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The WHO's Risk Assessment Upgrade The World Health Organization (WHO) has upgraded the public health risk of the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo from high to “very high” as the deadly outbreak continues to spread. Ebola Outbreak Details WHO chief, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, announced on Friday that they were revising their risk assessment for the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola, to “very high at the national level, high at the regional level, and low at global level.” Tedros also said on X that the situation in the DRC was “deeply worrisome”. “So far, 82 cases have been confirmed, with seven confirmed deaths. But we know the epidemic in the DRC is much larger. There are now almost 750 suspected cases and 177 suspected deaths,” he wrote. Public Health Measures The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) said on Friday that volunteers are going door-to-door in the area at the centre of ⁠the outbreak, to combat misinformation about Ebola and explain how people can protect themselves and seek care. In an official order on Friday, Ituri’s provincial government restricted funerals, saying burials must now be conducted only by specialised teams and prohibited the transport of dead bodies by non-medical vehicles. The Impact of the Outbreak The world should not underestimate the risk posed by this ⁠Ebola outbreak, Mohamed Yakub Janabi, the ⁠WHO regional director for Africa, told the Reuters news agency on Friday. “It would be a big mistake to underestimate it, especially with a virus with this strain, Bundibugyo, [for] which we don’t have the vaccine,” Janabi said, adding that the outbreak in DRC has had relatively little global attention compared with this month’s hantavirus outbreak, which affected cruise ship passengers from 23 countries, including wealthy Western nations. The Future Outlook The WHO director of health emergency alert and response operations, Abdirahman Mahamud, also said on Friday that the potential for this virus to spread rapidly was “high, very high, and that changed the whole dynamic”. The strain of Ebola was also documented in Uganda, but Tedros said that the situation there was “currently stable”, after one death linked to a case from DRC was reported.

The Lead: Russia's Escalation and Ukraine's Counteroffensive Russia's attempts at escalation via Belarus, where it has delivered more nuclear weapons and held highly publicized joint war games, come as its ground war falters in Ukraine. Ukrainian commander-in-chief Oleksandr Syrskii reports that Ukraine has seized the tactical initiative, with Ukrainian offensive assaults now outnumbering Russian assaults on Ukrainian positions. Russia's Soldier Shortage and Recruitment Crisis Ukraine's forces have gained the upper hand because Russian forces are running out of soldiers to conduct offensive operations. According to Syrskii, "Since the beginning of 2026, the total losses of the enemy have already exceeded 141,500 people, of which more than 83,000 are irreversible." Ukraine's Foreign Intelligence Service believes Russia is unable to replenish these losses of more than 1,000 people a day, and this year is recruiting at a rate of 800-930 a day, suffering a net decrease of battlefield strength. In response, 40 Russian regions have increased sign-up bonuses by between 30 and 100 percent. Putin has also simplified citizenship procedures for Russian speakers in the Transnistrian region of Moldova, which Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy described as "Russia looking for new soldiers." Economic Impact: Ukraine's War on Russian Oil Infrastructure Russia's economy is fraying, having run up a $78.4bn deficit in the first four months of 2026 after budgeting for a $50.5bn deficit for the entire year. "Oil dealt the main blow. Revenues from hydrocarbons fell by 38.3 percent," according to Ukraine's Foreign Intelligence Service. Ukraine has scaled up its long-range campaign against Russian refineries and oil export terminals, depriving Moscow of windfall profits from high oil prices. International Energy Agency (IEA) data shows Russia has curtailed production by 460,000 barrels per day (bpd) in April 2026 compared with April 2025. Reuters estimates that Ukrainian drone attacks knocked out about 700,000 bpd of refining capacity between January and May across 16 refineries, accounting for a quarter of Russia's refining capacity. Shift to Asymmetric Warfare: Ukraine's Strategy Evolution "Given our limited resources, to effectively resist a much larger enemy, we are trying to shift from a 'war of attrition' to an asymmetric strategy," Syrskii told the European Union Military Committee. "Our main tasks are to stop the enemy's advance and effectively counterattack, strike at the Russians' rear, including deep within their territory." Ukraine has attacked military-industrial targets in a 100km radius around Moscow, including the Angstrem semiconductor plant, the Solnechnogorsk oil pumping station, and the Moscow Refinery. Ukraine has also targeted refineries in Ryazan, Yaroslavl, Kstovo, and Sizran, as well as military hardware including helicopter gunships, amphibious craft, and anti-aircraft missile systems. Belarus Front: Russia's Nuclear Escalation and Ukraine's Warning Russia has put pressure on Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko to open a new front in the war against Ukraine. Zelenskyy stated that Russia would launch a simultaneous attack from its neighboring region of Bryansk against Chernihiv. "We know that there have been additional contacts between the Russians and Alexander Lukashenko aimed at persuading him to join new Russian aggressive operations," Zelenskyy said. Russia involved Belarus in a joint nuclear exercise with 64,000 personnel, more than 200 missile launchers, 140 aircraft, 73 surface ships and 13 submarines. Russian President Vladimir Putin confirmed that the two countries would launch ballistic and cruise missiles as part of the exercise. Russia has parked its new Oreshnik tactical nuclear missile in Belarus since last year and has threatened to attack European arms manufacturing and military sites with it.

