A Kenyan High Court judge on Friday temporarily blocked a Trump administration attempt to set up an Ebola quarantine facility on an air base in the East African country. White House officials said earlier this week that a 50-bed facility would be operational from Friday for American citizens exposed to or infected by the virus.

The non-profit Katiba Institute, whose mission is to defend Kenya’s constitution, filed the restraining application Thursday, citing a lack of transparency and public participation and arguing that “constitutional recklessness” had implications for “grave public health.” 

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has identified six known strains of Ebola, four of which cause significant illness in humans. The most lethal Zaire strain has a mortality rate of up to 90%, according to the World Health Organization, while the Bundibugyo strain — behind an ongoing outbreak centered in the Democratic Republic of Congo — has a mortality rate between 30-50%. 

Trump administration officials said the facility on the Laikipia Air Base, about 124 miles from Kenya’s capital Nairobi, was being designed to provide access to high-quality care for Americans who need to quickly get out of Congo and quarantine without the risks of a lengthy trip back to the U.S.

Another administration official said the government was planning for a facility that would serve “asymptomatic individuals” who may have been exposed to Ebola, in cooperation with the Kenyan government.

As of Thursday, the U.S. was not aware of any exposed Americans who were to be transported to the center, senior administration officials told CBS News.

The Kenyan court said Friday that “a conservatory order is hereby issued restraining the respondents from establishing … any Ebola exposure, quarantine, isolation or treatment facility in Kenya.”

Another organization, the Law Society of Kenya, has also filed a constitutional petition against the proposed Ebola quarantine center, but there was no immediate ruling on that Friday.

“Kenya appears to have been selected as an alternative containment site, thereby externalizing infectious disease risk management to the Republic’s territory,” Katiba said in its legal challenge.  

The Kenyan government has 48 hours to respond to the petition.

Kenya’s health ministry has said it’s open to working with other governments, including the United States, but has not spoken in any detail about the proposed U.S. quarantine facility.

On Thursday, Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke with Kenyan President William Ruto by phone, and a State Department spokesperson later said Washington would provide $13.5 million toward the African country’s Ebola defense operations.

The current Ebola outbreak, focused in Congo’s conflict-plagued Ituri Province on the border with Uganda and South Sudan, is believed to have killed at least 220 people and infected more than 900 others. 

Uganda has confirmed seven Ebola cases, but with a lag time in confirming infections due to the virus’ long gestation period and slow public health reporting in the region, health experts fear there could be a surge in cases confirmed in the weeks ahead.

In:

Ethereum (ETH) has struggled through the first quarter of the year and the opening stretch of the second, but it has managed to hold a crucial line near the $2,000 mark. 

A new report from market expert Sam Daodu breaks down three potential paths for ETH for the remainder of 2026, with each scenario tied to catalysts that could push the network’s leading altcoin back above $4,000.

Bullish Pathway For Ethereum

Daodu’s analysis starts with the price action. Ethereum, he notes, has been trending downward since the start of the year, with only a short-lived recovery. ETH began 2026 around $3,100, later sank to a low of $1,743 in February—its weakest point since early 2023. 

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After that, the token has spent much of the year moving sideways between roughly $2,000 and $2,400, suggesting consolidation rather than a clear rebound. A key driver in the report is the upcoming Glamsterdam upgrade, which Daodu says could be the deciding factor for whether ETH revisits the $4,000 level during 2026. 

In his bullish scenario, Glamsterdam is assumed to launch on schedule in June. The upgrade would cut gas fees by 78.6% and lift throughput to as much as 10,000 transactions per second. 

At the same time, the news around the upgrade is expected to accelerate Ethereum exchange-traded fund (ETF) inflows, and the report also assumes Bitcoin (BTC) breaks above $90,000. With those conditions in place, Daodu suggests ETH could move above $4,000 in the third quarter, and finish the year between $5,000-$7,500.

