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The World Health Organisation (<keyword id="19895006" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="WHO" source="keywords">WHO</keyword>) has announced that <keyword id="22989608" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="M-Pox" source="keywords">M-Pox</keyword> will continue to be classified as a <keyword id="21952478" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="public-health-emergency" source="keywords">public health emergency</keyword> of international concern (PHEIC), citing a resurgence in cases and the virus's ongoing geographic spread. The high-alert status initially declared in August, was reaffirmed following a meeting of the WHO Emergency Committee, The Express Tribune reported on Friday. The decision comes as M-Pox cases surge, particularly with the spread of the <keyword id="22875864" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="clade-Ib-variant" source="keywords">clade Ib variant</keyword> beyond its origin in the Democratic Republic of Congo to neighbouring African nations, Europe, and Asia. "Rising case numbers, the continuing geographic spread, and the need for a cohesive response have made it essential to maintain this emergency status," the WHO said in its statement. Confirmed cases of clade Ib have been detected in the United Kingdom, Germany, Sweden, and India, highlighting the global scale of the outbreak, reported The Express Tribune. M-Pox, a viral disease transmitted through close contact, presents flu-like symptoms and lesions. Although typically mild, it can be fatal, particularly in regions with inadequate healthcare. Over 46,000 suspected cases have been reported this year in Africa, with Congo accounting for the majority of the more than 1,000 suspected deaths. The new PHEIC declaration underscores the global threat posed by clade Ib and follows earlier alerts related to a separate strain during the 2022-2023 outbreak. In response to growing concerns, the WHO has expanded vaccine authorisations. Bavarian Nordic's <keyword id="24137585" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="M-Pox-vaccine" source="keywords">M-Pox vaccine</keyword> was approved earlier this year, with Japan's KM Biologics' vaccine added to the list of emergency-use vaccines in September. WHO officials have faced criticism for delays in <keyword id="21847727" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="vaccine-distribution" source="keywords">vaccine distribution</keyword> but stressed that vaccination remains a cornerstone of global response efforts, The Express Tribune reported. "The emergency status underscores the urgency to mount a unified global response," a WHO spokesperson stated. The organisation urged countries and health partners to collaborate on widespread vaccination campaigns and enhance public awareness to curb the virus's spread effectively.

M-Pox remains public health emergency: WHO

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Trump's nomination of Matt Gaetz for US Attorney General is a controversial choice.</li><li>Gaetz's appointment will need Senate confirmation, and that could be tough to secure.</li></ul>Amid a series of attention-grabbing <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/donald-trump-white-house-staff-cabinet-picks-list-2024-11">cabinet picks</a>, perhaps no choice has drawn more attention than President-elect Donald Trump's decision to <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-nominates-matt-gaetz-attorney-general-2024-11">nominate GOP Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida</a> as the next US Attorney General.<a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/matt-gaetz-criticism-big-tech-trump-attorney-general-antitrust-2024-11">Gaetz is a polarizing figure,</a> even within the Republican Party.His appointment will require Senate confirmation, and while Republicans will hold a majority in the Senate, several GOP lawmakers have already signaled that they are less than pleased with this controversial pick.While other nominees — such as former Democratic congresswoman <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/who-is-tulsi-gabbard-bio-age-family-key-positions-2019-4">Tulsi Gabbard</a> for Director of National Intelligence and Fox News host <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/pete-hegseth-trump-fox-twitter-elon-musk-influence-2024-11">Pete Hegseth</a> for Defense Secretary — have raised eyebrows, Gaetz stands out as the one pick Republicans seem eager to criticize.Gaetz was previously subject to <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/matt-gaetz-sexual-misconduct-probe-house-ethics-obstruction-2024-6">sex trafficking allegations</a>, which arose after the Department of Justice opened an investigation into him in April 2021. Although the agency ultimately declined to press charges, Gaetz was until recently being <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="c-link" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/house-ethics-committee-opens-investigation-into-rep-matt-gaetz-2021-4">probed by the House Ethics Committee.