Reality of Ukraine war hidden from Fortress Russia

In the medieval town of Pskov, many are happy to believe the Kremlin's false portrayal of the war.

Afghanistan: How one TV presenter became a refugee

A year since leaving Kabul, a young refugee is trying to rebuild a new life in UK

South Africa's clean President Ramaphosa faces his own scandal

Cyril Ramaphosa, who replaced corruption-tainted Jacob Zuma, is dealing with allegations against him.

Cancer survivor objects to Spanish beach ad image

The 60-year-old tells the BBC she suspects the government poster used a doctored picture of her.

Euro 2022: Fans react to England's historic win, as it happened

England's Lionesses beat Germany 2-1 at Euro 2022, bagging their first major trophy.

Nancy Pelosi begins Asia tour, with no mention of Taiwan

Nancy Pelosi will visit four East Asian countries - and China has warned her not to include Taiwan.

Southern Ukraine city Mykolaiv heavily shelled by Russians

Ukraine says Russian rockets and missiles hit Mykolaiv, a key port city near Odesa.

Ukraine War: Zelensky orders civilians to evacuate Donetsk region

Ukraine's president warns fighting will intensify as Russia tries to continue its advance in the Donbas.

The woman declared stateless in India, UK and Uganda

Since 1997, Ila Popat has been attempting to get a passport recognising her citizenship to a country.

Kansas: The state where abortion is on the ballot

Opposing sides are in a close race to decide whether women in Kansas have the right to abortion.

Kenya election: The influencers paid to push hashtags

Paying for political influence on social media in Kenya is a shadowy yet lucrative business.

US President Joe Biden tests positive for Covid after 'rebound' infection

The US president is not experiencing symptoms, but will isolate again after a fresh positive test.

Italy: Outcry over killing of African migrant in town centre

The brutal assault on Nigerian trader Alika Ogorchukwu in broad daylight was captured on video.

Kerala: Indian man who won lottery hours before selling house

A Kerala-based man had taken several loans but was unable to pay them back due to insufficient work.

Rusty Bowers defied Donald Trump - what happens now?

The political fate of a "nobody" Republican will reveal a lot about the ex-president's future too.

Monkeypox: First deaths outside Africa in Brazil and Spain

Brazil and Spain report fatalities from the virus, but most infections are mild and overall risk is low.

Wildfire spreads to hotel in Turkey

Prosecutors have launched an investigation after the blaze broke out in Turkey's south-west.

Hitler's watch sells for $1.1m in controversial sale

The timepiece along with other Nazi items were auctioned despite condemnation from Jewish groups.

Xi and Biden exchange warnings on Taiwan

The pair also proposed a face-to-face meeting, which would be the first of Mr Biden's presidency.

Washington DC at 'tipping point' as migrants arrive from border

Texas and Arizona have transported thousands of migrants north in protest over the Biden border policy.

Mirror: Huge screen falls on dancers at Hong Kong boy band concert

Two dancers are injured in the incident at a concert by the hugely popular boy band Mirror.

Notre-Dame Cathedral on track to reopen in 2024

A huge restoration project has been under way after a fire destroyed much of building in 2019.

Saudi Crown prince's lavish Macron visit prompts outcry

The fiancée of murdered journalist Jamal Khashoggi says she is outraged by the talks.

Protesters storm Iraqi parliament in Baghdad

Hundreds of people break through barriers into the highly protected Green Zone in the Iraqi capital.

Why Premier League teams are flocking back to Asia

Top football clubs have resumed pre-season Asian summer tours, after three years of Covid travel bans.

Climate change killing elephants, says Kenya

In the past year the country has recorded 179 elephant deaths due to the ongoing drought.

Muqtada al-Sadr supporters in Baghdad storm parliament building

Supporters of cleric Muqtada al-Sadr broke into the building after months of political deadlock.

Facebook owner Meta sees first ever sales decline

The owner of Instagram and WhatsApp faces increased competition from the likes of TikTok.

Ukraine war round-up: Rockets hit bridge and warm words for Johnson

A Russian-held bridge comes under fire and Ukraine's leader praises the outgoing British PM.

Every woman's body is beach ready, says Spanish government campaign

The government's campaign urges women worried about their bodies to go to the beach.

