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Police fire shots in air to disperse angry crowds at DR Congo Ebola treatment centre

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Police in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo fired shots in the air after angry crowds attempted to reclaim the bodies of loved ones who had died at an Ebola treatment centre in Mongwalu, two local journalists told the BBC.

Sunday's unrest continued throughout the day, the reporters said.

The treatment centre, in a hospital compound, was the same place that was targeted overnight on Friday into Saturday, when an isolation tent was set ablaze.

The body of a dead Ebola victim is highly infectious and can lead to the virus spreading further when prepared for burial.

There have been more than 900 suspected Ebola cases in the current outbreak and 220 suspected deaths, officials say.

According to Mongwalu General Hospital's medical director Dr Richard Lokudu, Sunday's attackers demanded the bodies of two people be given to their families.

He told the Associated Press news agency that the hospital was on "general alert".

One of the dead was a Catholic shepherd, who was a "well-known local figure – a religious leader", a hospital official told AFP news agency.

Suspicion of the authorities and scepticism about the cause of death has led to deep distrust among some in the communities currently affected by Ebola.

On Thursday, crowds set fire to isolation tents in hospital in Rwampara – a town 85km south-east of Mongwalu where cases are also concentrated – after they were prevented from taking the body of a man thought to have died from Ebola, away for burial.

Red Cross volunteers are carrying out safe burials under police protection to stop the virus spreading.

Three volunteers have also died from suspected Ebola likely caught while managing dead bodies, according to the organisation.

This comes as heath ministers from DR Congo and neighbouring Uganda and South Sudan over the weekend finalised their cross-border co-ordination in response to the outbreak, alongside the head of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC).

On Monday, Uganda confirmed two new cases, both health workers, bringing its total infections to seven, with one death being recorded. The patients are receiving treatment and people they have been in contact with are being traced, the health ministry said.

Africa CDC warned that other countries on the continent – namely Angola, Burundi, the Central African Republic, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania and Zambia – are at risk from an outbreak.

The agency's director-general Dr Jean Kaseya said he is holding a meeting on Monday for "all African leaders" to share guidance.

Speaking to BBC World Service's Newsday, he said their plan looks at how to avoid waste, how to isolate and manage cases, and how to ensure people have "dignified funerals".

Kaseya also said DR Congo, Uganda and South Sudan, agreed on a $319m (£236m) budget to stop the outbreak from spreading.

On where the money will come from, Kaseya said, so far, 10% had been secured by the affected countries.

On Monday, South Africa's President Cyril Ramaphosa pledged an initial $5m as an act of solidarity.

"This contribution is a demonstration of our confidence in Africa CDC as the public health agency of our continent," he said during a briefing on the outbreak, as he encouraged other African states to join efforts.

"Africa is no longer waiting passively for others to act and to come to its assistance, waiting helplessly," he explained.

Calling on the international community to also support the plan, Ramaphosa said: "The world is safer when Africa is safer. Delayed response and support today will result in much higher human social and economic costs tomorrow."

Kaseya said that African businessmen would be meeting in Lagos on 29 May to "raise additional funds", while international partners such as the US, UK, European Union and World Bank are also "committing funds".

Ten days into the declaration of an outbreak, World Health Organization (WHO) chief Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said responders are "playing catch-up" after the initial delay in detecting cases.

Africa CDC declared an Ebola outbreak in DR Congo's Ituri province on 15 May. It is the country's 17th Ebola outbreak.

"We are urgently scaling up operations, but at the moment the epidemic is outpacing us," Tedros said on Monday, adding that he will be travelling to DR Congo the following day.

The WHO declared the outbreak a public health emergency of international concern.

The outbreak is caused by the rare Bundibugyo species of Ebola, which had not been seen for over a decade.

There are currently no vaccines or medications that target Bundibugyo, which makes it harder to treat.

Last week, the WHO said it could take up to nine months for a vaccine to be ready.

Along with Ituri, cases have been detected in DR Congo's North and South Kivu provinces, which border Rwanda.

Parts of the two eastern areas are under the control of rebel group M23, whose clashes with government forces have brought additional difficulties in dealing with the virus.

Go to BBCAfrica.com for more news from the African continent.

