World

At least seven people have been killed after Pakistan launched airstrikes on Iranian territory early this morning. The target of the attack is not known but the Pakistanis called the operation “Marg Bar Sarmachar”. In Iranian Farsi, “marg bar” means “death to” and in the local Baluch language, “sarmachar” means guerrilla and is used by

The new Argentinian President Javier Milei has told Sky News he has begun discussions with the UK about the Falkland Islands, and that he expects future negotiations over the sovereignty of the British territory. The comments, made on the fringes of the World Economic Forum meetings in Davos, followed Mr Milei’s first bilateral meeting with

Pakistan has said two “innocent children” were killed and three others wounded in strikes by neighbouring Iran in an “unprovoked violation of its airspace”. Pakistan’s foreign ministry issued a strongly worded statement confirming and condemning Tuesday’s attack on its Baluchistan province – which according to Iranian media reports (that were later withdrawn) were aimed at

Another cargo vessel has been targeted and hit by a missile off the coast of Yemen, according to reports. The Greek-owned bulk carrier MT Zografia with 24 crew on board was sailing empty of cargo from Vietnam to Israel, a Greek shipping ministry source told Reuters news agency. The vessel was hit by a missile

An inquest will reveal what happened to two British aid workers who died in Ukraine – as the family of one say they were executed, possibly by Wagner Group mercenaries. Chris Parry, 28, and Andrew Bagshaw, 47, went missing in January last year while trying to evacuate civilians from Soledar on the eastern frontline, amid

At least 14 people have been injured in an attack near Tel Aviv in Israel, according to emergency services. According to local media, they were injured in a suspected car-ramming and stabbing attack, in Raanana. Police say the incident is “increasingly likely” to be terror-related. A 70-year-old woman is said to be in a critical

Khalid Abo Middain used his hands, a hammer and a small shovel to build his own shelter on the outskirts of a fast-growing refugee camp near Rafah City in southern Gaza. The father-of-three arrived there with his family after fleeing four times from Israel’s war against Hamas over the course of three months. They originally left

Denmark has a new king following the historic abdication of the country’s longest-reigning monarch Queen Margrethe II. Thousands of people converged on central Copenhagen for the succession where the 83-year-old passed on the throne to her eldest son with the signing of a declaration in parliament. King Frederik X is now the head of Europe’s

Zambia is dealing with one of its worst cholera outbreaks in recent years as nearly 10,000 active cases have been registered. Climate change has fuelled heavy rains which have contaminated drinking water in overpopulated and impoverished urban areas, mostly in the capital Lusaka. Health workers are scrambling to contain a crisis that has the potential

The US has launched a new strike against a Houthi target in Yemen. A statement from US Central Command said: “This strike was conducted by the USS Carney using Tomahawk Land Attack Missiles and was a follow-on action on a specific military target associated with strikes taken on 12 January designed to degrade the Houthi’s

Despite an international coalition providing a protective umbrella over the Red Sea – Op Prosperity Guardian – the Houthi attacks against merchant shipping continued. Shortly before midnight on Thursday, the US and UK launched a wave of attacks on 60 Houthi military targets using over 100 guided munitions, predominantly Tomahawk cruise missiles. The UK contribution

The airstrikes in Yemen expand the war in the Middle East, draw Britain and America in deeper and risk an even wider conflagration. Both countries have chosen a risky option that may not work and could make matters worse. And in the minds of millions across the region, the UK and US will be seen

A barrage of British and American air and naval strikes against Iranian-backed Houthis in Yemen is a calculated escalation to deter threats – but it could yet trigger a regional war. The key test will be how the militants and their arch sponsor, Tehran, respond. The Houthis were quick to claim they would retaliate against

An oil tanker in the Gulf of Oman was boarded by “unauthorized” people in military uniforms on Thursday morning, an advisory group run by the British military and a private intelligence firm warned. The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKTMO), which provides warnings to sailors in the Middle East, said the incident began early in

British and US forces appear to be gearing up to strike an Iranian-backed militant group in Yemen after the Houthi rebels defied a warning to stop attacking ships in the Red Sea. Grant Shapps, the UK defence secretary, accused Iran of meddling and declared “enough is enough” in an escalating crisis that could ignite a

A British warship and US forces have destroyed “multiple drones” launched by Iranian-backed Houthi fighters in the Red Sea, the British defence secretary has said. Grant Shapps said it had been the largest attack in the region by the militants to date, with drones heading towards HMS Diamond, a Type 45 destroyer that was deployed

