<p><strong>Wall Street indexes closed at record highs with only modest gains,</strong> as chip stock weakness and falling oil prices tempered optimism amid ongoing US-Iran peace talks.</p>

<p><strong>Canada and the Bahamas announced temporary 90‑day entry bans on residents of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, </strong>Uganda, and South Sudan to curb the risk of Ebola spreading during the outbreak.</p>

<p><strong>The Philippine Congress’ think tank, the Congressional Policy and Budget Research Department (CPBRD),</strong> urged diversifying fertilizer imports and boosting local production, warning that over-reliance on China for supplies poses risks.</p>

<p>Private establishments, especially malls, have saved <strong>nearly PHP 1 billion in electricity through energy conservation initiatives encouraged by the Department of Energy amid ongoing grid tightness</strong>.</p>

<p><strong>The Philippines secured USD 624.5 million in World Bank funding,</strong> with USD 600 million allocated to improve student learning outcomes and USD 24.5 million directed toward climate‑smart agriculture initiatives.</p>