</a> However, his abrupt resignation from the House following his nomination on Wednesday means the committee no longer has jurisdiction to investigate him, <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="c-link" href="https://www.nytimes.com/2024/11/13/us/politics/matt-gaetz-ethics-committee-report.html">per The New York Times</a>.Further complicating his support among Republicans, Gaetz also <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/matt-gaetz-seeks-oust-kevin-mccarthy-house-speaker-2023-10">led the charge to oust Kevin McCarthy</a> as House Speaker last year, a move that led to significant friction within the party.Even some Trump loyalists have expressed surprise at the Gaetz nomination.<h2 id="7e17e84c-3f3f-4716-9346-854e9182f111">Sen. Markwayne Mullin of Oklahoma</h2><a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/sen-markwayne-mullin-picked-noses-of-colleague-and-spouses-in-israel-2023-11">Mullin</a> is a staunch Trump supporter who backed his baseless claims of a stolen 2020 election and was even <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-news/markwayne-mullin-trump-cabinet-position-1235162109/">rumored</a> as a potential cabinet pick.But that didn't stop him from offering less than full-throated support for the Gaetz nomination.Appearing on CNN, <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://x.com/atrupar/status/1856815753028108716">he said:</a> "Matt Gaetz and I, there's no question that we've had our differences."While expressing trust in "Trump's decision-making on this one," Mullin said that Gaetz would have to make his case in the Senate."There's a lot of questions that are going to be out there," he told CNN. "He's got to answer those questions, and hopefully, he's able to answer those questions right, and if he can, we'll go through the confirmation process."Those differences refer to <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://x.com/kylegriffin1/status/1856816960769855533">comments Mullin made to CNN last year, </a>around the time Gaetz brought a motion to oust McCarthy.Mullin said, "There's a reason why no one in the Congress came and defended" Gaetz in the aftermath of sex trafficking allegations.He went on to allege that Gaetz would brag about his sexual escapades on the House floor.<h2 id="fdc63d2f-097f-4456-a6fd-7f2367b10cae">Sen. Kevin Cramer of North Dakota</h2><a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/author/kevin-cramer">Cramer,</a> a loyal supporter of Trump since endorsing him early in his 2016 campaign, expressed surprise at Gaetz's nomination.According to Ramsey Touchberry of the Washington Examiner, Cramer was taken aback by the Gaetz pick."That's an uff da," Cramer said, <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://x.com/ramsberry1/status/1856797643625861431">per Touchberry's X post</a>. "Huh, I don't know what to make of it."The Minnesota Monthly describes "uff da" as implying "exhaustion, frustration, confusion, surprise, and mild repulsion."Responding to questions from <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://x.com/cristina_corujo/status/1856827353709543597">CBS News reporter Cristina Corujo, </a>Cramer said that Gaetz's nomination was a "surprise" and an "interesting pick."He also said he doesn't know Gaetz very well and thinks he has the academic credentials, but said he is concerned with how he "handled the squabble with Speaker McCarthy. I thought it was unnecessary, I thought it was divisive."<h2 id="6577c8a9-f018-4627-9cd5-2564df60b2d2">Sen. John Cornyn of Texas</h2><a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/cornyn-slammed-for-saying-finger-pointing-at-police-is-destructive-2022-5">Cornyn,</a> another reliable Trump ally, also seemed shocked by the Gaetz pick.<a target="_blank" class="" href="https://x.com/sn_handler/status/1856797433575215299">According to Punchbowl News reporter Samantha Handler,</a> he gave an "audible snort" when asked about it.Alex Bolton, a staff writer for The Hill, <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://x.com/alexanderbolton/status/1856799479287927039">said in an X post</a> that a "surprised or shocked look" flashed across Cornyn's face "like he tasted something strange," when asked about Gaetz.Cornyn <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://x.com/ArthurDelaneyHP/status/1856798211681157347">told HuffPost reporter Arthur Delaney</a>: "I don't know the man other than his public persona."<a target="_blank" class="" href="https://x.com/maxpcohen/status/1856801418163728642">According to Max Cohen</a>, another Punchbowl News reporter, Cornyn was asked about Gaetz's status as the subject of a House Ethics investigation."Well, that might come up," Cornyn told reporters.<h2 id="02c3e7e1-1863-4fd8-8ee6-564725080c3f">Rep. Max Miller of Ohio</h2>Though he won't get to vote on Gaetz, Miller had some choice words on his fellow Republican lawmaker.The GOP congressman, who has previously <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2021/07/28/max-miller-ohio-congress-trump-profile-500187">praised Trump</a> as "the greatest POTUS this country has ever had," <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://x.com/haleytalbotcnn/status/1856834458810552558">told CNN's Haley Talbot </a>that Gaetz is "a guy who is literally worse than the gum on the bottom of my shoe."<a target="_blank" class="" href="https://x.com/haleytalbotcnn/status/1856835289160855718">Per Talbot</a>, Miller also accused Gaetz of wrecking the country and said he "ran around here last term like a six-year-old with a loaded revolver and a happy trigger finger."

