ADDIS ABABA: Uganda said on Saturday it had confirmed three new cases of Ebola, bringing to five the total since the virus outbreak was discovered in the East African country on May 15. &quot;Three new cases of the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) have been confirmed in the country,&quot; the health ministry said, naming the patients as a Ugandan driver, a Ugandan health worker, and a woman from the neighboring Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), the epicentre of a deadly outbreak sowing fear in the region. &quot;The ministry continues to strengthen surveillance, case management, contact tracing, and public awareness efforts to contain the outbreak and protect the health and safety of all Ugandans,&quot; it said in a statement on X. The news came a day after the World Health Organization said the risk from the outbreak had been raised to the highest level for the DRC. On Thursday, Uganda suspended all public transport to the DRC after confirming two cases of Ebola -- one infection and one death -- involving Congolese nationals who crossed the border.

Medical personnel at CBCA Virunga Hospital wear gowns, masks, and protective gear as they prepare an isolation room for a female patient placed under 21-day observation in the suspected cases area in Goma, on May 21, 2026. 

Africa

"Three new cases of the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) have been confirmed in the country," the health ministry said, naming the patients as a Ugandan driver, a Ugandan health worker, and a woman from the neighboring Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), the epicentre of a deadly outbreak sowing fear in the region.

Three new Ebola cases confirmed in Uganda: Ministry

DHAKA: A measles outbreak in Bangladesh has killed more than 500 children, government data showed Saturday, marking the country&#39;s deadliest surge in decades of the preventable disease.&nbsp;Hospitals in the capital Dhaka have been overwhelmed with cases and set up dedicated wards to take patients, but are scrambling with a shortage of intensive care beds.&nbsp;Deaths are still rising, with 13 children dying in the past 24 hours alone, taking the toll from the disaster to 512, according to health department figures since March 15.&nbsp;The South Asian nation has rolled out a mass vaccination drive to combat the outbreak, and UNICEF country chief Rana Flowers said this week that the campaign has now reached 18 million children.&nbsp;But the health department said the full impact of the vaccinations would take months to be felt.&nbsp;UNICEF said on Wednesday that gaps in immunization worsened during and after the chaos of a 2024 uprising that toppled the country&#39;s autocratic government, leaving large numbers of children unprotected.&nbsp;Measles is highly contagious, spreading through coughs and sneezes, and has no specific treatment once caught.&nbsp;Complications can include brain swelling and severe breathing problems. While the disease can affect anyone, it is most common among children.&nbsp;Health workers say the worst-hit children are often malnourished and from low-income families.&nbsp;Many had missed routine vaccinations or had weakened immunity due to poor nutrition, or both.&nbsp;The health department&#39;s death toll comes after the government claimed the outbreak was now contained, noting a decline in cases in several previously hard-hit areas.&nbsp;Most cases recorded in Bangladesh during the current outbreak have been among children aged between six months and five years.&nbsp;Doctors say many of the children arriving at hospitals are already critically ill.&nbsp;&quot;Though measles is highly contagious, a healthy baby with no complications can survive with minimal medication,&quot; Ainul Islam Khan, a paediatrician at Dhaka&#39;s Shaheed Suhrawardy Medical College and Hospital, told AFP.&nbsp;&quot;Here, most children came to the hospital with respiratory distress and infections in the eyes, throat and lungs.&quot;&nbsp;UNICEF&#39;s Flowers stressed the need to boost vaccination programmes and increase funding for health facilities, surveillance and data systems in the future.

Asia

Bangladesh’s measles outbreak has killed 512 children since March, overwhelming hospitals in Dhaka. UNICEF says disrupted immunization after 2024 unrest worsened the crisis. Authorities vaccinated 18 million children, but officials warn recovery and outbreak control will take months.

