ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates (NPA) — The Ministry of Defence of the United Arab Emirates has confirmed that the country’s air defence systems engaged three drones that entered the nation’s airspace on Sunday, with one striking an electrical generator outside the perimeter of the Barakah Nuclear Power Plant.
In a statement issued on Sunday, the Ministry said the drones entered the country from the western border on May 17, 2026.
According to the Ministry, two of the drones were successfully intercepted by air defence systems, while the third drone hit an electrical generator located outside the inner perimeter of the nuclear facility in the Al Dhafra area.
Authorities said investigations are ongoing to determine the source of the drone attacks, adding that further details would be released upon the conclusion of the probe.
The Ministry of Defence stressed that the UAE remains on high alert and fully prepared to confront any threats targeting the country’s security and stability.
It added that the armed forces would continue to firmly counter all attempts aimed at undermining the nation’s sovereignty, national interests, and critical infrastructure.
GENEVA, Switzerland (NPA) — The World Health Organisation (WHO) has declared the outbreak of Ebola disease caused by the Bundibugyo virus in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Uganda a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC), warning of significant risks of regional and international spread.
In a statement issued on 17 May 2026, the WHO Director-General said the outbreak does not yet meet the criteria of a pandemic emergency under the International Health Regulations (2005) but requires urgent international coordination. He praised the governments of the DRC and Uganda for their transparency and commitment to tackling the crisis.
As of 16 May 2026, the WHO reported eight laboratory-confirmed cases, 246 suspected cases, and 80 suspected deaths in Ituri Province, DRC, across Bunia, Rwampara, and Mongbwalu health zones. Two confirmed cases, including one death, were reported in Kampala, Uganda, within 24 hours of each other, both involving travellers from DRC. Another confirmed case was detected in Kinshasa, raising concerns about wider spread.
Clusters of community deaths with symptoms consistent with Bundibugyo virus disease have been reported, alongside four deaths among healthcare workers, pointing to hospital-based transmission and gaps in infection prevention. WHO warned that the outbreak may be larger than currently detected due to limited surveillance and weak epidemiological links.
The agency described the event as “extraordinary” because the Bundibugyo strain has no approved vaccines or therapeutics, unlike Ebola-Zaire. The outbreak is occurring in urban and semi-urban hotspots, increasing the risks of rapid spread. Ongoing insecurity, humanitarian crises, and high population mobility in Eastern DRC further complicate containment.
International spread has already been documented, with confirmed cases in Uganda. Neighbouring countries with porous borders and high mobility are considered at high risk. WHO stressed that international coordination is essential to prevent further spread and ensure effective surveillance, treatment, and community engagement.
WHO urged affected countries to activate national emergency mechanisms, scale up surveillance, contact tracing, laboratory testing, and infection prevention, and engage communities through local leaders and healers to improve case reporting and early treatment. It also called for safe burials conducted by trained personnel, strengthened border health measures, and restricted travel for suspected cases.
For neighbouring states, the WHO advised urgent preparedness, including rapid response teams, diagnostic capacity, and community surveillance. For other countries, the WHO cautioned against border closures, noting such measures lack a scientific basis and could worsen informal cross-border movements.
The Director-General announced plans to convene an Emergency Committee to refine temporary recommendations and guide international response. WHO emphasised the need for research and clinical trials to develop Bundibugyo-specific treatments and vaccines.
The declaration of a PHEIC underscores the seriousness of the Bundibugyo Ebola outbreak, which has already spread beyond DRC’s Ituri Province into Uganda and Kinshasa. WHO warned that weak transparency and inadequate preparedness could undermine containment efforts. The global health body urged swift, coordinated action to safeguard lives and prevent further destabilisation in the region.
INTERNATIONAL (NPA) — The President of the United States, Donald Trump, has amplified the calls of Reverend Ezekiel Dachomo, Regional Leader of the Church of Christ in Nations (COCIN), over the alleged killings of Christians in Nigeria.
Trump reposted a video of the cleric on his Truth Social platform, Saturday, with the caption: “NIGERIA PASTOR SPEAKS OUT — THE WORLD NEEDS TO LISTEN.”
In the emotional video, Rev. Dachomo appealed directly to the international community and the United States government, saying: “United Nations, I know you are watching me. American Senate, you are watching what I am doing, what I am saying here? Special Adviser, tell Trump now! Tell Trump to save our lives in Nigeria. They are killing Christians, massacring Christians in Nigeria.”
Rev. Dachomo has consistently raised alarm over repeated attacks and killings of Christians in parts of Nigeria’s North-Central region, particularly Plateau State, urging the international community to intervene.
On April 27, 2026, the cleric called for global attention following the killing of an entire pastor’s family in Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of Plateau State.
