US Bans Americans From Leaving DR Congo As Ebola Spreads

US Bans Americans From Leaving DR Congo As Ebola Spreads

Mac Slavo

The United States has banned Americans currently in the Democratic Republic of Congo from leaving the country amid an increasingly spreading Ebola outbreak. About two dozen Americans are now stuck in DR Congo as healthcare workers struggle to contain a Bundibugyo outbreak of the Ebola virus.

Washington has already tightened restrictions on those coming from Ebola-stricken areas of the DR Congo. Back in May, when the outbreak began, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) raised its travel warning for parts of the DR Congo and Uganda, while the Department of Homeland Security directed travelers arriving from the DR Congo, Uganda, and South Sudan to go through enhanced screening at designated US airports.

These new rules, announced by the ruling Trump administration on Monday, will place US nationals currently in DR Congo or who recently left the country on a “do-not-board” list using federal transportation powers, Reuters reported, citing a White House official.

The measure comes amid the fast-spreading outbreak of the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola in DR Congo, where 1,926 confirmed cases and 702 deaths have been reported by health authorities as of July 11th. By July 15th, those numbers increased to 2,011 confirmed cases and 754 deaths.

On Friday, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said an American working for a humanitarian organization in DR Congo had tested positive for Ebola. Another US citizen infected while working in the Central African nation was admitted to Frankfurt University Hospital in Germany, his employer, the evangelical Christian organization Samaritan’s Purse, said on Monday. Peter Stafford, a surgeon and leader with the Christian missionary group Serge who contracted the virus earlier in the outbreak, was also evacuated to Germany for treatment. –RT

Uganda has reported 20 confirmed cases and two deaths. A case linked to travel from DR Congo has also been detected in France involving a doctor who returned late last month from a humanitarian mission.

World Health Organization chief, General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, says that even thought the virus continues to spread, the risk for a more global or widespread regional spread is very low.

Russia, China, 25 More States Sign Agreement to Create World AI Cooperation Organization

Russia, China, 25 More States Sign Agreement to Create World AI Cooperation Organization

Sputnik

Russia, China and more than 25 other countries have signed an agreement on the establishment of a world organization for cooperation in the field of AI, a Sputnik correspondent reported on Thursday.

The signing ceremony took place in Shanghai ahead of the World Artificial Intelligence Conference 2026.

Russia was represented by Digital Development Minister Maksut Shadayev, while Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi signed on behalf of Beijing.

The agreement was concluded ahead of the World Artificial Intelligence Conference and the High-Level Conference on Global AI Governance, set to take place in Shanghai from July 17 to 20, where Xi Jinping is expected to present China’s proposals on AI development and governance.

Xi Jinping to Address Global AI Governance Summit in Shanghai

Moral Corruption: Our World Has Grown Accustomed To Embracing Lies

Moral Corruption: Our World Has Grown Accustomed To Embracing Lies

Barry Stagner

The apostle Paul gives us insight into the direction the world is trending: “The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness” (2 Thessalonians 2:9-12).

The word “delusion” means “fraudulence.” It can also refer to straying mentally, a wrong opinion relative to morals or religion, an error that shows itself in action, or a wrong mode of acting. The “lie” believed by the people mentioned in 2 Thessalonians 2:11-12 is the antichrist’s claim that he is God, the world’s Savior and Lord. Are we seeing the world move in the direction of the ultimate lie being believed by the masses? Do people have the wrong opinions today with regard to morals or religion? Are these errors manifesting themselves in the actions of the deluded? Have many in our world mentally strayed from the truth and facts? Are people today looking to the government or powerful leaders to lead and save them from life debts, burdens, and perils?

I think we all know the answers to those questions. We live in a time when the level of mental straying from long-held and obvious truths tells us we are near the end of the church age and approaching the tribulation. We have become familiar with new terms being invented to accommodate the beliefs of a deluded world. Gender dysphoria is one of those terms. This refers to the condition of feeling one’s emotional and psychological identity as male or female is the opposite of one’s biological sex. The key word here is feelings; the individual’s gender is determined by their feelings and not the facts of genetics and biology. This indicates a mental straying from what is actually true.

