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A former Libyan prison chief, Khaled Mohamed Ali El Hishri, faced the International Criminal Court (ICC) for serious crimes such as torture, rape, and murder at Mitiga prison near Tripoli. Judges will decide within 60 days if there is enough evidence to start a full trial against him.
Key Facts
Khaled Mohamed Ali El Hishri was in charge of Mitiga prison in Libya from 2015 to early 2020.
He is accused of 17 counts of war crimes and crimes against humanity, including torture, rape, and murder.
Witnesses called him the "Angel of Death" and said he used extreme violence like shooting prisoners in the legs and beating them with shovels.
Prison conditions were very bad, with overcrowding, disease, and starvation common.
El Hishri allegedly used disease as a weapon by putting detainees in sick cells intentionally.
The ICC hearing is a "confirmation of charges," not a full trial, and judges have 60 days to decide what happens next.
El Hishri is the first person to appear in this ICC Libya case, part of a UN-backed investigation started in 2011 after Libya’s civil war.
The ICC also seeks other suspects related to crimes in Libya, including a judicial police head and one of former leader Gaddafi’s sons.
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Channel 4's chief executive, Priya Dogra, responded after a BBC Panorama report revealed allegations of sexual assault during the filming of the UK version of Married at First Sight (MAFS). Dogra expressed sympathy for the women but said she could not comment on the specific claims and stated Channel 4 acted appropriately based on what was known at the time.
Key Facts
BBC Panorama reported that two women were allegedly raped and a third suffered a non-consensual sex act during MAFS UK filming.
Channel 4's chief executive is Priya Dogra.
Dogra expressed "huge sympathy" for the women involved in the allegations.
She said the men accused deny the allegations.
Dogra said Channel 4 believes it did not fail in its duty of care to contributors.
According to Dogra, Channel 4 acted quickly and sensitively based on information available at the time.
When asked if she would apologize to the women, Dogra declined and ended the interview.
The BBC Panorama investigation is ongoing and available for public viewing.
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Russian drones attacked a United Nations (UN) humanitarian convoy delivering aid in the Kherson region of southern Ukraine on May 14, 2026. The attack damaged a UN vehicle but did not cause any injuries, and Russia later shared then deleted video footage of the strike.
Key Facts
The attack occurred at 9 a.m. on May 14, 2026, targeting a UN convoy moving between Kherson and Ostriv.
Drones with explosive capabilities hit white vehicles marked with the UN logo.
The convoy was part of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).
The drone strike happened near a bridge connecting two districts in Kherson, about six kilometers from Russian military positions.
No injuries were reported despite the vehicle being hit.
Russian military bloggers initially posted video footage of the attack but quickly deleted it.
Independent groups confirmed the location of the drone footage.
The incident highlights the dangers faced by aid workers in conflict zones.
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Russian President Vladimir Putin is visiting Beijing to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping and mark the 2001 Treaty of Good-Neighborliness and Friendly Cooperation. The visit, shortly after President Donald Trump’s trip to China, shows China’s growing influence and its stable strategic partnership with Russia amid global tensions and sanctions.
Key Facts
Putin’s visit to Beijing is to commemorate a 25-year-old treaty signed in 2001 with China.
The visit occurs right after President Trump’s summit with President Xi in China.
There were no major breakthroughs in the US-China talks during Trump’s visit, especially on Taiwan and the Iran conflict.
Analysts see the Putin visit as a sign that China supports Russia despite Western sanctions.
China and Russia have a strategic partnership but are not official military allies.
The two countries plan to deepen cooperation in economic areas, including energy and military technology.
Russia depends on China for certain technologies, like drones, while China wants discounted Russian energy.
Putin’s visit is seen as more important for Russia, which is now in a weaker position due to the war in Ukraine.
China is positioning itself as a key global power able to engage with major countries on its own terms.
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John Swinney, leader of the Scottish National Party (SNP), defended his plan to legally limit prices on some essential food items to help people struggling with the cost of living. He said the policy aims to make basic groceries affordable and is not intended to create conflict with the UK government. Swinney is expected to be re-elected as Scotland’s first minister soon.
Key Facts
The SNP plans to cap prices on up to 50 essential supermarket items like milk, eggs, cheese, and rice.
The policy is part of the SNP manifesto aimed at addressing the cost of living crisis.
The Scottish Retail Consortium criticized the policy, saying it may hurt small shops that are not included.
Implementing this policy may require changing the UK Internal Markets Act of 2020.
Swinney acknowledges he will need to work with other political parties and UK government ministers to pass the law.
The SNP won 58 seats in the recent Scottish Parliament election, short of a majority.
