KINSHASA, Congo (AP) — At least 131 deaths and over 500 suspected cases have been reported in the ongoing Ebola outbreak in eastern Congo, the Congolese health ministry said Tuesday as details emerged about the government's delayed response.

Samuel Roger Kamba, the minister of public health, said: "513 suspected cases and 131 deaths have been recorded in the affected areas."

"These are suspected deaths, and investigations are underway to determine which ones are actually linked to the disease."

The WHO on Sunday declared the Ebola outbreak a public health emergency of international concern.

Health authorities say the current outbreak, first confirmed on Friday, is caused by the Bundibugyo virus, a rare variant of the Ebola disease that has no approved therapeutics or vaccines. Although more than 20 Ebola outbreaks have taken place in Congo and Uganda, this is only the third time that the Bundibugyo virus has been detected.

A health official uses a thermometer to screen people in front of Kibuli Muslim Hospital in Kampala, Uganda, Saturday, May 16, 2026. (AP Photo/ Hajarah Nalwadda)

Cases have now been confirmed in Bunia, North Kivu's rebel-held capital of Goma, Mongbwalu, Butembo, and Nyakunde.

The World Health Organization's director-general, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, said in Geneva on Tuesday that he is "deeply concerned about the scale and speed of the epidemic" and the U.N. health agency will convene its emergency committee Tuesday to advise on recommendations.

GÖRLITZ, Germany (AP) — Rescue teams in eastern Germany searched Tuesday morning for three people who were missing after a building collapsed in the eastern city of Görlitz near the Polish border.

Police said a gas explosion may have been the cause for the collapse of the building, which took place Monday night.

Emergency responders proceeded with great caution at the scene in case of gas leaks, German news agency dpa reported.

After unsuccessful attempts to locate the missing under the rubble with the help of search dogs, rescuers began clearing debris with an excavator and by hand around 2 a.m. Tuesday.

Emergency services from the Federal Agency for Technical Relief (THW) use their bare hands to remove the mountain of rubble from the collapsed residential building in the city center of Goerlitz, Germany, Tuesday, May 19, 2026. (Paul Glaser/dpa via AP)

Initial concerns that up to five people may have been buried under rubble turned out to be wrong, police said.

A man who feared his wife and cousin might be trapped under the rubble said Monday they had arrived that day for a vacation in the rented house. While shopping at nearby supermarket, he heard an explosion and returned to the house to find nothing but a large pile of rubble, dpa reported.

The collapsed building in the historic Wilhelminian style contained rental and vacation apartments, police said.

Görlitz is Germany's easternmost city with a population of 57,000. The historic, undamaged old town district is a popular location for international film productions.

At 5:30 p.m. on May 19, 2025, at the Police Hospital's Institute of Forensic Medicine, the family of Vipharak Phaephuri, known as 'Rose,' arrived to collect her body and return it to her birthplace in Udon Thani Province. Viephada Chantham, Rose's adoptive mother, broke down in tears as she touched the coffin and told her daughter, 'Mom will bring you home.'

Viephada, 59, arrived with Rose's biological mother to personally claim her daughter's body. An uncle whom Rose called 'Father,' who had lived with her throughout her life, also came to receive the body. Viephada said she was heartbroken and devastated by what happened. She touched the coffin and told Rose that she, the father figure, and Lakana would bring her home because they had found her and confirmed it was definitely Rose. Regardless of her circumstances, they would bring her home because Rose had only earned merit to this point. Viephada hoped Rose would become an angel in heaven.

Regarding accountability from relevant agencies, Viephada stated she could not comment much at this time as she did not yet know all the facts about how the incident occurred. Later, the Ruam Katanyu Foundation will take Rose's family to invoke her spirit at the accident scene before conducting religious rites at Suan Savanh Temple in Phibul District, Ubon Ratchathani Province.

Every minute on the road holds value, especially for riders since it represents an opportunity to earn income. Yet some riders choose to sacrifice their earning time to help people in distress without expecting gratitude or compensation.

These riders call themselves GrabRanger, a volunteer rider group dedicated to supporting each other within the driver community and assisting other road users they encounter. Despite different life circumstances, they share one common quality: public-mindedness and readiness to help. This fulfills their days and spreads positive energy in society as "heroes of the road."

GrabRanger's origins trace back to the direct experience of Cherdchai Panuavongse, or "P'Cherd," a 58-year-old rider and co-founder who once faced a problem alone on the road.

"My fuel ran out in the middle of the road, and I had to push my motorcycle alone on a long stretch. Hundreds of cars passed by, just driving past without helping. I felt so discouraged. But then one person stopped and helped me push the motorcycle to a nearby gas station. I felt deeply moved in that moment. It completely changed my perspective and made me determined that if I had the chance, I would never let anyone face the same problem again. From that day on, whenever I encounter someone struggling on the road, I help immediately without hesitation."

From that day forward, P'Cherd dedicated himself to serving society by balancing his courier work with volunteer riding. He eventually met other riders with similar values, and their small-scale efforts gradually expanded into a stronger collective. Last year (2568), they officially formed the GrabRanger group.

