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			<title>Trump Board of Peace's official Gaza fund is empty</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2610303/trump-board-of-peaces-official-gaza-fund-is-empty</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2610303/trump-board-of-peaces-official-gaza-fund-is-empty#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Wed, 27 May 26 16:16:53 +0500</pubDate>
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				<![CDATA[AFP]]>
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			<category><![CDATA[World]]></category>
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				<![CDATA[Trump proposed rebuilding Gaza after an October US-backed ceasefire between Israel and Hamas]]>
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				<![CDATA[United States President Donald Trump&rsquo;s Board of Peace has no cash in its official Gaza reconstruction fund, despite member countries pledging billions of dollars, a source familiar with the board told AFP on Wednesday.

Trump first conceived of the board to rebuild Gaza, where Israel and Hamas agreed to a US-backed ceasefire in October in a bid to halt two years of devastating conflict.

But he quickly raised eyebrows by sending out wide invitations, including to Russian President Vladimir Putin and to countries far removed from traditional Middle East diplomacy.

Since the board was set up, its fund &mdash; administered by the World Bank and endorsed by the United Nations &mdash; has received no money from donors, the source familiar with the Board of Peace told AFP.

The source said money had not been deposited because the fund was designed for the reconstruction and development phase, which has not yet been reached.

Israeli military operations in Gaza have continued despite the ceasefire, with at least 910 people killed since then, according to the territory&rsquo;s health ministry.

Israel still retains control over 60% of the Gaza Strip, including all entry and exit points, while the population is concentrated on the coast.

Read More: Trump&#39;s Gaza board reports funding &#39;gap&#39;, urges quicker disbursement

Earlier on Wednesday, the Financial Times (FT) reported that the board had received donations directly into a JPMorgan account, citing the board&rsquo;s spokesperson.

There are no &ldquo;independent transparency requirements&rdquo; in place for the JPMorgan account, the FT noted.

Major European nations have shunned the board, which is heavy on longstanding US partners in the Middle East, ideological allies of Trump and smaller countries eager for Trump&rsquo;s attention.

France and Britain had refused to join.

The board is unambiguously led not just by the US but personally by Trump, who holds the final say and can remain in charge past his presidency.

Trump previously said that the US would contribute $10 billion to the board, while Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates each promised at least $1b.

Members of the board are required to pay $1b for a permanent spot, according to its charter.

A European Union-United Nations assessment published in April estimated that more than $71b&nbsp;will be needed over the next decade for the reconstruction of war-ravaged Gaza, where the UN says the humanitarian situation is &ldquo;critical&quot;.]]>
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			<title>Trump says US not satisfied yet on deal with Iran</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2610287/iran-rules-out-negotiations-on-its-enriched-uranium</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2610287/iran-rules-out-negotiations-on-its-enriched-uranium#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Wed, 27 May 26 10:45:45 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Reuters]]>
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			<category><![CDATA[World]]></category>
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			<description>
				<![CDATA[Trump warned Oman to “behave” or face possible US military action during cabinet remarks]]>
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				<![CDATA[US President Donald Trump on Wednesday said that he was not yet satisfied ​on a deal with Iran, adding that the US &zwnj;was not discussing easing sanctions on the country.

Speaking to reporters at a cabinet meeting at the White House, Trump said that ​Iran wants to make a deal.

&quot;Iran is very ​much intent, they want very much to make a ⁠deal. So far they haven&#39;t gotten there ... we&#39;re not ​satisfied with it, but we will be. We will ​be either that or we&#39;ll have to just finish the job,&quot; Trump said.

He added that under a potential framework deal with Tehran, the ​Strait of Hormuz would open immediately but that it ​would not be controlled by anybody.

&quot;We&#39;ll watch over it, but nobody&#39;s &zwnj;going ⁠to control it. That&#39;s part of the negotiation that we have. They would like to control it. Nobody&#39;s going to control it. It&#39;s international waters and Oman will behave ​just like everybody ​else or ⁠we&#39;ll have to blow them up,&quot; Trump said.

The White House did not immediately respond ​to a request for comment on Trump&#39;s comment ​on ⁠Oman. Oman&#39;s embassy in Washington also did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Trump also said that he was ⁠not ​comfortable with Russia or China taking ​Iran&#39;s stockpile of highly enriched uranium.

Oman will &#39;behave,&#39; or will be attacked by US, Trump 

Trump issued a stark threat to Oman on Wednesday, telling the Gulf country to &quot;behave&quot; or face attack from the US.

&quot;Oman will behave just like everybody else, or we&#39;ll have to blow them up. They understand that. They&#39;ll be fine,&quot; the president said in remarks during a Cabinet meeting at the White House.

It is unclear what prompted Trump to make the charge against the Kingdom. The White House did not respond to a request for comment.

Oman previously served as a key mediator between the US and Iran, and reports have recently suggested that it is working with Iran to establish a toll system for ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz, a key demand from Tehran amid negotiations to end the war the US and Israel started Feb. 28.

An Omani exclave sits on the southern tip of the strait, directly across the critical waterway from Iran.

Trump said the strait is &quot;international waters, nobody&#39;s going to control it,&#39; but maintained the US is &quot;going to watch over it.&quot;

&quot;That&#39;s part of the negotiation that we have. They would like to control it. Nobody&#39;s going to control it,&quot; he said.

Earlier, commenting on the state of the negotiations to end the war, Trump said he is &quot;not satisfied with it, but we will be. Either that, or we&#39;ll have to just finish the job.&quot; Iran, he said, is &quot;starting to give us the things that they have to give us.&quot;

&quot;Iran is very much intent, they want very much to make a deal, so far they haven&#39;t gotten there,&quot; he said. &quot;They&#39;re negotiating on fumes. We&#39;ll see what happens. Maybe we have to go back and finish it. Maybe we don&#39;t.&quot;

Iranian draft 

Iran&#39;s state TV on Wednesday said Tehran had obtained a draft of an initial, unofficial framework for a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the United States on ending their conflict.

Under the framework, Iran would restore commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz to pre-war levels within a month, while the US would withdraw military forces from Iran&#39;s vicinity and lift a naval blockade.

Earlier,State TV said the framework, which excludes military vessels and envisages Iran managing ship traffic through the strait in cooperation with Oman, was not yet finalised and that Tehran would take no steps without &quot;tangible verification&quot;.

It added that if a final agreement was reached within 60 days, it could be approved as a binding United Nations Security Council resolution.

However, the White House said on X: &quot;This report from Iranian-controlled media is not true and the MOU they &#39;released&#39; is a complete fabrication. Nobody should believe what Iranian state media is putting out. Facts matter.&quot;




This report from Iranian controlled media is not true and the MOU they &ldquo;released&rdquo; is a complete fabrication. Nobody should believe what Iranian state media is putting out. FACTS MATTER. https://t.co/agpTnBSgKu
&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) May 27, 2026



The emerging US-Iran MoU stems from indirect talks launched after the war that began in February, with Pakistan playing a central mediating role between Tehran and Washington.

The war erupted after a sharp escalation between Iran and Israel earlier this year, with both sides exchanging missile and drone attacks that disrupted shipping in the Gulf and drew in US military involvement, raising fears of a wider regional conflict.

Earlier, Deputy for Foreign Policy and International Security at Iran&#39;s Supreme National Security Council Ali Bagheri Kani once again restated Tehran&#39;s position that the fate of its highly enriched uranium was off limits in the current talks with the US, Al Jazeera reported on Wednesday.

&quot;This issue is not on the agenda of the negotiations,&quot; Kani told Iran&#39;s semi-official Fars news agency on the sidelines of an international security conference in Moscow, according to Al Jazeera.

As per Fars, Kani had travelled on Wednesday to participate in the 14th International Meeting of High Representatives on Security, where he made the remarks in response to a question regarding the fate of Iran&#39;s enriched uranium reserves.

Read: Iran demands release of $12b in frozen assets in potential deal with US

Kani&#39;s comments, Fars wrote, came after Foreign Ministry Spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei previously stated regarding the fate of 400 kilogrammes of 60% enriched uranium that &quot;the nuclear issue is very clear &mdash; we are a member of the NPT and as a member, we have the right to use nuclear energy for peaceful purposes.&quot;

The spokesman added, according to Fars, that Iran&#39;s position on its high-enriched uranium stockpile was very clear, and that discussing details at this stage would not lead to results, as the two sides had previously tried that path and disagreements had been too significant to reach an outcome.

On Monday, US President Donald Trump said Iran&#39;s stockpile of enriched uranium would be either transferred to the US &quot;immediately&quot; to be destroyed or &quot;destroyed in place, or at another acceptable location&quot;.

Adversaries turning to hybrid warfare, says Iran&rsquo;s Intelligence Ministry

Iran&rsquo;s Intelligence Ministry said the enemy had been &ldquo;defeated&rdquo; on the battlefield and was now resorting to other means of warfare. The tactics, Al Jazeera wrote, included economic pressure, cyberattacks, weapons smuggling, assassinations and hostile media campaigns, the ministry alleged.

