A cemetery at the epicentre of the outbreak is rapidly filling up, however large traditional funerals have been scrapped.
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'I buried my parents one day after the other' – Ebola mourners learn how to grieve safely
World Cup 2026: Thomas Tuchel’s England were fun to watch against Croatia
Whether they will love it if England defend so poorly against better opposition is another matter.
The thought of world-class strikers being faced with the sort of slipshod defence we saw in Dallas, especially in the first half, will be a very sobering takeaway for Tuchel, who will know it was simply not good enough.
The selection of Ezri Konsa ahead of Manchester City defender Marc Guehi was contentious. It is a debate that will continue as Aston Villa’s defender did not make a compelling case for his continued inclusion.
Tuchel could barely disguise his displeasure as England led twice through captain Kane, who equalled Gary Lineker’s World Cup record of 10 goals for his country, only for poor defending to allow the ever-dangerous Croatia back into the game.
Whatever Tuchel said, and it was unlikely to have been pleasantries, was the catalyst for an outstanding attacking display which saw Jude Bellingham restore England’s lead moments after half-time.
Croatia were then pinned back under a wave of attacks, particularly for one spell midway through the half, which they somehow survived until Marcus Rashford wrapped up the win late on.
Tuchel’s team selection was a tough one given the resources at his disposal, but selecting Bellingham ahead of Morgan Rogers – the tightest of calls as he admitted – and preserving Bukayo Saka’s fitness by playing Noni Madueke worked.
Bellingham was England’s powerhouse with surging runs from midfield, exemplified by his goal when he left Mario Pasalic trailing before beating Croatia keeper Dominik Livakovic.
It was the moment the game turned as England – late out for the second half and clearly fuelled by a few verbals from Tuchel – instantly played with more urgency and intent having regained their advantage and the initiative.
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OpenAI works to stop ChatGPT generating ‘sex crime scene’ images
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Simpler, older version of Stonehenge found three miles from famous site
“The sky – the positions of the Sun, Moon, planets and stars – they change very slowly throughout the centuries. We don’t really notice it during our lifetimes,” said Dr Fabio Silva, an archaeoastronomer from Bournemouth University and the Skyscape Academy.
Watch: Fans celebrate England’s 4-2 World Cup victory over Croatia
England fans cheered wildly as the Three Lions brought home a 4-2 win against Croatia in the group stage of the World Cup.
Celebrations also took place in Zagreb, Croatia, when their country scored two goals against their opponents in Dallas, Texas.
England captain Harry Kane scored two goals in the first half, including from a retaken penalty, rounded out with goals from Jude Bellingham and Marcus Rashford after the interval.
World Cup 2026: England 4-2 Croatia – Jude Bellingham says ‘chip on shoulder’ may help him to find best form
Jude Bellingham has said the external “noise” around his place in the England team may help him find his best form during the World Cup.
One of the main talking points around selection before England’s first group game against Croatia was whether boss Thomas Tuchel would select Real Madrid’s Bellingham or Aston Villa’s Morgan Rogers in the number 10 role behind captain Harry Kane.
Bellingham was chosen to start in Dallas and scored England’s crucial third goal just after half-time, with Marcus Rashford adding a fourth late on to complete a 4-2 win.
“For me personally, it was nice to put some of the noise aside and just show my country and my team-mates how committed I am to help us try to win football matches,” the 22-year-old, who is appearing in a fourth consecutive major tournament for England, told BBC Sport.
“To contribute, to help my team and help my country is one of the biggest honours and regardless of the noise outside, that honour doesn’t change for me at all.”
Bellingham conceded that it has been a “bit of a tougher season for me”, with the start of his 2025-26 campaign disrupted by injury, his club side in Spain ending up eight points behind eventual champions Barcelona and his place in the national team under scrutiny.
But Bellingham said he feels “fresh and sharp” heading into the tournament and it was “nice to hear” comments from colleagues such as Jordan Henderson, who said the former Birmingham City and Borussia Dortmund player gives England an “X-factor”.
Asked if he has entered the World Cup with added impetus, Bellingham said: “A little bit – I think I’ve got a little bit of a chip on my shoulder, haven’t I?”
Two California women swept away by waves in Santa Cruz County honored in tributes
The families of the two Bay Area friends who were killed after a freak wave dragged them out to sea last week opened up about the tragedy as tributes to the two young women poured in.