In other words, you can use orange spray paint on an apple and try calling it an orange, but it won’t change it from being an apple. You can give hormone treatments to a man and put him in a dress and high heels, but if you look at his chromosomes, they are still XY, and therefore he is still male, no matter how he may feel. But, if you don’t accept such a person or call them by their preferred pronouns, you could lose your job and, in some places, go to jail. Think about how far that strays from genetic and biological truth— the possibility of being fired or imprisoned for not calling a boy a girl or a woman a man.

Jesus made a parallel between “the days before the flood” and the times preceding the rapture. One of the dominant characteristics of Noah’s days was corruption: “The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence. So God looked upon the earth, and indeed it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted their way on the earth” (Genesis 6:11-12).

Remember, the word “corrupt,” as we’ve seen it used in Scripture, means “moral perversion” and refers to meat or fruit that has become rotten or spoiled. The word pervert means “to become its opposite.” To pervert is to do what Isaiah 5:20 says about calling evil good, and good evil. As we examine the time of the signs, we should be looking for people to use words and ideas in ways that are the opposite of what they used to mean and be. That will be part of the corruption that fills the earth in the last days.

The apostle Paul describes such corruption in the first chapter of Romans: “Even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting; being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful; who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them” (Romans 1:28-32).

Paul says in Romans 1 that when a nation (or the world) rejects God’s existence and authority, a moral perversion will spread and lead to a time when the moral and character flaws in Romans 1:28-32 will become dominant. Paul closes this passage with what we could call the end of the digression and the point of no return. Society will have hit rock bottom, so to speak. He says in verse 32 that not only will moral perversion be practiced, it will be approved of.

I believe that one of the most significant signs of the last days is recorded here in Romans 1:32 even though the context of Paul’s statement is general and not specific to eschatology. The word “approve” is the reason for this belief. “Approve” means “to feel good about, to be pleased with, to consent, agree to or applaud.” That’s how people will feel about the practices listed in Romans 1:28-31.

We could summarize Paul’s conclusion by saying that in the last days, moral depravity will become a human right.

US expands strikes into Tehran area as Iran threatens to ‘resist until the end’

US expands strikes into Tehran area as Iran threatens to ‘resist until the end’

AGENCIES and TOI STAFF

The United States intensified its strikes targeting Iran early Thursday, hitting targets further north and into the Tehran area, as the Islamic Republic expanded its attacks on US allies in the region and vowed to “resist until the end.”

Days of back-and-forth strikes by the US and Iran across the Middle East — and renewed threats to the Strait of Hormuz — have shredded the interim deal to end the Iran war and could tip the region back into all-out war. Iranian officials say US strikes have killed more than 35 people and wounded over 300.

US strikes reached into areas around Iran’s capital, Tehran, for the first time in the latest round of violence, showing a widening set of targets for the Americans.

Iranian state media also reported American attacks in the northern Semnan province, home to Iran’s ballistic missile production and space program.

Other strikes were reported in the provinces of Hamedan, Hormozgan, Khuzestan, Lorestan, Markazi, and Sistan and Baluchistan.

“US forces struck Iranian command centers, air defense sites, missile and drone capabilities, and coastal surveillance facilities,” the US military said in a statement, adding it also hit targets in Bandar Abbas, home to Iran’s largest port and to key navy and Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps facilities on the Strait of Hormuz.

In the Persian Gulf, the US military began to enforce Trump’s newly reinstated naval blockade of Iranian ports, and said it opened fire on the Curacao-flagged oil tanker Belma sailing toward Kharg Island, Iran’s main oil export terminal. After the ship “ignored multiple warnings,” a US aircraft disabled the merchant vessel by firing a missile into the ship’s smokestack.

Another American strike Wednesday targeted a barracks for Iran’s 388th Mechanized Infantry Brigade, which operates tanks and armored vehicles, in Sistan and Baluchestan province, Iranian state television reported. The report said Americans fired at least 13 missiles in the attack and the seven dead included conscripts and career soldiers. A number of troops were wounded.

Iran retaliated with missile and drone fire targeting Bahrain, Jordan and Kuwait before dawn and the Iranian military’s Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters warned its attacks may escalate.

“All the infrastructure in the region will be crushed under the steel blows of the powerful armed forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran” should US President Donald Trump’s threat to target Iranian infrastructure be carried out, said Brigadier General Mohammad Akraminia. Trump on Tuesday threatened to hit Iranian power plants and bridges next week unless Tehran resumes negotiations.

