Supreme Court Temporarily Preserves Mail-Order Access to Abortion Pill

The Supreme Court temporarily blocked a federal appeals court ruling that would have required women seeking abortions to visit a doctor in person to obtain mifepristone. The decision, issued on May 14, 2026, came three days after the court extended its own timeline for considering the case.

It guarantees continued access to mail-order abortion pills while the lawsuit proceeds. The justices ruled 7-2, with Samuel Alito and Clarence Thomas dissenting. " The case has involved multiple legal turns since a 2023 Supreme Court decision on affirmative action in college admissions.

The ruling does not resolve the underlying dispute over mifepristone regulation. Legal observers expect further developments as the case moves through the courts.

The Africa CDC declared an Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo's Ituri province on May 15, 2026. Officials have recorded 246 suspected cases and 65 reported deaths. Early testing indicates the outbreak involves an Ebola species other than the Zaire strain.

The only licensed vaccines target Ebola Zaire, although experimental immunizations exist for other species. Africa CDC stated that genetic sequencing was underway to identify the specific strain. The agency highlighted several factors raising concern, including transmission in urban areas, population movement for work, regional insecurity, conflict, and challenges with infection prevention and control.

The outbreak is occurring near the borders with Uganda and South Sudan. Ituri province was also affected during the 2018-2020 Ebola outbreak, which was the second largest on record. Africa CDC said it would convene a meeting on May 15 with global and regional health authorities, vaccine and drug developers, and charitable organizations.

A new analysis published in Science found that regions in low- and middle-income countries that received higher levels of support from the United States Agency for International Development showed a 6.5 percent greater probability of experiencing violent conflict after the agency's dissolution.

The study reported a roughly 10 percent increase in riots and battle-related fatalities in those areas. The findings come after the Trump administration dismantled USAID in the week following the president's second inauguration in January 2025. The agency had been one of the world's largest providers of international aid, including health assistance.

A similar letter was sent to the University of California, Los Angeles medical school the previous week. The actions continue the Trump administration's efforts to address diversity, equity and inclusion practices in higher education following the 2023 Supreme Court ruling on affirmative action.

The letters cite differences in average test scores and GPAs among students from different racial groups across recent admissions cycles. The Department of Justice argues these patterns indicate ongoing discriminatory practices.

Institute of Technology's research enterprise has decreased by 10 percent compared with a year earlier, according to university President Sally Kornbluth. In a video posted to YouTube on May 14, 2026, Kornbluth cited federal funding shortfalls, policy changes, increased taxes on university endowments, and shifts in immigration policy as contributing factors.

The university faces a $300 million deficit that has led to library closures and reduced undergraduate admissions. Kornbluth also reported a persistent drop in graduate student admissions. The changes are linked to broader Trump administration policies affecting higher education.