Rescuers race to save two people still trapped in cave in Laos
Rescuers face heavy rains, equipment failures in search for two people trapped in central Laos cave by flash floods. By AFP and AP Published On 31 May 202631 May 2026 Heavy rains have threatened to delay the search for two people who remain missing in a flooded cave in Laos, after five others were rescued after being trapped underground for more than a week. Finnish diver Mikko Paasi, one of the first international rescuers to arrive at the site, told The Associated Press news agency that rains on Sunday had filled the cave up to the second chamber, preventing divers from entering until pumps can lower the water level. Recommended Stories list of 3 itemsend of list A drainage pump also broke, making the situation even more difficult, said fellow diver Yoshitaka Isaji of Japan. Rescue teams from Laos and neighbouring Thailand have been working together over the past week to rescue the trapped villagers, alongside divers from countries including Finland, Malaysia, Japan, Indonesia, France and Australia. Seven people entered the cave in a remote mountainous area of central Xaysomboun province last week to look for valuable minerals such as gold, before being trapped by a flash flood that blocked their way out, according to local media reports. One other person escaped and alerted the authorities. A Laotian rescue group said on Sunday it had received “substantial” information on the cave system from the five men who were rescued earlier this week. “The hope is that today’s mission will locate both remaining victims,” the group wrote on social media. The rescued men were being treated at a local hospital and were doing well, Malaysian diver Lee Kian Lie, who is taking part in the operation, told AP. Advertisement “We interviewed them about how the deeper part of the cave looks like. We will continue to search based on the information we have, and perhaps we will be able to get to the other two,” he said. Rescuers said they navigated more than 200m (650 feet) into the cave and discovered five chambers in the system. The five people rescued so far were found in the fifth chamber. Paasi, the Finnish diver, told AP that the survivors reported a narrow crack in the fifth chamber that could be a passage leading to a deeper part of the cave system. “This was the only place that we haven’t checked in the mine, where the two lost miners could still be,” he said in a video interview. The five men who were rescued – identified by their first names as Khamla, Mued, Ee, Ing and Laen – were first found last Wednesday. The first man was safely extracted on Friday, guided through a narrow flooded passage by an expert diver. The remaining four left the cave on Saturday, after the water receded enough for them to walk out on their own, rescuers said. Videos posted online on Saturday showed emotional moments as the men emerged one by one from the cave. Some collapsed on the ground at the cave’s entrance, and were hugged by a group of workers who cried with joy. Later moments showed them lying on stretchers, wrapped in foil blankets and fitted with oxygen masks before being transported out. Adblock test (Why?)
Germany World Cup 2026 team preview: Players to watch, group and squad list
Previous World Cup appearances: 20Best performance: Winners (1954, 1974, 1990, 2014)First appearance: 1934 (Italy)Top goal scorer: Miroslav Klose (16)Most appearances: Lothar Matthaus (25)Player to watch: Florian WirtzFIFA world ranking: 8 Germany are desperate for a successful World Cup after two spectacular failures – they were knocked out in the group stages in 2018 and 2022. Recommended Stories list of 4 itemsend of list They certainly look improved under coach Julian Nagelsmann. Germany eased through their World Cup qualification group with five wins from six matches. The squad blends the youthful brilliance of Jamal Musiala and Florian Wirtz with the experience of Joshua Kimmich, Antonio Rudiger and veteran goalkeeper Manuel Neuer, who surprised many by coming out of international retirement for the tournament. However, whether the team as a whole is talented enough to pose a serious threat to the favourites and whether all the pieces really fit together under the pressure of a tournament remain to be seen. Group stage hoodoo Gary Lineker famously said: “Football is a simple game: 22 men chase a ball for 90 minutes, and at the end, the Germans always win.” So the failures of the last two tournaments were almost unthinkable for the four-time winners. In 2018, they crashed out after losing to South Korea. In 2022, they were defeated by Japan en route to being eliminated on goal difference. Nagelsmann took over in September 2023 and has restored some national pride. Germany looked decent as the host nation at Euro 2024 and were perhaps unlucky to lose to Spain in the quarterfinals. The