In one of the poorest slums in Argentina, families rely on a huge landfill site for food.

In one of the poorest slums in Argentina, hundreds of families rely on a huge landfill site to feed their children.

UK PM debate scrapped after TV host faints

The Sun and TalkTV programme comes off air after the presenter collapses in the studio.

DR Congo: Violence flares in anti-UN protests

Demonstrations turn violent after protesters storm a UN headquarters in Goma.

Viktor Orban adviser Hegedus resigns over 'pure Nazi' speech

A long time adviser to the Hungarian prime minister resigns over speech criticising "race mixing".

Fanfare as Croatia's Chinese-built bridge finally opens

The Peljesac bridge links southern Croatia to the rest of the country and is being hailed as historic.

Kenya Election 2022: A basic guide to the vote

Kenya's President Kenyatta is backing his deputy's rival to win the 9 August presidential election.

Paul Sorvino: 'Goodfellas' actor dies at 83

The Tony-nominated character actor was best known for his portrayals of policemen and gangsters.

Utah's Great Salt Lake is running out of water

This July, the largest salt water lake in the Western Hemisphere reached its lowest level ever recorded.

Locals evacuate California's largest wildfire in 2022

Thousands of people have had to evacuate the Oak Fire in California that has been spreading since Friday.

Zimbabwe launches gold coins to tackle soaring inflation

Each coin will be priced at the international market rate for an ounce of gold plus 5% for costs.

Ukraine war round-up: UK to host Eurovision as Moscow cuts gas exports

The song contest can't be held in Ukraine, and Russia further reducing gas supplies to the EU.

Lawyer Dan Nguyen travels the world with his three cats

Dan Nguyen's cats have ridden Venice's gondolas and climbed trees in New York's Central Park.

Face to face with the bandit warlords of Nigeria

BBC Africa Eye has tracked down the ultra-violent bandit warlords who are raiding villages and abducting schoolchildren across north-western Nigeria.

Haiti migrants: At least 17 Haitians die after boat capsizes in Bahamas

A child is among the dead, while one woman survived in an air pocket of the boat's hull.

Afghan trans woman finds new home in Brighton

Bella escaped the Taliban in a secret UK mission and is now settling into Brighton's LGBT+ community.

France energy: Air-conditioned shops will be told to shut doors to cut waste

New rules will force shops to keep doors shut when air conditioning is on and limit use of neon signs.

Brazil election: Bolsonaro launches campaign

He pledges to continue a cash welfare programme if he is returned to office in October.

Climate protesters dragged away after attempting glue stunt with Botticelli masterpiece

The incident follows a spate of action where environmental activists have targeted famous artworks.

Cuba protests: Mothers' trauma over harsh jail sentences

Many young people received long jail terms after participating in last year's anti-government protests.

Keanu Reeves' comic book makes history

BRZRKR becomes the first comic book to feature in Comic-Con's prestigious Hall H.

Pope Francis: The pontiff's 'pilgrimage of penance' to Canada

Pope Francis will meet with indigenous communities to apologise for the church's role in residential schools.

House of the Dragon: What we know about the Games of Thrones spin-off

The series is set 200 years before Game of Thrones - but the dragons, death and feuds are all there.

Covid in China: Xi Jinping and other leaders given domestic vaccine

The president and other top politicians have received domestically produced vaccines, say officials.

Wildfire rages near Yosemite National Park

Central and North Eastern regions of the US are also sweltering under extreme heat.

Ukraine war: Missile strike puts grain deal in doubt

The deal hangs in the balance after missiles hit the port of Odesa in a widely condemned attack.

Kerala: Meet the Indian woman who flaunts her moustache

Shyja's moustache is an object of fascination and derision for many people, but she says she doesn't care.

Huge jellyfish swarm surrounds boat in Israel

Aerial footage shows the swarm of jellyfish in the waters of Haifa Bay during the annual migration.

Thirteen Lives: Thai cave rescue actor Tom Bateman relieves diving fears

Actor Tom Bateman recalls how he overcame his claustrophobia in Ron Howard's film Thirteen Lives.

Pizza delivery man saves children from burning house

Nicholas Bostic saved five people from the home, and was hailed as a hero by the police chief.

China heatwave: Temperatures of 40C expected this weekend

Some cities in Zhejiang province have been issued red alerts, the country's highest warning.

