World

A missile launched by North Korea caused alarm and panic in Japan before the weapon fell into the sea. North Korea launched the missile between the Korean Peninsula and Japan, South Korean officials said, calling it a “grave provocation”. A South Korean military official said the test apparently involved a new weapons system displayed at

A gruesome video appearing to show a Ukrainian captive being beheaded by a Russian soldier has been condemned by Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The clip appears to show a man in green fatigues wearing the yellow armband typically used by Ukrainian soldiers. He is heard screaming before another man apparently uses a knife to decapitate him. Sky

The Ministry of Defence says there is “a serious level of inaccuracy” in leaks which claim UK special forces have been operating in Ukraine. The claims have been widely reported after US classified military documents were allegedly leaked and published online. A Ministry of Defence spokesperson has warned against taking allegations contained in the reported

The world economy is entering a “perilous phase” of low economic growth and high financial risk, the International Monetary Fund has warned in its latest set of assessments. The IMF, which is holding its spring meetings in Washington this week, downgraded its outlook for global growth and said its medium term forecast for economic output

Iranian authorities are installing cameras in public places to identify and penalise unveiled women in an attempt to rein in the increasing numbers who are defying the country’s strict dress rules. Those deemed to be violating Iran’s hijab rules will receive “warning text messages as to the consequences”, police in Iran say. The move is

The Dalai Lama has apologised after footage emerged showing him kissing a young boy on the lips and asking him to “suck my tongue”. The Buddhist spiritual leader’s office said he wanted to apologise to the boy and his family “for the hurt his words may have caused”. It said the 87-year-old “often teases people

A boat carrying about 400 people “in distress” has been spotted adrift between Greece and Malta and is taking on water, support services have said. German NGO Sea-Water International tweeted that those on board were in “imminent danger of death” and called on the EU to act. Alarm Phone also tweeted its concerns, saying it

Nearly 20 military ships – about 10 Chinese and 10 Taiwanese – are involved in a stand-off near the Taiwan Strait’s sensitive median line, Reuters reports. China also conducted simulated attacks on foreign military targets off Taiwan’s southwest coast on Sunday, the agency said, citing a source familiar with the situation. It comes on the

Six rockets have been fired from Syria towards Israel overnight, according to the Israeli military. Only three of the missiles fell within Israeli territory – two on open ground and one intercepted by air defence systems, the military said. There were no reports of casualties. Syrian state media later reported explosions in and around the

China has begun three days of military exercises around Taiwan in retaliation for a meeting between the US House of Representatives speaker and the president of the self-ruled island claimed by Beijing. A Chinese amphibious landing ship – capable of transporting troops, craft and vehicles – began live-fire drills in the seas facing the Taiwan

Three people have died across Israel and the West Bank in terrorist attacks as violence in the region continues. An Italian tourist, 30, was killed and five others were wounded in a Tel Aviv car ramming attack on Friday, Israeli and Italian officials said. An Israeli security source identified the assailant as an Israeli Arab

For David, the streets of Seoul are a much longed for safe haven. To the casual observer, there is nothing out of the ordinary about him. He is a slight man, softly spoken, dressed in baggy jeans and wide glasses that are fashionable in South Korea. But his story and what he has been through

Israeli strikes hit Lebanon and Gaza early on Friday, in response to rocket attacks it blamed on militant group Hamas. Tensions have flared in the region following police raids on the al Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem this week. Blasts rocked different areas of Gaza, as Israel said its planes hit targets including tunnels and weapons

French President Emmanuel Macron has appealed to Xi Jinping to “bring Russia back to its senses and bring everyone back to the negotiating table” over the Ukraine war. The Chinese leader called for peace talks but he gave no indication that Beijing would use its leverage as President Vladimir Putin‘s diplomatic partner to press for

Italy’s former prime minister Silvio Berlusconi has been diagnosed with leukaemia after he was admitted to hospital, Reuters reports. The 86-year-old was being treated in intensive care at Milan’s San Raffaele Hospital on Wednesday after suffering breathing problems. Reuters cited a source who said he had been diagnosed with leukaemia, confirming what was previously reported

A man armed with a hatchet has killed four children after he attacked a nursery in Brazil. At least three others are injured and have been taken to hospital. The man has been arrested in the southern city of Blumenau. Local media reports that the attacker scaled a wall to enter the nursey, named Cantinho