World

Britain and France carried out a joint airstrike in Syria targeting an underground facility north of Palmyra that was likely used by the Islamic State group to store weapons, the British Ministry of Defence said. “Royal Air Force aircraft have completed successful strikes against Daesh in a joint operation with France,” the ministry said in a statement, using the Arabic acronym for the Islamic State group. “This facility had been occupied by Daesh, most likely to store weapons and explosives. The area around the facility is…

Venezuelans in Ireland welcome Maduro’s removal but question U.S. role and path ahead as Dublin protest targets raid DUBLIN — Venezuelans living in Ireland have greeted the removal of Nicolas Maduro with relief and unease, celebrating the end of a regime they say crushed civic life while warning that a U.S.-led transition risks paternalism and confusion. Maduro, described by U.S. officials as Venezuela’s toppled leader, is in a New York detention center awaiting drug charges after President Donald Trump ordered an audacious…

Luke Littler polished off a dominant title defense at Alexandra Palace with a 7-1 demolition of Gian van Veen, cementing his status as darts’ unstoppable new force and pocketing a record £1 million winner’s check at the World Darts Championship. The 18-year-old joins Phil Taylor, Adrian Lewis and Gary Anderson as the only players to win back-to-back PDC world crowns. A year after a breakout run announced him to the wider sporting world, Littler returned to the sport’s biggest stage and left no doubt he intends to stay there.…

Myanmar’s ruling junta said it will free more than 6,000 prisoners in an Independence Day amnesty, a rare concession amid a sweeping post-coup crackdown and a tightly managed election widely dismissed by critics as a sham. The National Defence and Security Council said junta chief Min Aung Hlaing pardoned 6,134 imprisoned Myanmar nationals. In a separate statement, authorities said 52 foreign prisoners would also be released and deported. The military has arrested thousands of protesters, activists and political figures…

CARACAS, Venezuela — U.S. airstrikes pounded military sites in and around Caracas before dawn as U.S. forces carried out a raid to seize Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro, who was later flown to New York to face drugs and weapons charges, U.S. officials said. The operation — described by the Pentagon as “Operation Absolute Resolve” — began shortly before 2 a.m. local time, with explosions rocking the capital and nearby cities for more than an hour. Video circulating on social media showed helicopters sweeping low over Caracas…

KYIV, Ukraine — Security advisers from Ukraine’s key allies met in Kyiv on Monday to push a U.S.-brokered plan to end the war with Russia, days after Ukrainian officials said a draft agreement was “90%” complete. Senior officials from Britain, France and Germany, as well as representatives of NATO and the European Union, joined the talks, the first in a planned series this month. U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff participated virtually, a Ukrainian official said. A follow-up meeting of European leaders is expected in France…

North Korea fired multiple ballistic missiles off its east coast early Wednesday, South Korea’s military said, the country’s first launch of the year and a show of force just hours before South Korea’s president departs for a summit in China. South Korea’s Ministry of National Defense said it detected “several projectiles, presumed to be ballistic missiles,” launched from the vicinity of Pyongyang around 7:50 a.m. local time (10:50 p.m. Irish time Tuesday). The launches appeared to head toward the Sea of Japan, known in…

Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro arrived at a U.S. military base in New York state after his capture by U.S. forces in Caracas, setting up an initial appearance in Manhattan federal court on drug-trafficking charges as President Donald Trump declared the United States would “run” Venezuela until a transition can be arranged. Maduro was seen flanked by FBI agents as he stepped off a U.S. government plane at a National Guard facility and was escorted across the tarmac. He was expected to be flown by helicopter to New York…

Taoiseach Micheál Martin will travel to China beginning tomorrow for a five-day visit, the first by an Irish leader since 2012, as Beijing moves to shore up ties with individual European Union members amid deepening trade and security frictions. China’s foreign ministry announced the trip, which runs through Thursday, saying Beijing “is willing to take this visit as an opportunity to enhance political mutual trust and expand mutually beneficial co-operation with Ireland.” Martin is due to meet Premier Li Qiang and Zhao Leji,…

Trump’s ‘peace through strength’ doctrine is being tested across three regions, as the White House pairs anti-interventionist rhetoric with rapid, forceful action in Venezuela, Nigeria and the Middle East. Nearly a year after returning to office promising to be a “peacemaker and unifier,” President Donald Trump has ordered large-scale military strikes in Venezuela and announced the capture and removal of Nicolás Maduro, the country’s leftist strongman. The raid, launched at the start of the new year, follows a Christmas Day…