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Monkeypox cases confirmed in 12 countries

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More than 80 cases of monkeypox have been confirmed in at least 12 countries, the World Health Organization (WHO) announced.

The WHO said another 50 suspected cases are being investigated, without naming any countries, and warned that more cases are likely to be reported.

Infections have been confirmed in nine European countries, as well as the US, Canada and Australia, the BBC reported citing the global health body as saying.

Monkeypox is most common in remote parts of Central and West Africa.

It is a rare viral infection which is usually mild and from which most people recover in a few weeks, according to the UK’s National Health Service.

The virus does not spread easily between people and the risk to the wider public is said to be very low.

There is no specific vaccine for monkeypox, but a smallpox jab offers 85 per cent protection since the two viruses are quite similar, BBC reported.

So far, public health agencies in Europe have confirmed cases in the UK, Spain, Portugal, Germany, Belgium, France, the Netherlands, Italy and Sweden.

The WHO said on Friday that the recent outbreaks “are atypical, as they are occurring in non-endemic countries”.

It said it was “working with the affected countries and others to expand disease surveillance to find and support people who may be affected”.

The WHO also warned against stigmatising groups because of the disease, the BBC reported.

“It can be a barrier to ending an outbreak as it may prevent people from seeking care, and lead to undetected spread,” it said.

WHO’s Europe regional director Hans Kluge warned that “as we enter the summer season with mass gatherings, festivals and parties, I am concerned that transmission could accelerate”.

He added that all but one of the recent cases had no relevant travel history to areas where monkeypox was endemic.

Maharashtra

Accused of beating blind woman in disabled compartment of Mumbai local train arrested

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Mumbai: The Railway PRP has claimed to have arrested Mohammad Ismail Hassan Ali for allegedly beating up a blind woman in a disabled compartment in a Mumbai local train. Mohammad Ismail Hassan Ali was travelling in a disabled compartment with his pregnant wife and 10-year-old daughter in a train departing from Mumbai’s CST railway station. During this, a blind woman, 33, entered the compartment. Other passengers requested Hassan Ali to give up his seat for the disabled woman. He refused. During this, the victim abused him, so Hassan Ali, 40, got angry and started beating up the woman. Somehow, the passengers in the compartment saved the blind woman and the beating went viral on social media, after which comments on it also started on social media. Taking notice of this, Kalyan GRP took action and arrested Mohammad Ismail Hassan, a resident of Mumbra, and the matter has been handed over to the police for further investigation. A case has also been registered against Hassan Ali for traveling in a disabled compartment without any excuse, assaulting, and violating the rights of a blind passenger.

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Maharashtra

Traffic police collect fines worth over Rs. 556 crore

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‎Mumbai: Through the ‘Mumbai One State One Challan’ digital portal, the Mumbai Traffic Police Department has collected challans worth a whopping Rs 556 crore 64 lakh 21 thousand 950 (₹5,564,219,050) between January 1, 2024 and February 28, 2025. This revelation came through an RTI application. During the said period, a total of 1,81,613 online complaints were received on the portal, out of which 1,07,850 complaints were rejected. That is, about 59% of the complaints were rejected.

Right to Information (RTI) activist Anil Galgali had sought information from the Mumbai Traffic Police on e-challan complaints. According to Mumbai Traffic Police, the classification of complaints received based on vehicle types (such as two-wheelers, four-wheelers, goods vehicles, passenger vehicles, etc.) is not available on the ‘One State One Challan’ portal, due to which it is currently impossible to analyse the action taken on specific vehicle categories.
‎Complaint Investigation Procedure:

‎All complaints are investigated at the Multimedia Cell, Traffic Headquarters, Worli, Mumbai. It involves examining the images of the vehicle and the visual evidence around it. If the images or evidence are not clear, it is sent to the concerned traffic department or police station for investigation. The final decision to uphold or cancel the challan will be taken only after receiving the local investigation report.
‎RTI activist Anil Galgali said that it is the need of the hour that the e-challan system should be transparent. Citizens should be given a full and fair opportunity to present their views and every complaint should be investigated fairly and thoroughly.

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Maharashtra

Hazrat Syed Bale Shah Peer Dargah demolition order to file response within four weeks relief to Dargah management

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Mumbai: The Supreme Court of India has granted protection to the Hazrat Syed Bale Shah Pir Dargah located in Mira Bhayandar, Mumbai and has issued an order to impose a stay on the demolition process for four weeks. Along with this, the Supreme Court has issued a notice to the Maharashtra government in this matter and sought a response. The Maharashtra government will file a reply in the court in this regard within four weeks, only after which a decision will be taken on the demolition process of the dargah.
State Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bankole had issued an order for the demolition of the dargah by May 20 in the House and issued a public statement, apart from this, no other notice was issued. A bench comprising Chief Justice BR Gavai and Justice AG Masih ordered an effective stop to the demolition process. Along with this, a response has been sought from the Maharashtra government on the petition filed by the dargah administration.

The petitioners argued that the demolition was ordered on the basis of the minister’s public statements in the state assembly and a recent police report despite the absence of any government notice. The petitioners said that the dargah is 350 years old and the state government has nevertheless classified it as an illegal structure. The trust claimed that a formal registration of the property was also sought in 2022 and the dargah has been standing at the same location for decades. According to the petitioner, the vacation bench of the Bombay High Court had wrongly rejected the petitions for urgent hearing on May 15 and 16. The dargah administration told the Supreme Court that the police had also issued a notice on May 15. In the notice, the members of the trust were warned not to obstruct or disrupt the demolition process. The demolition process is scheduled for May 20.

The petitioners argued that the demolition was carried out without any legal order or due process such as notice or opportunity to be heard, which is a violation of their rights. The Supreme Court adjourned the matter for four weeks and asked the Maharashtra government to file its response within that time.

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