Swinney will likely be re-elected as first minister, needing support from some other parties to govern.
Swinney refuses to work with Reform UK, citing differing values, while other opposition parties remain potential partners.
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The World Health Organization (WHO) director general, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, expressed deep concern about a fast-growing Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Since the outbreak began, there have been over 500 suspected cases and 130 deaths, with confirmed cases also appearing in Uganda and a US citizen testing positive and receiving treatment in Germany.
Key Facts
At least 500 suspected Ebola cases and 130 deaths have been reported in the DRC since the outbreak began.
Thirty cases and one death are confirmed in Ituri province, DRC; one case and one death confirmed in Kampala, Uganda.
A US citizen infected with Ebola was transferred to Germany for treatment.
Dr. Tedros declared the outbreak a public health emergency of international concern before convening an emergency committee.
The outbreak involves the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola, which has no vaccines or specific treatments available.
Cases have appeared in urban areas, making the virus easier to spread and raising concerns about transmission in health facilities.
Conflict and violence in the affected DRC region have displaced over 100,000 people, complicating the response to the outbreak.
Ebola spreads through direct contact with bodily fluids and has an average fatality rate around 50%.
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Heavy rains have caused floods and landslides across southern and central China, killing at least 10 people. Authorities have issued emergency responses and moved residents from affected areas as the rain system remains strong and is expected to continue.
Key Facts
At least 10 people have died due to flooding and landslides in southern and central China.
The China Meteorological Administration issued an orange alert for heavy rain and storms.
Emergency Level-IV response was activated in Hunan and Guangxi to speed up disaster relief.
Hubei, Chongqing, and Guizhou are also under emergency alert due to flooding.
Some areas recorded more than 100mm (about 4 inches) of rain in 48 hours, breaking local records.
Six people died in Guangxi when a truck fell into a flooded river.
Residents in some towns are wading through knee-deep water; some have been relocated.
Severe weather is expected to move south and east, with heavy rain forecasted along the Yangtze River.
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Russia and China have a complex relationship that is not equal. Russia sees China as essential for support after facing international problems, while China deals with Russia based on practical interests, not shared ideals.
Key Facts
Russia often visits China, showing the importance of their relationship.
Russia’s current international options are limited, increasing its reliance on China.
The relationship between Russia and China is uneven, with China holding more influence.
Russia looks for outside approval through meetings with Chinese leader Xi Jinping.
China treats its partnership with Russia with careful calculation rather than strong loyalty.
This dynamic has grown since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
The analysis comes from Aleksei Chigadaev, a China-Russia relations expert.
This chain of events reflects wider geopolitical shifts and Russia’s narrowing alliances.
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A pupil at Westwood Farm Junior School in Reading is being treated for meningitis, marking the fourth case linked to the same social group. All cases are Meningitis B and close contacts have received antibiotics; the health agency says the risk to the public is low.
Key Facts
A pupil at Westwood Farm Junior School in Reading has meningitis, the fourth case linked to the same social network.
Previous cases appeared at Reading Blue Coat School and Highdown Secondary School and Sixth Form Centre.
Lewis Waters, a student from Oxfordshire, died last week of meningitis B.
The pupil at Westwood Farm is recovering well, and close contacts got antibiotics as a precaution.
Meningitis B is the type confirmed in all four cases.
The risk to the wider public is low and the cases are not related to separate outbreaks in Kent or Dorset.
Meningitis symptoms include rash, high fever, headache, stiff neck, vomiting, and confusion.
Vaccinations like MenACWY are offered for free up to age 25 but do not cover all meningitis types like MenB.
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Andy Burnham, mayor of Manchester, plans to win a parliamentary seat in Ashton-in-Makerfield and is considered by supporters a strong candidate to replace UK Labour Party leader and Prime Minister Keir Starmer. Burnham is popular in the Labour Party and known as the "King of the North," with a political background including government roles and local leadership.
Key Facts
Andy Burnham is currently the mayor of Manchester.
He plans to run for a parliamentary seat in the northern town Ashton-in-Makerfield.
Supporters believe Burnham could replace Labour leader and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
Many Labour Party members want a change after poor local election results.
Burnham is called the "King of the North" and seen as less part of the London political elite.
He held government roles such as Chief Secretary to the Treasury and Secretary of State for Health.
Burnham ran for Labour leadership twice but did not win.
As mayor, he has worked on gaining more local control over transport, housing, and skills funding.
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The death toll from an Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has risen to an estimated 131 people out of 513 suspected cases. The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention has called the outbreak a Continental Public Health Emergency, allowing them to provide more resources to fight the virus, which is spreading across provinces and near neighboring countries.