Follow us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica

📰 மூல செய்தி (Source): https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c0l22pz6nw6o?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss

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Lamine Yamal in Spain squad but no Real Madrid players

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Lamine Yamal became Spain's youngest player – and goalscorer – when he made his debut aged 16 years and 57 days in 2023

Injured forward Lamine Yamal has been named in Spain's World Cup squad, which does not feature any Real Madrid players for the first time.

The 18-year-old missed the final month of the season after tearing his left hamstring while playing for Barcelona on 22 April.

Real defenders Dean Huijsen and Dani Carvajal were left out.

"I don't look at one club or another. I don't have that local bias a fan might have. For me, it's more global," said Spain coach Luis de la Fuente.

"The only thing I want is for these footballers to feel proud of representing the national team."

Real did not win a trophy this season and finished eight points behind La Liga champions Barcelona.

Athletic Bilbao winger Nico Williams, who has been struggling with a hamstring problem, also features in the 26-man squad.

"We're very relaxed. Barring any setbacks, we'll have everyone available from the very first match," said De la Fuente.

The World Cup runs from 11 June to 19 July.

Spain play debutants Cape Verde on 15 June, Saudi Arabia on 21 June and Uruguay on 26 June in Group H.

Midfielder Mikel Merino, who returned in Arsenal's last Premier League game of the season on Sunday after four months out with a stress fracture in the foot, has been included in the squad.

He is one of seven Premier League players along with clubmates David Raya and Martin Zubimendi, Tottenham's Pedro Porro, Chelsea's Marc Cucurella, Manchester City's Rodri and Crystal Palace's Yeremy Pino.

Uncapped defenders Eric Garcia and Marc Pubill have been called up after impressing for Barcelona and Atletico Madrid respectively.

"Excitement is the key word. Passion," said De la Fuente.

"The reaction of people all over Spain – adults and children alike – is that they are fully behind the national team."

Barcelona midfielder Fermin Lopez was last week ruled out of the tournament with a broken foot.

Goalkeepers: Unai Simon (Athletic Bilbao), David Raya (Arsenal), Joan Garcia (Barcelona).

Defenders: Marcos Llorente (Atletico Madrid), Marc Pubill (Atletico Madrid), Pedro Porro (Tottenham), Aymeric Laporte (Athletic Bilbao), Eric Garcia (Barcelona), Pau Cubarsi (Barcelona), Marc Cucurella (Chelsea), Alejandro Grimaldo (Bayer Leverkusen).

Midfielders: Rodri (Manchester City), Martin Zubimendi (Arsenal), Mikel Merino (Arsenal), Pedri (Barcelona), Gavi (Barcelona), Fabian Ruiz (Paris St-Germain), Alex Baena (Atletico Madrid).

Forwards: Yeremy Pino (Crystal Palace), Victor Munoz (Osasuna), Mikel Oyarzabal (Real Sociedad), Ferran Torres (Barcelona), Lamine Yamal (Barcelona), Dani Olmo (Barcelona), Nico Williams (Athletic Bilbao), Borja Iglesias (Celta Vigo).

World Cup 2026: Every nation's squad as they are announced

Everything you need to know about the World Cup

📰 மூல செய்தி (Source): https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/articles/crlpp3dw14lo?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss

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Nuno meeting West Ham hierarchy over future

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Nuno Espirito Santo won nine out of his 33 Premier League games in charge of West Ham

West Ham manager Nuno Espirito Santo is meeting senior management on Monday to assess the impact of relegation to the Championship, amid a belief he is likely to leave the club.

Nuno refused to say whether he would remain at London Stadium after failing to prevent the club dropping out of the Premier League for the first time since 2011.

It is expected his future will be resolved this week.

The former Wolves, Tottenham and Nottingham Forest manager signed a three-year deal with the Hammers in September.

Despite improved form toward the end of the season, including a final day 3-0 victory over Leeds, West Ham paid the price for a poor start, followed by a run of 10 games without a win from the beginning of November to the middle of January.

Chairman David Sullivan and vice-chairman Daniel Kretinsky are likely to be the key voices in the meeting.

West Ham sources have indicated relegation will cost the club about £200m in lost income at a time when finances are already stretched.

The Hammers made a £104m loss in their most recent accounts to 31 May 2025 and are predicted to lose another large sum this season.

