Top World News

May 14, 2026 - World

Human rights experts make rare public appeal as US deportees describe being held in ‘prison-like’ conditionsHuman rights experts at the United Nations issued a rare public appeal to Equatorial Guinea, urging the West African country to halt its plans to return US deportees to their home countries where they face political violence, torture and death.The statement, cosigned by a representative of the African Commission on Human and People’s rights, adds diplomatic pressure on Equatorial Guinea, one of the world’s most repressive regimes, to comply with international human rights standards and avoid refoulement, or the expulsion of people to countries where they face persecution. Continue reading...

May 14, 2026 - World

Environmentalists hail decline but warn weakened laws could reverse gainsBrazil’s Atlantic forest, the country’s most threatened biome, last year recorded its lowest level of deforestation since monitoring began 40 years ago, a new report shows.The forest is Brazil’s most populous biome, and home to 80% of the population and major cities such as Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo. In 2025 it recorded 8,658 hectares of deforestation, marking the first time it has fallen below 10,000 hectares since 1985. Continue reading...

May 14, 2026 - World

Warsaw has registered its first same-sex marriage, following court rulings requiring Poland to recognize such marriages registered abroad

May 14, 2026 - World

Emirates’ foreign ministry rejects claims that Netanyahu visited country, describing them as ‘baseless’Benjamin Netanyahu has claimed he made a secret trip to the United Arab Emirates at the height of the Iran war to meet the president, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.“This visit has led to a historic breakthrough in relations between Israel and the UAE,” the Israeli prime minister’s office said on Wednesday night. Continue reading...

May 14, 2026 - World

Health minister Mark Butler says six passengers who have tested negative for hantavirus will land in Western Australia on FridayFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastFour Australian citizens who were aboard the MV Hondius, the cruise ship at the centre of the hantavirus outbreak, will soon be home after the government secured a suitable aircraft and crew for the journey.The health minister, Mark Butler, said the citizens, along with a permanent resident and a New Zealand citizen, were due to take off from the Netherlands on Thursday and land in Perth on Friday local time. Continue reading...