World

A drug used to treat COVID-19 may, in fact, be helping spread the illness, scientists have said. Molnupiravir works by causing mutations in the virus’s genetic information, or genome, many of which kill or harm the virus, reducing the amount of COVID in the body. Used across the world to treat COVID, it was one

France will remove its 1,500 troops from Niger by the end of the year following the country’s military coup earlier this year. The African country’s democratically elected president was ousted in July, with the ensuing Western sanctions pushing food prices up by 60% and triggering 10-hour-long electricity cuts. France had previously stationed thousands of troops

One police officer was killed and another wounded in an attack Kosovo’s prime minister has blamed on support from Serbia. Three of the assailants were also killed in the shootout which occurred following a siege on an Orthodox monastery in Banjska, Leposavic, 35 miles north of the capital Pristina. Albin Kurti said “masked professionals armed

Syrian President Bashar al Assad was among the guests at the opening of the Asian Games in China as his state’s diplomatic relations appear to continue growing internationally. Waving alongside his wife Asma al Assad – who is a British citizen – the Syrian dictator was making his first trip to China since 2004 to

“I was going into the wolf’s lair but I had to overcome my fear because I was the only one who could rescue my grandson.” Ilya’s mother was dead. The missile strike that killed her left him bleeding, shrapnel embedded in his legs. Under the guise of an “evacuation”, Russian soldiers stole the nine-year-old from

State visits are all about the show. And this was a coup de theatre from France. Nothing subtle about a ceremony at the Arc de Triomphe, or a banquet at Versailles. And the diplomatic highpoint – speaking in the Senate. Image: The King speaks to people gathered outside the Hotel de Ville in Bordeaux Speaking

The headquarters of Russia’s Black Sea fleet caught fire after being hit by a Ukrainian missile strike, according to Moscow and its allies. One serviceman was missing following the attack, said the Russian defence ministry which earlier stated he had been killed. Ukraine‘s military said its forces had “successfully” struck the navy HQ in the

Turkey’s leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan has complained about the display of what he described as as “LGBT colours” at the United Nations, which was brightly decorated to promote sustainable development goals. Mr Erdogan said he would have liked to discuss it with UN secretary-general Antonio Guterres, according to Turkish media. The president’s government has toughened

Syrian President Bashar al Assad has met with Chinese President Xi Jinping in China for “in-depth talks”, according to Chinese state media. It is Mr Assad‘s first visit to the country in almost 20 years, and since the start of Syria’s 12-year civil conflict – one in which Beijing has been one of his main

Volodymyr Zelenskyy has lauded the strength of Ukrainian soldiers fighting for the war-torn country as they “chew and choke the Russian occupiers”. After addressing an audience at the US National Archives Museum in Washington, the Ukrainian president posted a series of messages on X (formerly Twitter) celebrating his armed forces. “Among the documents I saw

Canada is “adjusting” its diplomatic staff presence in India as the South Asian nation suspended visas for Canadian citizens, widening a rift between the two countries. Justin Trudeau, Canada’s prime minister, told parliament on Monday there are “credible allegations” India was involved in the killing of Sikh independence activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in June. India’s

Poland will stop supplying weapons to Ukraine after a row about grain imports saw President Volodymyr Zelenskyy criticise the country at the UN and Warsaw summon Kyiv’s ambassador. Poland has been one of the biggest suppliers of arms to Ukraine, transferring many of its older weapons, as well as taking in a huge number of

The tiny Pacific island nation of Niue has come up with a novel way to protect its waters from illegal fishing and plastic waste – it will ask people to sponsor parts of its ocean. Niue’s premier Dalton Tagelagi has said individuals or companies can pay $148 (£120) to protect 1sq/km (around 250 acres) of

Iran’s president is warning Saudi Arabia against making peace with Israel.  The warning comes as leaders of both countries claim they’re making progress towards a historic deal. Saudi Arabia’s crown prince Mohammed bin Salman says an agreement is “coming closer every day”. And at a meeting with US president Joe Biden in New York, Israel’s

Iran has passed a law to impose more severe punishments on women who refuse to wear the mandatory Islamic headscarf in public.  The new legislation comes just days after the anniversary of the death of Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old woman who had been detained by the morality police for violating the country’s dress code. Her

The world’s foulest-smelling flower – which mimics the odour of rotting flesh – could be at risk of extinction. Scientists estimate 60% of the 42 Rafflesia species are at “severe risk” due to factors such as deforestation and a lack of seed-banking and propagation. They say some new species may be getting eradicated before they

A ceasefire has been agreed in the Nagorno-Karabakh region after dozens died in shelling, according to Azerbaijan and ethnic-Armenian officials. Azerbaijan deployed troops and launched strikes on Tuesday in what it called an “anti-terrorist” military operation after months of tension. Earlier on Wednesday, it said the offensive was continuing but a subsequent statement suggested it

Spain’s World Cup winning women’s squad has agreed to end their boycott of the national team. It comes after the country’s football federation (RFEF) said it would make “immediate and profound changes” to its structure. The players had said they would not represent Spain until there were changes at the federation. It followed a row

The King and Queen are starting their rescheduled state visit to France, six months after the original trip was postponed after protests spiralled into civil unrest. The three-day programme is similar to that planned for March, and aims to renew cross-channel relations after years of Brexit turbulence. There will be plenty of pomp and ceremony

More than a year and a half into this war, President Biden has felt the need to urge the world not to succumb to appeasement with Russia. Allowing any carving up of Ukraine will render everyone less safe – that was the gist of the argument he made in the UN General Assembly. In an