Gallo via Getty Images The new leader of South Africa's second-largest party has to solve a problem that none of his three immediate predecessors were able to crack: how to extend the Democratic Alliance's popularity beyond its core support mostly made up of white people and other racial minorities.
Despite the advent of the multi-ethnic "Rainbow Nation" and the end of the racist apartheid system in 1994, South
BBC Warning: This story contains details that readers may find distressing
Mohammed Amin was eight when he died shortly after testing positive for HIV.
His fevers were so bad that he insisted on sleeping in the rain, and he writhed in pain "like he'd been thrown in hot oil", says his mother, Sughra.
"He
BBC With Lebanon, again, engulfed by war, I remember a meeting I had with President Joseph Aoun at the Baabda Palace, a modernist building at the top of a hill overlooking Beirut last August.
Aoun, a former army chief, took office after a devastating war between Israel and Hezbollah, a Lebanese militia and political party that is backed by Iran. At that point, Hezbollah had been weakened and was isolated at home and Aoun had vowed to disarm it. The seemingly intractable issue over Hezbollah's weapons has
Getty Images Democrats already had a lot to worry about in the 2026 California governor's race, an election they would typically expect to win easily: Too many candidates. Low name recognition. Voter apathy.
Then on Sunday, their leading candidate, Representative Eric Swalwell, faced with allegations of sexual assault and misconduct, dropped out of the contest, even as he denied the accusations. His exit threw the Democrats into further chaos and left the party facing a previously unthinkable possibility: could Republicans shut them entirely
Getty Images US Congressman Eric Swalwell will resign from Congress, after dropping out of the California governor race following growing pressure over sexual misconduct allegations.
"I am deeply sorry to my family, staff, and constituents for mistakes in judgement I've made in my past," the Democrat said in a letter posted on X.
"I will fight the serious, false allegation made against me. However, I must take responsibility and ownership for the mistakes I did make."
Four women accused him last
Léa Guedj/BBC Péter Magyar has said he has already spoken to 10 European leaders, a day after his landslide victory brought an end to Viktor Orbán's 16-year continuous rule in Hungary.
But he said he would not be calling Vladimir Putin, a close partner of Orbán, even though he would speak to him if the Russian leader rang.
"If Vladimir Putin calls I
Getty Images Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez's wife, Begoña Gómez, has been charged with corruption after a two-year criminal investigation, according to a court ruling.
Gómez is accused of using her relationship to advance her private career through a position at Madrid's Complutense University. She is also accused of using public resources to advance private interests
BBC Standing next to the blown-out windows and cracked walls of her apartment in Tel Aviv, Liat Zvi voices an exasperation many Israelis say they feel.
"It's depressing… we've been in war for two and a half years and this just feels like another round," she sighs.
Six weeks ago, her central neighbourhood was among the many locations where Tehran delivered its
Reuters The Philippines has accused Chinese fishermen of dumping cyanide in waters around the Spratly Islands, a fiercely contested area in the South China Sea.
Manila described the alleged poisoning as an act of "sabotage" on Monday, intended to "kill local fish populations" and deprive Filipino troops stationed at Second Thomas Shoal of a crucial food source.
China dismissed the claim as a "farce". The allegation follows years of tense stand-offs and occasional violent confrontations between Philippine and Chinese vessels in the disputed waters