The justice ministry in South Korea has imposed an overseas travel ban on President Yoon Suk Yeol following his botched attempt to impose martial law.

Prosecutors are now weighing possible insurrection charges against the president.

On Monday, the defence ministry said Yeol was still legally commander-in-chief, but growing dissent among senior military officers has led to questions on the scope of his powers.

Asked what actions have been taken against the president, Oh Dong-woon, head of the Corruption Investigation Office for high-ranking officials, said the president has been banned from leaving the country.

Yeol barely survived an impeachment vote, in an opposition-led parliament, during the weekend.

Amid strident calls for his resignation, his political survival hangs by a thread.

The World Health Organization has announced that it granted prequalification to the molecular diagnostic test for tuberculosis, called Xpert MTB/RIF Ultra.

It is the first test for TB diagnosis and antibiotic susceptibility testing that meets WHO’s prequalification standards, the UN agency said in a statement on Thursday.

Tuberculosis is one of the world’s leading infectious disease killers, causing over a million deaths annually and imposing immense socioeconomic burdens, especially in low- and middle-income countries.

According to Dr Yukiko Nakatani, WHO Assistant Director-General for Access to Medicines and Health Products, accurate and early detection of TB, especially drug-resistant strains, remains a critical and challenging global health priority.

“This first prequalification of a diagnostic test for tuberculosis marks a critical milestone in WHO’s efforts to support countries in scaling up and accelerating access to high-quality TB assays that meet both WHO recommendations and its stringent quality, safety and performance standards.

“It underscores the importance of such groundbreaking diagnostic tools in addressing one of the world’s deadliest infectious diseases,” Nakatani added. 

• Xpert MTB/RIF Ultra is manufactured by US-based molecular diagnostics company Cepheid Inc, WHO’s assessment for prequalification is based on information submitted and the review by Singapore’s Health Sciences Authority (HSA).
• Designed for use on the GeneXpert® Instrument System, this nucleic acid amplification test (NAAT) Xpert® MTB/RIF Ultra detects the genetic material of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the bacterium that causes TB, in sputum samples, and provides accurate results within hours, WHO explains.
• The test also identifies mutations associated with rifampicin resistance, a key indicator of multidrug-resistant TB.

“It is intended for patients who screen positive for pulmonary TB and who have either not started anti-tuberculosis treatment or received less than three days of therapy in the past six months,” the agency emphasized.  

Dr Rogerio Gaspar, WHO Director for Regulation and Prequalification said that high-quality diagnostic tests are the cornerstone of effective TB care and prevention.

“Prequalification paves the way for equitable access to cutting-edge technologies, empowering countries to address the dual burden of TB and drug-resistant TB.”

However, in a joint effort by WHO Global TB Programme and the Department of Regulation and Prequalification to improve access to quality-assured TB tests and expand diagnostic options for countries, WHO is currently assessing seven additional TB tests.

Colorado Springs Mayor Yemi Mobolade is under pressure from local officials to clarify his ties to Derrick Bernard, who was indicted for staging a hate crime during Mobolade’s mayoral campaign.

Bernard, who is black, scrawled a racial slur on a campaign sign and set a cross on fire in an incident described as a hoax to boost Mobolade’s candidacy.

The indictment revealed Bernard communicated with Mobolade about the hoax, including a message on the day of the incident promising his victory.

Despite initially denying contact with Bernard in two FBI interviews, Mobolade later stated he could not recall specifics.

The Department of Justice (DOJ) declined to prosecute him, citing political and racial considerations.

In a statement to the Colorado Springs Gazette, Mobolade rejected the allegations without directly disputing the details. “My family and I are victims of a hate crime… I had no knowledge, warning, or involvement in this reprehensible act,” he said, adding that politically motivated websites spread misinformation.

City Councilman Dave Donelson and County Commissioner Longinos Gonzalez Jr. have called for transparency. Donelson asked, “Did he lie to the FBI in those two interviews?” Mobolade’s office dismissed the claims as “unfounded,” emphasizing respect for the ongoing investigation.

Former prosecutor George Brauchler criticized Mobolade in a Gazette op-ed, saying, “Lying to the FBI is a serious, go-to-prison crime.” He questioned Mobolade’s refusal to provide a clear denial, suggesting it raises further suspicion. Brauchler argued that the DOJ’s handling of the case undermines public trust.

The controversy deepened when reports revealed Bernard messaged Mobolade on election night to take credit for the win and later sought favors in return.

Calls for the mayor to address these allegations continue to mount, as local leaders and residents demand accountability.