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  • Police arrest 8 SBCA officials, owner in Lyari building collapse case – Pakistan

    Police arrest 8 SBCA officials, owner in Lyari building collapse case – Pakistan

    At least eight officials of the Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA) were arrested on Thursday along with the owner of a building that recently collapsed in Karachi’s Lyari, claiming 27 lives.

    The five-storey building on Fida Husain Shaikha Road in Lea Market collapsed on Friday morning, with the rescue operations concluding on Sunday. The building had already been declared uninhabitable by authorities due to its dilapidated structure, with the SBCA saying it had issued multiple prior notices to residents to vacate the structure since 2023.

    South Deputy Inspector General of Police Syed Asad Raza told Dawn.com that the arrests were made today after a first information report (FIR) was registered a day ago.

    “Nine officials and the present owner of the building were nominated in the FIR registered on a complaint of an official of the local government department. However, eight directors and deputy directors were arrested but one official was not arrested as he was sick,” he said. adding that the owner was arrested as well.

    The provincial government had suspended SBCA Director General Ishaque Khuhro and announced strict action against all those responsible for the incident on Monday. Sindh Senior Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon said a fact-finding committee had been formed to present a report on the incident, adding that the Sindh chief minister ordered the home minister to immediately register an FIR.

    The FIR was registered at the Baghdadi Police Station on the complaint of Hamadullah, a section officer of the Sindh Local Government and Housing Town Planning Department, under Sections 34 (common intention), 217 (public servant disobeying direction of law with intent to save person from punishment or property from forfeiture), 218 (public servant framing incorrect record or writing intent to save person from punishment or property from forfeiture), 288 (negligent conduct with respect to pulling down or repairing buildings), 322 (punishment for qatl-bis-sabab), 337-Ai (whoever, by doing any act with the intention of thereby causing hurt to any person, or with the knowledge that he is likely thereby to cause hurt to any person causes shajjah-i-khafifah) and 427 (mischief causing damage amounting to Rs50) of the Pakistan Penal Code.

    The FIR said the building, spread over 527.3 square yards, was constructed in 1986. Its owner constructed the five-storey plus ground floor building in two portions, and for a considerable period, both portions (buildings) were in dilapidated condition and were unlivable. It added that one building with 20 apartments collapsed on July 4 due to the “criminal negligence” of the SBCA officials and the owner.

    The FIR said the SBCA officials were aware of the dilapidated condition of the building over the years till the collapse. It added that the officials “completely failed” to perform their official duty and “committed negligence and carelessness”.

    The FIR further said that the officials “deliberately” did not mention in the official record that the building was dilapidated. It also added that the present owner of the building and other unknown owners also knew that it was not livable for humans. Despite this, the owners gave several flats on rent to members of the Hindu community and committed negligence.

    The complainant said he wanted legal proceedings against the SBCA officials and owners of the building.

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  • Lemurs age without inflammation—and it could change human health forever

    Lemurs age without inflammation—and it could change human health forever

    What can lemurs tell us about inflammation and aging, aka “inflammaging” in humans? That’s the question Elaine Guevara, a biological anthropologist who studies the evolution of life history and aging in primates, set out to understand.

    In newly published research on age-related inflammation in ring-tailed and sifaka lemurs, Guevara discovered that perhaps we should rethink the inevitability of inflammaging in humans.

    Although similar in many ways, ring-tailed and sifaka lemurs show differences in life pacing and lifespan, making useful comparisons. Because lemurs and humans are primates and share a common ancestor that lived millions of years ago, they offer valuable insights into human evolution.

    Her findings, she said, were “surprising.”

    “Contrary to our predictions, neither species showed age-related change in either marker of oxidative stress. Neither lemur species exhibited age-related change in inflammation; if anything, contrary to our prediction, ring-tailed lemurs showed marginal declines in inflammation with age,” Guevara said.

    This finding, consistent with a few recent studies of other non-human primates, suggests that lemurs avoid the phenomenon of “inflammaging” widely observed in humans.

    The study shows inflammaging is not a universal feature of primates, pointing to some differences that might suggest it turns out it’s not even a universal feature of humans, according to Christine Drea, a professor of evolutionary anthropology who was one of the researchers working with Guevara.

    What is Inflammaging?

    As we grow older, low-grade chronic inflammation sets in, which in turn can cause health problems such as heart disease, strokes, diabetes, cancer and osteoarthritis.

    Why inflammaging increases with age in humans, what causes it and how it can be prevented are answers to questions that can unlock critical information to help humans live longer and healthier lives.

    Collecting Data from Lemurs

    Drea said the team first had to find a way to measure oxidative stress, which can be found in blood, urine and saliva. They settled on urine.

    “Our role at the beginning was planning, designing, brainstorming, comparing and getting these samples,” said Drea, who has worked with the Duke Lemur Center since 1999. The Lemur Center does not allow research that will harm the animals.

    The next step says Guevara is to conduct similar research with lemurs in the wild.

    “There are a lot of good reasons to think that aging can be quite different in captivity and in the wild, and that in itself, is informative to evaluating the degree to which human inflammation is intrinsic versus environmental,” she said.

