World news

Bolivia has been rocked by mass protests for a second week, forcing Bolivian President Rodrigo Paz Pereira to reshuffle his cabinet and propose a council after clashes left four people dead and dozens injured. The United States has warned the unrest looks like an ongoing coup d’état, while the government has expelled Colombia’s ambassador after President Gustavo Petro’s remarks. Roadblocks and shortages have paralysed parts of the country, protesters demand the president’s resignation, and officials accuse opponents of seeking to disrupt the democratic order. Russia has delivered nuclear munitions to field storage sites in Belarus during joint nuclear drills, the […]

A World Health Organization (WHO) doctor has warned Ebola cases in the Democratic Republic of Congo may be spreading faster than first thought, and locals have said they are scared and unsure how to protect themselves. The outbreak has killed 131 people and authorities have reported more than 500 suspected cases, while modelling has suggested substantial under‑detection and the possibility of over 1,000 cases. The virus has spread beyond Ituri to other provinces and into Uganda. WHO supplies and international evacuations are under way, and public health teams continue investigations and response efforts. Spanish former prime minister José Luis Rodríguez

Poland has registered its first same-sex marriage transcription in Warsaw after EU court rulings have required recognition of marriages contracted abroad. Poland’s Supreme Administrative Court has cited the EU decision in prior orders, and Poland’s Prime Minister Donald Tusk has pledged to implement the rulings and apologised to couples who felt rejected. The government has not been forced to legalise same-sex marriage, and plans for civil unions have stalled amid coalition resistance and presidential opposition. https://www.euronews.com/my-europe/2026/05/14/poland-makes-history-with-first-same-sex-marriage-registration-following-eu-court-ruling Latvian Prime Minister Evika Siliņa has announced her resignation after a week of scandals, triggering the collapse of the governing coalition ahead of October

Swiss Council of Europe secretary general Alain Berset has said ministers will discuss sending rejected asylum seekers to third-country hubs at a Moldova meeting on Friday. He has said a political declaration will stress countries’ right to control borders. The declaration will be non-binding and may seek limits on use of the European Convention on Human Rights. Rights groups have warned it could weaken protections. Supporters say hubs could reduce failed returns and ease pressure on member states. Discussions will continue between countries before any final text is agreed. Six hundred film industry figures have published a manifesto at Cannes

The World Health Organization (WHO) has said the hantavirus outbreak on the Dutch-flagged MV Hondius is not the next COVID, confirming five cases and three deaths while warning more infections could emerge given a six-week incubation period. WHO experts explained transmission differs from coronaviruses and human-to-human spread remains extremely rare. Dutch authorities reported passengers disembarked at St Helena whilst three suspected cases have been evacuated to the Netherlands. Spain has said 14 nationals face up to 45 days quarantine in Madrid’s high-level isolation unit, and EU officials have kept public risk low. Sweden has announced plans to use electronic bracelets

The U.S. has launched “Project Freedom” to escort commercial ships through the Strait of Hormuz, a vital route for global oil and gas transport, following Iranian efforts to block access. Two American-flagged vessels successfully navigated the strait after the initiative’s launch, which aims to alleviate economic concerns exacerbated by the strait’s closure. US President Donald Trump stated that Iran’s attempts to obstruct shipping would be met with force, framing the operation as a humanitarian effort for stranded vessels. However, Iran’s Revolutionary Guards refuted claims of successful transits and warned that any U.S. military presence would be targeted. The tensions have

Iran has vowed to execute “crushing” and “more destructive” attacks against the U.S. and Israel following U.S. President Donald Trump’s threats to bomb the country “back to the Stone Ages.” This escalation of rhetoric comes amidst ongoing conflict in the region, with Iranian military officials stating their intent to intensify military operations. In his recent White House address, Trump claimed the U.S. was close to achieving its objectives in the conflict, warning of intensified attacks if negotiations for a ceasefire do not conclude. Over 40 countries have formed a coalition to secure free passage through the Strait of Hormuz. British