&ldquo;The defeated enemy on the military front has now shifted its focus to soft war, cognitive warfare, and social provocations,&rdquo; it said.

Read More: Iran&#39;s top envoys discussing potential peace deal with Qatar prime minister, official says

In comments carried by Fars, the ministry warned Iranian authorities would &ldquo;strictly prosecute&rdquo; any espionage or &ldquo;separatist activity&rdquo;.

Iran says renewed war with US unlikely

Meanwhile, an Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) official said a renewed war with the US was unlikely but warned that Iran stood ready to repel any attack, Iran&#39;s semi-official Tasnim News Agency reported.

&ldquo;The possibility of war is low because of the enemy&rsquo;s weakness, but the armed forces are lying in wait,&rdquo; said Mohammad Akbarzadeh, deputy political chief of the IRGC&rsquo;s navy.

&ldquo;Do not doubt we will turn the area from Chabahar to Mahshahr into a graveyard for aggressors,&rdquo; he said, naming locations at each end of Iran&rsquo;s lengthy southern coast, according to Al Jazeera, citing Tasnim.

South Korea says attack on ship in Strait of Hormuz likely involved Iranian missile

Separately, South Korea&#39;s Foreign Ministry said that an attack on a cargo ship operated by a local shipper in the Strait of Hormuz earlier this month likely involved an Iranian anti-ship missile.

The Iranian embassy in Seoul did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The ministry made the assessment at a briefing to announce the outcome of a government investigation into the May 4 attack on the bulk carrier, which caused a fire and damaged the lower stern hull.

&quot;Various pieces of evidence point toward Iran,&quot; said First Vice Foreign Minister Park Yoon-joo, adding that Seoul had not conclusively determined who was responsible or whether the attack was intentional.

The probe looked at debris from unidentified objects that were found inside the ship after the attack on the vessel.

The analysis showed that the ship, named Namu, was attacked twice and while the first warhead did not explode, a second did. Components in the debris indicated the objects were likely made in Iran, the ministry said.

&quot;Their engines were similar to turbojet engines made in Iran,&quot; Park said, noting that one component had markings that appeared to be used by an Iranian manufacturer.

The warheads resembled those used in Iranian anti-ship missiles, the Noor or Qader, Park said.

Also Read: Pakistan plans oil reserves, storage push as Hormuz constraints expose vulnerabilities

South Korea will summon the Iranian ambassador to share the results of the investigation and deliver a protest message, he said. Seoul will also demand Iran take responsible measures to prevent a similar incident from recurring, Park added.

He declined to speculate on why a South Korean ship would have been targeted, saying Seoul could not determine intent without access to the attacker&#39;s decision-making process.

A South Korean defence official said, however, that from a naval perspective, the firing of two missiles suggested an intention to cause damage.

Trump said ⁠soon ​after the incident that Iran had fired ​at the South Korean vessel, and urged Seoul to join US-led efforts to secure shipping through ​the strait.

Tehran has previously denied any responsibility for the attack.]]>
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			<title>Ukranian President Zelensky asks Trump for air defence as Russia escalates strike threats</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2610309/ukranian-president-zelensky-asks-trump-for-air-defence-as-russia-escalates-strike-threats</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2610309/ukranian-president-zelensky-asks-trump-for-air-defence-as-russia-escalates-strike-threats#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Wed, 27 May 26 18:55:16 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Reuters]]>
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			<category><![CDATA[World]]></category>
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				<![CDATA[Says protection from Russian ballistic missiles is vital for achieving peace talks]]>
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				<![CDATA[President Volodymyr Zelensky urged United States&nbsp;counterpart&nbsp;Donald Trump to help Ukraine with air &zwnj;defence systems and interceptors as Russia threatens new strikes, saying that ballistic missiles remain Moscow&#39;s &quot;last major advantage on the battlefield&quot;.

In a letter to Trump and the US Congress, seen by Reuters, Zelensky said: &quot;I ask for your help in protecting Ukraine&#39;s skies from Russian missiles. We have ​already proposed that Ukraine is ready to purchase the number of Patriot systems and interceptor missiles we ​need.&quot;



This week, I prepared a special letter addressed to the President of the United States and to Congress. And yesterday, the letter was officially delivered to the institutions in Washington. It is quite rare for the leader of another state to address both the President and&hellip; pic.twitter.com/FtHmdimd9A
&mdash; Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) May 27, 2026


Ukraine&#39;s only means to shoot down Russian ballistic missiles is US-made interceptors for the Patriot air ⁠defence system. Throughout four years of war, Kyiv has been short of interceptors, but the Iran war has threatened ​to make resources even more scarce.

Since Trump took office, Ukraine has been purchasing Patriot missiles through NATO&#39;s Prioritised Ukraine Requirements ​List (PURL) initiative, financed by its European allies.

&quot;But the current pace of deliveries through the PURL programme is no longer keeping up with the reality of the threat we face,&quot; Zelensky said in his letter.

&quot;For us,&nbsp;for a nation fighting for its survival,&nbsp;there is hardly anything ​more painful to see than Patriot batteries with no missiles loaded,&quot; he added.

Zelensky says action needed

Speaking in his nightly ​video address, Zelensky noted it was rare for a foreign leader to address a letter simultaneously to the US president and Congress, &quot;but &zwnj;the ⁠current situation requires action, swift and effective action. It is important that America hears Ukraine&quot;.

Read More: Pakistan urges talk to end Ukraine war

Zelensky said ensuring Ukraine&#39;s protection from Russian ballistic missiles was critical to negotiating peace.

&quot;The sooner we can provide greater protection against ballistic missiles, the faster we can ensure that diplomacy works,&quot; he said. &quot;As long as Russia relies on missiles, its interest in diplomacy is not genuine. ​We must correct this and ​we can only correct ⁠it together, with America.&quot;

The letter was first reported by Ukrainian media outlet The Kyiv Independent.

Russia used 30 ballistic missiles against Ukraine in its latest massive strike on Sunday, and only 11 ​of them were shot down, according to Ukraine&#39;s air force.

Zelensky also said Moscow&#39;s troops ​launched two nuclear-capable ⁠intermediate-range ballistic Oreshnik missiles for that strike.

&quot;One struck the Kyiv region, while another, reportedly, fell in temporarily occupied territory in Ukraine&#39;s Donetsk region.&quot;

In the letter, the Ukrainian leader outlined Ukraine&#39;s success in fending off Russia&#39;s full-scale aggression, now well into its ⁠fifth year, ​and expressed gratitude for US support.]]>
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			<title>'Greetings after 88 days': Iranians reconnect after long internet shutdown</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2610296/greetings-after-88-days-iranians-reconnect-after-long-internet-shutdown</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2610296/greetings-after-88-days-iranians-reconnect-after-long-internet-shutdown#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Wed, 27 May 26 14:07:58 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Reuters]]>
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			<category><![CDATA[World]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2610296</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian issues order to reopen international ​internet access]]>
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				<![CDATA[Iranians, isolated by a long internet shutdown imposed by the authorities during the war ​with the United States and Israel, expressed joy as social media came back to life in a country &zwnj;where, even in normal times, access to the outside world remains restricted via censorship of many websites.

&quot;I&rsquo;ve never been so happy in my life to see Telegram notifications,&quot; Kian Galvani, an engineering student, wrote on his account on X.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian issued an order to reopen international ​internet access, Iranian state media reported on Monday, citing an official after a near-90-day blackout. The report cited the ​head of public relations at Iran&rsquo;s Communications Ministry.

The mechanism for how and when Iran would reconnect ⁠to the global web following the decision was unknown.

Read More: Iran&rsquo;s internet plummets to 1% as blackout 

Authorities initially imposed an internet blackout from January 8 in a crackdown ​on nationwide anti-government protests, which the US-based HRANA rights group said killed thousands. Connections were gradually restored in February, before a new ​blackout was initiated following the start of US and Israeli strikes against Iran on February 28.

&ldquo;The longest internet blackout in the history of the world has ended, greetings after 88 days&rdquo;, Alireza Jafarzadeh, an Iranian editor, posted on his account on Instagram.

Iranian Communications and Information Technology Minister Seyyid Sattar ​Hashemi said on Wednesday that &quot;the Iranian people deserve free communication, a bright future, and a dynamic economy.&quot;

&quot;The president&#39;s commitment to ​the reopening of the internet and restoring communication stability is a clear sign of rationality and standing with the people&quot;, Hashemi added, according to &zwnj;state ⁠media.

Businesses hit hard by blackout 

Prolonged shutdowns both restrict internet freedoms and hurt businesses that depend heavily on social media to operate, taking a toll on a fragile economy battered by the war and long-standing US sanctions.

Keyumars, an Iranian computer programmer, who asked that only his first name be used due to security concerns, told Reuters that many people in Iran who ran businesses ​through Instagram and Telegram due to the ​high cost of renting ⁠a physical store &ldquo;lost everything during this blackout&rdquo; and &quot;have to start again from far below zero &mdash; while carrying heavy debts, losses, and lost customers.&rdquo;

Alp Toker, director of internet monitoring group NetBlocks, told ​Reuters on Wednesday that the process of restoration could take hours, days, or even weeks in ​provinces.