    In the meantime, Guevara says this study serves as the first step in unraveling the question of why humans are suffering from inflammatory-related and age-related conditions and finding ways to treat them.

    With a rapidly aging global population, “these insights are essential for mitigating disability and improving quality of life in later years,” she said.

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  • Utah Jazz 2025 NBA Summer League Preview – NBA

    Utah Jazz 2025 NBA Summer League Preview – NBA

    1. Utah Jazz 2025 NBA Summer League Preview  NBA
    2. The Aussies and Kiwis to watch at 2025 NBA Summer League  ESPN
    3. What we learned about the Jazz’s young players in SLC Summer League  Deseret News
    4. How did Badgers rookies fare in their Summer League debut?  Bucky’s 5th Quarter
    5. What We Did, Didn’t Learn At Salt Lake City Summer League  KSL Sports

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  • ‘Upload’ Sets Release Date For Fourth & Final Season At Prime Video

    ‘Upload’ Sets Release Date For Fourth & Final Season At Prime Video

    Prime Video has set Monday, August 25 for the premiere of the fourth and final season of sci-fi comedy series Upload. The final chapter will consist of four episodes, all dropped at once, exclusively on the streamer in more than 240 countries and territories worldwide.

    In the final four episodes, “sentient AI rapidly turns evil, threatening to wipe out Lakeview (and the world!). On top of greedy executives, lingering mysteries, plus heartbreak in VR and IRL, our characters are tested like never before. The only way they can get through it all and save humanity from deletion is by teaming up one last time.”

    From Emmy-winning writer Greg Daniels (The Office, Parks and Recreation, King of the Hill), Upload “is set in a technologically advanced future where holographic phones, self-driving vehicles, AI assistance, and 3D food printers are the norm. And, forget about dying – instead, you’ll be “uploaded” to a virtual reality afterlife, and enjoy all the comforts of a world-class resort. Provided you can afford it. 

    The series stars Robbie Amell as Nathan, Andy Allo as Nora, Kevin Bigley as Luke, Allegra Edwards as Ingrid, Zainab Johnson as Aleesha, and Owen Daniels as A.I. Guy. 

    Daniels serves as executive producer along with Howard Klein and Maxwell Vivian.

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  • Southern teams impress as FNB U18 Craven Week heats up

    Southern teams impress as FNB U18 Craven Week heats up

    WP maintained their perfect record at this week’s tournament after downing the Sharks High Schools on Thursday, while EP proved too strong for Border in the Eastern Cape derby.

    Earlier on Thursday, the Valke and Suzuki Griquas secured their first wins of the competition when they beat Sanlam Boland and the Leopards respectively.

    The first quarter of the Coastal Derby was fiercely contested, with the Sharks stretching the WP defence and wing Jadrian Afrikaner touching down for a hard-earned try.

    WP hit back with tries by centre Markus Muller and prop Matthew van der Merwe, while flyhalf Ethan van Biljon slotted a penalty goal on the stroke of half-time to boost his team’s lead to 11 points.

    Province continued to dominate after the break, and went on to finish with six tries in an emphatic 45-13 win, with the impressive Muller bagging a brace.

    After losing 41-10 to the Sharks earlier this week, EP made a statement when they put three early tries past Border in the Eastern Cape derby. Flyhalf Tristan Kemp kicked three conversions and three penalty goals to steer his side to a convincing 30-12 victory.

    The game between the Valke and Boland was in the balance at half-time, before the boys from the East Rand shifted through the gears in the second stanza to secure a convincing 35-19 win.

    Meanwhile, Griquas bounced back from their recent loss to Border to down the Leopards 46-34, with flyhalf Aidan Gadeija scoring two tries and four conversions.

    The last round of the FNB U18 Craven Week will be staged at Hoërskool Middelburg on Saturday, with WP taking on South Western Districts in the final match of the tournament.

    FNB U18 Craven Week day four results (Thursday, 10 July):
    Sanlam Boland 19 (14) Valke 35 (20)
    Suzuki Griquas 46 (19) Leopards 34 (24)
    Border 12 (5) Eastern Province 30 (27)
    DHL Western Province 45 (24) Sharks High Schools 13 (13)

    FNB U18 Craven Week day five fixtures (Saturday, 12 July):

    A-field:
    09h00: EP vs Blue Bulls
    10h15: Golden Lions vs WP XV
    11h30: Sharks vs Free State
    12h45: WP vs SWD

    B-field:
    09h00: Boland vs Griffons
    10h15: Limpopo vs Leopards
    11h30: Griquas vs Valke
    12h45: Border vs Pumas

    EP were too strong for Border in the Eastern Cape Derby.

    Griquas won a high-scoring match against the Leopards.

    Griquas won a high-scoring match against the Leopards.

    The Valke pulled away in the second half to beat Boland.

    The Valke pulled away in the second half to beat Boland.

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  • China willing to always be a trustworthy, good partner of Bangladesh

    KUALA LUMPUR: China is willing to always be a trustworthy good friend, good neighbor, and good partner to Bangladesh, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Thursday when meeting with Touhid Hossain, adviser for foreign affairs of the interim government of Bangladesh, in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

    Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said China has always adhered to promoting strategic cooperation with Bangladesh based on the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence and follows a friendly policy towards all Bangladeshi people.

