Lahore consumers face retail food prices that remain well above official government rates. The authorities set the official price of chicken at Rs461 per kilogram, reducing the notified rate by Rs22. However, retail vendors still charge between Rs520 and Rs570 per kilogram. While potatoes officially cost Rs27 to Rs30, market prices have soared to Rs50 to Rs70. Tomatoes, listed at Rs130 to Rs180, are being sold for Rs250 to Rs300. Onions also surpass their ceiling, with retail prices reaching Rs200 to Rs220. Similar disparities are evident across other staple foods. Spinach, officially priced between Rs57 and Rs60, can fetch up to Rs120 in markets. Farm cucumbers, with an official range of Rs85 to Rs90, are being sold at prices as high as Rs150. The largest price gaps are seen in fruit markets. Certain varieties of dates are officially priced between Rs310 and Rs435 per kilogram, yet retail prices range from Rs800 to Rs2,400.
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According to WHO figures, the Democratic Republic of the Congo had reported 4,665 confirmed cases and 2,184 deaths by August 12. The authorities identified infections across 54 health zones in six provinces, including Ituri, North Kivu, South Kivu, Haut-Uélé, Tshopo, and Bas-Uélé. WHO characterized the epidemic as the largest Ebola outbreak ever recorded in the country. The agency also noted ongoing transmission within connected geographic clusters, which continues to place high demands on surveillance teams, laboratories, treatment centers, and local health services. In its August update, WHO maintained a very high national risk level for the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It also classified the risk for neighboring countries as high, while assessing the global risk as low.
The Democratic Republic of the Congo has obtained a quota of 70,000 Ebola vaccine doses as its Bundibugyo outbreak expands. Health officials reported 5,208 confirmed cases and 2,476 deaths as of Aug. 18. The epidemic currently affects 56 health zones across six provinces. Additionally, 1,115 recoveries have been documented, while another 730 patients remain in isolation or hospital care as response teams operate in affected communities across eastern and northeastern DR Congo.
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.
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The biggest camera change is a 48-megapixel Fusion Main camera with variable aperture. Six internal blades allow the lens to move between four aperture settings. Users can adjust aperture, shutter speed and white balance directly inside the Camera app. A histogram can also display exposure levels while a scene is framed. The updated imaging system adds new texture and grain controls to Photographic Styles, while video users can apply Cinematic effects after capture. Apple is also introducing Reference Image for people who need to check whether a photograph has been altered. The opt-in feature records signed sensor data when a picture is captured in Reference mode. Private Cloud Compute develops that data into a reference image for comparison inside the Photos app. Apple plans additional support for the SynthID standard through a software update later this year. Image metadata will provide another way to identify AI-generated or edited content.
The most notable camera upgrade is a 48-megapixel Fusion Main camera featuring a variable aperture. Six internal blades enable the lens to shift between four different aperture settings. Users can fine-tune aperture, shutter speed, and white balance directly within the Camera app. A histogram can also be displayed to show exposure levels while framing a scene. The revamped imaging system introduces new texture and grain controls for Photographic Styles, while video recording users can add Cinematic effects post-capture. Apple is also launching a Reference Image feature designed for those who need to verify whether a photograph has been edited. This opt-in capability records signed sensor data when capturing images in Reference mode. Private Cloud Compute processes this data to generate a reference image that can be compared within the Photos app. Support for the SynthID standard will be added via a software update later this year, with image metadata serving as another method to identify AI-generated or manipulated content. Photographers gain increased control through variable aperture.
The United States is expanding its battery manufacturing facilities while simultaneously working to reduce reliance on China. Although domestic cell production has increased, significant gaps remain upstream in the supply chain. Chinese firms continue to dominate the global production of various critical materials necessary for lithium-ion batteries, including graphite anodes, cathode components, and lithium iron phosphate technology. The current challenge extends beyond merely assembling batteries, focusing now on securing the minerals, raw materials, and processing capacity essential to sustain those manufacturing plants.
Japan is strengthening its efforts to combat investment fraud by leveraging artificial intelligence to identify early warning signals within consumer complaints. The AI system will scrutinize the language used in complaints, patterns of solicitation, and similarities with historical cases. Officials hope to detect harmful schemes and troubled businesses more proactively by utilizing existing data collected nationwide from consumers. The focus of these measures lies on schemes that promise substantial returns or consistent dividends, often before the perpetrators encounter financial difficulties.
Dubai-based flag carrier Emirates has begun its northern winter travel season with strong forward booking figures across its international routes, surpassing initial corporate forecasts. This achievement follows a high-density summer operation period where the airline carried over 8.6 million passengers to 140 destinations worldwide between July and August. Robust demand across both leisure and premium travel segments continues to propel passenger traffic as the airline increases capacity to meet seasonal volume expectations.