NurPhoto via Getty Images An Indian soldier operates a surveillance drone amid heightened tensions in Jammu and Kashmir The world’s first drone war between nuclear-armed neighbours has erupted in South Asia. On Thursday, India accused Pakistan of launching waves of drones and missiles at three military bases in Indian territory and Indian-administered Kashmir – an … Read more
Ukraine says it has uncovered a Hungarian-operated spy network attempting to obtain intelligence about its defences. The country’s security service said it had detained two alleged Hungarian spies who it accused of gathering intelligence on its air defence systems. “For the first time in Ukraine’s history, the Security Service has exposed a Hungarian military intelligence … Read more
Maria Zaccaro BBC World Service Reuters Cardinal Robert Prevost has been elected pope and will be known as Pope Leo XIV. The 69-year-old is the first American to become as pontiff and will lead members of the Catholic Church’s global community of 1.4bn people. Born in Chicago, he is seen as a reformer and worked … Read more
Just nowOh my God, it’s Rob! – Pope’s brother’s speaks of joyPope Leo XIV ‘s brother Louis says nothing will be the same again after his appointment.Just nowUS & Canada
Vladimir Putin is leading Russia’s Victory Day commemorations with a parade in Red Square and ramped up security after days of Ukrainian strikes targeting the capital. Chinese President Xi Jingping is among more than 20 international leaders who have made the journey to Moscow. A unilateral, three-day ceasefire was announced by Russia to coincide with … Read more
Yogita Limaye reporting from the Donetsk region BBC Asked about a ceasefire, 26-year-old soldier Max told the BBC “you don’t think about things like that here.” Hours into the ceasefire Russia had called for, we drove into the Donetsk region of eastern Ukraine to see what, if any, impact it was having. The Ukrainian military … Read more
The fact that the conclave was over quickly suggests that from the outset, a significant number of the voting cardinals felt Robert Prevost was the one amongst them best equipped to take on the challenges a pope faces. In the lead up to the election – during the formal meetings of cardinals, and the informal … Read more
US President Donald Trump has hinted that US tariffs on goods from China may come down as top trade officials from the world’s two biggest economies are set to hold talks. “You can’t get any higher. It’s at 145, so we know it’s coming down,” he said, referring to the new import taxes of up … Read more
The prime minister is set to impose a new wave of sanctions on Russian oil tankers, which are being used to avoid existing sanctions imposed after the invasion of Ukraine. Number 10 has said action will be taken against up to 100 vessels which have carried more than £18 billion worth of cargo since the … Read more
BBC / Mike Wendling Mary Simons drove to the church where Pope Leo XIV spent his childhood when she heard the news he had been named leader of the Catholic Church The church where Pope Leo XIV attended mass as a child and served as an altar boy is now an empty shell. Only the … Read more