Voting has started in the Maldives presidential election, a virtual referendum over which regional power, India or China, will have the biggest influence in the archipelago state

The leaders of Italy and the Netherlands along with the EU Commission president travel to Tunisia on Sunday with a packet of initiatives to help create security in Tunisia, easing the way for a possible international bailout

Vladimir Putin has been accused of “senselessly sending more Russians to die than at any time since the war began” as neither Moscow or Kyiv appear to be making any substantial advancement in the 21-month-old conflict. UK Defence Secretary Grant Shapps made the strong claim on X, formerly called Twitter, as the Ministry of Defence released figures showing the number of Russians casualties had risen to an average 931 a day this month. The number, from Ukraine’s General Staff and described as “plausible” by the MoD, is higher than the previously reported deadliest month in March, when there were an average 76 deaths and injuries a day. The increase comes as Russia, which widened its conscription programme earlier this year, continues its assault on the key towns of Donbas and Avdiivka. Both attacks, the MoD say, contribute to the casualties. Mr Shapps wrote: “Putin is stepping up his invasion - senselessly sending more Russians to die than at any time since the war began. “Ukrainian bravery and western support is holding back their advance, but we cannot be complacent. Ukraine needs our unwavering support to fight and win.” Read More World’s attention must ‘stay on Ukraine’, warns ex-Nato chief 'You’ll die in this pit': Takeaways from secret recordings of Russian soldiers in Ukraine Dead, wounded or AWOL: The voices of desperate Russian soldiers trying to get out of the Ukraine war Kyiv hit by biggest Russian drone attack since war began

A third successive heat wave in Greece pushed temperatures back above 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit) across parts of the country following more nighttime evacuations from fires that have raged out of control for days

Russia's foreign ministry said on Friday it was expanding the list of people banned from visiting in response

A lesbian couple have become the first in Europe and only the second in the world to have a baby they both carried. Little Derek Eloy came into the world weighing just over 7 lb 4 oz. Couple Estefanía, 30, and Azahara, 27, went to a fertility clinic in March to begin the process. A capsule of eggs and sperm was first placed into Estefania’s vagina. It was left for five days so the sperm could naturally fertilise the eggs in vivo. After the device was removed, the embryos were examined and selected before being transferred into Azahara’s uterus for further development. Azahara then carried Derek for nine months before giving birth to the healthy boy on 30 October. Derek’s birth in Palma, Majorca, was made possible thanks to an innovative fertility treatment called INVOcell. In total, the couple paid more than £4,400 (€5,000) for the treatment and the medication they had to take. A doctor from the team that made Derek’s birth possible explained: “The novelty in this process is that both could carry the embryo and share it for as long as needed.” Estefanía told local media: “It was a way for both of us to be able to carry him. “The idea that I could participate in this way and carry him in my womb was much more exciting.” Derek is the first European baby born via INVOcell. The technology has only been used once before - in 2018 by Texan couple Bliss and Ashleigh Coulter to allow them to carry their son, Stetson. Estefanía said: “Now, I look at him, my partner and I look at each other, and we feel that it’s something that has been within both of us, something we’ve done together.” Sign up to our new free Indy100 weekly newsletter Have your say in our news democracy. Click the upvote icon at the top of the page to help raise this article through the indy100 rankings.

A 95-year-old woman was in critical condition Friday, two days after police shocked her with a stun gun as she approached them with a walking frame and a steak knife in an Australian nursing home

Just four at a time, visitors soon will be allowed access to a long-hidden space inside Florence’s Medici Chapel where delicate charcoal drawings sketched on the walls have been attributed by some experts to Michelangelo

The biggest question about the 2024 presidential campaign so far is whether voters or juries will get to cast the first verdict on Donald Trump.

Adin Ross said, 'I just signed the biggest streaming deal of any creator of all time, as far as I know, it feels amazing, I’m blessed'

'Teen Mom' alum Jenelle Evans slammed for video taking credit of raising two-times run-away son, Jace alone

The South Korean and U.S. militaries are to hold massive live-fire drills Thursday near the inter-Korean border