The Democratic Republic of Congo and the United States have signed a high-profile deal on critical minerals, promising economic transformation and secure supply chains. While the pact is promising, inherent hurdles remain

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The challenges facing Simandou underline the complexity of turning resource wealth into widespread prosperity for Guinea’s population, even as iron ore exports begin to flow

The report prepared Wednesday (Dec. 17) by Federal Police experts confirms that former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro attempted to tamper with his electronic ankle tag while under house arrest. 

On November 22, Bolsonaro was arrested after confessing that he used a soldering iron to try to break the device.

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The experts confirmed there are signs of tampering with the device, which showed significant damage to its plastic cover.

“Tests carried out with a soldering iron on the surface of the material in question showed results consistent with the damage found. No additional tests were carried out with other types of tools,” the report says.

The experts also mention that the attempted breach lacked “technical precision.”

“It should be noted that the damage to the material in question shows signs of rough execution, suggesting that the tool was used without technical precision,” the professionals added.

The report was forwarded to Justice Alexandre de Moraes, rapporteur for the case in the Supreme Court.

Bolsonaro is imprisoned at the Federal Police headquarters in Brasília, where he is serving a sentence of 27 years and three months for his conviction in the criminal case involving a coup plot.

The identification of a new type of influenza A (H3N2) virus, known as the “K virus,” in Brazil is not yet a cause for concern, says Renato Kfouri, vice-president of the Brazilian Society of Immunizations (SBIm).

The circulation of influenza strains is part of the natural dynamics of the virus, and at this point, there is not enough information to predict a major impact on the upcoming flu season, he noted. Any estimates regarding the severity, duration, or intensity of the upcoming season would be premature.

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“We don’t know if this will be the predominant strain circulating worldwide. The season is just beginning in the Northern Hemisphere. We don’t even know if it will be the H3N2 season or if another H1N1 will come. It’s all still very theoretical,” said Kfouri.

Last week, the World Health Organization (WHO) issued an information note drawing attention to the rapid increase in the circulation of the K variant of influenza A in the Northern Hemisphere – particularly in Europe, North America, and East Asia.

In Europe, influenza activity started earlier than usual. The K variant accounted for almost half of the cases of infections reported from May to November this year. No significant change in clinical severity has been reported yet in terms of hospitalizations, intensive care admissions, or deaths.

Registration

This week, the Brazilian Ministry of Health published a report on the epidemiological situation in the country and mentioned for the first time the identification of a case of the K variant in Brazil, in the northern state of Pará.

On Wednesday (17), the research institute Fiocruz provided more details about the registration. The sample containing the new strain was collected in Belém, capital of Pará, on November 26 and was first analyzed there.

After confirmation of influenza A (H3N2), the material was sent to Fiocruz, where it underwent genetic sequencing.

The case involved an adult patient, a woman from Fiji, and was classified as imported. To date, there is no evidence of local transmission associated with the variant in Brazil.

The detection of new variants is expected, Kfouri pointed out.

“Every year we have new influenza strains. It is in the nature of the virus to mutate and cause annual epidemics. That is why we need to get vaccinated every year. Vaccines are updated according to what can be predicted will circulate in the following season,” he stated.

Vaccine

Fiocruz experts emphasize that vaccination remains the main prevention tool. The composition of the inoculation recommended by the WHO was updated in September, with strains closer to those currently in circulation, including the K subclade.

“The composition of the influenza vaccine recommended by the World Health Organization was updated in September for next year, with strains closer to those currently in circulation, including the K subclade,” says Marilda Siqueira, laboratory head at Fiocruz.

Defense Minister Israel Katz signed an order approving the use of administrative detention against the suspect, a resident of the South.

"It has become increasingly common to drag the language of faith into political battles, to bless nationalism, and to justify violence and armed struggle in the name of religion," said the pope.

While there is no confirmation of any deal, reports are increasing that the Syrian government and the SDF are inching towards progress.

The Nahala group said in a statement that "the Israeli flag was raised for the first time since the October 7 massacre in Gaza," and demanded that it must only be controlled by Israeli forces.

Reportedly, the Palestinians lack sufficient local landfills, and the arrangement is supposed to involve them using trucks to transport their trash to other locations.

Rioters hurled stones, vandalized a police vehicle and property, and threw trash cans at officers after police tried to issue a routine parking ticket in Jerusalem.

According to the UAE-based Al-Ain media, the Houthis may be preparing an offensive now that the STC has gained some ground in recent weeks.

Burkina Faso on Wednesday released 11 personnel of the Nigerian Air Force who were detained Dec. 8 after their aircraft made an emergency landing, Nigeria's foreign minister said.

Fifty days after Hurricane Melissa made landfall in Jamaica, authorities are assessing the damage it left behind. The UN says it could cost the country up to $15 billion.

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Building a fortress of resilience together, against those who seek to harm

The combined strength of coffee and gold has provided a timely boost to Uganda’s external earnings, helping to support foreign exchange reserves and strengthen the shilling amid broader economic pressures.

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The men were en route to Bondi Beach, but police noted that they had not yet connected the arrests to Sunday's terrorist attack.

“Sites that appear on the surface as scattered stones suddenly become coherent, organized spaces, and it saves a lot of research time,” Dr. Yitzchak Jaffe said.