World

The Israeli army has ordered a mass evacuation of Palestinians from the eastern half of Khan Younis in southern Gaza. Israel wrapped up its offensive in the city earlier this year and withdrew most of its forces, but this indicates that troops could soon return. Much of Khan Younis was already destroyed in a long

A new political reality has been revealed in France, it has a new face and a new name – 28-year-old Jordan Bardella. Frontman of the hard-right, he has helped propel National Rally to a clear-cut lead in the first round of parliamentary elections. Bardella, the party’s choice for prime minister, stands on the brink of

Voters in France are heading to the polls today for a parliamentary election that could usher in the country’s first far-right government since the Second World War. French President Emmanuel Macron called a surprise vote after his centrist alliance was soundly beaten in the European elections by Marine Le Pen’s far-right National Rally earlier this

A funeral procession weaves through the heart of one of Nairobi’s poorest neighbourhoods.  As it passes, more and more young men join in. “There is no god but Allah,” they chant around the casket carrying 19-year-old Ibrahim Wanjiku. He was shot twice in the neck while protesting. We saw him lying lifeless on a bed

Police have fired tear gas at dozens of protesters in Kenya’s capital and blocked off roads to the presidential palace as crowds took to the streets again nationwide. The demonstrations took place over a controversial tax hike bill despite the president bowing to pressure to withdraw it. Police fired tear gas canisters at groups of

Kenyan president William Ruto has withdrawn a bill which sparked deadly protests in Nairobi, saying he was respecting Kenyans’ “loud” opposition to it. After 22 people were reportedly killed in violent protests on Tuesday which also saw part of Kenya’s parliament building burnt, Mr Ruto said he would no longer be introducing unpopular new financial

Protesters in Kenya have reportedly been shot dead and the parliament set on fire after a controversial tax bill was passed. At least 10 protesters were shot dead in the Kenyan capital, according to the Reuters news agency, after police fired live rounds as the compound was stormed by demonstrators following the passing of the

Russia has launched a barrage of missiles and drones in an attack on Ukraine – damaging energy facilities and injuring at least two people, officials in Kyiv said. Ukraine has been struggling with waves of rolling blackouts for the past three months amid relentless Russian attacks on its energy infrastructure. Half of Ukraine’s power generation

Hungary player Barnabas Varga is reportedly stable in hospital after he was stretchered off the pitch in the country’s Euro 2024 match against Scotland. The Hungary forward went down in the second half after an apparent clash with Scotland’s goalkeeper Angus Gunn following a free kick. Hungary players quickly signalled Varga was in trouble and

Vladimir Putin hit out at what he called “Western isolation” and heaped praise on Vietnam, as Russia’s president continues his tour of Asia. In an opinion piece, published to coincide with his arrival in Hanoi, Putin praised Vietnam for its “balanced” stance on the war in Ukraine. Ukraine war latest: UK says ‘bizarre’ deal should

Anytime President Vladimir Putin leaves Russia, it is significant because he rarely gets out. But this trip – visiting the secretive and closed-off country of North Korea for the first time in 24 years – underscores just how important the relationship between these countries has become. Russia and North Korea have signed a strategic partnership

Thailand’s senate has voted to approve a marriage equality bill – clearing the last legislative hurdle for the country to become the first in Southeast Asia to recognise same-sex couples. It follows two decades of campaigning by activists who hailed the move a “monumental step forward”. The bill – which was supported by an overwhelming

This will only be Vladimir Putin’s second visit to North Korea. The first was soon after he assumed office in 2000, nearly a quarter of a century ago. That’s a long time to wait for a return trip. Was it the hospitality? Or did he just have better options elsewhere? Either way, it’s very much

German investigators have confiscated 35.5 tonnes of cocaine in what authorities say is the biggest bust of the class A drug Europe has ever seen.  Prosecutors in the western city of Duesseldorf said they confiscated the cocaine, which they valued at €2.6bn (£2.19bn), last year after receiving a tip from Colombian authorities. A total of

Dramatic pictures have emerged showing firefighters trying to extinguish a massive blaze in Los Angeles, California, which has already forced the evacuation of 1,200 people. The blaze, named the Post Fire, has burnt through 4,400 acres near the Interstate 5 Freeway Gorman, which is about 62 miles northwest of Los Angeles, according to an update

It has been another bad week for Vladimir Putin. He started his war in Ukraine to limit Western expansion, he says. It is accelerating apace entirely because of his aggression. In direct response to his unprovoked invasion, Ukraine has this week been able to sign a 10-year security pact with America – a bridge to

Ukrainian forces have struck a military airfield in Russia, targeting warplanes and glide-bomb facilities used to launch deadly attacks against Ukraine, a security source has revealed. The source said the operation on Thursday night was part of a “sustained campaign to degrade the Russian Air Force” just as Ukraine has done with Russia’s Black Sea

As ever with Vladimir Putin, timing is everything. It’s no coincidence his latest speech was made on the eve of the Ukraine peace summit in Switzerland. Russia won’t be there as it hasn’t been invited. So this was about putting Moscow’s side across first and undermining the summit’s legitimacy before it has even begun. Putin

Americans will still be able to buy an abortion pill after the US Supreme Court threw out a bid by campaign groups to restrict access to it. The decision was made by the same court that two years ago overturned Roe v Wade – which had previously given women rights to terminate a pregnancy. The

Greece has shuttered tourist hotspots and schools across Athens as the first heatwave of the summer strikes. Temperatures were tipped to hit highs up 43C (109F) on Wednesday and Thursday in parts of the Mediterranean country. Meteorologists say the high temperatures is being driven by southerly winds bringing hot air and dust from North Africa.