World News | Latest International Headlines & Stories

US President Donald Trump (R) shakes hands with China’s President Xi Jinping as he leaves after a visit to Zhongnanhai Garden in Beijing on May 15, 2026. (Photo by Evan Vucci / POOL / AFP)

Trump leaves China without resolution to end Iran war

US President Donald Trump left China today with no major breakthroughs on trade or tangible help from Beijing to end the Iran war, despite two days spent heaping praise on his host, Xi Jinping.

World • 2 hrs

Firefighters work at the site of an apartment building damaged during a missile and drone strike in Kyiv, Ukraine, on May 14, 2026

At least 24 people killed in Russian attack on Kyiv

Ukrainian emergency services said today that a massive Russian missile and drone attack that pummelled Kyiv yesterday killed at least 24 people, further shredding hopes of a halt to Moscow's grinding invasion.

Ukraine • 4 hrs

Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham outside his house in Warrington

Burnham cleared to seek Labour candidacy for bye-election

Andy Burnham will be among the potential Labour candidates to stand in the Makerfield bye-election in the UK, the party's ruling body has said.

UK • 6 mins

Declaration seen as critical moment in relationship between Council of Europe members and European Court of Human Rights (file photo)

Declaration could influence handling of migration cases

Forty-six countries, which comprise the Strasbourg-based human rights organisation, the Council of Europe, have issued a far-reaching political declaration that could influence how judges handle migration cases.

World • 2 hrs

Nicotine pouches are seen in this illustration photo taken in Krakow

WHO warns of risk of youth addiction to nicotine pouches

The World Health Organization has urged ⁠governments to do more to control the sale of nicotine pouches, warning that the highly addictive products were being "aggressively marketed" in ways that particularly appealed to younger people.

Health • 8 hrs

Maldives rescuers search for drowned Italian divers

Rescue teams in the Indian Ocean archipelago of the Maldives are searching for a second day for the bodies of four missing Italians following the country's deadliest diving accident, officials said.

Maldives • 7 hrs

South-North Korea football match sells out in 12 hours

Tickets in South Korea for a rare match against a visiting North Korean team sold out within half a day, Seoul's football association has said.

News Lens • 8 hrs

Russian President Vladimir Putin talks to the media following his meetings with foreign delegations at the Kremlin in Moscow on May 9, 2026. (Photo by Ramil Sitdikov / POOL / AFP)

A week of mixed signals and actions from the Kremlin

Ukrainian authorities have revised the death toll for yesterday's Russian drone strike on an apartment building in Kyiv to at least 24 people, including three children.

Analysis and Comment • 1 hr

Labour Party leader Keir Starmer and Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham at Old Trafford in Manchester, England.

Burnham buys Starmer time, but the threat is growing

Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham's leadership ambitions in Labour are clear, but his pursuit of a return to parliament has bought British Prime Minister Keir Starmer time. However, the threat to Mr Starmer's premiership is only growing.

Analysis and Comment • 13 hrs

People walk past a fire set by demonstrators during a protest against the lack of energy and blackouts in Havana

CIA director visits Cuba as nation runs out of oil

The head of the CIA has visited Cuba, an extraordinary step up in contact between Washington and Havana, as the island reels from US pressure, declaring that it is out of oil.

US • 12 hrs

Former Hollywood film producer Harvey Weinstein appears in Manhattan criminal court

Weinstein's third New York rape trial ends in mistrial

Harvey Weinstein's third trial in New York over allegations he used his Hollywood clout to prey upon and sexually abuse women ended in a mistrial today, after a jury failed to reach a unanimous verdict on a charge he raped the aspiring actress Jessica Mann.

Entertainment Headlines • 12 mins

Smoke rises following an Israeli airstrike in Jarjoua, southern Lebanon.

Lebanon, Israel hold new talks in US as strikes continue

Lebanon and Israel are holding new peace talks in Washington, as their latest ceasefire - considered to still be in place despite hundreds of deaths in Israeli strikes - nears its end.

Middle East • 14 May

An Iranian patrol boat in the Strait of Hormuz (Reuters)

Ship reported seized off UAE as Strait traffic increases

A ship was reported seized off the coast of the United Arab Emirates and was heading for Iranian waters today, a British navy agency said, as the US and Chinese leaders met in Beijing to discuss global problems including the Iran war.

World • 22 hrs

Seven dead, 45 wounded as Russian strikes pummel Kyiv

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has said the death toll from Russian drone and missile strikes on the capital Kyiv has risen to five, with around 40 others wounded.

Ukraine • 14 May

FIFA World Cup final draw at the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC

25% of World Cup games likely to be in over 26C - study

A study by World Weather Attribution has found that 25% of the matches at the World Cup are likely to be played in conditions exceeding 26C.

Sport • 14 May

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer walking out of 10 Downing Street

As it happened: Streeting resigns, Burnham eyes return

Read back through events as they happened as UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer faced another day of questions over his leadership and Andy Burnham got the wheels in motion for a potential leadership bid.

UK • 21 hrs

Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham arrives at FC United for a charity football match

Burnham to seek MP return paving way to challenge Starmer

Andy Burnham has said he will ask for permission to stand for Labour in a UK bye-election after an MP quit to make way for the Greater Manchester Mayor to return to parliament to challenge Prime Minister Keir Starmer.

UK • 21 hrs

No EU candidate yet agreed to run as UN food agency chief

The Cyprus presidency of the EU has acknowledged that there is still no agreed EU candidate to run as the next head of the United Nations food agency.

Europe • 14 May

US President Donald Trump (L) shakes hands with China's President Xi Jinping at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.

Xi warns Trump mishandling of Taiwan may spark 'conflict'

Chinese President Xi Jinping has told his US counterpart Donald Trump that trade talks are making progress, but cautioned that disagreement over Taiwan could send relations down a dangerous path and even lead to conflict.

World • 22 hrs

Head and shoulders image of a woman with long brown hair wearing a lime green tshirt sitting in a courtroom. Her facial expression is shocked.

US children's book author jailed after poisoning husband

An American woman who made headlines by writing a children's book about grief after poisoning her husband has been sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole, US media reported.

US • 14 May

CIA director meets with top officials in Cuba

A US delegation led by CIA director John Ratcliffe has met with his counterpart at the Cuba Interior Ministry in Havana, the Cuban government said in a statement published on state-run media Cuba Debate.

World • 19 hrs

Keir Starmer walks through the House of Commons to attend the State Opening of Parliament

Streeting prepared to quit as PM tries to avoid challenge

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer retains "full confidence" in Wes Streeting as Health Secretary, even as he looks set to resign in a bid to launch a leadership challenge.

UK • 13 May

A man rides his bicycle past the Bahamas-registered cruise ship Ambition

Stomach bug blamed for cruise outbreak, lockdown lifted

French authorities have confined more than 1,700 passengers and crew on a cruise ship docked in Bordeaux after an elderly passenger died, said officials, who played down any links to the hantavirus scare.

World • 13 May

Alex Murdaugh stands next to the witness booth during a break in his trial for murder

Retrial for US lawyer convicted of murdering wife, son

A US court overturned the conviction of a prominent lawyer serving a life sentence for killing his wife and son in a sensational case that drew national attention.

US • 13 May

Donald Trump (C) is joined by officials as he arrives in Beijing

Trump says he does not need China's help to end Iran war

US President Donald Trump has arrived in Beijing for a high-stakes summit with Chinese leader Xi Jinping aimed at easing deep tensions between the countries.