World

Strikes on Iranian-linked bases will be met with an “immediate counter-response” after the reported deaths of 19 people in US attacks on Syria, an Iranian security spokesperson has warned. Keyvan Khosravi made the remarks after the US carried out a series of strikes on the east of the country in one of the deadliest exchanges

French President Emmanuel Macron has been criticised after removing his expensive watch during a television interview about pension changes. Violent protests and strikes are taking place across France after Mr Macron pushed through a law raising the retirement age by two years to 64 without a vote in parliament. The clip of Mr Macron taking

In anticipation – perhaps fear – of Western support for Ukraine’s much anticipated “spring offensive”, Russia has spent the past few weeks throwing wave after wave of attacks against a heroic and determined Ukrainian frontline. Progress has been limited, and despite seven months of intense fighting, cities like Bakhmut have not fallen. Now, Russia appears

US President Joe Biden quipped that he is seeking a “back-to-back” term in the White House while honouring famous figures including Bruce Springsteen and Vera Wang. Rock star Springsteen was recognised at the National Medal of the Arts ceremony for “his extraordinary contributions to the American songbook”. When presenting novelist Colson Whitehead – who won

Data from the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic has provided crucial information on the outbreak’s origins, according to researchers. The virus was first identified in Wuhan in December 2019, with the Huanan live animal market widely suspected to be the source, before it rapidly spread around the world and killed nearly seven million people.

Vladimir Putin has welcomed his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping to Moscow, just days after a warrant was issued for the Russian president’s arrest over alleged war crimes in Ukraine. The two leaders, who called each other “dear friend” and exchanged compliments during the meeting at the Kremlin, were locked in talks for more than four

Vladimir Putin has said Russia and China are fighting “common threats” as he welcomes President Xi Jinping for a three-day trip to Moscow. Writing in an article in the People’s Daily Newspaper, the Russian president described Mr Xi‘s visit as a “landmark event” that “reaffirms the special nature of the Russia-China partnership”. The outlet is

Police in Pakistan have filed terrorism and other charges against former prime minister Imran Khan, as well as 17 of his aides and scores of his supporters. The move on Sunday came after the ousted premier’s followers clashed with security forces in the country’s capital of Islamabad a day before. Mr Khan‘s followers came to

Vladimir Putin has visited the occupied Ukrainian city of Mariupol, according to Russian media reports. The president made what state media described as a “working trip” to the port city, which he annexed in September last year following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Mr Putin, who arrived in a helicopter, travelled around several districts of the

Putin ‘unruffled and unapologetic’, despite war crimes charge John Sparks International correspondent @sparkomat The Russian president, Vladimir Putin, is now liable to arrest in 123 countries – but he knows that no one is going to detain him in Crimea. The peninsula was seized from Ukraine in 2014 and Russia’s long-time leader has returned to

Wyoming has become the first US state to ban abortion pills. Those who “prescribe, dispense, distribute, sell or use any drug for the purpose of procuring or performing an abortion” will face up to six months in prison and a fine of up to $9,000 (£7,300). However, the law adds that women “upon whom a

The International Criminal Court (ICC) has issued an arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin, accusing him of abducting children from Ukraine. It also issued a warrant for the arrest of Maria Alekseyevna Lvova-Belova, Russia‘s commissioner for children, on similar allegations of war crimes. The Kremlin said Russia found the questions raised by the ICC

Poland is to send Ukraine four MiG-29 fighter jets in the coming days, it has been announced, with more to follow later. “Firstly, literally within the next few days, we will hand over, as far as I remember, four aircraft to Ukraine in full working order,” Polish President Andrzej Duda said on Thursday. “The rest

The battle of the AI chatbots has stepped up a notch after Chinese search giant Baidu unveiled its much-anticipated rival to ChatGPT. The company showed off Ernie (short for “enhanced representation through knowledge integration”), which analysts believe could be Beijing’s strongest competitor in a crowded field dominated by US firms. ChatGPT is made by the

Police in Vienna have put more armed officers on the streets after intelligence suggested a possible Islamist terror attack was being planned against churches. “There is a nonspecific threat of an assault against churches,” police in the Austrian capital tweeted. “If there is a concrete danger for the population at a concrete location, Vienna police

The US and Russia have different accounts of what caused an American drone to crash into the Black Sea on Tuesday. It is the first time the two powers have come into direct contact since the Ukraine war started last year. ‘Something clearly went wrong’; follow Ukraine latest American officials say two Russian fighter jets

FIFA is set to approve an expansion of the men’s World Cup today with 40 more matches from the 2026 tournament in North America, Sky News understands. The decision to grow from 64 to 104 matches – rather than the 80 originally planned in 2026 – is due to come at a meeting of the

China has hit out at the US, UK and Australia over their pact to create new nuclear-powered submarines, saying they have “gone further down a dangerous road”. It follows Rishi Sunak meeting US President Joe Biden and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in San Diego to announce the next stage of the AUKUS partnership plan.

Naatu Naatu from the Telugu-language blockbuster RRR has made history as the first Indian song to win an Academy Award, taking the Oscar for best original song.  With its catchy chorus and energetic choreography, the song sparked a viral TikTok challenge as people tried to master the acrobatic moves. The song by MM Keeravani and Chandrabose beat

China must modernise its military to make it a “Great Wall of Steel”, President Xi Jinping has said. Speaking for the first time in his precedent-breaking third term as head of state, Mr Xi called for China to step up its ability to safeguard national security and manage public security. “Security is the foundation for