July marked the second consecutive monthly record for imports by value. Crude oil played a major role in the increase as Japan faced higher energy costs. Crude import volumes rose 5.5% from July 2025, ending three months of year-on-year declines. The value of those crude shipments jumped 87.8% over the same period. Japan remains heavily dependent on imported energy, making changes in oil prices and exchange rates important factors in its merchandise trade figures.
The Democratic Republic of the Congo will receive 70,000 Ervebo Ebola vaccine doses as the Bundibugyo outbreak expands. Congolese authorities reported 5,208 confirmed cases and 2,476 deaths as of Aug. 18. The outbreak now affects 56 health zones across six provinces in the east and northeast. Authorities also listed 1,115 recoveries, while 730 patients remained in isolation or hospital care.
U.S. stocks ended modestly higher Wednesday as long-term Treasury yields fell sharply. The S&P 500 rose 16.22 points, or 0.21%, to 7,707.98, ending a three-session losing streak. The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 119.65 points, or 0.22%, to close at 53,463.05. The Nasdaq Composite added 41.38 points, or 0.16%, finishing at 26,331.09. Falling government bond yields helped major indexes recover after several sessions of pressure from rising borrowing costs. Bond prices climbed after the U.S. Treasury Department announced larger liquidity support buybacks for longer-dated government debt. Starting September 9, the maximum purchase size will increase from $2 billion to at least $4 billion per operation. The change covers nominal coupon securities in the 10-to-20-year and 20-to-30-year maturity sectors. The increased amounts will remain in effect through November 4. The department said strong volumes of high-quality offers supported the decision to increase liquidity operations in those sectors. Treasury yields moved lower following the announcement, reversing part of a recent rise in long-term borrowing costs. The 10-year Treasury yield fell to about 4.65%, while the 30-year yield declined to about 5.20%. Bond yields move inversely to prices, so stronger demand for government debt pushed yields lower. The retreat eased pressure that had accompanied the recent
WHO incident manager Thierno Baldé said the three-month timeline depends on securing the resources required for the response. The agency has received about $69.3 million of the $115 million it says it needs, or roughly 60%. Teams added more than 400 treatment beds during the past two weeks. They also deployed 100 additional epidemiologists and more than 500 community health workers for surveillance and contact tracing. The response requires vehicles, ambulances, medical supplies and personnel across a growing affected area. Transmission has reached Bas-Uélé, making it the sixth affected province. As of Aug. 12, Ituri accounted for 85% of confirmed cases and 79% of reported deaths nationwide. Officials said 70% to 80% of new cases had no known link to existing patients. Health teams are expanding surveillance to identify cases faster and transfer patients into treatment centers. Bas-Uélé’s first confirmed case had traveled from Haut-Uélé before symptoms began on Aug. 4.
Indonesia 6.1 earthquake rattles North Sumatra coast NORTH SUMATRA / RankWire.AI / – A magnitude 6.1 earthquake struck off Indonesia’s North Sumatra province on Tuesday, shaking communities across parts of Sumatra. The earthquake occurred at 1:02:23 p.m. western Indonesian time, or 06:02:23 UTC. Official data placed the epicenter in the sea, 147 kilometers southeast of South Nias Regency. The earthquake had a depth of 29 kilometers, with its source beneath waters west of Sumatra. Residents across other parts of Sumatra also reported shaking after the magnitude 6.1 earthquake. The National Disaster Mitigation Agency, or BNPB, said the earthquake had no potential to generate a tsunami. Residents in South Nias felt weak shaking for about three to five seconds. Local disaster offices began monitoring affected areas after the tremor, while the initial national bulletin provided no confirmed casualty or damage figures.
The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo has become the deadliest in the country’s history, with 4,945 confirmed cases and 2,325 deaths as of Aug. 16. Health officials recorded 101 new confirmed cases during the previous 24 hours, surpassing the 2,299 fatalities recorded during the country’s 2018 to 2020 Ebola outbreak. The outbreak has expanded at an exceptional pace since authorities formally announced it in May, with the virus killing one person every 30 minutes. The World Health Organization classified the emergency as a public health emergency of international concern on May 17.
The Democratic Republic of the Congo recorded 26,064,143 malaria cases in 2025. The country also reported 29,938 deaths linked to the disease during the year. Guy Esebe Dembo, deputy director of the National Malaria Control Programme, announced the figures during a campaign launch in Ituri province. Dembo said malaria remains the country’s main public health challenge. The new totals confirm a heavy disease burden across one of Africa’s most malaria-affected countries.
Eco-friendly vehicles lead July export gains
The ministry linked the July export increase to more operating days and continued overseas demand for eco-friendly vehicles and SUVs. Major automakers shifted summer vacation schedules from July in 2025 to August in 2026. That change increased the number of working days during the month. Higher production followed the same calendar effect, with output rising 11.3% year on year to 352,000 vehicles. June production had reached 394,000 vehicles, an increase of 11.6% from a year earlier.
