Xinhua world news summary at 1530 GMT, May 14

JERUSALEM -- Israeli and Lebanese officials began a third round of peace talks in Washington on Thursday, an Israeli government official told Xinhua.

The talks are expected to continue on Friday, though it was unclear whether the sides were close enough to make progress.

The negotiations are being held at the U.S. State Department, the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity. Israel is represented by its ambassador to Washington, Yechiel Leiter, and senior security officials, while Lebanon's delegation includes its ambassador to Washington, Nada Hamadeh Mouawad, and former Lebanese Ambassador to the United States Simon Karam. (Israel-Lebanon-Talks)

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LONDON -- Britain's economy expanded in the first quarter (Q1) of 2026, with real gross domestic product (GDP) rising by 0.6 percent compared with the fourth quarter (Q4) of 2025, according to estimates released Thursday by the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

The growth in the three months to March followed revised growth of 0.2 percent in Q4 2025, the ONS said. (UK-GDP)

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LONDON -- British Health Secretary Wes Streeting resigned from the government on Thursday, deepening the political crisis facing Prime Minister Keir Starmer following Labour's heavy losses in last week's local elections and a wave of ministerial resignations.

In a resignation letter posted on social media platform X, Streeting said he had "lost confidence" in Starmer's leadership and could no longer remain in government "honourably and on principle." (UK-Health Secretary-Resign)

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RAMALLAH -- Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas affirmed on Thursday that the Gaza Strip is an integral part of the State of Palestine and that any transitional arrangements must be temporary and not infringe upon the unity of Palestinian territory.

Speaking at the opening session of the eighth conference of the Palestinian National Liberation Movement (Fatah) at the presidential headquarters in Ramallah, Abbas said the situation in the Gaza Strip necessitates "enabling the State of Palestine to fulfill its role through its sovereign and service institutions." (Palestine-Fatah-Meeting) Enditem