tourist visa to london from lebanon

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UK Visa Application Centre in Beirut

Our Visa Application Centre is open for new appointments .

Centre information

Our Visa Application Centre is open for new appointments.

Added Value Services

Designed to enhance your visa application experience.

Application process

Find out all mandatory steps to apply for a UKVI visa.

Frequently Asked Questions

TLScontact by your side. You might have some questions as you go through the visa process. You will find below some useful information and links to help you.

WHEN YOU TRAVEL, ANYTHING CAN HAPPEN. WHEN IT DOES, WE'LL BE THERE.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION Our Visa Application Centre in Beirut is open for new visa applications. To know which days and times our centre is open, please check our Address page . Reminder: Visit visas paused for issue in red list locations Under the Traffic Light System rules, UK Visas and Immigration will continue to pause the issuing of Visit visas for travellers coming to England from red list countries. If you apply for a Visit visa from a red list location and you meet the Immigration Rules, your application will be paused. You will not receive your Visit visa whilst red list travel restrictions remain in place. Visas will continue to be issued in red list countries for work, study and settlement however they will be subject to quarantine requirements . You can apply for these visa routes in the usual way. More information can be found on GOV.UK . Separate guidance is available for travellers entering Wales , Scotland and Northern Ireland . If your 30 day or 90 day visa to work, study or join family in the UK has expired , please consult the gov.uk website for more information. For information on current UKVI processing times, please click here . If you select our Courier Return service, please be advised that delivery of your documents could take longer than usual, due to extended transit times for our courier partners as a result of COVID-19. COVID-19 PRECAUTIONS IN PLACE AT OUR CENTRE In order to comply with local Covid-19 health and safety regulations, you may be required to provide a body temperature reading, wear a mask and respect social distancing guidelines to enter our centre. Where local regulations apply, you may also be required to provide evidence of Covid-19 test results or vaccination status. All customers must have a pre-booked appointment in order to attend the Visa Application Centre. Coronavirus (COVID-19) and entering or returning to the UK: Customers wishing to make an application for a UK visa need to check and comply with UK border control measures and should also consider the impact of local restrictions due to COVID-19 in the area they intend to travel to. Restrictions may change at short notice and details are available online for England , Wales , Scotland and Northern Ireland . Anyone entering or returning to the UK must adhere to border health measures and all local restriction measures. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.

Update to Settlement Visa Application Process. Click here for more details.

For your protection, please note that legitimate TLScontact employees will not ask you to make payment via telephone. All payments related to TLScontact services should be made directly via our website or at our visa application centre .

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• How to apply (passport collection)

APPLICATION PROCEDURE

How to create your tlscontact account and book an appointment.

Read the different steps below to correctly submit your visa application at the TLScontact centre.

Want help scanning and uploading your documents?

Want to make sure that your documents have been scanned and uploaded correctly? No time to do this yourself? Get our staff to do this for you when you come to our Visa Application Centre for your appointment.

STEP 1: Register on the GOV.UK website

• •  Find out what type of visa to apply for and the documents you will need to prepare;
• •  Fill out an online application form, pay the visa fee and book your appointment at a Visa Application Centre;
• •  Receive a unique GWF Number.

STEP 2: Choose from our optional services and book an appointment

• •  Easy check-in when attending your appointment at the Visa Application Centre;
• •  A more convenient application experience, through our optional Added Value Services;
• •  Enabling your application status tracker.

STEP 3: Attend your appointment at TLScontact

• •  A printed copy of your appointment confirmation email;
• •  A printed receipt of payment for any Added Value Services (if applicable);
• •  A valid passport or travel document and residence permit (both original and copy) in A4 format (if applicable);
• •  Any supporting documents which you intend to supply (as well as copies of all originals in A4 format);
• •  A printed copy of your checklist form.
• •  A printed copy of your checklist form .
• •  Accept your application and documentation;
• •  Take your fingerprints and photograph to enrol your biometric data (unless you benefit from an exemption);
• •  Transfer your application to UK Visas and Immigration for assessment and processing.
• Escorting a minor, assisting an elderly person or someone with a disability or learning difficulty;
• Non-applicants will be required to submit contact details, ID and declare their connection to the visa applicant.
• •  Documents must not be stapled;
• •  Only A4 colored photocopied documents are accepted;
• •  Do not submit originals or valuable documents, as these WILL NOT BE RETURNED.

STEP 4: Passport collection

We will send you an email notification when your passport has been returned to us and is ready for collection from our Visa Application Centre. Do not visit the Visa Application Centre until you have received an email notification from TLScontact that your passport is ready for collection. Please note that if you applied as part of a family group, decisions are made separately, and each person will be notified individually when their passport is ready for collection.

If you have applied through a third party, such as an agency or a solicitor, and used their email address on the visa application form, email notifications will go to this address. Please check with the third party if they received a notification about the passport being ready for collection. Do not visit the Visa Application Centre until you have received this email.

Important Information: For any details regarding passport delivery and alternative passport delivery options, please take a look at the Help section of this website.

Visa application fees

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UK Standard Visitor Visa for Lebanese Citizens

Planning a trip from Lebanon to the grandeur of the United Kingdom? The UK Standard Visitor Visa is your ticket to exploring London's iconic landmarks, the historical allure of Belfast, and Scotland's scenic highlands.

At iVisa, we've made applying for the UK Standard Visitor Visa a seamless and straightforward process. Our innovative platform and mobile app are designed specifically for ambitious explorers like you.

With our expertly curated guide and committed support, the magic of the UK is closer than you think. Get ready to set sail on an unforgettable British voyage!

Do Lebanese need a UK Visa?

Yes, Lebanese citizens must obtain a valid visa to travel to the United Kingdom. For tourism, business, or short-term studies, citizens of Lebanon will need a UK Standard Visitor Visa.

The Standard Visitor Visa allows individuals outside the European Economic Area (EEA) and Switzerland to travel to the United Kingdom temporarily. It’s usually valid for up to six months. Learn more about this multiple-entry visa here .

How to get a UK Visa from Lebanon with us?

Get your UK visit visa in Lebanon using our simplified online UK visa application process. Simply follow these steps:

Step 1: Provide your personal and travel information on our online application form or through our user-friendly app . Double-check that all information is accurate.

Step 2: Pay our iVisa service fee and the government visa fee using a debit card, credit card, or PayPal. Please note that you must upload a picture of the physical credit card to complete the application.

Step 3: Complete the remaining sections of our simplified application form following our instructions and upload a scanned copy of your valid passport and a photo before submitting the information for expert review. We will arrange the interview appointment on your behalf at the British Embassy or Visa Application Center (VAC). You'll receive a step-by-step manual providing instructions and a list of supporting documents to prepare for your visa interview.

Step 4: Attend the interview at the Embassy or desired appointment location. Remember to bring all the required documents, including the completed visa application form.