    This year marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Bangladesh, which holds significant importance for both countries, said Wang, adding that China supports the interim government of Bangladesh and backs the smooth and stable conduct of elections, as well as the pursuit of a development path that suits its conditions.

    Wang emphasized that China-Bangladesh cooperation is mutually beneficial, with China providing zero-tariff access for Bangladeshi products, creating opportunities for its development. In contrast, the United States imposes a 35 percent tariff on Bangladesh, which is classified as one of the least developed countries, an action that is both unreasonable and unethical.

    China is committed to building a community of shared future in the region, noted the Chinese foreign minister. As South Asia’s largest neighboring country, China is willing to work together with Bangladesh and other South Asian countries to achieve modernization and contribute to the development and revitalization of Asia.

    A trilateral deputy foreign minister-level meeting of China, Bangladesh and Pakistan was successfully held in Kunming, China, and there is an expectation to work together with Bangladesh and Pakistan to solidly advance trilateral cooperation and achieve tangible results, Wang added.

    For his part, Hossain said that China is a reliable and trustworthy partner and friend for Bangladesh, and developing friendly cooperation with China is a consensus among the Bangladeshi people.

    Touhid expressed gratitude for the selfless assistance that China has provided for Bangladesh’s development over the years, stating that Bangladesh firmly adheres to the one-China principle and is willing to learn from China’s governance experience, expand friendly cooperation in areas such as trade and healthcare, strengthen regional multilateral coordination, and use the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations as an opportunity to elevate the bilateral relationship to a new level.

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  • Fourth meeting of the International Health Regulations (2005) Emergency Committee regarding the upsurge of mpox 2024

    Fourth meeting of the International Health Regulations (2005) Emergency Committee regarding the upsurge of mpox 2024

    The Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO) is hereby transmitting the report of the fourth meeting of the International Health Regulations (2005) (IHR) Emergency Committee (Committee) regarding the upsurge of mpox 2024, held on Thursday, 5 June 2025, from 12:00 to 17:00 CEST.

    Concurring with the advice unanimously expressed by the Committee during the meeting, the WHO Director-General determined that the upsurge of mpox 2024 continues to meet the criteria of a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC) and, accordingly, on 9 June 2025, issued temporary recommendations to States Parties, available here.  

    The WHO Director-General expresses his most sincere gratitude to the Chair, Members, and Advisors of the Committee.

    ===

    Proceedings of the meeting

    Sixteen (16) Members of, and two Advisors to, the International Health Regulations (2005) (IHR) Emergency Committee (Committee) were convened by teleconference, via Zoom, on Thursday, 5 June 2025, from 12:00 to 17:00 CEST. Fourteen (14) of the 16 Committee Members, and the two Advisors to the Committee participated in the meeting.

    The Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO) joined in person and welcomed the participants, including Government Officials designated to present their views to the Committee on behalf of the two invited States Parties – Burundi and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). The opening remarks by the Director-General are available here.

    The Representative of the Office of Legal Counsel then briefed the Members and Advisors on their roles and responsibilities and identified the mandate of the Committee under the relevant articles of the IHR. The Ethics Officer from the Department of Compliance, Risk Management, and Ethics provided the Members and Advisors with an overview of the WHO Declaration of Interests process. The Members and Advisors were made aware of their individual responsibility to disclose to WHO, in a timely manner, any interests of a personal, professional, financial, intellectual or commercial nature that may give rise to a perceived or actual conflict of interest. They were additionally reminded of their duty to maintain the confidentiality of the meeting discussions and the work of the Committee. Each Member and Advisor was surveyed, with no conflicts of interest identified.

    The meeting was handed over to the Chair who introduced the objectives of the meeting, which were to provide views to the WHO Director-General on whether the event continues to constitute a PHEIC, and if so, to provide views on the potential proposed temporary recommendations.

    Session open to representatives of States Parties invited to present their views

    The WHO Secretariat presented an overview of the global epidemiological situation of mpox, including all circulating clades of monkeypox virus (MPXV). Over the past 12 months, the majority of mpox cases have continued to be reported from the African continent, largely driven by outbreaks of MPXV clade Ib in East African countries, including the DRC, where clade Ia is co-circulating. Sierra Leone however is experiencing a rapidly evolving outbreak, which based on available genomic sequencing results, appears to be driven by MPXV clade IIb. Outside of the African region, there continues to be a steady report of monthly cases (between about 500 – 1000 monthly), from all regions, mostly reflecting ongoing circulation of MPXV clade IIb among men who have sex with men (MSM).

    In the DRC, while surveillance- and access to healthcare-related challenges persist, particularly in the eastern part of the country, trends in most Provinces where MPXV clade Ib is circulating, including those of North Kivu and South Kivu, are now appearing to stabilize or decline. Similar trends are also observed in areas endemic for MPXV clade Ia. In the capital Kinshasa, where the upsurge is driven by a co-circulation of MPXV clades Ia and Ib, the disease appears to be clustered geographically and in specific demographic groups, with incidence disproportionately higher among young adults, reflecting dynamics of transmission sustained by sexual networks in key areas of the city.