Steve Bannon: Jury finds Trump ally guilty of contempt of Congress

An unofficial adviser to Donald Trump, Mr Bannon refused to co-operate with the 6 January committee.

Tunisia divided ahead of referendum

President Kais Saied may succeed in tightening his grip through a constitutional referendum on 25 July.

Quiz of the week: How did Boris Johnson sign off from PMQs?

How closely have you been paying attention to what's been going on over the past seven days?

What UK aid cut means for one South Sudan hospital

One of the few doctors serving 1.3 million people may have to leave because he would lose his salary.

Reena Varma: India woman who visited her Pakistan home after 75 years

Reena Varma and her family left their home in 1947, weeks before the India-Pakistan partition.

Africa's week in pictures: 15-21 July 2022

A selection of the best photos from across Africa and beyond this week.

On the ground as security forces push back protesters in Sri Lanka

Security forces raid the main anti-government protest camp in Colombo in the early hours of Friday.

Comic-Con returns in-person to San Diego after pandemic

More than 100,000 fans are gathering in San Diego for Comic-Con.

Food crisis: Ukraine grain export deal reached with Russia, says Turkey

The UN and Turkey finally reach a deal with Russia to let Ukraine ship grain through the Black Sea.

What next for Italy after fall of Draghi?

Italy is heading for new elections and months of political instability, after its government collapsed.

Killed for blasphemy in Nigeria: 'It felt like a spear pierced my heart'

Twelve states in Nigeria's north have Islamic courts that view blasphemy as an offence punishable by death.

Somalia drought: ‘I remember at least five children died’

Fardhosa is just 13 years old but has lived through three droughts in her life and never had a proper meal.

Ivana Trump's funeral held in New York City

The funeral of Donald Trump's first wife brings the family together for a rare public reunion.

Slovak village votes to keep sign honouring fascist leader

Only one councillor votes to change the sign, which honours fascist leader Monsignor Jozef Tiso.

Cheetahs to prowl India for first time in 70 years

The mammals are coming from Namibia in a deal that has been in negotiations since 2020.

Sri Lanka presidential elections: Why India matters to the island nation's political future

How Sri Lankans view India might be changing as the country grapples with political and economic chaos.

Islamic veil: Why fewer women in North Africa are wearing it

The hijab has become a symbol of the battle between secular and Islamist groups.

Shanghai Covid lockdown: The struggle of blind massage therapists

Blind massage therapists say the lockdown and lack of government support are making life difficult.

US Capitol riot: Steve Bannon felt 'above the law', prosecutors say

As the ex-Trump strategist's trial begins, prosecutors say he rebuffed a "mandatory" legal summons.

Twitter-Musk takeover dispute heading for October trial

Twitter hopes that the trial will end with a court order for Musk to complete a $44bn takeover bid.

In pictures: Heatwave bakes Western Europe

The continent has faced sweltering temperatures that sent heat records tumbling.

Price rises: Why a simple lunch is costing more in Asia-Pacific

From Singapore, to Seoul, to Sydney - how the cost of living affects lunch hour.

Zimbabwe food crisis: Replacing maize with sorghum and millet

Farmers are urged to grow sorghum and millet, not just maize, to tackle drought and food shortages.

What is the Marburg virus and how can it be avoided?

Two people in Ghana have died from the infectious Marburg virus, raising fears of a mass outbreak..

Australian makes history on Fifa game cover

Chelsea striker Sam Kerr will be the first female player to feature on the global cover of EA Sports' Fifa football game.

Isfahan's Shah Mosque: iconic Iranian site damaged in restoration

The Shah Mosque, hailed as an architectural masterpiece, has suffered defects that now need repairing.

Europe heatwave: Extreme temperatures grip region

BBC weather forecaster Ben Rich explains what is driving the ferocious heat across many parts of Europe.

Texas shooting: Uvalde report finds 'systemic failures' by authorities

Authorities have been heavily criticised for how they handled the attack that killed 19 children.

British rugby player found dead in Italy hotel

The former rugby league player is named in Italian media as the Briton found dead in Florence on Saturday.

Ukraine War: The Donbas body collector who has lost count

For those on the front line of Russia's war in Ukraine, the personal toll is unbearable.

