Greek election: Centre-right Mitsotakis hails big win but wants majority
Greece's conservative prime minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has won national elections, hailing his party's big victory as a "political earthquake".
His centre-right New Democracy party were heading for almost 41% of the vote, five seats short of a majority.
His centre-left rival Alexis Tsipras congratulated him, with his Syriza party set for a poor result of 20%.
Mr Mitsotakis said the result showed that Greeks had given his party a mandate for a four-year government.
"The people wanted the choice of a Greece run by a majority government and by New Democracy without the help of others," he said in a victory speech. read more
Greece's conservative prime minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has won national elections, hailing his party's big victory as a "political earthquake".
His centre-right New Democracy party were heading for almost 41% of the vote, five seats short of a majority.
His centre-left rival Alexis Tsipras congratulated him, with his Syriza party set for a poor result of 20%.
Mr Mitsotakis said the result showed that Greeks had given his party a mandate for a four-year government.
"The people wanted the choice of a Greece run by a majority government and by New Democracy without the help of others," he said in a victory speech. read more
US debt ceiling talks described as productive but no deal yet
US President Joe Biden and top Republican Kevin McCarthy have called their latest talks on the debt ceiling productive but no deal has yet been reached.
"I believe we can get a deal done," House Speaker McCarthy told reporters.
While acknowledging areas of disagreement, Mr Biden said "default is off the table".
Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen has reiterated that the US will likely default on its debt as early as 1 June.
The debt ceiling is a spending limit set by Congress which determines how much money the government can borrow.
Failure to raise it beyond the current cap of roughly $31.4tn (£25.2tn) by June could result in the US defaulting on its debt. read more
US President Joe Biden and top Republican Kevin McCarthy have called their latest talks on the debt ceiling productive but no deal has yet been reached.
"I believe we can get a deal done," House Speaker McCarthy told reporters.
While acknowledging areas of disagreement, Mr Biden said "default is off the table".
Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen has reiterated that the US will likely default on its debt as early as 1 June.
The debt ceiling is a spending limit set by Congress which determines how much money the government can borrow.
Failure to raise it beyond the current cap of roughly $31.4tn (£25.2tn) by June could result in the US defaulting on its debt. read more
Ukraine war: US distances itself from Belgorod incursion into Russia
The US has distanced itself from an incursion into Russia - which Moscow says ended in the defeat of armed insurgents who entered from Ukraine.
Parts of the border region of Belgorod came under attack on Monday, in one of the largest cross-border raids since Russia invaded its neighbour last year.
Russia later released pictures of abandoned or damaged Western military vehicles, including US-made Humvees.
The US insisted it did not "encourage or enable strikes inside of Russia".
A state department spokesman acknowledged reports "circulating on social media and elsewhere" that US-supplied weapons had been used, but said his country was "sceptical at this time of the veracity of these reports". read more
The US has distanced itself from an incursion into Russia - which Moscow says ended in the defeat of armed insurgents who entered from Ukraine.
Parts of the border region of Belgorod came under attack on Monday, in one of the largest cross-border raids since Russia invaded its neighbour last year.
Russia later released pictures of abandoned or damaged Western military vehicles, including US-made Humvees.
The US insisted it did not "encourage or enable strikes inside of Russia".
A state department spokesman acknowledged reports "circulating on social media and elsewhere" that US-supplied weapons had been used, but said his country was "sceptical at this time of the veracity of these reports". read more
Ron DeSantis Elon Musk interview: Campaign launch hits technical issues
Ron DeSantis's long-awaited entry into the 2024 race for the White House was hit by technical glitches after a Twitter livestream malfunctioned.
It meant the Florida governor's bid for the Republican presidential nomination got under way 20 minutes late.
He went on to use the event to champion his conservative credentials, his anti-lockdown stance and education reforms.
"I am running for president of the United States to lead our great American comeback," he said.
The Florida governor is viewed as former President Donald Trump's chief rival to be their party's candidate in the 2024 general election.
He joins a growing list of contenders seeking to unseat Mr Trump, who leads the Republican field by more than 30 points in national opinion polls. read more
Ron DeSantis's long-awaited entry into the 2024 race for the White House was hit by technical glitches after a Twitter livestream malfunctioned.
It meant the Florida governor's bid for the Republican presidential nomination got under way 20 minutes late.
He went on to use the event to champion his conservative credentials, his anti-lockdown stance and education reforms.
"I am running for president of the United States to lead our great American comeback," he said.
The Florida governor is viewed as former President Donald Trump's chief rival to be their party's candidate in the 2024 general election.
