The day Germany’s new leader entered office will now forever be remembered for a very public failure. Friedrich Merz’s initial, shock defeat – in his bid to become chancellor – sparked hours of chaotic uncertainty. A man who’d been working to project strength and purpose instead became mired in political intrigue and division. Merz may … Read more
Reuters A city view of Muzaffarabad in Pakistan-administrated Kashmir Two weeks after a deadly militant attack on tourists in Indian-administered Kashmir, India has launched a series of strikes on sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir. The Indian defence ministry said the strikes – named “Operation Sindoor” – were part of a “commitment” to hold those … Read more
As the sun set over Lake Turkana, a mother sobbed and threw flowers into the greenish-blue water to remember her teenage daughter who had drowned trying to reach Kenya via a new route being used by people smugglers. Senait Mebrehtu, a Pentecostal Christian Eritrean who had sought asylum in Kenya three years ago, made the … Read more
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney visited the White House on Tuesday amid US President Donald Trump’s tariffs and threat to make Canada the 51st US state. Carney kept his cool, flattered Trump and repeated that Canada is not for sale. The BBC’s Jake Kwon analyses how both leaders got their points across, with some jokes … Read more
India says it has launched strikes on Pakistan-administered Kashmir. The BBC has not yet been able to identify the locations hit. Relations between the two countries have declined sharply following a militant attack that killed at least 26 people in Kashmir last month. Associated Press has obtained footage it says shows the aftermath of an … Read more
Opposition parties have criticised the new UK-India trade deal, saying it could undercut British businesses. One aspect of the free trade agreement, which Labour says will be worth £5bn a year to the UK, is extending an exemption on national insurance contributions (Nics) from one to three years. Known as the double contribution convention, this … Read more
Jeremy Bowen International Editor, BBC News Reuters Israel’s army plans to capture and hold territory Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has told Israelis that “we are on the eve of an intense entry into Gaza.” Israel would, he said, capture territory and hold it: “They will not enter and come out.” The new offensive is … Read more
India has announced that it will stop it water from flowing over international borders. “Now, India’s water will flow for India’s benefit, it will be conserved for India’s benefit, and it will be used for India’s progress”, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Tuesday. While he did not mention Pakistan specifically, Modi’s comments come about … Read more
Mark Carney has told Donald Trump that Canada “is not for sale” as the president raised the prospect of the country becoming the 51st US state while welcoming the prime minister to the White House. Carney won election last month promising to “stand up” to Trump, who has imposed tariffs on some Canadian products and … Read more
An 81-year-old hunter in France has been fined and handed a four-month suspended jail sentence for killing an endangered bear in the Pyrenees mountains. The man said he had “no other option” but to open fire on the brown bear when it attacked him during a boar-hunt in 2021. Fifteen other hunters were also fined … Read more