    In Burundi, a steady decline in incidence of mpox cases has been observed since late 2024. Initially concentrated in and around Bujumbura and later spreading to the administrative capital Gitega, with at its peak cases reported in most districts, the upsurge appears to now be concentrated only in a few hotspots.

    In Uganda, although national trends indicate a decrease in mpox cases since mid-February 2025, including a clear downward trend in the capital Kampala, limitations in testing capacity warrant cautious interpretation. Clusters are concentrated in urban settings, with transmission primarily among young adults, consistent with sexual contact transmission dynamics.

    In Kenya, although the number of mpox cases remains low, recent data suggest an upward trend. Surveillance is likely underestimating the actual incidence of mpox cases. Transmission has been associated with mobile populations, including truck drivers and sex workers.

    Sierra Leone has recently faced a significant upsurge of MPXV clade IIb, with a peak reproduction number in the capital Freetown, exceeding that observed in the past in Kinshasa, DRC, or Kampala, Uganda. Over the past three weeks, the number of observed mpox cases has been declining, possibly due to a combination of, increased natural immunity in high-risk groups and public health interventions. Transmission remains concentrated in urban areas and among young adults, likely to be associated with sexual contact.

    Travel-associated cases are declining but remain a concern. Notably, recent diagnoses of MPXV clade Ib infection in Australia – linked to exposure in Thailand – highlight the risk of undetected transmission in countries or areas with underperforming surveillance. The majority of secondary transmission resulting from imported mpox cases occurs through close, intimate, or sexual contact.

    MPXV clade Ia continues to show higher mortality, especially in children the DRC with a case fatality rate of 2-3%, although data should be interpreted considering, inter alia, the limitation of syndromic surveillance. Across all clades, individuals with underlying immunosuppression, particularly those with HIV infection, remain at greatest risk of severe outcomes and death. The overall case fatality rate for MPXV clade Ib and clade IIb remains around 0.5%.

    The WHO Secretariat presented the assessed risk by MPXV clades and further expressed in terms of overall public health risk where any given clade/s is/are circulating, as: Clade Ib – high public health risk in the DRC and neighbouring countries; Clade Ia – moderate public health risk in the DRC; Clade II – moderate public health risk in Nigeria and countries of West and Central Africa where mpox is endemic; and clade IIb – moderate public health risk globally. It was noted that the above risk assessment corresponds to the one presented during the third meeting of the Committee on 25 February 2025.

    The WHO Secretariat subsequently underscored progress in mpox control efforts, attributing gains to partnerships among national governments, communities, and WHO. However, these are now at risk due to a worsening funding shortfall, not only for the response but for global health programs that support mpox prevention and control activities.

    An updated WHO Mpox Strategic Preparedness and Response Plan (SPRP, available here), covering the period May-August 2025 and integrating lessons from operational reviews conducted in early 2025, was issued in April 2025. While the strategy remains fit for purpose, the funding environment has deteriorated. Despite a $145 million funding requirement to support all partners involved in mpox response efforts, including $47 million for WHO, the Organization has received no new financial commitments since the issuance of the new SPRP, and resource constraints now threaten the sustainability of operations – personnel levels have dropped, and essential supplies, including vaccines, cannot be deployed efficiently.

    WHO has issued updated clinical care and infection prevention and control (IPC) guidance, emphasizing the importance of integrating mpox-related interventions into broader health programs and health services delivery. However, the effective implementation of the guidance remains limited by logistical and financial barriers, and its application at local level requires intensified support. Community-centered care strategies, such as home-based care with IPC integration and linkage to primary care, have been endorsed to alleviate pressure on health facilities.

    Seven countries have initiated mpox vaccination (Central African Republic, DRC, Liberia, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, and Uganda), with four additional countries (Angola, Cote d’Ivoire, Kenya, and South Africa) poised to begin. Vaccine supply exists with 2.9 million vaccine doses in countries, but resource limitations hamper distribution and administration, with only approximately 724,000 doses administered to date. Strengthened coordination is essential to ensure equitable and timely delivery to high-risk populations.

    While recent progress in controlling and responding to the spread of mpox are encouraging, sustainability hinges on urgent and sustained resource mobilization, greater integration within health systems, and continued prioritization of community engagement. Without this, current gains risk being reversed.

    Representatives of Burundi and the DRC updated the Committee on the mpox epidemiological situation in their countries and their current control and response efforts, needs and challenges, and plans in the medium term.

    In Burundi, since the mpox upsurge started in July 2024, cumulatively, approximately 4,000 confirmed cases of mpox, including one death, were observed. The number of cases has been subsiding and, as of 25 May 2025, mpox cases are occurring in 9 districts, including two hotspots. The response in Burundi is focusing on rapid response to alerts and contract tracing. Among the challenges in responding to mpox are insufficient resources to provide food for cases, lack of clean water in some of the hotspots, and the absence of a functional multisectoral One Health platform.