He added that ⁠connectivity remains unstable and internet access is heavily restricted, with platforms such as WhatsApp still inaccessible without a VPN.

Also Read: Iran restores internet access following ceasefire with Israel

&quot;Businesses are suffering, small businesses, people aren&#39;t able to get in touch with loved ones. And there&#39;s also, I think, a sense of being left behind. ⁠A lot ​has happened in the world,&quot; said Toker.

Iranians remain wary of ongoing restrictions.

&ldquo;We are ​a long way from achieving the world-class version of the internet that the Iranian people deserve&hellip; civic and social activities in the heart of this darkness ​are the pulse of our survival,&quot; Iranian citizen Alireza Naji posted on his X account.]]>
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			<title>India seeks proposals for fifth generation combat jets: report</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2610295/india-seeks-proposals-for-fifth-generation-combat-jets-repor</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2610295/india-seeks-proposals-for-fifth-generation-combat-jets-repor#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Wed, 27 May 26 13:56:20 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Reuters]]>
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			<category><![CDATA[World]]></category>
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				<![CDATA[The programme aims to strengthen India’s air force, whose fleet has fallen below 30 squadrons]]>
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				<![CDATA[India has sought initial proposals to locally manufacture a fifth-generation combat ​aircraft from three short-listed bidders, news agency ANI &zwnj;reported on Wednesday, citing defence officials.

The bidders are Tata Advanced Systems, and joint ventures between Larsen and ​Toubro-Bharat Electronics and Bharat Forge-BEML &mdash;&nbsp;all of them ​Indian companies.

India approved a programme to build the stealth ⁠fighter jets and invited interest for the same from defence ​firms last year, weeks after a fierce military conflict ​with nuclear-armed foe Pakistan.

The programme is critical to boost the strength of the Indian Air Force, whose fleet of mostly Russian ​aircraft has shrunk to below 30 squadrons in ​recent months, compared to the approved strength of 42.

Read More:  India prepares interim report as Air India crash anniversary nears

The push aligns &zwnj;with ⁠Prime Minister Narendra Modi&#39;s larger ambition to ramp up local manufacturing and boost its military might to take on threats from both Pakistan and China.

Washington has pitched its ​advanced F-35 jet to ​India and ⁠Russia has countered that by offering its own fifth-generation Su-57. India has maintained a ​distance from both offers.

New Delhi has long ​relied on ⁠importing machinery and weapons for its armed forces, but a recent push by Modi has helped boost domestic ⁠manufacturing.

India&#39;s ​defence production hit a record high of ​1.54 trillion rupees ($16.09 billion) in the financial year ended March 2025.

In February 2026, India gave initial clearance for a 3.6tr-rupee ($40b) boost to the country&#39;s armed forces, including procurement of more Rafale fighter jets for the air force and Boeing P-8I reconnaissance aircraft for the navy.

The air force&#39;s fighter squadron strength has shrunk to 29 in recent months, well below the 42 it had earlier. Its workhorse MiG-21 was retired in September and other early variants of the MiG-29, the Anglo-French Jaguar and the French Mirage 2000 are also set to end service in the coming years.]]>
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			<title>Hundreds flee India migrant crackdown toward Bangladesh</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2610299/hundreds-flee-india-migrant-crackdown-toward-bangladesh</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2610299/hundreds-flee-india-migrant-crackdown-toward-bangladesh#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Wed, 27 May 26 15:03:30 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[AFP]]>
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			<category><![CDATA[World]]></category>
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				<![CDATA[Modi’s BJP won in West Bengal after campaigning to detect, delete and deport illegal migrants]]>
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				<![CDATA[Hundreds of people in India&rsquo;s border region with Bangladesh have fled to the frontier, police said Wednesday, after the government ordered the construction of detention centres for undocumented Bangladeshi migrants and Rohingya refugees.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi&rsquo;s Hindu-nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) swept to power in West Bengal state in early May with a hard-line policy to &ldquo;detect, delete and deport&rdquo; illegal migrants.

India&rsquo;s right-wing has long argued that illegal migration is a national security threat, and warned of a changing demography in India&rsquo;s border states.

West Bengal&#39;s government last week ordered the setting up of &ldquo;holding centres&rdquo; for &ldquo;apprehended foreigners&rdquo;, singling out both Bangladeshis and Rohingya.

The decision has fuelled anxiety among West Bengal&rsquo;s roughly 35 million Muslims, many of whom share linguistic and cultural ties with neighbouring Bangladesh.

Indian police officer Shirshendu Pati, from the Swarupnagar Police Station about 10 kilometres from the Bangladesh border, said streams of people had arrived since Tuesday.

&ldquo;People who say they are from Bangladesh and want to return home have been coming here since yesterday,&rdquo; Pati told AFP.

&lsquo;Holding centre&rsquo;

Pati said that the process had &ldquo;been peaceful and smooth so far&quot;,&nbsp;and they received about 200 people on Tuesday and 40 people early on Wednesday.

Read More: India accused of illegal deportations targeting Muslims

&ldquo;While we verify their identities and complete the necessary paperwork, all of them are in a holding centre,&rdquo; he said, noting they will be handed to India&rsquo;s border security force and sent to Bangladesh.

&ldquo;The local administration is catering to all their needs, including food, water and lodging,&rdquo; Pati added.

On Tuesday, Home Minister Amit Shah announced the formation of a special committee on demographic change.

&ldquo;Illegal migration and other reasons for unnatural demography change are a big challenge for any country&rsquo;s present and future,&rdquo; Shah said in a speech.

&ldquo;Demographic change is a serious issue linked not only to our sovereignty but also to national security, law and order [and]&nbsp;profound changes in social structure,&rdquo; Shah added.

Top BJP members have previously referred to Bangladeshi migrants as &ldquo;termites&rdquo; and &ldquo;infiltrators&quot;.

Critics say BJP&rsquo;s rhetoric and policies have added to the unease and marginalisation of India&rsquo;s estimated 200m&nbsp;Muslims, accusing the party of conflating religious identity with illegal migration.

The West Bengal centres have drawn particular concern because of the state&rsquo;s porous border with Bangladesh and its long history of migration.

Relations between India and Muslim-majority Bangladesh soured after a 2024 revolution in Dhaka ended the autocratic rule of then-prime minister Sheikh Hasina, an ally of New Delhi who subsequently fled to India.

The detention order&rsquo;s apparent inclusion of Rohingya refugees &mdash; a mainly Muslim group who fled Myanmar during a brutal military crackdown in 2017 &mdash; has also drawn criticism.]]>
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			<title>Israeli court cancels Netanyahu's corruption trial hearing</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2610294/israeli-court-cancels-netanyahus-corruption-trial-hearing</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2610294/israeli-court-cancels-netanyahus-corruption-trial-hearing#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Wed, 27 May 26 13:13:12 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Anadolu Agency]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[World]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2610294</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Netanyahu cited security and diplomatic matters]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[An Israeli court agreed to cancel Wednesday&rsquo;s scheduled hearing for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu&rsquo;s testimony in his corruption trial, Israeli media reported.

The court&#39;s decision followed a request from Netanyahu to cancel Wednesday&#39;s hearing, saying he had been engaged in &quot;security and diplomatic matters&quot;, according to Times of Israel.

The Israeli premier faces charges of corruption, bribery, and breach of trust in three cases, for which indictments were filed back in 2019.

Read More: Netanyahu concedes limits in influencing Trump

Netanyahu&#39;s legal troubles, which began with investigations around a decade ago, have polarised Israelis and shaken national politics through five rounds of elections ​between 2019, the year of his indictment, and 2022. The ​next ballot is due by the end of October 2026.

Besides the corruption charges, Netanyahu has been wanted by the International Criminal Court since 2024 for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.

Israel killed more than 72,000 people in the enclave over a two-year period starting in October 2023.]]>
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			<title>Hajj pilgrims stone the devil in final ritual</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2610284/hajj-pilgrims-stone-the-devil-in-final-ritual</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2610284/hajj-pilgrims-stone-the-devil-in-final-ritual#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Wed, 27 May 26 09:10:26 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[AFP]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[World]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2610284</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[More than 1.7 million people are taking part in the Hajj this year]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[Muslim faithful took part in the climactic ritual of the annual Hajj pilgrimage on Wednesday, symbolically stoning the devil near Makkah.

From dawn, crowds of pilgrims gathered in the valley of Mina, southeast of the holy city of Makkah, to throw pebbles at concrete pillars symbolising the devil.

It reenacts Prophet Ibrahim&#39;s (AS) stoning of the devil at three places where Satan is said to have tried to dissuade him from obeying God&#39;s command to sacrifice his son, Prophet Ismail (AS).

More than 1.7 million people are taking part in the Hajj this year. The pilgrimage is a requirement for all Muslims to perform at least once in their life if they have the means.

