World

Japan’s space agency was forced to destroy a new rocket just moments after its launch. The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) had to send a self-destruct command to its H3 rocket 14 minutes into the flight after the ignition for the second stage of its launch failed. It comes just three weeks after the country’s

A Russian court has jailed the founder of an opposition Telegram channel, accusing him of spreading misinformation about the country’s armed forces. Dmitry Ivanov will spend more than eight years in a colony. Last year, the Kremlin passed a law making it illegal to publish false information about its war in Ukraine. Ukraine war –

China’s foreign minister has warned of likely conflict should the US continue its “reckless” approach to relations with Beijing. Qin Gang said rising tensions between the two powers were the fault of Washington, with last month’s downing of a suspected surveillance balloon the latest flashpoint. The mysterious reconnaissance aircraft was taken out on the orders

Iran’s supreme leader has said whoever is responsible for suspected poisonings at girls’ schools should be executed for an “unforgivable crime”. More than 1,000 children have become ill since November in 25 of the country’s 31 provinces, according to officials and state media. “If the poisoning of students is proven, those behind this crime should

Human remains found at a house in Hong Kong have been confirmed as belonging to model Abby Choi. Warning: The following article contains details of a graphic nature DNA tests confirmed her identity after her dismembered legs were found in a fridge, and her skull and ribs in a cooking pot that was seized from

Beijing’s Great Hall of the People is magnificent. Based, as it is, in such a politically sensitive location looking out over Tiananmen Square, it’s normally impossible to film here – even taking your phone out can elicit close attention from the police. But not this weekend. Those accredited to pass beyond the closed roads were

US approval of the abortion medication mifepristone has been revoked, in a decision that could further disrupt reproductive healthcare for millions of people. Mifepristone blocks the hormone needed to maintain a pregnancy and has been approved in the US since 2000 for medical abortion and miscarriage management. It is used safely in more than 60

The famous Prussian general Clausewitz famously opined: “No one starts a war or rather, no one in his senses should do so without first being clear in his mind what he intends to achieve by that war and how he intends to conduct it”. Putin’s unprovoked invasion of Ukraine over a year ago initiated a

A US man has died from a brain-eating amoeba – possibly after rinsing his nose with tap water, health officials have said. The Florida Department of Health in Charlotte County confirmed the death in a news release on 23 February but gave no details about the victim. The naegleria fowleri infection was thought to be

Norway’s government has apologised to reindeer herders following protests over a wind farm built on land they have used for centuries. Activists, mostly teenagers, started demonstrating a week ago and have blocked several government buildings in the capital Oslo. They say the presence of the 151 turbines violates the rights of the Sami people and

At least 43 people have died in a train crash in Greece, with the country’s prime minister saying the disaster appeared to be mainly down to “tragic human error”. The search continues for survivors after a passenger service collided with a freight train carrying shipping containers and travelling in the opposite direction but on the

At least 57 people have died in a train crash in Greece, with the country’s prime minister saying the disaster appeared to be mainly down to “tragic human error”. The search continues for survivors after a passenger service collided with a freight train carrying shipping containers and travelling in the opposite direction but on the

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has given a televised statement criticising anti-government protesters after the previous defence minister and senior opposition figure Benny Gantz warned that the country was heading for civil war. The dramatic exchange happened after another day of demonstrations across Israel, some of which turned violent. Anti-government protesters blocked streets and rallied

Finland has started building a fence along parts of its 1,340km (832-mile) border with Russia amid security tensions with its neighbour over the Ukraine war. The Finnish Border Guard says the 200km of barrier fence will improve security and help stop disruption if Moscow decides to weaponise mass migration against Helsinki. Work began on the project

Denmark has scrapped a public holiday in order to help pay for its NATO defence spending commitments. The newly formed government says the move will help raise tax revenues for money to boost the country’s defence in the wake of the Ukraine war. NATO asks that member states commit a minimum of 2% of their

Most of us have at some point stopped to gaze up at the moon – but have you ever wondered what time it is up there? For those who have, their question may soon have an answer, as space organisations are considering giving the moon its very own time zone. Dozens of lunar missions, including

Besiktas fans threw thousands of stuffed toys onto the pitch during a match on Sunday to donate to children affected by the earthquake in Turkey and Syria. The Turkish Super League game against Antalyaspor was paused after 4 minutes and 17 seconds to allow fans to throw the gifts onto the pitch. The 7.8 magnitude

The COVID -19 virus most likely leaked from a laboratory in Wuhan, according to the US Energy Department. In a report seen by the Wall Street Journal, the US agency said the virus was not being engineered as part of a weapons program. An updated report, which was recently given to the White House and

Israel and the Palestinians have agreed to de-escalate tensions and “prevent more violence”. Palestinian and Israeli delegations met in Jordan on Sunday in an attempt to reduce tensions ahead of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan which starts on 22 March. In a joint statement, Israel agreed to halt new settlement approvals in the occupied

In the year since Russia launched a full-scale attack on its neighbour, Ukrainian troops have retaken huge swathes of territory and look to be preparing for a fresh counterattack. Armed with NATO battle tanks (and perhaps eventually F-16 fighter jets), will Ukraine’s armed forces be able to once again punch through Russian lines in the