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DR Congo Ebola outbreak exceeds 4,000 confirmed cases

ByJustpaste.in

The Democratic Republic of Congo is facing the fastest-spreading Ebola outbreak on record, with official data confirming that total infections have surpassed 4,000 cases.

According to the national public health institute, recorded infections have reached 4,053, alongside 1,850 deaths across five provinces: Ituri, North Kivu, South Kivu, Haut-Uele, and Tshopo.

Research published in the journal Science indicates that the virus was circulating in Ituri as early as January 2026, months before the epidemic was officially declared on 15 May, with over 500 suspected cases occurring during that initial period.

Containment efforts continue to be severely hampered by delayed detection, overwhelmed healthcare surveillance, active military conflict, and an absence of vaccines or targeted treatments tailored for the specific viral species involved.

Ranking as the world’s second-largest Ebola outbreak in history, the epidemic is surpassed only by the 2014–2016 West African outbreak.

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    Riyadh sofa factory fire kills 16 Bangladeshi work…

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    RIYADH: At least 16 Bangladeshi migrant workers have died after a fire swept through a sofa manufacturing factory in Saudi Arabia’s capital, Riyadh, in a tragedy that has prompted urgent efforts to bring the victims’ remains home. The fire broke out on Sunday at a furniture manufacturing facility in the industrial area of Riyadh’s Al Shifa district, according to Bangladesh’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Bangladesh’s embassy in Riyadh is coordinating with Saudi authorities over the incident and arrangements for the repatriation of the victims’ bodies. Officials are also working to identify the deceased and complete the necessary formalities. Bangladesh’s Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment Minister Ariful Haque Choudhury expressed deep sorrow over the deaths and directed officials to speed up the process of returning the bodies to Bangladesh. He also called for assistance and compensation to be provided to the bereaved families, many of whom depend on income earned by relatives working abroad. Saudi Arabia’s Civil Defence confirmed that firefighters had responded to a blaze at an unlicensed furniture-making facility in the capital, although its initial statement did not provide details about the fatalities. The tragedy has once again drawn attention to workplace safety for migrant labourers in the Gulf. Saudi Arabia is home to a large Bangladeshi expatriate community, with reports putting the number at around 3.5 million. For many of these workers, employment in Saudi Arabia provides a vital source of income for families back home. The deaths in Riyadh have therefore sent shockwaves beyond the immediate workplace, leaving families anxiously awaiting the return of their loved ones. Authorities are expected to investigate the cause of the fire and examine safety conditions at the factory. The focus will also be on determining whether violations contributed to the deadly blaze. For Bangladesh, the immediate priority remains bringing the victims home and ensuring their families receive the promised support.

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    Rising fuel taxes add to motorists’ burden

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    Consumers are facing a growing burden of taxes and other charges on petrol and high-speed diesel. Official documents show that the difference between the basic cost and retail price of petrol is Rs139.93 per litre. For high-speed diesel, the difference stands at Rs116.10 per litre. The documents show that the basic cost of one litre of petrol is Rs197.69. However, consumers are currently paying Rs327.62 per litre. Several taxes, levies and margins are included in the retail price. These charges significantly increase the amount paid by consumers at fuel stations. Petrol carries a petroleum levy of Rs80 per litre. A climate support levy of Rs5 is also imposed. The price also includes Rs21.24 in customs duty. An Inland Freight Equalisation Margin of Rs7.48 is charged per litre. Oil marketing companies receive a margin of Rs7.87 per litre. Dealers are paid a margin of Rs8.64 per litre. As a result, consumers pay Rs130.23 per litre in combined levies, taxes and margins on petrol. The situation is similar for high-speed diesel. Its basic cost is Rs264.76 per litre. However, its retail price has been fixed at Rs380.86 per litre. According to the documents, consumers pay around Rs116 per litre in levies, taxes and different margins on high-speed diesel. The petroleum levy on high-speed diesel is Rs74.28 per litre. The fuel also carries a climate support levy of Rs5 per litre. Customs duty accounts for another Rs15.68 per litre. The Inland Freight Equalisation Margin stands at Rs4.63. Oil marketing companies receive a margin of Rs7.87 per litre. Dealers receive Rs8.64 per litre as their margin. The figures show that taxes, levies and various margins form a significant portion of the final prices of both fuels. The additional charges directly affect motorists and consumers. They also increase transportation and operating costs for businesses that depend heavily on fuel. The rising cost of petrol and diesel can also put pressure on the prices of goods and services. Transport operators, traders and other businesses often pass higher fuel costs on to consumers.