Read: Pak pilgrims slam Hajj arrangements

The most important festival in Islam has, for the third year in a row, been overshadowed by war &mdash; this time the United States-Israeli conflict with Iran that has drawn in the Gulf nations.

A fragile ceasefire, in place since April 8, has mostly brought a halt to the fighting but diplomatic efforts to bring the war to a definitive end have proved inconclusive so far.

The Hajj, which involves a series of mostly outdoor rituals over several days, is taking place during intense heat this year.

On Tuesday, pilgrims prayed atop Mount Arafat, where the Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) is believed to have delivered his last sermon, enduring temperatures of 45 &deg;C.

They then spent the night under the stars at Muzdalifah, halfway between Arafat and Mina, where they collected pebbles for the stoning.

Read More: Hajj sermon stresses Muslims to uphold unity, prepare for Day of Judgment

After this final ceremony, the pilgrims return to Makkah for a last circumambulation of the Kaaba&nbsp;at the heart of the Grand Mosque.]]>
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			<title>Israeli airstrikes kill 31, wound 40 in southern Lebanon</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2610272/israeli-airstrikes-kill-31-wound-40-in-southern-lebanon</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2610272/israeli-airstrikes-kill-31-wound-40-in-southern-lebanon#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Wed, 27 May 26 05:42:57 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Anadolu Agency]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[World]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2610272</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Strikes hit five towns despite ceasefire; US deploys F-22s, refueling aircraft at Israeli bases, airports]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[At least 31 people were killed and 40 injured in Israeli airstrikes Tuesday in southern Lebanon, according to the Lebanese Health Ministry.

The strikes targeted the towns of Burj al-Shamali, Kawthariyet El Riz, Habboush, Maarakeh and Selaa.

Lebanon&rsquo;s state news agency NNA reported that at least 10 people were killed, including women and children, in a single strike on Burj al-Shamali. The outlet also reported at least three airstrikes near the Qaraoun Dam in eastern Lebanon, home to the country&rsquo;s largest water reservoir.

The strikes came after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu threatened to intensify attacks against Hezbollah over the group&rsquo;s drone strikes against Israeli forces.

Read: US-Iran talks &#39;must succeed&#39; in interest of global and regional peace, FM Dar tells UNSC

Since March 2, Israel has been conducting an expanded offensive on Lebanon, killing nearly 3,200 people, injuring over 9,600 and displacing over 1.6 million people, according to official figures.

The Israeli army has continued its daily attacks despite a United States-mediated ceasefire that took effect on April 17 and was later extended to early July.

Lebanon-fired projectile lands in open area

Early Wednesday, the Israeli army said that a projectile launched from Lebanon fell in an open area in northern Israel, with no injuries reported.

Earlier, air raid sirens sounded in Kiryat Shmona and surrounding communities in northern Israel after a launch was detected from Lebanon, according to Israel&rsquo;s Home Front Command.

The army said it identified one projectile crossing from Lebanon before it fell in an open area.

The incident came a day after Israeli media reported that more than 15 Hezbollah explosive drones struck Israel in a single day, most of them targeting military zones.

Channel 12 said the Israeli military continues searching for effective ways to counter the growing drone threat after acknowledging that existing measures have yet to produce a lasting solution.

US deploys F-22 fighter jets,&nbsp;refueling aircrafts in Israel

Meanwhile, the US deployed F-22 fighter jets and dozens of refueling aircraft across military facilities and airports in Israel in what Israeli media described as an unprecedented military presence.

Israel&rsquo;s public broadcaster KAN, citing Israeli security sources, said Washington is interested in maintaining the deployment at least through the end of the year, in addition to longstanding US military forces stationed across the Middle East.

Read More: Trump links Iran deal to Abraham Accords

The broadcaster said satellite imagery reviewed over recent months showed an unprecedented deployment of US fighter jets and refueling aircraft inside Israel.

The analysis covered the period from the start of Israel&rsquo;s attacks on Iran on February 28 through last week.

According to the report, F-22 fighter jets were deployed at Ovda Air Base in southern Israel, while dozens of US refueling aircraft were stationed at Ben Gurion and Ramon airports. It said the aircraft are spread across multiple locations and are not expected to be withdrawn at this stage.

KAN said the deployment has raised concerns over its impact on civilian aviation and airport capacity.

Israel&rsquo;s Channel 12 previously reported that dozens of US refueling aircraft stationed at Ben Gurion and Ramon airports were already affecting airport operations and airline ticket prices.

Also Read: Iran demands release of $12b in frozen assets in potential deal with US

The broadcaster also cited Civil Aviation Authority Chief Shmuel Zakai as warning that Ben Gurion was being operated &ldquo;as a military base rather than a civilian airport.&rdquo;

The report warned that continued deployment could complicate Israel&rsquo;s summer travel season and discourage foreign airlines from expanding flights.

KAN said the unusually large US deployment in Israel has remained intact since the ceasefire with Iran took effect last month.]]>
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			<title>Bangladesh officials step in to spare viral ‘Donald Trump’ buffalo</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2610300/bangladesh-officials-step-in-to-spare-viral-donald-trump-buffalo</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2610300/bangladesh-officials-step-in-to-spare-viral-donald-trump-buffalo#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Wed, 27 May 26 15:55:45 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Anadolu Agency]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[World]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2610300</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[An albino buffalo in Bangladesh returned to its farm after authorities stopped its planned sacrifice]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[An albino buffalo nicknamed &ldquo;Donald Trump&rdquo; has been returned to its farm after Bangladeshi officials stepped in to stop its planned ritual sacrifice for Eidul Azha, local media reported on Wednesday.

The buffalo, raised at a farm near the capital Dhaka, became a viral attraction in recent weeks over its blond hair and apparent resemblance to US President Donald Trump&rsquo;s distinctive hairstyle. Crowds gathered daily to take pictures of the nearly 700-kilogramme animal, which went viral across social media and international news outlets.







The animal had already been sold to a buyer for sacrifice during Eidul Azha. But local broadcaster Channel 24 reported that the Home Ministry asked authorities to stop the slaughter after the buffalo&rsquo;s popularity surged nationwide.



The animal had already been sold to a buyer for sacrifice during Eidul Azha in Bangladesh. PHOTO: ANADOLU

Read More: Karachi embraces &#39;ijtimai qurbani&#39;

The buffalo was subsequently sent back to the farm where it had been raised. Officials did not publicly explain the reason for the intervention.

Farm owner Ziauddin Mridha previously said the animal was named &ldquo;Donald Trump&rdquo; by his younger brother over the pale tuft of hair on its forehead. He described the buffalo as calm and said albino buffaloes are rare in Bangladesh, where most are dark-skinned.

The buffalo had become one of the country&rsquo;s most talked-about attractions, with visitors travelling from far and wide to see the animal before the holiday. Viral sacrificial animals with celebrity-inspired names have increasingly become part of Bangladesh&rsquo;s Eid cattle market culture in recent years.]]>
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			<title>No feasts, no joy: Gazans mark a dark Eid</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2610290/no-feasts-no-joy-gazans-mark-a-dark-eid</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2610290/no-feasts-no-joy-gazans-mark-a-dark-eid#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Wed, 27 May 26 11:37:31 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[AFP]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[World]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2610290</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Gaza still faces Israeli strikes after ceasefire; most residents depend on humanitarian aid to live]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[New clothes for children, sacrificial sheep and Eid biscuits, the hallmarks of Eidul Azha, are all either unaffordable or unavailable in Gaza, casting a shadow over what is usually a time of celebration and joy.

&quot;I go to the market only to look around because I cannot afford to buy anything. Whenever I ask about prices, I return heartbroken,&quot; Nadia Abu Shamala, a Palestinian resident of Gaza, told AFP.

&quot;This year, Eid comes with none of the joy we once knew in Gaza because of the effects of the war, the soaring prices, and our inability to provide even the simplest needs for our children,&quot; said the 40-year-old woman from Gaza&#39;s north displaced to the central Gaza city of Deir al-Balah for over two years.



Many Palestinian bakers make Eid biscuits for Eidul Azha&nbsp;but this year many Gazans can&#39;t afford to buy them. PHOTO: AFP

Despite a US-brokered ceasefire that began in October 2025, Israeli air strikes are still common in Gaza, where 80%&nbsp;of buildings were damaged in the fighting and most of the population depends on aid for basic needs, according to the United Nations.

Israel controls all entry points to Gaza, and lets trucks of foreign aid and private sector goods enter in numbers that are too low to bring down war-inflated prices or shortages, NGOs on the ground say.

&quot;The truce is a big lie, but in any case, we are trying to create joy for the children,&quot; said Abu Abdullah al-Mosadar, 59, who told AFP he pooled around 13,000 shekels ($4,570) with his brother to buy a sheep for sacrifice.

It is an amount that very few Gazans can afford.



Shortage of sheep has dampened the overall festive mood of Eidul Azha&nbsp;in Gaza as few Gazans can afford to buy the animal for the traditional ritual of sacrifice Photo: AFP

&quot;I know it is very expensive, but I decided to perform the sacrifice this year,&quot; said Mosadar, a former property dealer from one of central Gaza&#39;s well-established families, adding that he hopes to start his construction and real estate business when circumstances permit.

