KINSHASA, Congo (AP) — The head of the World Health Organization arrived in Congo’s capital, Kinshasa, late Thursday to witness efforts against an outbreak of a rare type of Ebola virus, as medical personnel struggle with a lack of equipment, a distrustful population and armed groups in a volatile region.
“To come here is to really show to the community that they’re not alone,” WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told reporters at the airport.
“Pushing orders from my comfortable office in Geneva is easy, but I’m asking my colleagues to work with the community and I am asking communities to protect themselves,” he added.
Medical aid donated by the European Union arrived in Ituri province, the heart of Congo’s Ebola outbreak, on Thursday. The United States announced the same day $80 million in additional aid, bringing its total commitment to more than $112 million.
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Health workers with scant supplies have been struggling to contain an outbreak of the Bundibugyo virus, a kind of Ebola that has no approved treatment or vaccine. In some areas, doctors have resorted to wearing expired medical masks while treating suspected patients.
According to WHO, 1,077 suspected cases and 238 suspected deaths have been recorded as of Tuesday,
Dangers faced by health workers have been heightened by anger among residents over the stringent medical protocols for dealing with the bodies of victims, which clash with local burial rites. Residents have launched at least three attacks against health centers.
Tedros said other challenges are also complicating the containment of the outbreak, including the high number of people displaced by armed conflict in the region, and food insecurity.
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On Wednesday, he had called for a ceasefire in a region where armed groups have staged violent attacks for decades.
“We cannot build community trust or isolate the sick while bombs are falling,” Tedros said.
Tucked in the northeastern part of Congo close to the Ugandan border, Ituri province has been reeling from attacks by the Allied Democratic Force, a rebel group allied with the Islamic State group, and a coalition of ethnic militias. In early May, the ADF killed at least 40 people and burned several homes in Ituri.
The illness also has been reported in the Congolese provinces of North Kivu and South Kivu, south of Ituri, where the Rwanda-backed M23 rebel group controls many key cities, including Goma and Bukavu. The rebels have reported two cases.
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The region’s main airport in Goma, which doubles as a staging ground for humanitarian efforts into the region, has been closed since January 2025, when M23 seized the city.
The WHO chief said Thursday he discourages countries from imposing travel bans against nationals of countries affected by the outbreak.
“There are ways to manage workers and to manage cases without having a strong, restricted travel ban and we don’t encourage that as WHO,” Tedros said.
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The Trump administration last week announced a temporary ban on the entry of people without U.S. passports, as well as U.S. green-card holders, who have visited Congo, Uganda or South Sudan in the past 21 days. It said Wednesday it plans to send Americans who are exposed to Ebola to a new facility in Kenya instead of flying them to the U.S. Congo’s neighbors, Uganda and Rwanda, recently closed their borders.
Inverness Women’s Aid has criticised Highland Council’s decision to award its domestic abuse outreach contract to a new provider, warning it could threaten the future of its services and impact support for survivors across the region.
A domestic abuse refuge service in the Highlands faces an uncertain future after losing its local authority funding. Highland Council has decided to award its annual domestic abuse services contract to the local Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) instead of Inverness Women’s Aid (IWA), which has previously delivered specialist support in the area.
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IWA, which is now considering its future, has criticised the decision, saying the CAB has “no specialist knowledge or experience of working with victims of domestic abuse”, and described the move as “bizarre and reckless”.
The council, however, says the new arrangements will strengthen support for women and children affected by domestic abuse across Inverness and the wider south Highland area.
IWA has operated in the city since 1979. The charity said it had spent two years seeking to secure the funding, but claimed Highland Council issued a draft contract containing “unsafe and unclear” clauses.
It said the council refused to provide clarification or enter into meaningful negotiation, and that proposed terms raised concerns around service-user confidentiality, employment law and GDPR compliance.
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The charity said it ultimately declined to proceed with the contract in 2025, understanding that this would mean it would not receive future funding under the new arrangement.
Despite this, it said it was disappointed that further discussions had not taken place to resolve its concerns.
At present, Inverness Women’s Aid continues to receive council funding for its refuge service, although that agreement is due to end in September. The charity says its refuge is currently at capacity, with referrals increasing.
Inverness, Badenoch and Strathspey CAB is due to join partners in a Highland-wide domestic abuse service model from July.