The U.S. Supreme Court has struck down Colorado’s ban on conversion therapy, ruling 8-1 in favor of therapist Kaley Chiles, who argued that the law infringed upon her First Amendment rights to free speech. The court stated that the ban, which aimed to prevent licensed professionals from engaging in talk therapy aimed at changing sexual orientation or gender identity, improperly censors viewpoints. While Colorado officials contended that the law regulated professional conduct rather than speech, the justices emphasized that First Amendment protections apply to licensed professionals as well. Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson dissented, arguing that the ruling overlooked the context

U.S. President Donald Trump has threatened to destroy Iran’s Kharg Island oil hub if a peace deal is not reached soon, emphasizing the strategic importance of the island, which accounts for approximately 90% of Iran’s crude oil exports. In a post on Truth Social, Trump stated that talks with a “more reasonable regime” in Tehran have made “great progress,” but he warned that failure to open up the Strait of Hormuz could lead to significant military action against Iran’s energy infrastructure. While Iranian officials deny any ongoing direct negotiations with the U.S., tensions have escalated, with threats from both sides

An Iranian missile strike on Tel Aviv has further escalated tensions in the Middle East, prompting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to warn that “there’s more to come” as Israel continues its military campaign against Iran and in Lebanon. The strike caused significant damage in central areas of the city and left several people lightly injured, underscoring the ongoing vulnerability despite Israel’s air defence systems. In response, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps threatened intensified missile and drone attacks unless Israeli operations cease. The latest developments highlight a deepening cycle of retaliation, with both sides showing little sign of backing down,

US President Donald Trump has extended by five days his deadline for Iran to allow shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, during which he claimed the U.S. and Iran have held “very good and productive conversations.” This extension seems to have averted immediate escalation following threats from Iran to target U.S. energy infrastructure if the deadline were to pass without compliance. However, Iranian officials have denied any negotiations, insisting there have been no communications with the U.S. The conflict has already resulted in substantial casualties and significantly disrupted oil supplies, with analysts expressing skepticism about achieving a resolution through military

Iran threatened strikes on energy and water systems in Gulf countries if the United States attacks Iranian power plants. President Donald Trump threatened to destroy Iran’s electricity infrastructure unless Tehran fully reopens the Strait of Hormuz within 48 hours.  Iranian officials said such an attack would trigger retaliation across regional energy and desalination facilities. The Revolutionary Guards also warned the strait would remain closed if Iranian power plants are destroyed. Meanwhile, air raid sirens sounded in Israel yesterday after Iranian missile strikes injured dozens. Israel said it launched strikes on Tehran in response. In the recent local elections, the Socialist

Iran has threatened to strike energy infrastructure across the Gulf after its massive South Pars gas field—shared with Qatar—was hit in an apparent escalation involving Israel. Tehran warned that major oil and gas sites in countries including Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates could become “legitimate targets,” raising fears of wider regional conflict. The strike has already driven oil prices sharply higher and intensified concerns over global energy supplies, particularly as disruptions continue around the strategic Strait of Hormuz. Israel is facing strong resistance from Hezbollah as its forces push deeper into southern Lebanon, with intense ground battles reported

Israel says it has killed senior Iranian official Ali Larijani and Basij commander Gholamreza Soleimani in air strikes near Tehran. Larijani, a key ally of the late Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, had become one of the most powerful figures in the country following his death.  More than 100 people have been killed after Pakistan carried out an air strike on a drug rehabilitation centre in Kabul, according to forensic sources, with Taliban officials suggesting the toll could be far higher. The United Nations has called for an urgent investigation, as the facility—housing around 2,000 patients—was reportedly destroyed. Pakistan denied deliberately

Israel has initiated “limited and targeted ground operations” against Hezbollah in southern Lebanon amidst escalating tensions related to ongoing conflicts. The Israeli military confirmed these operations, targeting “key Hezbollah strongholds” as a response to recent attacks from the group. This escalation coincides with a significant increase in military presence in the region and involves ongoing airstrikes. Iran also recently threatened to close the Strait of Hormuz, warning the world to prepare for oil prices reaching $200 a barrel, creating concerns over global energy supplies. As the situation evolves, both the U.S. and Israeli governments maintain their commitment to neutralize Iranian