Key Facts
At least 131 people have died, and 513 cases are suspected in the current Ebola outbreak in the DRC.
The outbreak involves the Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus, for which no vaccine or treatment currently exists.
The epidemic started in Ituri province, a gold-mining region bordering Uganda and South Sudan.
The virus has spread to other provinces and near the borders of Rwanda and South Sudan.
Africa CDC declared a continental emergency to support more response teams and tracking efforts.
Population movements, mining activity, weak infection control, and insecurity increase the risk of spread.
Some local communities initially thought the disease was mystical, which delayed medical treatment.
The World Health Organization has declared this outbreak an international health emergency.
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A recent poll shows that Labour party members prefer Andy Burnham over Keir Starmer as their leader and believe Burnham has a better chance of winning the next UK election. Despite this, many members think Starmer has done a good job as prime minister but want him to step down before the next election.
Key Facts
Labour members rank Andy Burnham higher than Keir Starmer for party leadership.
When asked to choose between Starmer and Burnham, Burnham leads by a ratio of 3 to 2.
Members believe Labour is more likely to win the next election under Burnham's leadership than Starmer’s.
Only 28% of Labour members want Starmer to lead the party into the next election.
66% of members say Starmer has done a fairly or very good job as prime minister.
Angela Rayner has the highest favorability rating among potential leaders, though she is not the preferred choice for leader.
Burnham holds the highest “very favourable” rating among candidates.
There is ongoing political activity with multiple government events and meetings scheduled today.
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Three Finnish divers will try to recover the bodies of two Italians who died inside an underwater cave in the Maldives. The four Italians went missing while exploring the cave five days ago, and their bodies were found deep inside the cave by expert divers.
Key Facts
Four Italian divers went missing on May 14, 2026, while exploring a cave in Vaavu Atoll, Maldives.
The bodies were located inside the cave at about 60 meters (200 feet) deep.
A local military diver died during an earlier rescue attempt.
Three Finnish expert divers, experienced in difficult cave recoveries, will recover two bodies on Tuesday and two more on Wednesday.
The Maldives coast guard will take over after the divers bring the bodies closer to the surface.
The legal limit for recreational diving in the Maldives is 30 meters (almost 100 feet).
The divers used special equipment called closed-circuit rebreathers that let them stay underwater longer.
A fifth Italian, a diving instructor, was found dead earlier outside the cave on the day they disappeared.
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Zainab Sheriff, a well-known singer and political opponent in Sierra Leone, was sentenced to over four years in prison for incitement and using threatening language during a political rally. Lawyers and activists say her imprisonment is part of a government crackdown on free speech and is meant to intimidate others from speaking out.
Key Facts
Zainab Sheriff was sentenced in April to four years and two months in prison.
She was charged after a speech in January where she said election rigging was treason and called for harsh punishment.
Sheriff was arrested on February 20 and denied bail multiple times before her sentencing.
Critics say no evidence showed her speech caused public harm.
Legal workers described the trial as unfair and politically motivated.
Sheriff is held in a maximum-security prison in Freetown, Sierra Leone.
Another case in 2023 involved a social media influencer arrested for criticizing the president.
UN experts have raised concerns about the government’s detention of protestors and critics.
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The war involving the U.S. and Israel against Iran is creating tensions between Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). While Saudi Arabia remains the leading power in the Gulf region, the UAE’s increasing ties with Israel and involvement in other regional conflicts have caused disagreements within Gulf countries and shifted alliances.
Key Facts
Saudi Arabia and the UAE are becoming more involved in the conflict against Iran, led by the U.S. and Israel.
The UAE has strong but sometimes tense relations with Israel, established in 2020 through the Abraham Accords supported by President Donald Trump.
Reports suggest the UAE supports non-government groups in countries like Libya, Sudan, and Yemen, causing friction with Saudi Arabia.
Saudi Arabia sees itself as the main power in the Gulf region because of its size, population, oil resources, military strength, and religious significance.
The UAE is smaller but has grown influential through modernization and economic development since its independence in 1971.
Some experts compare the rivalry between Saudi Arabia and the UAE to the “Thucydides Trap,” meaning a rising power challenging an established one.
Other countries like Egypt, Turkey, India, and Pakistan are also affected by or involved in the shifting Middle East alliances.
Despite tensions, Saudi Arabia remains the main force shaping Gulf and Arab regional politics and structures like OPEC.
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Armed men kidnapped 39 students and 7 teachers from several schools in Oyo State, Nigeria. Authorities and local leaders said security forces are working to rescue the victims and have arrested six suspects connected to the kidnappers.
