Ebola Surge in Ituri: DR Congo’s confirmed Ebola cases climbed to 550 with 101 deaths, as new clusters appear and authorities push harder surveillance, contact tracing, vaccination and health-center capacity. Health System Strain: Reports from the epicenter describe hospitals short on tests and protective gear, with caregivers—especially women—facing impossible risks while communities also resist the science behind the outbreak. Cross-Border Pressure: The crisis is spilling into neighboring Uganda, while regional coordination efforts (EAC) face a funding wall and delays in budget payments. China Steps In: Beijing has sent a medical expert team to support the response, but questions remain over how much more it will do as the outbreak grows. US Minerals Push: The US launched a $12bn critical minerals stockpile (Project Vault), aiming to reduce dependence on China—an issue that matters for Congo’s mining economy. Air Congo to Brussels: Air Congo plans five weekly Kinshasa–Brussels flights from July 1 using a Boeing 787-8 wet-leased from Ethiopian Airlines, a major connectivity boost for trade and tourism. Aviation Disruption: DR Congo’s World Cup warm-up vs Chile was cancelled in Spain over Ebola health concerns, adding uncertainty to preparations. Justice & Security: A Congolese appeal trial sentenced a colonel and others to death for the 2017 murders of UN investigators, while the US announced targeted sanctions on senior commanders of eastern rebel groups. Migration Watch: Kinshasa says more than half of a small group of South American deportees have already left the country, highlighting the practical limits of third-country removals.