Need more information?

Have more questions about UK visas, visa types, or other visa details for Lebanese passport holders? Contact our customer service team via our [online chat] or email us at [email protected] for further information. Apply now

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UK Work Visa: Eligibility, Types, and How to Apply

UK ETA for US citizens

• Mon. Aug 19th, 2024

THE EMBASSY OF LEBANON

WASHINGTON, D.C.

Prior to starting a new visa request, Applicants are required to check the Jurisdiction guidelines in order to verify whether their state of residence falls under the Lebanese Embassy’s jurisdiction (Washington D.C), or under its affiliated Consulates General ( Los Angeles, Detroit or New York ).

US citizens with a US passport that is valid for more than six months do not need to obtain a Lebanese visa prior to traveling to Lebanon if the duration of their visit is less than one month . It is recommended for those traveling to Lebanon and planning to stay for more than one month to apply and obtain a visa from the Embassy.

Visa requirements for US Citizens:

A completed   Application form

Parental Consent Form for Minors (download here)

• Original passport that is valid for more than 6 months (Not a travel document);
• A copy of your passport (First page only);
• One passport-size photo that complies with standards;
• $88.00 single entry per person
• $125.00 two entries per person
• $175.00 multiple entries per person (up to 6 months)
• If sending your application by mail, One large empty, stamped, self-addressed envelope from USPS or FedEx . Kindly keep the tracking of your return envelope at hand, as the embassy is not responsible for any lost return mail (in person applicants are exempt from this step);
• For minors, a notarized Parental Consent form signed by both parents is required, which allows their dependents to travel to Lebanon along with a copy of the child’s birth certificate and a copy of both parents’ ID. ( To be submitted with the application)

Contact: [email protected]

Visa requirements for U.S. Diplomatic and Official Visas:

• A completed   Application form;
• Original Passport that it is valid for more than 6 months;
• Official letter explaining the nature of the mission/ purpose of the visit.  (e.g., Dept. of State, Dept. of the Army, Dept. of the Navy, etc.);
• One passport-size photo that complies with Standards;
• One large empty, stamped, self-addressed envelopes from USPS or FedEx . Kindly keep the tracking of your return envelopes at hand, as the embassy is not responsible for any lost return mail (in person applicants are exempt from this step).

N.B.: This is a courtesy visa

Visa requirements for non us citizens and other nationalities:.

Original Passport that it is valid for more than 6 months ( Not a travel document )

A copy of your passport ( First page only )  

APPLICANTS ARE EXEMPT FROM POINTS 3 TO 6 IF MARRIED TO A LEBANESE CITIZEN AS LONG AS THEY SUBMIT THE REQUIRED SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS (MARRIAGE CERTIFICATE OR LEBANESE FAMILY CIVIL REGISTRY  إخراج قيد عائلي ALONG WITH A COPY OF THE SPOUSE’S LEBANESE ID OR PASSPORT).

• A copy of the applicant’s Permanent residency card or US Visa;
• A hotel reservation, or a clear address of the place of residence and a telephone number;
• A bank statement covering the last six months;
• A letter of Employment;
• An invitation sent by a citizen or resident that includes a copy of a Lebanese ID or a residence permit valid for at least 3 months, which includes the name, contact and address of the host, the purpose of the invitation, and a copy of the host’s ID or residency permit (front and back);
• For applicants by mail, one large empty, stamped, self-addressed envelopes from USPS or FedEx . Kindly keep the tracking of your return envelopes at hand, as the embassy is not responsible for any lost return mail (in person applicants are exempt from this step ).
• For minors, a notarized Parental Consent form signed by both parents is required, which allows their dependents to travel to Lebanon along with a copy of the child’s birth certificate and copy of both parents’ ID. ( Should be submitted with the application )
• For domestic workers, the following documents are needed as well:
• Valid Passport of the House Keeper.
• US valid visa.
• A letter from the employer (affidavit of support).
• Proof of health insurance coverage.

Click here   for more information on the list of countries that have the right to a Lebanese Visa either through the embassy or upon arrival.

• Consular Affairs
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• Embassy of Lebanon in London
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UK Visa Application Center in Lebanon, UK Embassy in Lebanon

If you need paid support with the uk visa application process and/or consultation on the documents, you can order such service with our visa agency ., contact us today if you need help with a uk visa application, what is visa application center.

UK Visa Application Center is a collection point for your documents and to take biometrics (e.g. fingerprints). The UK Visa Application Center transfers your documents to the UK Embassy in Lebanon together with your biometric data.

Risk Assessment

To understand your unique situation, we’ll start by studying your case to discover your chances of being accepted for a UK visa

Professional support

Since 2006, we’ve been successfully securing UK visas for people, just like you! While we don’t know much about visas to other countries, we’re experts in everything surrounding UK visas. After all, we deal with dozens of applications every day. So, yes, we know them inside out.

Documents and samples

We give you the list of all documents and samples needed. This way you know just what to expect. We’ll then check to guarantee if the documents meet the official requirements or not.

Online forms

Forget filling in confusing application forms. It contains a minimum of 100-150 questions and you should be very careful answering them. If you choose our agency to help you with the application, our specialists will be happy to fill in the application form for you .

Book an appointment

We will book an appointment at the UK Visa Application Centre for you at convinient date and time. Just head to the appointment, make photo for visa and submit your fingerprints. And, you’re ready to go!

Upload docs to the Embassy

We organize and upload all your supporting documents directly to the British Embassy. So, you need only passport on appointment.

If you dream of securing a UK visa, contact us now ! We specialise in complex cases and refusals. No matter what your situation is, we can help you.

In United States you can get help with your UK visa application in:

• Atlanta (100 Peachtree Street NW, Suite # 225, Atlanta, GA 30303 )
• Boston (160 Federal Street, Suite #1700 , Boston , MA 02110 )
• Chicago (142 East Ontario St, Suite# 1700, Chicago, IL 60611 )
• Houston (1001 Texas Ave Suite 1020, Floor 10 Houston, TX 77002 )
• Los Angeles (8530 Wilshire Blvd, Suite 420, Beverly Hills, CA, 90211, USA )
• Miami (2655 S Le Jeune Road, Penthouse 1A, Coral Gables, FL 33134 )
• New York (128 East 32nd Street, New York NY, 10016 Fl 4 )
• San Francisco (642 Harrison Street, 2nd Floor, San Francisco CA 94107 )
• Seattle (2033 6th Ave, Suite 993, Seattle, WA 98121 )
• Washington (2033 6th Ave, Suite 993, Seattle, WA 98121 )

Our team works exclusively remotely. However, if you would like to get help at an office, feel free to stop by at one of the locations above. Please note: there is no phone you can call for an Application centre to assist you over the phone. You will have to come in person to speak with a staff member.

