WHO calls everyone aboard hantavirus-hit ship "high-risk" contacts
The World Health Organization (WHO) said on Saturday that all people aboard a cruise ship affected by a hantavirus outbreak should be considered "high-risk" contacts and actively monitored for 42 days.
"We classify everybody on board as what we call a high-risk contact," Maria Van Kerkhove, WHO's director of epidemic and pandemic preparedness and prevention, told a media briefing. She noted that currently "nobody on board has any symptoms," but recommended "active monitoring and follow-up of all the passengers and crew who disembark for a 42-day period."
However, she stressed that the risk to the public and people in the Canary Islands, where the MV Hondius is expected to dock on Sunday, remains "low."
Hantavirus-hit ship expected in Canaries on Sunday: Spanish health minister
Spanish Health Minister Monica Garcia said on Saturday that the cruise ship MV Hondius is expected to arrive at the port of Granadilla on the Spanish island of Tenerife between 4 a.m. and 6 a.m. local time (0300-0500 GMT) on Sunday, as authorities continue to monitor a hantavirus outbreak linked to the vessel.
Speaking to the media, Garcia said the first step upon the ship's arrival would be to check whether any passengers show symptoms of the virus. Passengers will disembark wearing face masks, she added.
Garcia stressed that there are currently no new contacts in Spain linked to confirmed hantavirus cases and reiterated that "the risk to the population remains low."
UK sends HMS Dragon to Middle East ahead of potential Hormuz mission: media
Britian is sending destroyer HMS Dragon the Eastern Mediterranean to the Middle East amid preparations for a possible multinational mission to safeguard shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, British media said on Saturday.
The move would allow the destroyer to contribute immediately, if needed, to a future operation aimed at ensuring freedom of navigation in the waterway, Sky News quoted Britain's Ministry of Defence as saying.
Any plan would be strictly defensive and aimed at restoring confidence for commercial shipping, the ministry added.
Iranian, Turkish FMs discuss latest regional developments
Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi and his Turkish counterpart Hakan Fidan exchanged views on the current situation in West Asia during a phone call on Friday.
Araghchi briefed Fidan on the latest developments in Iran's diplomatic efforts and initiatives to definitively end the war imposed by the United States and Israel, according to a statement released by the Iranian Foreign Ministry on Saturday.
He pointed to the recent U.S. "adventurist" movements in the Persian Gulf and certain "ridiculous and insulting" rhetoric by senior U.S. officials, stressing that the recent escalation by U.S. forces in the Persian Gulf and their repeated violations of the ceasefire had deepened Tehran's doubts about Washington's intentions and seriousness in pursuing diplomacy.
Araghchi said the United States' "destructive approach" weakens diplomatic efforts and reinforces the Iranian nation's suspicion of Washington's intentions. He further said that, to advance the current diplomatic process, the United States must stop its "illegal aggressions against Iran as well as maximalist and unreasonable approaches."
15 killed in Israeli strikes in S. Lebanon
At least 15 people were killed in a series of Israeli airstrikes in southern Lebanon on Saturday, according to Lebanese official sources.
At least one child was among those killed and several children were among those injured in the strikes, according to the Lebanese Health Ministry and the National News Agency.
The Israeli army on Saturday morning ordered residents of southern Lebanese towns to evacuate before conducting airstrikes and demolishing homes.
Meanwhile, Hezbollah said it launched a rocket barrage overnight targeting a gathering of Israeli military vehicles and soldiers along the Lebanon-Israel border, in response to Israeli violations of the ceasefire.
Labour loses ground as Reform UK surges in British local elections
Britain's ruling Labour Party suffered major losses in local elections, while Reform UK made significant gains, according to final results released on Saturday.
Across around 5,000 council seats in 136 English councils and elections to the Scottish and Welsh parliaments, Labour lost almost 1,500 council seats in England and surrendered control of around 40 local councils, including several traditional strongholds, in the elections on Thursday.
The opposition Conservatives also endured heavy losses, losing more than 500 council seats, winning just over 800.
Reform UK emerged as one of the biggest winners of the elections, gaining more than 1,400 council seats and taking control of 14 local councils, many in traditional Labour or Conservative strongholds. The Liberal Democrats and the Greens also made gains.
Starmer appoints former UK PM Gordon Brown as special envoy
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer appointed former Prime Minister Gordon Brown as his special envoy on global finance and cooperation on Saturday.
"As Britain's longest-serving Chancellor, Gordon is well placed to work with our international allies to build a stronger Britain and boost our country's security and resilience," Starmer said on social media.
Brown served as Britain's chancellor of the exchequer from 1997 to 2007 under Tony Blair, before succeeding him as the prime minister from 2007 to 2010.
Magyar sworn in as Hungary's prime minister, highlighting unity, inclusiveness
Peter Magyar was sworn in as Hungary's prime minister on Saturday after winning a parliamentary vote at the inaugural session of the new National Assembly, pledging to "change the system."
A total of 195 out of the 199 members of parliament cast votes, with 140 in favor, 54 against and 1 abstentions. Magyar, leader of Hungary's Tisza Party, secured the required majority to be elected prime minister, marking the start of his four-year term.
Magyar said in his inaugural speech that the new government had received a mandate not only to change the government but also to "change the system." He pledged to serve the country rather than "rule over it," highlighting reconciliation, democratic renewal and national unity.
The new Tisza government "will be the government of all Hungarians," stressing inclusiveness and equal dignity for all citizens, he added.
Born in March 1981, Magyar studied law and humanities at Pazmany Peter Catholic University. He worked as a trainee judge and a lawyer, and later held positions in the foreign ministry and other government institutions. He was elected leader of the Tisza Party and a member of the European Parliament in 2024.
Russia holds military parade to mark Victory Day
Russia held its annual Victory Day parade on the Red Square on Saturday, marking the 81st anniversary of the victory in the Soviet Union's Great Patriotic War.
Addressing troops and guests ahead of the parade, Russian President Vladimir Putin said Victory Day is the country's "sacred, bright and most important" holiday.
He said preserving the memory of the events of the Great Patriotic War, as well as its true history and heroes, is a matter of honor for the country and the Russian people, adding that Soviet soldiers suffered great losses and made a great sacrifice in the name of freedom and dignity of the peoples of Europe.
China's foreign trade maintains solid growth as resilience holds
China's foreign trade maintained solid growth as coordinated policy efforts across regions and departments boosted momentum, highlighting the resilience and vitality of imports and exports, official data showed Saturday.
China's foreign trade in yuan-denominated terms grew 14.2 percent year on year to reach 4.38 trillion yuan (about 639.4 billion U.S. dollars) last month, according to data from the General Administration of Customs (GAC).
Exports rose 9.8 percent to 2.48 trillion yuan, while imports went up 20.6 percent to 1.9 trillion yuan. In the first four months, total foreign trade reached 16.23 trillion yuan, up 14.9 percent year on year.■
