World

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Kenyan president William Ruto has withdrawn a bill which sparked deadly protests in Nairobi, saying he was respecting Kenyans’ “loud” opposition to it.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 said it is updating its nuclear doctrine, in a sign of growing tensions between Moscow and the West. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, citing an earlier statement by Vladimir Putin, told a briefing that “work is under way to bring the doctrine into line with current realities”. He did not provide any further details.

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

Serbia has threatened to pull its football team out of Euro 2024 if UEFA doesn’t punish Croatia and Albania for alleged hateful chants. Jovan Surbatovic, general secretary of the Serbian football association, said they have made a formal complaint about “kill, kill, kill the Serb” chants during the 2-2 draw between Croatia and Albania on

Medics have been able to make heart muscle “regenerate” for the first time using gentle shockwaves after a bypass surgery. People given the treatment were shown to have clinically improved a year later compared with patients who had not received the treatment. As well as the heart pumping more oxygen around the body, the patients

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

Israel’s military may have repeatedly broken the laws of war and failed to distinguish between civilians and fighters, according to the UN. The body’s human rights office said Israeli forces “may have systematically violated the principles of distinction, proportionality and precautions in attack”. This claim is based on the assessment of six Israeli attacks that

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

Spanish police have shared aerial footage of a hammerhead shark off the coast of Gran Canaria after a popular tourist beach was closed on the island due to a sighting. Melenara Beach in the town of Telde was busy on Saturday when several swimmers saw a roughly two-metre-long shark near the shore, according to Spanish

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

China may target the European Union’s pork producers in retaliation for EU tariffs on its electric cars. The world’s second largest economy revealed on Monday that it had launched an investigation into imports of pork for human consumption from the bloc. The Commerce ministry inquiry was in response to a complaint by Chinese pork producers

Sir Rod Stewart has defended his support for Ukraine after he appeared to be booed as photos of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy were shown at a concert in Germany. The 79-year-old was met with loud boos, shouts and whistles from the crowd in Leipzig’s Quarterback Immobilien Arena on Friday, before performing his 1991 hit Rhythm Of

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