Anyway, you can always contact our immigration specialists in United States for online help with UK visas

You're not in United States? Select the country where you are now.

We help with all types of UK visas!

• Tourism / family visits
• Students visas
• Business visas
• Join family
• After refusal
• for tourism purposes
• to visit family or friends
• for child accompanied visits
• for study up to 6 months

You can usually stay in the UK for up to 6 months. If you need to visit the UK regularly over a longer period, you can apply for a long-term Standard Visitor visa that lasts 2, 5 or 10 years.

If you are planning to take a short course of study in the UK, such as English language course, training course, part of an overseas course, a short period of research, medical, veterinary or dentistry electives, you should apply for a Short-term study visa . You can study for up to 6 months (or up to 11 months if you are studying an English language course)

If you are planning to take a full-time below degree or a degree level course of study in the UK school, college or university, you should apply for a Student visa (ex. Tier 4 General). There are some specific requirements for your course, money you need, your knowledge of English and documents you will need to apply for visa.

You can apply for a Business Visa if you want to visit the UK for any of the following reason:

• for exhibitions, conferences meetings and any visits where you have an official invitation
• for sport and entertainment events
• for medical treatment
• for an academic research

You can usually stay in the UK for up to 6 months (or up to 12 months if you are applying for an academic visit ). If you need to visit the UK regularly over a longer period, you can apply for a long-term Business visa that lasts 2, 5 or 10 years.

• Fiancee visa (or Settlement Marriage visa) - the applicant to come to the UK for up to 6 months, register a marriage and apply for a Settlement Spouse visa within the UK.
• Spouse visa - If you have already registered your marriage to a UK national you can apply for a Spouse visa, which is issued for 2.5 years and includes the right to work. It can be extended once in the UK and lead to an ILR (Indefinite Leave to Remain) and UK citizenship.
• EEA Family Permit / EU Settlement Scheme family permit - if your spouse is living and working in the UK and is an EU national but does not have UK citizenship.
• Unmarried partners visa - if you are not married officially to a UK national but have lived together for two years.
• Same-sex partners visa - If you are same-sex partners, have already registered your marriage to a UK national or for unmarried partners, if you have lived together for two years.
• Dependant child visa (or Settlement Child visa) - if you want to bring your dependant child to the UK.
• General work visa (Tier 2) can be applied for if the applicant has been offered a skilled job in the UK.
• Temporary Worker visa (Tier 5) - includes Charity Worker visa, Creative and Sporting visa, Government Authorised Exchange visa, International Agreement visa, Religious Worker visa, Seasonal Worker visa, Youth Mobility Scheme visa.
• Permitted Paid Engagement visa - if you are invited to the UK as an expert in your profession for up to 1 month.

If you have been refused a visa, don’t worry! It is possible to get Visa after refusal. Our agency will help you to understand the reasons for the refusal and helps to prepare convincing grounds for appeal.

Added Value Services with UK Visa Application Center in Lebanon

You can book and pay some Added Value Services if needed:

Phone support.

Our commercial agency specialises in paid UK visa consulting services .

You shouldn't call us if you:

• would like to know opening hours or address of TLSContact or VFSGlobal application centre in your home country, make online enquiry instead.
• want to track your UK visa application or passport status
• need help after you have submitted your application/documents
• want to renew your passport

If you need help with getting UK visa , please describe in brief your situation and a purpose of your visit, in order we could provide you with a phone number of the relevant department.

PRESENTED BY CITI® / AADVANTAGE®

• DESTINATION GUIDE

The essential guide to visiting London

Here’s what you need to know about England's capital city—when to go, where to stay, what to do, and how to get around.

Why you should visit London

Architectural landmarks such as the   Tower of London ,   Westminster Cathedral , and   Kensington Palace , as well as revived modern buildings like   Tate Modern   and the   Battersea Power Station . Some of the finest theaters in the world, from the   Old Vic   to the rebuilt   Globe . Brown ale, fish’n’chips and weekend markets from Greenwich to Camden.  

Best time to visit London

Spring : The Gulf Stream warms up the city early. Flowers start blooming in February and trees follow with their blossoms in March. The   Chelsea Flower Show   is a major draw in May.  

Summer : The tourist season peaks between mid-July and late August. Music festivals play out in   Somerset House ,   Hyde Park , and   Victoria Park .  

Autumn : Fall kicks off with the   London Design Festival , and the weather stays temperate into late October. Halloween is gaining importance throughout the city, though Guy Fawkes Night—a festival of fireworks and bonfires on November 5 – is more widely celebrated.   Battersea Park , by the Thames, has a great display.  

Winter :   Shopping streets   switch on their festive lights in early December. While some cultural life slows down during the dark, wet winter months,   Kew Gardens   launches its winter fair and skating rink. And Hyde Park hosts a   Winter Wonderland .    

Lay of the land

The Thames River, lined with grand public architecture like   St Paul’s Cathedral , the   London Eye ,   and Westminster (the seat of government), divides the city into north and south. The oldest enclaves lie to the east, around the   City of London , the old financial center also known as the “square mile.” Cultural energy revolves around   Soho ,   Covent Garden ,   Mayfair , Bloomsbury, and the   South Bank , a riverfront strip of modernist theaters and galleries.    

Historically, wealthy residents settled in West London communities like   Belgravia , Kensington, and Chelsea, gravitating to Holland Park and Notting Hill. The picturesque Georgian streets around   Hampstead Heath   have always been popular among literary types, with nature-lovers hiking up   Parliament Hill   for the city view. The neighborhood becomes more fashionable as you descend toward   Primrose Hill , with its pastel-colored townhouses and ivy-clad pub gardens.  

Younger Londoners congregate in East London, in gentrifying working-class neighborhoods like Dalston and Clapton. Postindustrial Hackney Wick has reinvented itself as a hub for live music, clubs, and inventive restaurants. Just over the River Lea is the former Olympic Park, a sports mecca that’s been rewilded and developed with museums and restaurants.  

( 11 must-do experiences in London. )

Getting around London

By public transport:   The   London Underground , or Tube, is an extensive subway network that reaches from Heathrow Airport in the west, to Greenwich, the Olympic Park, and northern suburbs. The system incorporates an above-ground network called the Overground, and the new inter-city Elizabeth Line. Fares start at £2.70 ($3.50) and rise according to distance.   London buses   follow more winding routes between neighborhoods and start at £1.75 ($2.25) with a daily cap at £5.25 ($6.75). Seniors and students 11 and over are eligible for discounts. Children 10 and under travel free. Riders can pay with any contactless card or device, but cash is no longer accepted.

By train:   Trains beyond London are found at larger stations like Paddington, Euston, Liverpool Street, London Bridge, Victoria, and Charing Cross. Riders must purchase tickets ahead of travel at the station or with an app like   Trainline .  

