World
Europe
French ‘Excalibur’ mysteriously disappears after 1300 years stuck in a rock
Durandal was claimed to be the sword of Roland, a legendary knight and officer of Charlemagne. It was lodged in stone 10 metres above the ground.
- by Henry Samuel
Latest
Opinion
Russia-Ukraine war
Why I left comfortable Melbourne and went into a war zone
A Ukraine local staying put despite the bombing told me, “I want to live my life so as not to be ashamed of myself to my ancestors in heaven when I die.” His words sum up why I went to Ukraine and did what I did.
- by James Baillieu
Opinion
Racism
I was heading off to study abroad, but now my phone is alive with alerts
I can’t help but envy the Anglo-Saxon students in my cohort going on exchange. For them, travel warnings take the form of earthquakes or avalanches.
- by Satara Uthayakumaran
JK Rowling, David Tennant clash over gender issues in UK election
The stoush between the entertainers comes amid a now-familiar political debate on transgender policy, with the issue becoming a key battleground in the UK election.
- by Rob Harris
Opinion
UK election
Fool Britannia: Brits hoping for a return to the Blair-era glory days are dreaming
Where Tony Blair arrived at a point of hope, Keir Starmer enters at a point of despair. The excitement and pride of 1997 have given way to deep cynicism and Brexit division.
- by Gary Nunn
How to escape from the Russian army
The Russian army is taking in foreigners to fight its war in Ukraine. Many of them had no idea they were destined for the front line.
- by Bhadra Sharma and Jeffrey Gettleman
Emmanuel Macron’s election gamble failed. Now he’s nowhere to be seen
In the lead-up to the campaign, Macron’s aides wanted him to keep a low profile given the depth of his unpopularity. But the president couldn’t help himself.
- by Ania Nussbaum and Samy Adghirni
Allure of hot, remote Greek islands proves deadly for tourists
With remote spots, difficult-to-reach coves and stunning headlands, the Greek islands have it all – but at the height of European summer, it’s not all bliss.
- by Gwyneth Rees and Louise Carpenter
Updated
World elections
French voters slap Macron, propel far-right to strong lead in election first round
French polling agencies indicated that President Emmanuel Macron’s grouping of centrist parties could finish a distant third in the first-round ballot.
- by Barbara Surk and Helena Alves
World of Photos, July 1, 2024
The best photos from the international wire agencies as chosen by our picture editors.
Analysis
UK politics
Bregrets? They’ve got a few. Most Brits now think leaving EU was a mistake
As Britons head to the polls this week, a majority think that leaving the European Union has delivered few benefits.
- by Rob Harris