Measles outbreak kills more than 500 children in Bangladesh

PARIS: France announced on Saturday it had banned Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir from entry for a video mocking bound activists seized by Israeli soldiers on a Gaza-bound aid flotilla.&nbsp;&quot;From today, Itamar Ben Gvir is banned from entering French territory&quot; after &quot;his reprehensible actions towards French and European citizens&quot; who were part of the humanitarian flotilla, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said on X.&nbsp;He added that, with Italy, he was also calling for European Union-level sanctions against the far-right Israeli minister.&nbsp;The ban follows a global outcry after Ben Gvir published a video on Wednesday showing the heavy-handed treatment of foreign activists from the flotilla.&nbsp;They were detained by Israel in international waters and were awaiting deportation at the southern port of Ashdod.&nbsp;In the video, dozens of activists are seen forced to kneel with their foreheads to the ground and their hands tied.&nbsp;The clip, which was captioned &quot;Welcome to Israel&quot;, also showed Ben Gvir heckling the activists while waving an Israeli flag.&nbsp;Spain has also urged the EU to sanction Ben Gvir while the United Kingdom summoned Israel&#39;s most senior diplomat in Britain following &quot;the inflammatory video&quot;.&nbsp;Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Ben Gvir&#39;s treatment of the activists was &quot;not in line with Israel&#39;s values and norms&quot;.&nbsp;Netanyahu had earlier denounced the humanitarian aid mission as a &quot;malicious scheme&quot; intended to support Hamas.&nbsp;The activists had departed from Turkey last week on around 50 vessels under the Global Sumud Flotilla.&nbsp;It was the latest attempt by activists to breach Israel&#39;s blockade of Gaza, after Israeli forces intercepted a previous convoy last month.

Europe

France banned Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir after he mocked detained Gaza flotilla activists in a controversial video. France, Italy, Spain, and the UK condemned his actions.

France bans Israeli security minister Ben Gvir from country

Web Desk

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan&rsquo;s Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi on Saturday praised the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Police and the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) for carrying out a successful intelligence-based operation in northwest Pakistan&rsquo;s Bannu district in which eight terrorists were killed, including a key local commander. According to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Police, the joint operation was launched before dawn in the jurisdiction of Mariyan police station after intelligence reports about the presence of militants in the area.<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-2" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="true" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 345px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-2&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2058100634755518848&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=70d3c96316bdd926be723d5601691c5841168a08&theme=light&widgetsVersion=6a3ad42b224df%3A1778106238597&width=550px" data-tweet-id="2058100634755518848"></iframe></div></div>Police and CTD teams, supported by drone surveillance and modern technology, surrounded the area and exchanged heavy fire with the militants during the operation, officials said, adding that several terrorists were also injured. Security personnel also recovered and defused a 10-kilogram improvised explosive device (IED) near Azad Mandi on Miranshah Road. Initial investigations suggested the bomb had been planted to target a road-opening duty team. One police officer was martyred during the operation while another sustained injuries and was shifted to hospital for treatment. Police identified one of the slain militants as Abdullah Afghani, described as an important commander of Fitna al-Khawarij who was wanted in multiple attacks on police and other serious cases. In a statement, Naqvi commended the bravery and professionalism of the police and CTD personnel for foiling the &ldquo;nefarious designs&rdquo; of terrorists and paying a heavy price in the line of duty. The interior minister also paid tribute to the martyred police officer and expressed condolences and sympathy with his family. Inspector General of Police Zulfiqar Hameed praised the courage and professionalism of the Bannu Police and CTD teams, saying operations against Fitna al-Khawarij and other anti-peace elements would continue with greater intensity. He also announced special rewards for officers and personnel who participated in the operation.

Security

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Police say the joint operation was launched before dawn in the jurisdiction of Mariyan police station after intelligence reports about the presence of militants in the area.


Pakistan’s interior minister lauds police for killing eight terrorists in Bannu

MAKKAH: Over 1.5 million pilgrims have arrived in Saudi Arabia from outside the kingdom for the upcoming hajj, according to a Saudi official, exceeding the number of international visitors last year despite the war in the Middle East. The conflict was triggered by the US and Israeli strikes on Iran in late February. Major Gulf airlines in the UAE, Qatar, and Bahrain have restored much of their operational capacity. Pilgrims have continued to flock to Saudi Arabia to participate in hajj this year. &quot;The total number of pilgrims arriving from abroad has reached 1,518,153,&quot; Saleh Al-Murabba, the commander of Saudi Arabia&#39;s Hajj Passport Forces, told a press conference late Friday. These figures are expected to rise further over the next two days as pilgrims continue to arrive from abroad ahead of the hajj on Monday. Last year, the total number of pilgrims at the hajj reached 1,673,320, including 1,506,576 from outside Saudi Arabia. The hajj, one of the five pillars of Islam, must be performed at least once by all Muslims with the means.