By taxi:   London’s famous   black cabs   can be hailed on the street or booked in advance. Typical fares start at about £7.60 ($9.75) for a mile-long journey. Minicabs, or privately run taxi services, can be booked in advance or hired from a licensed purveyor, found on most main streets. Uber operates throughout the city.    

By boat:   The   Thames Clipper   boat service, now operated by Uber, runs along the Thames between Putney, in southwest London, and Barking, in the east, stopping at Battersea, Westminster, Tate Modern, Tower Bridge, Greenwich, and other piers. Prices start at £5.60 ($7.20) one way, with discounts for children and families. Riders can pay with a contactless card or with the Uber app.

( Going underground: a subterranean tour of London's abandoned tube stations. )

By bike:   Transport for London operates the   Santander bikeshare program , with bike docks in place across the city. A day-pass costs £3 ($3.85) for unlimited 30-minute rides; payment can be made through the   app   or at a docking terminal.   Lime operates an e-bike- and scooter-share program. Vehicles are GPS-equipped and located via the   app ; prices vary.    

By car:   Only confident drivers familiar with England’s road laws should operate a private car in London. There is a daily £15 ($19.25)   Congestion Charge   in effect for most areas of central London, which must be paid on the day of travel. New   emissions rules   impose additional fees on non-compliant motor vehicles, and “ultra-low-emission zones”   (ULEZ)   make it tricky to enter some neighborhoods during the day.  

By foot:   London neighborhoods are highly walkable, but the distance between them can be vast. Most roads have sidewalks that are well populated into the night. Always look both ways before crossing, even at a green light. Traffic normally comes from the right.  

Know before you go

Diversity:   London is one of the world’s most ethnically diverse cities, with 37 percent of residents born outside London—many from South Asia, West and East Africa, Europe, and the Caribbean. Hundreds of languages are spoken here, and most neighborhoods have a mix of residents.    

LGBTQ+:   The most recent   Open For Business index   gave London a top AAA rating as a “stalwart supporter” of LGBTQ+ inclusion and equality, and its universities rank highly among gay students. Soho is, historically, the LGBTQ+ hub of the city, though gay bars pop up in several neighborhoods, notably in East London and Lambeth.  

( Best hotels for every type of travele r. )

What to read and watch

The most fascinating London-based books and films transport the reader to a specific neighborhood and historical period and focus on its rich diversity.    

Oliver Twist , by Charles Dickens. Tragic, romantic, and surprisingly funny, this classic exposed the underbelly of Victorian London and prevails on high school reading lists everywhere.  

Bridget Jones’s Diary , by Helen Fielding. The titular Jones is a sad, sardonic, desperately funny 20-something single woman working for a London publisher. The book centers on West London while the film adaptation transports most scenes to the southeast. Both will get you in the mood to explore.  

The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes , by Arthur Conan Doyle. The book series and the companion TV show Sherlock take place around Baker Street in central London but investigate further afield into Piccadilly, New Scotland Yard, and the Tower of London  

London: The Biography , by Peter Ackroyd. Possibly the greatest contemporary history of the city, the weighty tome reaches back with wisdom and wit through Victorian London to the Plague and the Great Fire.  

Brick Lane , by Monica Ali. This instant classic, published just after the millennium, is an evocative peek into the lives of Bangladeshi immigrants in East London, based firmly in reality.  

Notting Hill , written by Richard Curtis of Four Weddings and a Funeral (and others), this 1990s hit comedy capitalized on the vulnerable charm of Hugh Grant—and the undeniable charm of bohemian London—and inspired generations of tourists to seek out that blue door.  

Rye Lane . Set around the eponymous market in Peckham, South London, this post-Covid romance begins with a meet-cute in   an   gender-neutral   bathroom.  

My Beautiful Launderette . An enduring favorite that introduced a young Daniel Day-Lewis to the world, this romance by Hanif Kureishi was set in South London during the Thatcher years and emerged as one of the first “queer fairytales” to reach a wide audience.

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The influences behind JD Vance's politics and Lebanon's hospitals prepare for war: Morning Rundown

JD Vance and his aunt shed light on how his upbringing shaped his sharp opinions. Lebanon’s already crisis-hit hospitals are making preparations in case of war with Israel. And the last European shows of Taylor Swift’s “Eras Tour” come with heightened security measures.

Here’s what to know today.

How JD Vance’s family shaped his sharp-edged rhetoric

In his first month as former President Donald Trump’s running mate, JD Vance has turned heads with his past comments about “childless cat ladies,” as well as his views about marriage, children and families. Democrats have made his sometimes aggressive support of more conventional family dynamics the basis of their case against him as a national candidate.

But those close to Vance, a first-term Ohio senator, say his relationships with the women who raised him are key to understanding his worldview on the thorny cultural issues for which he has become known. Vance also acknowledged in a recent interview that his upbringing shaped his sharp opinions.

In his book, “Hillbilly Elegy,” Vance portrays his grandmother as a profane but loving matriarch herding a family often in crisis. His mother battled drug addiction and, according to his book, once “beat the s---” out of him.

This is Morning Rundown, a weekday newsletter to start your day. Sign up here to get it in your inbox.

“My sister had five husbands, and that’s not to mention the men that were in and out of their lives that she didn’t marry before she got her crap together,” Lori Miebers, Vance’s aunt and one of the women who took him in when his mother could not, said in an interview with NBC News. “He’s seen that side of life and living.”

In his book, Vance also celebrated his older sister’s marriage to “someone who treated her well and had a decent job,” breaking the cycle of abandonment and dysfunction that defined their childhood.  

In interviews, Vance and Miebers gave new details of his upbringing and discussed how it forged his opinions.

Read the exclusive story here.

More 2024 election coverage: 

• Joe Biden and Kamala Harris will appear together in Maryland. Tim Walz swings through the Northeast, and Vance goes to Pennsylvania.  Follow our live blog.
• At a rally in Asheville, North Carolina, Trump  went on numerous tangents  about Biden, Harris and Walz while laying out some economic policy proposals.
• Walz  accepted an invitation  to debate Vance on Oct. 1.
• Republicans are angry that a leading pro-cryptocurrency group  backed Democrats in two high-profile Senate races .
• Pro-Palestinian protest groups say  tens of thousands of people will descend on Chicago  to demonstrate outside the Democratic National Convention next week.

Lebanon’s hospitals ready themselves for a full-scale war

Israel and Lebanon’s Hezbollah militant group have been engaged in a low-level war for 10 months, but after the twin assassinations last month of senior Hezbollah and Hamas figures, many in the region, including hospitals, are preparing themselves for the possibility of a full-scale war.