ETH Could Retest The February 2026 Low

In the base case, the story is more subdued. Daodu expects Glamsterdam to ship, but with no strong immediate market reaction. ETF inflows remain positive but slow, and Bitcoin is assumed to rise above $85,000 without delivering a decisive breakout that would strongly re-ignite risk appetite. 

Under this scenario, Ethereum is still projected to clear $3,000 in the third quarter, then test $4,000 in the last stretch of 2026. The year-end outcome, however, is more restrained: ETH would close between $3,000 and $4,200. 

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The bear case is built around delays and macro pressure. Daodu assumes Glamsterdam is either pushed back until the last quarter of the year or launches with deployment bugs. 

He also adds a more risk-off environment by projecting that Bitcoin could fall below $70,000, driven by inflation data or renewed hawkishness from the Federal Reserve (Fed), along with ETF outflows returning. 

If those assumptions play out, ETH would likely fail to hold current support and break below $2,085. From there, the report suggests Ethereum could retest the February 2026 low near $1,743, and then end the year at or below today’s price. 

In this bearish scenario, the idea of Ethereum moving past $4,000 would likely shift into a 2027 discussion rather than remaining a 2026 target. For now, the leading altcoin trades at $2,134. 

Featured image created with OpenArt, chart from TradingView.com

After a day of breather, the markets resumed their rebound and extended their move while ending the day on a positive note. The Nifty opened higher and gradually kept building on the opening gains through the day. No major selling pressure was seen and the markets maintained their gains throughout the session. The headline Index closed with a net gain of 275.50 points (+1.16%).

This cigarette manufacturer has shown a major base formation over the past several weeks. As indicated by the technical parameters, the stock is set to move higher from its current levels, leading to a potential trend reversal in the stock.

ETMarkets.com

After staying in a corrective downtrend for a few months, GODFREYPHLP formed a base for itself in January this year. This base formation happened when the RSI formed a bullish divergence against the price. Over the past week, the stock has traded sideways while staying disconnected with the market moves on the either side.The daily MACD has turned positive over the past few days; it is now bullish and above its signal line. The expanding Histogram indicates accelerating momentum on the upside. The RSI has formed a new 14-period high, which is bullish.

The relative strength is showing a major trend shift. After flattening out, the RS line has started to move higher and has crossed above its 50-period MA. The stock has rolled inside the leading quadrant of the RRG; this will ensure relative outperformance of the stock over the coming days.

The OBV has formed a new high ahead of the price breakout. This bullish divergence indicates strong accumulation in the stock while it formed a base.

An expected move in GODFREYPHLP can take it higher to Rs. 2,300. A close below Rs. 2,030 would negate the current technical setup.

Milan Vaishnav CMT, MSTA, is a Technical Analyst and founder of EquityResearch.asia and ChartWizard.ae, and is based in Vadodara. He can be reached at milan.vaishnav@equityresearch.asia

Italy, Spain, France and the Netherlands will send naval assets to ⁠protect Cyprus in the coming days, Rome’s ⁠Defence Minister Guido Crosetto told parliament on Thursday.

A British Royal Air Force base on the island on Monday was targeted by an unmanned Iranian-made drone as part of the US and Israeli air war against ⁠Tehran.

The French military also said it would allow US aircraft on some of its bases in the Middle East during the conflict, adding that they “contribute to the protection of our partners in the Gulf”.

Spain will send its most advanced frigate to protect Cyprus after a drone strike on a British base on the Mediterranean island sucked it into the Middle East war, the Spanish defence ministry said.

Spain has come under intense US pressure for refusing to allow Washington to use its bases.

The “Cristobal Colon” will join French aircraft carrier “Charles de Gaulle” and Greek navy ships to offer protection and help evacuate civilians, the ministry said. Italy also said it would send “naval assets” to the EU member state in coming days and air-defence assistance to Gulf countries hit by Iranian strikes.

In an interview with RTL 102.5 radio, Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said, “We are clearly talking about defence, air defence, not just because they are friendly nations but because there are tens of thousands of Italians in that area and around 2,000 Italian soldiers that we must protect.”

Britain’s defence minister John Healey arrived in Cyprus Thursday, a defence source said.