Middle East

'The total number of pilgrims arriving from abroad has reached 1,518,153,' Saleh Al-Murabba, the commander of Saudi Arabia's Hajj Passport Forces, told a press conference late Friday.

Hajj pilgrim numbers surpass 2025 arrivals despite Middle East war

ISLAMABAD: India recorded 5,737 dowry deaths in 2024, equivalent to nearly one woman dying every 90 minutes, according to the National Crime Records Bureau&rsquo;s (NCRB) Crime in India 2024 report. In NCRB&#39;s report released earlier this month, the deaths are registered under the category of &quot;dowry deaths&quot; under Section 80 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, previously Section 304B of the Indian Penal Code, which covers cases where women die under unnatural circumstances within seven years of marriage following dowry-related harassment. The report lands as two high-profile cases have reignited national debate on abuse related to dowry.&nbsp; In Greater Noida, 24-year-old Deepika Nagar died on 18 May after falling from the rooftop of her matrimonial home; her post-mortem revealed a brain hematoma, ruptured organs, and multiple contusions, India&rsquo;s The Hindu reported.&nbsp; According to the newspaper, her family alleges she was killed over demands for a Toyota Fortuner and Rs4.5&ndash;5 million in cash.&nbsp; In Bhopal, actor-model Twisha Sharma, 33, was found hanging at her matrimonial home on 12 May.&nbsp; While her in-laws insist she suffered from drug addiction, her family says she was harassed for dowry, leading to her death, the New Indian Express reported. Indian media outlets citing the NCRB report said the figures translate to more than 15 dowry-related deaths every day across the country. While the numbers have declined compared to previous years, the scale of violence against women linked to dowry practices remains alarming, NDTV said. Dowry deathsAccording to the NCRB report, Uttar Pradesh recorded the highest number of dowry deaths in 2024 with 2,038 cases, accounting for more than one-third of the national total.&nbsp; Bihar followed with 1,078 cases, while Madhya Pradesh reported 450 deaths. Rajasthan and West Bengal recorded 386 and 337 cases, respectively. The data also documented cases classified as &quot;dowry murders,&quot; involving direct fatal violence linked to dowry disputes. NDTV, citing the report, said West Bengal recorded 163 such cases in 2024, followed by Odisha with 161.&nbsp; Rajasthan reported 75 cases, while Bihar and Uttar Pradesh recorded 66 and 58, respectively. According to NCRB figures, more than 120,000 cases were also registered in 2024 under the category of &quot;cruelty by husband or relatives.&quot; Uttar Pradesh recorded over 21,000 such cases, while West Bengal reported nearly 20,000. Indian media reports citing NCRB data said more than 12,000 dowry-related cases were registered under the Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961 nationwide in 2024, while thousands of cases remained pending investigation or trial.

File: This picture shows an Indian bride with her face covered with flower garlands during a mass wedding ceremony in Ahmedabad, India. (AFP)

India

The data has recorded 5,737 deaths linked to dowry-related violence last year, with Uttar Pradesh accounting for the highest number of cases. However, thousands of cases remain pending investigation or trial.

One Indian woman died every 90 minutes in dowry cases in 2024: Report 

MOSCOW: The death toll from a Ukrainian strike on a college in a Russian-occupied town in eastern Ukraine has risen to 10, local Moscow-backed authorities said on Saturday. A total of 38 people were wounded, and 11 teenage students were missing, said Leonid Pasechnik, governor of the occupied Lugansk region. Russian President Vladimir Putin condemned the drone barrage that hit the college dormitory in Starobilsk overnight on Thursday to Friday and ordered the army to prepare a response. &quot;Rescuers worked through the night clearing the rubble in Starobelsk. Unfortunately, hopes were not fulfilled -- the death toll has risen to 10,&quot; Pasechnik wrote on Telegram, using a Russian spelling for the town. He said search and rescue operations were continuing. Ukraine denied targeting civilians and said it had hit a Russian drone unit stationed in the Starobilsk area. Russia&#39;s foreign ministry said on Friday that those responsible would face &quot;inevitable and severe punishment&quot;. Ukraine regularly targets Russian-controlled areas of the country with drones, saying the strikes are retaliation for Russian attacks. Starobilsk is located about 65 kilometres (40 miles) from the front line in east Ukraine. Russian forces captured the town in 2022, shortly after launching their full-scale offensive. The Lugansk region is almost entirely occupied by Russia, which claims it as its own.

