INTERNATIONAL

Air strikes on the Syrian city of Raqqa have killed at least 32 Islamic State (IS) militants and wounded 40 more, an activist group says. The strikes on Sunday were believed to have been carried out by the US-led coalition, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said. However, other activists suggested Russian jets had bombed the city and that civilians ...

French voters are going to the polls in the first round of regional elections, the first electoral challenge since the Paris attacks, which killed 130 people. The elections are viewed as a test of public support for the government’s response to the attacks on 13 November. The far-right National Front (FN) is hoping to make gains and the centre-right Les ...

President Barack Obama says the US “will not be terrorised” by Wednesday’s mass shootings in San Bernardino, California. “We are strong. And we are resilient,” he said in his weekly radio address, adding that it was “entirely possible” the two attackers had been radicalised. Syed Rizwan Farook, 28, and his wife Tashfeen Malik, 27, killed 14 people before being shot ...

RAF jets have carried out their second set of air strikes in Syria since MPs backed military action against so-called Islamic State in the country. It is understood the targets were oil fields again, and the mission involved two Tornados and, for the first time, two Typhoons. Four Tornado jets launched the first air strikes on Thursday, hitting the Omar ...

Lawyers representing the family of the two San Bernardino attackers have said relatives are “in complete shock” over the shooting. They said the family had no idea Syed Rizwan Farook and his wife, Tashfeen Malik, were capable of such an attack. The lawyers warned against jumping to conclusions after the FBI said earlier the attack was being investigated as an ...

Germany’s parliament has voted to send military support to the US-led coalition fighting Islamic State (IS) militants in Syria. MPs approved the plan for a German non-combat role by 445 votes to 146. Tornado jets – for reconnaissance – a naval frigate and 1,200 soldiers will be sent to the region. The vote comes after a French request following last ...

Germany’s parliament is due to vote on whether the country should provide military support in the fight against Islamic State (IS) militants in Syria. MPs are expected to back the controversial plan, a BBC correspondent in Berlin reports. Tornado reconnaissance aircraft, a naval frigate and a 1,200 soldiers will then be sent to the region. But German forces will not ...

One of the first police officers to respond to deadly shootings at a social service centre in California has spoken of scenes of “unspeakable” carnage. Lt Mike Madden said he and officers who arrived later saw dead bodies and had to pass injured people as they tried to “engage the shooters” on Wednesday. Officials say a husband and wife shot ...

  The mission to target so-called Islamic State militants in Syria could take “some time” and will require persistence, PM David Cameron has said. RAF Tornados carried out their first air strikes in Syria, “successfully” targeting IS-controlled oil fields, the Ministry of Defence confirmed. But the PM warned the operation would be complex and will require patience. It comes as ...

RAF Tornado jets have carried out their first air strikes against so-called Islamic State in Syria, the Ministry of Defence has confirmed. Four Tornados took off from RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus shortly after MPs voted to approve bombing. The strikes focused on six targets in an oil field under IS control in eastern Syria, the BBC understands. On Wednesday, MPs ...