"Unfortunately the condition continues to be very serious due to the complicated nature of the wounds, but we all want to believe firmly that we will succeed in managing the situation," said Kalinak, who also serves as deputy prime minister

A black swan moment. The assassination attempt of populist Slovak leader Robert Fico has shocked both Slovaks and Europeans. But in hindsight it is easy to point to security lapses and a climate of verbal violence in a country that finds itself increasingly polarised. Our guests take a look.

Almost 700,000 Macedonians – about a third of the population – live abroad. The reason: no work, too much corruption, and no prospects back at home. North Macedonia has one of the highest emigration rates in the world.

Every year the Cannes film festival honours a great figure from the movie industry. This year, Meryl Streep is in Cannes to receive a lifetime achievement award at the opening ceremony – 35 years after she first set foot on the red carpet at the festival. Over the past 6 decades, Streep has played in dramas such as "The Deer Hunter", "The French Lieutenant's Woman" and "Kramer vs. Kramer" as well as family favourites like "Mamma Mia!" and "The Devil Wears Prada". Surprisingly, she has been to Cannes only once before – though she did manage to win best actress that year – for 1989's "A Cry in the Dark". Together with Oscar winning French actress Juliette Binoche they declared the festival open.

International groups have warned of ethnic cleansing and genocide in West Darfur, carried out by the Rapid Support Forces, a paramilitary group that's been at war with Sudan's government since April 2023.

Benin's position not to allow ships carrying Nigerien crude oil to enter the ports in Benin threatened the survival of Niger's military junta. More than 90,000 barrels of crude per day were earmarked for shipping to China through a pipeline that travels through Benin.