The Democratic Republic of Congo’s health ministry has reported 131 deaths and 513 suspected cases in the ongoing Ebola outbreak in the eastern part of the country, while officials continue to verify how many of the reported fatalities are directly linked to the virus amid concerns about a delayed response from authorities.
Health Minister Samuel Roger Kamba confirmed that 513 suspected infections and 131 deaths have been recorded in affected regions, noting that investigations are still ongoing to determine the exact cause of some deaths. He emphasized that the situation is still being assessed as health teams work to verify and respond to new cases.
The World Health Organization (WHO) declared the outbreak a public health emergency of international concern on Sunday due to its rapid spread and severity. According to health officials, the current outbreak—first confirmed on Friday—is caused by the Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus. This variant is considered rare and currently has no approved vaccines or specific antiviral treatments available, making containment more challenging.
Although the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda have experienced more than 20 Ebola outbreaks in the past, this is only the third recorded instance of the Bundibugyo strain. Health authorities have confirmed cases across several locations, including Bunia, Goma (the capital of North Kivu under rebel control), Mongbwalu, Butembo, and Nyankunde, raising concerns about wider regional transmission.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus expressed serious concern over the speed and scale of the outbreak. He stated that the UN health agency is closely monitoring the situation and will convene its emergency committee to evaluate the outbreak and recommend appropriate international response measures.
Disclaimer: This image is taken from Reuters.
Lionel Messi’s tour organiser, Satadru Dutta, has filed a police complaint against TMC leader and former West Bengal sports minister Aroop Biswas, along with three others, including former DGP and TMC MP Rajeev Kumar, alleging they were responsible for the chaos at Kolkata’s Salt Lake Stadium during the Messi event last December. He claimed he was unfairly made a “scapegoat” for the incident.
The complaint, filed at Bidhannagar South police station, also names Kolkata Municipal Corporation councillor Juin Biswas and I&CA secretary Shantanu Basu. Dutta, who was arrested after the incident and spent 38 days in jail, alleged security lapses, unauthorized access to restricted areas, and disruption of the event at Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan on December 13, 2025.
He further alleged that he and his family were threatened into silence and that he was pressured into accepting responsibility. Dutta said he would not have filed the complaint without the change in government. His complaint came shortly after newly appointed sports minister Nisith Pramanik announced a fresh probe into the “Messi fiasco.”
The event, part of the “GOAT India Tour – Kolkata Edition,” descended into chaos after Messi’s brief appearance of around 20 minutes, with overcrowding and security issues forcing an early end to planned activities. Fans reportedly damaged stadium property after being disappointed with restricted visibility and the shortened program.
Dutta alleged that Aroop Biswas misused his authority by interfering in ticket distribution, forcing him to hand over thousands of complimentary passes that were allegedly resold, and demanding additional access passes for associates to enter restricted zones near Messi. He also claimed that protocol violations and unauthorized close contact with Messi created security concerns for the footballer and his team, leading to an uncomfortable situation during the event.
Dutta further stated that his earlier public assurance about ticket refunds was made under pressure and coercion, not voluntarily, and that he was wrongly blamed for the incident caused by influential individuals. He added that he plans to file civil suits worth ₹50 crore each against the former minister and others—one for damages and another for defamation.
Disclaimer: This image is taken from PTI.
Animal rights groups have accused local authorities of violating court orders and Punjab’s approved TNVR (Trap, Neuter, Vaccinate, and Release) policy by allegedly resuming the killing of stray dogs in Lahore and other parts of the province, according to a report by The Express Tribune.
Representatives from the Give Us Life Animal Welfare Society and the National Alliance of Animal Rights Activists and Advocates Pakistan raised these concerns at a press conference held at the Lahore Press Club. They also alleged that activists speaking against these actions were being harassed. The groups said the Lahore High Court had endorsed the TNVR approach in 2021 as a humane method for controlling the stray dog population through sterilisation and vaccination instead of culling.
Animal rights activist and co-founder Aafia Khan stated that the World Health Organization also supports the TNVR model in countries like Pakistan, where both urban and rural populations are present. She alleged that despite court directives, local authorities have continued dog culling operations in Lahore in recent years. According to her, staff from the Metropolitan Corporation Lahore reportedly capture stray dogs, keep them for a few days, and then transport them near Saggian where they are allegedly killed. She claimed these actions violate court orders and undermine environmental and animal welfare standards.
Advocate Altamash Saeed said the TNVR policy was developed under a Lahore High Court case involving coordination between local government, livestock, and health departments. He alleged that responsible institutions are failing to implement the policy and continuing with dog killings instead. He added that monitoring committees were formed from the chief secretary level down to the tehsil level, but claimed they have not been meeting regularly. He also stressed the need for stronger enforcement of animal protection laws and increased public awareness.
Saeed further suggested that animal rights, environmental protection, and civic responsibility should be included in educational curricula to promote more humane attitudes. Qaiser Sharif, president of the Jamaat-e-Islami Public Aid Committee Lahore, said that culling is not a sustainable solution. He noted that government efforts remain insufficient and called for full-scale implementation of TNVR, along with shelters and a dedicated helpline.