He joins a growing list of contenders seeking to unseat Mr Trump, who leads the Republican field by more than 30 points in national opinion polls. read more
Germany falls into recession as inflation hits economy
Persistent inflation has helped push Germany into recession in the first three months of the year, an upgrade to growth data shows.
Europe's largest economy was also badly affected when Russian gas supplies dried up after the invasion of Ukraine, analysts said.
The economy contracted by 0.3% between January and March, the statistics office said.
That followed a 0.5% contraction in the last three months of last year.
A country is deemed to be in recession when its economy shrinks for two consecutive three-month periods, or quarters. read more
Persistent inflation has helped push Germany into recession in the first three months of the year, an upgrade to growth data shows.
Europe's largest economy was also badly affected when Russian gas supplies dried up after the invasion of Ukraine, analysts said.
The economy contracted by 0.3% between January and March, the statistics office said.
That followed a 0.5% contraction in the last three months of last year.
A country is deemed to be in recession when its economy shrinks for two consecutive three-month periods, or quarters. read more
Oath Keepers leader Stewart Rhodes sentenced to 18 years for Capitol riot
The leader of a far-right militia has been sentenced to 18 years in prison for his role in the US Capitol riot.
Stewart Rhodes, the founder of the Oath Keepers, was convicted on charges of seditious conspiracy and other crimes.
The sentence is the longest yet given to a Capitol rioter. Prosecutors had asked for 25 years.
Meanwhile, Kelly Meggs, the leader of the militia's Florida chapter, was jailed for 12 years.
Rhodes remained outside the Capitol, but co-ordinated with Meggs and other members who stormed the building. read more
The leader of a far-right militia has been sentenced to 18 years in prison for his role in the US Capitol riot.
Stewart Rhodes, the founder of the Oath Keepers, was convicted on charges of seditious conspiracy and other crimes.
The sentence is the longest yet given to a Capitol rioter. Prosecutors had asked for 25 years.
Meanwhile, Kelly Meggs, the leader of the militia's Florida chapter, was jailed for 12 years.
Rhodes remained outside the Capitol, but co-ordinated with Meggs and other members who stormed the building. read more
Twitter engineering boss quits after DeSantis launch glitches
An engineering chief at Twitter says he is leaving the company the day after the launch of Ron DeSantis' US presidential campaign on the platform was hit with technical glitches.
Foad Dabiri tweeted: "After almost four incredible years at Twitter, I decided to leave the nest yesterday."
Mr DeSantis' entry into the race for the White House was hit by problems as a Twitter livestream malfunctioned.
More than 80% of the firm's workforce has been cut since Mr Musk bought it.
Mr Dabiri, who was the engineering lead for Twitter's Growth organisation, said in a tweet he had "experienced two distinct eras" at the company, before and after it was acquired by the multi-billionaire last year. read more
An engineering chief at Twitter says he is leaving the company the day after the launch of Ron DeSantis' US presidential campaign on the platform was hit with technical glitches.
Foad Dabiri tweeted: "After almost four incredible years at Twitter, I decided to leave the nest yesterday."
Mr DeSantis' entry into the race for the White House was hit by problems as a Twitter livestream malfunctioned.
More than 80% of the firm's workforce has been cut since Mr Musk bought it.
Mr Dabiri, who was the engineering lead for Twitter's Growth organisation, said in a tweet he had "experienced two distinct eras" at the company, before and after it was acquired by the multi-billionaire last year. read more
Oleksiy Danilov interview: Ukraine counter-offensive 'ready to begin'
Ukraine is ready to launch its long-expected counter-offensive against Russian forces, one of the country's most senior security officials has told the BBC.
Oleksiy Danilov would not name a date but said an assault to retake territory from President Vladimir Putin's occupying forces could begin "tomorrow, the day after tomorrow or in a week".
He warned that Ukraine's government had "no right to make a mistake" on the decision because this was an "historic opportunity" that "we cannot lose".
As secretary of the National Security and Defence Council of Ukraine, Mr Danilov is at the heart of President Volodymyr Zelensky's de facto war cabinet.
His rare interview with the BBC was interrupted by a phone message from President Zelensky summoning him to a meeting to discuss the counter-offensive. read more
Ukraine is ready to launch its long-expected counter-offensive against Russian forces, one of the country's most senior security officials has told the BBC.
Oleksiy Danilov would not name a date but said an assault to retake territory from President Vladimir Putin's occupying forces could begin "tomorrow, the day after tomorrow or in a week".
He warned that Ukraine's government had "no right to make a mistake" on the decision because this was an "historic opportunity" that "we cannot lose".
