Iran’s missile attacks on U.S. targets in Iraq on Wednesday were “legitimate self-defense”, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif told state TV, adding that Washington’s assessment to retaliate should not be based on “illusions”. “Our action was a legitimate self-defense and the...

Millions went on strike throughout India on Wednesday, unions said, as workers angry at the government's labour policies brought travel chaos across the country. The widespread action was in opposition to what unions called the "anti-worker and anti-people policies" of right-wing Prime...

A Ukrainian plane carrying at least 170 people crashed shortly after take off in Tehran killing all on board, Iran state media reported. The Boeing 737 had left Tehran's international airport bound for Kiev, semi-official news agency ISNA said, adding that 10 ambulances were sent to the...

A magnitude 4.5 earthquake on Wednesday rattled an area less than 50 kilometres (30 miles) from Iran's Bushehr nuclear power plant near the country's Gulf coast, a US monitor said. The quake, which had a depth of 10 kilometres, struck 17 kilometres south-southeast of Borazjan city at 6:49...

Australian officials issued fresh evacuation warnings Wednesday ahead of a forecast spike in the intensity of out-of-control bushfires that have devastated vast swathes of countryside and sent smoke clouds as far away as Brazil. Residents of Victoria state's fire-ravaged east were urged to...

The Philippines will dispatch cargo planes and a ship to help evacuate Filipino migrant workers from Iraq after ordering its citizens to leave following an Iranian missile strike targeting US troops, officials said Wednesday. Manila issued the mandatory evacuation order for its nationals...

Iran struck back at the United States for the killing of a top Iranian general early Wednesday, firing a series of ballistic missiles at two Iraqi bases housing U.S. troops in a major escalation that brought the two longtime foes closer to war. Iranian state TV said it was in revenge...

Iran state TV says Tehran has launched “tens” of surface-to-surface missiles at Iraq’s Ain Assad air base housing U.S. troops over America’s killing of a top Iranian general. State TV described it early Wednesday as Tehran’s revenge operation over the killing of Revolutionary Guard Gen....

- At least 56 people were killed in a stampede as tens of thousands of mourners packed streets for the funeral of a slain Iranian military commander in his hometown on Tuesday, forcing his burial to be delayed by several hours, state media said. General Qassem Soleimani’s burial began in...

Four leading European powers Tuesday condemned Turkey's involvement in the Libyan crisis following emergency talks in Brussels after Ankara sent troops to support the UN-backed Tripoli government. The foreign ministers of Britain, France, Germany and Italy called for a halt to fighting and...

NATO said Tuesday it would take "some personnel" out of Iraq because of the increased risk to their safety after the US killed a top Iranian general there. The withdrawal is temporary but "the safety of our personnel is paramount", a NATO official said. The military alliance announced on...

Venezuela's opposition leader Juan Guaido was sworn in for another term as speaker of parliament on Tuesday after a tense stand-off with the armed forces who initially prevented him from entering Congress. Guaido leads the opposition to President Nicolas Maduro, who is blamed for an acute...

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo defended Tuesday the legality of the US drone strike that killed Iranian General Qasem Soleimani and any future military action against Iran. "I have never seen this administration engage in an activity of this nature without a thorough and complete legal...

Spanish lawmakers backed Spain’s first-ever coalition government in a vote on Tuesday, bringing an end to the political deadlock that has gripped the nation since two inconclusive general elections last year, including one in November. The progressive coalition won with an extremely tight...

The foreign ministers of four leading European powers meet in Brussels Tuesday for emergency talks on Iran and Libya, as the EU scrambles to respond to two escalating crises on its doorstep. The talks between Britain, France, Germany and Italy, plus the EU diplomatic chief, will cover...

The US has put its ally Saudi Arabia in Iran's crosshairs with the assassination of a top general, leaving it bracing for retaliation just as it was working to ease tensions after a torrid 2019. American officials say the kingdom faces a "heightened risk" of drone and missile attacks...

Iran accused France on Sunday of "interference" in the case of an Iranian-French academic held in the Islamic republic, saying she is considered an Iranian national and faces security charges. France said Friday it summoned Iran's ambassador to protest the imprisonment of Fariba Adelkhah...

Iranian state television says 35 people have been killed and 48 others injured in a stampede that erupted at a funeral procession for a general slain in a U.S. airstrike. The TV says the stampede erupted in Kerman, the hometown of Gen. Qassem Soleimani where the procession was underway...

Japan has asked Lebanon for help regarding Carlos Ghosn, a top Japanese official said on Tuesday, calling the former auto executive’s escape to Beirut “regrettable” but stopping short of spelling out what Tokyo was seeking from local authorities. The former Nissan Motor Co Ltd  and...

The body of a top Iranian military commander killed in a U.S. drone strike in Iraq last week reached his hometown for burial on Tuesday as the U.S. defense secretary denied reports that the U.S. military was preparing to withdraw from Iraqi territory. The death of Qassem Soleimani, who...