Key Facts
The abduction happened last Friday in Ahoro Esinele community, targeting one secondary school and two primary schools.
Most of the kidnapped victims are children aged between 2 and 16 years.
President Bola Tinubu called the attack barbaric and promised a government response to free the hostages.
One abducted teacher was reportedly killed, according to a video cited by the state governor.
Six suspects, including alleged informants and helpers, have been arrested by authorities.
A rescue operation by soldiers, police, and local vigilantes was stopped after attackers used homemade explosives.
Those injured in the rescue attempt are receiving medical care.
Kidnappings by armed groups have increased in Nigeria, often targeting schools and rural areas for ransom money.
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The United Nations Security Council is meeting to discuss the situation in Ukraine following recent Russian attacks and joint nuclear drills by Russia and Belarus. The meeting was called by several countries and comes as Russian President Vladimir Putin prepares for a visit to China.
Key Facts
The UN Security Council is holding a meeting focused on peace and security in Ukraine.
The meeting was requested by Denmark, France, Greece, Latvia, Liberia, and the UK.
Russia and Belarus are conducting joint nuclear weapons drills involving tens of thousands of troops.
The drills are taking place over three days.
The meeting coincides with Russian President Vladimir Putin’s upcoming two-day visit to China.
Recent Russian drone strikes hit Kharkiv, Ukraine, causing damage to private homes.
Other European events mentioned include the Hungarian prime minister’s visit to Poland and NATO military chief meetings in Brussels.
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Lebanon’s Prime Minister Nawaf Salam visited Damascus in Syria as both countries face Israeli attacks and occupation. This visit reflects a new approach where Syria treats Lebanon as an equal partner, following the fall of President Bashar al-Assad’s regime in 2024.
Key Facts
Lebanon’s Prime Minister Nawaf Salam visited Syria’s capital, Damascus, for the second time since 2024.
Both Lebanon and Syria are experiencing ongoing Israeli attacks and occupation in parts of their territories.
Syria ended its previous political and military control over Lebanon, symbolized by suspending the Lebanese-Syrian Higher Council.
President Bashar al-Assad fled Syria in December 2024 after opposition forces took control, ending five decades of family rule.
Syria under al-Assad was isolated internationally and heavily sanctioned due to its civil war and internal repression.
Syria’s new government, led by Ahmed al-Sharaa, opposes Hezbollah, a Lebanese group that previously supported al-Assad.
Hezbollah lost its land route to Iran for funding and weapons after al-Assad’s fall.
Syria aims to reintegrate into the international community and seek a more equal relationship with Lebanon.
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Tensions and violence increased in Jerusalem and the West Bank during a week marked by Jerusalem Day and Nakba commemorations. Israeli settlers, sometimes protected by the military, attacked Palestinian communities, resulting in deaths, property damage, and forced displacements.
Key Facts
On Jerusalem Day, tens of thousands of nationalist Israelis marched in East Jerusalem, attacking Palestinian shops and residents.
Israeli authorities restricted entry to the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, allowing settler visits that violated long-standing religious rules.
Far-right Israeli officials made provocative statements and actions at religious sites in Jerusalem.
Over 2,200 settler incursions into the Al-Aqsa area were reported in one week.
A 16-year-old Palestinian boy was shot and killed during a settler attack on villages near Ramallah; ambulances were blocked from reaching him quickly.
Settlers stole livestock and damaged property, including burning a mosque and multiple vehicles in various villages.
Another 16-year-old Palestinian was killed by Israeli forces in the West Bank, with emergency medical help prevented from arriving.
Seven Palestinian families were forcibly displaced from their homes during this period amid escalating settler violence.
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A Russian attack damaged important port facilities in the Ukrainian city of Izmail on the Danube River, which is key for grain exports. Meanwhile, Russian forces shot down four Ukrainian drones heading to Moscow as fighting between the two countries continues despite a recent ceasefire agreement.
Key Facts
Izmail, Ukraine’s largest Danube port, was hit by a Russian strike damaging its infrastructure.
Ukrainian defenses destroyed most Russian drones targeting areas around Izmail, protecting civilians.
Russian authorities reported shooting down four Ukrainian drones near Moscow.
Previous attacks by Russia on Izmail’s port happened on May 2.
A Russian drone attack in Kharkiv rescue operation saved two people; one may still be trapped.
Ukrainian drone attacks in Russia have caused deaths and injuries, including one woman killed in Kursk region.
Russia is conducting military exercises involving over 64,000 personnel and missile launches as preparation for nuclear forces.
Russian President Putin is visiting China to mark 25 years of their friendship treaty and discuss energy cooperation.
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