Today, GrabRanger has become a network with members spread throughout Bangkok and surrounding areas. They use social media as a communication channel to receive incident reports and coordinate responses, enabling the nearest riders to provide quick assistance. The platform also serves as a space to share content and inspire others to embrace volunteerism and help society.

For GrabRanger, assistance isn't limited to riders alone but extends to anyone on the road they encounter and can help, since emergencies can happen to anyone. Anukul Kachayut, or "P'Somdouy," an energetic 30-year-old new-generation rider and key team member, describes his role:

"I'm one of the admin team members handling coordination, from receiving incident reports to notifying nearby responders. I've personally gone to many scenes to help. We assist everyone we encounter, not just riders. The issues we frequently deal with include empty fuel tanks, tire leaks, flat tires, dead batteries, and collision accidents—we handle all of them.

We've completed many cases comprehensively. Once, a rider got hit by a car and was alone with no friends or family. What started as helping at the accident scene ended with us taking him to the hospital and volunteering to file a report at the police station, then delivering his documents to the hospital. This way, the injured person didn't have to worry about multiple things at once.

Sometimes we share fuel with people who run out in the middle of the road, or help someone whose vehicle breaks down during heavy rain late at night. Some cars can't go anywhere and are stuck in the rain with small children. We help them get home safely.

It might seem like small things, but it's incredibly important to people facing those problems at that moment. I often receive messages of gratitude."

Thai Oil Public Company Limited has issued a statement clarifying its fuel allocation and transportation operations during the Middle East conflict crisis, following government investigations into severe fuel shortages at some service stations. The company affirmed its full cooperation with state authorities and pledged to provide complete disclosure of information, documents, and details to support the investigation process. Thai Oil stated that its refinery operates under strict control, monitoring, and documentation systems for production, storage, and fuel delivery in accordance with international standards, while emphasizing its commitment to transparent, prudent business practices and good governance principles. During the energy crisis triggered by Middle East tensions, the company confirmed that its refinery continues to operate and supply fuel consistently to meet the country's energy demands and maintain energy stability for Thai citizens and the economy. The company highlighted its awareness of its crucial role in strengthening national energy security and has closely managed production and distribution during the crisis period. Thai Oil expressed readiness to continue cooperating with the Energy Ministry, Department of Special Investigation, National Police Office, and related agencies, confident that government investigations will be conducted fairly based on facts and in the nation's best interest. This clarification comes amid public concerns about domestic fuel stability as Middle East tensions continue to impact global energy prices and supply chains. Thai Oil operates as a complex petroleum refinery and ranks among the most efficient refineries in the Asia-Pacific region, established in 1961 with a production capacity of 275,000 barrels per day. The company maintains operational management systems focused on operational excellence, coordinating integrated business operations including petroleum refining, petrochemicals, and base lubricant oil businesses, achieving high efficiency and low-cost production with quality standards matching the top quartile in the Asia-Pacific region.

InterMedical Care and Lab (IMH) is advancing its medical tourism business strategy with plans to open "IMH SILOM International Hospital," a large specialty hospital and cancer center in the Silom-Sathorn business district designed to accommodate foreign patients, especially those from Russia, with a revenue target of 1.5 billion baht by 2027.

On May 19, 2025, Sittiwat Kamkadwong, CEO of IMH Public Company Limited, announced that the company's board of directors has approved investment in the new hospital. "IMH SILOM International Hospital" will be a large specialty hospital serving international patients with a dedicated cancer center, located in the heart of the CBD (Central Business District). The company has signed a 30-year lease for the Piyamit Building, a seven-story structure with two basement levels, totaling over 6,230 square meters of usable space. The hospital is expected to open fully in early 2027 and generate average annual revenue of 480 million baht.

IMH SILOM International Hospital aligns with the company's strategic plan to establish itself as a healthcare leader serving foreign patients, particularly from BRICS emerging market nations including Russia, China, India, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates.

"In early May, IMH Silom officially opened the IMH Phuket Representative Office at the BRICS Phuket office as part of our collaboration with BRICS THAILAND as their Official Healthcare Partner," said Sittiwat. "We aim to become the leading provider for Russian medical tourists in Thailand."

Beyond having highly experienced physicians and modern medical equipment, IMH benefits from its prime Silom-Sathorn location near Chao Phraya River attractions, close to Shangri-La and Mandarin Oriental hotels, and adjacent to ICONSIAM, the major Asian shopping destination. These factors will attract Russian patients to use the hospital's services continuously.

Regarding Q1 2025 performance, Sittiwat reported that the company returned to profitability with 28.3 million baht in net earnings, attributed to strategic reorganization targeting foreign patients seeking medical treatment and healthcare services in Thailand (medical tourism).

Additionally, the board approved the distribution of IMH-W2 warrants to existing shareholders at a ratio of 2 old shares to 1 warrant unit, with an exercise price of 6 baht. The record date and warrant issuance will be set after IMH-W1 expires on June 30, 2025.