Curbed

NPR reports on whether the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo is finally coming under control. The question of containment is drawing attention as health authorities work to curb the virus's spread, with observers weighing case trends and response efforts to judge whether the outbreak is being brought to heel.

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 US Supreme Court has ruled against most of the tariffs imposed by Donald Trump, striking them down in a decision with wide-ranging trade and legal implications. The ruling limits the administration's use of tariff powers and is drawing attention for its impact on US trade policy and presidential authority.

European interior ministers are meeting to discuss strengthening the bloc's external border controls and speeding up the return of rejected asylum seekers. Talks reportedly cover fast-track return procedures and tighter monitoring at migration routes, part of a broader push to curb irregular arrivals. Migration remains one of the most contested policy areas across EU member states, with governments under domestic pressure to show results.

The European Commission is urging member states to reduce energy demand ahead of winter, as gas prices face a squeeze on supply. Energy Commissioner Dan Jørgensen said the EU is not facing an immediate gas-security crisis, but a price-and-supply squeeze that could worsen, prompting calls for national measures to lower consumption and prepare for a tighter winter season.

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.

The Reserve Bank of Australia meets on Tuesday for the sixth time this year, with economists and financial markets treating another interest rate rise as near certain. The question being debated is not whether rates will go up but how many further increases may follow as the bank tries to curb inflation, and what that means for mortgages and household budgets.

The Reserve Bank of Australia is expected to lift the cash rate to 4.6%, which would make it the highest level since 2011. The anticipated hike points to continued efforts to curb inflation, and would add to cost-of-living pressures for Australian households and businesses with mortgages and loans.

Billionaire hedge fund manager Bill Ackman criticized the Federal Reserve's latest rate hike, calling it a mistake that he argues could actually make inflation worse rather than curb it. His comments add to a running debate among investors and economists over whether the central bank is tightening policy too aggressively as price pressures persist.

Swiss voters have rejected a proposal to enshrine stricter neutrality rules in law, a move that would have limited cooperation with Nato. The result keeps open the possibility of closer security ties with Western allies, including joint military exercises and arms deals with neighbouring countries. Supporters of the measure had argued stricter neutrality would preserve Switzerland's traditional role, while opponents warned it would weaken the country's security at a time of war in Europe.

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.

Reports say US export controls on advanced semiconductors were largely absent from the agenda when Donald Trump met Xi Jinping at their summit, despite chips being a central point of friction between Washington and Beijing. Analysts suggest both leaders prioritised broader trade truce issues, leaving technology restrictions unresolved and questions about future curbs open.

Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten is lobbying Washington against a fresh round of export restrictions that would hit ASML's China business. US lawmakers are pursuing legislation that could tighten controls on the chip-equipment maker's immersion lithography systems and its servicing activities in China. The Dutch intervention highlights tensions between US efforts to curb China's chip ambitions and the interests of Europe's most valuable tech firm.

Australia's four major banks are now unanimous in forecasting that the Reserve Bank of Australia will raise interest rates at its meeting next week. The shift to a shared expectation reflects growing conviction among economists that tighter monetary policy is needed to curb persistent inflation, and borrowers are bracing for another increase in mortgage costs.

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, a sector whose rapid growth driven by cloud computing and artificial intelligence has put mounting pressure on electricity grids and water supplies. The proposal signals tighter regulation of tech infrastructure across member states, with debate focusing on how sustainability rules will affect data centre operators and Europe's digital economy.

Swiss voters have rejected a proposal to enshrine stricter neutrality rules in law, a measure that would have restricted cooperation with NATO and other military alliances. The result keeps Switzerland's existing neutral status flexible, allowing continued security cooperation with Western partners. Supporters of the initiative had argued for firmer neutrality, while opponents warned it would isolate the country as European security concerns grow.

Swiss voters have rejected a proposal to enshrine stricter neutrality rules that would have curbed cooperation with Nato. The result keeps Switzerland's current posture of armed neutrality intact, allowing continued collaboration with the Western alliance. The vote is being closely watched across Europe, where neutrality debates have intensified since Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

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.

India has proposed banning junk food sales in school canteens and within 50 meters of school premises, in an effort to curb rising obesity and diabetes rates among children. The move signals a tougher regulatory stance on food sold around educational institutions and has drawn attention to children's health concerns in the country.

Housing prices are continuing to rise despite government regulations aimed at curbing the market, prompting debate about whether the policy measures are working. Analysts and commentators are examining what is driving the increases in the real estate market right now, including demand pressures, supply shortages, and the limits of regulatory intervention.

South Korean President Lee Jae-myung is weighing the risks of the country's powerful, heavily centralised presidency, a system critics call an 'imperial presidency'. Following the impeachment of his predecessor Yoon Suk Yeol over his martial law declaration, debate has intensified over whether constitutional reform is needed to curb presidential powers and prevent future abuses.

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.

Warren Buffett's long-standing proposal to curb the US deficit is circulating again. The idea is simple: Congress must pass any deficit-reduction law, and if the deficit is not cut below 3% of GDP, sitting members of Congress become ineligible for re-election. The plan, floated years ago, is being shared and debated as concerns over America's mounting federal debt grow louder.

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.

A Florida district is using robotic rabbits to help control the growing population of Burmese pythons, an invasive species threatening local wildlife such as protected mammals and birds. The decoys mimic prey to lure the snakes into traps, offering a novel tool in the state's long-running effort to curb the pythons' spread in the Everglades region.

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.

Michigan voters will weigh in on Proposal 2 this November, a ballot initiative that would bar utility companies and government contractors from making campaign contributions. Supporters say the measure would curb pay-to-play influence in state politics, while debate centers on how far restrictions on political donations should go ahead of the vote.

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 property, located in a well-known building in the area, marks a notable luxury real estate transaction in New York. The sale is drawing attention from both fashion and property watchers given Evangelista's status as one of the most recognizable models of her era.