Curbed

The World Health Organization reports that the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo has spread to two new health zones, raising concerns about the potential for wider transmission. Wire services including Reuters, The Hindu and South Africa's SABC are carrying the update, which health officials say underscores the difficulty of containing the virus in remote, densely connected communities. Response teams are working to trace contacts and curb further spread.

Donald Trump has stated that Iran cannot be allowed to possess a nuclear weapon, restating a long-standing US position on Tehran's nuclear programme. The declaration comes amid ongoing tensions over Iran's nuclear activities and international efforts to curb enrichment. The remark drew attention from regional and international media tracking US-Iran relations.

The European Union has floated possible curbs on energy demand in a letter circulated to member states, as officials search for ways to tackle the ongoing energy price crisis. The letter, reported by Bloomberg, signals Brussels is considering demand-reduction measures alongside other interventions. The proposal is likely to spark debate among member governments over how far the EU should go in rationing or restricting energy use.

Switzerland is voting on an initiative to tighten the country's constitutional neutrality rules and end peacetime military cooperation with NATO. The proposal would legally anchor stricter neutrality, barring joint exercises or security collaboration with the alliance outside wartime. The vote touches a long-running Swiss debate over whether traditional neutrality remains workable amid the war in Ukraine and growing European security concerns.

Billionaire investor Bill Ackman argues that the Federal Reserve's latest interest rate hike could actually make inflation worse rather than curb it. His warning challenges the central bank's standard playbook, suggesting higher rates may raise costs and stoke price pressures, and is fueling debate among investors and economists about the Fed's policy path.

A new EU directive aimed at curbing greenwashing in advertising comes into force. Terms like 'green', 'sustainable' and 'climate neutral' must now meet stricter rules so environmental claims are clearer and verifiable for consumers. Attention in Germany is focused on the national implementation, which has drawn criticism, along with practical questions about what happens to products already sold in old packaging with sustainability claims.

The European Union is moving to restrict the energy and water consumption of data centres, according to Euronews. The measures would target the rapidly growing power and water demands of computing infrastructure, a topic that has drawn attention as artificial intelligence drives expansion of server facilities across Europe and raises concerns among residents and environmental groups.

Several Florida counties have declared a state of emergency in response to what health officials are calling a wildly unusual outbreak of dengue fever. The mosquito-borne illness, typically rare in the continental United States, has prompted local emergency measures as authorities work to control mosquito populations and curb further transmission. Coverage from national outlets is drawing attention to the outbreak's unusual scale and the implications for public health in the region.

Swiss voters are heading toward rejecting a proposal to tighten the country's constitutional neutrality rules, a measure that would have restricted cooperation with NATO and other Western militaries. The vote is being watched across Europe, as Switzerland's long-standing neutrality faces renewed debate following Russia's invasion of Ukraine and closer security ties between Bern and Western allies.

Housing prices are continuing to climb even as regulatory measures aimed at curbing the real estate market remain in place. The discussion focuses on what is currently driving the market and why policy intervention has not slowed price growth, a concern for households and policymakers alike.

India has proposed banning junk food sales in school canteens and within 50 meters of schools, a move aimed at curbing rising obesity and diabetes rates among children. The proposal, reported by Reuters, marks a tightening of rules around food sold in and around educational institutions, and is drawing attention to concerns over children's health and diet.

India's Supreme Court has issued a major ruling requiring police to record written reasons before making arrests, in a move aimed at curbing arbitrary detentions. Odia-language outlets are highlighting the decision with the message that police can no longer arrest without justification, and the ruling is drawing wide attention across the country.

High-level meetings have been held on measures to address climate change and ensure a fair transition, according to a government announcement from Kyrgyzstan's e-government portal. The discussions focus on policy steps to curb climate impacts while protecting workers and communities during the shift to a greener economy. Details of specific commitments or outcomes have not yet been made public.

Bangladesh says it will strengthen measures to address growing conflict between humans and elephants, as encounters between communities and wild elephants rise in the country's forest-edge regions. Officials point to habitat loss and shrinking elephant corridors as key drivers of the problem. Conservation groups have long urged better protection for both villagers and the country's endangered elephant population.

Commentary by Ron Bousso examines the dilemma facing the Trump administration over US diesel exports: restricting or curbing them may play well politically with domestic audiences, but would carry real economic costs for refiners and energy markets. The piece argues the politics and the economics point in opposite directions, leaving the administration with a costly trade-off.

Oheka Castle, the Gilded Age estate in Cold Spring Harbor on Long Island often called a real-life Xanadu, has been put up for sale. The sprawling mansion, one of the largest private residences in the United States and a landmark of American architecture, is being marketed through an auction process. The listing is drawing attention from real estate watchers and fans of historic estates, given the property's fame as a filming location and event venue.

A German radio program is devoting its 14:00-16:00 slot to the EU packaging regulation, which aims to curb unnecessary waste generated by companies such as Temu and Shein. The show also examines the burden the rules place on small businesses and independent artists, featuring an interview with Sascha Stadlmeier of the Augsburg-based label Attenuation Circuit about the effects on small operators.

Supermodel Linda Evangelista has sold her penthouse loft in Manhattan's Chelsea neighborhood for $6.75 million. The apartment, located in a well-known building associated with the Spears family name in real estate circles, marks the latest high-profile luxury property transaction in New York. The sale highlights continued interest in celebrity real estate and the enduring appeal of Chelsea loft spaces at premium prices.