As secretary of the National Security and Defence Council of Ukraine, Mr Danilov is at the heart of President Volodymyr Zelensky's de facto war cabinet.
His rare interview with the BBC was interrupted by a phone message from President Zelensky summoning him to a meeting to discuss the counter-offensive. read more
US debt ceiling: Democrats and Republicans agree deal in principle, Joe Biden says
The White House and the Republicans have agreed in principle to raise the US debt ceiling and avert a default after weeks of bitter negotiations.
The deal still needs to be approved by a divided US Congress.
President Joe Biden described the agreement as a "compromise", while House Speaker Kevin McCarthy said it "has historic reductions in spending".
The US Treasury earlier warned the country would run out of money to pay its bills on 5 June without a deal.
Such a default would upend the US economy and disrupt global markets.
The US must borrow money to fund the government because it spends more than it raises in taxes. read more
The White House and the Republicans have agreed in principle to raise the US debt ceiling and avert a default after weeks of bitter negotiations.
The deal still needs to be approved by a divided US Congress.
President Joe Biden described the agreement as a "compromise", while House Speaker Kevin McCarthy said it "has historic reductions in spending".
The US Treasury earlier warned the country would run out of money to pay its bills on 5 June without a deal.
Such a default would upend the US economy and disrupt global markets.
The US must borrow money to fund the government because it spends more than it raises in taxes. read more
Ukraine war: Kyiv hit by new massive Russian drone attack
Russia has carried out a new massive drone attack on Ukraine's capital Kyiv.
Kyiv's mayor Vitaliy Klitschko said a man died when drone wreckage fell near a petrol station. A woman was injured.
Overall, Russia launched a record 54 so-called kamikaze drones on Ukrainian targets, 52 of which were shot down, Ukraine's Air Force reported.
Russia - which launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022 - has stepped up its attacks on Kyiv, seeking to overwhelm the capital's defences.
At least two high-rise buildings in different districts of the capital caught fire after being hit by falling drone fragments. read more
Russia has carried out a new massive drone attack on Ukraine's capital Kyiv.
Kyiv's mayor Vitaliy Klitschko said a man died when drone wreckage fell near a petrol station. A woman was injured.
Overall, Russia launched a record 54 so-called kamikaze drones on Ukrainian targets, 52 of which were shot down, Ukraine's Air Force reported.
Russia - which launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022 - has stepped up its attacks on Kyiv, seeking to overwhelm the capital's defences.
At least two high-rise buildings in different districts of the capital caught fire after being hit by falling drone fragments. read more
Turkish election victory for Erdogan leaves nation divided
Recep Tayyip Erdogan's supporters celebrated well into the night after Turkey's long-time president secured another five years in power.
"The entire nation of 85 million won," he told cheering crowds outside his enormous palace on the edge of Ankara.
But his call for unity sounded hollow as he ridiculed his opponent Kemal Kilicdaroglu - and took aim at a jailed Kurdish leader and pro-LGBT policies.
The opposition leader did not explicitly concede victory.
Complaining of "the most unfair election in recent years", Mr Kilicdaroglu said the president's political party had mobilised all the means of the state against him. read more
Recep Tayyip Erdogan's supporters celebrated well into the night after Turkey's long-time president secured another five years in power.
"The entire nation of 85 million won," he told cheering crowds outside his enormous palace on the edge of Ankara.
But his call for unity sounded hollow as he ridiculed his opponent Kemal Kilicdaroglu - and took aim at a jailed Kurdish leader and pro-LGBT policies.
The opposition leader did not explicitly concede victory.
Complaining of "the most unfair election in recent years", Mr Kilicdaroglu said the president's political party had mobilised all the means of the state against him. read more
Uganda's President Museveni approves tough new anti-gay law
Uganda's progress in tackling HIV is in "grave jeopardy" after the president approved tough new anti-homosexuality legislation, the UN and US have warned.
An increasing number of people are being discouraged from seeking vital health services for fear of attacks and punishment, they added.
President Yoweri Museveni signed the Anti-Homosexuality Bill into law after parliament watered it down.
It is still among the harshest anti-LGBTQ laws in the world.
Homosexual acts are already illegal in Uganda but now anyone convicted faces life imprisonment. read more
Uganda's progress in tackling HIV is in "grave jeopardy" after the president approved tough new anti-homosexuality legislation, the UN and US have warned.
An increasing number of people are being discouraged from seeking vital health services for fear of attacks and punishment, they added.
President Yoweri Museveni signed the Anti-Homosexuality Bill into law after parliament watered it down.
