World

It is a crime so brutal and depraved it defies words – so outside the court, they applaud instead. Warning: This article contains descriptions of sexual abuse Since September, people have lined the route in Avignon clapping as Gisele Pelicot walks past. It is a wordless act of support for the 72-year-old woman at the

A dramatic change in tone by Ukraine’s president – acknowledging the strength of Russia’s hold over swathes of Ukrainian territory – has coincided with the imminent return of Donald Trump to the White House. The incoming US commander-in-chief has said he can end Russia’s war in Ukraine in a day – though without saying how.

The world is set to use more coal than ever before, this year, because of high demand in Asia and despite the warnings over the harm that burning fossil fuels does to the planet, a report has said. Global demand for the fossil fuel is expected to hit a record 8.77 billion tonnes in 2024,

A British student was stabbed to death during a trip to Amsterdam before he was dragged and left at the bottom of steps, an inquest has heard. Danny Castledine, 22, sustained 44 wounds near the Singel canal in the Dutch capital in June 2022, when he was with a friend on the way to a

A new island has emerged in Venice – thanks to recently installed city flood barriers. Bacan is a small stretch of land near the Sant’Erasmo island on the Northern Venetian Lagoon. It can only be reached by private boat. The island is popular with local residents during the summer months as an escape from a

Defending champions England are to face Wales, France and the Netherlands in a “tough” but “exciting” Women’s Euro 2025 group stage. The Lionesses go into next summer’s tournament in Switzerland among the favourites after winning on home soil in 2022. But they face a tough start to the competition, with an opening group game on

Former Syrian leader Bashar al Assad has issued his first statement since the fall of his regime. In a social media post, he said he had planned to keep fighting rebel forces before Russia evacuated him. The comments, the first in public since his regime was toppled more than a week ago, were made on

At least 54 Palestinians were killed in Israeli strikes in different parts of Gaza on Sunday, including two schools, according to health officials in the besieged enclave. An airstrike in the southern city of Khan Younis hit a school, killing at least 16 people including several children, according to Nasser Hospital where bodies were taken.

Two Russian tankers in the Black Sea have been badly damaged due to stormy weather, according to the Interfax news agency. At least one person has been killed, and an emergency rescue operation is underway to evacuate both crews. Ifax says it has resulted in an oil spill, citing Russia‘s Federal Agency for Sea and

I knew we were near a Russian military base when I could read the names of shops, cafes and pharmacies written in Russian, in surrounding villages. The Russians have been permanently based here since 2017, propping up the Assad regime and overseeing the war against their many opponents. And the local communities have benefitted financially

A former Premier League footballer has been appointed president of Georgia amid heightening tensions over the country’s relationship with Russia. Mikheil Kavelashvili, 53, was a striker for Manchester City between 1996 and 1997, and later played for several clubs in the Swiss Super League. He was elected to parliament in 2016, and in 2022 co-founded

A popular Indian actor has been arrested after a woman died in a crush at the premiere of his latest movie Pushpa 2: The Rule. Allu Arjun, a top star in the Telugu film industry, also known as “Tollywood”, was making an appearance at the event in Hyderabad on 4 December when the incident happened.

A 28-year-old woman has been found not guilty of murdering her wealthy 77-year-old husband who styled himself as a Japanese Don Juan. Saki Sudo was charged after Kosuke Nozaki was found dead at his home in Tanabe City from a drug overdose in May 2018. The pair had wed just three months earlier, and she

As rebels set about freeing those imprisoned by the reposed Assad regime, more missing people are being found. Earlier on Wednesday, a man who said he was locked up after crossing into Syria by foot seven months ago was found safe. There were initial suspicions it could have been missing US journalist Austin Tice, who

Two luxury real estate agent brothers have been charged with drugging and violently raping dozens of women. Oren and Tal Alexander, as well as their brother Alon, are accused by New York federal prosecutors of sex trafficking and using their position to take advantage of women from at least 2010 to 2021. Charges have also