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer said Tuesday the UK was dispatching “helicopters with counter drone capabilities” and a warship, HMS Dragon, to Cyprus as Britain continued “defensive operations” in the region.

The HMS Dragon is one of the Royal Navy’s six Type 45 air defence destroyers.

It is fitted with a Sea Viper missile system able to launch eight missiles in under 10 seconds and guide up to 16 missiles simultaneously, Britain’s defence ministry said.

The helicopters are Wildcat helicopters equipped with Martlet missiles that can take down drones.

On Wednesday, Cyprus’s High Commissioner to the UK Dr Kyriacos Kouros, said Cypriots were “disappointed” at the level of information-sharing with residents after RAF Akrotiri was hit and further drones intercepted.

“Let’s say the people are disappointed, the people are scared, the people could expect more,” he told the BBC’s Newsnight programme.

Starmer initially refused to have any role in the US-Israeli war with Iran but later agreed to a US request to use two British military bases for a “specific and limited defensive purpose”.

Those bases are in Gloucestershire, western England, and the UK-US Diego Garcia base in the Indian Ocean.

Starmer insisted that the Akrotiri base is not being used by US bombers.

Monday’s drone strike there caused minimal damage and no casualties, British officials said.

The families of service personnel have been moved away from the base as a precaution.

Source: France 24 with AFP and Reuters

–Agencies

Ethereum’s network activity seems to be moving in an opposite direction to its current price performance. While the price of ETH has been experiencing waning action in recent days, the leading network has continued to attract notable participation and usage within the broader cryptocurrency landscape.

User Base On Ethereum Keeps Expanding

Even in a volatile crypto and macro environment, the Ethereum network has managed to maintain an upside trajectory. Once again, the network is showing quiet but significant expansion while the price of ETH persistently struggles to post another notable upward movement.

A report from Coin Bureau reveals that behind the day-to-day price fluctuations, there is a steady rise in network activity. The rise in network activity is driven by an expanding user base, signaling that participation across the ETH ecosystem is deepening rather than fading.

According to the expert, Ethereum‘s user base is still expanding as the number of active addresses on the network is continuously increasing. Data shows that the overall number of active addresses has surpassed the 275 million landmark. This steady rise in active addresses coincides with ongoing market volatility, making it a crucial development to watch in the upcoming days due to its potential to influence the market trajectory.

From Decentralized Finance (DeFi) and staking to Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs )and Layer 2 activities, the expanding user base indicates that the foundations of ETH are still solid. Such resilience strengthens the network’s role as the foundation for the development of smart contract adoption.

ETH Network Activity Growth Reaches Untouched Levels

In 2025, the Ethereum network witnessed one of its sharpest growths in the past few years. As the year comes to an end, Leon Waidmann, a market expert and head of research at On-Chain Foundation, revealed that the ETH mainnet recently hit a new all-time high in network activity, underlining the blockchain’s relevance.

After months of steady growth, the leading network is now processing more transactions and computations than it has ever done since its existence. This level of processing power reflects a notable demand for application creation on the blockchain and a real user base.

Waidmann highlighted that layer 2s did not drain activity from Ethereum; instead, the projects expanded it, strengthening the network’s scalability. In addition, more economic activity is being settled on the blockchain than at any other time in its history, which paints a bullish 2026 for ETH and its expanding ecosystem.

As transaction counts rise and user engagement increases, the milestone indicates more than just short-term momentum. Meanwhile, this growth is shaping how the market views ETH’s current phase, which highlights a blockchain that is thriving despite evolving market conditions.

Despite recent waning price action, Milk Road still believes that ETH could close December in green even after one of its toughest quarters in recent years. Milk Road prediction is supported by the fact that some of ETH’s strongest months and rebound quarters have occurred following periods of heavy quarterly selling.

Thus, December ending on a positive note is possible. However, the more noteworthy question is what comes after. In the past, periods like these have often served as the reset period prior to strong recovery efforts.