Matt Gaetz is emerging as the Trump pick Republicans are prepared to dunk on

<keyword id="19941210" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Kangana-Ranaut" source="keywords">Kangana Ranaut</keyword>’s much-anticipated film Emergency, a biographical drama centered on former Prime Minister <keyword id="19913949" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Indira-Gandhi" source="keywords">Indira Gandhi</keyword>, has been delayed due to a certification battle with the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC). Initially slated for a September 6 release, the film has faced hurdles as the CBFC's revising committee suggested certain cuts before issuing a certificate. The <keyword id="19905533" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Bombay-High-Court" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Bombay High Court" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Bombay High Court">Bombay High Court</keyword> is now involved, with further hearings scheduled, raising questions about when the film will finally hit theatres. <h2>The battle for certification</h2>On Thursday, the CBFC told the Bombay High Court that a certificate would be issued to Emergency only if the recommended cuts were made. Ranaut, who directed, co-produced, and stars as Indira Gandhi in the film, had accused the CBFC of intentionally delaying the film's release by withholding certification. She suggested that the delay was politically motivated, especially given the upcoming elections in states like Haryana. The film's co-producer, <keyword id="20068359" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Zee-Entertainment" source="keywords">Zee Entertainment</keyword> Enterprises, took the matter to court, seeking a directive for the CBFC to issue the required certificate. The division bench of Justices B.P. Colabawalla and Firdosh Pooniwalla expressed frustration with the CBFC’s indecision. In a previous hearing, the court had remarked that the censor board cannot sit on a fence and has to take its decision one way or the other as it would otherwise amount to curtailing the freedom of speech and expression. In response to the court’s directive, CBFC’s counsel Abhinav Chandrachud explained, “The committee has suggested some cuts before a certificate can be issued and the movie can be released.” Senior counsel Sharan Jagtiani, representing Zee Entertainment, requested more time to decide whether these cuts could be accepted, with the court now awaiting a final decision in the next hearing scheduled for September 30. The delay in certification stems partly from objections raised by some <keyword id="23262146" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Sikh-organisations" source="keywords">Sikh organisations</keyword>, including the Shiromani Akali Dal, accusing the film of misrepresenting their community and historical facts. This controversy has only added to the uncertainty surrounding the film’s release, as sensitive portrayals of political and historical events often attract close scrutiny in India. <h2><keyword id="23323607" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="political-motivations" source="keywords">Political motivations</keyword></h2>The controversy has led to speculation about political motivations, with Zee Entertainment alleging that the certificate was being withheld due to the upcoming elections in Haryana. This claim has raised eyebrows, given that Kangana Ranaut has been a vocal supporter of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and is herself a BJP MP. The court even wondered aloud why the ruling party would take issue with the film. Emergency was expected to be a major release, particularly due to its portrayal of one of the most significant and controversial periods in Indian political history — the 1975-1977 Emergency imposed by then-Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. However, the film’s release is now dependent on the outcome of the ongoing court proceedings and whether Kangana Ranaut and Zee Entertainment are willing to comply with the CBFC’s suggested edits. The CBFC’s recommended cuts have not been publicly disclosed, leaving many wondering what specific elements of the film are in dispute. With the next court hearing scheduled for September 30, it remains to be seen whether Emergency will make its way to theatres soon or face further delays. (With inputs from PTI)

What will it take for Kangana Ranaut’s 'Emergency' to finally hit theatres?

