Ebola Update: DR Congo’s confirmed Ebola cases jumped to 550 with 101 deaths as health authorities push harder on surveillance and contact tracing, warning the outbreak is spreading across multiple clusters and reaching harder-to-access areas. Frontline Health Crisis: Reports from Ituri describe hospitals short of tests and protective gear, with health workers and patients falling ill—fueling fear and undermining containment. Misinformation Risk: Communities in Mongbwalu are rejecting the science behind Ebola, with rumors driving arson and distrust that complicates public health work. Regional Response & Funding: The East African Community is coordinating an Ebola response for Ituri, but faces a funding wall, with arrears still unpaid and new contribution formulas under debate. China vs. U.S. Role: Coverage highlights a “leadership vacuum” narrative as the U.S. scales back and China weighs whether to step up, while Beijing has sent an expert team to Kinshasa. Aviation & Trade: Air Congo plans nonstop Kinshasa–Brussels flights from July 1, using an Ethiopian wet-lease aircraft to navigate EU certification limits—potentially reshaping travel and business links. World Cup Disruption: Ebola concerns have already derailed DR Congo’s friendly vs Chile in Spain, adding uncertainty to preparations for the 2026 tournament. Governance & Justice: A Kinshasa appeal trial sentenced a Congolese colonel and others to death over the 2017 murders of UN investigators, a major accountability moment with wider security implications. Migration & Consular Services: The DRC says more than half of a first group of U.S.-deported South Americans have left the country, while Kenya urges its nationals across Central Africa to register for consular support.