mood around the squad seems optimistic, and they will expect to go deep in the tournament. Gifted young attackers At the heart of Germany’s ambitions are gifted young attackers in Musiala, Wirtz and Lennart Karl. Advertisement Musiala, 23, was the standout performer at Euro 2024 and gives the team an individual spark of genius. However, he suffered a horrific injury in Bayern Munich’s FIFA Club World Cup quarterfinal defeat to Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) in July, breaking his leg and dislocating an ankle in a collision with then-PSG goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma. He has suffered injury setbacks during his recovery and has not played as much as expected in recent weeks, mostly from the bench. Germany will be hoping he can get back to full fitness and form before the monthlong tournament, which begins on June 11. Wirtz, meanwhile, has endured a difficult season after his big money move to Liverpool. After failing to register a goal or an assist in the first few months of the season, he seems to have found his feet in the rough and tumble of the Premier League and is looking increasingly like his old self. He offers Germany versatility across the front line, and wherever he plays, Wirtz is capable of unpicking any defence. Florian Wirtz in action for Germany against Ghana in March 2026 [File: Kai Pfaffenbach/Reuters] Karl is another exciting prospect. The 18-year-old Bayern attacker, who can play on the wings or centrally, burst onto the scene this year. He became Bayern’s youngest scorer in the UEFA Champions League and third youngest in the Bundesliga after scoring against Club Brugge and Borussia Monchengladbach. He has even earned himself comparisons to Lionel Messi for his dribbling and low centre of gravity. Neuer’s shock return The 40-year-old goalkeeper was a surprise inclusion in Nagelsmann’s 26-man World Cup squad. Neuer retired from international play after Euro 2024, but the Bayern keeper is now set to make his fifth World Cup appearance with Nagelsmann saying he is the first choice ahead of Oliver Baumann and Alexander Nubel. “Everyone knows the aura and quality Manu has, what he brings to a team,” Nagelsmann said as he announced the squad. “He has an impact on his own team, on the opposition and can create special moments.” Kimmich remains as captain despite the return of Neuer, who was Germany’s longtime skipper. Manuel Neuer, left, makes a save against Real Madrid’s Kylian Mbappe in the Champions League quarterfinal first leg in April 2026 [File: AFP] Nagging questions for Nagelsmann Several players look nailed on to start – think Leon Goretzka alongside Aleksandar Pavlovic as a double pivot in midfield and Kimmich at right back. But other positions are less settled, not least up front, where Germany lack a world-class out-and-out striker. Advertisement Niclas Fullkrug is a traditional number nine but did not make the cut after a terrible season in front of goal for AC Milan, netting just once in Serie A. Newcastle’s Nick Woltemade did make the squad despite a mixed season for his club and has looked better playing as a deeper lying forward. Kai Havertz can be used as a false nine, but it is not his most natural position. However, the Arsenal star is likely to get the nod in the absence of better alternatives. Despite the squad’s limitations, Nagelsmann remains ambitious. “I have repeatedly said we want to become world champions,” Nagelsmann said when he unveiled the squad. How does their group look? No disrespect to the other teams, but Germany will likely have breathed a sigh of relief when the draw for Group E was made. On paper, they will expect to progress comfortably. They open their campaign on June 14 against Curacao, the smallest nation ever to reach a World Cup. Their second game on June 20 against Ivory Coast should provide a stiffer test as the Ivorians, who are returning to the World Cup for the first time in 12 years, are a dangerous side and boast the likes of Amad Diallo. The final group game is on June 25 against Ecuador, who finished second in qualifying ahead of Brazil, Colombia and Uruguay. They are a disciplined, well drilled side who conceded just five goals in 18 qualifiers and could be hard for Germany to break down. Nevertheless, Germany will fully expect to be in the knockout stages in a World Cup for the first time since 2014 when they went on
Juan Manuel Santos on Colombia’s peace process, 10 years on
Ten years after Colombia’s landmark peace agreement, former president Juan Manuel Santos assesses its legacy. The Nobel Peace Prize laureate discusses renewed violence, political divisions and what Colombia’s experience can teach a world facing growing conflict. Published On 31 May 202631 May 2026 Click here to share on social media share-nodes Share googleAdd Al Jazeera on Googleinfo Adblock test (Why?)
