CBE policy rates remain unchanged as Egypt reports 14.9% annual urban inflation. Inflation figures played a crucial role in the most recent policy review. In July, annual urban headline inflation climbed to 14.9% from 14.3% in June. Concurrently, annual core inflation rose to 14.7% from 14.3%. However, in July, both headline and core consumer prices showed no monthly growth. The primary focus remains on lowering inflation.
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
Business
Japan posted record monthly values for both imports and exports in July 2026, as higher energy costs and strong technology demand lifted total trade. Imports climbed 27.8% from a year earlier to about 12.15 trillion yen. Exports rose 23.2% to roughly 11.51 trillion yen. The Ministry of Finance reported a trade deficit of 634.5 billion yen because imports grew faster than overseas shipments during the month.
Health
As the Ebola crisis expands, the Democratic Republic of the Congo has obtained an allocation of 70,000 Ebola vaccine doses. The country’s health authorities reported 5,208 confirmed cases and 2,476 deaths by Aug. 18. Currently, the epidemic affects 56 health zones across six provinces. Additionally, 1,115 recoveries have been documented, while 730 patients remain hospitalized or isolated as response teams continue their efforts in eastern and northeastern regions of DR Congo.
World Health Organization reports that the Ebola crisis in the Democratic Republic of the Congo could be brought under control within three months if adequate resources are mobilized. As of August 16, official data indicated 5,021 confirmed cases and 2,378 fatalities. The virus has impacted six provinces and 55 health zones, with a case fatality rate roughly at 47%. This has made it the most lethal Ebola outbreak ever documented in the nation. WHO and Congo health teams strengthen surveillance amid the expanding Ebola outbreak. In late August, WHO incident coordinator Thierno Baldé highlighted that the timeline for containment hinges on maintaining sufficient staffing, supplies, and operational capacity. To date, the response has secured approximately $69.3 million of the $115 million needed. Over a two-week span, health teams added more than 400 treatment beds and deployed 100 additional epidemiologists alongside over 500 community health workers. These personnel support activities such as surveillance, contact tracing, case detection, and patient referrals. The effort also necessitates ambulances, vehicles, medical supplies, and trained staff across the affected regions. Transmission has now extended to Bas-Uélé, marking it as the sixth province impacted by the outbreak. While Ituri remained the main transmission hub in mid-August, accounting for the majority of confirmed cases and deaths, officials noted that many new infections had no apparent link to known patients. This gap underscores the urgency for faster case identification and contact monitoring. Consequently, teams have expanded surveillance measures to
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.
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.
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CBE policy rates remain unchanged as Egypt reports 14.9% annual urban inflation. Inflation figures played a crucial role in the most recent policy review. In July, annual urban headline inflation climbed to 14.9% from 14.3% in June. Concurrently, annual core inflation rose to 14.7% from 14.3%. However, in July, both headline and core consumer prices showed no monthly growth. The primary focus remains on lowering inflation.
As the Ebola crisis expands, the Democratic Republic of the Congo has obtained an allocation of 70,000 Ebola vaccine doses. The country’s health authorities reported 5,208 confirmed cases and 2,476 deaths by Aug. 18. Currently, the epidemic affects 56 health zones across six provinces. Additionally, 1,115 recoveries have been documented, while 730 patients remain hospitalized or isolated as response teams continue their efforts in eastern and northeastern regions of DR Congo.
Japan posted record monthly values for both imports and exports in July 2026, as higher energy costs and strong technology demand lifted total trade. Imports climbed 27.8% from a year earlier to about 12.15 trillion yen. Exports rose 23.2% to roughly 11.51 trillion yen. The Ministry of Finance reported a trade deficit of 634.5 billion yen because imports grew faster than overseas shipments during the month.
On Wednesday, U.S. equities moved higher, buoyed by a notable decline in long-term Treasury yields and a boost from healthcare sector gains. The S&P 500 increased by 16.22 points, or 0.21%, closing at 7,707.98. The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 119.65 points, or 0.22%, ending the day at 53,463.05. The Nasdaq Composite also advanced, adding 41.38 points, or 0.16%, to finish at 26,331.09. This upward movement marked the end of a three-session losing streak for all three major U.S. indices.
World Health Organization reports that the Ebola crisis in the Democratic Republic of the Congo could be brought under control within three months if adequate resources are mobilized. As of August 16, official data indicated 5,021 confirmed cases and 2,378 fatalities. The virus has impacted six provinces and 55 health zones, with a case fatality rate roughly at 47%. This has made it the most lethal Ebola outbreak ever documented in the nation. WHO and Congo health teams strengthen surveillance amid the expanding Ebola outbreak. In late August, WHO incident coordinator Thierno Baldé highlighted that the timeline for containment hinges on maintaining sufficient staffing, supplies, and operational capacity. To date, the response has secured approximately $69.3 million of the $115 million needed. Over a two-week span, health teams added more than 400 treatment beds and deployed 100 additional epidemiologists alongside over 500 community health workers. These personnel support activities such as surveillance, contact tracing, case detection, and patient referrals. The effort also necessitates ambulances, vehicles, medical supplies, and trained staff across the affected regions. Transmission has now extended to Bas-Uélé, marking it as the sixth province impacted by the outbreak. While Ituri remained the main transmission hub in mid-August, accounting for the majority of confirmed cases and deaths, officials noted that many new infections had no apparent link to known patients. This gap underscores the urgency for faster case identification and contact monitoring. Consequently, teams have expanded surveillance measures to