Ethiopia's Tigray conflict: The beauty queen who risked her life to reach the UK

Selamawit Teklay fled conflict in Ethiopia, but advises others not to risk crossing the English Channel.

Why an accused Liberian warlord was killed in Canada

An accused Liberian warlord was shot in Canada, and a police officer and his son ended up in court.

Russia-Ukraine war: Priest detained for criticising Putin

Father Ioann has been held under new laws for criticising the war.

How did a captain survive? - The mysterious death of 21 men on a Spanish fishing boat

Only three people survived, including the captain and his nephew, when a Galician fishing boat sank.

‘I thought being black meant I couldn’t get skin cancer’

One woman warns others to learn from her mistakes and use sunscreen.

Pacific Islands urge unity in face of China ambition

Climate change and the economic fallout of the pandemic are testing ties in the region.

Adam Harry: India transgender pilot's long fight to fly

A young Indian transgender man's fight to become a pilot has hit several roadblocks, he says.

Nigeria's big push to grow its own coconuts

Most of Nigeria has the perfect climate for growing coconuts and yet it imports 70% of the popular fruit.

Mexican drugs lord Rafael Caro Quintero arrested - reports

The US has been offering $20m for any information leading to Rafael Caro Quintero's capture.

Saudi Arabia: Biden raised Khashoggi murder with crown prince

The US president is attempting to rebuild ties having promised to make Saudi Arabia a "pariah".

Ivana Trump, Donald Trump's first wife, dies at 73

The former US president described his ex-wife as a "wonderful, beautiful and amazing woman".

Alex Murdaugh: High-profile lawyer charged with murder of wife and son

The charges are the latest in a long-running crime saga involving the disgraced lawyer Alex Murdaugh.

Ukraine round-up: Deadly attack 'act of terrorism' - Zelensky

An attack on a city far from the front line kills more than 20 people, and a Russian mother's anger over her missing son.

Europe wildfires: Heatwave fuels blazes across the continent

Blazes have broken out in Portugal, France, Spain and Turkey as a heatwave spreads across Europe.

New exhibition explores African fantasy and race through art

In the Black Fantastic is a new exhibition bringing together black artists whose works explore fantasy and race.

Ms Marvel: The India-Pakistan trauma at the heart of the show

As the Disney+ series comes to an end, its treatment of the India-Pakistan partition deserves a closer look.

US prices rising at fastest rate for 40 years

Fuel and food prices are pushing up inflation in the US, which is at a record level.

'We hope for the best, son' - War nears Ukraine maternity ward

Pokrovsk Perinatal Centre is around 40km (25 miles) from the nearest front line.

Sri Lanka: Four key moments from storming of PM's office

Protesters were met with tear gas and water cannon by authorities.

Sri Lanka PM tells military to do whatever necessary to restore order

Thousands of protesters stormed Prime Minister and Acting President Ranil Wickremesinghe's office.

Why Shah Rukh Khan is still 'king of Bollywood'

Thirty years after he began his career, the actor remains among the world's biggest film icons.

Joe Biden heads to Middle East amid faltering US sway

The US president's visit to the turbulent region may highlight the limits of American power.

Ukraine's rock warrior Slava Vakarchuk: 'We need to be angry.'

Slava Vakarchuk is the lead singer of Okean Elzy, Ukraine's most popular rock band.

Twitter sues Elon Musk over $44bn purchase deal

The social media firm is trying to force Elon Musk to buy it after he walked away from the deal.

Sri Lanka President Gotabaya Rajapaksa due to resign after protests

Gotabaya Rajapaksa has defied calls to leave for months as his country's economic crisis deepened.

'Sit down!' Biden heckled at White House by bereaved father

President Joe Biden's speech is interrupted by the dad of a school shooting victim.

Roe v Wade: Abortion pills a new front in culture wars

Abortion pills - the most common way to end pregnancies in the US - are in activists' crosshairs.

Jenin in the West Bank: Guns and grief on the rise

Tom Bateman spends time with people of Jenin refugee camp, as fears grow of a further descent into violence.

'We have a zeal to protect our heritage through radio'

Jambo Radio broadcasts in multiple languages to cater for the growing African and Caribbean community in Scotland.

Nasa telescope takes super sharp view of early cosmos

The new $10bn space telescope delivers its first full-colour image of the distant Universe.