President Donald Trump and Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei have issued opposing statements on Iran’s 60‑percent enriched uranium stockpile, intensifying a diplomatic deadlock that could shape the future of the nuclear talks between Washington and Tehran. Trump’s Stance and Khamenei’s Countermand on Iran’s Uranium Stockpile During a Thursday press briefing, Trump declared, “We will get it. We don’t need it, we don’t want it. We’ll probably destroy it after we get it, but we’re not going to let them have it.” The same day, Reuters reported that Khamenei issued a directive forbidding the removal of the uranium, emphasizing a consensus within Iran’s establishment that the material must stay inside the country. Quantifying the 60‑Percent Enriched Uranium Stockpile 440 kg (approximately 970 lb) of uranium enriched to 60 percent is believed to be held by Iran. Enrichment to 90 percent is required for weapons‑grade material; the current level shortens the time needed to reach that threshold. International Atomic Energy Agency chief Rafael Grossi warned that, if further enriched, the stockpile could produce more than 10 nuclear warheads. The material is stored primarily as uranium hexafluoride gas in small canisters, each comparable in size to a scuba tank. Geopolitical Stakes of the Uranium Dispute The stockpile sits at the heart of US‑Iran negotiations. The United States seeks its removal—potentially handing it over to the US or a third party—while Iran, backed by its supreme leader, resists any export. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has linked the end of the regional conflict to the removal of the uranium, the cessation of Iran’s proxy support, and the dismantling of its ballistic missile capabilities. Scenarios for the Future of Iran’s Enriched Uranium Recent diplomatic exchanges suggest several possible pathways: Deadlock: Iran’s top diplomat Abbas Araghchi described the issue as postponed, indicating a stalemate in current talks. Down‑blending: Unconfirmed reports claim Iran offered to irreversibly reduce the enrichment level from 60 percent to the 3.67 percent limit of the 2015 JCPOA. Third‑party custodianship: The United States has hinted at a clause ensuring the stockpile’s removal, while Iran has reportedly considered handing it only to a neutral third party. Safe transport protocols: The IAEA outlines the use of type 30B steel cylinders to move uranium hexafluoride, mitigating criticality and toxic‑chemical risks. Historical precedents include the US‑Canada medical‑isotope shipments of highly enriched uranium (mid‑1980s to 2021) and the 1994 “Project Sapphire” operation that safely relocated 600 kg of weapons‑grade uranium from Kazakhstan to the United States. Outlook: What Lies Ahead for the Negotiations? Given the entrenched positions of both Washington and Tehran, the uranium issue is likely to remain a bargaining chip in any future agreement. If Iran proceeds with down‑blending or agrees to third‑party oversight, the immediate proliferation risk could diminish, potentially unlocking broader diplomatic concessions. Conversely, a refusal to move the material may prolong sanctions and heighten regional tensions, especially with Israel emphasizing its removal as a precondition for peace.

