The International Criminal Court, which US President Donald Trump's administration has threatened to dismantle "brick by brick", has been awarded the European Union's Sakharov human rights prize.

As governments and corporations alike scramble to install a patch to fix fundamental security flaws in a programming language that helps run roughly 70 percent of the world's websites, here's what you need to know about how AI has helped bring these critical vulnerabilities to light.

Government and corporate websites were shut down across the world overnight into Wednesday after cybersecurity firms used artificial intelligence to reveal critical flaws in widely used programming language PHP. PHP programmers on Wednesday released a patch fixing the vulnerability.

French President ​Emmanuel Macron said ​on Thursday that "illegitimate" protests would bebanned in the ​coming ‌days, ⁠while those from ‌organised groups such as unions would be offered alternative paths ​for the marches ‌to protect businesses. The government has said it will put French soldiers in the street after rioting and looting broke out on the fringes of mass peaceful demonstrations over the weekend. Follow our liveblog for the latest updates. 

Russia and Ukraine traded major drone and missile strikes on each other's capitals overnight, hours after Moscow signalled readiness to resume US-mediated peace talks. President Donald Trump said negotiations were closer than ever to ending the war, though the Kremlin expressed doubts over Ukrainian and European proposals.

Irish lawmakers voted Wednesday to scrap a requirement for UN approval before deploying military peacekeepers overseas, approving the controversial legislation by 79 votes to 71. Opposition lawmakers warned the move threatened Ireland’s longstanding military neutrality. Ireland is not a NATO member but has traditionally participated in international peacekeeping missions.

Real Madrid thrashed RB Leipzig 4-1 on Wednesday to secure their third consecutive Champions League victory. Bernardo Silva, Arda Guler, Kylian Mbappé and Yan Diomande scored for Jose Mourinho’s side, while Tidiam Gomis replied for Leipzig. Mbappé has scored in all three European matches this season, taking his tally to 12 goals.

Pope Leo XIV, 71, will require no further treatment for lung cancer after tests confirmed the disease was localised, the Vatican said Wednesday. The pontiff underwent surgery last week to remove part of his right lung after being diagnosed with adenocarcinoma. He was discharged Saturday and will gradually resume activities.

A New Mexico judge ordered Meta to pay $25 billion after a jury found the company deceived users in a case linked to the Cambridge Analytica scandal, media reported Wednesday. The ruling follows an $18 billion settlement with 48 other states over similar claims. Meta called the penalty “a tax on speech".

The Canadian publisher representing Thélyson Orélien on Wednesday said it had dropped the prize-nominated writer over new information indicating that he did use artificial intelligence to write his acclaimed debut.

French President Emmanuel Macron on Wednesday paid an unannounced visit to Riyadh in a bid to underscore French support for the kingdom amid intensified attacks by Houthi rebels and an attempt to ease tensions at home by securing oil and diesel imports.

EU prosecutors on Wednesday searched offices belonging to the far-right Patriots parliamentary group as part of a graft probe into the bloc’s dissolved predecessor, Identity and Democracy, which brought together several European far-right parties including French presidential candidate Marine Le Pen’s National Rally.

Ukraine and Russia on Wednesday said they are both ready to resume trilateral talks with the United States. The news comes after US envoy Steve Witkoff separately met with Volodymyr Zelensky and Vladimir Putin on two consecutive days.

French President Emmanuel Macron took aim at world leaders including US President Donald Trump for trying to exploit the riots and looting that broke out alongside peaceful demonstrations in France Saturday for their own political advantage. Another wave of demonstrations against France's worsening cost of living is planned for the coming Saturday.

US special envoy Steve Witkoff met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Saint Petersburg on Wednesday after talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Oslo. Putin said during the meeting that Russia had released US citizen Stephen Hubbard, who has been imprisoned for years in Russia after being charged of fighting as a mercenary for Ukraine.

Boeing's largest 737 Max jet has cleared a major regulatory hurdle, with US aviation authorities approving the Max 10 for passenger service on Tuesday after nearly a decade of delays. The certification marks a boost for the planemaker's recovery, with deliveries expected to begin in 2027.

The leader of France's hardline CGT union on Wednesday called for strikes after talks with Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu over fresh protests collapsed, as the country reeled from last weekend's riots. The government offered "no measure nor have they taken our demands into account", Sophie Binet, secretary general of the CGT, told reporters after a meeting between Lecornu and union leaders. Follow our liveblog for the latest updates.

Italy announced tougher security measures on Tuesday after weekend riots in Milan left more than 100 police officers injured and shops looted. The government will deploy 500 additional soldiers, impose harsher penalties for violent protesters and hold parents financially responsible for damage caused by minors.

Nigeria has confirmed its first Ebola case in Africa's latest outbreak, while Kenya reported its ninth infection, raising fears of further spread across the continent. Africa CDC chief Jean Kaseya warned of an “extremely serious threat” and urged the international community to send funding, medical supplies and health workers.

Paris Saint-Germain came from behind to beat Barcelona 4-2 in a Champions League thriller on Tuesday, handing the Catalans their first defeat of the season. Liverpool staged a dramatic comeback to edge Villarreal 4-3 at Anfield, while Manchester City cruised to a 5-1 victory over AEK Athens.