Ebola Response: DRC expanded Ebola vaccination to Ituri, with Ervebo reaching 3,700+ people and a Bunia study (BRAVO) aiming to vaccinate about 20,000 frontline workers to test protection against the Bundibugyo strain. Outbreak Tracking: WHO reported mixed trends—Ituri and Haut Uele saw case drops, while North Kivu rose sharply—highlighting that many infections are still detected only after deaths in communities. Mpox Diagnostics: Swiss-led research in The Lancet Infectious Diseases suggests nearly 35% of DRC mpox PCR positives may be false due to contamination, raising the stakes for faster, cleaner testing and surveillance. New Antiviral Trial: NanoViricides began Phase II enrollment in DRC for NV-387 mpox treatment, using oral gummies and a Kinshasa-based principal investigator. Tech & Minerals: KoBold Metals is deploying AI-directed exploration in the DRC to find critical minerals like lithium, as the country remains largely unexplored. Digital Payments: Visa named Fally Ipupa as brand ambassador for Visa Pay in DRC, pushing the Central Bank’s cashless agenda. Conflict & Rights: Amnesty says M23 fighters and Rwandan-linked networks abused miners and trafficked gold and coltan—potentially amounting to war crimes. AI Influence: Anthropic reported misuse of Claude AI in DRC-focused influence operations using fake news sites to support Kinshasa’s narrative. Local Economy: South Kivu coffee producers are building a domestic market as conflict disrupts farms and export buyers. Diplomacy: Belgium and Rwanda restored ties after an 18-month rift tied to the DRC conflict. Public Health Policy: Canada’s Ebola travel ban continues to disrupt DRC visa holders’ family and work plans, with restrictions set to expire Sept. 28.