Congo is facing a fast-moving Ebola outbreak that has spread to 60 health zones with over 6,000 cases and 3,000 deaths. Health officials say the outbreak is not yet under control and are shifting efforts to work more closely with local communities to help track and stop the virus.
Key Facts
The Ebola outbreak in eastern Congo began in mid-May and has grown quickly.
There have been 6,250 confirmed cases and 3,039 deaths reported so far.
The outbreak has spread from 3 to 60 health zones.
Most deaths occur outside of treatment centers, showing delays in detection and reporting.
Limited community-based surveillance makes it hard to track and stop the virus spread.
Only 19% of expected contacts of infected people have been traced by health teams.
Treatment centers now have about 1,300 beds, with 67% occupancy, but more capacity is needed.
Conflict and displacement in the region make it harder to build trust and contain the outbreak.
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Canada has revealed a new $20 bill featuring King Charles III, the first new monarch on Canadian currency since Queen Elizabeth II's death in 2022. The vertical polymer note will enter circulation early next year and shows the Vimy Ridge memorial on the back to honor Canada’s role in World War I.
Key Facts
The new $20 bill features a portrait of King Charles III, the first new monarch on Canadian money in over 70 years.
The banknote is vertical and made of polymer, a type of durable plastic.
The back of the note shows the Vimy Ridge memorial in France, commemorating Canada’s participation in World War I.
The design includes a floral pattern inspired by King Charles’ focus on environmental issues.
Canada consulted with an Indigenous advisory council for some design elements on the note.
This is Canada’s second vertical banknote, following the vertically designed $10 bill featuring Viola Desmond.
Canada is the first Commonwealth country outside Britain to put King Charles on its banknotes since he became king.
The new $20 bill will enter circulation early in the next year.
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John Pickles, the creator of the pop act Jive Bunny and The Mastermixers, has died at age 84. His music group was known for mixing pop hits from the 1950s to the 1970s and had three number-one hits in the UK.
Key Facts
John Pickles founded Jive Bunny and The Mastermixers in Rotherham in 1989.
The group had three UK number-one singles: "Swing The Mood," "That's What I Like," and "Let's Party."
Their music combined contemporary pop with older hits using synthesizers and music sampling (taking parts of other songs).
Jive Bunny and The Mastermixers had five UK top 10 hits and a top 10 album.
The group featured a cartoon rabbit character on album covers and in promotional appearances.
John Pickles was praised as a pioneer, entrepreneur, and talented songwriter in the music industry.
In December 2024, a new Jive Bunny production called "3, 6, 9" was released, blending the original style with modern music elements.
The act included Pickles, his son Andrew, and DJ/producer Les Hemstock.
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Nepal's foreign minister has asked China, the United States, and India to pay for damages caused by recent floods in Nepal. He said Nepal produces very little pollution compared to these countries but suffers severe effects from climate change they largely cause.
Key Facts
Nepal experienced a severe flash flood disaster last week.
Nepal's greenhouse gas emissions are very small compared to China, the US, and India.
Nepal's foreign minister wants the three countries to compensate Nepal for the flood damage.
The demand is based on the idea that bigger polluters should take responsibility for climate impacts on poorer countries.
The article includes expert guests discussing climate change and global justice.
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The movie "By Any Means" is an action thriller set during the Civil Rights Movement in the 1960s American South. It stars Yahya Abdul-Mateen II as a Black FBI agent and Mark Wahlberg as a Mafia hitman who team up to solve the murder of civil rights leader Vernon Dahmer Sr.
Key Facts
"By Any Means" is set in the late 1960s during the racial and political violence in the southern United States.
Yahya Abdul-Mateen II plays a by-the-book Black FBI agent from the South named Wayne Strider.
Mark Wahlberg portrays Gregory Scarpa, a Mafia hitman enlisted by the FBI to solve civil rights workers’ murders unofficially.
The film is inspired by real events, including the involvement of Scarpa as an FBI informant.
The FBI character played by Abdul-Mateen is fictional, created to support the story.
