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GAZA: Palestinians in the Gaza Strip are set to celebrate Eid al-Adha for the third consecutive year amid what officials and residents describe as dire humanitarian conditions. In addition, widespread livestock shortages and soaring prices have also left most families unable to afford sacrificial animals, reported Qatar News Agency (QNA). The region's Ministry of Agriculture has reported that the livestock sector has been devastated by the ongoing war since October 2023, claiming the destruction of farms, veterinary facilities and food storage sites, as well as the killing of a large number of animals. According to the ministry, imports of live animals, food and veterinary medicines have dropped to "zero" due to the continued closure of crossings. Officials said Gaza previously received between 10,000 and 20,000 cows and 30,000 to 40,000 sheep each year ahead of Eid al-Adha, but this year supplies have completely declined, affecting the market. Traders and breeders say the number of remaining livestock has fallen sharply, with some traders estimating sheep availability at no more than 10 percent of pre-war levels and stressing that rising feed costs are driving many to abandon the sector. A livestock trader told the Qatar News Agency (QNA) he lost his farm and dozens of cows during the war and now only has a fraction of his previous stock, illustrating the difficulty of keeping animals safe in the face of prolonged insecurity. Prices, according to traders, have soared, with some traders reporting a sheep that previously cost around US$300 is now selling for between US$4,000 and US$5,000. Residents said the crisis meant traditional Eid celebrations could not take place. A mother of five who is homeless and living in a tent and struggling to feed her children, said the festival now brings "sadness rather than joy." Another resident said many families had not had the opportunity to see fresh meat for years, due to high prices, while others said they were now relying on limited food aid and getting by with prayer and fasting in the first days of Zulhijjah. Calls for international organizations to launch cross-border victim assistance programs intensified, as hopes continued to be pinned on an end to the conflict and relief from the blockade. -- BERNAMA-QNA

Eid al-Adha in Gaza without sacrificial animals, crisis worsens

GAZA: Palestinians in the Gaza Strip are set to celebrate Eid al-Adha for the third consecutive year amid what officials and residents describe as dire humanitarian conditions. In addition, widespread .... read more

PHNOM PENH, May 26 -- Rescue teams are still trying to rescue seven villagers from a remote village in Phonxay district, Xaysomboun province, central Laos who have been trapped in a flooded cave for almost six days. Vientiane Times reported that the victims, believed to be illegally mining gold, were trapped in the cave on May 20 after the water level began to rise. "The rescue operation is very challenging as the water level in the cave continues to rise due to continuous rain." "Lao and Thai rescue teams are working non-stop to reach trapped villagers." "However, flooding, challenging terrain and bad weather slowed down operations and forced rescuers to act with caution," said Vice Chairman of the Xaysomboun Provincial Administrative Committee, Phetsamai Phoxayavong, on Monday, according to the Vientiane Times. He is also the Head of the Regional Disaster Management Committee. Experts said the cave is believed to be over 100 metres deep, while its steep entrance posed a major challenge for rescue workers. The monsoon that is currently hitting the country has brought heavy rains and hampered rescue efforts due to still high water levels, while difficult road conditions are also complicating operations. Phetsamai said that as of 8pm Monday, preparations were underway for another rescue attempt despite facing various challenges. -- BERNAMA

Seven Laotians still trapped in cave, rescue operation continues

PHNOM PENH, May 26 — Rescue teams are still trying to rescue seven villagers from a remote village in Phonxay district, Xaysomboun province, central Laos who have been trapped in .... read more

