In 2025, the Democratic Republic of the Congo documented a total of 26,064,143 malaria cases, highlighting the extensive reach of the disease nationwide. During the same year, health officials also reported 29,938 deaths linked to malaria. Guy Esebe Dembo, deputy director of the National Malaria Control Programme, shared these statistics during the launch of a mass treatment initiative in Ituri province. This campaign aims to target regions where malaria remains a leading cause of illness and puts significant strain on healthcare resources.

Health teams respond as the DRC Ebola outbreak reaches a record national death toll. (AI-generated image) Since declaring the outbreak in May, the virus has continued to spread across eastern DRC. United Nations humanitarian chief Tom Fletcher reported that Ebola was claiming roughly one life every 30 minutes. The total number of cases had already exceeded the figures from the 2018-2020 outbreak before the latest update. Health officials have documented infections in 54 health zones across six provinces, with Ituri remaining the primary transmission hub, accounting for most confirmed cases. The current outbreak was officially declared on May 15 after laboratory testing confirmed the presence of Bundibugyo virus disease. It marks the 17th Ebola outbreak recorded in the DRC since the virus was first identified in 1976. On May 17, the World Health Organization classified the situation as a public health emergency of international concern. As there is no licensed vaccine or approved specific treatment for Bundibugyo virus disease, medical teams rely on supportive care, isolation protocols, testing, contact tracing, and infection prevention measures. Ebola spreads to six provinces within DRC The outbreak has now impacted Ituri, North Kivu, South Kivu, Haut-Uélé, Tshopo, and Bas-Uélé provinces. Bas-Uélé became the sixth affected region following the confirmation of a case in the Buta health zone, involving a patient who traveled from Haut-Uélé prior to developing symptoms. By August 12, health authorities

On Friday, global markets for precious metals faced downward momentum as spot gold prices decreased, signaling an overall weekly decline. Data from financial markets revealed that the spot gold price fell by 0.5 percent to trade at $4,326.75 per ounce, while United States gold futures for December delivery declined nearly 1.0 percent to $4,382.50 per ounce. These market corrections followed a sharp, temporary surge on Thursday, when bullion prices hit their highest levels in over two months before settling 1.3 percent lower amid sudden profit-taking.

In recent days, global health authorities have issued warnings about the rapid expansion of the health emergency in Central Africa. The World Health Organization stated that the ongoing Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo could become the deadliest in history if active community transmission persists and logistical challenges in remote areas remain unresolved. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus warned journalists that, at its current rate, this outbreak could surpass the 2014–2016 West Africa epidemic, which resulted in over 11,000 fatalities across the region.

In July 2026, global electric vehicle sales experienced a 9% increase from the previous year, totaling 1.85 million units worldwide. Europe led major EV markets in July as global electric vehicle demand continued to grow. During July, Europe stood out as the top performer among major electric vehicle markets, with regional sales increasing by 33% from a year earlier to approximately 450,000 units. From January through July, EV sales across Europe grew by 28%. Spain launched its Auto+ electric vehicle subsidy program on Aug. 4, offering up to 4,500 euros for eligible new electric passenger cars.