At Rafiq Hariri University Hospital, the largest public hospital in Beirut, there’s a new triage system that can whisk critical patients to high-level care “in seconds,” Dr. Jihad Saadeh said. A just-finished facility can wash away weaponized poisons, and specialized areas can be transformed into trauma surgeries in no time. But Saadeh estimates the hospital can only withstand about 10 days of war before it would need outside supplies. 

While doctors learned from the country’s last war with Israel in 2006, Lebanon’s myriad crises loom over the health care sector, causing concern about how it could weather a new conflict.  

European finale of Eras Tour features heightened security

It’s the end of an Eras! Five performances in London, starting tonight, mark the end of the European leg of Taylor Swift’s record-breaking “Eras Tour.” 

With the shows coming a week after a foiled terror plot that had targeted her appearance in Vienna, Austria, Swift’s team worked with organizers in the United Kingdom to ensure heightened security at Wembley Stadium in London. Among the measures: Fans who were unable to score tickets won’t be able to stand outside the stadium and listen from afar, as was allowed at previous shows, and no “tay-gating” will be allowed. 

Fans, some traveling from the U.S. to attend Swift’s shows, said they are comforted by the security measures and are determined to have a night to remember. Read the full story here.

Politics in Brief 

Immigration: Texas Gov. Greg Abbott recently doubled down on his commitment to send buses full of migrants to blue cities. One problem: There aren’t enough migrants.

Want more politics news? Sign up for From the Politics Desk to get exclusive reporting and analysis delivered to your inbox every weekday evening.  Subscribe here.  

Staff Pick: LA28 preps for a different Los Angeles than in 1984 and 1932

With the successful Paris Olympics now wrapped up, looking at how preparations are going for the next host city was a no-brainer. Los Angeles last hosted the global sports event in 1984 when it was a much different city: Less people, less traffic, less heat and less homelessness. We examine the hurdles Los Angeles 2028 will face as it prepares to capture the world's gaze in four years. —  Amanda Covarrubias , news editor

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• A Russian court has sentenced a U.S.-Russian ballerina to 12 years in a penal colony for "high treason" after she allegedly transferred funds to a Ukrainian charity.
• The Biden administration said it has reached an agreement with drugmakers to lower prices on the 10 costliest prescription drugs under Medicare.
• Why is everyone on TikTok suddenly obsessed with being “very demure?” Here’s a very mindful explainer of the trend.
• Disney is trying to have a widower’s $50,000 wrongful death lawsuit dismissed and sent to arbitration because the man had signed up for a Disney+ account several years ago.

NBC Select: Online Shopping, Simplified 

The  18 best tools every gardener should have  include many tried-and-true basics and other products to keep your plants looking pristine. For those who are new to gardening,  a raised bed  is especially great because it’s like “gardening with training wheels.”

Sign up to The Selection  newsletter for hands-on product reviews, expert shopping tips and a look at the best deals and sales each week.

Thanks for reading today’s Morning Rundown. Today’s newsletter was curated for you by Elizabeth Robinson. If you’re a fan, please send a link to your family and friends. They can sign up here .

Elizabeth Robinson is a newsletter editor for NBC News, based in Los Angeles.

Money blog: Couples reveal how they split finances when one earns more than other

Welcome to the Money, your place for personal finance and consumer news and tips. Read our weekend feature on relationship finances below and let us know how you and your partner divide money in the comments box. We'll be back with live updates on Monday.

Saturday 17 August 2024 12:43, UK

Essential reads

• Couples on how they split finances when one earns more than other
• What's gone wrong at Asda?
• The week in money
• Best of the Money blog - an archive of features

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• TV chef picks best cheap eats in London
• 'I cancelled swimming with plenty of notice - can they keep my money?'

Ask a question or make a comment

By Emily Mee , news reporter

Openly discussing how you split your finances with your partner feels pretty taboo - even among friends.

As a consequence, it can be difficult to know how to approach these conversations with our partner or what is largely considered fair - especially if there's a big imbalance salary-wise. 

Research by Hargreaves Lansdown suggests in an average household with a couple, three-quarters of the income is earned by one person. 

Even when there is a large disparity, some couples will want to pay the same amount on bills as they want to contribute equally. 

But for others, one partner can feel resentful if they are spending all of their money on bills while the other has much more to spend and is living a different lifestyle as a result. 

At what stage of the relationship can you talk about money?

"We've kind of formally agreed there is some point in a relationship you start talking about kids - there is no generally agreed time that we start talking about money," says Sarah Coles, head of personal finance at Hargreaves Lansdown. 

Some couples may never get around to mentioning it, leading to "lopsided finances". 

Ms Coles says if you want to keep on top of finances with your partner, you could set a specific date in the year that you go through it all. 

"If it's in the diary and it's not emotional and it's not personal then you can properly go through it," she says.

"It's not a question of 'you need to pull more weight'.  It's purely just this is what we've agreed, this is the maths and this is how we need to do that."

While many people start talking about finances around Christmas, Ms Coles suggests this can be a "trying time" for couples so February might be a "less emotional time to sit down". 

How do you have the conversation if you feel the current arrangement is unfair?

Relationship counsellor at Relate , Peter Saddington, says that setting out the balance as "unfair" shouldn't be your starting point. 

You need to be honest about your position, he says, but your conversation should be negotiating as a couple what works for both of you. 

Before you have to jump into the conversation, think about: 

• Letting your partner know in advance rather than springing it on them;
• Making sure you and your partner haven't drunk alcohol before having the conversation, as this can make it easy for it to spiral;
• Having all the facts to hand, so you know exactly how much you are spending;
• Using 'I' statements rather than 'you'. For example, you could say to your partner: "I'm really worried about my finances and I would like to sit down and talk about how we manage it. Can we plan a time when we can sit down and do it?"

Mr Saddington says if your partner is not willing to help, you should look at the reasons or question if there are other things in the relationship that need sorting out. 

If you're having repeated arguments about money, he says you might have opposite communication styles causing you to "keep headbutting". 

Another reason could be there is a "big resentment" lurking in the background - and it may be that you need a third party such as a counsellor, therapist or mediator to help resolve it. 

Mr Saddington says there needs to be a "safe space" to have these conversations, and that a third party can help untangle resentments from what is happening now. 

He also suggests considering both of your attitudes to money, which he says can be formed by your early life and your family. 

"If you grew up in a family where there wasn't any money, or it wasn't talked about, or it was pushed that you save instead of spend, and the other person had the opposite, you can see where those conversations go horribly wrong. 

"Understanding what influences each of you when it comes to money is important to do before you have significant conversations about it."

What are the different ways you can split your finances?

There's no one-size-fits-all approach, but there are several ways you can do it - with Money blog readers getting in touch to let us know their approach...

1. Separate personal accounts - both pay the same amount into a joint account regardless of income

Paul Fuller, 40, earns approximately £40,000 a year while his wife earns about £70,000. 

They each have separate accounts, including savings accounts, but they pay the same amount (£900) each a month into a joint account to pay for their bills. 

