World News

An extreme heatwave in the US has seen record-breaking temperatures with warnings issued to around 130 million people and heightened concerns over wildfires.San Francisco saw the thermometer hit a blistering 47C (117F) over the weekend while Las Vegas topped out at 46C - a high last reached in 2007. Phoenix recorded 45.5C, just shy of the record of 46.7C set back in 1942. Image: Some have been able to enjoy […]

Voters have gone to the polls for the second time in France in crucial parliamentary run-off elections that threaten political deadlock.While Marine Le Pen's far-right National Rally party is expected to win most votes, it faces falling short of a majority. This raises the prospect of a hung parliament, denting the authority of President Emmanuel Macron. Image: Pic: Reuters If the National Rally does secure an absolute majority, the French […]

Ukraine's air force has claimed it tricked Russian forces into hitting dummy versions of warplanes and air defence systems.Air force commander Mykola Oleshchuk said mock-ups were put in place at an airfield near the central Ukrainian city of Kryvyi Rih and a district of the Black Sea port of Odesa. He shared a video filmed by a Russian reconnaissance drone, which he said showed Russian Iskander missiles attacking the mock-ups.Russia's […]

Norwegian cyclist Andre Drege has died in an accident during the Tour of Austria.The 25-year-old suffered fatal injuries in a fall while descending the Grossglockner, Austria's highest mountain. A statement from the organisers read: "It is with deep sadness and heavy hearts that we have to announce the passing of Andre Drege."On Saturday 6 July, following a very serious crash during the descent of the Grossglockner at stage four of […]

This was an upset, by Iranian standards, though all things are relative. Pezeshkian is a reformist and his election is a surprise.Iran has successfully but brutally crushed a popular uprising and many had expected his hardline rival to prevail. The presidency has control of foreign policy and some domestic matters so many expect a shift in Iran's diplomatic outlook now - perhaps a more conciliatory tone towards the West.Read more: […]

More than 50 candidates and their supporters have been attacked ahead of a second round of voting in France's parliamentary elections.Interior minister Gerald Darmanin said politicians from across the spectrum had faced verbal and physical abuse - often while they were putting up campaign posters. He told BFM that several of the attacks had been "extremely serious" - with the three-week campaign overshadowed by violence that left some victims in […]

A new beginning for Britain and suddenly we find ourselves in a world turning itself inside out, posing clear challenges to the incoming Labour government.The swing to the left in the UK comes just as some of our closest partners appear to be veering in the opposite direction. After the chaos of right-wing Conservative rule, Britain has embraced the opposite: a left-wing government with a huge majority and a future […]

An ultra-conservative archbishop has been excommunicated by the Vatican after being found guilty of schism. Schism is one of the gravest crimes in canon law and occurs when someone withdraws submission to the Pope or his Catholic subjects. Carlo Maria Vigano served as the Vatican's ambassador to the US from 2011 to 2016 but went into hiding in 2018.This came after he alleged Pope Francis knew about US cardinal Theodore […]

Andrew Tate will be allowed to leave Romania while awaiting trial on charges of human trafficking, a court has ruled.The controversial influencer and his brother Tristan can travel within the EU without restrictions while awaiting the trial, the Bucharest Tribunal ruled. Until Friday, the Tates had been banned from leaving Romania where he is awaiting trial. The decision is not final and can be appealed by prosecutors.Read more: Who is […]