Moscow has opened a new front with Ukraine after taking several villages near Kharkiv. Russia’s spring offensive takes form as President Vladimir Putin replaces defence minister Sergei Shoigu with another Kremlin loyalist – Andrei Belousov, the deputy prime minister in charge of the economy.

Kuwait has been known as one of the most democratic countries in the Middle East for years. But the royal emir's recent decision to suspend parliament has left some observers wary that it may slip into autocracy.

RSF paramilitary fighters ramp up attacks on the flashpoint Sudanese city of al-Fashir, which is already reeling from war casualties. Meanwhile, South Africa is reopening inquests into the deaths of three prominent anti- apartheid activists. And Tunisian Boxer Khouloud Al-Halimi is training hard for her second Olympics and has big dreams for Paris 2024.

he United States Trade Representative Katherine Tai said on Tuesday her office is concerned with the possibility of seeing Chinese electric cars enter the US market via Mexico. This comes as the Biden administration is looking to shield its auto industry from Chinese competitors as makes its EV transition. Also, Google launches new AI features on its search engine but faces protests over its ties with Israel.

Two people have been killed and seven wounded in a knife attack on a train in Germany. The attack took place in the northern state of Schleswig-Holstein that borders Denmark. A young man is in police custody.

As the 77th Cannes Film Festival gets underway, where Japanese anime studio – Studio Ghibli – is being awarded the honorary Palm d'Or, we take a look at Japanese pop culture that has become all the rage in France. Founded by Hayao Miyazaki in 1985, Studio Ghibli has produced films like 'the Boy and the Heron', 'Spirited Away' and 'Princess Mononoke'. But why has Japanese anime become so popular in France? Seeking to gain and maintain its influence, Japan has since WWII adopted a soft-power strategy which focuses on the export of its pop culture including manga, video games, cosplay and anime.