Local residents stand next to debris and a damaged residential building following an air attack in Dnipro on May 21, 2026, amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine. (Photo by Mykola SYNELNYKOV / AFP)

A total of 38 people are wounded, with 11 teenage students missing, said Leonid Pasechnik, governor of the occupied Lugansk region; Russian President Vladimir Putin had condemned the drone barrage that hit the college dormitory in Starobilsk overnight on Thursday to Friday and ordered the army to prepare a response.

10 dead in Ukrainian strike on college in Russian-occupied town: Governor

BEIJING: A gas explosion at a coal mine in northern China has killed at least 90 people, state media reported on Saturday, the country&#39;s biggest mining disaster in 17 years. A total of 247 workers were underground at the time of the blast, which occurred at 7:29 pm (1129 GMT) on Friday at the Liushenyu coal mine in Shanxi province, according to state news agency Xinhua. Most of them were brought to the surface by Saturday morning, Xinhua said, confirming that at least 90 people had died. A total of 345 emergency personnel were dispatched to the site, with rescuers earlier searching &quot;intensively&quot; for nine people who remained unaccounted for, the news agency added. Friday&#39;s explosion was the worst mining disaster in China since 2009, when 108 people were killed in a mine blast in northeast Heilongjiang province. Gas &#39;exceeded limits&#39; Helmeted rescuers were carrying stretchers at the site, with ambulances visible in the background, video by state broadcaster CCTV showed. President Xi Jinping urged &quot;all-out efforts&quot; to treat the injured and called for thorough investigations into the incident, according to Xinhua. He &quot;emphasised that all regions and departments must draw lessons from this accident, remain constantly vigilant regarding workplace safety ... and resolutely prevent and curb the occurrence of major and catastrophic accidents&quot;. A person &quot;responsible for&quot; the company involved in the explosion has been &quot;placed under control in accordance with the law,&quot; Xinhua said. State media initially reported four deaths and dozens trapped after levels of carbon monoxide -- a highly toxic, odourless gas -- in the mine were found to have &quot;exceeded limits.&quot; Some of those stuck underground were in &quot;critical condition,&quot; that report said. The death toll then jumped sharply as the morning wore on. Lax safety protocols Shanxi, one of China&#39;s poorer provinces, is the centre of the country&#39;s coal-mining. Mine safety in China has improved in recent decades, but accidents still occur in an industry where safety protocols are often lax and regulations vague. In 2023, a collapse at an open-pit coal mine in the northern Inner Mongolia region killed 53 people. China is the world&#39;s top consumer of coal and the largest greenhouse gas emitter, despite installing renewable energy capacity at record speed.

China

A gas explosion at a coal mine in northern China has killed at least 90 people, state media reported on Saturday, the country's biggest mining disaster in 17 years.

