Across Russia, volunteer battalions are being formed to deploy to the war in Ukraine, joining the so-called "special military operation" declared by President Vladimir Putin in February. From Murmansk in the Arctic Circle to Perm in the Urals and Primorsky Krai in the Russian

Iran has stepped up the production of military-capable drones, delivering its technology to militant groups across the Middle East as well as to countries such as Venezuela and Sudan, the US has warned. The New York Times cited Iranian media outlets, satellite images and US defense

Russia's defence ministry says 40 Ukrainian prisoners-of-war have been killed by Ukrainian shelling of a prison in separatist-held Donetsk. Officials alleged that 75 others had been injured in a rocket strike on the prison camp in Olenivka. The BBC cannot independently verify this

Some Asian central banks must rapidly raise interest rates to prevent an “upward spiral” in inflation as the war in Ukraine drives surging fuel and food prices, an International Monetary Fund (IMF) official has said. While inflation in Asia remains “moderate”

Chinese President Xi Jinping has warned his US counterpart Joe Biden against “playing with fire” over Taiwan, as the pair held their fifth call as leaders at a time of simmering economic and geopolitical tensions. Chinese state media reported that Xi told Biden that the

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee today removed Partha Chatterjee as a minister and from all party posts in the Trinamool Congress, five days after he was arrested for alleged corruption in recruitment of teachers. "Partha Chatterjee is being suspended from the party till

Russian forces have taken over Ukraine’s second-biggest power plant and are conducting a “massive redeployment” of troops to three southern regions, a Ukrainian presidential adviser has said, amid expectations of a Ukrainian counter-offensive. Russian-backed forces

In a speech to mark the armistice that ended fighting in the Korean War, known as ‘Victory Day’ in North Korea, Kim Jong Un said the threat posed by the United States required Pyongyang to build up its defence. “Our armed forces are thoroughly prepared to respond to

Miners in Angola have unearthed a rare pure pink diamond that is believed to be the largest found in 300 years, the Australian site operator announced Wednesday. A 170 carat pink diamond -- dubbed The Lulo Rose -- was discovered at Lulo mine in the country's diamond-rich northeast

U.S. officials say they have little fear that China would attack Nancy Pelosi’s plane if she flies to Taiwan. But the U.S. House speaker would be entering one of the world’s hottest spots where a mishap, misstep or misunderstanding could endanger her safety. So, the Pentagon

Despite damaging Western sanctions imposed on Moscow in the wake of the invasion of Ukraine, Russia's economy appears to be weathering the storm better than expected as it benefits from high energy prices, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) said on Tuesday (July 26). The

The latest Tory leadership debate between Rishi Sunak and Liz Truss has been cancelled after the presenter fainted on air. The Sun and TalkTV debate, hosted by journalist Kate McCann, abruptly halted around halfway through after a loud crash was heard. TalkTV said McCann was

Last week's wildfires across London show that lessons learned tackling rural blazes must urgently be applied to built-up areas, fire chiefs say. The record-breaking heatwave, with 40C peaks, came during a prolonged spell of dry weather - and that dried out gardens, verges and green

Rahul Gandhi was detained today after he led a protest and sat on a road in the heart of the capital while his mother Sonia Gandhi was being questioned by the Enforcement Directorate. The Congress leader, surrounded by scores of policemen, sat on Rajpath - the high security avenue near

Russia will further cut gas supplies to Europe in a blow to countries that have supported Kyiv just as there was hope on Monday that Ukraine's blocked grain exports would resume this week. Despite a weekend air strike, the first ships from Ukraine's Black Sea ports may set sail

A gunman killed two people and wounded two others in a series of shootings near Vancouver yesterday, before being shot dead by police, authorities said. Earlier reports had suggested the assailant may have targeted homeless people, but this was not immediately confirmed by authorities

A fast-moving wildfire in California continues to grow in size, firefighters say, as they struggle through sweltering temperatures. The Oak Fire has now burned 15,603 acres of land and is still "zero per cent uncontained", California's fire department said on Sunday

Droupadi Murmu, a tribal politician, was sworn in as India's new president on Monday. The 64-year-old former teacher comes from Odisha (Orissa) state and has had a stint as a state governor. Ms Murmu is the country's first tribal leader in the top post. "My elevation

Four democracy activists have been executed by Myanmar's military in what is believed to be the first use of capital punishment in decades. Former lawmaker Phyo Zeya Thaw, writer and activist Ko Jimmy, Hla Myo Aung and Aung Thura Zaw were accused of committing "terror

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov is to address the Arab League on a visit to Egypt, where it has its headquarters in the capital Cairo. He wants to rally support for Moscow as it counters international anger over the war in Ukraine. Mr Lavrov held talks in Cairo with his