BBC News Briefing

27 May, 2026

Jules has short dark hair and a beard. He is wearing round glasses and a white shirt

Jules Darmanin

Hello. Today we're covering the Ebola outbreak in DR Congo, where aid workers are struggling to coordinate their response in a region marred by conflict. From Washington DC, Sarah Smith reports on US President Donald Trump's efforts to reshape the city to his image. Finally, we catch Pope Leo behind the wheel of a new luxury car.

TOP OF THE AGENDA

DR Congo faces 'catastrophic collision' in Ebola outbreak

The head of the World Health Organization called for a ceasefire to contain the outbreak. Credit: Reuters

The east of the Democratic Republic of Congo is at the centre of a "catastrophic collision of disease and conflict", the head of the World Health Organization, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, has warned on Tuesday. Ongoing conflict is hampering the outbreak response in the Ituri province, where dozens of armed groups are operating. "Clashes are driving mass displacement, pushing exposed contacts into overcrowded camps", Tedros said. Aid workers say that insecurity and poor transport links make it difficult to get to the epicentre of the crisis. There have been 220 suspected deaths from Ebola since the outbreak was declared on 15 May.

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