Paul says this pays for the things they both benefit from or have a responsibility for, but when it comes to other spending his wife should be able to spend as she likes. 

"It's not for me to turn around to my wife and expect her to justify why she thinks it's appropriate to spend £150 in a hairdresser. She works her backside off and she has a very stressful job," he says. 

However, their arrangement is still flexible. Their mortgage is going up by £350 a month soon, so his wife has agreed to pay £200 of that. 

And if his wife wants a takeaway but he can't afford to pay for it, she'll say it's on her.

"Where a lot of people go wrong is being unable to have those conversations," says Paul.

2. Separate personal accounts - whoever earns the most puts more into a joint account

This is a more formal arrangement than the hybrid approach Paul and his wife use, and many Money blog readers seem to do this in one form or another judging by our inbox.

There's no right or wrong way to do the maths - you could both put in the same percentage of your individual salaries, or come up with a figure you think is fair, or ensure you're both left with the same amount of spending money after each payday.

3. Everything is shared

Gordon Hurd and his wife Brenda live by their spreadsheet. 

Brenda earns about £800 more a month as she is working full-time while Gordon is freelance. Previously Gordon had been the breadwinner - so it's a big turnaround.

They each have separate accounts with different banks, but they can both access the two accounts. 

How much is left in each account - and their incomings and outgoings - is all detailed in the spreadsheet, which is managed weekly. 

Whenever they need to buy something, they can see how much is left in each account and pay from either one. 

Gordon says this means "everyone knows how much is available" and "each person's money belongs to the other". 

"We have never in the last decade had a single disagreement about money and that is because of this strategy," he says.

Money blog reader Shredder79 got in touch to say he takes a similar approach. 

"I earn £50k and my wife earns just under £150k. We have one joint bank account that our wages go into and all our outgoings come out of. Some friends can't get their head around that but it's normal for us."

Another reader, Curtis, also puts his wages into a joint account with his wife. 

"After all, when you have a family (three kids) it shouldn't matter who earns more or less!" he says. 

Reader Alec goes further and says he questions "the authenticity of any long-term relationship or the certainly of a marriage if a couple does not completely share a bank account for all earnings and all outgoings". 

"As for earning significantly more than the other, so what? If you are one couple or long-term partnership you are one team and you simply communicate and share everything," he says. 

"Personally I couldn't imagine doing it any other way and I do instinctively wonder what issues or insecurities, whether it be in trust or something else, sit beneath the need to feel like you need to keep your finances separate from one another, especially if you are a married couple." 

A reader going by the name lljdc agrees, saying: "I earn half of what my husband does because I work part-time. Neither of us has a solo account. We have one joint account and everything goes into this and we just spend it however we like. All bills come out of this too. Sometimes I spend more, sometimes he spends more."

4. Separate accounts - but the higher earner pays their partner an 'allowance'

If one partner is earning much more than the other, or one partner isn't earning for whatever reason, they could keep separate accounts and have the higher earner pay their partner an allowance. 

This would see them transfer an agreed amount each week or month to their partner's account.

Let us know how you and your partner talk about and split finances in the comments box - we'll feature some of the best next week

By Jimmy Rice, Money blog editor

The centre-point of a significant week in the economy was inflation data, released first thing on Wednesday, that showed price rises accelerated in July to 2.2%.

Economists attributed part of the rise to energy prices - which have fallen this year, but at a much slower rate than they did last year. 

As our business correspondent Paul Kelso pointed out, it felt like the kind of mild fluctuation we can probably expect month to month now that sky high price hikes are behind us, though analysts do expect inflation to tick up further through the remainder of the year...

Underneath the bonnet, service inflation, taking in restaurants and hotels, dropped from 5.7% to 5.2%.

This is important because a large part of this is wages - and they've been a concern for the Bank of England as they plot a route for interest rates.

On Tuesday we learned average weekly earnings had also fallen - from 5.7% to 5.4% in the latest statistics.

High wages can be inflationary (1/ people have more to spend, 2/ employers might raise prices to cover staff costs), so any easing will only aid the case for a less restrictive monetary policy. Or, to put it in words most people use, the case for interest rate cuts.

Markets think there'll be two more cuts this year - nothing has changed there.

Away from the economy, official data also illustrated the pain being felt by renters across the UK.

The ONS said:

• Average UK private rents increased by 8.6% in the 12 months to July 2024, unchanged from in the 12 months to June 2024;
• Average rents increased to £1,319 (8.6%) in England, £748 (7.9%) in Wales, and £965 (8.2%) in Scotland;
• In Northern Ireland, average rents increased by 10% in the 12 months to May 2024;
• In England, rents inflation was highest in London (9.7%) and lowest in the North East (6.1%).

Yesterday, we found the UK economy grew 0.6% over three months to the end of June. 

That growth rate was the second highest among the G7 group of industrialised nations - only the United States performed better with 0.7%, though Japan and Germany have yet to released their latest data.

Interestingly, there was no growth at all in June, the Office for National Statistics said, as businesses delayed purchases until after the general election.

"In a range of industries across the economy, businesses stated that customers were delaying placing orders until the outcome of the election was known," the ONS said.

Finally, a shout for this analysis from business presenter Ian King examining what's gone wrong at Asda. It's been one of our most read articles this week and is well worth five minutes of your Friday commute or weekend...

We're signing out of regular updates now until Monday - but do check out our weekend read from 8am on Saturday. This week we're examining how couples who earn different amounts split their finances.

Each week we feature comments from Money blog readers on the story or stories that elicited most correspondence.

Our weekend probe into the myriad reasons for pub closures in the UK prompted hundreds of comments.

Landlords and campaigners, researchers and residents revealed to Sky News the "thousand cuts" killing Britain's boozers - and what it takes to survive the assault.

Here was your take on the subject...

