Ebola Response: Africa CDC is urging the DRC to move fast on the government’s plan to deploy the Ervebo vaccine as the Ebola crisis surges, with confirmed cases and deaths climbing sharply and the lack of a licensed, targeted option for the Bundibugyo strain making the situation more urgent. Outbreak Update: WHO says the outbreak likely began months earlier than the official May declaration, and new reporting puts the toll above 2,000 deaths and 4,000+ cases, while response teams push to expand testing, isolation, and contact follow-up. Frontline Science: Researchers have published early Ebola genomes in Nature Medicine, pointing to a recent animal spillover rather than a return of an older human-adapted strain—an important clue for how the outbreak started. Health & Mobility: Authorities released a boat detained near Kinshasa over Ebola fears after tests came back negative, while officials say monitoring will continue for vessels heading toward the capital. Urban Culture: Kinshasa’s To Skater Festival is bringing skateboarding and street art into the spotlight, mixing clinics, music, film, and talks to challenge how young people see urban sports. Security & Daily Life: Islamic State-linked ADF fighters are blamed for a deadly village raid in Ituri, killing civilians and forcing families to flee amid both violence and the Ebola outbreak. Identity & Citizenship: In Ituri, residents like Heritier Ramazani say they’re still uncounted and lack official documents, as the DRC prepares for a new national census. Arts on the Move: The DRC’s Venice Biennale pavilion, “Simba Moto! Seize the Fire!”, reframes fire as a forge—an artistic statement that pushes creation over catastrophe.