Featured image from Freepik, chart from Tradingview.com

Realty firm Awfis Space Solutions Ltd on Tuesday reported a 59 per cent decline in its consolidated profit to Rs 15.97 crore in the latest September quarter on a high base effect.

Its net profit stood at Rs 38.67 crore in the year-ago period, helped by an exceptional gain of Rs 24 crore.

Total income, however, grew to Rs 392.97 crore in the July-September quarter of this fiscal from Rs 301.95 crore in the corresponding period of the preceding year, according to a regulatory filing.

Awfis, which has recently been listed on stock exchanges, provides flexible managed office spaces to corporates of all sizes. It takes office space from property owners to establish centres and then sub-lease the workspaces to enterprises.

As of September 30, 2025, the company has a portfolio of 247 centres and 1,70,000 seats across 8.4 million sq ft area (including spaces under fit-out and with signed letters of intent).

The base metals market is navigating a complex web of economic and geopolitical forces.

Aluminium and copper—two of the most critical industrial metals—are experiencing heightened price volatility, driven by U.S. trade policies, currency fluctuations, geopolitical tensions, and shifting supply-demand dynamics in China.

U.S. Trade Tariffs: A Double-Edged Sword

The United States, under President Donald Trump’s renewed tariff strategy, has imposed blanket tariffs on imports from several countries, including key metal producers. These tariffs aim to protect U.S. industries but often lead to unintended consequences. Retaliatory tariffs from affected nations are disrupting global supply chains, adding to market uncertainty.

Weakening U.S. Dollar: A Bullish Signal for Commodities

The U.S. dollar has shown signs of weakening in 2025 due to rising fiscal deficits and dovish monetary policy. Since base metals are priced in dollars, a weaker greenback typically makes them cheaper for foreign buyers—boosting demand and driving prices higher.

This effect has been particularly visible in copper, which is widely used in electrical infrastructure and green technologies. As global buyers take advantage of favorable exchange rates, copper prices have surged, even amid supply constraints. Aluminium, with its applications in transportation and packaging, has also come under upward price pressure.

Geopolitical Tensions: Disrupting Supply Chains

Ongoing geopolitical tensions—especially in Eastern Europe, the South China Sea, and the Middle East—are adding layers of complexity to the metals market. Conflicts and sanctions disrupt mining operations, transportation routes, and trade agreements, triggering supply shortages.

Recently, tensions involving Russia, a major aluminium producer, have led to sanctions restricting exports to Western markets. Similarly, instability in African copper-producing nations like the Democratic Republic of Congo has affected global supply reliability. These disruptions are fueling speculative pressure, with traders pricing in risk premiums that elevate market prices.

China’s Supply-Demand Dynamics: The Decisive Factor

China remains the world’s largest consumer and producer of base metals. Its domestic policies, industrial output, and environmental regulations have a profound impact on global pricing. In 2025, China is grappling with slower economic growth and a transition toward cleaner energy, both of which affect demand and supply.On the demand side, reduced construction activity and cautious infrastructure spending have softened copper consumption. However, the country’s aggressive push toward electric vehicles and renewable energy continues to support long-term copper demand. Aluminium demand, meanwhile, is being reshaped by China’s efforts to curb carbon emissions, leading to production caps and higher domestic prices.On the supply side, China’s tightening environmental regulations have led to the closure of several high-emission smelters, particularly in aluminium production. This has reduced global supply and contributed to price increases, especially as other producers struggle to fill the gap.

Conclusion

The interplay of U.S. trade tariffs, currency movements, geopolitical instability, and China’s evolving industrial landscape is creating a volatile environment for base metals.

Aluminium and copper, essential to both traditional manufacturing and emerging technologies, are at the center of this transformation.

Looking ahead, base metal prices are likely to remain volatile in the short term. Investors, manufacturers, and policymakers must navigate this uncertainty with agility. Hedging strategies, diversified sourcing, and adaptive trade policies will be crucial for managing risks and capitalizing on opportunities in a market increasingly shaped by global forces beyond just supply and demand.

(Hareesh V is Head of Commodity Research at Geojit Investments Limited)