Read More: Israel says it killed Hamas&#39; new armed wing chief in Gaza

Central to Eidul Azha celebrations&nbsp;is the sacrifice of a sheep.

Shortage of sheep has dampened the overall festive mood of Eidul Azha in Gaza, as few Gazans can afford to buy the animal for the traditional ritual of sacrifice.

Livestock cannot enter from the outside, and only one quarter of the pre-war sheep population remains, or about 15,000 for the coastal territory&#39;s 2.1 million inhabitants, according to the UN&#39;s Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO).



Palestinians shop on the eve of Eidul Azha&nbsp;in Khan Younis southern of Gaza Strip on May 26, 2026. PHOTO: AFP 

&quot;Regarding prices this year, sacrificial animals are witnessing an unprecedented increase due to the limited supply and the rising costs of breeding, feed, and transportation, and the shutdown of many farms,&quot; said Raafat Asaliya, spokesperson for Gaza&#39;s agriculture ministry.

As a result, &quot;a sheep or goat that was sold before the war for around 1,000 shekels is now priced between 11,000 and 15,000 shekels,&quot; Asaliya said.

Gazans say they are shocked by the prices of sheep this year.

&quot;We have never heard of such prices in our lives,&quot; Ahmed Abu Salem, a resident of Gaza City, told AFP.

&quot;Families like ours, who used to make sacrifices every year, are now unable even to buy one kilogramme of meat for our children,&quot; the 50-year-old said.

With gas in short supply, baking and cooking at home becomes an issue as well, Abu Ahmed Wafi, a 42-year-old displaced with his family in south Gaza, told AFP.

Very few Palestinians are able to make Eid biscuits in their tents due to the high prices of cooking gas.

&quot;The markets are mostly filled with kaak, maamoul, and sweets. We used to dream of making them at home as we always did before, but prices have risen sharply and there is no cooking gas available to bake them,&quot; Wafi said.



Palestinian make their way past the rubble of buildings destroyed in Israeli military strikes, as they shop on the eve of Eidul Azha in Khan Yunis southern of Gaza Strip on May 26, 2026. AFP

In the south Gaza city of Khan Yunis, one family managed to prepare trays of maamoul, the Eid biscuits, under a makeshift shelter covered in a reused tarp bearing the logo of the UN children&#39;s agency UNICEF.

Sitting on the ground, a woman and her daughter assembled the dough in circles Gaza-style, before a man baked them in a makeshift clay oven.

From her tent in Deir el-Balah, an exhausted Shamala hoped for better days.

&quot;We are still living in tents with no atmosphere of joy, only worries, fear, and exhaustion, without any of the happiness we once knew,&quot; she said.]]>
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			<title>In pictures: Muslims across the world celebrate Eidul Azha</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2610282/in-pictures-muslims-across-the-world-observe-eidul-azha</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2610282/in-pictures-muslims-across-the-world-observe-eidul-azha#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Wed, 27 May 26 08:13:40 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Web Desk/Reuters]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[World]]></category><category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2610282</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[From mass prayers to preparing animals for sacrifice, Muslims mark occasion with community, togetherness]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[Muslims around the world are celebrating Eidul Azha with prayers, animal sacrifice, and togetherness. The occasion commemorates the willingness and devotion of Hazrat Ibrahim (AS) to sacrifice for the sake of Allah, teaching us lessons of obedience, patience, generosity, and faith.

Across the world, Muslims gathered to observe the occasion, filling mosques and streets with activity. Eidul Azha brings the traditional sacrifice of animals such as goats, with those of the Muslim faith distributing the sacrificial meat among their loved ones, neighbours, and friends.



People offer Eidul Azha prayers at the Railway Ground in Karachi, Pakistan, on May 27, 2026. Photo: Reuters



A drone view shows Muslims offering mass prayers during Eidul Azha at the Great Mosque of Al Azhar in Jakarta, Indonesia, on May 27, 2026. Photo: Reuters



Muslims gather to perform Eidul Azha prayer in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, on May 27, 2026. Photo: Reuters



A drone view shows Albanian Muslims attending morning prayers during Eidul Azha celebrations at the main boulevard, in Tirana, Albania, on May 27, 2026. Photo: Reuters



Palestinian Muslims attend the Eidul Azha prayer, in Gaza City, on May 27, 2026. Photo: Reuters



Muslim women get henna applied in preparation for Eidul Azha in Adjame, Abidjan, Ivory Coast, on May 26, 2026. Photo: Reuters



Muslims attend an Eidul Azha prayer at El-Seddik Mosque in Cairo, Egypt, on May 27, 2026. Photo: Reuters



Muslim worshippers attend Eidul Azha prayer at Al-Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem, on May 27, 2026. Photo: Reuters



Muslim worshippers attend morning prayers during celebrations of Eidul Azha holiday near Victory Park in Moscow, Russia, on May 27, 2026. Photo: Reuters



People visit the graves of their loved ones on Eidul Azha, in Beirut southern suburbs, Lebanon, on May 27, 2026. Photo: Reuters



People gather at Mohammad Al Amin Mosque to attend Eidul Azha prayers, in Beirut, Lebanon, on May 27, 2026. Photo: Reuters



Muslim men tie up a sacrificial animal before it is slaughtered during Eidul Azha celebrations, in Ampang, Malaysia, on May 27, 2026. Photo: Reuters



Indonesian Muslim women offer Eidul Azha mass prayers on a field, with Mount Sindoro in the background, in Butuh village, Wonosobo, Central Java province, Indonesia, on May 27, 2026. Photo: Reuters



Shi&#39;ite Muslim worshippers perform Eidul Azha prayers between the shrines of Imam Hussein and Imam Abbas in the holy city of Karbala, Iraq, on May 27, 2026. Photo: Reuters]]>
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			<title>Muslims pray at Al-Aqsa Mosque to mark 1st day of Eidul Azha</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2610270/muslims-pray-at-al-aqsa-mosque-to-mark-1st-day-of-eidul-azha</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2610270/muslims-pray-at-al-aqsa-mosque-to-mark-1st-day-of-eidul-azha#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Wed, 27 May 26 04:17:40 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Anadolu Agency]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[World]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2610270</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[War overshadows Eid al-Adha in south Lebanon]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[The courtyards surrounding Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied Jerusalem on Wednesday &ndash; the first day of the four-day Eidul Azha holiday &ndash; were packed with Muslim worshipers performing Eid prayers.

Eidul Azha commemorates the readiness of Prophet Ibrahim -- also known as Abraham to Christians and Jews -- to sacrifice his son on God&rsquo;s command.

Muslims on this day sacrifice animals to remember Prophet Ibrahim&rsquo;s sacrifice, and the meat from those animals is distributed to the poor in the community.

This year&#39;s Eidul Azha holiday -- one of the most important holidays in the Muslim calendar -- comes amid continued Israeli violations of a ceasefire agreement in force since October 2025.

According to Gaza&rsquo;s Health Ministry, more than 880 people have been killed and over 2,645 injured in Israeli attacks since a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas was announced on October 10.

The agreement was intended to halt Israel&rsquo;s war, which killed more than 72,000 people -- most of them women and children -- injured more than 172,000 and caused extensive destruction affecting approximately 90% of civilian infrastructure since October 2023.

War overshadows Eidul Azha in south Lebanon

In southern Lebanon&rsquo;s border villages, Eidul Azha once meant crowded homes, family visits and children moving between relatives&rsquo; houses. This year, for many residents, the Muslim holiday arrives amid displacement, uncertainty and the lingering impact of war.

Across the Arqoub region in Lebanon&rsquo;s Hasbaya district, continuing Israeli attacks and security fears have altered daily life and stripped the holiday of many of its familiar traditions.

In towns such as Shebaa, Kfarhamam and Marj al-Zouhour, schools have become shelters for displaced families, while many residents remain reluctant to return home despite the holiday season.

Others who stayed behind continue trying to preserve fragments of tradition, from preparing Eid sweets to gathering with the few family members who remain nearby.

Inside a school in Marj al-Zouhour that has been turned into a shelter, 34-year-old Nasreen Abdul Aal lives with her family after being displaced three times from Ain Arab village in southern Lebanon&rsquo;s Marjayoun district.

She told Anadolu that her family briefly returned home during an earlier truce but remained only days before residents were again told to leave.

Repeated displacement has left deep psychological scars on families and children, she said. &ldquo;Families no longer gather, and children can no longer recognize the atmosphere of Eid,&rdquo; Abdul Aal said.

She added that farmers had lost harvest seasons and livelihoods, while many families increasingly feared losing their homes entirely amid continued attacks.

In Kfarhamam, Um Najib Fares, 60, has refused to leave her home despite intensified nighttime airstrikes and shelling.

She said explosions had become part of daily life and holidays that once brought together children and grandchildren had become occasions marked by absence. &ldquo;We remain in our homes despite everything,&rdquo; she said.

Kfarhamam Mayor Mouad Rahhal said Eidul Azha traditionally served as a social occasion reconnecting families and relatives.

