Blog

Volodymyr Zelensky. Photo: AFP / Petras Malukas Ukrainian air forces have destroyed another strategic bridge over the Seym River in Russia's Kursk region, limiting the supply capacity of a Russian group opposing the Ukrainian advance, Ukraine's commander said on Sunday. Kyiv said it had seized more than 80 settlements over 1150 square kilometres in Kursk since launching a surprise strike across the border on 6 August, the biggest invasion of Russia since World War II. "Kursk direction. Minus one more bridge! Ukrainian Air Force aviation continues to deprive the enemy of logistical capabilities with precision airstrikes, which significantly affects the course of hostilities," Mykola Oleshchuk said on the Telegram messaging app. He posted a video showing a growing cloud from an explosion ...

By Christian Brooks, BBC Sabrina Carpenter performs at the Coachella Stage, 2024. Photo: FRAZER HARRISON Some music fans now know 15-second sped-up snippets of songs better than the real thing. It is thanks to an emerging trend on social media, particularly TikTok, of creators changing the tempo of popular songs by 25-30 percent, to accompany short viral videos of dances or other themes. These versions are even helping some artists climb the official singles charts. In November 2022, fan-made sped-up versions of RAYE's single 'Escapism' helped the artist to achieve her first ever number one on the UK Official Singles Chart, nearly three months after its original release. An initial trend developed based around the lyric: "The man that I loved sat me down last night and he told me it ...

Jacinda Ardern gives her valedictory speech to a packed debating chamber at Parliament. Photo: Phil Smith Former prime minister Dame Jacinda Ardern is set to attend the Democratic National Convention, a blockbuster event in US politics designed to rally the Democrats ahead of November's presidential election. Ardern confirmed she would speak during a panel held at the Democratic National Convention later this week. The convention, held by the US Democrats, will see Kamala Harris formally accept her nomination to contest the presidency. It will also be a key opportunity for Tim Walz, the Minnesota governor who's confirmed as Harris' running mate, to speak to Democrats and America more broadly as the party prepares to take on former US president Donald Trump and his Republican running mat...

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrives in Tel Aviv to meet Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other Israeli leaders in a renewed bid for a ceasefire and hostage-release deal in Gaza. Photo: AFP / Pool US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has arrived in Israel in his latest effort to push for a ceasefire and hostage-release deal in Gaza. His ninth trip to the region since the war began in October comes days after the US presented a modified proposal aimed at bridging long-standing gaps between the two sides. The US and Israel have expressed optimism about a deal since talks resumed in Doha last week, but Hamas says suggestions of progress are an "illusion". Differences are said to include whether Israeli troops will be required to withdraw fully from the Gaza Strip, as H...