The movie highlights the dangerous presence of the Ku Klux Klan in law enforcement at that time.
Supporting cast includes Nicole Beharie, LisaGay Hamilton, and Giancarlo Esposito.
The film's style features period costumes, classic cars, and a soundtrack with artists like Nina Simone and Ray Charles.
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A Russian serviceman was shot and hospitalized in Engels, Russia, in what authorities say was an attempt on his life. This attack is one among several recent violent incidents targeting Russian military personnel linked to the war in Ukraine, with some blamed on Ukraine by Moscow.
Key Facts
The serviceman was attacked in Engels, a city in Russia’s Saratov region.
Bullets and casings were found at the attack scene.
A criminal investigation was opened for attempted murder and illegal arms use.
Engels is near a base for Russia’s strategic nuclear bombers, which have faced drone attacks recently.
Other recent attacks in Russia include bombings targeting military and defense factory figures.
Russian authorities have not publicly identified suspected attackers in these incidents.
Ukraine’s security service has claimed responsibility for some attacks inside Russia.
Earlier, Ukrainian forces killed a Russian general in Moscow with a bomb hidden on a scooter.
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Gloria Steinem died at age 92 just weeks before the release of her latest memoir, "An Unexpected Life." The book looks back on her childhood, her role in the feminist movement, and experiences that shaped her views, including time spent in India.
Key Facts
Gloria Steinem passed away at 92 before her new memoir was published.
Her latest book is called "An Unexpected Life" and was set to be released on September 22.
The memoir reflects on her childhood in Ohio during the 1940s and 1950s.
Steinem describes how living in India for two years impacted her understanding of the world.
She was a leading figure in the second-wave feminist movement.
Steinem emphasized the importance of honest, face-to-face conversations.
She expressed a desire to live to 100 years old in the book.
The memoir follows her previous books about personal growth and activism.
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A United Nations-backed investigation found that foreign fighters and outside support are helping to keep the civil war in Sudan going. The fighting has involved foreign soldiers, drones, and weapons supplied from other countries, causing large numbers of deaths and forcing millions of Sudanese to leave their homes.
Key Facts
Foreign groups recruit, train, and send fighters to support the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in Sudan’s war.
Both the RSF and Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) have used foreign-supplied drones to attack, harming civilians and buildings.
Thousands of former Colombian soldiers are reported to fight alongside the RSF, operating drones and weapons.
Fighters from South Sudan, Chad, and Ethiopia are also involved, often in direct combat roles.
Support networks operate through countries like Chad, Libya, and Somalia, sending weapons and personnel to Sudan.
The United Arab Emirates denies giving military or financial aid to the RSF.
The civil war has killed tens of thousands and displaced over 12 million people, creating a major humanitarian crisis.
The UN mission calls on countries to stop illegal arms supplies and enforce an arms embargo on Sudan.
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At least five people died while trying to reach Spain’s Canary Islands on a wooden boat that left Gambia on August 7. Some migrants were rescued, but many are still missing after the boat spent weeks at sea.
Key Facts
The boat left Gambia on August 7.
It was a wooden vessel carrying migrants.
The migrants were trying to reach Spain’s Canary Islands.
At least five people have died during the journey.
Some migrants were rescued by authorities.
Dozens of migrants remain missing.
The news comes from reports near the coast of Senegal.
The incident highlights risks faced by people crossing the Atlantic Ocean in unsafe boats.
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US Vice-President JD Vance expressed doubt about reports that the US carried out a missile strike on a wedding celebration in Iran. Iran claims the strike killed four people, including two children, and calls it a war crime. The US is currently investigating the incident.
Key Facts
Iran says a missile strike hit a wedding celebration and killed four people, including two children.
Iran accuses the US of committing a war crime with this strike.
JD Vance, the US Vice-President, said he is very skeptical about the claim.
The US government is investigating what happened.
The incident was discussed during a White House press briefing.
The situation involves tensions between the US and Iran.
JD Vance is a key US official commenting on this international event.
No official conclusion has been made yet about the strike or who is responsible.