    In the DRC, the number of mpox cases is plateauing, with a significant decrease in positivity rate, further corroborating the declining trends. Outside areas considered to be endemic, adults account for the majority of cases, with sexual contact being the most frequent mode of transmission. Overall, as a result of contact tracing activities, 83,000 contacts were identified, with a median of 5 contacts per case. More than two million mpox vaccine doses were received, with approximately 600,000 people vaccinated to date. Efforts are ongoing to make triage more efficient and effective, and improve diagnostics for mpox, including transport of samples from the affected communities. National authorities have developed a plan to intensify the response to the mpox outbreak, focusing on surveillance, contact tracing, risk communication, and vaccination. However, the funding gap is again impacting response activities, particularly in remote areas.

    Members of, and Advisors to, the Committee then engaged in questions and answers with the presenters from States Parties and the WHO Secretariat, revolving around the issues and challenges enumerated below.

    Global epidemiology, clade distribution, and risk assessment – The global epidemiological risk has remained largely unchanged since the Committee last met on 25 February 2025. However, 17 countries in Africa are currently reporting mpox outbreaks (i.e. one case or more in the last six weeks). MPXV clade Ib continues to spread in high-risk groups and has been newly detected in countries including Ethiopia, Malawi, South Sudan, and Zambia. Sierra Leone is experiencing a distinct outbreak, likely due to MPXV clade IIb according to initial evidence. This outbreak poses a specific local and regional risk and is a reminder of the ongoing risk of mpox outbreaks in specific contexts. The Committee asked about progress made towards the elimination of mpox in the WHO European Region. In that respect, the WHO Secretariat indicated that MPXV clade IIb continues to circulate at low levels, predominantly among MSM. Despite the reduced number of cases, elimination has not been achieved, with persistent transmission linked to gaps in immunity, behavioral risk factors, and communication barriers. Given the patterns of international travel, the risk of reintroduction in the WHO European Region persists.

    Surveillance, laboratory testing, and confidence in data – On the specific question of confidence in trends in the DRC, while there remain many specific challenges to surveillance, stable or decreasing trends observed in syndromic surveillance, epidemiological case-based surveillance and laboratory-based surveillance, coupled with decreases in test positivity, bring some confidence in the robustness of the assessment. Caution is warranted particularly when interpreting current trends in some areas of the Eastern Provinces of the DRC where access remains constrained, although, overall, Eastern DRC had been seeing a sustained decline in reported cases before the more recent security constraints. Concerns were expressed about the possibility of undetected transmission of MPXV in West Africa, including in Ghana and Togo in relation to MPXV clade Ib, as well as in Sierra Leone, in relation to MPXV clade IIb, despite of the declining trajectory of the number of cases after it peaked in early 2025. Concerns were also expressed regarding the need for enhanced genomic sequencing capacity. Burundi was commended for its strong surveillance performance, including its high testing rate and contact follow-up capacity. National laboratory diagnostic approaches generally report adhering to WHO protocols. However, in Sierra Leone, due to the burden of response activities, only 2% of samples positive for MPXV infection (prior to early May 2025) underwent genomic sequencing.he WHO Secretariat continues to support countries experiencing upsurges of mpox cases by providing technical assistance, including facilitating shipment of specimens to national or international laboratories.

    Patterns of transmission – The Committee highlighted that, unlike in most other areas experiencing the MPXV clade Ib outbreaks, an increased number of paediatric mpox cases is observed in the Provinces of North and South Kivu, DRC. While detailed epidemiological data are limited, this age pattern could potentially be explained, inter alia, by the build-up of immunity among adults following sexual exposure, leading to infections due to non-sexual exposure withing households. There have been anecdotical reports of exposure in paediatric healthcare facilities. It was noted that outbreaks of mpox have not otherwise been reported in educational or other settings where children are congregating.

    Contact tracing – Approaches to contact tracing differ across countries. In some settings the absence of systematic tracing and access to diagnostics reduces the effectiveness of overall control actions. The need to optimize public health resource allocation was underscored. This would entail reassessing the feasibility of traditional contact tracing in certain settings, as well as the use of mpox vaccine among identified contacts to reduce secondary transmission.

    Vaccination – As of June 2025, approximately 2.9 million mpox vaccine doses have been distributed across the African continent, the majority to the DRC, which has received about 2.5 million doses. Of these, approximately 600,000 doses have been administered. The remaining 1.9 million doses comprise 1.5 million LC16m8 vaccine doses donated by Japan (not yet deployed as training of health workers is underway) and 367,000 MVA-BN doses. A further 349,000 doses secured by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) remain undeployed due to funding shortages. An additional 219,000 MVA-BN doses have been pledged by the Government of the United States of America, pending approval for deployment. Strategies for the use of mpox vaccine have evolved in response to supply constraints and emerging epidemiological trends. In the DRC, since February 2025, approximately105,000 doses have been administered to children under 12 and approximately 56,000 doses to adolescents aged 12 to 18. Additional groups targeted by vaccination efforts in the DRC include healthcare workers, individuals at risk of severe disease – such as people living with HIV – and, in more recent phases, key populations in transmission hotspots, including sex workers, and MSM. In Sierra Leone, the vaccination strategy was initially focused on healthcare and frontline workers and people living with HIV. The focus of vaccination efforts then shifted to hotspots and contacts, sex workers, and MSM within those hotspots. Initially, most countries began with a two-dose regimen; however, the majority have now transitioned to a single-dose approach or are preparing to shift toward intradermal fractional dosing. These dose-sparing strategies were endorsed in the WHO position paper, if vaccine resources were limited, published on 23 August 2024, available here.[1] It was noted that intradermal fractional dosing, where each vial can yield four to five doses, is applicable only to the MVA-BN vaccine and has already been employed in some settings. Overall, the uptake of available vaccines has remained lower than anticipated due to logistical, operational, and financial barriers. Further efforts are needed to optimize the strategic use of available mpox vaccine and maximize its public health impact.