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    PTI protest: man without both arms arrested over a…

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    ISLAMABAD: A unusual development emerged during the hearing of cases related to a Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) protest in Islamabad after police presented a man who has no arms in court on allegations of throwing stones and wielding sticks during the demonstration. The case relates to a protest held on August 5 in connection with supporters expressing solidarity with PTI founder Imran Khan. Several people arrested in connection with the protest were produced before the District and Sessions Courts in Islamabad. Among those presented was Altaf Ullah, who had been arrested by police and booked at Koral Police Station. Authorities accused him of involvement in acts including stone-pelting during the protest. However, the case took an unusual turn when the accused’s lawyer, Sardar Masroor, challenged the allegations before Duty Magistrate Rizwan-ud-Din. The lawyer argued that his client could not have carried out the alleged acts because he has no arms. He asked the court to consider the physical condition of the accused before proceeding with the case. The court examined the accused in the courtroom and confirmed that both of his arms were absent. Following the observation, the court discharged Altaf Ullah from the case. He was therefore released from the proceedings related to the allegations brought against him. The incident has drawn attention because of the apparent contradiction between the allegations in the police case and the physical condition of the accused. The case highlights the importance of verifying allegations and considering available evidence during legal proceedings. While police had accused the man of involvement in stone-pelting and wielding sticks, the court’s examination of his physical condition led to his discharge. The development came during hearings involving people arrested over the August 5 PTI-related protest in Islamabad. Authorities had registered cases against individuals accused of various activities during the demonstration. The court’s decision in Altaf Ullah’s case means that he has been discharged from the particular case presented before the magistrate. The PTI protest man without both arms arrested case has since attracted attention because of the unusual circumstances surrounding the arrest and subsequent court proceedings. Further proceedings in other cases related to the protest are expected to continue separately.

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    Sindh rejects Miftah Ismail’s police recruit…

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    Tata chairman to step down amid trust tensions

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    NEW DELHI: N. Chandrasekaran, chairman of Tata Sons, has decided not to seek another term at the helm of India’s major business conglomerate, bringing his leadership tenure towards an end after growing differences with the group’s influential charitable trust arm. Chandrasekaran, 63, said on Wednesday that he would remain chairman until his current term expires in February. He said greater certainty over the group’s future leadership was necessary because several major projects were at critical stages. The decision follows months of disagreement between Chandrasekaran and Tata Trusts, which controls about 66% of Tata Sons. The two sides have reportedly differed over several important strategic and governance issues. Among the disputed matters were the future ownership and structure of Tata Sons, whether the company should pursue a stock market listing, losses at Air India, the proposed departure of a minority shareholder and the composition of the board. Tata Sons had postponed a decision on Chandrasekaran’s reappointment in February after Noel Tata, chairman of Tata Trusts, opposed extending his tenure. Six months later, the issue remained unresolved. A person familiar with Chandrasekaran’s decision said the disagreement with Tata Trusts was the sole reason behind his decision not to seek another term. Tata Trusts has not publicly commented on the development. Leadership change comes at difficult time Chandrasekaran’s planned departure comes as the Tata Group faces challenges across several major businesses. Air India, which is controlled by Tata, has been struggling with losses following its return to private ownership. Tata’s automotive operations are also facing pressure, including weaker performance at Jaguar Land Rover. The group’s electronics business has additionally faced the consequences of a recent data leak that affected major customers, including Apple and Tesla. The leadership uncertainty immediately affected investor sentiment. Shares of Tata Consultancy Services, where Chandrasekaran spent most of his career, fell around 5% following news of his planned departure. Tata Motors also declined, while Tata Steel and Titan recorded smaller losses. From TCS intern to Tata chairman Chandrasekaran joined Tata Consultancy Services as an intern in 1987 and spent his entire corporate career with the information technology company. He rose through the ranks and became TCS chief executive in 2009. He was appointed chairman of Tata Sons in 2017. He became the first chairman of Tata Sons who was not a member of the Tata family or from the Parsi community. Under his leadership, Tata expanded its presence across technology, automobiles, aviation, electronics and consumer businesses. The Tata Group is one of India’s oldest and most prominent business organisations. Its companies operate across a wide range of sectors, with products and services ranging from salt and consumer goods to automobiles, hotels, aviation and software. The group’s publicly listed companies had a combined market value of hundreds of billions of dollars at the end of March, highlighting the potential significance of any leadership transition at Tata Sons. Tata’s history has also included previous disputes between its corporate leadership and charitable trusts. One of the most prominent occurred in 2016, when the Tata Sons board removed chairman Cyrus Mistry following a bitter dispute involving governance and the group’s leadership.

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    Fire put out at Aramco’s Jazan Refinery, Saudi A…

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