The victims — Reverend Ayuba Choji, his wife and their two children, Precious and Ishaya — were allegedly killed by suspected Islamist extremists before they were buried three days later in Kwi community. Their only surviving son reportedly escaped through a window during the attack.
On May 13, Dachomo again raised concerns over fresh attacks in Plateau State that reportedly left six persons dead.
Earlier on April 26, the cleric also demanded justice for a teenage girl whose hand was allegedly amputated in Northern Nigeria after her family reportedly refused to approve an Islamist marriage proposal.
Dachomo described the incident as one of the moments when “the heart can no longer carry the weight of silence.”
Similarly, on April 12, 2026, the COCIN leader condemned the killing of five members of a family in Mbwelle village, Forof District, Bokkos Local Government Area of Plateau State.
According to him, the attack was allegedly carried out by armed Fulani assailants emerging from a nearby settlement reportedly under military protection.
Several other incidents of killings, attacks and alleged persecution have also been documented by the cleric on his X (formerly Twitter) account.
The renewed attention comes amid the redesignation of Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC) over alleged persistent violence on Christians and alleged government inaction.
The Nigerian government has repeatedly denied allegations that Christians are specifically targeted, insisting that insecurity, killings and abductions across the country affect Christians, Muslims and adherents of traditional religions alike.
As of the time of filing this report, the Nigerian Presidency had yet to officially respond to Trump’s latest post.
The development also comes hours after the United States military and the Nigerian Army carried out a joint operation that eliminated Abu-Bilal al-Minuki, described as the global second-in-command of ISIS.
Trump announced the operation on his Truth Social platform, describing it as a meticulously planned overnight mission executed by American forces alongside the Armed Forces of Nigeria.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu also praised the operation, declaring that terrorists have no hiding place in Nigeria.
INTERNATIONAL (NPA) — The Israel Defence Forces has announced the elimination of Izz al-Din al-Haddad, head of Hamas’ military wing and one of the last remaining senior commanders of the group, accusing him of playing a central role in the planning of the October 7 attack in Israel in which about 1,200 people were killed and more than 250 others abducted.
According to the IDF, al-Haddad assumed a top leadership position within Hamas following the elimination of Mohammed Sinwar and subsequently worked to rebuild the group’s military capabilities while coordinating multiple attacks against Israeli civilians and Israeli troops.
The Israeli military alleged that throughout the ongoing conflict, al-Haddad was directly involved in the captivity of several Israeli hostages held by Hamas in Gaza and managed the group’s hostage detention system.
The IDF further claimed that the Hamas commander surrounded himself with hostages in an attempt to shield himself from targeted military operations.
In a separate operation, the Israeli military also announced the elimination of Hamer Iyad Muhammad Almatouk and Khaled Muhammad Salem Joudeh, described as senior Hamas operatives.
According to the IDF, the two militants infiltrated Israel during the October 7 attack and had recently attempted to carry out additional attacks against Israeli troops operating in the area.
The military also confirmed the killing of Abd al-Rahman Mahmoud Jumaa Shaafi, identified as a member of Hamas’ Bureij Battalion, allegedly involved in coordinating attacks against Israeli forces.
Meanwhile, reports emerging from Gaza indicated that burial arrangements were underway for al-Haddad and the other slain Hamas fighters.
INTERNATIONAL (NPA) — United States President Donald Trump has announced the killing of Abu-Bilal al-Minuki, described as the global second-in-command of ISIS, during a joint overnight operation carried out by United States and Nigerian forces.
Trump disclosed the development in a post on his Truth Social platform, saying the operation was “meticulously planned” and successfully executed by American troops alongside the Armed Forces of Nigeria.
According to the US President, the slain terrorist had been hiding in Africa while allegedly coordinating extremist operations targeting civilians across the continent and planning attacks against Americans.
Trump stated that the elimination of al-Minuki would significantly weaken ISIS’s global operational structure and reduce the group’s influence in Africa and beyond.
Part of Trump’s statement reads: “Tonight, at my direction, brave American forces and the Armed Forces of Nigeria flawlessly executed a meticulously planned and very complex mission to eliminate the most active terrorist in the world from the battlefield. Abu-Bilal al-Minuki, second in command of ISIS globally, thought he could hide in Africa, but little did he know we had sources who kept us informed on what he was doing. He will no longer terrorize the people of Africa, or help plan operations to target Americans. With his removal, ISIS’s global operation is greatly diminished. Thank you to the Government of Nigeria for your partnership on this operation.”
Abu-Bilal al-Minuki, also known as Abu Bakr ibn Muhammad ibn Ali al-Mainuki, was believed to be a Nigerian-born extremist from Mainok in Borno State. Security reports identified him as one of the most influential ISIS commanders operating within Africa, particularly in the Lake Chad region.
