The USA is launching new peace talks to end Sudan’s 16-month civil war, driven by fears that the conflict is plunging the country into potentially the worst famine in decades. Sudan’s military, one of the two warring factions, had originally agreed to attend the negotiations in Switzerland, but changed their minds after a drone attack on the army chief, dashing hopes for a quick ceasefire. The talks aim to broker a ceasefire and secure humanitarian access for over ten million displaced people. Famine has been declared in Sudan’s Darfur region, with estimates suggesting up to 2.5 million people could die of hunger by September. Only one-third of the $2.7 billion requested by the UN for Sudan has been received so far: the UN fears that as many as 26 million face acute hunger. See

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) due to a new variant of the mpox viral disease spreading across thirteen African countries, following an outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The variant, known as clade Ib, is more easily transmissible and has led to over 17,000 suspected cases and 517 deaths in Africa this year, marking a 160% increase from the previous year. WHO’s director-general emphasised the global threat, committing to coordinated efforts to prevent transmission and save lives. The PHEIC declaration facilitates accelerated research, funding, and international cooperation. Africa’s top public health body has also declared an mpox emergency, working with the EU and vaccine manufacturers to secure an initial 215,000 vaccine doses, with plans for up to ten million by 2025. Efforts include extensive media outreach to raise awareness, particularly using social media to target the young, who constitute 60% of the cases in the DRC.

An Ohio police officer, Connor Grubb, has been indicted on four counts of murder for fatally shooting 21-year-old pregnant Black woman Ta'Kiya Young in a grocery store parking lot on 24 August 2023. Grubb and another officer approached Young, suspecting her of shoplifting. When she refused to exit her car, he stood in front of the vehicle and, as she slowly drove forward, fired a shot through the windshield, killing her and her unborn daughter. A grand jury indicted Grubb on multiple charges, including murder and involuntary manslaughter. He is being defended by his police union, which claims the indictment is politically motivated, and stated that he had had to ‘make a split-second decision’. Meanwhile, Young's family's lawyer, Sean Walton, called the indictment a ‘solemn victory’ in their pursuit of justice, citing the unnecessary aggression shown by the officers.

Disney World is seeking to dismiss a wrongful death lawsuit filed by Jeffrey Piccolo, whose wife died from an allergic reaction after dining at a Disney World restaurant in 2023, even though the restaurant was repeatedly told about her allergies. Disney argues that the dispute has to be settled by arbitration because Piccolo agreed to Disney's terms of use, which include an arbitration clause, when signing up for a Disney+ free trial in 2019 and again when purchasing park tickets in 2023. His lawyers contend that this argument is ‘preposterous’, noting that the terms of use were related to a streaming service and not applicable to wrongful death or personal injury claims. They also argue that Piccolo agreed to the terms for himself, not on behalf of his late wife. Disney's motion to move the case to arbitration will be reviewed by a Florida judge in October. Arbitration, favoured by Disney for its privacy and confidentiality, is generally quicker and less costly than a court trial.