Governor Akeredolu challenges deputy to resign

In a major setback for US President Joe Biden's Democratic Party, Glenn Youngkin is poised to become the first Republican to win statewide office in Virginia since 2009.

Governor Andy Beshear said there could be 80 or more people dead, as many people remain missing after a series of severe storms ripped through the state over the weekend. Thousands remain without heat or water.

A district attorney said criminal charges would not be pressed against Andrew Cuomo — although investigations showed that the alleged conduct "did occur."

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Wednesday he had no intention of resigning over a series of lockdown-breaking gatherings at his Downing Street office and residence, pledging to get on with the job. Johnson answered questions from MPs during a combative Prime Minister's Questions session ahead of the release of an official report into allegations of partying during lockdown that could threaten his future as prime minister.

The resignations come as Boris Johnson is battling to hold onto his position as British prime minister following reports of illegal parties during a coronavirus lockdown.

With concern still high over a potential war between Russia and Ukraine, NATO's deputy secretary general spoke to FRANCE 24. Mircea Geoana told our Europe editor Catherine Nicholson: "NATO will not get involved militarily in Ukraine – we support Ukraine in many other ways, individual allies support Ukraine. And in order to deter Russia from doing that ... is to really demonstrate to the leadership in the Kremlin that in a cost-benefit analysis, an additional military intervention in Ukraine is a net loss for Russia."

In an interview with FRANCE 24, Ukraine's Deputy Prime Minister Olha Stefanishyna confirmed an attack from Russian forces on a children's hospital in the city of Mariupol, saying "there is no doubt this has been a targeted attack". She also warned that Russia had shut off the Chernobyl nuclear plant and claimed that this was part of a series of reckless actions that increase the threat of a nuclear accident.

In an interview with FRANCE 24, Ukraine's Deputy Prime Minister Olha Stefanishyna confirmed an attack from Russian forces on a children's hospital in the city of Mariupol, saying "there is no doubt this has been a targeted attack". She also warned that Russia had shut off the Chernobyl nuclear plant and claimed that this was part of a series of reckless actions that increase the threat of a nuclear accident.

Sri Lanka's cabinet ministers have resigned from their posts as an economic crisis deepens in the country. Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksahas has yet to step down, despite growing demands for his resignation.

Following days of protests over soaring prices and fuel shortages, Sri Lanka's cabinet ministers have resigned en masse. The head of the central bank has also stepped down. We take a look at how the heavily indebted country got to this stage. Plus, our correspondents report on how Niger could be facing its worst food crisis in a decade, amid global food and energy shortages worsened by the war in Ukraine.

In an unexpected announcement, Prime Minister Patrick Achi and his Cabinet have tendered their resignation. The leader of Ivory Coast's government had held the job for a little over a year.

Seven people were killed and eight wounded in a missile strike on the western Ukrainian city of Lviv on Monday morning, regional governor Maksym Kozystkiy said.