Today, many displaced families hesitate to return even during religious holidays for fear of worsening security conditions, he said.

Around 110 families remain in the town despite the difficult conditions, Rahhal added, describing an unprecedented social emptiness across border villages.

In Shebaa, 83-year-old Rasmiya Zoghbi still insists on preparing traditional Eid cookies despite an atmosphere overshadowed by anxiety.

She said holidays should remain a time for goodness and prayers that families may one day return home.

Since March 2, Israel has been conducting an expanded offensive on Lebanon, killing nearly 3,200 people, injuring over 9,600 and displacing over 1.6 million people, according to official figures.

The Israeli army has continued its daily attacks despite a US-mediated ceasefire that took effect on April 17 and was later extended to early July.]]>
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			<title>Saudi Arabia turns to drones to shield pilgrims from extreme heat</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2610187/saudi-arabia-turns-to-drones-to-shield-pilgrims-from-extreme-heat</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2610187/saudi-arabia-turns-to-drones-to-shield-pilgrims-from-extreme-heat#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Tue, 26 May 26 16:02:25 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[AFP .]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[World]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2610187</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Drones help supply 127 clinics across Makkah, Mina and Arafat during the Hajj pilgrimage]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[With temperatures hitting 45 degrees Celsius&nbsp;in Makkah&nbsp;this week, Saudi health workers have increasingly relied on drones to supply a vast array of medical clinics treating heat-stressed pilgrims during Haj.

The rituals at Haj&nbsp;have been a constant for centuries.

But technology is rapidly changing the experience for pilgrims and officials alike &mdash;&nbsp;with AI, UAVs and mobile apps providing crucial services, logistical support and helping manage the mammoth crowds.

Rather than relying on congested roads filled with over 1.5 million pilgrims, drones in particular have proven to be a technological remedy for helping keep the 127 clinics spread across Makkah, Mina and Arafat adequately provisioned.

&quot;The main goal is to provide fast service to the guests of God during the season,&quot; Fahd Al-Bathi, the chief operating officer at the National Unified Procurement Company (NUPCO), told AFP.

Preparations for the medical needs of the season began nine months ago.

Standing before a colour-coded map of medical centres dotting the area, the NUPCO operations officer, Turki Al-Obaidi, said his teams work around the clock during Haj.

&quot;Our teams must ensure we reach patients as quickly as possible. This is a crucial factor with these extremely large crowds,&quot; he added.

Before the adoption of drones, drivers could spend over an hour en route to clinics running low on supplies.



لخدمة ضيوف الرحمن، وانطلاقًا من دورنا ضمن المنظومة الصحية، نسخّر إمكانياتنا وخدماتنا لتعزيز تجربة الحاج وضمان سلامته، عبر حلول متكاملة ترفع جاهزية الإمداد الطبي، وتضمن وصول الدواء بكفاءة خلال موسم الحج.​
​#حياكم_الله​#حج_بصحة​#نوبكو pic.twitter.com/Xju08GjOYJ
&mdash; نـوبـكـو (@nupco) May 26, 2026


Read More: Saudi Arabia deploys drones, AI to enhance security during Haj

Now, authorities have centralised operations around a sprawling centre that supplies drones with medications and other necessities.

&quot;We are seeking to integrate new innovations through which we can ensure that medical supplies arrive safely, as quickly as possible, and with the highest quality,&quot; said Bathi.

In the operations room &mdash;&nbsp;equipped with a giant data screen &mdash; staff carefully track drone deliveries, while other employees use electric scooters to get around faster.

Drones are part of a growing arsenal of technology-led solutions aiming to better manage Haj and the challenges presented by the searing desert climate.

Artificial intelligence has been deployed to help monitor the footage from thousands of cameras in and around the holy city of Makkah.

The new solutions help supplement more traditional methods to manage the heat, which include giant fans, trucks distributing free water and mist systems that help cool crowds.

&quot;Heat exhaustion is one of the main issues&quot; during Haj, said Saudi health official Jamil Abu Al-Aynayn.

&quot;We maintain a high and rapid level of readiness.&quot;]]>
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			<title>EU plans to fine Google high triple-digit million euro sum</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2610122/eu-plans-to-fine-google-high-triple-digit-million-euro-sum</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2610122/eu-plans-to-fine-google-high-triple-digit-million-euro-sum#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Mon, 25 May 26 22:23:54 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Reuters]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[World]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2610122</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Google has criticised the impact of the EU's rules on its search product and said it is keen to resolve the case]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[The European Union is planning to fine Alphabet&#39;s GOOGL.O Google a high triple-digit million euro amount as part of an antitrust investigation, Germany&#39;s Handelsblatt newspaper reported on Monday, citing commission sources.

The decision is nearing completion and is expected to be announced before the summer break, the paper said, adding it would be the largest penalty the EU has imposed for a breach of its Digital Markets Act (DMA), which aims to curb the power of big tech companies.

The investigation, which was officially launched in March 2025, relates to concerns that Google favours its own services in search results and seeks to ensure the world&#39;s most popular internet search engine complies with local regulation.

The Commission is more interested in securingcompliance rather than imposing penalties, spokesperson Thomas Regnier said in an emailed statement.

&quot;Even with our negotiations on future solutions, we will not hesitate to move to the next steps as soon as possible,&quot; he added.

Google has criticised the impact of the EU&#39;s rules on its search product and said it is keen to resolve the case.

&quot;The changes we&#39;ve already made to Search under the DMA represent the biggest downgrade in the product&#39;s history, creating a second-rate experience for Europeans to the benefit of a few self-interested complainants,&quot; a company spokesperson said.

Earlier this month, the European Commission said it had given Google a little bit more time to soothe concerns after a previous proposal from the company fell short.]]>
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			<title>WHO chief flags growing Ebola outbreak</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2610125/who-chief-flags-growing-ebola-outbreak</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2610125/who-chief-flags-growing-ebola-outbreak#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Mon, 25 May 26 22:23:54 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Reuters]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[World]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2610125</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[WHO has declared the outbreak of rare Bundibugyo strain of Ebola a public health emergency of international concern]]>
			</description>
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				<![CDATA[The head of the World Health Organization said on Monday that the fast-moving Ebola outbreak in Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda was outpacing response efforts, giving the latest number of suspected deaths as 220.

Addressing an online meeting of the African Union about the outbreak, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said a delay in detecting Ebola cases meant responders were now &quot;playing catch-up&quot; and the epidemic was likely to get worse before it gets better.

Tedros said he would travel to Congo - the epicentre of the outbreak - on Tuesday with another senior WHO official responsible for addressing health emergencies, Chikwe Ihekweazu.

Earlier on Monday neighbouring Uganda reported two more Ebola cases, taking its total number of confirmed cases to seven, and Tedros said other countries bordering Congo were at high risk and should take immediate action.

The WHO has declared the outbreak of the rare Bundibugyo strain of Ebola a public health emergency of international concern.]]>
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			<title>Hottest day on record for May in Britain</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2610123/hottest-day-on-record-for-may-in-britain</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2610123/hottest-day-on-record-for-may-in-britain#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Mon, 25 May 26 22:23:54 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Reuters]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[World]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2610123</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Met Office said the temperature hit 34.8 C (94.64 F) at west London's Kew Gardens]]>
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				<![CDATA[Britain had its hottest day on record for May on Monday, the country&#39;s national weather service said, with the temperature nearing 35 degrees Celsius (95 degrees Fahrenheit).

On a day that also broke records for a public holiday, the Met Office said the temperature hit 34.8 C (94.64 F) at west London&#39;s Kew Gardens, provisionally exceeding Britain&#39;s previous 32.8 C (91 F) May record, seen in both 1922 and 1944.

A study last year found that the chances of surpassing the previous 32.8 C May record were three times more likely as a result of changes in climate as a result of human greenhouse gas emissions, the Met Office said.

&quot;This heat would be exceptional in the UK even in mid summer, let alone in May,&quot; it said.]]>
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			<title>US honours fallen service members</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2610127/us-honours-fallen-service-members</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2610127/us-honours-fallen-service-members#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Mon, 25 May 26 22:23:54 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[agencies]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[World]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2610127</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Thousands attend one of nation's largest Memorial Day observances]]>
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				<![CDATA[President Donald Trump honoured the nation&#39;s fallen service members on Monday during a Memorial Day ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery, delivering a sweeping tribute to generations of American troops who died defending the country and its ideals.

Speaking before veterans, active-duty military personnel and Gold Star families near the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, Trump reflected on the role American service members have played throughout the nation&#39;s history.

&quot;From 1776 to 2026, America has always stood as a great and moral cause,&quot; Trump said. &quot;Our warriors are no mere mercenaries, they are guardian angels who stride across the battlefields of history and stand watch over the highest and most beautiful planes the human spirit has ever seen - holding the line between liberty and tyranny, between civilization and barbarism, between good and evil.&quot;

The president continued by honouring those who died in combat across generations of American conflicts.