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Councillor David Fraser, chair of the council’s health and social work committee, said: “The Highland-wide service will strengthen support for all victim-survivors across Highland through a more joined-up and collaborative approach.
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“By working together, the partners will be able to share expertise and connect people to the right support more quickly.
“I hope this gives victim-survivors confidence about the future of domestic abuse services across the Highlands.”
Get the winning numbers from Wednesday’s Lotto draw and Thunderball right here
A huge jackpot could be won tonight(Image: Merthyr Express)
It’s that time of the week again and tomorrow morning, someone may be waking up with their bank account looking a little bit healthier. Below you’ll find the winning numbers from tonight’s Lotto draw, which sees a whopping £4.7m jackpot up for grabs.
Another massive cash prize will also be up for grabs in tonight’s Thunderball draw, which offers an incredible £500,000.
The winning National Lottery Lotto numbers are drawn at 8pm while the National Lottery’s Thunderball numbers are drawn shortly after.
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The biggest ever Lotto winner was created in April 2016 when an anonymous player banked £35m. In January 2016 two ticket-holders walked away with £33m each. Before that, a main Lotto game jackpot of £42,008,610, was drawn in January 1996 and split between three anonymous winners with each being awarded £14,002,870. A single ticket won £26.4m on the New Year’s Eve lotto in 2016.
The UK National Lottery was first drawn on November 19, 1994. Half of all money spent by players goes to the prize fund with 28% to good causes, 12% to the Government as duty, 5% to retailers, and 5% which has operated the lottery throughout its history.
Get the results:
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Thunderball draw is here
It is now time to see if anyone has bagged that £500,000 cash prize.
13, 26, 16, 25, 23
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Thunderball: 4
Round two numbers are in…
40, 48, 14, 2, 55, 18
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Bonus ball: 56
Lotto numbers are in for round one…
There has been a little bit of a format change, which means that your ONE ticket now has two chances to win the Lotto.
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Two or more matching numbers in round one have also got a prize, so keep your eye out!
Why do Jude Bellingham and other England stars cut holes in their socks? Reason explained – The Mirror
Need to know
Jude Bellingham will take centre stage for England on Wednesday and fans will notice one thing in particular about his choice of kit
Jude Bellingham will return with his England sock ritual against Croatia on Wednesday(Image: Eddie Keogh – The FA/The FA via Getty Images)
Everything you need to know about why footballers cut holes in their socks:
Improving circulation: By cutting small holes in the back of their socks, players aim to improve blood flow to the calf muscles during high-intensity play. Proper circulation is essential for sustaining performance and reducing the physical strain on the lower legs.
Preventing cramps: Many elite players believe reducing sock tension helps prevent the onset of cramping during a match. This adjustment allows the muscles to expand slightly as they swell during exertion without being constricted by the tight fabric.
Reducing injury risk: Some athletes feel that tight socks contribute to muscle strains or fatigue, particularly over the course of a 90-minute game. Modifying the socks is seen as a practical, low-risk method to mitigate these potential muscle injuries.
Psychological comfort: Beyond the physiological benefits, there is a significant psychological component to the trend. Players often develop specific pre-match rituals and repeating a habit they believe improves their performance can provide a mental boost.
England’s campaign: England are scheduled to face Croatia in their opening match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup Group L. While fans often scrutinise the gear worn by stars like Jude Bellingham in such high-stakes matches, this specific habit is already well-established across top-tier international football.
Other England users: Real Madrid starBellingham is not the only England international known for this practice. Team-mates such as Bukayo Saka have been spotted with holes in their socks during major tournaments like the 2022 World Cup and Euro 2024.
History of the trend: The habit is not a brand-new phenomenon, as various players have used this technique for years to alleviate tension. Former England right-back Kyle Walker was notably spotted with holes in his socks as early as 2018 during Premier League fixtures.
Global popularity: This has become a widespread trend among major stars at the World Cup and across elite leagues worldwide. Players often utilise this “sock hack” as a small, tactical detail to ensure they can perform at their physical peak for the duration of a tournament.
“If this is you, we are asking you to come forward to police now”
20:04, 17 Jun 2026Updated 20:06, 17 Jun 2026
Police have tonight issued an appeal to identify three men they wish to speak to following serious public disorder in Belfast last week.
Issuing four photographs of three people a PSNI spokesperson said: “Can you identify the following individual? Police would like to speak with the persons in these images in connection with serious public disorder on June 9, 2026, in the Belfast area.