He reportedly served as a top leader within the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) and oversaw operations linked to ISIS’s General Directorate of Provinces, coordinating funding, logistics and operational guidance for affiliated terror cells.
The United States government had designated him a Specially Designated Global Terrorist in June 2023 over allegations of coordinating kidnappings, armed attacks and extortion activities across Nigeria and neighbouring countries.
Security analysts described his death as one of the most significant counterterrorism successes recorded in Africa in recent years, noting that the development could weaken ISWAP’s operational capacity across the Sahel and Lake Chad Basin.
RABBAT, Morocco (NPA) — The body of a second U.S. service member declared missing during the African Lion 2026 exercise has been recovered in Morocco, officials confirmed on Wednesday.
According to a joint statement by the U.S. Army and Morocco’s Royal Armed Forces, search and rescue teams retrieved the remains of Specialist Mariyah Symone Collington, 19, an air and missile defense crew member, from a coastal cave roughly 500 meters from where she and another soldier went missing near Cap Draa, Tan Tan.
Collington’s recovery follows the earlier discovery of 1st Lieutenant Kendrick Lamont Key Jr., whose body was found on May 9. Both soldiers disappeared on May 2 during a training exercise near a cliff at the Cap Draa Training Area.
The multinational exercise, which brought together U.S., Moroccan, and partner forces, immediately launched coordinated search operations involving ground, air, and maritime assets. Officials said the mission remains active as investigations continue into the circumstances surrounding the incident.
United States Africa Command (AFRICOM) emphasised that the soldiers were participating in a critical joint exercise designed to strengthen interoperability and regional security. The disappearance prompted an urgent response, highlighting the risks inherent in complex multinational training operations.
The recovery of Collington’s remains marks a solemn moment for the U.S. military and its allies, underscoring the sacrifices made in pursuit of readiness and cooperation.
MOSCOW, Russia (NPA) — Russia says it has successfully conducted another test of its Sarmat intercontinental ballistic missile system, describing the weapon as one of the most powerful strategic deterrence platforms in the world.
The announcement was made on Tuesday by the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs through its official Telegram channel following a report presented to President Vladimir Putin by Commander of the Strategic Missile Forces, Sergei Karakayev, via videoconference.
According to the Russian government, development of the Sarmat missile system began in 2011, while details of the programme and its capabilities were first publicly unveiled in 2018.
Russian officials claimed the missile possesses capabilities exceeding those of many existing strategic missile systems, including an operational range of more than 35,000 kilometres.
The statement further claimed that the Sarmat missile can travel along both ballistic and suborbital trajectories, enabling it to bypass existing and future missile defence systems.
Moscow also described the missile as more powerful than the Soviet-era Voevoda missile system currently in service, alleging that the total yield of its warhead is more than four times greater than that of comparable Western systems.
While Russian officials highlighted the missile’s long-range capability, independent verification of some of the performance claims remains limited. Military analysts generally estimate that intercontinental ballistic missiles launched from Russia toward the mainland United States could reach targets within approximately 20 to 30 minutes, depending on trajectory and launch conditions.
Speaking after receiving the report, President Vladimir Putin said Russia resumed efforts to modernise its strategic deterrence systems in the early 2000s following the withdrawal of the United States from the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty in 2002.
“We were forced to think about ensuring our strategic security in the new reality and preserving the strategic balance of forces,” Putin said.
According to him, Russia subsequently began developing advanced weapons systems capable of overcoming missile defence networks.
Putin also referenced several other strategic weapons programmes currently deployed or under development by Russia, including the Avangard intercontinental-range missile system, the Kinzhal hypersonic missile and the Oreshnik medium-range missile system.
He added that work was nearing completion on the Poseidon unmanned underwater vehicle and the Burevestnik global-range cruise missile, both powered by compact nuclear propulsion systems.
The latest announcement comes amid heightened geopolitical tensions between Russia and Western countries over the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and broader security concerns in Europe.
VIENNA, Austria (NPA) — The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) has warned that corruption remains a major driver of human trafficking worldwide, enabling criminal networks to recruit, transport and exploit victims while evading justice.
In a new publication titled Hidden Links: ‘Corruption and Human Trafficking’, the UN agency said traffickers often rely on corrupt public officials and private sector actors who accept bribes, collude with criminal groups or deliberately ignore illegal activities.
According to UNODC, the relationship between corruption and trafficking has created what it described as a “hidden alliance” that allows organised crime to flourish while victims remain trapped in exploitation.
The report explained that corruption plays a role at virtually every stage of the trafficking chain, from recruitment and transportation to exploitation and obstruction of justice.
It noted that corrupt officials may issue fraudulent documents, ignore irregularities at border crossings or facilitate the movement of victims across jurisdictions in exchange for financial inducements.