ISTANBUL: Spain on Monday confirmed a new case of hantavirus among individuals undergoing preventive quarantine at a hospital in Madrid, Anadolu Agency reported. "The positive case was detected during periodic diagnostic checks carried out on contacts under surveillance," the country's Ministry of Health said in a post on social media platform X. It is the second positive case among 14 Spanish nationals evacuated to Tenerife from the luxury cruise ship MV Hondius. The ship was carrying about 150 passengers and crew from 23 countries. On May 11, the Spanish Health Minister announced that a Spanish passenger on the MV Hondius cruise ship had tested positive for hantavirus shortly after authorities completed the ship's evacuation operation. Authorities on Monday said the individual had been under clinical monitoring and isolation since being admitted to hospital, "in accordance with the protocols set by the Early Warning and Rapid Response System." Following confirmation via PCR testing, the patient was transferred to the High-Level Isolation Unit at Gomez Ulla Hospital, and will continue to be under specialized medical monitoring and strict biosecurity measures. "The patient will continue to be admitted to the hospital under special medical monitoring and biosecurity measures provided for such cases," the ministry said. Health authorities stressed that the detection was made within a control system that had already been activated. "Case detection occurred within the isolation and control system that has been activated, therefore it does not change the risk situation for the general population," the ministry said. -- BERNAMA-ANADOLU

New cases of hantavirus among individuals quarantined at Madrid hospital

ISTANBUL: Spain on Monday confirmed a new case of hantavirus among individuals undergoing preventive quarantine at a hospital in Madrid, Anadolu Agency reported. “The positive case was detected during periodic .... read more

ISTANBUL: Lebanese President Joseph Aoun said on Monday that efforts to ensure Israel's full withdrawal from Lebanese territory remain a national priority, Anadolu Agency (AA) reported, citing state media. "The path towards a full Israeli withdrawal remains a firm national demand, which the Lebanese state is working to achieve through negotiations," Aoun said in a statement carried by the Lebanese government's National News Agency (NNA). The statement was made as Lebanon commemorated Resistance and Liberation Day, commemorating Israel's withdrawal from southern Lebanon in 2000 after 22 years of occupation. Aoun said negotiations with Israel "are not a form of concession or surrender", but rather reflect Lebanon's efforts to assert its sovereign right to protect its territory through the country's military and security institutions. Beirut and Tel Aviv have held three rounds of direct negotiations mediated by the United States since mid-April in an effort to establish a lasting peace settlement. Although the ceasefire came into effect on April 17 and was later extended until early July, Israeli military operations are still ongoing in southern Lebanon. According to Lebanese officials, more than 3,100 people have been killed, more than 9,500 injured and about 1.6 million displaced by Israeli attacks in Lebanon since March 2, as the conflict continues involving Israel and Hezbollah. -- BERNAMA-ANADOLU

Full Israeli withdrawal remains national priority – Lebanese President

ISTANBUL: Lebanese President Joseph Aoun said on Monday that efforts to ensure Israel’s full withdrawal from Lebanese territory remain a national priority, Anadolu Agency (AA) reported, citing state media. “The .... read more

RIYADH -- Saudi Post (SPL) in collaboration with the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah has issued commemorative stamps and postcards in conjunction with the 1447H Hajj season, reflecting the importance of postage stamps in highlighting various events including the Hajj pilgrimage. The stamp and postcard are worth 3 Saudi riyals and 5 Saudi riyals respectively, reported the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) . The production aims to document Saudi Arabia's efforts in serving pilgrims, as well as highlighting the continuous development of services and solutions provided throughout the pilgrimage season. The initiative also reflects Saudi Arabia's leading role in managing the public and serving pilgrims in line with the highest operational and humanitarian standards. -- BERNAMA-SPA

Saudi Post issues stamps, commemorative postcards in conjunction with Hajj 1447H

RIYADH — Saudi Post (SPL) in collaboration with the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah has issued commemorative stamps and postcards in conjunction with the 1447H Hajj season, reflecting the importance .... read more