The Deadliest Day in Recent Honduran HistoryGunmen have killed at least 25 people, including six police officers, in attacks across Honduras. The attacks marked Thursday as one of the most violent days the country has seen in recent years. They came despite ongoing efforts by the government to rein in organised crime and violence.Details of the Coordinated AttacksNineteen people were killed as gunmen raided a palm plantation in the municipality of Trujillo in the north of the country. A leader of one rural group told the AFP news agency that those killed were employees of an armed group controlling a plantation. However, local media indicated that armed suspects had fired indiscriminately on labourers. They reported that the oldest victim was 61.Meanwhile, in the west near the Guatemalan border, six police officers were killed in another shooting in the municipality of Omoa. Police report that the officers had travelled to the area as part of an operation to quash gang activity. However, they were ambushed.After the two attacks, the National Police issued a statement, saying it "will proceed immediately with a direct intervention in the affected areas." "The state will act firmly to capture those responsible, protect vulnerable communities and guarantee comprehensive justice for all affected victims," it added.The Human Cost of ViolencePhotos showed bodies, some wearing thick rubber boots for work, strewn on the ground outside the plantation in Trujillo. The attacks represent a significant loss of life in a single day, highlighting the extreme danger faced by ordinary citizens and security forces alike in Honduras.The National Police has vowed to respond forcefully to the attacks, but the scale of violence suggests that the security situation in Honduras remains precarious despite government efforts to address the problem.Honduras' Ongoing Security CrisisHonduras is struggling to crack down on gang violence. Until January, many parts of the country were under a state of emergency launched in 2022. That emergency decree ended, however, with the inauguration of right-wing President Nasry "Tito" Asfura, a close ally of United States President Donald Trump, who has prioritised a hardline approach to security in Latin America.The attacks will, therefore, raise concerns over security, but also civil liberties. Laws passed earlier this week will allow authorities to designate gangs and drug cartels as terrorist groups. A new anti-organised crime unit has also been created.Root Causes: Land Conflict and Organized CrimeThe Trujillo shooting occurred near the Aguan River Valley, where armed groups, involved in narcotrafficking and palm oil extraction, have been fighting over land for decades. Trujillo police chief Carlos Rojas told local media that the groups occupy and illegally exploit several large African palm plantations, using money from the crops to obtain weapons.Local farmer groups, however, accuse transnational agribusiness corporations of sponsoring the criminal groups to carry out land occupations and prevent residents from reclaiming disputed lands. According to Reuters, more than 150 people in the area have been killed or disappeared, with environmental and land rights activists a particular target.Honduras is one of the most dangerous countries in the world for such activists. Earlier this month, police arrested several individuals, including a mayor, for plotting the assassination of a prominent environmental campaigner in 2024.Future Outlook for Security in HondurasThe recent surge in violence suggests that Honduras' security challenges are far from resolved despite the new administration's hardline stance. The combination of organized crime, land disputes, and narcotrafficking creates a complex security environment that cannot be addressed through law enforcement measures alone.International attention and cooperation, particularly with the United States, may play a crucial role in addressing the root causes of violence. However, the immediate priority for the Honduran government will be to demonstrate its ability to protect citizens and restore a sense of security in the affected regions.

The Record-Breaking Summit A 52-year-old British climber, Kenton Cool, has set a new record as he summited Mount Everest for a 20th time. Cool became the first non-Nepali climber to conquer the world’s highest peak 20 times before dawn on Friday. Cool's Achievement and Its Significance Cool is expected to reach the base camp over the weekend after his latest summit. In a statement carried by the Reuters news agency, he said climbing Mount Everest never gets “any easier or any less frightening. It’s the tallest mountain in the world and with it comes an incredible sense of majesty. “I rely on every bit of experience ⁠I have to move safely in this environment. Standing on the summit for the twentieth time is incredibly special.” The Data Behind the Record Kenton Cool's 20th Everest summit First non-Nepali climber to achieve this feat Cool's first Everest summit was in 2004 He has taken an expedition almost every year since then The Impact on Everest Climbing Cool’s achievement follows on the heels of another record. On Wednesday, more than 270 climbers ascended via Nepal’s southern route, the most in a single day. That came amid calls for action to prevent overcrowding and improve safety. Two Indian climbers were reported on Friday to have reached the peak, but to have died during their descent after they “fell ill”, Nivesh Karki, director at Pioneer Adventure, told the AFP news agency. Authorities are trying to bring the bodies down from the summit. Officials said the incident brings the death toll during this Everest season to five. The Future of Everest Climbing Kami Rita Sherpa, or “Everest Man” climbed the summit for the 32nd time – extending the world record – on Sunday. He expressed concern about the experience of climbers, saying, “The government should regulate this a bit. They should let in only climbers of quality; there should be a limit.”