Ukraine war: Russian military equipment on show in Prague

The exhibition features a damaged Russian tank, a howitzer and defused rockets and shells.

Jafar Panahi: Acclaimed film maker held in Iran amid crackdown

Jafar Panahi is detained after asking Tehran prosecutors about a fellow director arrested on Friday.

The video game prescribed by doctors to treat ADHD

A US game has got regulatory approval to help treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.

Gujarat: The unusual lion sightings on India's beaches

Overcrowding and territory wars are causing a gradual change in lion habitats in Gujarat state.

Pikku-Finlandia: Helsinki's new building held up by trees

Helsinki's Pikku-Finlandia is a reusable wooden building with load-bearing tree trunks and branches.

Maine energy: How one hydropower project sparked a $100m 'hoohah'

A proposal to send hydropower from Canada to the US was cancelled after significant pushback.

Wildfires break out across parts of Portugal

Thousands of firefighters are tackling the blazes, with temperatures expected to rise in the coming days.

Durban riots: South Africa still bears the scars one year on

More than 300 people died in what the president called an "insurrection", but what has changed?

Ukraine war: A welcome on two wheels for refugee children

Around 30,000 Ukrainian refugees have fled to Denmark, where a nationwide scheme is offering a unique, two-wheeled welcome.

Tamil Nadu: The Indian man who makes art from sunlight

The artist has thousands of followers on Instagram who love his unique work.

Roe v Wade: Thousands march to White House for abortion rights

The US Supreme Court last month repealed Roe v Wade, ending the nationwide guarantee to an abortion.

Sri Lanka crowd breaks Rajapaksa grip on power

Sri Lanka's leaders flee from an angry crowd - extraordinary for a country tainted by political repression.

Flash of light as meteor spotted over Chile

The asteroid, which lit up the night sky in Santiago, was caught on camera.

The Aids activists who took on big pharma in South Africa

The fight for affordable HIV/Aids treatment

US border agents' horseback charge on Haiti migrants 'unnecessary'

The US border control agency said the actions of its agents potentially violated US immigration law.

Syria: Russian UN veto blocks aid deliveries to 3m people

Russia blocks a Security Council resolution keeping open a key cross-border aid route.

Roe v Wade: Biden signs executive order on abortion access

It will not fully restore nationwide abortion rights - the president says a federal law is needed.

The US army base training Ukrainian fighters

American style training at Fort Leavenworth stands in contrast to Soviet-style military education.

Zero Covid holds danger for China's Xi

The president is seeking a historic third term amid an economic slump and growing fatigue over Covid.

Kiteboarders take to sky in southern Spain

The contenders battle it out in an annual world championship event.

Derek Chauvin sentenced to 20 years for violating George Floyd's rights

The former police officer is already serving a 22-year prison sentence for the murder of Mr Floyd.

Ukraine round-up: Putin dares West as Zelensky pays tribute to Johnson

Russian forces push into the eastern Donetsk where one civilian died on Thursday after a missile strike.

Theranos exec Sunny Balwani convicted of fraud

He and fraudster Elizabeth Holmes ran the Silicon Valley company as a couple before its implosion.

South Africa electricity crisis: No power for up to six hours

In what is described as the biggest ever power crisis, there are blackouts of up to six hours a day.

Chagos Islands FA: The team representing a lost homeland, 6,000 miles away

The Chagos Islands football team are trying to keep the story of their ancestors alive, 6,000 miles from their disputed homeland.

Revelry and protests as Spanish bull festival returns

The annual event in Spain's Pamplona was cancelled in 2020 and 2021 due to coronavirus restrictions.

Rapper Nipsey Hussle's killer convicted of murder

Hussle, born Ermias Asghedom, was shot outside his LA clothing store in 2019 after a brief argument.

Trans rescue: A future refuge for those fleeing violence

Two trans women in Amsterdam are planning a refuge in Kenya for trans people at risk all over the world.

Sidhu Moose Wala: The unsettling legacy of the rapper's protest music

It has been more than a month since the rapper was shot dead. But he is still making headlines.

What does egg freezing have to do with your employer?

More firms are offering so-called 'fertility benefits' but there could be hidden catches.