“Under no circumstances and in no way will we allow America, as a foreign and extra-regional country, to interfere in the Strait of Hormuz,” the Iranian military spokesman added. “This is Iran’s invincible red line.”

“The Americans thought that by attacking some of our bases on the southern coasts of the country, they could take control of this strategic strait,” Akraminia said.

“However, the Islamic Republic of Iran has the ability to exert control over the Strait of Hormuz from every single point of its territory, and this matter is never dependent on coasts and islands,” he said.

Turning toward its Arab neighbors, Iran threatened to continue its attacks on their soil as long as they allow US forces to be stationed there.

“Our neighbors should know that providing a base to the Americans and allowing them to fire on Iranian soil is unacceptable and will not go unanswered,” Iran‘s army said in a statement, just as it announced several more attacks on Gulf countries.

There was no immediate acknowledgment of damage or casualties from the attacks.

Meanwhile, Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi condemned an overnight drone attack on the city of Erbil in Iraq’s semiautonomous northern Kurdish region. The drone, which authorities said had been intercepted, came during his trip to the US in which he said Iraq would work to disarm non-state armed groups, including those backed by Iran.

Report: Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon could begin within 'hours'

Report: Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon could begin within 'hours'

Shachar Kleiman

Sources in the Lebanese presidential palace told the Lebanese television channel MTV that the second day of negotiations in Rome witnessed more significant progress, and the discussions became practical and detailed regarding the implementation mechanisms of the framework agreement.

According to the sources, the parties discussed the timeline for the start of the withdrawal from the pilot areas in southern Lebanon. The officials claimed that all preparations are being made so that the withdrawal will begin in the upcoming days or even within hours. They added that an announcement is expected to define the exact date and expressed hope that the process would not be delayed beyond the weekend.

According to the sources, further discussions are expected later to establish a timetable for Israeli withdrawals from additional areas beyond the pilot zones. Regarding the verification mechanism to ensure that the areas are demilitarized of weapons belonging to Hezbollah, the sources said that the information would be passed to a third party.

"We are open to the American vision, and we have a natural tendency to prefer that UN bodies like UNIFIL handle the verification. Several proposals are being discussed," the officials said.

Furthermore, sources in the palace of Lebanese President Joseph Aoun emphasized, "Any meeting with Benjamin Netanyahu is something that is flatly rejected. Aoun's visit to Washington will include a meeting with Trump and perhaps with several senior officials. The visit will be very quick."

US official: Israel withdraws from parts of security zone in Lebanon

The official described the move as "a gesture of goodwill" toward the Lebanese government. Israel has denied the report, while the IDF stresses: We were not instructed to withdraw.

A US State Department official told Reuters that Israel had withdrawn from parts of the security zone in southern Lebanon. According to the official, the move was "a gesture of goodwill" toward the Lebanese government.

Israel has yet to issue an official response to the report, but a senior Israeli security official denied it in a conversation with Reuters, making clear that Israel's policy is clear: The IDFwill not withdraw from the buffer zone, and its forces are still enforcing control of the area against anyone who approaches it, including Lebanese Army soldiers. Troops on the ground told Israel Hayom, "We have not received any instruction to move from the area where we are stationed."

Later, sources told Al-Arabiya that Lebanon and Israel had reached an agreement in principle on the pilot areas for withdrawal. According to the sources, a declaration of intent is expected to be published after the two sides reach an agreed-upon text. However, a Lebanese military official briefed that so far, no withdrawal of IDF troops had taken place, and they remain deployed in areas captured in southern Lebanon.

Several days ago, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made clear that even amid contacts between Israel and Lebanon in Washington, "We will remain in the security zone in southern Lebanon for as long as necessary to protect our dear residents of the north and all citizens of the state. As prime minister of Israel, I insist on this firmly, and nothing will change that," he said.

Defense Minister Israel Katz also declared Wednesday, "Israel will not withdraw from Lebanon, even if the Americans demand it." Speaking at the Muni Expo 2026 local government conference, Katz added that "the soldiers have full freedom of action to defend themselves."

Yashar! chairman and former Israel Defense Forces Chief of Staff Gadi Eisenkot also addressed the diplomatic sensitivity at the conference, saying, "We have reached a situation in which there has been no approval to blow up tunnels in recent days. The president of the US is asking the president of Syria to deal with Hezbollah. There has never been anything like this."