World

Novak Djokovic has been denied entry to Australia by the country’s border force and faces deportation after his visa was cancelled amid a row over his medical exemption from COVID-19 vaccination rules. But the tennis world number one and defending Australian Open champion is filing a federal injunction to try to stop the deportation, it

North Korea has been detected firing a suspected ballistic missile into the sea, the first such launch in around two months. Picked up by South Korea and Japan’s militaries, the move further emphasises Pyongyang‘s disinterest in rejoining denuclearisation talks anytime soon – instead preferring to focus on boosting its weapon arsenal. Last week, North Korean

A state of emergency has been declared in Kazakhstan following major protests over fuel prices. It includes a curfew running from 11pm to 7am, restrictions on movement, and a ban on mass gatherings, according to documents on the president’s website. It has also been announced that a price cap controversially removed on New Year’s Day

Tesla has been criticised for opening a new showroom in Xinjiang, the Chinese region where authorities are accused of widespread abuse against Uyghur Muslims. The US-based electric car maker, led by Elon Musk, announced the opening in Urumqi, Xingiang’s capital, on Friday, declaring on social media: “Let’s start Xinjiang’s all-electric journey.” But the move drew

Brazil’s president Jair Bolsonaro has said doctors are assessing whether he needs surgery after being admitted to hospital with abdominal discomfort. Mr Bolsonaro said in a Twitter post that he had started to feel unwell after lunch on Sunday and was admitted to hospital in Sao Paulo at 3am local time (6am in the UK)

Sudan’s prime minister has announced his resignation from the country’s military-controlled government following the reported deaths of two pro-democracy protesters. Abdalla Hamdok’s resignation comes less than two months after he was reinstated into power after signing a power-sharing agreement with the country’s military following the 25 October coup that derailed Sudan‘s transition to democratic rule.

An unidentified person has crossed the demilitarised zone into North Korea. The person was spotted using surveillance equipment on the eastern portion of the heavily fortified border on Saturday night, but South Korean troops failed to capture them. The DMZ stretches from coast to coast on the Korean peninsular. It is about 2.5 miles (4km)

A fire has broken out at South Africa’s parliament in Cape Town. Flames could be seen and a column of smoke rose into the sky early on Sunday morning. The blaze began in third floor offices and spread to the National Assembly chamber, local fire service spokesman Jermaine Carelse said. No one has been injured,

Tributes have been paid at the state funeral in South Africa of Archbishop Desmond Tutu – described as a “giant” in the anti-apartheid struggle who “lit up the world”. Tutu, who died aged 90 on 26 December, helped spearhead the fight against white minority rule and won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1984 in recognition

North Korea leader Kim Jong Un has warned of a “great life-and-death struggle” for his nation as he marked the end of his 10th year in power. In a New Year speech, Kim spoke of a need to “push forward” with national defence build-up plans “without any delay”. But, in summaries of the speech published

Hundreds of homes have been destroyed and tens of thousands of residents evacuated as wildfires spread across part of the US state of Colorado. At least one first responder and six others were injured after the flames took hold following an extremely dry autumn in the region and a winter that has so far not

Vladimir Putin has warned Joe Biden that new sanctions against Russia over Ukraine would be a big mistake, according to the Kremlin. The Russian leader spoke with the US president for 50 minutes over the phone on Thursday. A build-up of an estimated 100,000 Russian troops and military equipment on the Ukrainian border has sparked

China has banned footballers who play for the country’s national team from getting tattoos – with those already inked told to get them removed or cover them up to set a “good example for society”. Zhang Linpeng, a defender for the Chinese national team, is one of a growing number of high profile players in

A vocal pro-democracy website in Hong Kong has been shut down after police raided its office, froze its assets and arrested senior staff. Stand News said in a statement that its website and social media were no longer being updated and would be taken down. It said all employees have been dismissed. The outlet was

An unusually warm spell in what is usually the coldest state in the United States has seen temperature records broken. Experts say the mercury in some parts of Alaska was 11C (20F) higher than ever before for the time of year. Daytime temperatures have soared past 15C (60F) when there would normally be intensely bitter

Two Save the Children staff members were among at least 35 people, including children, who were killed in Myanmar on Christmas Eve during an attack blamed on government forces. The charity said both men were new fathers who were “caught up” in the rampage in Kayah state while on their way back to their office

The year began with a promise.  “America is back,” proclaimed Joe Biden, taking its rightful place at the vanguard of the free world, making up for the sins of his predecessor. The Trump presidency had ended with a desecration. Americans had turned on their holy of holies, the high temple of their democracy on Capitol

The Taliban has said women in Afghanistan should not be offered long distance taxi services unless they are accompanied by a male chaperone. The Ministry of Propagation of Virtue and Prevention of Vice told drivers they should not admit women who do not follow a strict Islamic dress code by wearing the hijab. Women travelling

A week of memorial services has been planned to pay tribute to Archbishop Desmond Tutu. The 90-year-old anti-apartheid veteran died at the Oasis Frail Care Centre in Cape Town on Boxing Day. His funeral is set to take place in Cape Town on Saturday 1 January but plans are still in their “infancy”, a statement

In the summer of 2008 I was asked to interview Archbishop Desmond Tutu at the Salisbury International Arts Festival. Although I had met him and interviewed him several times when I was based in South Africa, I was a little nervous beforehand and I think he could see it.  Five minutes before we began, in