    Mpox and HIV infections and integration of health services – Coinfection with HIV presents significant challenges for health services in the management of mpox, especially in countries with high HIV prevalence. In Kinshasa, DRC, 9.3% of mpox cases are reported to be HIV-positive, though this figure likely underrepresents the true burden due to limited HIV testing and integration of health services. In Uganda, 55% of deaths associated with MPXV infection have occurred among people living with HIV. The importance of co-located testing services and data systems was underscored to capture the dual burden of HIV and mpox more effectively. Reference to WHO technical guidance was made in relation to the use of rapid tests for HIV diagnosis, immediate linkage to care for those who test positive, and protocols for clinical management of coinfected individuals. The needs for improving triage systems and refining clinical diagnostic criteria for mpox were highlighted, with emphasis on the misclassification of dermatological conditions, such as chickenpox. Overall, the integration of health care delivery remains uneven across countries.

    Funding – Funding gaps remain one of the most critical threats to the mpox response. It was noted that, since the launch of the updated SPRP in April 2025, WHO has not received any additional earmarked contributions, resulting in the scaling back of operations, including surveillance, laboratory support, community outreach, and vaccine-related logistics. Serious concerns were expressed regarding the sustainability of key control interventions, including HIV-related, the interruption of which could lead to the intensification of transmission and, hence, limit the ability of public health systems to adapt and respond to changing transmission patterns. However, it was emphasized that lessons should be learned from the experience of Burundi that, despite operating with limited resources, has made substantial progress in controlling the upsurge of mpox, thanks largely to non-pharmaceutical interventions – a combination of sensitive surveillance, effective contact tracing, strong laboratory testing capacity, and decentralized district-level interventions leveraging on community engagement.

    Anticipated scenarios for controlling and responding to mpox – The Committee expressed concerns about the current epidemiological trajectory suggesting that mpox may be moving toward endemicity in some countries, or areas thereof, in the African continent. Although some countries are seeing sustained declining trends, MPXV transmission persists. This is consistent with preliminary modelling work suggesting that the actual case counts may be higher than reported due to diagnostic and surveillance gaps. Such scenario raises concern in terms of future interspersed surges of cases in countries in the African continent, as well as exportation of cases within and beyond the continent. Therefore, the observed epidemiological evolution of mpox since the public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC) was determined in August 2024, requires the development of adequate definitions to describe the pattern of mpox transmission experienced by countries, or areas thereof, and, consequently, assist in setting the goals for control, and guide control and response interventions accordingly. 

    Deliberative session

    Following the session open to invited States Parties, the Committee reconvened in a closed session to examine the questions in relation to whether the event constitutes a PHEIC or not, and if so, to consider the temporary recommendations drafted by the WHO Secretariat in accordance with IHR provisions.

    The Chair reminded the Committee Members of their mandate and recalled that a PHEIC is defined in the IHR as an “extraordinary event, which constitutes a public health risk to other States through the international spread of disease, and potentially requires a coordinated international response”.

    The Committee was unanimous in expressing the views that the ongoing upsurge of mpox still meets the criteria of a PHEIC and that the Director-General be advised accordingly.

    The overarching considerations underpinning the advice of the Committee are determined by (a) challenges in accurately describing the multi-faceted epidemiological patterns and profiles associated with multiple circulating MPXV clades, observed and markedly differing from historical experience with the disease; (b) uncertainties related to funding availability in the immediate and medium term, both, domestically and internationally; and (c) the subsequent challenges in defining public health strategic approaches for controlling and responding to the spread of mpox.

    On that basis, the Committee considered that:

    The event is “extraordinary” because of (i) the emergence and spread of MPXV clade 1b has introduced new uncertainties regarding virus evolution, and the current and foreseeable dynamics of mpox spread; (ii) the establishment of sustained community transmission of MPXV clade I in additional countries in the African continent, without a full appreciation of the factors driving the rapid evolution of the surge of mpox cases; (iii) the disproportionate burden of mpox cases among children, especially in the Eastern Provinces of the DRC, with not yet fully explained dynamics of transmission; and (iv) the persistent challenges integrating health service delivery to mpox patients, due to the likelihood of comorbidities and heightened vulnerability.

    The event “constitutes a public health risk to other States through the international spread of disease” because of (i) sub-optimal surveillance systems in many countries and regions, likely leading to undetected transmission and subsequent spread of MPXV clade I into additional countries in the African continent. Such consideration applies to both countries in West Africa, where MPXV clade I had not previously been identified, but are experiencing significant population movement with central and east African countries where that virus is spreading, as well as to countries outside the African continent (e.g. exported case of MPXV clade Ib infection from Thailand to Australia); and (ii) the continuous exportation of MPXV clade I mpox cases from Africa to other continents, some of which resulting in secondary transmission.