China coal mine blast kills at least 90, more missing

ISLAMABAD: The United Nations Security Council has unanimously adopted an annual report to the UN General Assembly drafted and introduced by Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, highlighting the Council&rsquo;s work on global crises and key thematic issues during 2025. According to a press release issued by the Permanent Mission of Pakistan to the United Nations, Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad said the annual report serves as a &ldquo;vital instrument of institutional dialogue&rdquo; between the Security Council and the General Assembly. Speaking during the adoption of the report, the Pakistani envoy said the annual reporting process, mandated under Article 24(3) of the UN Charter, plays an important role in strengthening transparency and accountability between the Security Council and the wider UN membership.<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-1" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 648px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-1&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2058014671848841481&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=70d3c96316bdd926be723d5601691c5841168a08&theme=light&widgetsVersion=6a3ad42b224df%3A1778106238597&width=550px"></iframe></div></div>He said Pakistan prepared the introductory section of the report in its capacity as President of the Security Council for July 2025, aiming to produce a substantive and analytical account reflecting the Council&rsquo;s deliberations, challenges and outcomes during the reporting period. The ambassador said the report provides a comprehensive overview of the Security Council&rsquo;s engagement during 2025, including its work on complex and interconnected crises across different regions, as well as emerging threats to international peace and security. He added that the report reflects the Council&rsquo;s responses in areas such as protection of civilians, peacekeeping, peacebuilding, conflict prevention and peaceful settlement of disputes, along with cooperation with regional and subregional organizations. Referring to the current geopolitical environment, Ambassador Asim said that despite persistent conflicts and heightened tensions, the Security Council continued to play a central role in promoting stability, supporting peace processes and reinforcing multilateral cooperation. He further said Pakistan adopted an open and inclusive approach in preparing the report by engaging with the broader UN membership in line with guidance from the Security Council and the General Assembly. The envoy noted that an informal meeting with member states was convened on Jan. 16, 2026, in coordination with the President of the General Assembly, and said views shared during the exchange helped improve the quality of the report. Ambassador Asim expressed hope that discussions on the report in the General Assembly would further strengthen relations between the Security Council and the wider UN membership in the spirit of transparency, accountability and multilateral cooperation.

Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, permanent representative of Pakistan to the UN, speaking at the Security Council on the situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) on March 26, 2026. (File photo: X/@PakistanUN_NY)

Foreign Affairs

Pakistani envoy says the annual reporting process, mandated under Article 24(3) of the UN Charter, plays an important role in strengthening transparency and accountability between the Security Council and the wider UN membership.

UN Security Council unanimously adopts Pakistan-drafted annual report

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has reiterated its steadfast support for the sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity, and national unity of Libya, emphasizing that a Libyan-led and Libyan-owned political process remains the only viable path toward lasting peace, stability, and reconciliation in the country. Delivering Pakistan&rsquo;s statement during the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) briefing on Libya and the International Criminal Court (ICC), Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, permanent representative of Pakistan to the UN, thanked ICC Deputy Prosecutor Nazhat Shameem Khan for presenting the Prosecutor&rsquo;s 31st report pursuant to Security Council resolution 1970 (2011), said a statement shared by Pakistan&rsquo;s mission to the UN on X on Saturday.<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-1" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-1&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2057918030944846108&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=67e6182b53c08c969d763e97ce417781c3f778d8&theme=light&widgetsVersion=6a3ad42b224df%3A1778106238597&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 656px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" data-tweet-id="2057918030944846108"></iframe></div></div>He took note of the developments outlined in the report, including progress in investigative activities, cooperation with Libyan authorities, and engagement with international and regional partners. Ambassador Ahmad also noted the commencement of pre-trial proceedings following the surrender of El Hishri to the Court &mdash; the first surrender of a suspect to the ICC in the Libya situation. He underscored that accountability efforts should reinforce the broader objective of peace and reconciliation in Libya. Ambassador Ahmad stressed that consistency, objectivity, fairness, and non-selectivity are essential for maintaining the legitimacy and credibility of international accountability mechanisms.&nbsp;Credible, impartial accountabilityWhile stating that Pakistan is not a party to the Rome Statute, the ambassador reaffirmed Pakistan&rsquo;s commitment to credible and impartial accountability for serious international crimes through the uniform application of international law. He further emphasized the importance of constructive cooperation between the ICC and Libyan authorities in implementing Security Council resolution 1970, while fully respecting Libya&rsquo;s judicial sovereignty, national institutions, and legitimate concerns. The ambassador underlined that national ownership and capacity-building should remain central to all accountability efforts. Pakistan also expressed support for all Libyan-led initiatives aimed at preserving judicial unity, strengthening constitutional oversight, upholding the rule of law, and advancing institution-building in the country. In conclusion, Ambassador Ahmad reiterated Pakistan&rsquo;s support for all efforts aimed at promoting peace, stability, reconciliation, and durable institution-building in Libya.

Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad highlights importance of fairness and consistency in international accountability mechanisms at the United Nations.

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