President Donald Trump announced that the administration will not sign the pending AI executive order, saying it could impede the United States' strategic advantage over China in the emerging artificial‑intelligence race. Executive Order on AI Put on Hold Over China Rivalry The draft order would have established a voluntary framework requiring AI developers to engage with the federal government before releasing advanced models. Sources familiar with the document told Reuters that the administration halted the plan after objections from the president and a lobbying push from Elon Musk and other tech leaders. Political and Strategic Context Behind the Delay Trump's China visit: The postponement comes shortly after the president’s first U.S. presidential trip to China in nearly a decade, where he described the meeting with Xi Jinping as “very successful.” Domestic pressure: House Republicans recently canceled a vote on a war‑powers resolution related to Iran, highlighting the administration’s focus on foreign‑policy priorities. Tech industry influence: Elon Musk publicly denied knowledge of the order’s contents and labeled related reports as false, indicating ongoing tension between the White House and Silicon Valley. Potential Implications for U.S. AI Policy and Industry Delaying the order preserves the status quo, allowing AI firms to continue development without a formal coordination mechanism. This could accelerate the rollout of powerful models but also raises concerns about oversight, safety, and export controls, especially as the U.S. and China vie for dominance in AI research and deployment. What May Come Next for U.S. AI Regulation Analysts expect the administration to revisit the framework once it can reconcile national‑security objectives with industry interests. Future steps may include targeted legislation, tighter export restrictions, or a revised voluntary program that addresses the president’s lead‑over‑China concerns while still providing a channel for government‑industry collaboration.

The Unexpected Borrowing Surge The UK government's borrowing hit a second-highest level for April on record, with a £24.3bn deficit in the UK's finances last month. This exceeded expectations, with a poll of economists by Reuters suggesting a £20.9bn deficit for the month. Economic Implications The higher-than-expected borrowing will be unwelcome news for Chancellor Rachel Reeves, as the government braces for the full effect of the energy shock in the Middle East and grapples with uncertainty around Keir Starmer's leadership. Retail Sales Drop Retail sales volumes dropped 1.3% in April, with fuel sales down 10% as drivers cut back on purchases. This compares with an expected fall of 0.6%, according to Reuters. Expert Insights Grant Fitzner, chief economist at the Office for National Statistics, noted that borrowing this month was substantially higher than in April last year, despite increased receipts. Future Outlook Economists warn that public finances are likely to get worse, with Thomas Pugh, chief economist at RSM UK, predicting that government borrowing will soar past the £115.5bn expected for this financial year.

Executive Summary of the Podcast EpisodeThe Guardian’s latest podcast follows hunters who argue that shooting big game can help preserve Africa’s wildlife, sparking a nuanced discussion on conservation strategies.Episode Focus and How to Access ItListen or read: Read the text version hereSupport the Guardian: theguardian.com/longreadpodRelated Publication Highlighted in the EpisodeThe episode references Adapted from The Savage Landscape: How We Made the Wilderness by Cal Flyn, published by William Collins on 7 May. The book can be ordered via guardianbookshop.com.Visual Context ProvidedPhotograph: ReutersWhy This Conversation MattersThe podcast adds to ongoing debates about the role of regulated hunting in wildlife management, offering perspectives from those directly involved in the practice.Looking AheadFuture episodes and related reporting are expected to continue exploring the complex balance between hunting, conservation funding, and ecosystem health across Africa.

The Ousting of CHP Leader Ozgur Ozel A court in Turkey has annulled the 2023 leadership election of the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP), in a sharp escalation against the country's embattled opposition. The ruling overturned the result of a leadership election that brought in current party head Ozgur Ozel, with the court naming the party's former chair, Kemal Kilicdaroglu – who lost the election to Ozel – as interim leader. The Impact on Turkish Politics The case was seen as a test of Turkey's shaky balance between democracy and increasingly centralised power, and the ruling may throw the opposition into further disarray and possible infighting. It could also boost Erdogan's chances of extending his more than two-decade rule of the big NATO member country and major emerging market economy. The CHP's Response to the Court Ruling The CHP rejected the ruling as an “attempted coup”, while the government – which denies criticism that it uses courts to target political opponents – said it renewed Turks' faith in the rule of law. Ali Mahir Basarir, CHP deputy parliamentary group chair, told the Reuters news agency the ruling “is an attempted coup carried out through the judiciary [and] a blow against the will of 86 million people”. Economic Fallout and Future Implications Turkey's Borsa Istanbul .XU100 dropped 6 percent in response, triggering a market-wide circuit breaker, while government bonds slid. The central bank sold billions of dollars in forex to ease the fallout, four traders said. Investors said the latest political turmoil would be watched for similar risks. The Future Outlook for CHP and Turkey The pro-Kurdish DEM Party (Peoples' Equality and Democracy Party), parliament's third-largest, called the court decision a “black stain” on Turkish democracy. The reinstated CHP leader Kilicdaroglu, who had largely faded from public view since his electoral defeat three years ago, called for calm and common sense, saying he hoped Turkey would benefit from it.