It is still among the harshest anti-LGBTQ laws in the world.
Homosexual acts are already illegal in Uganda but now anyone convicted faces life imprisonment. read more
Lula welcomes back banned Venezuelan leader Maduro
Venezuela's President Nicolás Maduro has visited Brazil for the first time since he was banned by former far-right President Jair Bolsonaro in 2019.
Mr Maduro was received by the new president, fellow leftist Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, ahead of a summit of Latin American leaders in Brasilia.
"What's important about Maduro coming here is that it's the beginning of Maduro's return," Lula said.
Mr Maduro talked of a "new era" in bilateral relations.
Lula said the region should tackle poverty.
A number of countries question the legitimacy of Mr Maduro, who is described by opponents as a dictator. read more
Venezuela's President Nicolás Maduro has visited Brazil for the first time since he was banned by former far-right President Jair Bolsonaro in 2019.
Mr Maduro was received by the new president, fellow leftist Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, ahead of a summit of Latin American leaders in Brasilia.
"What's important about Maduro coming here is that it's the beginning of Maduro's return," Lula said.
Mr Maduro talked of a "new era" in bilateral relations.
Lula said the region should tackle poverty.
A number of countries question the legitimacy of Mr Maduro, who is described by opponents as a dictator. read more
Elon Musk: Tesla boss on first China trip in over three years
Tesla chief executive Elon Musk is in China, on his first trip to the world's second largest economy in over three years.
He arrived in Beijing on Tuesday and is also expected to visit Tesla's huge manufacturing plant in Shanghai.
The multi-billionaire met China's foreign minister Qin Gang within hours of arriving in the country.
Mr Musk has not yet publicly commented on the trip, which comes amid tensions between the US and China.
He also declined to make any comments about his plans for the trip when asked by reporters as he left a hotel in Beijing on Wednesday. read more
Tesla chief executive Elon Musk is in China, on his first trip to the world's second largest economy in over three years.
He arrived in Beijing on Tuesday and is also expected to visit Tesla's huge manufacturing plant in Shanghai.
The multi-billionaire met China's foreign minister Qin Gang within hours of arriving in the country.
Mr Musk has not yet publicly commented on the trip, which comes amid tensions between the US and China.
He also declined to make any comments about his plans for the trip when asked by reporters as he left a hotel in Beijing on Wednesday. read more
UFOs: What we learned from Nasa's public meeting
A Nasa panel investigating unidentified flying objects has collected around 800 mysterious reports - but only a small fraction are truly unexplained, researchers say.
The agency set up the panel last year to explain its work on what it calls unidentified anomalous phenomena (UAP).
UAP are defined as sightings "that cannot be identified as aircraft or known natural phenomena from a scientific perspective".
The panel, which will issue a report later this year, held its first public meeting on Wednesday. read more
A Nasa panel investigating unidentified flying objects has collected around 800 mysterious reports - but only a small fraction are truly unexplained, researchers say.
The agency set up the panel last year to explain its work on what it calls unidentified anomalous phenomena (UAP).
UAP are defined as sightings "that cannot be identified as aircraft or known natural phenomena from a scientific perspective".
The panel, which will issue a report later this year, held its first public meeting on Wednesday. read more
Ben Roberts-Smith: Top Australian soldier loses war crimes defamation case
Australia's most-decorated living soldier Ben Roberts-Smith has lost a historic defamation case against three newspapers that accused him of war crimes in Afghanistan.
The outlets were sued over articles alleging he killed unarmed prisoners.
The civil trial was the first time a court has assessed accusations of war crimes by Australian forces.
A judge said four of the six murder allegations - all denied by the soldier - were substantially true. read more
Australia's most-decorated living soldier Ben Roberts-Smith has lost a historic defamation case against three newspapers that accused him of war crimes in Afghanistan.
The outlets were sued over articles alleging he killed unarmed prisoners.
The civil trial was the first time a court has assessed accusations of war crimes by Australian forces.
A judge said four of the six murder allegations - all denied by the soldier - were substantially true. read more
Congress approves debt deal, averting a US default
The US Congress has approved a deal to lift the country's borrowing limit, days before the world's largest economy is due to default on its debt.
The bipartisan measure sped through the Senate by a vote of 63-36, a day after it cleared the US House of Representatives.
President Joe Biden has said he will enact the measure into law.
His signature on the bill will spare the US from a catastrophic default on its $31.4tn (£25tn) debt.
The country is forecast to overshoot its current debt ceiling on Monday 5 June. read more
The US Congress has approved a deal to lift the country's borrowing limit, days before the world's largest economy is due to default on its debt.