&quot;Wherever the American Soldier walks, wherever he fights ... and wherever he falls, he does it for the destiny of a nation like no other ... and for the fate of Freedom on this earth,&quot; Trump said.

Trump also delivered a solemn reflection on the sacrifices made by fallen troops, calling their service the foundation of the nation&#39;s continued freedoms.

&quot;We honor those who fell so that our Republic might stand, those who died so that our nation could live, those who gave up their sacred light on earth so that the sublime light of American freedom would shine forever and ever,&quot; he said.

The president participated in the traditional wreath-laying ceremony alongside senior military leaders and administration officials before observing a moment of silence as Taps echoed across the cemetery grounds.]]>
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			<title>US releases second batch of government declassified UFO files</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2609538/us-releases-second-batch-of-government-declassified-ufo-files</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2609538/us-releases-second-batch-of-government-declassified-ufo-files#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Fri, 22 May 26 15:23:14 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Reuters]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[World]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2609538</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[One of 222 files released Friday includes 116 pages on reported sightings and investigations at Sandia, New Mexico]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[The United States Defence Department on Friday released a second batch of previously classified files on ​alleged UFO sightings, including references to &zwnj;people reporting unexplained green orbs, discs and fireballs.

At the order of President Donald Trump, the first batch ​was made public on May 8. ​He is the latest president to release ⁠US government reports on unidentified flying ​objects, a disclosure process that began in the ​late 1970s.



https://t.co/Aphnt9phiy
&mdash; Department of War 🇺🇸 (@DeptofWar) May 22, 2026




Photo: Reuters

Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said the documents, photos and videos of what are officially known as &quot;unidentified ​anomalous phenomena&quot; had long fueled speculation.

Read More: Pentagon releases 1st batch of declassified UFO files

&quot;It&#39;s ​time the American people see it for themselves,&quot; he &zwnj;said ⁠in a statement.

One of the 222 files released on Friday contains 116 pages of documentation relating to a series of reported ​sightings and investigations ​in ⁠a top-secret facility in Sandia, New Mexico, from 1948 to ​1950.

&quot;This file contains 209 sightings of &#39;green ​orbs&#39;, &#39;discs&#39;, ⁠and &#39;fireballs&#39; reported near the military base,&quot; the Defence Department said.

Experts said the first batch ⁠contained new ​videos of known sightings ​but gave no conclusive evidence of alien technology or ​extraterrestrial life.]]>
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			<title>Saudi Arabia deploys drones, AI to enhance security during Haj</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2609508/saudi-arabia-deploys-drones-ai-to-enhance-security-during-2026-hajj-pilgrimage</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2609508/saudi-arabia-deploys-drones-ai-to-enhance-security-during-2026-hajj-pilgrimage#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Fri, 22 May 26 12:01:29 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Anadolu Agency]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[World]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2609508</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Saudi authorities use AI crowd analysis to predict congestion and to check unauthorised entries]]>
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				<![CDATA[Saudi authorities are deploying drones, artificial intelligence, and advanced surveillance technologies during&nbsp;Haj&nbsp;to monitor crowds, detect violations, and prevent unauthorised entry into the holy sites, the Saudi newspaper Okaz said on Friday.

The report said the technologies form part of an integrated security and organisational system aimed at ensuring the safety of millions of pilgrims who gather annually in the holy sites.

Saudi authorities are using drones to track and apprehend violators of Haj regulations, alongside fixed-wing aircraft tasked with monitoring illegal entry attempts into the holy sites under the slogan &ldquo;No Haj&nbsp;without a permit,&rdquo; according to the report.

The newspaper said drones help security forces monitor large areas quickly and efficiently, allowing field teams to receive immediate alerts about suspicious movements and infiltration attempts.

Read More: Zilhajj moon sighted: KSA announces Hajj on 26th

The system also includes smart surveillance networks, high-resolution cameras, and thermal imaging devices.

Authorities are also relying on AI-powered crowd analysis systems to predict congestion before it occurs and redirect pilgrims away from overcrowded routes, while facial recognition technology is being used to identify individuals and to strengthen security measures.]]>
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			<title>The Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus: What do we know?</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2608979/the-bundibugyo-strain-of-the-ebola-virus-what-do-we-know</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2608979/the-bundibugyo-strain-of-the-ebola-virus-what-do-we-know#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Tue, 19 May 26 13:11:43 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Reuters]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[World]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2608979</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Bundibugyo kills 30%-40% infected, less lethal than Zaire strain, fatal in up to 90% worldwide]]>
			</description>
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				<![CDATA[A rare strain of Ebola has prompted the World Health Organisation&nbsp;(WHO) to declare a public health emergency of international concern. Most of the cases have occurred in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), with more than 100 suspected deaths and nearly 400 suspected infections as of Monday.

Here is what we know about ​this strain of the Ebola virus, known as Bundibugyo.

What is Bundibugyo Ebola?

The current Ebola outbreak &mdash;&nbsp;so far limited to the Democratic Republic of &zwnj;the Congo and Uganda &mdash;&nbsp;is due to a rare strain of the virus known as Bundibugyo, named after Uganda&rsquo;s Bundibugyo province, where it was first identified during an outbreak in 2007-2008. A second Bundibugyo outbreak occurred in 2012 in the DRC.



A Congolese health worker checks the temperature to screen a traveller at the Grande Barrier border following confirmation of an Ebola outbreak involving the Bundibugyo strain, at the border crossing point between Congo and Rwanda, in Goma, Democratic Republic of Congo, May 18, 2026.PHOTO: REUTERS

Bundibugyo kills 30% to 40% of infected people, making it less lethal than the more common Zaire strain, which causes death in up to 90%, according ​to a global study published in 2024.

Bundibugyo is one of the four species of the ebolavirus genus that cause life-threatening illness in humans. All Ebola viruses are ​transmitted through direct contact with the bodily fluids of infected animals or humans or objects contaminated with such fluids.

Read More: Health workers race to contain Congo&#39;s fast-spreading Ebola outbreak

Body fluid transmission ⁠is a particular risk for hospital workers. A US doctor working in the DRC has been infected in the current outbreak.

According to the WHO, ebolaviruses initially cause ​flu-like symptoms, including fever, fatigue, malaise, muscle pain, headache and sore throat, that can start suddenly, followed by vomiting and diarrhoea, and eventually by internal and external bleeding and ​multi-organ failure.

Are there treatments for Bundibugyo?

There are no approved vaccines or drugs for Bundibugyo ebolavirus. Emergency use authorisation would be necessary for the deployment of any experimental treatments or existing treatments that have been effective against other strains.

Also Read: WHO declares Ebola outbreak in Congo, Uganda

Potential candidates that have helped to control Bundibugyo in trials in non-human primates include Merck&rsquo;s Ervebo, Mapp Biopharmaceutical&#39;s MBP 134&nbsp;and Auro Vaccines&rsquo; VesiculoVax.

NanoViricide said its experimental antiviral drug ​NV-387, currently in clinical trials against mpox, could be effective against the Bundibugyo strain. It mimics the immune cell surface proteins to which all ebolaviruses attach themselves ​and could thereby act as a decoy to &quot;soak up&quot; the virus and prevent it from attaching to healthy cells.



The International Health Regulations Emergency Committee on #Ebola caused by Bundibugyo virus in #DRC and #Uganda will meet today, 19 May 2026 from 17h30 CEST (GMT+2) https://t.co/JV36PSec4Q@DrTedros determined the event constitutes a public health emergency of international&hellip; pic.twitter.com/27Nsg1eLk5
&mdash; World Health Organization (WHO) (@WHO) May 19, 2026


Earlier in the pipeline, an mRNA vaccine being developed in China has shown promise &zwnj;against Bundibugyo ⁠in mice but has not yet been tested in primates.

For now, response efforts will rely on public health measures such as rapid case detection, isolation, contact tracing, infection prevention and control, safe burials, and community engagement, said Dr Daniela Manno of the London School of Hygiene &amp; Tropical Medicine in a statement.



Fatima Tafida, the Regional Supply Chain Lead for Emergencies at the World Health Organization&#39;s (WHO) Regional Office for Africa pastes stickers on shipment pallets as the WHO mobilises 4.7 tonnes of essential medical supplies and emergency kits to support the affected regions in response to the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo from the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) in Nairobi, Kenya, May 18, 2026.&nbsp;REUTERS

&quot;These measures were critical in eventually controlling the 2014&ndash;2016 West Africa Ebola epidemic, the largest Ebola outbreak ever recorded, and if implemented rapidly and effectively they can also help control this outbreak,&quot; Manno said.

Is there a test for Bundibugyo?

Tests for Bundibugyo exist but ​are not widely used. Initial analysis ⁠of samples in the current outbreak using standard tests did not detect the infections.

&quot;Because early tests looked for the wrong strain of Ebola, we got false negatives and lost weeks of response time,&quot; Dr Matthew Kavanagh, director of the Georgetown University Centre for ​Global Health Policy &amp; Politics in Washington, DC, said in a statement.

What makes Bundibugyo different from other strains?

Differences in genetic makeup between Bundibugyo and other ebolaviruses impact its virulence, or infectiousness, its diagnosis and the availability of medical treatments.