“If this is you, we are asking you to come forward to police now. Anyone who can assist in identifying this person, please contact police. If you have any information or wish to submit photos and footage, including CCTV, mobile phone or dash cam footage please contact police.
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“Please do not comment on this post with information. A report can also be submitted online using the non-emergency reporting form via http://www.psni.police.uk/makeareport/ or you can contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at http://crimestoppers-uk.org/. You can also contact us on 101.”
In the same Esquire interview, he named who he thinks should be his Spider-Man successor.
Tom has led a record four Spider-Man films. Former star Andrew Garfield featured in two of the franchise’s films, while Tobey Maguire starred in three.
When asked who should follow him, the The Odyssey actor said: “Owen Cooper would be awesome.”
“When I got to set after I’d got the gig, we came to set I was meeting Marissa Tomei for the first time and I was now working with The Russos. And Downey was there. My scene had been cut down significantly from what I’d done in the audition to now a page and a half or maybe even two pages,” he shared.
“And we start shooting the scene and Downey piped up and was like ‘Where’s all the kid’s lines gone?’ And [directors] the Russos sort of said ‘Look, this already a 140 page script. We can’t spend too much time on this.’
“And Downey was the one that was like ‘No, you’re going to want to spend some time on this. Let’s shoot the whole thing from the audition. You can always cut it, but you’d want to have it.’”
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Only time will tell if he’ll have reason to offer Owen similar assistance.
44’ – Portugal put another several dozen short passes together before Cancelo falls over on the edge of the area, searching for a foul when it was simply a poor piece of control. The crowd boo. Not quite sure why.
Alan Smith17 June 2026 18:46
Portugal 1-0 DR Congo
40’ – It’s becoming easier and easier to draw comparisons with Spain’s performance against Cape Verde … with the key difference being Portugal have actually scored. It’s the same sort of dominance and pretty passing without much action in front of goal.
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Alan Smith17 June 2026 18:43
Portugal 1-0 DR Congo
39’ – Ronaldo is waving dramatically for the ball to be crossed to him. But the match is taking part elsewhere and he is very much a peripheral figure – so far.
Alan Smith17 June 2026 18:40
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Portugal 1-0 DR Congo
37’ – Neto threads one through towards Neves on the underlap. It almost comes off. Despite the dominance, Portugal’s only attempt so far was for the goal. So maybe DR Congo, by keeping it tight, will grow in confidence as the match wears on.
Alan Smith17 June 2026 18:38
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Portugal 1-0 DR Congo
34’ – Wissa tries to put Costa under pressure and it does lead to a turnover. DR Congo need a bit more of that.
Alan Smith17 June 2026 18:36
Portugal 1-0 DR Congo
32’ – Mbemba is harshly booked for leaping to meet an aerial ball alongside Neto. The Portugal player goes down injured, earning a free kick. That is a poor decision.
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Alan Smith17 June 2026 18:34
Portugal 1-0 DR Congo
30’ – Half an hour in and Portugal’s possession share is at 82%.
Alan Smith17 June 2026 18:32
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Portugal 1-0 DR Congo
28’ – Neto tries to find Ronaldo down the left but his cross is a bit soft and Mbemba puts it out for a corner. Silva takes it short to Mendes and Portugal return to passing it around patiently.
The Hollywood star was seen arriving at the community sports club for the event
British acting legend Hugh Grant was a surprise guest as Andy Burnham held a rally on the eve of tomorrow’s landmark by-election.
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Hollywood star Mr Grant, best known for his roles in Notting Hill, Love Actually and Bridget Jones’ Diary, made an appearance at Stubshaw Cross Club in Ashton-in-Makerfield tonight (Wednesday, June 17) where Mr Burnham was addressing his supporters.
The Greater Manchester Mayor is seeking to return to return to parliament by winning the Wigan constituency in tomorrow’s vote and if he wins, has indicated he would put himself forward in an expected challenge to Sir Keir Starmer’s leadership.
Previous incumbent Josh Simons stood down last month in order to give Mr Burnham a route back to Westminster so he could ‘drive the change our country is crying out for.’
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Wearing a white shirt with rolled up sleeves and sunglasses, Mr Grant was seen arriving at the community sports club on Walter Street that has served as Mr Burnham’s base. He was later seen leaving and getting into a red car.