The bipartisan measure sped through the Senate by a vote of 63-36, a day after it cleared the US House of Representatives.
President Joe Biden has said he will enact the measure into law.
His signature on the bill will spare the US from a catastrophic default on its $31.4tn (£25tn) debt.
The country is forecast to overshoot its current debt ceiling on Monday 5 June. read more
India train crash: More than 230 dead after Odisha incident
At least 233 people are now known to have been killed and 900 injured in a multiple train collision in India's eastern Odisha state, officials say.
More than 200 ambulances were sent to the scene in Balasore district, says Odisha's chief secretary Pradeep Jena.
One passenger train is thought to have derailed before being struck by another on the adjacent track late on Friday.
It is India's worst train crash this century. Officials say the death toll is expected to rise further.
Indian Railways said the two services involved were the Coromandel Express and the Howrah Superfast Express. read more
At least 233 people are now known to have been killed and 900 injured in a multiple train collision in India's eastern Odisha state, officials say.
More than 200 ambulances were sent to the scene in Balasore district, says Odisha's chief secretary Pradeep Jena.
One passenger train is thought to have derailed before being struck by another on the adjacent track late on Friday.
It is India's worst train crash this century. Officials say the death toll is expected to rise further.
Indian Railways said the two services involved were the Coromandel Express and the Howrah Superfast Express. read more
India train accident: Modi vows punishments over deadly Odisha crash
People found guilty over a deadly rail accident in eastern India will be "punished stringently", the country's Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said.
At least 288 people were killed and more than 800 injured in Friday's incident in Odisha state, involving two passenger trains and a goods train.
Rescue efforts have concluded, with officials saying all trapped and injured passengers have been retrieved.
Mr Modi has visited the scene, labelling the incident a "painful" one.
He also met victims of the disaster in hospital, and vowed that his government would leave "no stone unturned for the treatment of those injured". read more
People found guilty over a deadly rail accident in eastern India will be "punished stringently", the country's Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said.
At least 288 people were killed and more than 800 injured in Friday's incident in Odisha state, involving two passenger trains and a goods train.
Rescue efforts have concluded, with officials saying all trapped and injured passengers have been retrieved.
Mr Modi has visited the scene, labelling the incident a "painful" one.
He also met victims of the disaster in hospital, and vowed that his government would leave "no stone unturned for the treatment of those injured". read more
Odisha train crash: Why do trains in India go off tracks?
There are many unanswered questions on what exactly led to a deadly multiple train collision in India on Friday evening that killed at least 288 people and injured more than 800.
Two express passenger trains and a freight train were involved in a "three-way accident" near a small station in eastern state of Odisha, according to reports. One of them collided with the stationary freight train, and its coaches flipped over to a third track, causing an incoming train to derail. A preliminary report indicates that the accident was the result of signal failure.
Only a comprehensive inquiry will help uncover the truth behind the incident. Yet it has once again ignited fresh concerns regarding railway safety in India. read more
There are many unanswered questions on what exactly led to a deadly multiple train collision in India on Friday evening that killed at least 288 people and injured more than 800.
Two express passenger trains and a freight train were involved in a "three-way accident" near a small station in eastern state of Odisha, according to reports. One of them collided with the stationary freight train, and its coaches flipped over to a third track, causing an incoming train to derail. A preliminary report indicates that the accident was the result of signal failure.
Only a comprehensive inquiry will help uncover the truth behind the incident. Yet it has once again ignited fresh concerns regarding railway safety in India. read more
Sonic boom as US fighter jets intercept plane that later crashed
US fighter jets scrambled at supersonic speed to intercept an unresponsive plane as it flew over Washington DC on Sunday.
The F-16 jets caused a loud sonic boom that was heard around the region, prompting concern from some residents.
They were deployed after the plane entered some of the most heavily restricted airspace in the country and failed to respond to the authorities.
It then crashed in a rural area of Virginia after a rapid descent.
Police and rescuers reached the wreckage near the George Washington National Forest by foot hours later and said no survivors had been found. Four people were reportedly on board. read more
US fighter jets scrambled at supersonic speed to intercept an unresponsive plane as it flew over Washington DC on Sunday.
The F-16 jets caused a loud sonic boom that was heard around the region, prompting concern from some residents.
They were deployed after the plane entered some of the most heavily restricted airspace in the country and failed to respond to the authorities.
It then crashed in a rural area of Virginia after a rapid descent.
Police and rescuers reached the wreckage near the George Washington National Forest by foot hours later and said no survivors had been found. Four people were reportedly on board. read more