College students Harshita Nair, 21, and Mahial Sran, 20, both of Fremont, died after a “sneaker wave” pulled them from a keyhole on Panther Beach in Santa Cruz County last Wednesday as dangerous swells battered the coastline.
The pair had made their way through the keyhole in Bonny Doon to sunbathe when the deadly wave sealed off their escape just before sunset, officials said.
Nair was a legal studies major at UC Berkeley set to graduate next year, while Sran was set to earn her degree in public health at San José State University in 2027.
Sran’s teenage brother, Aagman, described his big sister as a nurturing and responsible young woman who cared for him and all the people around her.
“She always took care of whatever needed to be done,” the 17-year-old told The California Post. “She always delivered.”
Aagman noted that Panther Beach is considered treacherous by locals.
“That specific part of the beach is known to be dangerous,” he said.
Both Nair and Sran graduated from Washington High School in Fremont in 2023.
The city’s mayor, Raj Salwan, said their “young lives were filled with promise” in a statement on his Facebook page Tuesday.
“Our Fremont community is heartbroken by the tragic loss,” he wrote. “My deepest condolences are with their families, friends, classmates, and everyone grieving this unimaginable loss.”
Salwan also urged residents to exercise caution at nearby beaches, as the California coast continues to be pounded by powerful southern ocean swells.
“Sneaker waves, strong currents, and rising tides can strike without warning,” Salwan said, adding: “Never turn your back on the ocean.”
Sran was also honored by officials at San Jose State University, where spokesman Michelle Smith McDonald said the “entire SJSU community shares in the grief felt by those who loved and cared for her.”
The death of Nair, who worked at UC Berkeley’s student union, caused “immense sadness” at the university, said spokeswoman Ellen Top.
Nair’s grieving father disputed initial reports that the women were napping when the wave dragged them out to sea, arguing that
“They weren’t sleeping there, because their bags were completely dry,” Ahock Nair told the Post of the victims’ totes, saying that if they had been asleep, the women wouldn’t be napping away from their belongings. “If they were sleeping, their bags would also have gone along with them, or would have been completely wet.”
Nair’s online obituary described her as “a cherished sister, granddaughter, and a treasured friend to so many.”
“In her short but beautiful life, Harshita left an unforgettable mark on everyone fortunate enough to know her,” it read.
The women’s’ recovery marked the fifth water rescue first responders performed over the past month along short stretch of Santa Cruz County coastline, according to Cal Fire spokesman Michael Horn.
Less than 24 hours earlier, a killer wave pulled a five-year-old girl to her death at a beach in Laguna Beach.
Portugal coach defends not subbing Ronaldo out in brutal tie
Teams from the Iberian Peninsula have struggled early in the 2026 World Cup.
After Spain failed to score against Cape Verde on Monday, Portugal failed to obtain three points in a disappointing 1-1 draw against the Democratic Republic of the Congo on Wednesday in Houston.
Portugal’s offense never clicked after a seventh-minute goal by João Neves, and superstar Cristiano Ronaldo was held scoreless for his fifth straight World Cup game.
For the first time, many Portuguese fans wondered why Ronaldo was not substituted off for another striker.
Manager Roberto Martinez gave a simple answer.
“It makes no sense to get the best goal scorer in world football out in a game that you need goals,” Martinez said after the game.
Instead of blaming Ronaldo, the coach pointed to his team’s lack of urgency after going 1-0 up early.
“We started very, very well,” Martinez told reporters. “Our level, our control, the way we got into the penalty area. Scoring the goal — which is normally a moment when the emotion of scoring helps you keep control of the match and try to score a second goal — had the opposite effect.
“Instead, it made us want to keep possession of the ball. We gave Congo the opportunity to reorganize their defensive structure and setup their counterattacks, and we lost a lot of depth. That helped Congo.”
Ronaldo watched his longtime rival and Argentine winger, Lionel Messi, score a hat-trick, tying Miroslav Klose for the most goals in World Cup history with 16, in a win on Tuesday night.
Other star strikers, Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland, scored two goals apiece to help their teams win both of their opening matches on Tuesday as well.
But it is not all doom and gloom for Portugal. While it did drop points, with the eight best third-place teams making it to the knockout stage, four points could be all teams need to advance to the round of 32.
The next match for Portugal will be against World Cup debutants Uzbekistan on Tuesday afternoon.