I've been a publican for 19 years. This article is bang on! It's like you've overheard my conversations with my customers - COVID, cost of living, wages - the traditional British boozer going out of fashion. (My place: no food, no small children). Hey Jood

I own a small craft ale bar or micropub as some say. The current climate is sickening for the whole hospitality sector. This summer has been ridiculously quiet compared to previous ones. Micropubs were on the rise pre-COVID, but not now even we're struggling to survive… Lauren

I am an ex-landlord. It's ridiculous you can buy 10 cans for £10 or one pint for £5 now. It's not rocket science, it's a no-brainer: reverse the situation. Make supermarket beer more expensive than pub beer, then people will start to go out and mix again rather than getting drunk at home. Ivanlordpeers

Bought four pints of my regular drink at a supermarket for less than one pint in our local pub. It's becoming a luxury to go to a pub these days. Torquay David

Traditional pubs are being taken over by conglomerates who don't sell traditional beer, only very expensive lager, usually foreign, and other similar gassy drinks. How can they be called traditional pubs? Bronzestraw

The main reason for pubs closing is twofold! 1: The out-of-reach rents that the big groups charge landlords. 2: Landlords are told what stock they can hold and restrict where they can purchase it from. Strange, but most pubs belonged to the same groups! A pub-goer

Less pubs are managed now, pub companies are changing them to managed partnerships, putting the pressure onto inexperienced young ex-managers. Locals complain that their local pub has gone. but they don't use them enough. Can government regulate rents and beer prices for business owners? John Darkins

I was a brewery tenant in Scotland for many years and sequestrated because of the constant grabbing at my money by greedy brewers who wanted more and more. I made my pub very successful and was penalised by the brewery. James MacQuarrie 

The only reason pubs are closing is locals only use them on Boxing Day, New Year's Eve, and one Sunday a year. Plus breweries don't need pubs, they sell enough through supermarkets! Use them or lose them. Peter Smith

The closing of pubs is a terrible shame. I still go to my local and have great memories of getting drunk in many in my hometown. They are important places in society. As someone once said: "No good story ever started with a salad." Kev K

It's the taxman killing pubs. £1 of every £3 sold. Utter disgrace. Stef

I go with my girlfriend, Prue, every day to my local. It's a shame what's happening to prices. It used to be full of people and joy but now it's a ghost town in the pub since prices are too high now. I wish we could turn back time and find out what went wrong. Niall Benson

Minimum wage is around £11 and the tax threshold is £12,600 per year. How can you possibly afford a night in a pub out when a pint costs between £3 and £8 a pint on those wages? Allan7777blue

Unfortunately, the very people who have kept these establishments going over the years (the working man) have been priced out, and they're paying the price. Dandexter

The pubs are too expensive for people to go out regularly as we once did a decade or so ago. People's priorities are on survival, not recreation. Until the living wage increases beyond an inflation that wages haven't risen above in years, then we will see shops, pubs, etc. close JD

Who wants to spend hard-earned money going into a pub that's nearly always empty. It takes away one of the main attractions - socialising. Michael

Monzo has been named the best bank in the UK for customer satisfaction, according to a major survey. 

More than 17,000 personal current account customers rated their bank on the quality of its services and how likely they would be to recommend to friends or family. 

Digital banks made up the top three, with Monzo coming out on top, followed by Starling Bank and then Chase. 

Some 80% of Monzo customers said they would recommend the bank. 

The digital banking app said topping the tables "time and time again" was not something it would "ever take for granted". 

Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) was bottom of the ranking for another year. 

The banks with the best services in branches were Nationwide, Lloyds Bank and Metro Bank. 

Gail's bakery chain has come under fire for repurposing unsold pastries into croissants and selling them for almost £4 the next day.

The retailer lists the "twice baked" chocolate almond croissants as part of its "Waste Not" range, which means it is made using leftover croissants that are then "topped with almond frangipane and flaked almonds".

The scheme has been hit with criticism online, with many pointing out the £3.90 price tag is 95p more than the original croissant.

One X user said: "The audacity of bragging about it being part of their 'Waste Not' range like we should be grateful to them and proud of ourselves for contributing to reducing food waste when they could just sell it for less money – not one pound more than yesterday.

"Unsure whether to be impressed or horrified that someone has come up with a concept to capitalise on yellow sticker goods to make more profit."

It should be added, however, that the practice was not invented by Gail's - and almond croissants were originally created by French boulangeries to reuse day-old croissants and stop them going stale.

When factoring in the extra ingredients (almond frangipane and flaked almonds) and baking time, the bakery chain would likely defend the increased price by pointing to the additional costs incurred.

It comes as locals in a trendy London neighbourhood signed a petition against a Gail's bakery setting up shop in their area.

After (unconfirmed) rumours began circulating that the chain was looking to open a site in Walthamstow village, more than 600 have signed a petition opposing the plans.

The petition says the village "faces a threat to its uniqueness" should Gail's move into the area (see yesterday's 11.54am post for more).

Gail's has been contacted for comment.

British retailers saw a rise in sales last month after a boost from Euro 2024 and summer discounting, according to official figures.

High street retailers said sales of football shirts, electronics such as TVs, and alcoholic drinks were all stronger amid the Three Lions' journey to the final.

Total retail sales volumes rose by 0.5% in July, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said. It was, however, slightly below predictions, with economists forecasting a 0.7% increase.

It followed a 0.9% slump in volumes in June as retail firms blamed uncertainty ahead of the general election and poor weather.

ONS director of economic statistics, Liz McKeown, said: "Retail sales grew in July led by increases in department stores and sports equipment shops, with both the Euros and discounting across many stores boosting sales.

"These increases were offset by a poor month for clothing and furniture shops, and falling fuel sales, despite prices at the pump falling."

The data showed that non-food stores saw a 1.4% rise, driven by a strong performance from department stores, where sales grew by 4% for the month as summer sales helped to stoke demand.

However, clothing and footwear shops saw a 0.6% dip, whilst homeware retailers also saw volumes fall 0.6%. Food stores, meanwhile, saw sales remain flat for the month.

There are fears that the £2-cap on single bus fares could be scrapped after the government declined to say whether the policy would continue past December.

Bus companies said it was vital the cost of using their services is kept low for young people to "enhance their access to education and jobs".

Alison Edwards, director of policy and external relations at industry body the Confederation of Passenger Transport, said: "Bus operators are working closely with the government so that together we can find a way to avoid a cliff edge return to commercial fares.

"Analysis has shown that supporting fares, which can be done in a range of different ways, is great value for money and can support many other government objectives.

"For example, keeping fares low for young people would enhance their access to education and jobs, while also encouraging them to develop sustainable travel habits to last a lifetime."

Transport Secretary Louise Haigh said in a recent interview with the PA news agency that her officials were "looking at various options" in relation to the cap, including whether they could "target it better".

It's been a busy week on the economic front.

There was no major shift in the overall outlook - since Monday we've had it confirmed that the UK economy has lower inflation and more growth than the last two years, while wages have grown faster than the overall pace of price rises.

On the back of all that news the pound is at the highest rate since early this month against the dollar, worth $1.2882, and the highest since July when it comes to buying euro with one pound equal to €1.1733. 

Signs of a recovery from the global market sell-off of Monday last week can be seen in the share prices of companies listed on the London Stock Exchange.

Share prices have grown among the most valuable companies on the stock exchange, those that comprise the Financial Times Stock Exchange (FTSE) 100 list of most valuable companies.

Today though, this benchmark UK index fell 0.19% but finishes the week higher than the start.

Also finishing the week higher than the start are the more UK-based companies of the FTSE 250 (the 101st to the 250th most valuable firms on the London Stock Exchange).

On Friday morning that index was up 0.08%. 

