DR Congo
Ebola cases have ticked up in Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) since an outbreak was confirmed last week. In response, the government has thrown up checkpoints to restrict people’s movements in the Kasai province. There have now been 51 confirmed cases and 18 deaths, Francois Mingambengele, administrator of the Mweka territory, told Reuters. Though DRC is experienced at containing Ebola outbreaks, some aid workers have expressed concern that resources have dwindled after U.S. President Donald Trump’s gutting of USAID and cuts to foreign assistance, of which DRC was a recipient.
More from Reuters here.
Gaza
With so much international media coverage currently focused on the Palestine Action protests in London and Israel’s attacks on Qatar and the Global Sumud Flotilla, the daily killings in Gaza itself are in danger of fading from the news. Today, more than 50 people were killed in Israeli strikes on the Strip, and five more Palestinians, including a child, died from malnutrition. Another high-rise building was also flattened. To keep up with these day-to-day developments in Gaza, I recommend you keep your eye on live blogs. Al Jazeera’s is here. Middle East Eye’s is here. The New Arab’s is here. And Haaretz’s is here.
Cuba
Cuba has suffered a nationwide blackout after its power grid collapsed for the fifth time in less than a year. The Energy Ministry said it was working on restoring power and that there would be a full investigation. The island’s grid is dilapidated and there are no funds available to update it as Cuba struggles through one of its worst economic crises for decades. U.S. sanctions also mean the country does not have enough foreign currency to buy fuel.
More from the Guardian here.