World Echo

Hundreds of illegal Israeli settlers stormed the Al-Aqsa Mosque complex in occupied East Jerusalem on Tuesday morning, under the heavy protection of Israeli troops, to perform a religious event. The act provoked tensions with Palestinian Muslims present at the holy site. Approximately 1,600 Israeli settlers toured the complex and conducted Talmudic religious rituals, according to the Jordan-run Islamic Endowments Department. It was also reported that Israeli settlers were seen waving Israeli flags while storming the complex of the mosque. The settlers' entry into the Al-Aqsa Mosque complex came in response to a call from extremist Jewish groups to commemorate Tisha B'Av, an annual Jewish fast day that marks the occurrence of several disasters in Jewish history, official Palestinian news agency Wafa reported. The settlers entered the mosque through the western Al-Mugharbah Gate, a route frequently used during such incursions, it added. Israeli forces closed roads leading to Jeru...

The humanitarian situation in embattled Sudan is at "a catastrophic, cataclysmic breaking point," a UN body said Monday. The International Organization for Migration (IOM) issued a warning as famine and floods "add to the catalogue of challenges" facing millions of people struggling to cope in the world’s largest displacement crisis following 16 months of brutal conflict. "Make no mistake, these conditions will persist and worsen if the conflict and restrictions on humanitarian access continue,” said Othman Belbeisi, IOM's regional director for Middle East North Africa. He warned: "Without an immediate, massive, and coordinated global response, we risk witnessing tens of thousands of preventable deaths in the coming months. We are at breaking point, a catastrophic, cataclysmic breaking point." Famine conditions have been officially reported in the Zamzam camp near Al Fasher in North Darfur, home to half a million displaced people. The statement no...

Bangladesh's interim government is reaching out to the United Nations (UN) to secure its hosting rights for the upcoming Women's T20 World Cup, following concerns raised by several countries over travel safety. Asif Mahmud, the government's youth and sports adviser, announced plans to engage the UN in discussions with nations that have imposed travel restrictions on their citizens visiting Bangladesh. The International Cricket Council (ICC) has informed the participating cricket boards that it is closely monitoring the situation in Bangladesh. Although the ICC has not yet decided to relocate the tournament, it has stated that all options remain open. Currently, governments from Australia, the United Kingdom, India, and New Zealand have either advised against or banned travel to Bangladesh due to security concerns. Sources within the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) have identified these travel restrictions as the primary challenge to hosting the tournament. The BCB, however, ...

Christopher Steele, a former head of the MI6 Russia desk, has asserted that recent far-right riots in the UK bear “clear” evidence of Russian involvement. Steele, who is known for his dossier on Donald Trump’s alleged ties with Russia, indicated that security services will closely examine the role of online instigators in the recent unrest. In the past fortnight, violent riots erupted in Southport and Rotherham, following false claims that a Muslim immigrant was responsible for an assault on a children’s dance class. The misinformation was propagated by far-right activists online, with Steele suggesting that the disinformation originated from a Russian-linked website. The website, Channel3 Now, mimicked mainstream American news channels and spread erroneous claims about the Southport attacker being on MI6’s watch list. This false narrative was amplified by prominent far-right figures, including Tommy Robinson and potentially Nigel Farage, who has also questioned the government’s narrat...

Belarus sent more troops to reinforce its border with Ukraine on Saturday, saying Ukrainian drones had violated its airspace in the course of Kyiv's military incursion into Russia's Kursk region. Belarus' Foreign Ministry summoned Ukraine's charge d'affaires, demanded measures to ensure such incidents would not recur and suggested a repeat would prompt Belarus to consider whether Kyiv's diplomatic presence in Minsk was "appropriate". President Alexander Lukashenko, addressing a meeting in eastern Belarus, said air defence forces on Friday destroyed several of "about a dozen" Ukrainian drones after they violated Belarusian airspace in the Mogilev region bordering Russia. Lukashenko, one of Russian President Vladimir Putin's closest allies, said others were later destroyed near the Russian city of Yaroslavl. "I don't understand why Ukraine had to do this. We have to look into it," the BelTA news agency quoted him as saying. ...

Former Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, now residing in India, has accused the United States of playing a role in her removal from power. In a statement quoted by the Economic Times, Hasina claimed she could have remained in office had she been willing to compromise Bangladesh's sovereignty, particularly by surrendering Saint Martin Island and allowing US influence over the Bay of Bengal. “I resigned so that I did not have to see the procession of dead bodies. They wanted to come to power over the dead bodies of students, but I did not allow it", the ousted Bangladeshi PM said. "I could have remained in power if I had surrendered the sovereignty of Saint Martin Island and allowed America to hold sway over the Bay of Bengal," Hasina stated, urging her countrymen not to be manipulated by radical elements. Saint Martin Island, a small 3-square-kilometer landmass in the Bay of Bengal, is situated near the southern tip of Bangladesh. Hasina expressed deep sorrow ...

China is currently grappling with an extreme heatwave that has not only disrupted daily life but also led to an unexpected phenomenon involving vehicles. A peculiar video has gone viral on social media, particularly on X (formerly known as Twitter), showing cars that appear to be "pregnant." This unusual sight has raised curiosity and concern, prompting many to question the cause of this strange occurrence. The video, which has captured widespread attention, depicts several cars with swollen exteriors, giving them a "pregnant" appearance. This isn't due to mechanical failures or manufacturing defects but is directly related to the soaring temperatures in China. The intense heat has caused the protective films or wraps applied to these vehicles to expand, resulting in a swollen look. Car wraps are thin vinyl films used on vehicles for paint protection, aesthetic enhancement, or advertising purposes. Although designed to withstand various weather conditions, extre...