Roe v Wade: Mississippi judge refuses to block abortion ban

It is part of an escalation in activity in US courts as states seek to impose abortion restrictions.

Ukraine war: The Russian woman rescued from a Kyiv bomb site

Russian-born Ekaterina Volkova was injured in an air strike on her apartment that killed her Ukrainian husband.

Suspect charged with murder over 4 July shooting

Suspect in mass shooting at Independence Day parade near Chicago charged with seven counts of murder

British Airways cancels 1,500 more flights

The airline cancels more flights in July, affecting tens of thousands of passengers.

Australia's devastating floods spur new warning systems

Better data and real-time software is allowing companies to improve the precision of flood warnings.

Peter Obi: The Labour Party candidate electrifying young Nigerians

An army of social media users backs Peter Obi for Nigeria's presidency, but will that translate into votes?

Avabai Wadia: The lawyer who became India’s family planning pioneer

Avabai Wadia played a major role in India becoming the first country to officially promote family planning.

Highland Park shooting: Man arrested after 4 July mass shooting

Police arrest a suspect after a rooftop gunman kills six people at an Independence Day parade.

Illinois shooting: 'I hid my son in a dumpster' - witness

Police are still searching for the gunman, who shot dead six people at an Independence Day parade.

Illinois shooting: Six dead in 4 July parade shooting near Chicago

The mayor of Highland Park says the situation is "active" and urged people to remain indoors.

Uzbekistan Karakalpakstan: Thousands injured in unrest

Officials in the region of Karakalpakstan say thousands of people are being treated in hospital.

Video captures moment glacier collapses in Italian alps

Five people were killed in an avalanche sparked by the glacier collapse on the Marmolada mountain.

Ukraine war: Australian PM visits Kyiv, pledges more military aid

Anthony Albanese visited the devastated towns of Bucha and Irpin, describing what he saw as a 'war crime'.

Kenya's cost-of-living crisis: 'I can't afford rice for my children'

Florence Kambua has no choice but to salvage waste from a dump site in Kenya's capital to survive.

Bihar: Their son vanished - then an imposter took over for 41 years

An Indian man, pretending to be a missing son, deceived the boy's family for over four decades.

Copenhagen shooting: Panic as people flee gunfire inside shopping centre

Several people have been killed in a shooting at a shopping centre in the Danish capital, police say.

Russian scientist Kolker held in spy probe dies of cancer

FSB officers had flown terminally ill Dmitry Kolker, a top quantum physicist, to a Moscow jail.

Daphne du Maurier: Novelist who traced past to a French debtors' jail

Rebecca writer Dame Daphne du Maurier discovered her apparent aristocratic past was not as it seemed.

US woman denied termination in Malta: 'I was terrified'

Andrea was medically evacuated to Spain as doctors in Malta could not terminate her pregnancy under the country's ban on abortion.

Nigeria rejects Ukraine online degrees: 'It's not fair'

Distraught medical students who fled Ukraine are told their distance-learning degrees are not valid.

Dozens freed from church awaiting 'Second Coming' in Ondo Nigeria

Police free 77 people from confinement in a church in south-western Nigeria.

Inside a US abortion clinic in its final days

The BBC spent time with staff before they had to stop work and turn patients away.

Israel shoots down 'Hezbollah drones' heading for gas rig

The drones were allegedly launched from Lebanon, amid border tensions between the nations.

Russia dredges up landing ship hit by Ukraine missile fire

The Russian troop ship Saratov sank in a Black Sea port after a Ukrainian missile strike.

Brazil: Rio's residents garden their way out of hunger

Brazilian communities are combatting soaring food prices and a hunger crisis with urban gardens.

Unique terror trial that changed France

More than 400 survivors and relatives gave evidence in the unprecedented trial that ended this week.

Week in pictures: 25 June - 1 July 2022

A selection of powerful images from all over the globe, taken in the past seven days.

Hot weather dries up swamp, uncovers ancient fort

A historical group was instrumental in discovering a crannog made from stone near Lough Neagh.

Roe v Wade: Women travelling for abortions will be protected - Biden

The US president warns some US states will attempt to arrest women crossing state lines for access.

Ukraine round-up: Elite Russian regiment fights for support and the war for borsch

Support for Russia's elite fighting force looks less certain as the regiment reappears in Ukraine.