<div type="image" title="In 2024, India has seen around $12.2 billion worth of IPOs, including mainboard and SMEs" msid="113878163" hostid="261" sizebytes="45300" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;In 2024, India has seen around $12.2 billion worth of IPOs, including mainboard and SMEs&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div> Missing some action, adrenaline rush, and thrill in your life? Are the good old, albeit mundane money investment avenues like mutual funds and fixed deposits not making the cut for you? Want to experience a heart-pounding, financial rollercoaster that will constantly keep you and your portfolio on tenterhooks? Well then, welcome to the world of initial public offers (IPOs), especially those brought to you by SMEs, or <keyword id="6375845" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Small-and-Medium-Enterprises" source="Orion">small and medium enterprises</keyword>. Truth be told, <keyword id="19938687" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="sme" source="keywords">SME</keyword> IPOs have been all over the bourses this year. So far, 2024 has seen 206 SMEs debuting on both BSE and NSE, out of which 146 listed in gains and 46 listed in losses. Odds seem good, right? In contrast, the year has only seen 63 IPOs from the elder brother i.e. mainboard, only 48 of which managed to post any listing gains. And getting an allotment has also been a major uncertainty, given the unusually high demand this year. <h2 style="margin-bottom: 0.7em; line-height: 1.3; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 24px; background: 0px 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;">So, what's an <keyword id="5559702" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="SME-IPO" source="Orion">SME IPO</keyword>, you ask?</h2>Think of a mainboard company as Shah Rukh or Salman Khan—well-established, financially stable, strong legacy of profitability, and fairly well-known. On the other hand, SMEs are your Prateek Gandhi (Harshad Mehta, Scam 1992), Siddhant Chaturvedi (MC Sher, Gully Boy) or Avinash Tiwary (Majnu, Laila Majnu). While they are doing super well, they are yet to make it big like the Khans. They’re currently underdogs, lesser known, but who knows? They can be the next big thing in the future! And SME IPOs are getting a stellar reception. In 2023, 182 such IPOs had raised a substantial Rs 4,967 crore. In 2024, more than 200 companies have already raised over Rs 7,500 crore, and we have four months to go. This, with one quarter of the year still remaining. <div type="image" title="In 2024, India leads IPO activity in the Asia-Pacific region" height="900" width="1200" msid="113875643" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;In 2024, India leads IPO activity in the Asia-Pacific region&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div> But what does it take for a company to be classified as a small enterprise? The company has to have an annual turnover/income of up to Rs 50 crore, and for a medium enterprise to be called so, its annual income has to be up to Rs 250 crore. When such companies go public, in a bid to raise funds from investors and expand their operations, they launch an <keyword id="19898327" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="ipo" source="keywords">IPO</keyword>, but not on the main exchange, but separately, on NSE’s Emerge and BSE’s SME platform. As of September 2024, <keyword id="4484133" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="NSE-Emerge" source="Orion">NSE Emerge</keyword> has 147 listed participants, while <keyword id="1885131" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="BSE-SME" source="Orion">BSE SME</keyword> has 155 market makers. Mounting an SME’s IPO is comparatively less stringent than their mainboard counterparts, as far as regulations are concerned since their DRHPs (draft red herring prospectus) are not filed with SEBI. So, wouldn’t a lenient treatment make them inherently riskier? Why are they so appealing, you ask? <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/stock-market/news/a-company-with-8-employees-looking-to-raise-12-crore-ended-up-getting-applications-worth-over-4700-crore/articleshow/112824522.cms">Delhi firm with just 8 employees seeks ₹12 crore via IPO, gets ₹4,700 crore worth of investor applications!</a> Well, for one, some of them have delivered exceptional returns—we’re talking 100%, 200%. Consider this—Owais Metal and Mineral Processing, which launched its IPO in February this year, delivered a whopping listing gain of 201%. Another SME, Maxposure, whose IPO was out in January 2024, had earned its investors listing gains worth 317.40%! Apparently, higher risks also mean higher returns, and also super high investment. Most SME IPOs need a minimum investment of Rs 1,00,000 or more, as opposed to mainboard IPOs, where you can buy one lot of shares for anywhere between Rs 14,000-15,000. Even the minimum trading lot size for SME shares is about 10,000. In short, you’d have to potentially empty your pockets to invest in an SME IPO. And still, there’s no guarantee that the listing will fill your wallets. For all you know, your pockets before and after the IPO is listed might stay the same - EMPTY! There's also the question of whether or not these SMEs are able to maintain their listing day mojo, or do they just fizzle out thereafter? Data from Prime Database highlights more instances of the latter. As of August 2024, about 166 SME IPOs had made it to the exchanges. Around 