World

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

The candidate of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), which champions autonomy from China, has won Taiwan’s presidential election. Lai Ching-te, who is the current vice president, is set to replace Tsai Ing-wen, who has served the limit of two terms. With 95% of polling stations declaring, Mr Lai appeared to have an unassailable lead.

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

Alaska Airlines has said more “loose hardware” has been found on some of its Boeing 737-9 Max fleet of aircraft. It follows the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) grounding all 171 737-9 Max planes operated by US airlines after a window and chunk of fuselage blew out of one Alaska Airlines aircraft on 5 January shortly

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

The missing door plug that was torn off from an Alaska Airlines flight while in the air has been found by a school teacher. Pilots were forced to perform an emergency landing on Saturday after a hole was ripped into the side of the Boeing 737 Max 9 plane. The National Transportation Safety Board says

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

More than 170 Boeing planes have been temporarily grounded after a chunk of fuselage dramatically blew out of a brand-new passenger jet in mid-air.  US regulators say immediate inspections are needed after an Alaska Airlines plane suffered a cabin emergency shortly after take-off on Friday. Photos showed a gaping hole in the side of the

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

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

Bill Clinton “threatened” a prominent magazine and told staff not to publish articles about Jeffrey Epstein, newly unsealed court documents suggest. The claim is made in an email that was written by Virginia Giuffre – Epstein’s first public accuser – in 2011. In the message to a journalist, Giuffre alleges that the former US president

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

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 –