World

Russian claims Ukraine could use a “dirty bomb” in the war have been branded “nuclear blackmail” and dismissed by the West. With its forces facing a string of battlefield defeats and a risk of being routed in the south, the Kremlin has pushed allegations that Kyiv could use such a blast on its own territory

It is a quiet street in a fairly tough part of Sao Paulo, but the sound of high velocity weapons firing and the thud of rounds impacting every few seconds is somewhat disconcerting. We ring the doorbell of an innocuous-looking building; after a few minutes the thick metal door opens, and we are greeted by

History has been made in China after it was confirmed that President Xi Jinping will remain in power – breaking with a decades-long precedent that limits the terms of Chinese leaders. Having ruled China for 10 years already, Mr Xi will now stay on for at least another five-year term – and he could, in

Fear is a powerful thing and it is motivating many to leave the Ukrainian city of Kherson. With Ukrainian troops closing in on the city, thousands have left using ferries to cross the great Dnipro River. Kherson was the first major city to fall to Vladimir Putin’s military after the invasion began in February and

China’s former president Hu Jintao has been unexpectedly escorted out of the closing ceremony of the ruling Communist Party. The 79-year-old, who was seated on the left of President Xi Jinping, was led off the stage of the main auditorium of the Great Hall of the People in Beijing by two stewards. Mr Hu, Mr

When soldiers in Ukraine’s 93rd Mechanised Brigade do their work, most tasks are performed under trees. It is a simple matter of staying alive. Members of the brigade’s Oril Company stack their munitions under a stand of gnarly-looking trees. Their mortars are hidden in the bushes. Putin’s forces ‘preparing to blow up major dam’ – Ukraine

Russian President Vladimir Putin has been shown firing a sniper rifle while visiting a training facility for reservists. Footage of the inspection of the military boot camp in the Russian region of Ryazan, southeast of Moscow, is thought to have been aimed at showing progress in rectifying problems with training and supplies. Russian TV showed

Liz Truss has resigned as prime minister after just 44 days in the post – here’s how the news was received around the world. Russia: Liz Truss will be remembered for her ‘catastrophic illiteracy’ Russia’s foreign ministry welcomed the resignation of Liz Truss – saying she was a “disgrace” of a leader who will be

A missile was released from a Russian aircraft near an unarmed RAF plane on a routine patrol over the Black Sea, the defence secretary has said. In a statement updating MPs on the war in Ukraine, Ben Wallace said the incident happened on 29 September and that Russia has acknowledged it took place in international

Kherson residents have been boarding boats in an apparent evacuation as Russia claimed Ukraine is planning a major attack and President Putin declared martial law in four occupied regions. Russian media showed people in the city boarding ferries to cross from the right bank of the Dnipro river to the left. The Moscow-backed head of

An Iranian climber who took part in an international competition without wearing a hijab has insisted it was “completely unintentional”. Wearing the hijab is mandatory for female athletes from the Islamic Republic, but at the event in South Korea on Sunday Elnaz Rekabi did not wear one. It follows a wave of protests in Iran

There are days in Bakhmut that are more difficult than others – although no day is easy in this battered city.  Once home to 100,000 people, it’s now a military objective for the Russian army, the gateway to key industrial cities in eastern Ukraine. But the city has become a major obstacle for Russian generals,

A preliminary investigation of damage on the two Nord Stream gas pipelines in the Danish part of the Baltic Sea shows the leaks were caused by “powerful explosions”, Copenhagen Police has said. The force added officers investigated the “crime scenes” with assistance from Denmark’s armed forces and in collaboration with the Danish security and intelligence

The world’s first geological tomb for nuclear waste is rapidly taking shape more than 400 metres below the forests of Finland. Batches of lethally radioactive uranium will start arriving within two years for burial in the warren of tunnels carved into the bedrock. Other countries, including the UK, are considering plans to build their own

Members of K-pop band BTS are to fulfil their requirement to do military service in South Korea, their representatives say. Label Big Hit Music said members of BTS are “honoured to serve” their country. The band – RM, Jin, SUGA, j-hope, Jimin, V, and Jung Kook – will reconvene “around 2025” following their service commitment,

If this was a “normal” party congress then the speech by President Xi Jinping would have been his swansong. But this is not a normal party congress. The speech instead felt more like a consolidation, an enshrining of sorts, of Xi’s vision, Xi’s path and Xi’s China. The party congress is the most important political event