On August 12, 2026, a total solar eclipse crossed the Russian Arctic. It then swept into the North Atlantic and continued toward Europe. State Space Corporation Roscosmos said the eclipse began over Russia’s remote northern regions at about 17:00 GMT. The Moon’s shadow moved across Greenland and Iceland before reaching Spain and northeastern Portugal near sunset. Totality appeared only inside a narrow corridor. Surrounding regions across Europe, North America and Africa experienced a partial solar eclipse.
Etihad Airways will launch seasonal nonstop flights between Abu Dhabi and Gothenburg on December 17, 2026. The service will operate four times a week through March 21, 2027. The route will connect the UAE capital with Sweden’s second largest city during the winter travel period.
The UN said economic uncertainty, digital inclusion and climate change rank among major challenges facing younger generations across borders. These pressures often reach beyond national boundaries and require coordinated responses, according to the Secretary-General’s message. Guterres also pointed to the creativity, dynamism and leadership of young people. He described youth as organizers and innovators who already contribute to communities and public life. The message linked youth participation with wider efforts to advance sustainable development. Skills were another focus of the 2026 message. Guterres called for young people to gain stronger access to critical thinking, problem-solving and digital literacy. He said those capabilities will help shape the future and support wider participation in society. The Secretary-General also urged institutions to work with young people as equal partners. He called for greater youth involvement in decisions at local, national and international levels. The UN said investment and inclusion remain central demands for young people around the world.
Diesel prices remained elevated on Wednesday as tighter refined-product supplies kept pressure on fuel markets in the United States and Europe. U.S. ultra-low sulfur diesel futures jumped 7.4% on Monday to settle at $4.19 a gallon. That marked the contract’s biggest daily gain since July 13. Early Wednesday trading put the contract near $4.28 a gallon, while European diesel refining margins remained at historically high levels after rising nearly 10% on Monday.
Thousands of lawsuits accusing major social media companies of fueling harmful and addictive use among young people can continue in federal court. The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals rejected an early appeal from Meta Platforms and TikTok on Aug. 10. The ruling leaves more than 3,000 consolidated federal cases before U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers in Oakland. Plaintiffs allege that platform design features encouraged compulsive use and contributed to mental health problems among children and teenagers.
Europe’s extreme summer heat and drought could cut EU economic output by about 1% in 2026, according to new analysis from Triodos Bank. The estimated loss equals roughly €180 billion and is close to the European Commission’s current growth forecast for the bloc. In May, the Commission projected EU gross domestic product would rise 1.1% this year. The comparison shows the scale of the weather-related damage estimated in the bank’s analysis.
Fujian authorities suspended 686 road passenger routes and 658 train services during the storm response. They also closed 234 major tourist attractions and canceled dozens of cultural and tourism events. In Shanghai, airlines canceled more than 900 flights at the city’s two main airports on Monday. Heavy rainfall caused flooding in parts of the financial center and disrupted public transportation. The measures followed widespread weather warnings across coastal areas exposed to Dolphin’s winds and rain.
The July consumer price index reached 102.92, with 2025 set as the index base of 100. Holiday home rentals and package holidays accounted for 1.24 percentage points of the monthly increase. Food added 0.15 percentage point. Lower clothing, hotel accommodation and footwear prices reduced the monthly rise by a combined 0.34 percentage point. Rent provided the largest positive contribution to annual inflation, adding 0.55 percentage point. Holiday home rentals added 0.51 point, while fuel added 0.39 point. Electricity prices cut 0.68 point from the annual rate. Food prices reduced it by 0.26 point, and package holidays subtracted 0.06 point. The combined movements left headline inflation below June’s 1.9% reading.
DR Congo’s Ebola outbreak has killed 1,916 people and produced 4,209 confirmed cases, according to official data through Aug. 7. That raises the death toll 29 above the 1,887 figure reported in the earlier update. Health authorities also counted 595 patients receiving care in isolation. Another 828 people have recovered from the Bundibugyo virus disease outbreak.
Gold advanced for a third consecutive session on Tuesday as bullion extended its rebound from last week. Spot gold gained 1% to $4,432.74 an ounce by 0217 GMT, reaching its highest level since June 5. U.S. gold futures climbed 1.7% to $4,492.60. The move pushed prices above the seven-week peak recorded last week and continued a recovery that accelerated after weaker U.S. employment data.
Fresh vegetable prices have surged in South Korea as prolonged extreme heat reduced shipments and damaged farm output nationwide. Korea Agro-Fisheries & Food Trade Corp. data showed spinach at 1,978 won per 100 grams on Aug. 7, up 152.3% from a month earlier. Ten cucumbers cost 8,313 won, an increase of 54.8%. Blue lettuce rose 41.7%, while a zucchini climbed 46.6% to 1,504 won. The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs linked the increases to persistent high temperatures affecting heat-sensitive vegetables. Spinach, cucumbers and zucchini grow better in cooler conditions, while extreme heat can slow growth and reduce marketable output.
South Korea recorded a $596.6 million tourism surplus in June 2026, its strongest monthly result since the COVID-19 pandemic. The figure marked a $1.44 billion improvement from June 2025, when the balance showed an $846.8 million deficit. Korea Tourism Organization data show June produced the second-highest monthly tourism surplus on record. Only October 2008 was higher, with a surplus of $661.5 million.