“We regard the provocative actions of Israel as hostile,” Moscow’s Defense Ministry said. LONDON — Moscow accused Israel of “hostile” behavior and threatened retaliation Tuesday after Syria shot down a Russian military aircraft with 15 people on board over the Mediterranean Sea. Russia is an ally of both Syria and Israel. The TASS news agency reported that […]

Russia and Turkey have agreed to create a demilitarised buffer zone in Syria’s Idlib province to separate government forces from rebel fighters based there. Russian President Vladimir Putin said it would be 15km to 25km (9-15 miles) wide and come into force by 15 October. Troops from Russia, an ally of Syria’s government, and Turkey, […]

Super Typhoon Mangkhut has reached the Philippines, blasting the northern coast with strong winds and heavy rain. Forecasters say the typhoon, with winds of 205km/h (130 mph) and gusts of up to 255 km/h, is the strongest storm of 2018 so far. More than four million people are directly in the path of the storm […]

Hurricane Florence, which is nearing the US East Coast, could kill “a lot of people”, officials warn. Federal Emergency Management Agency (Fema) administrator Brock Long said storm surges may bring catastrophic flooding to inland areas. Though Florence has been downgraded to a category two storm with 105mph (165km/h) winds, Mr Long said it remained “very […]

As mobile markets in developed world near saturation, Google rolls out Neighbourly, its first Indian-inspired social network To check Instagram at home, Laveena must stand on the edge of her terrace, arm outstretched, hoping the signal is strong enough for her phone to blink to life. A few times a day, she grudgingly shares her […]

Each year, 8 million metric tons of plastic waste enters the world’s oceans. Millions of plastic straws are used and disposed each day. The straws are usually made from polypropylene and are not truly degradable. Most recycling programs are loath to accept straws because straws are too light and fall off sorters. They are often […]

SEOUL, South Korea — Park Geun-hye, South Korea’s impeached and ousted president, was sentenced Friday to 25 years in prison, as an appeals court convicted her of collecting more bribes than previously believed from Samsung, the country’s largest business conglomerate. In a lower-court ruling in April, Ms. Park, 66, was sentenced to 24 years in […]

Washington (CNN)China is actively developing its fleet of long-range bombers and “likely” training its pilots for missions targeting the US, according to a new Pentagon report. “Over the last three years, the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) has rapidly expanded its overwater bomber operating areas, gaining experience in critical maritime regions and likely training for strikes against […]

Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has admitted he made a mistake in allowing the country’s foreign minister to speak to his U.S. counterpart during negotiations that led to a 2015 international nuclear agreement. International sanctions on Iran were lifted when the pact with world powers came into force in 2016, but the expected level […]

WASHINGTON  – The United States is warning more economic pressures may be in store for Turkey if it refuses to release a jailed American pastor, a White House official said on Tuesday, in a dispute that has further strained relations between the NATO allies. The tough message emerged a day after White House national security […]