Iran war live: Lebanon slams Israel’s invasion; US-Tehran deal in limbo
blinking-dotLive updatesLive updates, Lebanese prime minister describes Israel’s attacks as collective punishment as US warns Iran of strikes if no deal is reached. Published On 31 May 202631 May 2026 Click here to share on social media share-nodes Share googleAdd Al Jazeera on Googleinfo Adblock test (Why?)
Emotional scenes as more survivors pulled from flooded Laos cave
NewsFeed Divers in Laos have rescued four more villagers trapped in a flooded cave. The first survivor was pulled out on Friday. Two more men remain missing. They entered the cave to look for gold before flash floods blocked their escape 10 days ago. Published On 31 May 202631 May 2026 Click here to share on social media share-nodes Share googleAdd Al Jazeera on Googleinfo Adblock test (Why?)
Rescues in eastern Syria after the Euphrates River bursts its banks
NewsFeed Rescue workers have pulled stranded farmers from flood waters in eastern Syria after the Euphrates burst its banks. Among the worst-affected areas was Deir Az Zor, where the flooding caused a bridge collapse and cut-off communities. Published On 31 May 202631 May 2026 Click here to share on social media share-nodes Share googleAdd Al Jazeera on Googleinfo Adblock test (Why?)
Iran war live: Trump due to make ‘final determination’ on deal with Tehran
blinking-dotLive updatesLive updates, Israel pushes deeper into Lebanon just days after Israel’s prime minister ordered the occupation of Gaza to expand to 70 percent of the Palestinian territory. Published On 30 May 202630 May 2026 Click here to share on social media share-nodes Share googleAdd Al Jazeera on Googleinfo Adblock test (Why?)
First survivor rescued from flooded cave in Laos
NewsFeed Divers in Laos have rescued the first of five villagers trapped in a flooded cave for more than a week. The men entered the cave to look for gold before flash floods blocked their escape. Two other villagers are still missing. Published On 30 May 202630 May 2026 Click here to share on social media share-nodes Share googleAdd Al Jazeera on Googleinfo Adblock test (Why?)
Louisiana lawmakers pass congressional map favouring Republicans
Louisiana lawmakers have passed a new map of congressional districts designed to help Republicans pick up a seat in the United States House of Representatives. But to do so, the map eliminates one of the state’s two majority-Black districts, both of which are represented by Democrats. Recommended Stories list of 3 itemsend of list Approval in Louisiana’s legislature came on Friday. It follows an April decision from the US Supreme Court striking down Louisiana’s current map as an illegal racial gerrymander because it was drawn to include two majority-Black districts. That ruling, in the case Louisiana v Callais, weakened the landmark 1965 federal Voting Rights Act, meant to prevent discrimination against minorities at the ballot box. It also intensified a national redistricting battle fuelled by President Donald Trump’s efforts to protect the Republicans’ slim House majority in the midterm elections. Louisiana is one of several Southern states now redrawing their maps to help Republicans. Louisiana Republicans had considered drawing a map giving the party a shot at winning all six of the state’s US House seats. But that would have required adding more registered Democrats to Republican-held districts, which could have potentially backfired with Republican losses. Republicans currently hold four of Louisiana’s six congressional seats, and they are slated to pick up a fifth with the newly passed map. It was approved on Friday by the Louisiana state Senate in a 28-to-10 vote. ‘Vicious race to the bottom’ Republican Governor Jeff Landry is expected to sign the new map into law, even as threats of more litigation emerged Friday. Advertisement A half-hour Senate floor debate revolved around Democrats contending that the proposed map is racially gerrymandered to squeeze more Black voters, who tend to