WHO reports over 320 confirmed Ebola cases in DRC, warns of potentially wider epidemic
via Business News2 min read
The World Health Organization WHO announced on Tuesday, June 2, 2026, that 321 confirmed cases of Ebola have been recorded in the Democratic Republic of Congo DRC, along with 116 suspected cases. The organization also reported 48 deaths and six recoveries in the country since the epidemic began. This update shows a significant decrease in the number of suspected cases compared to previous reports, as several hundred alerts were ultimately dismissed after laboratory analysis. However, the WHO expressed serious concerns about the true extent of the epidemic, noting that the number of infected individuals could be much higher than currently detected due to many difficult-to-access areas and significant gaps in health surveillance. The epidemic was first reported in mid-May in Ituri province, northeastern DRC. By May 16, eight laboratory-confirmed cases, 246 suspected cases, and 80 suspected deaths had already been identified in several health zones, including Bunia, Rwampara, and Mongbwalu. Unusual clusters of community deaths with symptoms consistent with the disease had been reported. Health authorities also reported several deaths among healthcare professionals, raising fears of transmission within medical facilities and revealing inadequacies in infection prevention and control measures. International concern grew when the epidemic crossed DRC's borders. According to the WHO, Uganda recorded nine confirmed cases, including one death. The first cases were detected in Kampala
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The Central Bank of Tunisia BCT has authorized banks to reschedule loans for farmers impacted by severe drought during the 2023-2024 and 2024-2025 agricultural seasons. This measure follows the official recognition of the drought as a natural disaster in several regions, including Siliana, Le Kef, and Kasserine, as published in the Official Gazette on May 8, 2026. The BCT's note, issued on June 2, 2026, outlines the operational framework for banks to restructure debts for affected farmers, particularly those who received seasonal credits for major crops and suffered significant damage due to rainfall deficits. The drought caused substantial losses, with some areas experiencing up to 100% damage to sown areas. Farmers must present a certificate from the Regional Agricultural Development Commission CRDA detailing the damage. Loans can be restructured for up to seven years, with individual assessments based on repayment capacity and recorded losses. The scheme covers seasonal credits for major crops from the 2024 and 2025 campaigns, certain related investment credits, and some debts from the 2023-2024 campaign. However, farms in irrigated areas are not included. Applications must be submitted to banks by July 15, 2026. The initiative involves the National Guarantee Fund to cover part of the rescheduling costs, while banks will bear risks for certain agricultural credits not covered by the fund. This aims to mitigate the drought's impact on bank portfolios and prevent a broader d
Slaheddine Selmi, Secretary-General of the UGTT, delivered a critical assessment of the relationship between the union and the executive power during the congress of the General Federation of Higher Education and Scientific Research. Selmi stated that there are no signs indicating a change in the government's policy towards the union organization. He expressed disbelief in a shift in the authorities' stance, citing a lack of willingness to re-establish constructive relations with national organizations, particularly the labor union. In response, Selmi urged union structures to rely on their own mobilization and organizational capabilities. He emphasized that congresses are crucial for injecting new dynamism into the organization and strengthening its ability to defend workers' interests in a challenging environment. The Secretary-General also highlighted the collective responsibility of all UGTT components in maintaining the organization's vitality, stressing that strengthening union action is not solely the responsibility of national leadership but of all activists and union officials at every level. Selmi reaffirmed the UGTT's commitment to union rights and collective bargaining, asserting that these achievements can only be preserved and strengthened through the engagement of union members themselves, rejecting any notion of seeking or awaiting external recognition of these rights. He declared that the UGTT would not beg for negotiation or the return of social dialogue, be
The General Federation of Banks, Financial Institutions, and Insurance Companies announced on Tuesday, June 2, 2026, a general strike scheduled for June 23, 24, and 25. This decision, communicated by the Federation's Secretary General, Sami Salhi, during a press conference, aims to address ongoing social negotiations and demand an immediate resumption of social dialogue and an agreement on 2025 salary increases. The Federation attributes this mobilization to what it describes as a unilateral breakdown of negotiations by the Banking and Financial Council and the Tunisian Federation of Insurance Companies. They argue that this suspension violates legal provisions and commitments outlined in the current sectoral agreement. The union also highlighted the lack of consensus on salary revaluations for employees in banks, insurance, and financial institutions, which it believes is fueling increasing social tension. The sector previously experienced a two-day general strike in November 2025 following the failure of salary negotiations between union organizations and employer representatives. Despite subsequent attempts to restart discussions, no lasting consensual solution has been found. Union organizations state that the latest proposals from employers, offering monthly increases between 70 and 100 dinars, fall significantly short of employee expectations, especially given the strong performance of the banking sector in recent years. According to the unions, 2025 financial data furt
Nabil Mokhtar, head of the mechanical beach cleaning program, reported on June 2, 2026, on the alarming state of Tunisia's coastline and announced the expansion of the annual sanitation campaign. The operation now covers 152 beaches along approximately 180 kilometers of coastline, up from 139 beaches previously. Nearly 6,500 hectares are included in this campaign, which typically runs until the end of summer, sometimes extending to October. Mokhtar noted the mobilization of human and logistical resources despite the scarcity of specialized companies. During the previous campaign, about 13,000 cubic meters of waste were collected, 85% of which was plastic, equating to over 11,000 cubic meters of plastic materials. He compared this volume to about 4.4 Olympic swimming pools filled with plastic or more than 550 large dump trucks. This accumulation is primarily attributed to irresponsible individual behaviors, such as discarding bags, bottles, and packaging directly into nature or the sea. Mokhtar highlighted the long degradation times for plastics in the marine environment: plastic bags can take 100 to 500 years, and some plastic bottles up to 450 years. Even after degradation, these materials turn into micro-particles that contaminate water, soil, air, and the food chain. He also mentioned polystyrene, which can persist for thousands of years. These invisible microplastics end up in fish, food, and drinking water, posing an indirect but lasting health threat. Mokhtar emphasized