Sharif added that his organization has been working on this issue for the past 10 months and has prepared eight recommendations focused on controlling stray dog populations through sterilisation and preventing attacks. Participant Haider Shah also claimed he accompanied Aafia Khan to the Metropolitan Corporation Lahore office to obtain information about captured dogs. He alleged that officials first said the dogs would be vaccinated and released, but later changed their stance, leading to a dispute that resulted in police being called, according to the report.
Disclaimer: This image is taken from Reuters.
Indian Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi, speaking on Tuesday at a seminar titled “Security to Prosperity” organized by the Centre for Land Warfare Studies (CLAWS), highlighted lessons from Operation Sindoor and presented a broader strategic outlook for India in an evolving global order. Referring to the recent operation, he called it a significant example of unified national action, combining military precision, information management, diplomatic messaging, and economic strength. He said it successfully targeted terror networks and challenged long-held strategic assumptions.
He particularly justified the 88-hour halt in hostilities, describing it as a deliberate and calculated use of “smart power” rather than a limitation. According to him, it reflected precise decision-making on when and how to transition from military action to strategic advantage. Discussing global geopolitics, he noted that earlier expectations of globalisation making war obsolete have proven wrong. Instead, economic systems, supply chains, and technology have become tools of geopolitical pressure. He pointed to semiconductors, contested maritime routes like the Strait of Hormuz, and rising global defence spending as evidence of intensifying power competition.
He argued that the world has shifted from a belief that prosperity reduces conflict to one where power is actively used to shape prosperity itself. Dwivedi stressed that security and economic growth are now deeply interconnected and cannot be treated separately. He stated that security is not just a support for prosperity but its essential starting point. For India, this means aligning national power to ensure peace, growth, and strategic advantage.
He also highlighted the rapid pace of technological change in warfare, noting that innovation cycles have shortened dramatically. He warned that delays in scaling new technologies make them strategically irrelevant. Calling for stronger integration across defence innovation systems, he urged the development of a robust ecosystem involving government, private industry, and academia, especially in areas like AI, cyber, quantum technology, space systems, autonomous platforms, and advanced materials.
He further identified dependence on foreign technology and supply chains as a major strategic weakness. According to him, future conflicts will be decided by whoever controls the technology ecosystem, making self-reliance in critical sectors essential. Concluding his address, he quoted Atal Bihari Vajpayee, emphasizing that peace comes from capability and resolve, not weakness. He ended by urging urgency, stating that while India is progressing, the key question is whether it is moving fast enough in a rapidly changing world.
Disclaimer: This image is taken from ANI.
The Trump administration has called Iran’s latest peace proposal “insufficient,” warning that talks could fail and military action may resume if Iran does not make major changes to its nuclear stance. According to Axios, the proposal was sent through Pakistani intermediaries and shows only minor changes from Iran’s earlier position. US officials said it does not address key concerns, especially uranium enrichment and nuclear oversight. The US and Iran are not yet negotiating final terms but are trying to set a framework for future talks. Pakistan has played a mediating role, with its Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi helping exchange messages between both sides. Tensions remain high as the US insists Iran must limit enrichment and accept stricter monitoring, while Iran demands sanctions relief and security guarantees. Despite efforts, US officials say major differences still remain.
Disclaimer: This image is taken from Reuters.
An Ebola outbreak has been reported in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda, with around 400 confirmed cases and over 100 deaths. To understand its possible origin, containment measures, and why it is especially concerning, Ian Sample speaks with clinical epidemiologist Daniela Manno from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.
Disclaimer: This podcast is taken from The Guardian.
In “Destination Anywhere,” Melanie Oliveiro interviews Julian Artopé, the founder and CEO of Zenyum, a company specializing in invisible braces and dental care products. He shares insights from his travels, beginning with Germany, his home country, and highlights Lake Ammersee near Munich as a must-visit destination. He then discusses his journey to Hokkaido, Japan’s northernmost main island, where he experienced distinctive shrimp ramen and relaxed in a traditional onsen village.
Disclaimer: This podcast is taken from CNA.
This discussion reviews the 32 final recommendations from Singapore’s Economic Strategy Review aimed at safeguarding workers from AI-driven disruption through measures like career transition pathways and earlier retrenchment assistance. Andrea Heng and Elakeyaa Selvaraji explore how these proposals seek to raise wages in people-focused sectors such as healthcare and education, while building a more proactive system for lifelong learning, featuring insights from Desmond Choo, Minister of State, MINDEF and Deputy Secretary-General of NTUC.
Disclaimer: This podcast is taken from CNA.
On the eve of Donald Trump’s visit to Beijing, hosts Reged Ahmad and Jonathan Yerushalmy explore how the US president’s stance on relations with Xi Jinping has evolved since his first presidential campaign, and what both leaders are likely hoping to gain from the meeting. The discussion also highlights the group of technology CEOs accompanying Trump, including Elon Musk of Tesla and Apple chief Tim Cook, and explains why trade issues are expected to dominate the agenda. The segment examines how Trump’s ballroom project escalated to an estimated billion-dollar cost and questions who is ultimately expected to fund it.
Disclaimer: This podcast is taken from The Guardian.
