Congo’s fast-moving Ebola outbreak spreads to eighth province - Toronto Star

Published: October 19, 2026 at 8:13a.m. EDTSINGAPORE/JAKARTA — Muhamad Yasin, a 63-year-old parking attendant in central Jakarta, says he has cut back on meals as rising prices have put food staples beyond his reach. “I used to be able to get rice, tempeh and tofu for 7,000 to 8,000 rupiah ($0.39 to $0.44). Now it’s 15,000 rupiah,” said Yasin, who earns 200,000 to 300,000 rupiah a week, beside the minimarket where he watches over parked motorcycles. Global food inflation is poised to accelerate in the coming months and persist well into 2027, as war-related shipping disruptions and El Nino-driven drought squeeze cereal supplies, putting additional pressure on vulnerable consumers like Yasin, a father of four. In Indonesia, rice prices have already jumped to record highs amid forecasts of delayed rains, while the cost of bread in Egypt has risen by a quarter and sugar prices in India hit an all-time high as the weakest monsoon in over a decade curbed production. “All this has put considerable pressure on the system,” said Maximo Torero, chief economist at the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).

Published: October 19, 2026 at 7:56a.m. EDTNEW YORK — JPMorgan Chase said it has invested US$5 billion in equity in industries critical to US economic and national security, as banks seek to capitalize on growing demand for domestic manufacturing, energy infrastructure and supply-chain resilience. The lender also announced it has financed about $230 billion under its Security and Resiliency Initiative since launching the effort a year ago, when it committed to financing $1.5 trillion of US investments in the next decade, including in national security. Latest updates on investing hereLarge US banks have already been investing in rising demand for AI data centers, critical minerals and energy infrastructure upgrades, as President Donald Trump’s administration has prioritized growing US infrastructure to reduce dependence on foreign supply chains in various sectors, including clean energy and rare earths. JPMorgan said its own investments have supported companies in sectors including advanced manufacturing, energy, supply chains and defense-related technologies.

Published: October 19, 2026 at 7:48a.m. EDTSpaceX and Tesla will report third-quarter results on consecutive days this week, giving investors a rare side-by-side look at Elon Musk’s two most valuable companies as merger speculation gathers momentum. The results will test whether Starlink’s steady growth and Tesla’s car profits can fund the AI spending powering the merger debate. “In terms of metrics, it would have to be Starlink revenue growth more than launch counts and improvement in auto margins for Tesla,” said Shawn Campbell, an adviser at Camelthorn Investments who owns shares in both companies, describing investors’ focus for results. Barclays suggested last week a deal could be announced before Tesla’s annual meeting, with SpaceX the likelier acquirer, though neither company nor Musk has officially committed to favoring a deal. Latest updates on company news hereTesla on Monday said its annual meeting would be held on December 3. In an all-stock deal, Barclays estimates Musk would hold about 37 per cent of the equity and 56 per cent of the votes.

Published: October 19, 2026 at 7:32a.m. EDTU. S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio was in Uzbekistan on Monday to promote trade and ties with Central Asia, during a trip that came amid rumblings that America’s top diplomat is ignoring pressing matters in favor of politically safer visits and meetings. The trip, which involves a stop in India later this week, seeks to promote U. S. economic and security ties with Central and South Asia. But it has only tangential links to the Trump administration’s current main foreign policy dilemmas in the Middle East and with the Russia-Ukraine war. Rubio has brushed aside suggestions he is eschewing the most difficult issues in favor of taking on lower-hanging diplomatic fruit with less risk of failure and political damage, and the State Department pushed back on the criticism of his schedule. Trade War coverage on BNNBloomberg.caIn Samarkand, Rubio was meeting with his counterparts from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan under the C5+1 diplomatic forum, which brings together the five Central Asian countries and the United States to discuss security, trade and other shared concerns.

Company NewsPublished: October 19, 2026 at 7:21a.m. EDTMullen Group buying Wilson International. (Mullen Group) OKOTOKS — Trucking and logistics company Mullen Group Ltd. has signed a deal to buy Wilson International Ltd., a customs brokerage firm with operations in Canada and the United States. Financial terms of the agreement were not immediately available. Latest updates on company news hereWilson has more than 330 employees in Canada and the U. S., that provide customs and logistics services. It is expected to continue to operate as a stand-alone business within Mullen Group. The existing senior management team, led by Jim McKinnon, will remain responsible for overseeing Wilson’s operations. The deal is expected to close in the fourth quarter. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 19, 2026. Companies in this story: (TSX:MTL)

Published: October 19, 2026 at 7:07a.m. EDTHONG KONG — China said Monday its economy grew 4.5 per cent in the July-September quarter from a year ago fueled by robust exports, moving closer to meeting its official annual growth target for the year as trading partners seek to balance their trade deficits with the country. Economic growth accelerated from the 4.3 per cent year-on-year rate recorded in the April-June quarter, the slowest expansion in more than three years. Its economy expanded 4.6 per cent in the first three quarters. For the whole year, Chinese leaders have set a growth target of 4.5 per cent to 5 per cent, down from last year’s 5 per cent expansion. Earlier this month, the International Monetary Fund trimmed its forecast for China’s 2026 economic growth to 4.5 per cent, the lower end of Beijing’s goal. “Domestic demand was weak, while trade grew strongly,” said Dave Chia, an economist at Moody’s Analytics. Exports will likely stay strong but global trade barriers remain a risk, he said. Exports are strong, but domestic sluggishness remainsChina’s domestic demand has been weighed down by a yearslong downturn in its property market.