Ebola death toll rises to 200 in Congo

Agencies

November 11, 2018

Kinshasa, Nov 11: The death toll in the latest Ebola outbreak in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo has claimed more than 200 lives.

So far a total of 298 cases of hemorrhagic fever have been reported in the region by health ministry which includes 263 confirmed and 35 probable cases, since the declaration of this tenth Ebola epidemic in the DRC since 1976, says BBC.

About half of the victims were from Beni, a city of 800,000 in the North Kivu region, the national health authority said.

The virus is spread via small amounts of bodily fluid and infection often proves fatal as it is spreading in the northeastern region of North Kivu also, which is home to a clutch of armed groups.

Congo has also previously suffered civil war and political upheaval from years and is going through a very tough situation because in September, vaccinations were suspected in Beni when a rebel group launched an attack that lasted several hours.

However, health minister Oly Ilunga said armed rebels were continuing to harass medical teams which began on August 8 and has so far inoculated about 25,000 people.

In the latest update, the World Health Organisation's director general, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, said the lack of security was posing the greatest challenge in countering the current epidemic.

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US attempted 93 ‘regime change’ operations across the world since 1946, admits envoy

News Network

December 7,2025

Since 1946, the United States has attempted 93 coups or “regime change” operations across the world — including two in Iran, US Special Envoy for Syria Tom Barrack has admitted.

Speaking to the UAE-based IMI Media Group, in remarks published by The National, Barrack said Washington tried twice to overthrow the Iranian government but failed both times.

“For (Trump) then to be imputed with regime change — we had two regime changes in Iran already. Neither one worked. So I think wisely leave it to the region to solve,” said Barrack, who also serves as the US ambassador to Turkey.

His comments come six months after the US joined Israel in airstrikes against Iran during ongoing indirect nuclear negotiations between Tehran and Washington.

On June 13, Israel launched an attack on Iran that killed at least 1,064 people and hit civilian infrastructure. Days later, the United States targeted three nuclear facilities — Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan — in what Iran called a clear violation of international law. Iranian retaliation eventually forced a halt to the assault on June 24.

Barrack further claimed that US President Donald Trump and Foreign Secretary Marco Rubio are “not into regime change” and prefer a regional approach driven by Middle Eastern countries themselves. According to him, regional dialogue and non-interference by outside powers offer a more durable path forward.

He added that Washington is still open to an agreement with Tehran if Iranian authorities show “seriousness” and willingness to engage constructively.

However, Iran maintains the US has not shown readiness for meaningful talks. In an interview with Japan’s Kyodo News, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said negotiations could advance only if Washington acknowledges Iran’s right to peaceful nuclear energy and lifts unilateral sanctions.

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