The Ebola outbreak that emerged in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo and crossed into neighbouring Uganda may have been killing people for weeks before the alarm was raised. When Médecins Sans Frontières investigated in May 2026, it reported that at least 55 people had died since the beginning of April. On May 17, the…
The number of people forced to flee the heatwave-induced fires in Spain and France has now passed the 100,000 mark. Published On 24 Jul 202624 Jul 2026 Spanish police have arrested a man accused of sparking a wildfire by using farm machinery, as blazes across the country and in France continue to force mass evacuations….
Responding to the spread of fires, Isabel Díaz Ayuso, Madrid’s regional president, said it was: “The worst fire in the history of the region.” Speaking at an emergency command post in the southwestern municipality of Cenicientos, she said the area was facing a “perfect storm” with high temperatures, relentless wind and several fire fronts merging….
More people are using drugs than ever before, while synthetic substances are reshaping illicit markets and exposing vulnerable communities to greater health risks, according to the UN World Drug Report 2026, released on Friday. “We have seen an unprecedented spike in new types of drugs on the market, and worryingly, some are more potent or…
When the 2026 FIFA World Cup begins on June 11, 2026, matches will be played across 16 cities in the United States, Canada and Mexico. Millions of fans will arrive through multiple airports and will pack into stadiums, airports, hotels, bars and public transit systems over five weeks. That makes the World Cup not just…
The medical charity’s comments come as the head of the World Health Organization visits the region worst-hit by the virus outbreak.
A United States citizen who was on the hantavirus-hit MV Hondius cruise ship is the latest to test positive for the virus while a French traveller has developed symptoms as the ship is being evacuated and passengers are returning to their home countries. Passengers began flying home on military and government planes after the ship…
Hantavirus victims on a ship in the Atlantic Ocean may have been infected prior to joining the cruise and human-to-human transmission on board cannot be ruled out – although it is rare – the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Tuesday. The deadly disease outbreak has triggered an international public health response. Seven individuals of…
A rising trend towards government-enforced internet shutdowns – with at least 300 incidents in more than 54 countries over the last two years – is prompting renewed warnings from the UN about the threat these digital blackouts pose to freedom of expression, access to information and human rights. In a statement issued this week, UNESCO…
Washington, DC — The Africa Bureau at the State Department has a new top official, Nick Checker. Unlike his recent predecessors who were career diplomats, he has been at State for only four months, having served for the previous decade as a military analyst at the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). He spent part of last…
