Oil prices climbed on Wednesday as U.S. President Donald Trump threatened to destroy a bridge or power plant in Iran. The West Texas Intermediate for September delivery went up 2.49 U.S. dollars, or 2.95 percent, to settle at 86.83 dollars a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Brent crude for September delivery gained 3.06 dollars, or 3.36 percent, to settle at 94.07 dollars a barrel on the London ICE Futures Exchange.
Earlier on Wednesday, Trump wrote on Truth Social that any time Iran shoots at a ship in the Strait of Hormuz, the United States will bomb and destroy one bridge or power plant, including those located next to, or in Tehran.
In response, Iran's main military command, Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, warned on Wednesday if the United States attacks Iranian infrastructure, Iran will block all oil exports from West Asia and target oil, gas, electricity, and economic infrastructure across the region.
Crude futures settle higher on Wednesday as Trump threatens strikes on Iran's civilian infrastructure
The death toll from the ongoing Ebola outbreak in Africa surpassed 1,000 on Wednesday, according to the latest figures released by health authorities in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Uganda.
The DRC Ministry of Health said in its latest situation report released on Wednesday that the country had recorded 2,473 confirmed Ebola cases, including 999 deaths, as of Monday.
Uganda has reported 20 confirmed cases, including two deaths, bringing the combined death toll in the two affected countries to 1,001.
The outbreak, caused by the Bundibugyo virus, was declared on May 15 in Ituri Province in eastern DRC before spreading to the provinces of North Kivu, South Kivu, Haut-Uele and Tshopo.
On May 17, the World Health Organization determined that the Ebola outbreak in the DRC and Uganda constitutes a "public health emergency of international concern."
According to the DRC Ministry of Health, 737 patients were in isolation or receiving hospital treatment as of Monday, while 482 had recovered.
Speaking at a press conference in Geneva on July 16, World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the outbreak became the third-largest Ebola outbreak on record, and in the past month, it has expanded faster than any previous outbreak.
The current outbreak is the DRC's 17th since the Ebola virus was first identified in the country in 1976.
Tedros also said Uganda's last confirmed Ebola patient was discharged on July 16, starting the mandatory 42-day countdown to the end of that country's outbreak.
According to the WHO, a country can declare an Ebola outbreak over after 42 consecutive days without a new confirmed case following the date on which the last confirmed patient is no longer capable of transmitting the virus. This occurs when the patient either recovers, tests negative and is discharged, or dies. If no new infections are confirmed during the 42-day period, the outbreak is officially declared over.
Ebola death toll in Africa outbreak surpasses 1,000
