Briefly

DR CONGO

WHO chief says Ebola 'can be stopped' on visit

World Health Organization chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said Thursday that the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo "can be stopped" as he arrived in Kinshasa to oversee response efforts. Tedros said the WHO did not support travel bans because they "don't help much". The WHO has recorded more than 1,000 confirmed and suspected cases since the outbreak was declared on May 15.

JAPAN

Census shows record 5-year population drop

Japan's population fell by a record 2.5 percent over five years to 123 million in 2025, preliminary census data showed Friday. The decline of more than 3 million people was the largest since the survey began in 1920 and more than triple the drop recorded between 2015 and 2020. Officials said the data highlighted Japan's deepening demographic crisis of a low birth rate and rapidly aging population.

UNITED STATES

GDP growth revised down as inflation stays high

United States economic growth in the first quarter was significantly weaker than initially estimated, while consumer inflation remained elevated in April, official data showed Thursday. GDP expanded at an annual rate of 1.6 percent revised down from 2.0 percent. The personal consumption expenditures price index, the Federal Reserve's preferred inflation gauge, rose 0.4 percent in April, putting annual inflation at 3.8 percent.

AGENCIES-XINHUA