Mining magnate Dan Gertler, whom the U.S. has accused of corruption, would sell his assets in the African country under a proposal that could make it easier for Western companies to access valuable minerals there.

The US government is open to easing sanctions on billionaire mining magnate Dan Gertler if he gives up his business operations and assets in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where Washington’s interest in critical minerals has run up against his problematic royalties ownership.

The Wall Street Journal reported earlier on Thursday that the Biden administration and Congo's government had proposed reducing sanctions on Gertler in exchange for his permanent

Of the two distinct mpox subtypes, clade I causes more severe illness than the clade II subtype and may be more transmissible. To date, no clade I cases have been reported in the U.S. or outside of the countries of Central Africa where the virus is endemic.

The spread of the lethal clade I strain of mpox "raises concerns that the virus could spread to other countries and underscores the importance of coordinated, urgent global action to support DRC’s efforts to contain the virus,

An increase in cases involving the more lethal strain of the mpox virus—broken into two genetically distinct groups called clades—“raises concerns” the virus could spread to other countries, according to the CDC,