urging Kyiv to accept a revised framework before the American Thanksgiving holiday. The proposal, reportedly a 28-point plan , has drawn sharp criticism for heavily favoring Moscow’s interests, including demands that Ukraine cede territory, limit its military, and abandon aspirations to join NATO. In recent days, Trump warned that Ukraine risks losing access to U.S. intelligence and weapons if it fails to agree to the plan by November 27. His administration has framed the deadline as a necessary step to end the nearly four-year war, but many in Kyiv view it as coercive. Ukrainian President V...

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Mpox Emerges as Global Health Crisis: Africa Declares Emergency

 

In a concerning development, the World Health Organization (WHO) has declared mpox a public health emergency of international concern for the second time. This decision comes on the heels of a similar continental emergency declaration by African health officials. The virus, known for causing painful, pus-filled lesions and severe illness, first gained global attention in 2022. Although case counts cooled down after widespread vaccination efforts, this year presents a more grim situation.

Across 18 African nations, thousands of infections have been reported, with a highly-transmissible variant spreading beyond the borders of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Even vulnerable newborns are falling ill in overcrowded hospitals. The lack of necessary vaccines and therapeutics in hotspots exacerbates the crisis. Year-to-date, Africa has seen over 15,000 mpox cases and nearly 500 deaths, representing a 160% increase compared to 2023.

Toronto, too, faces a resurgence of mpox cases. Officials urgently advise at-risk residents to get vaccinated. Africa’s Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) estimates a need for 10 million mpox vaccine doses, but the continent has procured only 200,000 doses so far. Coordinated international efforts are crucial to halt these outbreaks and save lives.

Stay informed, stay vigilant, and prioritize vaccination to combat this global health crisis.


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