China said on Wednesday (May 22) it would impose sanctions on a number of US defence firms and several executives over Washington's "economic coercion" against Chinese companies and its sales of arms to Taiwan. Beijing has bristled in recent days over the warm ties

Israel reacted with fury after three European countries said on May 22 they would recognise a Palestinian state, more than seven months into the devastating Gaza war. Ireland, Norway and Spain said they would formally recognise the State of Palestine on May 28. Israel strongly

An earthquake of 4.4 magnitude, the largest recorded in the area in the last 40 years, shook the province of Campania, in the Phlegraean Fields area, beneath which there is a huge volcanic caldera.  It was also strongly felt in the center of the city of Naples, sparking

The repatriation of Afghan nationals from Pakistan continues, with the total number reaching 577,239 as of May 20, 2024. The return process remains active, with recent figures indicating that between May 10 and May 20, 9,685 Afghans have crossed back into Afghanistan. This group

The Irish government is set to announce the recognition of a Palestinian state, a move strongly opposed by Israel, a source familiar with the matter has said. European Union members Ireland, Spain, Slovenia and Malta have indicated in recent weeks that they plan to make the

The head of Singapore Airlines has apologised after a flight on Tuesday was hit by "severe extreme turbulence", killing one person and injuring dozens. Goh Choon Phong said the airlines was "very sorry for the traumatic experience" for those onboard flight SQ321

One passenger was killed and 30 injured after a Singapore Airlines flight from London hit severe turbulence en route today, forcing it to make an emergency landing in Bangkok, officials and the airline said. “Singapore Airlines offers its deepest condolences to the family of the

Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, whose death in a helicopter crash was announced Monday, is the latest major political leader to die in an aviation accident. Here are some of the best known among the others: 2024: Former Chilean president Sebastian Pinera On 6 February 2024, former

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has angrily condemned the International Criminal Court's prosecutor for seeking arrest warrants for him alongside Hamas's leaders over alleged war crimes in the Gaza conflict. Mr Netanyahu said he rejected with disgust that

Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei announced on Monday five days of mourning for President Ebrahim Raisi who died in a helicopter crash. “I announce five days of public mourning and offer my condolences to the dear people of Iran,” said Khamenei in an

The chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court said Monday he is seeking arrest warrants for leaders of Israel and Hamas, including Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, over actions taken during their seven-month war. Karim Khan said that he believes Netanyahu, his

Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyef, who along with Raisi inaugurated the joint Qiz Qalasi Dam at the border between the two countries earlier on Sunday, expressed concern over the incident and announced Baku’s readiness to help Iran. The Armenian foreign ministry expressed

WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange could find out on Monday whether he has won a reprieve in his last-ditch UK legal battle to avoid extradition to the United States. The Australian national, aged 52, is seeking permission to appeal against a ruling allowing him to be sent to face a US

Iranian media declared President Ebrahim Raisi dead on Monday after his helicopter crashed in a mountainous northwestern region, but there has not yet been any official confirmation. "The president of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Ayatollah Ebrahim Raisi, had an accident while

The fifth phase of voting in India’s seven-phase election has begun in 49 seats across six states and two union territories. Simultaneously, voting is also being conducted in 35 assembly constituencies in Odisha, where Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik is a candidate.  The

William Lai Ching-te has been sworn in as president of Taiwan in a ceremony that included a 21-gun salute, as he later praised the self-governing island’s democracy and urged China to stop its “intimidation”. Lai and Vice President Hsia Bi-khim took their oaths on

Iran’s President Ebrahim Raisi and Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian were on board the helicopter that suffered a “hard landing” in Iran’s East Azerbaijan province, Iranian state media say. Rescuers say they found the helicopter but Raisi’s

One of the helicopters in a group carrying Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi made a rough landing and rescue teams are on the way to the site of the incident, Iran’s interior minister said on Sunday. The Iranian official news agency IRNA said the helicopter involved in the incident

Nearly 800,000 Palestinians have been displaced from Rafah since Israel launched its offensive against the southern Gaza city last week, Philippe Lazzarini, the head of the United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, has said. Lazzarini decried the repeated displacement of

Brighton and Hove has elected its first ever South Asian Muslim mayor. Councillors unanimously voted for Bangladeshi-origin Mohammed Asaduzzaman, who was elected to Brighton & Hove City Council in the Hollingdean and Fiveways ward last May. Council leader Bella Sankey said Mr