Health authorities in the Democratic Republic of the Congo began administering Ebola vaccinations in Kisangani on Thursday, launching a targeted campaign in the capital of Tshopo Province to protect frontline responders. The initiative prioritizes healthcare workers, emergency response teams, and individuals with direct contact with confirmed patients as the country confronts its deadliest recorded Ebola outbreak. Health Minister Samuel-Roger Kamba confirmed that the government deployed an initial supply of the Ervebo vaccine under a compassionate-use framework across impacted eastern provinces to safeguard essential personnel and help disrupt viral transmission chains.
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The World Health Organization reports that the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo might be contained within three months if adequate resources are allocated to the response. Official data up to Aug. 16 indicate 5,021 confirmed cases and 2,378 fatalities. The virus has affected six provinces and 55 health zones, with a case fatality rate of approximately 47%. This has made it the deadliest Ebola outbreak ever recorded within the country. WHO and Congo health teams strengthen surveillance amid the expanding Ebola outbreak. (AI-generated image) According to WHO incident manager Thierno Baldé, the timeline for containment hinges on maintaining sufficient staffing, supplies, and operational support. The ongoing response has secured roughly $69.3 million out of the needed $115 million. During a two-week span, health teams added over 400 treatment beds, deployed 100 additional epidemiologists, and mobilized more than 500 community health workers. These personnel are vital for surveillance, contact tracing, case detection, and referral efforts. Additionally, the response requires ambulances, vehicles, medical supplies, and trained personnel across the regions affected by the outbreak. Transmission has now reached Bas-Uélé, marking it as the sixth province impacted by the outbreak. While Ituri remained the primary transmission hub in mid-August, responsible for most confirmed cases and deaths, officials noted that many recently identified infections lacked any known connection to existing patients. This situation underscores the urgency of faster case identification and contact monitoring. To address this,
Malaria prevention and treatment remain central to public health efforts across the DRC. The Ituri campaign was initiated across the health zones of Bunia, Nyakunde, Mungwalu, and Rwampara. Over the course of four days, the operation aims to provide antimalarial medication to more than one million residents. In the first half of 2026, Ituri alone reported over 373,000 malaria cases and 106 deaths. The health teams are leveraging this campaign to reduce infection rates and fever cases within affected communities.
Global health officials issued warnings on Friday regarding the rapid expansion of the health crisis in Central Africa. The World Health Organization has indicated that if community transmission persists and operational challenges in remote areas are not addressed, the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo could become the most deadly in history. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus warned journalists that at the current rate, the outbreak could eclipse the 2014–2016 West Africa epidemic, which resulted in over 11,000 fatalities across the region.
Ebola has resulted in the deaths of 1,916 individuals in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, as per official reports up to Aug. 7. The authorities have identified a total of 4,209 infections during this outbreak. The updated figures show an increase of 29 deaths compared to the earlier count of 1,887. Additionally, officials noted that 595 patients are under care in isolation, and 828 have recovered.
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Online child safety grows urgent as AI and digital information risks expand globally. Published by the Department of Global Communications before International Youth Day on Aug. 12, the brief highlights that over 82% of individuals aged 15 to 24 are internet users worldwide, per the report. While digital connectivity can open doors to learning, civic participation, and economic activities, it also exposes young people to harmful content while they are still developing critical judgment skills. The document points out that online risks can have impacts on cognitive, emotional, and social growth. The report categorizes these risks into three main areas. Threats associated with technology include misuse of artificial intelligence and other digital tools. Distribution-related issues involve algorithms and unequal access to dependable information sources. Content-based dangers encompass disinformation, harassment, and hate speech. The UN emphasizes that these challenges often interact because digital systems influence what users are exposed to and how information spreads. When platforms combine automated recommendations, data collection, and personalized content, younger users can face multiple risks simultaneously. Focus Grows on Platform Design and User Safety The brief also discusses business models reliant on user engagement, personal data, and targeted advertising. Such systems tend to increase exposure to extreme material and features that promote repeated use among children. Personalized marketing strategies present additional risks for young audiences. The report urges technology companies and AI developers to prioritize children’s rights and safety in product design. Furthermore, it calls for increased accountability concerning systems that influence what young people see online. Age restrictions are now part
On Tuesday, Japan achieved a successful launch of its H3 rocket, which carried the Michibiki No. 7 navigation satellite into orbit. The launch, identified as H3 Flight No. 9, took place from the Tanegashima Space Center at 4:23:31 a.m. Japan time. JAXA reported that the launch vehicle maintained its planned trajectory throughout the entire mission. Approximately 29 minutes after liftoff, the satellite separated and entered its predetermined orbit. Michibiki No. 7 expands Japan’s QZSS satellite navigation network. (AI-generated image)
A state court in New Mexico has ordered social media giant Meta to contribute $567 million to a youth mental health fund after ruling that its platforms pose a public nuisance. The decision was announced by Presiding Judge Bryan Biedscheid of the First Judicial District Court in Santa Fe following a three-week bench trial. The court found that Facebook and Instagram played a significant role in worsening youth mental health issues and failed in their duty to shield minors from online dangers and exploitation.
OpenAI is broadening the availability of ChatGPT by offering Free and Go users unlimited text conversations with GPT-5.6 Luna. During the current rollout, GPT-5.6 Luna also becomes the default model for those accounts. Additionally, free users will gain a Think button that enables the system to allocate more time to tackle complex questions before providing responses. This new access pertains solely to text chats and does not eliminate all usage restrictions across ChatGPT. OpenAI clarified that limits will still apply to file uploads, image generation, and other tools requiring extra processing. The Think feature will be introduced alongside unlimited text messaging next week, giving GPT-5.6 Luna increased reasoning capacity for tasks demanding deeper analysis.
South Korea recorded a total of 2,093,223 international visitors in July 2026, marking a notable rebound in global tourism. The monthly figure represented a 20.8% rise compared to 1,733,199 arrivals in July 2025. Furthermore, this number was 44.6% higher than the pre-pandemic level seen in July 2019. China remained South Korea’s largest source market for inbound visitors in July. The influx of foreign travelers also showed significant growth when compared to the same month two years prior. In July 2024, South Korea welcomed 1,408,499 international visitors, making the current total 48.6% higher. China continued to be South Korea’s largest source market during July 2026, with approximately 777,000 visitors from the country. Japan, Taiwan, the United States, and Hong Kong rounded out the top five origin countries. Japan contributed roughly 330,000 foreign visitors during the month, while Taiwan provided about 261,000. The United States accounted for around 150,000 arrivals, and Hong Kong added approximately 76,000. All of these key markets surpassed their respective July 2019 visitor counts, with China increasing by 49.6%, Japan by 20.2%, and Taiwan experiencing a 129.4% rise.