World

China has tested its ability to “seize power” by launching mock missile strikes on Taiwan and pretending to bomb foreign assets. The two-day tests were staged to punish Taiwan’s new president, Lai Ching-te, who China has previously denounced as being a “dangerous separatist”. China dispatched fighter jets carrying live missiles along with bombers on Friday,

A huge fire has broken out at an amusement park in western India, leaving at least 20 people dead. The blaze happened at the park in the city of Rajkot in Gujarat state, with the cause of the fire being investigated. Police Commissioner Raju Bhargava said the flames were now under control and 20 bodies

The bodies of three more hostages killed on 7 October have been found in Gaza, Israel’s army has said. The Hostages Families Forum named them as Michel Nisenbaum, Hanan Yablonka, and Oryon Hernandez Radoux – and said their bodies had been returned to Israel for burial. “The sorrowful return of Michel, Hanan, and Oryon is

Two people have been killed and at least 12 have been injured after a building collapsed on a beach in Majorca, emergency services said. The building collapsed in the capital of the island, Palma – a tourist hotspot. Spanish media is reporting the building affected is a restaurant. Firefighters and local police were called to

Nine people – including a child – have been killed and another 50 injured after a stage collapsed during a presidential campaign rally in Mexico. Video footage of the collapse posted on social media showed people screaming, running away and climbing out from under metal polls at the event for presidential candidate Jorge Alvarez Maynez

A 50-year-old man has been caught on camera jumping off a pleasure boat to try and “body slam” an orca in New Zealand, in what was branded “disgraceful” and “pathetic” behaviour. “Shocking” footage of the man diving into the sea to land on the orca with his body has sparked uproar on social media after

Ireland, Norway and Spain have officially recognised Palestine as a separate state, prompting Israel to recall its ambassadors from two of the European states. Speaking on Wednesday, Irish Prime Minster Simon Harris said: “Today Ireland, Norway and Spain are announcing that we recognise the state of Palestine, each of us will undertake whatever national steps

The 73-year-old British man who died from a suspected heart attack after “sudden extreme turbulence” on a London-Singapore flight has been named as Geoff Kitchen. Dozens more were injured in the incident, with passengers describing people being “launched into the ceiling” and overhead lockers. Singapore Airlines flight SQ321 from Heathrow was forced to make an

One person has died and a number of others have been injured during severe turbulence on a plane that left the UK and was heading to Singapore. The plane was forced to divert to Bangkok. In a statement, Singapore Airlines said flight SQ321, operating from London Heathrow to Singapore on Monday, encountered severe turbulence en-route.

A prosecutor at the International Criminal Court has applied for arrest warrants to be issued for Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar over alleged war crimes. Prosecutor Karim AA Khan KC is also seeking arrest warrants for Israeli defence minister Yoav Gallant – and other top Hamas leaders Mohammed Diab Ibrahim

This is a delicate time for Iran. President Raisi was the second most important man in Iran, after Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. His death, now confirmed, will have far-reaching consequences. Although Khamenei has tried to reassure the country in recent hours, the regime will know this is a perilous moment that must be handled

A helicopter carrying Iran’s president has been involved in a “hard landing”, Iranian state TV has said. President Ebrahim Raisi was travelling in the aircraft in Iran’s East Azerbaijan province at the time. Rescue teams are reportedly heading to the scene. State TV said the incident happened near the city of Jolfa, about 375 miles

Members of a Ukrainian brigade have described how they were secretly relocated to help defend a section of the country’s border with Russia a few days before a new invasion began. The commander of an artillery unit from 57 Brigade said his guns were even firing at Russian troops the day before the ground incursion

The body of an Israeli hostage who was captured by Hamas militants while on a cycling trip has been recovered from Gaza, the Israeli military has said. The Hostages and Missing Families Forum said Ron Benjamin, 53, was riding his bike in the Kibbutz Be’eri in Israel when he was taken hostage during the 7

World number one golfer Scottie Scheffler says he was “rattled” and “in shock” after he was arrested and charged by police this morning. The 27-year-old reportedly tried to get around a traffic jam caused by a fatal accident near the Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Kentucky. He is due to appear in court on Tuesday

The bodies of three hostages have been recovered from Gaza, the IDF has confirmed. Israel’s chief military spokesman Daniel Hagari said the remains were discovered in an overnight operation carried out by the military and Israeli intelligence agency Shin Bet. He named the hostages as Itzhak Gelerenter, Amit Buskila, and Shani Louk, who he said

French police have shot and killed an armed suspect who appeared to be planning a synagogue attack, the interior minister has said. The incident in Rouen, northern France, on Friday morning happened after the individual was intent on setting fire to the town’s synagogue, Gerald Darmanin said. “I congratulate [national police officers] for their reactivity

A man has been charged with attempted murder over the shooting of Slovakia’s Prime Minister Robert Fico. Mr Fico – who is fighting for his life in hospital after Wednesday’s assassination attempt – was shot several times in the town of Handlova, around 85 miles northeast of the capital Bratislava, where the politician was meeting

Slovakia’s prime minister remains in hospital in a critical condition after being shot several times in an attempted assassination. Robert Fico was reported to be fighting for his life after being hit in the stomach on Wednesday. At least four shots were fired outside a cultural centre in the town of Handlova, around 85 miles

Robert Fico is a populist leader who staged a political comeback last year. The 59-year-old has previously been compared to former US president Donald Trump. But his election victory last autumn meant NATO also had another leader who was sympathetic to Russia’s Vladimir Putin. Robert Fico in ‘life-threatening condition’ after assassination attempt – follow live