In an address to supporters posted on his campaign’s page on X, Mr Burnham said it had been ‘an incredible campaign’ and said they had a ‘big night and a big day ahead of us’ as he said he believed the by-election was about to ‘change British politics.’
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“This by-election is going to put power where it should be. In the hands of people here” he said.
“A vote for me is a vote to end 40 years of trickle down economics” he continued as he said he wanted to make ‘life more affordable again’ for British people and to give them ‘breathing space in their daily lives.’
Although numerous polls have suggested Mr Burnham has a lead over Mr Kenyon, Mr Burnham described it as a ‘close situation’ and said ‘we do need people to get out and vote tomorrow.’
However a senior source told told the Manchester Evening News that he would not take a role in his government and said that Sir Keir remaining in post would give people ‘an excuse to vote against Labour’ in the Greater Manchester mayoral election which will be triggered if Mr Burnham wins.
In an address to supporters posted on his campaign’s page on X, Mr Burnham said it had been ‘an incredible campaign’ and said they had a ‘big night and a big day ahead of us’ as he said he believed the by-election was about to ‘change British politics.’
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“This by-election is going to put power where it should be. In the hands of people here” he said.
“A vote for me is a vote to end 40 years of trickle down economics” he continued as he said he wanted to make ‘life more affordable again’ for British people and to give them ‘breathing space in their daily lives.’
Although numerous polls have suggested Mr Burnham has a lead over Mr Kenyon, Mr Burnham described it as a ‘close situation’ and said ‘we do need people to get out and vote tomorrow.’
However a senior source told told the Manchester Evening News that he would not take a role in his government and said that Sir Keir remaining in post would give people ‘an excuse to vote against Labour’ in the Greater Manchester mayoral election which will be triggered if Mr Burnham wins.
Daveigh Chase, the former child actor best known for starring in the 2002 horror film The Ring and originating the voice of Lilo Pelekai in the 2002 animated movie Lilo & Stitch, has died at the age of 35.
The actor’s death was announced by her boyfriend, Roy Hernandez, who told TMZ that she died Tuesday from meningitis and an infection in her blood, which caused her to have septic issues and led to her body shutting down.
Her untimely death comes days after Hernandez had launched a GoFundMe to raise money for her treatment. “Daveigh was diagnosed with meningitis and several serious blood infections. Her condition has become critical, and the doctors have told me she may not have much time left,” the page read.
“After a difficult childhood and a painful falling out with her family, Daveigh was bullied and struggled to find safety and happiness in downtown LA. When we met, I promised to protect her and give her the love and comfort she deserved. Together, we found moments of happiness and hope.”
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Born July 24, 1990, in Las Vegas, Nevada, Chase was raised in Albany, Oregon. She first began acting at seven, landing roles in commercials and on stage. She was eight when she made her on-screen debut in a 1998 episode of Sabrina the Teenage Witch.
Daveigh Chase is a former child actor best known for starring in ‘The Ring’ and originating the voice of Lilo in ‘Lilo & Stitch’ (Getty)
She later went on to star in single episodes of Charmed, The Practice and ER, before appearing in 2001’s Jake Gyllenhaal-led Donnie Darko. The following year, she voiced Lilo in Disney’s 2002 animated family movie, Lilo & Stitch, as well as its subsequent spin-off films and Walt Disney’s two-season TV adaptation, Lilo & Stitch: The Series.
That same year, she played the evil Samara Morgan in Gore Verbinski’s critically acclaimed horror flick The Ring, alongside Naomi Watts and Martin Henderson.
Chase was 11 when she originated the voice of Lilo Pelekai in 2002’s ‘Lilo & Stitch’ (Getty Images)
Her final acting credit was 2016’s thriller American Romance. She stepped away from acting following a string of personal and legal issues.
In 2018, Chase was arrested and charged with drug possession.
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Strachan Travel Ltd, based in Lancashire, entered voluntary liquidation after resolutions for winding up were recorded on June 11, with liquidators appointed on June 16, bringing an end to decades of business.
The company was incorporated in 1983 under the name Quintglobe Ltd and had earned a loyal following, reflected in its five-star Google reviews.
One customer said: “Great staff. Good place to book a holiday – they care and give you the personal treatment. Make you feel important to them. Brilliant!”
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What happens when a company goes into Liquidation?
Another reviewer said: “I wouldn’t go anywhere else.
“They do everything for you.”