72 of them, or close to 50%, could not sustain their momentum going ahead, and were trading below their listing day prices. Consider this. The post listing gains of Medicamen Organics, whose IPO came out in June 2024, earned its investors massive listing gains of over 300%, by listing at Rs 137.85, significantly higher than its price issue price, which was set between Rs 32-34. But as of October 1, 2024, the stock was trading at Rs 64.2. Talk about falls. Additionally, risks of pump-and-dump, and illiquidity, among others makes SME IPOs dangerous See, you're largely venturing into unknown, pitch-dark territories, without much light to guide you. For starters, SME IPOs face less scrutiny from market watchdog SEBI. This also means they are able to list quickly, just 3-4 months. On the other hand, mainboard IPOs can take upto a year before they are cleared for listing. Also, there is far less information and disclosures available about their financials, fundamentals and performance to investors for making an informed decision, as compared to mainboard stocks. Then there’s the issue of illiquidity. Once purchased, you might find it hard to sell off your SME stocks, since they are not traded as frequently in the market, which means lower liquidity. Trivesh D, COO, Tradejini explains that liquidity is a major concern for such stocks. “These stocks typically have a smaller free float, and are traded in lots, which can lead to volatility and sharp price swings. This means it can be challenging for investors to buy or sell shares without significantly impacting prices. Additionally, speculative trading practices, like 'pump-and-dump' schemes, can inflate stock prices, leaving retail investors vulnerable to sudden drops”. Recently, SME IPOs have gained notoriety for price manipulation via showing fictitious sales and revenue in their books of accounts, selling of promoter holdings at inflated prices, and being the facade for many infamous pump and dump schemes. This is where select people create frenzy, or mass euphoria over a particular stock or company, causing its prices to soar, and then dumping them, or selling their shares at this massive price to make a killing! Infact, it's not just the promoters, but also the investment banks floating these IPOs. At present, SEBI is investigating around 6 investment banks which have allegedly charged SMEs a staggering 15% of funds raised via IPOs as fee, as opposed to the standard 1-3%. In March 2024, SEBI chairperson Madhabi Puri Buch had also highlighted witnessing signs of manipulation in the SME space. “We do see signs of manipulation in the SME segment. We are able to see certain patterns.” Buch had observed back then. Adds Kresha Gupta, Founder &amp; Director, StepTrade Share Services, “Investing in SME IPO comes with significant risks, despite their impressive returns in recent years. Limited participation from institutional investors and public in some SME IPOs also mean that those companies may lack the support and stability that comes with larger-scale investments” “Additionally, many SMEs may not have strong fundamentals to justify their valuations. High P/E ratios can be misleading, and while some IPOs have delivered impressive returns, they often come with significant volatility, continues D of Tradejini. <h2 style="box-sizing: border-box; border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0.7em; font-family: &quot;Open Sans&quot;, sans-serif; font-weight: 700; line-height: 1.3; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 24px; list-style: none; background: 0px 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; text-transform: none; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;">So, should I stay away?</h2>Yes, and No. Yes, if you don't want to do your homework of researching the company thoroughly beforehand. Anand K. Rathi, Co-Founder of MIRA Money suggests asking a couple of questions before investing your hard earned money: <ul><li>What is the company's financial performance over the past 3-4 years?</li><li>What is the company's governance structure?</li><li>Is the financial success driven by the IPO, or is it a result of consistent performance?</li><li>Does the company have what it takes to scale its operations to the next level?</li><li>Are the company’s promoters trustworthy, capable and experienced?</li><li>What is the level of participation by large, institutional investors?</li></ul> But staying away completely? Not necessary. Gupta adds that retail investors, in particular, should avoid viewing SME IPOs as quick money-makers based on their short-term performance, as this can certainly lead to poor investment decisions. “To mitigate risks, investors should always focus on long-term fundamentals rather than just short-term price movements. Key indicators include the participation of institutional investors like DIIs and FIIs. This often signals confidence in the stock”, she continues. A red flag you should look out for is if a company is only offering OFS, or Offer for Sale. This can indicate early investors looking to exit, potentially signaling weaker future growth. That's why it is better to look for companies which are raising capital for expansion purposes. This is a sign of healthy business growth prospects and improving fundamentals. In conclusion, backing the underdog, or SMEs, is not a bad proposition, but not without its risks. Investing in SME IPOs is like riding a unicorn—but you don't know whether you're riding it to rags or riches! So, take your pick.