ISTANBUL -- Omani and Iranian officials held discussions on the principles governing freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz in line with international law, Anadolu Agency (AA) reported , citing the Omani Foreign Ministry on Sunday. The discussions took place during a meeting in Muscat between Omani Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi and Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister for Legal and International Affairs Kazem Gharibabadi, who is visiting the sultanate with a diplomatic and legal delegation. According to the ministry's statement, the meeting was held after Gharibabadi delivered a message from Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi regarding regional developments and the ongoing Iran-United States (US) negotiations mediated by Pakistan. The ministry said "following the meeting, an expanded session was held between the Omani and Iranian delegations to discuss a set of principles governing freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz in accordance with the rules of international law." The delegations from both countries also "exchanged views and ideas on recent developments and the need to build and develop capabilities" to ensure "the safety of ship movements, trade and supply chains," according to the statement. The statement also said the two sides discussed efforts to restore "freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz in a safe and sustainable manner." The Tasnim news agency reported on Sunday that a potential memorandum of understanding between Iran and the US includes an end to war on all fronts. including the Israeli attack on Lebanon, as well as Washington's commitment to lift sanctions on Iranian oil during the negotiations. If an agreement is reached, the Strait of Hormuz will not completely return to its pre-war status, but rather the number of ships allowed to pass through it will be restored to pre-war levels within 30 days, Tasnim reported . The report also mentioned that Iran is emphasizing the enforcement of its sovereign rights over the Strait of Hormuz through various methods, the details of which will be announced later. US President Donald Trump on Saturday said a deal with Iran to end the war was "largely negotiated" and awaiting finalization. The development comes after Pakistani army chief Asim Munir's visit to Tehran, which was his second in recent weeks. A ceasefire in the war, which began on Feb 28, was first brokered by Pakistan on April 8. -- BERNAMA-ANADOLU

Oman, Iran discuss principles of freedom of navigation in Strait of Hormuz in accordance with international law

ISTANBUL — Omani and Iranian officials held discussions on the principles governing freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz in line with international law, Anadolu Agency (AA) reported , .... read more

ISTANBUL, May 24 -- The Defence Ministry (Mindef) is evaluating offers from several countries to find the best solution to replace the naval strike missile (NSM) system whose delivery was cancelled by a Norwegian defence company. Defence Minister Mohamed Khaled Nordin said meetings were also held with several parties during his visit to Türkiye to obtain suitable proposals for consideration by the Royal Malaysian Navy. “So far there are three to four countries (that have submitted offers)... countries that we are confident and believe are sincere and want to help us. “We are holding meetings, especially with the navy, to provide solutions and the navy will certainly conduct evaluations of these four offers before they are brought to the government,” he told Bernama in conjunction with the naming and launch of the first Littoral Mission Ship Batch 2 (LMSB2) vessel, Tunku Laksamana Abdul Jalil, which was officiated by Her Majesty, Raja Zarith Sofiah, Queen of Malaysia at the Istanbul shipyard. Key matters being assessed include whether replacing the missile system would require major modifications to the structure of the ships that have already been built, he added. “In our considerations, first is our confidence and trust in the offers from certain countries. Second is whether major modifications need to be made to the completed ships, third is the issue of cost and fourth is delivery,” adding that the matter would take a considerable time as it was all interconnected. On follow-up action against Norway, Mohamed Khaled said he had yet to receive any latest developments after a notice of demand was sent to the manufacturer there, adding that he would meet his Norwegian counterpart during the Shangri-La Dialogue 2026 in Singapore at the end of this month. “We have informed them that we want to meet the Norwegian Defence Minister. Whether it is beneficial or not, that is fine. At the very least, I can meet him and inform him that we are unhappy with their actions,” he said. Norway’s Foreign Affairs Ministry was reported to have withdrawn several export licences related to certain technologies as part of efforts to tighten the country’s export controls, which affected the NSM procurement agreement between the RMN and KDA that was signed in April 2018 with a contract value of 124 million euros (RM571.9 million) to equip six new Littoral Combat Ships. The missile is capable of carrying out long-range maritime strikes at high subsonic speed with a range exceeding 300 kilometres. -- BERNAMA

Mindef Studying Other Offers To Settle Anti-ship Missile Issue – Mohamed Khaled

ISTANBUL, May 24 — The Defence Ministry (Mindef) is evaluating offers from several countries to find the best solution to replace the naval strike missile (NSM) system whose delivery was .... read more