A third said: “Very friendly people who try to get the best deal for you.
“Used them several times for cheap to very expensive holidays.”
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A notice published in The Gazette confirmed the appointment of joint liquidators Francesca Vivace and Richard Ian Williamson of Campbell, Crossley & Davis.
The notice stated: “That the Company be wound up voluntarily and that Francesca Vivace (IP No. 32370) and Richard Ian Williamson (IP No. 8013) both of Campbell, Crossley & Davis, Ground Floor, Seneca House, Links Point, Amy Johnson Way, Blackpool, Lancashire, FY4 2FF be appointed as Joint Liquidators for the purposes of such voluntary winding up.”
Strachan Travel’s website and Facebook page no longer appear to be active, and business hours listed on Google now show as permanently closed.
The closure marks the end of a long-standing business that had served generations of holidaymakers across Lancashire and beyond.
Jagtar Singh Johal’s family say they have been unable to speak to him since he was transferred to Delhi’s notorious Tihar Jail.
The family of a Scot detained in India for more than eight years have revealed they have not spoken to him for seven months as politicians pile pressure on the UK Government to bring him home.
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Jagtar Singh Johal, from Dumbarton, has now spent 3,146 days behind bars since he was arrested while on honeymoon in Punjab in 2017. His brother Gurpreet says the family’s phone calls were cut off after Johal was transferred to Delhi’s notorious Tihar Jail last year.
The family’s latest ordeal comes as more than 50 MPs and peers wrote to Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper on Thursday urging her to do “everything in your power” to bring Johal home, following a fresh intervention by ten United Nations experts who described his continued detention as a “profound miscarriage of justice”.
Responding to the intervention, Jagtar’s brother Gurpreet Singh Johal spoke of the personal toll the ordeal continues to have on the family. “It can get very lonely, campaigning for my brother to be set free,” he said.
“Since Jagtar was moved to Tihar jail last year, they stopped our phone calls – it’s been seven months since I had a call with him. Video calls were stopped long before that.
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“Try to imagine how that feels, not being able to even talk to your brother, knowing he’s unfairly locked up.”
The cross-party letter follows a fresh intervention by ten United Nations Special Rapporteurs and independent experts, who have called on Indian authorities to drop all remaining charges against Johal and release him without delay.
In the letter to Cooper, parliamentarians said the latest UN findings highlighted the “egregious nature” of Johal’s continued imprisonment.
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They wrote: “Jagtar has now spent 3,146 days in arbitrary detention, during which he has endured torture, severe abuse of his rights, and the continuing trauma of prolonged uncertainty.
“The intervention of senior UN experts makes clear that his continued imprisonment is unlawful, intolerable, and a profound miscarriage of justice.”
The UN experts said there was “no rationale” for Johal’s continued detention and warned that more than eight years in prison without a foreseeable end to proceedings amounted to “unlawful suffering”.
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“Eight and a half years of arbitrary detention without a clear path to trial is not justice, it is unlawful suffering,” they said. “The prolonged uncertainty alone is a form of psychological torture.”
Johal was acquitted in one case in March 2025 after a court in Punjab rejected allegations against him. However, he remains imprisoned while facing a number of federal prosecutions that campaigners say are effectively duplicate cases.
The experts also raised concerns about “double jeopardy, the presumption of innocence, the misuse of counter-terrorism laws, and the integrity of the proceedings”, and called on the Indian government to release him immediately.
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Signatories to the letter noted that Prime Minister Keir Starmer had previously recognised Johal’s detention as arbitrary and twice called for his release while leader of the opposition.
“As leader of the opposition, the Prime Minister rightly recognised Jagtar’s detention as arbitrary and twice called for his release. It has never been more vital to deliver this,” they wrote.
The letter was signed by MPs and peers from Labour, the Conservatives, the SNP, Liberal Democrats, Greens and independent benches, including Dumbarton MP Douglas McAllister.
Gurpreet said the MPs’ letter was a reminder both to ministers and the family that public support for Jagtar’s release remains strong.
“Stuff like this letter makes a difference. It reminds the Government that they’re on notice. And it reminds the family that people care – not just the MPs that signed but the thousands of voters who wrote to them.
“My message to the community is that we won’t rest until Jagtar is home.”
The Foreign Secretary raised Johal’s case during recent meetings with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar.
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The Record has contacted the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development office for comment.
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