🌏 World News

May 17th, 2026

Today's top 5 stories, curated by Daily Direct.

BBC World

WHO declares Ebola outbreak in DR Congo a global health emergency

The World Health Organization has declared the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo a Public Health Emergency of International Concern, following roughly 246 confirmed cases and 80 deaths. The designation unlocks greater international resources and coordination to contain the spread. Officials were quick to note, however, that the outbreak does not meet the threshold of a pandemic emergency.

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Al Jazeera English

WHO declares Ebola outbreak in DRC, Uganda a global emergency: What to know

The World Health Organization has declared the Ebola outbreak spanning the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda a global health emergency, as the death toll surpasses 80. The designation signals that the crisis has crossed borders and requires a coordinated international response. Health authorities are racing to contain transmission as the virus's spread into Uganda raises fears of further regional escalation.

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Straits Times

Ukraine drone attack kills at least three in Moscow region, governor says

Ukraine's drone campaign reached Moscow's doorstep, killing at least three people in the region and wounding 12 others across multiple strikes. The attack marks an escalation in Kyiv's strategy of bringing the war's consequences directly to Russian territory. Russian authorities are under mounting pressure as large-scale aerial assaults continue to penetrate deeper into the country.

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SCMP

Record Ukrainian drone attack on Moscow kills 3, targets refinery

Ukraine launched its largest-ever drone assault on Moscow overnight, killing at least three people, wounding more than a dozen, and damaging residential buildings across multiple suburbs. The strike notably targeted Moscow's oil refinery, a rare hit on critical energy infrastructure deep inside Russian territory. The attack forced rolling disruptions across all four of the capital's airports, resulting in dozens of flight cancellations before operations resumed.

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Al Jazeera English

DRC faces deadly Ebola resurgence amid worsening humanitarian crisis

The Democratic Republic of Congo is battling a fresh Ebola outbreak in the northeastern towns of Rwampara, Mongwalu, and Bunia, adding a deadly viral threat to an already strained humanitarian situation. The resurgence raises urgent concerns about the country's capacity to contain transmission given ongoing conflict and weakened health infrastructure in the region. With Ebola's high fatality rate and the logistical challenges of northeastern DRC, the international response will be critical in the coming weeks.

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