Germany Aug ZEW current conditions index -61.1, consensus -69.5, previous -77.6.

WHO spokesperson says an Emergency Committee on Ebola will convene on Tuesday.

On Aug 18 Qatar Foreign Ministry spokesman Majid Ansari said Doha is concentrating diplomatic efforts on de-escalation by securing a US‑Iran ceasefire, reopening the Strait of Hormuz and ensuring freedom of navigation, and by getting both parties back to the negotiating table. Ansari said Qatar, with Pakistan, helped mediate a memorandum of understanding between the US and Iran and is pressing to restore dialogue and implement the MoU; ceasefire breaches have so far prevented full implementation. Qatar is awaiting an Oman‑Iran agreement on the Strait as a catalyst to resume talks and said its priority is a pact that both reopens the Strait and secures a ceasefire.