be registered Democrats, into a single district. Democratic state Senator Royce Duplessis pointed out that some fellow Southern states, such as South Carolina, had refused to redraw their maps in the middle of an election year. He warned that Louisiana is participating in a “vicious, vicious race to the bottom” by participating in the redistricting push. The bill’s sponsor, Republican state Senator Jay Morris, repeatedly insisted that party affiliation, not race, drove the new district boundaries. “I purposely put more Democrats into District 2 to make the remaining districts better performing for Republicans,” Morris said at one point. Morris said he instructed the map demographers to avoid including any data on race or including those statistics in information shared with lawmakers before the vote. Democratic state Senator Sam Jenkins told Morris, “I think it’s a racially gerrymandered district that’s going to get us into a lot of trouble here.” “Agree to disagree,” Morris told Jenkins. More litigation expected in Louisiana Louisiana is currently using a map ordered by a lower court in 2024 to comply with the Voting Rights Act. It includes a second district with a majority-Black population. That map, however, was challenged in court, and the Supreme Court responded on April 30 by striking it down as an illegal racial gerrymander. Landry has postponed the state’s closed US House primary slated for May 16 to allow for the new congressional map to be implemented. He later signed a law making the US primary open and shifted the date to November 3 to allow time for Republican lawmakers to draw and pass a new map. All candidates, regardless of party affiliation, will be on the ballot for voters in their district. The proposed map redraws a district currently represented by Democratic Representative Cleo Fields, clustering it around predominantly white communities in the Baton Rouge area and southern Louisiana. It also adds part of Baton Rouge to a heavily Democratic, majority-Black district based in New Orleans, represented by Democratic Representative Troy Carter. More lawsuits are expected over the new map. Democrats say the proposed map could draw a legal challenge over racial gerrymandering, and the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Louisiana suggested Friday that it could sue, calling the map a “racial gerrymander hiding behind the thin veneer of partisanship”. Advertisement “This fight is just beginning,” the ACLU branch added. Meanwhile, the victorious plaintiffs in the US Supreme Court’s decision criticised the legislature’s map for leaving a majority-Black district in place. Nationwide battle over district lines In the weeks following the Supreme Court’s decision, other Republican-controlled Southern states have seized upon the weakened federal Voting Rights Act to redraw their own congressional districts. So far, Republicans are winning the nationwide redistricting contest, passing more partisan maps to gain House seats than Democrats. But that doesn’t necessarily mean they will win in the narrowly divided US House in November. Republicans think they could gain as many as 15 seats from their redistricting efforts so far, while Democrats think they could gain six seats from new districts in California and Utah. Meanwhile, a court decision in Wisconsin on Friday could give Democrats a new avenue to pick up seats in 2028. The liberal-controlled Wisconsin Supreme Court said it would hear an appeal of a case filed by a bipartisan coalition of business executives that seeks to redraw the state’s Republican-friendly congressional districts. Republicans hold six of the state’s eight House seats, but only two are considered competitive. A three-judge panel dismissed the case in April. Those who filed the lawsuit weren’t seeking a ruling in time for the 2026 election. Instead, they asked the state Supreme Court to send the case back to the lower court for a trial on their claims, which would likely not take place until 2027. Adblock test (Why?)