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Several top medical groups have shared updated advice for vaccines for the 2026-27 flu and COVID-19 season. They based their suggestions on a careful look at research about vaccines for flu, COVID-19, and RSV, a virus that affects the lungs.
Key Facts
A group of important medical organizations reviewed vaccine data for the 2026-27 respiratory virus season.
The Vaccine Integrity Project (VIP) and the American Medical Association (AMA) worked together on this review.
They considered vaccines for three viruses: COVID-19, influenza (the flu), and RSV (respiratory syncytial virus).
Their recommendation is based on the latest research and evidence about how well vaccines work.
The goal is to provide clear guidance for doctors and the public about which vaccines to get.
RSV is a virus that can cause breathing problems, especially in young children and older adults.
The update aims to help reduce confusion around vaccine choices for these illnesses.
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Floods in Nepal destroyed roads and bridges, cutting off villages and making it hard for survivors to get food and medicine. To help, authorities set up a temporary zip line across the fast-flowing Trishuli River to reach stranded people.
Key Facts
Heavy floods damaged roads and bridges in Nepal.
Villages were cut off from help due to this damage.
Survivors in relief camps face shortages of food and medicine.
Authorities created a makeshift zip line over the Trishuli River.
The zip line helps transport supplies and aid to isolated survivors.
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Scientists were awarded Ig Nobel prizes in Zurich for unusual and creative research, including studies on cockroach milk, nose-blowing, and soil decomposition using buried underwear. The ceremony, usually held in the U.S., moved to Europe due to travel and visa issues.
Key Facts
The Ig Nobel prizes celebrate unusual but imaginative scientific research.
The 2026 ceremony took place in Zurich, Switzerland, for the first time outside the U.S.
Research topics honored included cockroach milk, the history of kissing, nose-blowing science, and soil health studied by burying underwear.
Audience members threw paper airplanes on stage as part of the ceremony tradition.
Organizers plan to hold future events alternating between Zurich and other European cities, including Antwerp in 2027.
The move from the U.S. was due to safety and visa concerns for international guests.
The Ig Nobel prizes are unrelated to the Nobel Prizes announced annually in October.
The ceremony is organized by the Annals of Improbable Research, a digital magazine.
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Brazil’s Senate approved a new law to regulate mining of important minerals called rare earth elements. These minerals are used in many technologies like electric cars and smartphones. The law aims to help Brazil develop its mining industry and reduce reliance on other countries, especially China.
Key Facts
Brazil has the world’s second-largest reserves of rare earth minerals after China.
The new law sets rules for mining and processing rare earth minerals in Brazil.
It creates a fund with about $391 million from the government to support mining projects.
The law offers nearly $1 billion in tax benefits over five years for companies that process these minerals domestically.
Rare earth minerals are essential for products such as smartphones, electric vehicles, solar panels, and jet engines.
Brazil wants to develop its own industry instead of only exporting raw minerals.
The National Council for the Industrialization of Critical and Strategic Minerals will help decide which projects get government support.
There are environmental concerns about mining, especially near the Amazon rainforest.
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British police are trying to find 70,000 pints of Guinness beer stolen from a depot near Liverpool. The stolen beer, worth about 115,000 pounds ($155,000), was taken by two drivers who drove away with two trailers full of the stout.
Key Facts
About 70,000 pints of Guinness were stolen from a depot in northwest England.
The beer was on two trailers, with a total value of 115,000 pounds ($155,000).
The theft happened at an industrial park in Runcorn on Monday night.
The stolen Guinness was meant to be sent to pubs.
Police are working to recover all the stolen beer.
The trailers themselves were worth 50,000 pounds ($67,000).
A similar beer theft happened recently in the U.S., involving 34,000 cans of Pabst Blue Ribbon.
The Pabst company offered a $20,000 reward to help recover their stolen beer.
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President Donald Trump is using a two-part strategy to pressure Iran. This includes stronger economic sanctions and military strikes, aiming to stop Iran from gaining more power, especially nuclear weapons, amid ongoing tensions in the region.
Key Facts
President Trump launched "Operation Economic Outcast" to isolate Iran from global trade partners.