    The event “requires a coordinated international response” because (i) there is a need for concerted efforts by the international community to supplement domestic funding for mpox control and response activities, as well as those of United Agencies, other international institutions and partnerships operational in the field and/or involved in vaccine procurement and related logistics; (ii) access to vaccine, even when available, remains challenging in terms of delivery capacity at the local level; (iii) in the context of limited funding, there is a need to facilitate the exchange of experience between countries, in particular those of countries like Burundi, that despite operating with limited resources, has made substantial progress in controlling the upsurge of mpox through the implementation of non-pharmaceutical interventions; and (iv) there is a need to monitor the spread and phylogenetic evolution of MPXV clades through genetic sequencing, not always available or optimally performing, in countries experiencing upsurges of mpox.

    The Committee subsequently considered the draft of the temporary recommendations proposed by the WHO Secretariat.

    Anticipating the possibility that the WHO Director-General may determine that the event continues to constitute a PHEIC, the Committee had received a proposed set of revised temporary recommendations ahead of the meeting. This reflected the proposal to extend most of the temporary recommendations issued on 27 February 2025. While acknowledging that the standing recommendations for mpox are approaching their expiration (20 August 2025) and could potentially benefit from extension or revision, the Committee reiterated the relevance of the proposed temporary recommendations. However, the Committee emphasized the needs (i) to prioritize temporary recommendations related to non-pharmaceutical interventions, taking into account implementation challenges and successful experiences on the ground; and (ii) to anchor vaccine deployment in evidence-based approaches.

    Conclusions

    Considering the complexity of the epidemiological evolution of the spread of mpox, of the distribution of the MPXV clades, the challenges in implementing efficient and effective control and response interventions, as well as issues raised by the Committee in occasion of their previous meetings, the Committee welcomed the proposal by the WHO Secretariat to hold an informal technical meeting aimed at assisting countries to prioritise response measures adapted to the varied epidemiological contexts, ahead of its next formal meeting should the WHO Director-General determine that the event continues to constitute a PHEIC.

    The Committee agreed to provide its feedback to the WHO Secretariat on the proposed set of temporary recommendations the day after the meeting (i.e. 6 June 2025), and to finalize the report of the meeting during the week of 9 June 2025.

    The Acting Director of the Department of Epidemic and Pandemic Threat Management at WHO headquarters, on behalf of the WHO Deputy Director-General, expressed her gratitude to the Committee’s Officers, its Members and Advisors and closed the meeting.


    References: 

    [1] On 6 June 2025, after the fourth meeting of the Committee, WHO published the Meeting of the Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunization (SAGE), 10-13 March 2025, including a section on mpox vaccine. The report is available here.

     

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  • EU outlines options for political action against Israel on human rights

    EU outlines options for political action against Israel on human rights



    World


    EU outlines options for political action against Israel on human rights





    BRUSSELS (Reuters) – The European Union’s diplomatic service on Thursday presented 10 options for political action against Israel after it found “indications” last month that Israel breached human rights obligations under a pact governing its ties with the bloc.

    In a document prepared for EU member countries and seen by Reuters, the options included major steps such as suspending the EU-Israel Association Agreement, which includes trade relations, and more minor actions such as suspending technical projects.

    Before last month’s report, EU members had voiced increasing concern about Israel’s treatment of Palestinians in its war against Hamas militants in Gaza, and expressed alarm about restrictions on aid entering the enclave.

    Most of the measures presented on Thursday would require the approval of all the EU’s 27 member countries or a majority of them. Diplomats say it is unclear whether there is a willingness among enough member states for any of the options to be taken forward.

    EU foreign ministers are expected to discuss the options at a meeting in Brussels on Tuesday.

    So far, there has been no sign that many EU countries would favour the more severe measures outlined in the options paper.

    But last month’s report and the follow-up paper reflect a desire to at least signal widespread EU frustration with the government of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

    EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said on Thursday that Israel had agreed to improve the humanitarian situation in Gaza, including increasing trucks for aid and opening crossing points and certain aid routes.

    Among the options in the paper are the full or partial suspension of the Association Agreement. A partial suspension could cover preferential trade treatment or political dialogue with Israel, the document says.

    The EU could also suspend Israel’s participation in the Erasmus+ student exchange or Horizon academic research programmes, according to the document.

    In addition, the paper lists options that could be pursued outside the scope of the Association Agreement, such as imposing sanctions on Israeli ministers over human rights abuses or an arms embargo on weapons that could be used in Gaza.

    The sound of explosions echoed through the Tulkarm refugee camp while Israeli troops carried out home demolitions in the occupied West Bank.

    The EU could halt visa-free travel for Israelis to the EU or ban imports from Israeli settlements in Palestinian territories – or individual EU countries could decide to implement such a ban, the document says.

    Israel has insisted its actions in Gaza are lawful and necessary to crush Hamas, following the militants’ attack on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023.