SIMPLY PUT: Why investing in SME IPOs should not be on top of your adventure to-do list!

The investigation into the untimely death of <keyword id="21128622" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="liam-payne" source="keywords">Liam Payne</keyword>, former member of One Direction, has taken a dramatic new turn as authorities make arrests and uncover additional details surrounding his tragic fall from a hotel balcony in Buenos Aires. Payne, who was just 30, was found dead on October 16 after falling from a third-floor balcony at the CasaSur Palermo Hotel. New reports now reveal the complex and troubled circumstances leading up to that fatal night. According to an official autopsy obtained by The Hollywood Reporter, Payne had multiple narcotics in his system when he died. The investigation’s spotlight has fallen on two men recently arrested: a hotel maintenance worker and a suspected local drug dealer. Both individuals are accused of supplying Payne with the narcotics, which reportedly included cocaine, as revealed by forensic tests. The investigation has also implicated an Argentine businessman who claimed to be Payne’s manager during the singer's last days. Authorities believe the businessman falsely presented himself in this role and was involved in several incidents that may have contributed to the singer's distress. <h2>Mysterious events</h2>Reports describe Payne’s hotel room as a chaotic environment: there were broken items, alcohol bottles, and narcotics. Witnesses say this tension culminated in a confrontation with two women, identified as "L" and "R," whom Payne had allegedly contacted via an escort app. In a heated encounter, the women reportedly demanded $5,000 from Payne, which led to an argument that spilled into the hotel lobby. The hotel manager attempted to de-escalate the situation by calling the Argentine businessman, who was said to be a friend of Payne. This businessman, however, now faces a charge of "abandonment of a person" for allegedly failing to notify Payne’s family about his worsening state or alerting authorities after his death. Although he has cooperated with police only through his lawyer, he has not been detained. Authorities believe that while he may not have directly caused Payne’s death, his actions could have prevented tragedy if he had intervened sooner. <h2>An expanding investigation</h2>In their search for answers, Argentine police have raided nine locations tied to those involved. They have gathered critical evidence, including nine mobile phones, computers, hard drives, and a jar of marijuana, which they believe may hold clues to what truly happened. One of the nine locations raided was the rented room of "L," who had reportedly spent time in Payne's hotel room before the fatal incident. However, after briefly speaking with authorities, she disappeared, adding another layer of mystery to the case. Neighbours reported hearing a dog barking from her now-vacant room, and police are actively searching for her. As the investigation deepens, Payne’s family is preparing for his body’s return to the UK, where they will lay him to rest. Authorities continue to analyse the extensive evidence collected in hopes of understanding the full scope of events that led to the tragic loss of the young star. (With inputs from agencies)

Mystery deepens in Liam Payne’s tragic fall: Two arrested as new clues emerge

Sydney, Aug 15 (The Conversation): The <keyword id="19896311" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="World-Health-Organization" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="World Health Organization" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="World Health Organization">World Health Organization</keyword> (<keyword id="19895006" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="WHO" source="keywords">WHO</keyword>) has declared <keyword id="20965747" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="mpox" source="keywords">mpox</keyword> a public health emergency of international concern, after rising cases in the <keyword id="22796094" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Democratic-Republic-of-the-Congo" source="keywords">Democratic Republic of the Congo</keyword> and the potential for further spread. This now triggers a coordinated international response to an extraordinary event and the mobilisation of resources, such as vaccines and diagnostic testing, to curb the spread of this infectious disease. But WHO has not declared mpox a <keyword id="19913581" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="pandemic" source="keywords">pandemic</keyword>. Rather, the measures it has triggered are designed to prevent it from becoming one. <h2>What triggered this latest alert?</h2> Mpox, once known as monkeypox, is a viral infection closely related to <keyword id="22362924" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="smallpox" source="keywords">smallpox</keyword>. Initial symptoms include a fever, headache, swelling of the lymph nodes and muscle ache. A typical rash follows, mainly on the face, hands and feet. The spread of mpox through certain African countries led the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention to declare earlier this week mpox a public health emergency of continental security. This is the first time the organisation has issued such an alert since it was established in 2017. The situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in central Africa has been particularly worrying for more than a year. There are two types or clades of mpox. Clade II, which originates in west Africa, is less severe. It has a fatality rate of up to 1 per cent (in other words, roughly one in 100 are expected to die from it). But clade I, from central Africa, has a fatality rate of up to 10 per cent (up to one in ten die). This compares to a 0.7 per cent fatality rate for the Omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID. The Democratic Republic of the Congo is seeing large epidemics of the more deadly clade I mpox. Mpox is endemic in some parts of central and west Africa, where the virus exists in animals and can spread to humans. Outbreaks have been increasing, with more human-to-human spread, since 2017. This is partly due to very low levels of immunity to the mpox virus, which is related to the virus that causes smallpox. Mass vaccination against smallpox ceased more than 40 years ago globally, resulting in minimal immunity in populations today against mpox. The WHO designation announced this week relates to the clade I. Not only does this have a higher fatality rate, it has new mutations that enhance spread between people. These changes, and the global lack of immunity to mpox, makes the world's population vulnerable to the virus. <h2>There are two different epidemics</h2> In 2022, an epidemic of mpox swept through non-endemic countries, including beyond Africa. This was a variant of clade II originating from Nigeria, called clade IIb. This was sexually transmitted, predominantly affecting men who have sex with men, and had a low fatality rate. That epidemic peaked in 2022, with vaccines made available to people at risk in high-income countries, but there has been an uptick in 2024. At the same time, large clade I epidemics were occurring in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, but with far less attention. Vaccines were not available there, even in 2023, when there were 14,626 cases and 654 deaths. Mortality was 4.5 per cent, and higher in children. In fact, most cases and deaths in the Democratic Republic of the Congo have been children. This means most transmission there is non-sexual and is likely to have occurred through close contact or respiratory aerosols. However, in 2023 an <keyword id="20877025" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="outbreak" source="keywords">outbreak</keyword> in a non-endemic part of the country, South Kivu in the east, appeared to be by sexual transmission, indicating more than one epidemic and different transmission modes in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. By mid-2024, there were already more cases in the country than all of 2023 - more than 15,600 cases and 537 deaths. Testing capacity is low in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, most cases are not confirmed by lab testing, and the data we have are from a small sample of genomic sequences from the Kamituga region of South Kivu. This show mutations to the clade I virus around September 2023, to a variant termed clade Ib, which is more readily transmissible between people. We do not have much data to compare these viruses with the viruses causing cases in the rest of the country. <h2>Mpox is spreading internationally</h2> In the past month, the virus has spread to countries that share a border with the Democratic Republic of the Congo - Rwanda and Burundi. It has also spread to other east African countries, such as Kenya and Uganda. None of these countries have had mpox cases previously. In an interconnected, mobile world, cases may spread to other continents, as mpox did in 2018 from Nigeria to the United Kingdom and other countries. A few travel-related cases between 2018 and 2019 may have led to the large multi-country 2022 clade IIb epidemic. <h2>We have vaccines, but not where they are needed</h2> As the mpox virus and smallpox viruses are related (they are both orthopoxviruses), smallpox vaccines offer protection against mpox. These vaccines were used to control the 2022 clade IIb epidemic. However, most of the world has never been vaccinated, and has no immunity to mpox. The newer <keyword id="19959412" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="vaccine" source="keywords">vaccine</keyword> (called Jynneos in some countries and Imvamune or Imvanex in others) is effective. However, supplies are limited, and vaccine is scarce in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. WHO's declaration of mpox as a public health emergency of international concern will help mobilise vaccines to where they are needed. The Africa Centres for Disease Control had already begun negotiations to secure 2,00,000 doses of vaccine, which is a fraction of what is required to control the epidemic in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. <h2>What happens now?</h2> Ultimately, a serious epidemic anywhere in the world is a concern for all of us, as it can spread globally through travel, as we saw with the COVID pandemic. Controlling it at the source is the best measure, and WHO's latest declaration will help mobilise the required resources. Surveillance for spread of this more serious version of mpox is also essential, bearing in mind that many countries do not have the capacity for widespread testing. So we'll have to rely on "suspected cases", based on a clinical definition, to keep track of the epidemic. Open-source epidemic intelligence - such as using AI to monitor trends in rash and fever illness - can also be used as an early warning system in countries with weak health systems or delayed reporting of cases. A further complication is that 20-30 per cent of people with mpox may simultaneously have chickenpox, an unrelated infection that also causes a rash. So an initial diagnosis of chickenpox (which is easier to test for) does not rule out mpox. Effective communication and tackling push-back against public health measures and disinformation is also key. We saw how important this was during the COVID pandemic. Now, WHO will coordinate the global mpox response, focusing on equity in disease prevention and access to diagnostics and vaccines. It is up to individual countries to do their best to comply with the International Health Regulations, and the protocols for how such a global emergency are managed.