Hooded gunmen have burst onto a live TV set in Ecuador. Live television images broadcast on Tuesday showed hooded people – some waving guns – inside Ecuador’s TC Television station in Guayaquil. They were seen telling staff to lie down on the floor and shouted that they had “bombs”, while shouting and noises similar to

Israel is defending itself at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) today against claims it is committing genocide in Gaza. South Africa filed the case, arguing that Israel is breaching the UN convention on genocide by “killing Palestinians in Gaza, causing them serious bodily and mental harm, and inflicting on them conditions of life calculated

Last year was the hottest on record, new data has confirmed, as scientists warn 2024 could be worse. The EU’s Copernicus Climate Change Service today confirmed 2023 was indeed the warmest year since 1850 – a trend scientists were confident about before the year was out because it had been so exceptionally hot. The global

A state of emergency has been declared in Ecuador after one of the country’s most-notorious drug gang bosses escaped from prison. Adolfo Macias – also known as Fito – was first reported missing from his cell on Sunday. Ecuador‘s prosecutors then filed charges against two prison guards as part of their investigation into the alleged

German and World Cup football legend Franz Beckenbauer has died aged 78. The German defender – nicknamed “Der Kaiser” because of his sublime talent – was regarded as one of the greatest footballers of all time. He was also famed for carving out his own role as a sweeper – now often known as a

Israeli police have accidentally killed a young Palestinian girl after opening fire on a car suspected of a ramming attack, emergency services in Israel have said. The border police said they fatally shot the girl, reported to be three or four years old, after firing at a couple in a car who, they said, rammed

Vladimir Putin has vowed to back soldiers who defend Russia’s interests and ordered his government to give greater support to those who fight – after two people were killed in the latest drone and missile attacks on Ukraine. Speaking on the eve of Orthodox Christmas, the Russian president said on Saturday while meeting families of

Dramatic footage shows the moments after a window and chunk of fuselage blew out of a passenger plane in mid-air, leaving a gaping hole in the side of the Boeing 737-9 MAX.  One Alaska Airlines passenger on the affected flight said a boy and his mother were sitting in the same row as the damage

Alaska Airlines has grounded all Boeing 737-9 MAX passenger planes hours after a window and chunk of fuselage blew out of a flight in mid-air shortly after take-off in the US state of Oregon. Photos and videos from passengers showed a gaping hole in the side of the plane next to passenger seats, with oxygen

Prince Andrew had daily massages when he spent “weeks” at Jeffrey Epstein’s Florida home according to the billionaire’s former housekeeper, court documents have revealed. The newly-released documents include the transcript of a video interview with Juan Alessi, who worked at the paedophile financier’s Palm Beach residence. The unsealing of the first batch of papers caused

Oscar Pistorius has been freed on parole nearly 11 years after murdering his girlfriend in a case that made global headlines. The former Paralympic champion – once celebrated as the ‘blade runner’ – was granted parole in November and today left a South African jail and is now at home, South Africa’s correctional services department

Former Paralympic champion Oscar Pistorius will be released from prison on Friday, nearly 11 years after murdering his girlfriend. Pistorius shot Reeva Steenkamp on Valentine’s Day 2013 at his home in Pretoria, South Africa. He said he fired his gun through a bathroom door after mistaking her for an intruder in the early hours. The

A full transcript detailing air traffic control conversations moments before the fatal plane crash at Tokyo’s Haneda airport has been released by authorities in Japan. The transcript shows the discussions between the airport’s control tower and the two planes – one a Japan Airlines (JAL) passenger jet and the other a smaller coastguard plane –

A coastguard aircraft that collided with a passenger plane at Tokyo’s Haneda airport had not been cleared for take-off when the crash took place, authorities have said. The small jet, with a pilot and five passengers on board, was preparing to fly to the city of Niigata to deliver aid to those affected by a

At least 20 people have been killed at a cemetery in Iran where a ceremony was being held to mark the 2020 killing of Iran’s top commander Qassem Soleimani, state media has reported. The reports added there were two explosions at the site in the city of Kerman where the former Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps

Hamas has said one of its top officials, Saleh al Arouri, has been killed in an explosion in Beirut – blaming the “cowardly assassination” on Israel. Al Arouri was one of the founders of Hamas’s military wing and the deputy leader of the group’s political bureau. He also headed Hamas’s presence in the West Bank.

As firefighters and rescue crews work on the ground following a huge plane fire at Tokyo’s Haneda airport in Japan, investigators behind the scenes will try to piece together how it happened. Captured in dramatic footage from the scene, a Japan Airlines aircraft can be seen bursting into flames and moving along the runway in