Tedros said he would travel to Tenerife in Spain’s Canary Islands to oversee the disembarkation of passengers, crew members and medical personnel from the Dutch-flagged cruise vessel MV Hondius, which is carrying around 150 people.“I arrived in Spain, where I will join senior government officials in a mission to Tenerife to oversee safe disembarkation,” Tedros said in a post on X.

Three passengers a Dutch couple and a German woman have died after contracting hantavirus during the voyage, while several others have fallen ill, according to health officials.The outbreak has drawn heightened international attention after authorities confirmed infections linked to the Andes virus strain, the only known hantavirus variant capable of transmitting between humans.

Most hantavirus infections are typically spread through contact with infected rodents or their droppings.Tedros said he had remained in direct contact with the ship’s captain, Jan Dobrogowski, and WHO physician Freddy Banza-Mutoka, who is on board the vessel.

“At this stage, there are no additional people on board showing symptoms of hantavirus,” Tedros said, adding that the World Health Organization continued to monitor the situation closely.

He also said the health risk to residents of the Canary Islands and the broader international public remained low.The MV Hondius is expected to dock in Tenerife on Sunday, where Spanish authorities have prepared surveillance and containment measures before arranging special flights to return passengers to their home countries.

Spain’s government said Tedros would meet Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez in Madrid before traveling to the Canary Islands alongside Spain’s health and interior ministers.Spanish ministry officials said the WHO chief would join a command center in Tenerife responsible for coordinating health controls, interagency cooperation and emergency response protocols linked to the ship’s arrival.

The incident has intensified scrutiny over infectious disease preparedness aboard international cruise vessels, particularly involving pathogens with rare but potentially serious transmission characteristics.

Wang, on a two-day visit to North Korea, said Beijing and Pyongyang should enhance communication “in the face of a turbulent and complex international situation,” according to a statement from China’s foreign ministry.

The visit marks a renewed push to strengthen bilateral relations following a period of limited exchanges during the COVID-19 pandemic, and comes as North Korea has also expanded engagement with Russia.

North Korean state media said Kim emphasized the importance of intensifying exchanges at multiple levels, describing closer ties as essential for safeguarding shared interests.

The report confirmed the meeting and highlighted mutual commitments to expand cooperation.Wang also held talks with his North Korean counterpart, pledging to build on what he described as positive momentum in relations and to advance practical cooperation between the two countries.

The diplomatic engagement comes ahead of a planned visit by U.S. President Donald Trump to China next month.

Trump has previously indicated interest in resuming dialogue with Kim, raising the prospect of renewed diplomatic activity on the Korean Peninsula.

The visit is expected to deepen engagement with European partners as discussions continue on shaping a viable peace framework.

Zelenskiy said Ukrainian officials will share details with their European counterparts following recent contacts in Moscow by representatives of the United States.

The aim is to maintain transparency among allies and ensure that all discussions related to Ukraine’s security architecture reflect shared priorities and collective understanding.

Umerov’s mission will include consultations on the European dimension of Ukraine’s long-term security needs. Officials are prioritizing clarity, alignment and partnership as they work through various proposals circulating among global stakeholders. Ukraine continues to emphasize diplomacy supported by strong international backing to safeguard its sovereignty.

After Brussels, Umerov will travel to the United States with Andrii Hnatov, Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. The visit will involve preparations for a meeting with envoys representing President Donald Trump.

These engagements reflect ongoing coordination between Ukraine and its global partners as diplomatic channels remain active on multiple fronts.

Zelenskiy noted that despite recent high-level talks in Moscow involving American representatives, no agreement has yet been reached. He highlighted the importance of Ukraine remaining fully engaged with its allies, ensuring that negotiations continue in a structured and unified way.

The president emphasized that Ukraine is committed to a diplomatic path supported by open communication and shared principles.

A series of draft peace proposals that surfaced recently prompted concern among Ukrainian and European officials, who believed some of the ideas favored key demands from Moscow.

In response, European governments introduced their own counter-proposal, aimed at ensuring any potential agreement meets the standards and security expectations of Ukraine and its partners.

Meetings in Geneva between Ukrainian, European and American representatives produced what has been described as an updated and refined peace framework.

Although the contents have not been released publicly, the ongoing talks are viewed as a positive reflection of the determination among allies to develop a responsible and sustainable plan.

Zelenskiy stressed that Ukraine will continue close communication with all its partners to ensure the negotiation process remains active, coordinated and aligned with the country’s long-term security vision.

The sustained involvement of European and U.S. officials demonstrates a shared commitment to pursuing peace efforts through diplomacy, cooperation and unified strategic thinking.

As Ukraine moves forward with a busy agenda of international meetings, the emphasis remains on maintaining strong alliances and ensuring all discussions reinforce Ukraine’s territorial integrity and security priorities.

The upcoming talks are expected to support deeper cooperation, clearer frameworks and continued international unity.