“Without corruption, trafficking networks would struggle to move victims, conceal operations or evade justice,” the publication stated.
UNODC further warned that corruption among law enforcement officials, labour inspectors, prosecutors and other authorities creates an environment where traffickers can operate with little fear of prosecution.
According to the report, some officials falsify inspection outcomes, obstruct investigations or deliberately ignore exploitation taking place in industries considered high-risk for trafficking, including agriculture, construction, fisheries and domestic work.
The agency said survivors of trafficking frequently report encounters with police officers and public officials who fail to protect them or allegedly exploit their vulnerability.
The publication also stressed that corruption linked to human trafficking is not limited to specific countries or institutions.
“It cuts across borders, sectors and institutions,” the report stated, adding that private recruitment agencies, transport operators and employers also contribute to trafficking networks in some cases.
To address the growing challenge, UNODC called for stronger anti-corruption safeguards within public institutions and broader investigations that treat trafficking cases as corruption-related crimes.
The agency also urged governments to strengthen protection mechanisms for victims and whistle-blowers, improve witness protection systems and enhance international cooperation against transnational trafficking networks.
According to UNODC, disrupting financial flows and exposing corrupt officials are critical to dismantling trafficking operations globally.
The organisation said it is supporting countries to strengthen legislation imposing tougher penalties on public officials involved in trafficking, while also training investigators to identify corruption and suspicious financial transactions linked to organised crime.
KYIV, Ukraine (NPA) — Russian drone attacks resumed across Ukraine following the expiration of a three-day truce between Moscow and Kyiv, with explosions and air raid alerts reported in the Ukrainian capital overnight.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Russia launched more than 200 attack drones against Ukraine after the temporary ceasefire came to an end.
According to Zelenskyy, the attacks targeted multiple regions across the country, including Kyiv, Dnipro, Zhytomyr, Mykolaiv, Sumy, Kharkiv and Chernihiv.
“Russia itself chose to end the partial silence that had lasted for several days,” Zelenskyy said in a statement on Monday.
He stated that Russian forces also carried out more than 30 air strikes and dropped over 80 aerial bombs along frontline areas during the renewed offensive.
The Ukrainian president said air defence systems intercepted several of the drones, but confirmed that civilian infrastructure suffered damage in a number of locations.
“Energy facilities, apartment buildings, and a kindergarten were damaged, and there was also a strike on an ordinary civilian locomotive on the railway,” he said.
Zelenskyy added that several people were injured in the attacks, while fatalities were also recorded.
“People have been reported injured as a result of these strikes. And, unfortunately, there are fatalities. My condolences to the family and loved ones,” he added.
The Ukrainian leader accused Moscow of escalating the conflict and reiterated Kyiv’s position that Russia must take concrete steps toward ending the war.
“We have said that we will respond in kind to all Russian steps. Russia must end this war, and it is Russia that must take the step toward a real, lasting ceasefire,” Zelenskyy said.
He also called for continued international pressure on Moscow, insisting that sanctions against Russia should remain in place and be strengthened until a sustainable peace agreement is achieved.
“It is important that there be no easing of pressure and that partners do not stand aside, but continue working together for security, justice, and a reliable peace,” he said.
GENEVA, Switzerland (NPA) — Director-General of the World Health Organisation Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has confirmed the successful evacuation of all passengers aboard the Hantavirus-stricken cruise ship, MV Hondius, off the coast of Tenerife.
“MV Hondius has now left the shores of Tenerife. All passengers have safely disembarked and are either on their way or have arrived home,” Tedros said in a statement on Monday.
He commended Spain for what he described as the effective execution of a complex humanitarian and public health operation.
According to him, the operation demonstrated strong leadership, professionalism and technical expertise.
Tedros, however, cautioned that monitoring efforts would continue despite the successful evacuation.
“The work is not over,” he said, adding that the WHO would continue to coordinate closely with health experts from countries involved in the response operation.
“We have requested that they report to WHO on the health and well-being of passengers and crew through the IHR platform weekly,” he stated.
“Continued international coordination is essential to protect everyone’s health.”
Earlier, Spain’s Minister of Territorial Policy and Democratic Memory, Ángel Víctor Torres Pérez, confirmed that the MV Hondius had departed Tenerife and was heading to the Netherlands.
“The Government has concluded this humanitarian and emergency health operation in an effective and rigorous manner,” he said.
Torres Pérez described the response period as days of intense activity and praised residents and emergency personnel in the Canary Islands for their cooperation and professionalism.
“The Canary Islands once again demonstrated to the world its solidarity and humanity,” he said.
He also thanked citizens and health professionals for prioritising scientific guidance and public safety during the operation.
