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The Democratic Republic of the Congo is battling the fastest-growing Ebola outbreak ever recorded, with 2,325 deaths and nearly 5,000 confirmed cases just three months after it was declared.
Pick & Scroll News
August 18, 2026
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Good morning. The Democratic Republic of the Congo is battling the fastest-growing Ebola outbreak ever recorded, with 2,325 deaths and nearly 5,000 confirmed cases just three months after it was declared.
It has already surpassed the country's worst previous epidemic, and the WHO warns that at this pace it could overtake the West African outbreak of 2014-16.
There's no approved vaccine for this particular strain, and with only half the funding for the response secured, health officials say they're falling further behind the virus.
All the headlines and more below...
ORIGIN BREACH INVESTIGATION CENTRES ON FORMER ACCENTURE EMPLOYEE IN MANILA
Origin Energy's security breach, which exposed the personal information of almost 1 million customers, is focusing on a former Accenture employee based in Manila who allegedly attempted to extort the company for money in exchange for the stolen data.
The employee worked at Accenture's Manila operation, where Origin had outsourced key billing and customer support functions. The individual has since left the consulting firm.
Accenture, the technology and consulting giant, has become a major provider of outsourcing services for Australian companies including Coles and Telstra. The firm runs Origin's billing, customer support and accounts payable functions from India and the Philippines.
AUSTRALIAN NEWS
3M KNEW ITS FIREFIGHTING FOAM WAS TOXIC 50 YEARS AGO, AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT CLAIMS IN $2B LAWSUIT
Commonwealth lawyers claim internal 3M documents show the company was aware its products stayed present in water and soil, persisted in the human body and in animals, and contributed to reduced kidney function, alterations in immune function, effects on fertility and puberty, and lower birth weight in babies.
The federal government alleges 3M was aware by the early 1970s that components in its firefighting products - including substances that form PFAS "forever chemicals" - were hazardous to humans, animals and the environment, according to court filings in a $2B lawsuit against the multinational.
The products were sold to Australia for use in firefighting foam. PFAS are called "forever chemicals" because they do not break down in the environment or the human body.
The federal government's lawsuit, filed in the Federal Court, seeks to recover the cost of investigating and remediating contaminated sites.
COMPANY NEWS
Woolworths has seen its latest Ooshies collectables campaign forecast to lift its July and August sales outperformance over Coles by up to 4%, adding about US$100M. LINK
NAB reported a 3Q cash profit of US$1.83B as higher interest rates boosted earnings while home loan applications fell about 15% and it forecast -1.4% investor mortgage growth. LINK
Alphabet is preparing its first Australian Kangaroo bond of up to $5B as part of a global debt-raising push to fund escalating artificial intelligence investment. LINK
Ferrari has sold its first electric car, the Luce, for a record US$40M at a charity auction with proceeds going to Ferrari Foundation educational programs. LINK
Canva has tightened protections on its AI products as fraudsters exploited a loophole to access excess AI credits and sell loaded accounts with premium video models on grey markets. LINK
BlueScope Steel posted a FY net profit after tax of $802M, up 857% year on year, as stronger US spreads and Southeast Asian earnings offset weaker Australian performance. LINK
Iress reported an 85% uplift in first-half FY26 statutory NPAT to $32M as it announced CFO Cameron Williamson will depart after an international replacement search. LINK
oOh!media has reported a 11.1% fall in half-year underlying net profit after tax to $15.4M as softer billboard demand in a weaker macroeconomic environment hit revenue. LINK
JB Hi-Fi reported a sharp July sales pullback as 3 interest rate rises, the Federal Treasurer’s budget tax grab and a global memory chip shortage hit shoppers. LINK
A2 Milk has issued guidance for mid-single-digit annual revenue growth and a 15% earnings margin, missing analyst expectations as China supply disruptions weigh on its performance. LINK
Lendlease has reported a FY26 net loss of $749M as housing market weakness and cautious Baby Boomer buyers slow luxury apartment sales and delay its $600M One Darling Point project. LINK
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ONE MORE SCROLL
Editor’s Pick: Book returned to NSW library 150 years after being borrowed.
Draft Pick: Collingwood teenager Sam Swadling has earned the Telstra AFL Rising Star nomination for Round 23.
Doctor’s Pick: Nutritionist warns against ‘healthy’ protein snacks derailing your diet.
BRAINTEASER
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Try it out here: https://oec.world/en/games/tradle-game
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