Ebola Cross-Border Push: DR Congo’s Ebola outbreak keeps accelerating, with confirmed cases rising to 710 and 149 deaths; authorities say there’s no lockdown and are intensifying surveillance, contact tracing, targeted vaccination and community engagement as WHO warns the fatality rate may be underestimated. Mining Local Equity Pressure: Congo miners are asking for a delay on a directive requiring a 5% equity stake for Congolese workers ahead of a July 31 deadline, as unions push for enforcement and major operators seek clarity on how the rule applies. Digital ID for E-Government: Kinshasa launched RDC-PASS, a national digital identity platform under a 20-year public-private partnership with Trident, aiming to cut document fraud and support financial inclusion and public service delivery. Belgium Maps Fight: DR Congo is pushing Belgium over colonial-era geological records, with talks focused on digitisation and restitution to strengthen “geoscientific sovereignty” and attract investment. Security & Politics: Opposition protests in Kinshasa over constitutional reform turned violent, while the government crackdown raises stakes ahead of the referendum battle. Business Connectivity: Aviation analysts note major African routes still lack direct flights, including Brussels–Cape Town and Johannesburg–Mumbai, despite some recent progress. Local Market Incident: Popular South African singer Makhadzi was mobbed by fans during a Kinshasa market visit, damaging her vehicle—an attention spike that also underlines the region’s fast-growing entertainment economy.