WASHINGTON, May 23 -- President Donald Trump appeared to signpost Friday that a conclusion to the US-Israeli war against Iran is on the horizon, Anadolu Ajans reported. "We have stopped them. They're not going to ever have a nuclear weapon. They're never going to have a nuclear weapon. And we'll have that over with soon. It'll be over with soon," the US president told his supporters in the state of New York. "You're going to see numbers like you've never seen, both on the upside and also in terms of cost; you're going to see cars go down," he added. Earlier Friday, Iran's semi-official news agency reported that a Qatari delegation is negotiating with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi in Tehran in a bid to end the war amid Pakistani mediation. The report came after Pakistan’s army chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, arrived in Tehran as part of Islamabad's ongoing mediation efforts to end the war. It is the second such trip to Tehran by Munir. Pakistan's Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi has been in Tehran for the past two days as part of indirect talks between the US and Iran. The flurry of diplomatic activity comes as reports suggest negotiators are closing gaps on an agreement to end the war. Mediation to draw hostilities to a close began when Pakistan secured a ceasefire on April 8, halting the war and later hosting the highest-level talks between the US and Iran since 1979 on April 11-12. Islamabad has intensified its mediation process to secure a second round of direct talks between the two sides. -- BERNAM

Trump Says US-Israeli War On Iran Will ‘Be Over With Soon’

WASHINGTON, May 23 — President Donald Trump appeared to signpost Friday that a conclusion to the US-Israeli war against Iran is on the horizon, Anadolu Ajans reported. “We have stopped .... read more

SEOUL, May 22 -- South Korea is planning to supply some 90,000 rental housing units for young people in the greater Seoul area by 2027, as part of broader efforts to stabilise the housing market and improve living conditions for youths, Yonhap News Agency reported. According to its Finance Minister Koo Yun Cheol, the government is seeking various ways to expand non-apartment housing, which is one of the key pillars of the public housing supply programme. “We plan to supply 90,000 rental units in Seoul and surrounding areas for the next two years, and 66,000 of them will be located in regulated zones,” Koo said during a meeting of ministers related to real estate policy. Koo said non-apartment housing, such as multifamily homes and compact studio units, can be supplied relatively quickly, helping ease housing difficulties faced by young people at a faster pace. The government will also adopt modular housing and other construction methods to shorten construction periods and reduce financial burdens on developers, encouraging earlier project launches, he added. During the meeting, officials also reviewed housing market trends and response measures and discussed plans to crack down on illegal real estate activities. --BERNAMA

South Korea To Supply 90,000 Rental Homes In Greater Seoul Area For Youths By 2027

SEOUL, May 22 — South Korea is planning to supply some 90,000 rental housing units for young people in the greater Seoul area by 2027, as part of broader efforts .... read more

WASHINGTON, May 21 -- United States (US) President Donald Trump said Wednesday that he will not sign off on any effort to ease sanctions on Iran until a deal to permanently end the war on Tehran is finalised, Anadolu Ajansi (AA) reported. “I'm not doing any relief until they sign an agreement. When they sign an agreement, we can get that place built up again and have something that's really a good country for the people, but no, we haven't offered anything,” he told reporters at Joint Base Andrews. Trump earlier on Wednesday said negotiations are in their ‘final stages” but insisted he is “in no hurry” to complete them. “I just wonder whether or not they have the good of the people, because some of the things they're doing, to me, mean they don't have the good of the people, and they have to have the good of the people. There's a lot of anger now in Iran, because people are living so badly,” he said. Earlier Wednesday, Pakistan’s Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi arrived in Tehran for his second visit to Iran in less than a week, Iranian state broadcaster IRIB reported. After his arrival, Naqvi met with his Iranian counterpart Eskandar Momeni at the Interior Ministry. Pakistan has played a key role in mediating efforts to end the US-Israeli war on Iran. Regional tensions boiled over Feb 28 when the US and Israel launched surprise attacks on Iran, prompting Iran to retaliate with barrages of drones and missiles that hit targets across the region as Tehran shuttered the Strait of Hormuz. A ceasefire took effect on April 8 through Pakistani mediation, but talks in Islamabad failed to produce a lasting agreement. Trump later extended the truce indefinitely while maintaining a blockade on vessels traveling to or from Iranian ports through the strategic waterway. -- BERNAMA

Trump Says He Will Not Provide Sanctions Relief For Iran Until Deal Complete

WASHINGTON, May 21 — United States (US) President Donald Trump said Wednesday that he will not sign off on any effort to ease sanctions on Iran until a deal to .... read more

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