Compared to the Zaire strain, which quickly reproduces itself to reach high levels in the patient&rsquo;s body, Bundibugyo replicates more slowly.



This is an electron microscopic image of an isolate of the Ebola virus. PHOTO: CDC Public Health Image Library

Bundibugyo is also slower to invade, disable ⁠and kill ​immune cells, eventually crippling the patient&rsquo;s immune defences.

The incubation periods for the Bundibugyo virus and the Zaire ​virus are nearly identical, averaging eight to 10 days but sometimes lasting up to three weeks.



People walk at Bunia General Referral Hospital following confirmation of an Ebola outbreak involving the Bundibugyo strain in Bunia, Ituri province, Democratic Republic of Congo, May 16, 2026. Picture taken with a mobile phone. REUTERS

A recent study of survivors of the 2007 Bundibugyo outbreak that found persistent symptoms and immune and metabolic alterations nevertheless ​concluded that overall, Bundibugyo may have less severe long-term effects on the liver and kidneys than the Zaire strain.]]>
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			<title>Trump's Gaza board reports funding 'gap', urges quicker disbursement</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2608971/trumps-gaza-board-reports-funding-gap-urges-quicker-disbursement</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2608971/trumps-gaza-board-reports-funding-gap-urges-quicker-disbursement#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Tue, 19 May 26 12:18:41 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Reuters]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[World]]></category>
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			<description>
				<![CDATA[Board only received a small fraction of the $17 billion pledged by members for Gaza]]>
			</description>
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				<![CDATA[The gap between funding pledges and disbursement for Donald Trump&#39;s Gaza rebuilding plan must be closed urgently, the United States president&#39;s &quot;Board of Peace&quot; has said in a report, identifying a potential cash crunch in a plan estimated to cost $70 billion.

Trump set up the Board of Peace to oversee his ambitious plan to end Israel&#39;s military onslaught in Gaza and rebuild the shattered territory. Trump has said it would also tackle other conflicts.

The UN Security Council has recognised the board, though many major powers have not joined Washington&#39;s main Middle Eastern allies and some middling and smaller states in signing up.

Reuters reported in April that the board had only received a small fraction of the $17b&nbsp;pledged by members for Gaza, preventing the president from moving ahead with his plan.

Read: Trump&#39;s peace board faces cash crunch, stalling Gaza plan, sources say

The board denied that report, saying in a statement it was an &quot;execution-focused organisation that calls capital as needed&quot; and that there &quot;are no funding constraints&quot;. The money is meant to pay for reconstruction and fund the activities of a new US-backed transitional Gaza government.

Appeal for quicker disbursement

In a May 15 report to the United Nations Security Council, viewed by Reuters on Tuesday, the board said that &quot;the gap between commitment and disbursement must be closed with urgency&quot;.

It added: &quot;Funds committed but not yet disbursed represent the difference between a framework that exists on paper and one that delivers on the ground for the people of Gaza.&quot;

The board called on countries that signed up for Trump&#39;s board and others to make contributions without delay, and urged &quot;those member states that have made pledges to accelerate disbursement processes&quot;.

The report did not say how much money it had received or how big the gap was, though it said that the amount pledged remained $17b. The Board of Peace did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Read More: Indonesia says no to $1 billion fee for Trump&#39;s &#39;Board of Peace&#39; seat

The US, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar are among the states to have pledged funds to the board. Others include Morocco, Uzbekistan and Kuwait.

Gaza&#39;s reconstruction after more than two and a half years of Israeli bombardment is expected to cost more than $70b. It is a key element of Trump&#39;s plan for Gaza&#39;s future, but it has been held up as the plan has appeared to stall.

Despite an October ceasefire,&nbsp;Israel has kept troops in a large swathe of Gaza while continuing to conduct air strikes and Hamas is refusing to lay down its weapons.

In its report, the board said that 85% of Gaza buildings and infrastructure had been destroyed and that an estimated 70 million tonnes of rubble would need to be cleared.

Reuters reported on May 15 that the US was considering asking Israel to give some tax money it is withholding from the Palestinian Authority ​to the Board of Peace to fund reconstruction.

Many states are hesitant to finance Gaza&#39;s reconstruction through Trump&#39;s board over transparency and oversight concerns and would rather fund efforts through traditional institutions such as the United Nations, European and Asian officials say.

Under the board&#39;s charter, member states would be limited to three-year terms unless they pay $1b each to fund the board&#39;s activities and earn permanent membership. It is unclear whether any state has paid the fee.]]>
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			<title>Health workers race to contain Congo's fast-spreading Ebola outbreak</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2608832/health-workers-race-to-contain-congos-fast-spreading-ebola-outbreak</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2608832/health-workers-race-to-contain-congos-fast-spreading-ebola-outbreak#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Mon, 18 May 26 17:39:09 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Reuters]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[World]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2608832</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[There have been 105 suspected Ebola deaths and 393 suspected Ebola cases across nine health zones in Ituri province]]>
			</description>
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				<![CDATA[Medical personnel were rushing on Monday to the frontlines of a new Ebola outbreak in eastern Democratic Republic of ​Congo (DRC), whose late detection and quick spread have alarmed health experts.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) on Sunday declared the outbreak a public health emergency of international concern because &zwnj;of the high risk the disease could spread further beyond DRC&#39;s borders after two cases were confirmed in Kampala, the capital of neighbouring Uganda.

There have been 105 suspected Ebola deaths and 393 suspected Ebola cases across nine health zones in Ituri province, with eight cases confirmed by laboratory testing, the Congo Health Cluster said on Monday.

Another case was confirmed in neighbouring North Kivu province&#39;s capital, Goma, according to the M23 rebels who control the ​city. The US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) also said on Sunday that it was supporting partners in withdrawing a small number of directly affected Americans.

A delegation led by ​DRC Health Minister Samuel Roger Kamba arrived in Ituri&#39;s capital, Bunia, on Sunday with tents to set up treatment centres to support strained local ⁠hospitals.

&quot;This is not a mystical disease,&quot; he told Reuters. &quot;Make yourself known so that you can be taken care of and so that we can prevent the disease from spreading.&quot;

WHO&#39;s representative in ​DRC, Anne Ancia, said WHO had emptied its stocks of protective equipment in the capital, Kinshasa, and was now preparing a cargo plane to bring additional supplies from a depot in Kenya.

The ​European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control said on Monday it was deploying an expert to its African counterpart&#39;s headquarters in Ethiopia to support operational planning, and the US CDC said it planned to send more people to its offices in the DRC and Uganda.

On Monday, the US embassy in Uganda said it had temporarily paused all visa services in Uganda in light of the Ebola virus outbreak in the East African ​nation, effectively restricting travel. And a Reuters witness said Congolese people trying to cross into Rwanda from Bukavu were stopped by authorities at the border.



A map of Ituri Province and Goma in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Previous outbreak response was complicated by insecurity

The ​current outbreak is caused by the Bundibugyo virus, which, unlike the more common Zaire strain of Ebola, has no approved virus-specific therapeutics or vaccine.

An outbreak of the Zaire strain from 2018-2020 in North Kivu and &zwnj;Ituri provinces was ⁠the second deadliest on record, killing nearly 2,300 people. The response to that outbreak was complicated by widespread armed violence in eastern Congo that continues today.

Jean Pierre Badombo, the former mayor of Mongbwalu, a mining town in Ituri at the epicentre of the outbreak, said people started falling ill in April after a large open-casket funeral procession arrived from Bunia.

&quot;After that, we experienced a cascade of deaths,&quot; he said.

The WHO has said it was informed of an unknown illness with high mortality in Mongbwalu on May 5, including four health workers who had died within four days, ​and dispatched a rapid response team.

Several subsequent ​missteps, including an initial failure by personnel ⁠in Bunia to escalate samples for further testing after they came back negative for the Zaire strain, meant the virus was not detected until May 14, Congolese health officials told Reuters. An outbreak was declared the next day.

Lievin Bangali, IRC&#39;s senior health coordinator in DRC, said declining funding ​from international donors had also weakened disease detection.

&quot;When surveillance networks break down, dangerous diseases like Ebola are able to spread further and faster ​before communities and health ⁠workers can respond,&quot; he said.

Uganda postpones Martyrs&#39; Day holiday

Congo has experienced 17 outbreaks of Ebola since the virus was first identified in the country in 1976. The disease spreads through direct contact with the bodily fluids of infected persons or contaminated materials.

According to WHO, the average fatality rate from Ebola is around 50%, varying from 25% to 90% in past outbreaks.

Uganda on Sunday postponed next month&#39;s celebrations of ⁠Martyrs&#39; Day, a ​national holiday that typically attracts thousands of pilgrims from eastern DRC, because of the outbreak.

Kithula Haggai Sunday, a ​doctor at Uganda&#39;s health ministry, told an online briefing that several people from western Uganda who had recently gone to a burial in eastern Congo and then returned home were under observation, with some who developed symptoms taken to the ​city of Fort Portal.]]>
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