Sales appear inevitable, with Mateus Fernandes on Manchester United's list of central midfielders they are interested in.

Skipper Jarrod Bowen is also coveted by a number of Premier League clubs, although he didn't want to talk about that when interviewed by Match of the Day after the Leeds game.

"It's still very, very raw," the winger said. "Talking about futures is disrespectful to the club, the fans, everything like that.

"This club deserves to be in the Premier League. Our aim now is to get this club back into the Premier League."

Latest West Ham news, analysis and fan views

Ask about West Ham – what do you want to know?

📰 மூல செய்தி (Source): https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/articles/ce9pp057zneo?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss

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Oil prices slide on hopes of US-Iran peace deal

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Oil prices have fallen sharply on hopes of a deal that could bring an end to the US-Israel war with Iran.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said negotiators had a "pretty solid thing on the table" and an agreement to end the conflict might be reached on Monday.

On Monday morning, global oil benchmark Brent fell 5.5% to $97.90 a barrel, and remained around $97.70 a barrel in the afternoon.

US President Donald Trump said the negotiations were "proceeding nicely" but added it would either be "a great deal for all or no deal at all".

While Iran says progress has been made, a government spokesman added that a deal was "not imminent".

Trump had previously said the deal would include the reopening of the key Strait of Hormuz shipping route, without giving further details.

The Strait of Hormuz, through which around a fifth of the world's oil and liquefied natural gas (LNG) usually passes, has been effectively closed since the conflict started on 28 February.

Earlier on Monday, Rubio said the talks were "still a work in progress."

"As I said, you know, we thought we might have some news last night," Rubio said in the Indian capital, Delhi.

His comments came after Trump said he had instructed negotiators "not to rush into a deal", after earlier suggesting one was close.

Speaking after Rubio's comments, Iran's foreign ministry spokesman, Esmail Baqai, said agreement has been reached on a "large portion of the issues under discussion".

"But to say that this means the signing of an agreement is imminent – no-one can make such a claim," he added.

On Saturday, Trump said that he had had a "very good call" with the leaders of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and others about a "Memorandum of Understanding pertaining to PEACE".

"An agreement has been largely negotiated, subject to finalisation between the United States of America, the Islamic Republic of Iran, and the various other Countries, as listed," Trump said on social media.

"Final aspects and details of the deal are currently being discussed, and will be announced shortly."

He also said he had had a call on Saturday with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, which had gone "very well".

On Monday, Trump said in his discussions with the Gulf leaders and others, including the presidents of Turkey and Egypt, he pushed them to sign the Abraham Accords which are aimed at normalising relations with Israel.

Global energy markets have seen big price swings since early March after Iran threatened to attack ships trying to use the Strait of Hormuz in retaliation for US and Israeli attacks on the country.

While crude oil prices have fallen sharply, they remain significantly higher than before the war. In the lead-up to the conflict Brent was trading at around $70 a barrel.

A ceasefire was agreed in early April, and since then Washington and Tehran have engaged in talks over a long-term peace deal.

"There is now some light at the end of the tunnel, which will bring some near term oil price relief," Saul Kavonic, head of energy research at MST Financial.

"But even in the most optimistic scenario from here, oil markets will remain tight through 2027 given the time required to normalise oil flows through the Strait, repair damaged oil facilities, and rebuild global oil stocks that have seen record depletion since the war began," he added.

Lars Jensen, chief executive of Vespucci Maritime and former Maersk director, said that even if a deal was announced on Monday the shipping industry would remain "very cautious and hesitant".

"You are likely going to see shipping lines that have vessels stuck in the Persian Gulf try to get them out, but they will be a lot more hesitant to put ships back into the Persian Gulf in case the thing turns south again," he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme.

Jensen pointed out that with issues such as potential sea mines in the strait and its surrounds, in a best-case scenario it would be months before supply chains were back to the way they had been before the war.

On Monday, the Nikkei 225 stock index in Japan rose above 65,000 for the first time after gaining 3% on hopes that the strait would soon reopen.

Japan, like nearby South Korea, has been particularly affected by the conflict as they are heavily reliant on energy from the Gulf.

UK and US energy and financial markets are closed on Monday for public holidays.

📰 மூல செய்தி (Source): https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c809m7g29r7o?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss

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