World

A British national captured by Russian forces while fighting alongside Ukrainian troops has recalled how he was tortured and left unable to walk during his ordeal. Shaun Pinner was among five Britons released from Russian detention in Ukraine in a prisoner swap last September. Appearing on this week’s Beth Rigby Interviews, the former soldier also

Joe Biden has said the US will defend “literally every inch of NATO” in the face of Russian aggression – as Moscow welcomed China having a more active role in “resolving” the Ukraine war. The US president has met leaders from the Bucharest Nine – a collection of nations in the most eastern parts of

North Korea’s official newspaper has said the country should reject foreign aid – likening it to “poisoned candy” – despite deepening hardships and reported food shortages. The ruling Workers’ Party paper, Rodong Sinmun, warned against receiving economic help from “imperialists” who use aid as a “trap to plunder and subjugate”. “It is a mistake to

Russia’s president had a message of defiance for the West as he suspended participation in the last major nuclear arms control treaty with the United States. Vladimir Putin also vowed to conduct nuclear weapons tests if Washington chose to do so and challenged the nuclear weapons posture of the UK and France. If anyone in

A baby born in the rubble of Syria’s earthquake earlier this month has been adopted by her aunt and uncle. The little girl’s mother, father and four siblings were all killed in the earthquake on 6 February, and their apartment block in the northern town of Jinderis, in Aleppo province, was destroyed. She was found

Three people have been killed and more than 200 injured after a 6.4 magnitude earthquake struck the Turkey-Syria border two weeks after massive quake in the region left more than 45,000 dead. More buildings have collapsed, trapping some people, while more than 130 injuries were recorded in neighbouring Syria. Turkey’s AFAD disaster management agency said

North Korea has fired two ballistic missiles off its east coast as Kim Jong Un’s sister warned of “using the Pacific as our firing range”. The missiles were launched on Monday morning local time and fell into the sea outside Japan’s exclusive economic zone, the country’s coast guard said. There were no reports of damage

On the eve of the anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine there are ominous warnings the Ukraine conflict could widen and draw in other countries. America says China is considering entering the conflict as an active partner of Russia and will start sending weapons. And there are very real fears Vladimir Putin is stepping up

Rishi Sunak has said the UK stands “ready to support all allies if they can provide fighter jets to Ukraine now”. Speaking at the Munich Security Conference, he said the UK was already “leading” on training Ukrainian fighter jet pilots and reiterated his call for allies to “double down” in support. Earlier, Mr Sunak said

A man in the US is accused of holding a woman against her will for nearly a year before she escaped and asked for help at a petrol station. The woman ran to the store in New Jersey on 7 February where she alleged she had been kidnapped, the state attorney general’s office said. Security

Rishi Sunak will urge Western leaders to “double down” on military support for Ukraine, as troops on the front line plead for more weapons. The prime minister is set to tell the Munich Security Conference on Saturday that “advanced, NATO-standard capabilities” are needed to banish Russian forces. UK one of Russia’s ‘main targets’ – Ukraine

The president of Poland has told Sky News that Ukraine will need fighter jets to see off the threat from Russia. In an exclusive interview during his visit to the UK, Andrzej Duda also warned that Vladimir Putin is trying to exhaust the West in his effort to defeat Ukraine. President Duda has previously insisted

Russia is due to take part in a joint naval exercise with China and South Africa which could see the test launch of a hypersonic cruise missile – as Western leaders assemble for a major security conference. A frigate armed with the Zircon weapon has been deployed for 10 days of joint drills in the

Three unidentified objects shot down by the US did not appear to have been used for spying and were likely tied to benign purposes, Joe Biden has said. Instead, the objects were “most likely” linked to private companies or research institutions, according to the US president. Tensions have been mounting between the US and China

Rare footage has been released showing the Titanic on the floor of the Atlantic Ocean. The video, most of which has not been seen by the public before, was shot just months after explorers found the wreckage in September 1985. More than 1,500 people died when the Titanic, which was on its way from Southampton

The war in Ukraine has wiped out half of Russia’s fleet of modern battle tanks, say analysts presenting their annual assessment of military power in the world. The staggering estimate was made by the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS). Its ‘Military Balance 2023’ is the much-anticipated annual bible for military observers. Ukraine war –

At least four people have died – including a child – after Cyclone Gabrielle caused extensive flooding and landslides in New Zealand. Police have said they have “grave concerns” for several people still missing in the Hawke’s Bay and Tairawhiti areas on the North Island. The cyclone struck the country’s north on Monday and has

A British national has died in Ukraine, the government has said. A spokesperson from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office said: “We are supporting the family of a British national who died in Ukraine, and are in contact with the local authorities.” The government has not provided more information on the circumstances of the death.

The US says it has recovered key sensors from the suspected Chinese spy balloon it shot down as tensions between the countries escalated. The Chinese balloon, which Beijing denies was a government spy vessel, spent a week flying over the US and Canada before President Joe Biden ordered it to be shot down off the

Czech Republic midfielder Jakub Jankto has become one of the most high-profile male footballers to come out as gay. The 27-year-old, who plays for prominent Czech side Sparta Prague, said in a video posted on Twitter: “I no longer want to hide myself.” Jankto, who has made 45 appearances for the Czech national side, is