The U.S. has resumed military strikes against Iran, leading to Iranian retaliation.
The conflict between the U.S. and Iran has lasted more than six months without clear resolution.
Despite the military and economic pressure, Iran’s government has not changed its position.
Rising energy prices and economic instability are linked to the conflict, affecting global markets.
President Trump said the war would not last much longer and emphasized preventing Iran from getting nuclear weapons.
The situation is affecting domestic politics in both the U.S. (with midterm elections) and Iran.
Some diplomats believe talks cannot succeed unless the conflict involving Israel is addressed.
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Israel released one Lebanese civilian prisoner and agreed to free five more, the first prisoner handover since fighting between Israel and Hezbollah started six months ago. This exchange came after Lebanon helped search for bodies of Lebanese Jewish leaders who were killed in the 1980s, and both countries continue talks amid ongoing tensions and conflict in the region.
Key Facts
Israel released one Lebanese civilian prisoner named Malek Ghazi through the International Committee of the Red Cross at the Lebanon border.
Israel will free five more detainees who were found not to be involved in terrorism after interrogation.
The prisoner release followed Lebanon’s help in searching for bodies of Lebanese Jewish leaders killed in the 1980s.
Lebanon and Israel started US-brokered negotiations in April to discuss prisoners and security arrangements.
Lebanon claims at least 30 of its citizens are held by Israel since the war began in 2024.
A deal in June involves disarming Hezbollah, Israeli troop withdrawal from southern Lebanon, and Lebanese army deployment in specific zones.
Despite the agreement, Israeli forces have continued attacks and military movements in southern Lebanon.
The conflict escalated after Hezbollah fired rockets at Israel in retaliation for actions linked to Iran, resulting in thousands of deaths in Lebanon.
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Israel’s far-right national security minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir, proposed a plan to force all Palestinians to leave the Gaza Strip and move abroad. The plan aims to expel 250,000 Palestinians in the first year and the rest over six years, despite international laws against forced displacement.
Key Facts
Itamar Ben-Gvir is Israel’s national security minister and leader of the far-right Jewish Power party.
The plan calls for removing up to 2 million Palestinians from Gaza over six years.
Ben-Gvir claims some countries are ready to accept Palestinians but did not name them.
Forced removal of civilians in occupied areas is considered a war crime under international law (Geneva Conventions).
The plan is described as a “National Work Plan for Voluntary Emigration,” but conditions in Gaza suggest the move would not be truly voluntary.
Israel’s defense minister, Israel Katz, said Israel is seeking support from President Donald Trump’s administration for this plan.
President Donald Trump previously suggested Palestinians leave Gaza and the US rebuild the area but later withdrew the idea.
Israel controls about 65% of Gaza territory as part of ongoing military operations, exceeding previous ceasefire agreements.
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Toronto and nearby areas in southern Ontario, Canada, experienced severe weather including heavy rain, large hail, and strong winds. These storms caused flooding, knocked down trees, and led to power outages affecting thousands of people.
Key Facts
The storms hit the Greater Toronto Area and parts of southern Ontario.
Heavy rain and large hail fell quickly, causing streets to flood.
Strong winds damaged trees and power lines.
Thousands of residents lost electricity due to the storms.
Videos showed fast-moving hailstones and water covering roads.
The weather event was described as severe and caused disruption.
Emergency services responded to the damage and flooding.
The storms are part of a severe weather pattern affecting the region.
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Farmers in Gaza are rebuilding a seed bank that was destroyed during the conflict with Israel. The seed bank now contains about 32 types of local crops and helps protect the farming traditions in the area, although it is still too small to meet all agricultural needs.
Key Facts
The original seed bank in Gaza was destroyed during the war.
Farmers are working to restore the seed bank to save local crop varieties.
The seed bank currently holds about 32 different types of seeds.
The goal is to preserve traditional crops and support farming on the remaining farmland.
Despite progress, the seed bank is still smaller than needed for full agricultural support.
This project aims to help farmers continue growing food in Gaza under difficult conditions.
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