With tensions in the Middle East and Eastern Europe high as Iran mulled a retaliatory strike on Israel and Ukraine made incursions into Russian territory, there had been concern about energy price spikes.

But the benchmark oil price has remained steady at $80.13 dollars for a barrel of Brent crude oil.

Gas prices have remained below the Monday high of 100 pence a therm (the measurement for heat) and now are 94.50 pence a therm. 

A Cabinet Office minister has said it is "unfair" to suggest other public sector workers will be queuing up for a pay rise after the government's offer of a 15% increase for train drivers and junior doctors.

"I think that's an unfair characterisation as well," paymaster general Nick Thomas-Symonds told Times Radio.

"I think what is absolutely crucial here is we are a Government again that is sticking to the promises we made in opposition.

"We promised we would sit down and find solutions, and people expressed scepticism about that, but actually that is precisely what we have done in Government."

Last month, the government and the British Medical Association struck an improved pay deal for junior doctors in England worth 22% on average over two years.

Meanwhile, train drivers will vote on a new pay deal following talks between representatives of drivers' union ASLEF and the Department for Transport.

The new offer is for a 5% backdated pay rise for 2022/23, a 4.75% rise for 23/24, and 4.5% increase for 24/25.

The Dartford Crossing is the highest-earning toll road in the UK, new data shows. 

The Kent to Essex route raked in £215.9m in the last year - 2,159 times more than the Whitney toll bridge in Hereford. 

The crossing, which was supposed to stop charging customers in 2003, costs between £2 and £6 to use (depending on the vehicle you're driving) between 10am and 6pm every day. 

Car finance company Moneybarn found it earned just over £209m in 2022. 

It topped the chart of 13 toll roads in the country, making over £100m more than the second highest-earning road in 2023 - the M6 Toll in the West Midlands. 

In third place was the Mersey Gateway Bridge between Halton and Cheshire, which made £48.9m. 

You can see how the other toll roads fared below... 

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W.H.O. Declares Global Emergency Over New Mpox Outbreak

The epidemic is concentrated in the Democratic Republic of Congo, but the virus has now appeared in a dozen other African countries.

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By Apoorva Mandavilli

The rapid spread of mpox, formerly called monkeypox, in African countries constitutes a global health emergency, the World Health Organization declared on Wednesday.

This is the second time in three years that the W.H.O. has designated an mpox epidemic as a global emergency. It previously did so in July 2022. That outbreak went on to affect nearly 100,000 people , primarily gay and bisexual men, in 116 countries, and killed about 200 people.

The threat this time is deadlier. Since the beginning of this year, the Democratic Republic of Congo alone has reported 15,600 mpox cases and 537 deaths. Those most at risk include women and children under 15.

“The detection and rapid spread of a new clade of mpox in eastern D.R.C., its detection in neighboring countries that had not previously reported mpox, and the potential for further spread within Africa and beyond is very worrying,” said Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the W.H.O.’s director general.

The outbreak has spread through 13 countries in Africa, including a few that had never reported mpox cases before. On Tuesday, the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention declared a “public health emergency of continental security,” the first time the organization has taken that step since the African Union granted it the power to do so last year.

“It’s in the interests of the countries, of the continent and of the world to get our arms around this and stop transmission as soon as we can,” said Dr. Nicole Lurie, the executive director for preparedness and response at the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations, a nonprofit that finances vaccine development.

Facing the threat of global spread, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has urged clinicians and the public in the United States to be alert for the virus.

The W.H.O.’s designation of a “public health emergency of international concern” is intended to prompt member countries to begin preparing for the virus’s appearance and to share vaccines, treatments and other key resources with poorer nations.

“We need concerted international action to stem this recent, novel outbreak,” said Gregg Gonsalves, an epidemiologist at Yale University who served on the W.H.O.’s mpox committee in 2022.

The outbreak that year stayed mostly within tight sexual networks, among gay and bisexual men. A combination of behavioral changes and vaccination tamped down the spread.

In the United States, for example, the toll dropped to about 1,700 cases last year from more than 30,000 in 2022.

The version of mpox that has been circulating in Congo has always been more virulent, and currently has a death rate of about 3 percent, compared with 0.2 percent in the 2022 outbreak. The infection can produce fever, respiratory symptoms, muscle aches and swollen lymph nodes, as well as a rash on the hands, feet, chest, mouth or genitals.

Until recently, it spread mainly through consumption of contaminated meat or close contact with infected animals and people. Most of the deaths have been in children, who in this region of Africa are already beset by malnutrition and infectious diseases like cholera, measles and polio.

Should the outbreak spread globally, children in developed countries are likely to be less vulnerable to severe illness, experts have said.

Last year, for the first time, scientists discovered sexual transmission of this version of mpox, with cases split about equally among young men and women. According to genetic analyses , sometime around September, the virus gained mutations that enabled it to spread more readily among people. It has done so partly through heterosexual prostitution .

This viral type has not surfaced outside Africa. Over all, there have been more than 17,500 presumed and confirmed mpox cases in 13 countries, according to Africa C.D.C . Most of the cases and deaths have occurred in Congo.

Given the rapid spread, the declaration of a global health emergency was justified, said Anne Rimoin, an epidemiologist at the University of California, Los Angeles, who served on the 2022 mpox panel.

“I think we learned a great deal about the speed with which this virus can spread,” she said.

Amid rising numbers, Congo has approved two mpox vaccines , a Japanese product called LC16 and Jynneos, the vaccine made by Bavarian Nordic that was used in 2022 in the United States and Europe. But Congo has yet to institute an immunization plan.

On Aug. 9, the W.H.O. invited vaccine manufacturers to apply for an emergency use listing , a prerequisite for international groups such as Gavi, a global vaccine alliance, to purchase and distribute the shots in low-income nations.

Bavarian Nordic has donated 15,000 doses of Jynneos to be distributed in African countries. But that is a tiny fraction of the 10 million doses needed to control the outbreak, according to Africa C.D.C.

“The challenge is that these vaccines are not sufficient,” even if countries try to protect only the people at highest risk, said Dr. Dimie Ogoina, a Nigerian scientist and chair of the W.H.O.’s mpox emergency committee.

LC16 was used in Japanese children in the 1970s. Clinical trials funded by the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations are now evaluating whether Jynneos can protect children and people who have already been exposed to the virus , Dr. Lurie said.

The organization is also supporting the development of a new mRNA vaccine made by BioNTech that would protect against mpox and related viruses, such as smallpox.

“This outbreak has been smoldering for quite a long time, and we continually have missed opportunities to shut it down,” Dr. Lurie said. “I’m really glad that everybody is now paying attention and focusing their efforts on this.”

Apoorva Mandavilli is a reporter focused on science and global health. She was a part of the team that won the 2021 Pulitzer Prize for Public Service for coverage of the pandemic. More about Apoorva Mandavilli

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