GENEVA, May 7 (Xinhua) -- Five of the eight cases reported from the cruise ship MV Hondius were confirmed as hantavirus infection, said World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus on Thursday.Tedros told a press conference that the other three are suspected cases.Tedros noted that more cases may be reported given the incubation period of the Andes virus, a hantavirus strain found in South America, but WHO assesses the public risk as low.

LAUSANNE, May 7 (Xinhua) -- The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has recommended that all restrictions be lifted for Belarusian athletes competing in international events, the organization said in a statement on Thursday.The IOC Executive Board no longer recommends any conditions on Belarusian athletes, including teams, competing in events governed by International Federations and international sports event organizers. The lifted measures include the protective restrictions first introduced in February 2022 and later updated on March 28, 2023.The IOC cited the need to navigate an increasingly complex geopolitical landscape, including a rising number of conflicts, and to uphold its mission of preserving a values-based sporting platform that provides hope to the world.The decision aligns with the Fit for the Future process, an initiative launched by IOC president Kirsty Coventry in September 2025, which reaffirmed the fundamental right of athletes to access sport and compete free from political interference.The IOC reaffirms that athletes' participation in international competition should not be limited by the actions of their governments, including involvement in a war or conflict, the IOC said in a statement.Since the 2023 recommendations were issued, athletes with Belarusian passports have competed as Individual Neutral Athletes (AINs) in numerous international events, including the Paris 2024 Olympic Games and the Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics.The IOC noted that the qualification period for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games and the Dolomiti Valtellina 2028 Winter Youth Olympic Games begins this summer.Regarding Russia, the IOC said the situation remains different. The ROC is still suspended while the IOC Legal Affairs Commission continues its review, whereas the National Olympic Committee of Belarus is in good standing and complies with the Olympic Charter.The IOC Executive Board also expressed concern over a recent media report that prompted the Wo...

Rustem Umerov, Ukraine's National Security and Defense Council secretary, will travel to the United States this week for talks with U.S. special presidential envoy Steve Witkoff, the Interfax-Ukraine news agency reported Thursday.

DAMASCUS, May 7 (Xinhua) -- Syrian authorities announced price hikes for fuel and cooking gas on Thursday, citing rising global oil prices, higher transportation costs, and ongoing regional pressures affecting the energy sector.According to the Syrian Petroleum Company, the price of diesel rose to 88 U.S. cents per liter from 75 cents; the price of 90-octane gasoline increased to 1.10 U.S. dollars per liter from 85 cents; 95-octane gasoline rose to 1.15 dollars per liter from 91 cents; the cost of a household cooking gas cylinder climbed to 12.50 dollars from 10.50 dollars. Industrial gas cylinders rose to 20 dollars from 16.80 dollars.In remarks carried by Syrian state media, the company said that the measures aim to ensure fuel supply sustainability and service continuity amid regional and international developments.Syria has faced recurring fuel shortages and energy challenges throughout years of conflict, economic crisis, and international sanctions, leaving many households and businesses struggling with rising living costs.

Turkish electric vehicle (EV) manufacturer Togg has signed a cooperation agreement with Chinese battery giant CATL to jointly develop a new platform for its upcoming B-segment EV family, according to local media reports and a CATL press release published Thursday.

Ghana's central bank governor, Johnson Asiama, has said that Africa must support home-grown digital advancement and leverage advanced technologies to create value and drive economic growth.

Botswana and Rwanda have reaffirmed their commitment to deepening relations, following the signing of six bilateral agreements on Wednesday in Gaborone, the capital of Botswana.

China is willing to work with Uzbekistan to promote the in-depth development of mutually beneficial cooperation and continuously enrich the connotation of the China-Uzbekistan community with a shared future for better benefits to the two peoples, Chinese Vice Premier Liu Guozhong said on