    An Israeli official dismissed last month’s EU report as one-sided, saying it “exemplifies the double standards the EU uses towards Israel”.

     

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  • French President Emmanuel Macron winks at Catherine, Princess of Wales during banquet

    French President Emmanuel Macron winks at Catherine, Princess of Wales during banquet

    President Emmanuel Macron winked at Catherine, Princess of Wales when they met at Windsor Castle.
    The 47-year-old French President clinked glasses with Catherine – who is married to Prince William and has Prince George , 11, Princess Charlotte, 10 as well as seven-year-old Prince Louis with him – in what was the first official French state visit in 17 years on Tuesday (08.10.25).
    An image of Macron winking at Catherine, 43, quickly went viral on social media, as he and her father-in-law King Charles pulled out her seat and waited for her to sit down as an act of courtesy.
    Several users on platforms such as X, TikTok and Instagram even questioned whether the suggestive move would land Macon – who has been married to Brigitte Macron, 72, since 2017 – in hot water with his wife.
    According to the Royal Family’s website, there is no strict code of conduct when it comes to meeting a member.
    It states: “There are no obligatory codes of behaviour when meeting The Queen or a member of the Royal Family, but many people wish to observe the traditional forms. For men, this is a neck bow (from the head only) whilst women do a small curtsy. Other people prefer simply to shake hands in the usual way.”
    The banquet’s seating plan was arranged with each member sitting opposite their spouse, so that King Charles, 76, was opposite Queen Camilla, Macron and Kate were seated together on one side, Prince William, 43, sat next to Macron’s wife.
    UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer was also in attendance, alongside several A-Listers such as Rolling Stones rocker Sir Mick Jagger, pop legend Sir Elton John, his husband David Furnish and Slow Horses actress Kristin Scott-Thomas.
    At one point during the banquet, the monarch quipped that his visitors had enjoyed an English sparkling wine that was produced by a French champage house, in a move he claimed would have been “scarcely believable” to those in years gone by.
    He said: “This evening, we have drunk English sparkling wine made by a French champagne house. This would have been scarcely believable to at least some of our predecessors.”
    Meanwhile, when Macron addressed the party, he insisted on pointing out the bond between the two European countries.
    He said: “On either side of the Channel, there is a constant reminder that we must never lower our guard.”

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  • Chan Zuckerberg initiative unveils AI model to decode cellular behavior

    Chan Zuckerberg initiative unveils AI model to decode cellular behavior

    Today, the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative (CZI) announced its latest AI model aimed at helping researchers better understand how cells behave by focusing on the key networks that control cell behavior, making complex biological problems, like cancer, easier to solve. 

    The model, GREmLN (Gene Regulatory Embedding-based Large Neural model), is a milestone in CZI’s grand challenge to build a family of AI biomodels that predict and understand how cells work at every level – from molecules to entire biological systems – and help scientists cure, prevent, and manage all disease. GREmLN is designed to help researchers identify how the genes of a cell work together – and what can make them go awry, giving way to diseases such as cancer or neurodegeneration.

    GREmLN is a novel approach to understanding how cells make decisions and, just as importantly, how those decisions go wrong in diseases like cancer. Our model provides an approach, grounded in biology, to leverage AI for deriving new insights into health and disease. This model doesn’t try to reshape biology to fit AI, it reshapes AI to fit biology.”


    Andrea Califano, president of the Chan Zuckerberg Biohub New York and Clyde and Helen Wu professor of chemical and systems biology at Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons

    Unlike most AI models, GREmLN focuses on the “molecular logic” that defines how genes interact and influence each other, similar to a conversation inside the cell. It will give scientists a way to track the critical changes that pinpoint the earliest signs of disease and the possible targets for new treatments.

    GREmLN is trained on more than 11 million data points from Chan Zuckerberg CellxGene, a tool used by thousands of scientists every week to help make discoveries faster by exploring and comparing data from individual cells that span tissues like the brain, lung, kidney, and blood.

    Soon the model will be scaled up to help address critical biological and medical questions, so that researchers may detect the early signs of a cell turning cancerous or of a neuron starting to accrue damage – before these changes become irreversible. 

    “Understanding cellular behavior means understanding the network of conversations happening inside every cell,” said Theofanis Karaletsos, senior director of AI at CZI. “GREmLN captures that complexity in a way we’ve never been able to before. It’s a step toward building systems that help us simulate and predict the behavior of cells.”

    In the future, GREmLN could power a wide range of research applications, from blocking the ability of cancer cells to evade therapy to preventing inflammation from producing irreversible damage to our brain cells. It could also help researchers predict how cells will react to new drugs and eventually dramatically increase the success of those drugs in clinical trials. Ultimately, GREmLN is part of a new wave of AI tools designed to help scientists understand the complex logic of life itself. 

    GREmLN joins a suite of biomodels built by CZI and its Biohubs, including the recently released TranscriptFormer, the first generative AI model to bring together datasets of different species at scale with the goal of helping researchers explore how cells work. Both models have broad applications for biomedical research, disease diagnosis and therapeutic development. The models are part of the organization’s virtual cell platform, which is open and accessible to the global scientific community.

    Source:

    Chan Zuckerberg Initiative

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