The United Kingdom has pledged up to 20 million pounds to help contain the Ebola outbreak that continues to spread across the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda. Health authorities have recorded almost 600 suspected cases so far, with at least 139 deaths attributed to the virus. The funding is intended to support containment efforts on the ground, including medical supplies, treatment facilities, and coordination with international health organizations working in the affected regions.
Despite the severity of the outbreak in Central and East Africa, UK health officials have stressed that the risk to the British public remains low. The assessment reflects current border health measures and the geographic distance from the outbreak's epicentre, though authorities continue to monitor the situation closely. Britain's financial commitment positions it among the leading contributors to the international response as the outbreak enters a critical phase.
In a separate development, Ofcom, the United Kingdom's media regulator, has issued a pointed warning to major technology companies over their failure to adequately protect children online. The regulator specifically named TikTok and YouTube as platforms that have not committed to making significant changes to safeguard younger users. Ofcom's concern centres on personalized content feeds, which the regulator says must be made safer for children who are increasingly exposed to harmful or age-inappropriate material through algorithm-driven recommendations.
Elsewhere in the United Kingdom, the RAC has warned drivers to expect heavy traffic over the bank holiday weekend, with an estimated 19 million car journeys expected on British roads. The advisory comes at a time when fuel costs have risen sharply since the outbreak of the Iran conflict, adding further strain to household budgets. On a lighter note, King Charles received an unexpected greeting during a royal visit to County Down in Northern Ireland when a seagull relieved itself on him. Queen Camilla, meanwhile, met with members of the local community during a visit to Hillsborough.