World Echo

The death toll from the current Ebola virus outbreak, which began in the Democratic Republic of Congo in May, surpassed 2,800 on Sunday, according to the latest data released by the country's health authorities. The Health Ministry data showed that the number of confirmed cases had reached 5,945 across six provinces. At least 1,327 people have recovered, while 896 confirmed patients are currently in isolation or in hospital. The ministry said the outbreak has already affected 60 health zones in the Haut-Uele, Ituri, North Kivu, South Kivu, Bas-Uele and Tshopo provinces since it was declared in mid-May. Read: Are we ignoring a brewing epidemic? The World Health Organisation (WHO) said the Bundibugyo virus strain in Congo continues to evolve rapidly, with sustained transmission. The rise in cases and wider geographic spread over the past three months represent a “substantial increase” in the scale of the outbreak, according to WHO. Last week, the government...

Iran's Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei urged Muslim countries, particularly those in the Gulf, to unite against what ​he called their "real enemy" and said divisions among Muslims served ‌the interests of their adversaries. The message was published on Mojtaba's Telegram account for Islamic Unity Week, which marks the birth anniversary of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). It called for Muslim ​unity, cooperation in various fields and mutual defence, saying anyone ​who creates divisions among Muslims, "knowingly or unknowingly," helps Islam's enemies. He asked whether Palestinians would have been left "so helpless" if Muslims had ​been united. Mojtaba has not been seen in public since being injured in US-Israeli ​airstrikes six months ago that launched the Iran war, killing his father and previous supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Read: Iran signals no retreat amid US sanctions His call for unity echoes a statement he made on Fri...

At least one person was killed, and five others were injured after shots were fired at an event attended by around 3,500 people in the Swiss town of Aarau early Sunday, police said. Some of those injured were in serious condition following the shooting, the Aarau cantonal police said on United States social media company X. ++Nach vorläufigen Erkenntnissen haben die nächtlichen Schüsse in Aarau sechs Opfer gefordert. Eine 22-jährige Frau erlag vor Ort ihren Verletzungen. Leicht bis schwer verletzt im Spital befinden sich vier Männer und eine Frau im Alter zwischen 24 und 27 Jahren. — Kapo_Aargau (@Kapo_Aargau) August 30, 2026 Police launched a large-scale operation and are searching for the person or people responsible. "Possible motives and the exact circumstances of the incident remain unclear," police said, without providing further information about any potential suspects. A video published by Swiss newspaper Blick and reportedl...

Iran has reached an understanding with Oman on transit arrangements through the Strait of Hormuz, but its implementation is contingent on the US fulfilling its commitments, a senior Iranian diplomat said on Saturday. "This understanding will not automatically enter the implementation stage,” Deputy Foreign Minister for Legal and International Affairs Kazem Gharibabadi said, according to Tasnim news agency. “Implementing this understanding requires the other side, particularly the US, to fulfill its commitments. Whenever these commitments are implemented, Iran will also take its measures,” he said. Gharibabadi said Iran was in no hurry to reopen the strait and would continue its “defensive measures” and efforts to “counter threats.” “These measures are not new, and if Washington is interested in returning to the path of diplomacy, it must accept responsibility for its past actions,” he added. He said the necessary arran...

British far-right commentator Milo Yiannopoulos was deported back to his home country, the ​United Kingdom, a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) spokesperson ‌said on Saturday. The deportation on Friday came a day after Yiannopoulos, 41, was arrested at the Louis Armstrong New Orleans ​International Airport by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). A ​DHS spokesperson said he "chose to overstay his welcome ⁠in violation of our nation's laws" after legally entering ​the country in May 2019. Read More: It isn’t hate speech for Yiannopoulos to say “feminism is cancer”, it’s just how he feels Yiannopoulos, who has called for stricter ​immigration enforcement than the Trump administration has carried out, including ICE checkpoints at supermarket entrances, did not appear for an immigration ​hearing and was issued a final order of removal ​on July 22, according to DHS. Yiannopoulos could not immediately be reached ‌for ⁠comment. ...

The death toll from Israel’s genocidal war on the Gaza Strip has risen to 73,449 after nine Palestinians were killed over the past 48 hours, Gaza’s Health Ministry said on Saturday. In its daily statistical report, the ministry said hospitals received nine bodies as well as the body of another Palestinian that was recovered, while 18 people were injured during the same period. The ministry said a number of victims remain under the rubble and on roads, with ambulance and civil defence crews unable to reach them. It did not provide details on the circumstances in which the Palestinians were killed or injured, while the Israeli army continues violations of the ceasefire agreement that has been in effect since October 10, 2025. Read: New Israeli strikes kill three in Gaza, authorities say The ministry said the toll from Israeli violations since the ceasefire took effect has risen to 1,313 killed and 4,361 injured. The overall toll from Israel’s genocidal war on ...