How Indian PM Modi’s efforts to isolate Pakistan ‘backfired’
Doha, Qatar – Thumping his fist on a lectern, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi issued a direct challenge to the leaders of Pakistan. “India has been successful in isolating you, and we will intensify those efforts,” he said, addressing a large rally of supporters in the southern Indian state of Kerala, as dusk set in. “We will make sure that you are isolated around the world.” Recommended Stories list of 4 itemsend of list It was September 2016, and Modi was responding to an attack by armed fighters in Indian-administered Kashmir days earlier, in which 18 Indian soldiers had been killed. “The leaders of Pakistan should listen: The sacrifice of our 18 soldiers will not go in vain,” the Indian leader said. Yet a decade later, Pakistan stands far from isolated: It is a close strategic ally of China, where the Pakistani prime minister, Shehbaz Sharif, visited this week, and has reemerged as a trusted partner of the United States under President Donald Trump. Pakistan’s army chief Asim Munir and Sharif have both visited Trump at the White House over the past year. Islamabad is the principal mediator between the US and Iran amid their ongoing war. Trump has also frequently praised the Pakistani leadership. In part, say analysts, that’s a reflection of Pakistan’s success in wooing Trump, and in capitalising on key geopolitical events to make itself an important diplomatic player for superpowers and regional players alike. But equally, say analysts, Pakistan’s growing diplomatic stature underscores missteps by Modi’s administration. Advertisement “Certainly, India’s strategy of undercutting and indeed isolating Pakistan, regionally and globally, has backfired in a big way,” Michael Kugelman, a senior fellow on South Asia at the Atlantic Council think tank, told Al Jazeera. Rubble of buildings in Muridke, Pakistan, hit by Indian missiles in May 2025 [Abid Hussain/Al Jazeera] The ceasefire and the Nobel nomination On May 10, 2025, Trump announced that he had secured a ceasefire between nuclear-armed India and Pakistan. “After a long night of talks mediated by the United States, I am pleased to announce that India and Pakistan have agreed to a FULL AND IMMEDIATE CEASEFIRE,” he posted on his Truth Social platform. Shortly after, Sharif, the Pakistani PM, thanked Trump’s “leadership and proactive role” in securing the truce that ended four days of intense fighting involving ballistic missiles, fighter jets and drones. It was the worst fighting between India and Pakistan in decades: Dozens of people were killed on both sides of their heavily militarised border. The conflict erupted after the Indian military carried out attacks on “terror” sites deep inside Pakistani territory, in response to an attack by gunmen who killed 26 tourists in Indian-administered Kashmir. But unlike Sharif, Modi, who had cultivated a personal rapport with the US president – whom he had met just months earlier in the Oval Office – chose to remain silent, even as India’s foreign secretary confirmed the ceasefire. Days later, the US president offered to work with the two arch foes to find a solution to the Kashmir issue, which has defined India-Pakistan relations since 1947, the year the two South Asian nations achieved independence from British colonial rule. For India, Trump’s attempts to portray himself as a peacemaker between New Delhi and Islamabad were troubling: India has long insisted that its disputes with its neighbour were strictly bilateral, for the two countries to resolve among themselves – though US former President Bill Clinton had played a role in ending the 1999 Kargil War. In June, Modi was visiting Canada when Trump asked him to also fly over to Washington. Modi turned down the offer. He instead told the US president over the phone that New Delhi wouldn’t accept third-party mediation, and that the ceasefire in May was solely the result of bilateral conversations with Pakistan. Yet that tit-for-tat spiral of claims around the May truce continued. Trump has since insisted on more than 30 occasions that he brokered the ceasefire between India and Pakistan. He has claimed that he averted a nuclear war that could have killed millions. The US president also asserted that Indian fighter jets were shot down on the first day of the conflict, echoing the Pakistani narrative of downing several Indian planes. Advertisement New Delhi also failed to convince the international community on Pakistan’s role in the attack that triggered the May 2025 fighting in the first place, analysts say. “The world did not step back and encourage India to carry out strikes… World capitals noted that India did not provide proof of any Pakistani complicity in the Pahalgam attack,” Kugelman of the Atlantic Council said, referring to the scenic town in Indian-administered Kashmir where tourists were shot. Pakistan, he said, appeared to have won “the global battle of narratives”. “The fact that Pakistan was able to hold its own in a conflict and shoot down several Indian jets … that’s something that got a lot of attention around the world, including in the White House,” he added. New Delhi’s silence on the downing of the jets for almost three weeks further gave impetus to that perception. The country’s top general eventually acknowledged that several fighter planes were shot down by Pakistan, though India has never confirmed the number. Analysts say Modi’s refusal to give credit to the US president for the truce strained US-India ties. Pakistan, on the other hand, promptly acknowledged Trump’s efforts in achieving the truce and even nominated him for the Nobel Peace Prize – an award the US president has said he deserved. Trump, who had accused Pakistan of “deceit and lies” during his first term, has since repeatedly praised Pakistani leadership, including army chief Asim Munir who led the war efforts against India. And to India’s dismay, Trump invited Munir to the White House for lunch – the first time that a Pakistani military chief who was not also president had been hosted by a US president. Trump has described Munir as his “favourite Field Marshal” and an “exceptional human being” –