WHO has declared mpox a global health emergency. What happens next?

<keyword id="19909031" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Telangana" source="keywords">Telangana</keyword> <keyword id="19924917" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Chief-Minister" source="keywords">Chief Minister</keyword> A <keyword id="19931047" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Revanth-Reddy" source="keywords">Revanth Reddy</keyword> has assured leaders of the <keyword id="20208359" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Sikh-community" source="keywords">Sikh community</keyword> that the state government will carefully consider banning the release of <keyword id="19941210" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="Kangana-Ranaut" source="keywords">Kangana Ranaut</keyword>'s upcoming film "<keyword id="19900245" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Emergency" source="keywords">Emergency</keyword>." A PTI report says that this decision will be made after seeking legal advice, as stated by government adviser Mohammad Ali Shabbir. The assurance came after a delegation from the Telangana Sikh Society, led by former IPS officer Tejdeep Kaur Menon, met with Shabbir at the Secretariat in Hyderabad. The 18-member group expressed their deep concerns about the film, fearing that it portrays the Sikh community in a negative light. According to Shabbir, the delegation claimed that "Emergency" portrays Sikhs as terrorists and anti-nationals—a depiction they find offensive and damaging to the community’s image. They urged the state government to ban the film's screening in Telangana. Following the meeting, Shabbir relayed the group's concerns to Chief Minister Reddy, who promised that the government would make a decision on the matter after consulting with legal experts. Earlier this week, the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) had issued a legal notice to Ranaut and the film's producers, demanding the removal of the film's trailer, which had been released earlier this month. SGPC Secretary Partap Singh had voiced strong objections to the film, revealing that the committee had also sent letters to the Union Minister of Information and Broadcasting and the Chairperson of the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) to request a ban on Emergency. Singh had also accused Ranaut of hurting Sikh sentiments, claiming that several "anti-Sikh scenes" had come to light since the trailer's release. The controversy gained further momentum last week when both the GDPC and the Akal Takht called for an immediate ban on the film. They alleged that Emergency attempts to "character assassinate" Sikhs by creating a negative narrative against them. SGPC Chief Harjinder Singh Dhami held a press conference, demanding that an FIR be filed against Ranaut and expressing his strong objections to the film. Dhami had said that this was not the first time Sikh sentiments have been hurt by misrepresentation in films. He also criticised the CBFC as being "biased" and urged for the inclusion of Sikh members on the censor board to ensure fair representation. Ranaut, who announced the film in 2021, had earlier clarified that although the film is a political drama, it is not a biopic of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. Besides playing the lead role, Ranaut is also directing the film. The cast includes prominent actors like Anupam Kher, Milind Soman, Mahima Chaudhry, and <keyword id="20045058" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="shreyas-talpade" source="keywords">Shreyas Talpade</keyword>, with Talpade portraying Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Kher as Jayaprakash Narayan. The late Satish Kaushik will be seen as Jagjivan Ram, India's former Deputy Prime Minister.

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