World

He made history during his life and now Pope Benedict XVI will do so in death. For the first time in many hundreds of years, the Vatican will hold a funeral service for a former pope, presided over by the present Pope. The service will begin in the morning, after three days in which Benedict’s

A Japanese court has charged a man suspected of murdering the country’s former prime minister Shinzo Abe. Tetsuya Yamagami, 42, was also charged with violating a gun control law. Prosecutors said Yamagami showed he is fit to stand trial after a six-month medical examination. He is now back in police custody. Japan’s longest-serving leader died

Sergei Surovikin, nicknamed “General Armageddon”, has been removed from his role as head of Russia’s war in Ukraine only three months into the job. He has been replaced by chief of the general staff Valery Gerasimov, who is head of the Russian military. The change was announced by defence minister Sergei Shoigu, and was described

The landscape around the Ukrainian stronghold of Bakhmut has come to resemble a First World War battlefield, the ground carved up by artillery and cut with networks of trenches. For months, Russian forces including Wagner Group mercenaries have relentlessly attacked the city as they pursue full control of the Donbas region, but to no avail.

Donald Trump has thrown his weight behind Kevin McCarthy to become the new House of Representatives speaker as chaos gripped the Republicans when hardliners blocked the appointment. Republican bosses had planned to replace Democrat speaker Nancy Pelosi with party leader Mr McCarthy after wrestling control of the House in the recent midterm elections But the

The coffin of football legend Pele has been carried through the streets of Santos in Brazil as the public paid their final respects to the sporting icon. Thousands of fans gathered to watch the procession to say their last goodbye to the three-time World Cup winner ahead of his private burial. The casket, draped in

Edson Arantes do Nascimento wasn’t born here, and he didn’t die here. But for 19 seasons, Pelé put this place on the map – so much so, the Brazilian government made him an official national treasure, so he couldn’t play anywhere else. The return of a king to his beloved Santos was welcomed with flags,

Two Britons were among four killed after two helicopters collided mid-air near a marine theme park in the Australian state of Queensland. An FCDO spokesperson said: “We are supporting the family of two British nationals who died in Australia and are in contact with the local authorities.” The collision occurred on the Gold Coast at

Thousands of football fans are saying a final farewell to Brazil football hero Pele at the home of his former club Santos. The coffin of the three-times World Cup winner was carried to the centre circle of the Brazilian’s club’s Vila Belmiro stadium where he will lie in state for 24 hours. The sporting icon,

Brazil officially has a new but familiar president as Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva was sworn in for the third time. The leftist politician, known as Lula, had held Brazil’s highest office between 2003 and 2010 after three attempts to get the top job. Now aged 77, he entered office having defeated far-right candidate Jair

Andrew Tate’s Twitter account has been used to protest the influencer’s innocence after he was arrested on suspicion of human trafficking. Tate’s account, which is followed by more than four million people, tweeted on Saturday: “God is on our side, so the Matrix will not win.” It comes after the controversial “self-help” social media influencer,

Blasts have been heard in Kyiv and air raid sirens wailed across the country just after midnight, forcing Ukrainians to abandon New Year celebrations and head to bomb shelters. The latest apparent Russian salvo followed blasts on New Year’s Eve in multiple regions of Ukraine, with one person killed and 20 reported injured in the capital

People arriving in England from mainland China will have to provide a negative COVID test before flying, the government has said. A growing list of countries, including the US, have announced similar rules in recent days. The Department of Health and Social Care said the “precautionary and temporary” measure would take effect from 5 January.

Brazil football great Pele has been praised all over the world following his death at age 82. But his greatness on the pitch has been hailed by his peers for decades. Here is a selection of quotes by fellow players, past and present. Sir Bobby Charlton, England’s World Cup winner in 1966: “I sometimes feel

The death of Pope Emeritus Benedict marks an unfamiliar junction for modern Catholics. He is the first pope since the Middle Ages to die after retiring from office. His death will trigger public mourning but not the election of a successor which many are used to. Former pontiff dies after Pope Francis revealed he was

At least 19 people are dead and up to 30 are missing after a fire at a casino and hotel in western Cambodia. The blaze at the Grand Diamond City Casino in the city of Poipet, started at about midnight on Wednesday, the General Commissariat of National Police said. Just after 4am UK time (11am