The national new year holiday has been extended by three days to Sunday, in an attempt to contain the spread. On Monday, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang visited Wuhan, the capital of Hubei province and centre of the outbreak. The number of deaths in Hubei province has climbed from 56 to

President Trump's lawyers have begun defending him at his impeachment trial, accusing Democrats of seeking to overturn the result of the 2016 election. "The president did absolutely nothing wrong," White House Counsel Pat Cipollone said. Mr Trump's defence will last three

Boeing has successfully completed the first test flight of the world's largest twin-engined plane, the 777X. It comes as the firm attempts to boost its image after its 737 Max plane was grounded last year following two fatal crashes that killed 346 people. The flight took off

Search and rescue efforts are underway after a powerful earthquake struck eastern Turkey, killing 29 people and injuring more than 1,100 others. Speaking at a televised news conference, Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu said on Saturday day that 18 people were killed in Elazig province,

China on Sunday expanded drastic travel restrictions to contain the spread of a new coronavirus that President Xi Jinping said posed a "grave" threat, as the death toll reached 56 and Shanghai reported its first fatality. China confirmed 1,975 cases of patients infected with the new

Lawyers representing President Donald Trump are due to begin their defence of the US leader in his impeachment trial on Saturday. The defence begins after Democrats wrapped up their presentation in the case for his removal on Friday. Democratic congressmen who serve as prosecutors

Two women, one pregnant, were killed and seven other people injured after Myanmar troops shelled a Rohingya village on Saturday, according to a lawmaker and a villager, two days after the U.N.’s highest court ordered the country to protect the minority. Maung Kyaw Zan, a national

The Pentagon has said that 34 US troops were diagnosed with traumatic brain injuries (TBI) following an Iranian attack on their base in Iraq. Seventeen troops are still under medical observation, a spokesman said. President Donald Trump had said no Americans were injured in the 8

The visit by foreign envoys to Jammu and Kashmir was a "useful" step, a top American diplomat said on Friday, urging New Delhi to release "political leaders detained without charge" following the lockdown that was imposed in the union territory last August. "I was pleased to see some

At least 21 people have been killed and hundreds hurt in a powerful earthquake in eastern Turkey, officials say. The 6.8 magnitude quake, centred on the town of Sivrice in Elazig province, caused buildings to collapse and sent residents rushing into the street. Tremors were also

China has expanded its lockdown against the deadly new virus to an unprecedented 36 million people as it rushes to build a prefabricated, 1,000-bed hospital for victims, as the death toll from the outbreak continues to rise, casting a pall over Lunar New Year, the country's biggest

US senators have been accused of falling asleep, playing games and breaking other rules during President Donald Trump's impeachment trial. Jim Risch and Jim Inhofe are among members who have apparently nodded off during the lengthy hearings. Crossword puzzles, fidget spinners

Three US firefighters who died when their air tanker crashed while battling blazes in Australia have been identified. Captain Ian McBeth, 45, first officer Paul Clyde Hudson, 43, and flight engineer Rick A DeMorgan Jr, 44, were killed in New South Wales on Thursday. The cause of the

China is battling to contain a deadly coronavirus in Hubei province, as hundreds of millions of Chinese prepare to celebrate the Lunar New Year. Beijing and Hong Kong have cancelled some major festivities to prevent large crowds gathering. Wuhan and other cities in Hubei have seen

Extreme heat from the Mount Vesuvius eruption in Italy was so immense it turned one victim's brain into glass, a study has suggested. The volcano erupted in 79 AD, killing thousands and destroying Roman settlements near modern-day Naples. The town of Herculaneum was buried by

The International Court of Justice has ordered measures to prevent the genocide of Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar (formerly Burma). The decision comes despite de facto leader Aun San Suu Kyi defending her country against the accusations in person last month. Thousands of Rohingya died

A sense of anxiety is growing in Wuhan as the Chinese city goes into lockdown in an effort to control the spread of a new virus which has left 17 dead. The authorities have suspended planes and trains in and out of the city of 11 million people, as well as buses, subways and ferries.

Three US residents died in a firefighting aircraft crash in Australia, authorities have confirmed. The large air tanker and crew were reported missing in southern New South Wales shortly before 13:30 local time (02:30 GMT) on Thursday. The cause of the crash is not yet known. NSW

Pakistan's Prime Minister Imran Khan called on Wednesday for the United Nations to help mediate between nuclear armed India and Pakistan over the disputed territory of Kashmir. "This is a potential flashpoint," Khan said during a media briefing at the annual meeting of the World

China told the 11 million residents of Wuhan on Thursday that they would no longer be allowed to leave, as the authorities step up efforts to halt the spread of a new coronavirus that originated in the city in December and has now killed 17 people and infected 571. "Without a special