TRANSCRIPT
- The World Health Organisation declares mpox a public health emergency
- Eleven-year-old stabbed in London identified as Australian tourist
- Real Madrid take on Atalanta for European Super Cup trophy.
The World Health Organisation has declared mpox a global public health emergency for the second time in two years, following an outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo which is spreading to neighbouring countries.
The outbreak in the DRC began with the spread of an endemic strain but a new variant appears to be spreading more easily through regular close contact, including sexual contact.
The virus, which can be spread through close contact, is usually mild but can be fatal in rare cases, causing flu like symptoms and pus-filled lesions on the body.
The World Health Organisation Director General Tedros Ghebreyesus says a coordinated international response is required to save lives.
"Last week I announced that I was convening an emergency committee under the international health regulations to evaluate the upsurge of Mpox in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and other countries in Africa. Today, the emergency committee met and advised me that in its view, the situation constitutes a public health emergency of international concern. I have accepted that advice."
The determination of mpox as a global public health emergency is the WHO's highest level of alert and accelerates research, funding and public measures to contain outbreaks.
A total of 13 countries, including Australia, have reported cases of mpox.
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The Department of Foreign Affairs has confirmed that an 11-year-old girl who fell victim to a stabbing attack on London's Leicester Square on Monday was an Australian tourist.
The incident occurred in one of the busiest areas of the English capital, with the young girl being placed in a headlock and stabbed eight times by the offender.
The man, who has been identified as 32 year-old Ioan Pintaru, was arrested by UK Police and appeared in court on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, the girl, who authorities say is from New South Wales, was immediately transferred to hospital along with her mother.
London Metropolitan Police say the girl's injuries are serious but not life-threatening.
DFAT has said the girl and her family are receiving consular services.
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Thailand's constitutional court has dismissed Prime Minister Sretta Thavisin from office after he appointed a former lawyer with prison time to his cabinet.
The court ruled that Mr Sretta had violated the constitution by his unlawful appointment, failing to meet ethical standards.
The removal of Mr Srettha, who has only been in power for less than a year means the country's parliament must convene to decide on a new premier.
Mr Srettha, who is the fourth Thai premier in 16 years to be removed by verdicts by the same court, says he was unaware his actions were unlawful at the time.
“I am saddened by the fact that I am seen as a Prime Minister without morality, which I affirm I am not such a person. But when the judiciary has made a decision, I have to accept it."
The court however rejected the argument, in a five votes to four decision.
**
In football,
Champions League winners Real Madrid and Europa League holders Atalanta will vie for the UEFA Super Cup trophy at the National Stadium in Warsaw.
It will be a first-class opportunity for fans to see the latest signing of the "merengues" French star Kilian Mbappe in action.
Atalanta are being pinned as heavy underdogs in the matchup, a role the Italian team's players say they feel quite comfortable in.
The club's head coach Gian Piero Gasperini says his team were in a similar position before the Europa League final against Bayer Leverkusen.
"Obviously on paper the odds are even greater than they were against Bayer Leverkusen who went into that final on a season-long run of positive results. So this is an even bigger hurdle. But we're even more motivated. It doesn't always happen in football but sometimes you can upset the odds."
