GENEVA – The World Health Organisation (WHO) yesterday dramatically scaled back the number of suspected Ebola cases in central Africa to 116, down from more than 900 previously, with 330 cases now confirmed. As of 31 May, the WHO said 116 suspected cases of the deadly virus had been registered in the Democratic Republic of...
THE HAGUE – An international court yesterday rejected a claim by Rwanda for Britain to pay more than £100 million (US$135 million) it said London still owed from a scrapped deal to deport migrants. Judges from the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) in The Hague ruled that Britain was not liable for two years of...
LAGOS – The Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) called an open-ended strike from yesterday in the state of Oyo, in protest at the kidnapping in mid-May of dozens of children and their teachers. On May 15, gunmen who Nigeria’s army accused of being Boko Haram jihadists, abducted pupils and staff from three schools in the...
TEHRAN – Iran’s foreign ministry yesterday said that a ceasefire in Lebanon remains a key condition for any deal with the United States to end the Middle East war. “We insist that a ceasefire in Lebanon is an essential condition for any deal aimed at ending the war,” foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said at...
STOCKHOLM – Sweden’s public health agency yesterday called on parents to put their phones away when spending time with their children. The Public Health Agency of Sweden said the new recommendations follow research into the impact of screen use. Since 2024, the agency has recommended that parents “reflect” on their use of smartphones around children,...
BEIRUT – An Israeli strike near a hospital in Tyre, south Lebanon wounded 13 staffers, the Lebanese health ministry said, as Israel pushes forward its offensive deeper into the country. “The Israeli enemy launched an airstrike in the vicinity of Hiram Hospital in Tyre, injuring France has requested an emergency meeting of the United Nations...
GENEVA – The United Nations rights chief yesterday warned against a “dangerous escalation” in Ukraine, and Russia’s threats to ramp up attacks, urging both sides to return to the negotiating table. “I strongly urge restraint. Resume negotiations and end the suffering,” Volker Turk said in a statement. His appeal comes days after one of the...
GENEVA – The World Health Organisation’s chief yesterday said he was heading to the Democratic Republic of Congo to support colleagues battling a deadly Ebola outbreak, voicing confidence they would defeat the virus. According to its latest figures up to 24 May, the WHO has recorded 10 confirmed and 223 suspected Ebola deaths in the...
BUGGENHOUT – EU chief Ursula von der Leyen yesterday said she was “heartbroken” by a crash between a train and school minibus in Belgium, which officials said left several people dead. “My deepest condolences go out to the victims’ families and their loved ones. Today, Europe grieves with Belgium,” the European Commission president posted online....
GAZA CITY – Gaza health officials said an Israeli airstrike killed at least five people and wounded several others yesterday, in the latest violence to hit the territory despite a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. Gaza remains gripped by daily violence, with both the Israeli military and Hamas accusing one another of violating the truce...