Around the World

AT least 10 people have died and 70 were hospitalised after four tourist boats capsized in China. The vessels were buffeted by strong winds at about 4pm local time on Sunday as they sailed on a river in Qianxi city, in the country’s southwest. APThe two passenger boats could be seen floating upside down in the water[/caption] APRescuers carrying out search and rescue for survivors[/caption] APSome 10 died after tourist boats capsized in China[/caption] The four boats overturned and some 84 people were thought to have fallen into the water. Some 70 were taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Only four who were rescued did not have to go to hospital. An eyewitness told Beijing News that a storm arrived suddenly and thick mist cut visibility. An initial investigation has found the boats were not overloaded with passengers. The disaster occurred as China celebrated the end of its week-long May Day holiday, a busy period for travel. Chinese leader Xi Jinping urged for “all-out efforts” in the search and rescue, state media said. Xi also dispatched his Vice Premier, Zhang Guoqing, to the scene to oversee the rescue efforts. China’s paramount leader Xi also “underscored the importance of strengthening safety measures in tourist attractions” and other large public venues. The disaster comes just over two months after 11 people were killed in a boat collision in central China. The accident in Hunan province occurred when a passenger boat struck an industrial vessel, throwing 19 people overboard. RexThe search and rescue operation underway following the capsizes[/caption] More to follow… For the latest news on this story keep checking back at The Sun Online Thesun.co.uk is your go-to destination for the best celebrity news, real-life stories, jaw-dropping pictures and must-see video. Like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/thesun and follow us from our main Twitter account at @TheSun.

PUZZLE enthusiasts have been challenged to put their IQ to the test with this tricky spring brainteaser. Everyone can see the gorgeous spring tulips, but only the most eagle-eyed will be able to spy the hidden pearl necklace in under 30 seconds. F HindsCan you spot the hidden pearl necklace amongst the sea of tulips?[/caption] Whether you’re hoping to improve your problem solving skills or boost your memory, this puzzle is bound to be a challenge for many readers. Put your observation skills to the test and figure out whether you have what it takes to spot the hidden pearl necklace in just a few seconds. Make sure to set your stopwatch before undertaking this challenge, to make it extra hard for yourself. If you can do it in under 30 seconds, you are said to have the eyes of a hawk. At first glance, this image, provided by  F Hinds looks like just a beautiful painting of pink and purple tulips. However, those with 20/20 vision will be able to immediately see this is not the case. This puzzle works by tricking your eyes into thinking that there is nothing but tulips in the image. But rest assured, hidden among the petals and stems is a string of pearls. Unless you’re lucky enough to find the odd one out immediately, we recommend analysing the pattern very closely to spot the answer. The visual deception of this image will have you scratching your head trying to solve it, but the payoff is worth it. If you need a hint, we recommend focusing on the top half of the image. The pearl necklace can be found on the left hand side of the painting. If you’re looking for more of a challenge, this tricky puzzle asks readers to find the odd one out in a sea of TikTok logos. If you need another tricky test, only the most eagle-eyed readers will be able to spot the six items that need tidying up in this spot the difference puzzle. How can optical illusions and brainteasers help me? Engaging in activities like solving optical illusions and brainteasers can have many cognitive benefits as it can stimulate various brain regions. Some benefits include: Cognitive stimulation: Engaging in these activities challenges the brain, promoting mental agility and flexibility. Problem-solving skills: Regular practice enhances analytical thinking and problem-solving abilities. Memory improvement: These challenges often require memory recall and can contribute to better memory function. Creativity: They encourage thinking outside the box, fostering creativity and innovative thought processes. Focus and attention: Working on optical illusions and brainteasers requires concentration, contributing to improved focus. Stress relief: The enjoyable nature of these puzzles can act as a form of relaxation and stress relief. And if that’s not hard enough, only those with 20/20 vision will be able to spot the ‘impostor’ bee in this image. Another tricky puzzle asks hawk-eyed readers to spot five tickets hidden amongst a sea of football fans. If that’s still not hard enough for you, then have a go at spotting the hidden broom amongst the clothes in less than five seconds. Coming back to our challenge, were you able to solve it in under 30 seconds? For those struggling to locate it, we have marked the answer below. How did you do? F HindsWere you able to spot it?[/caption]

THIRTEEN security guards kidnapped from a major gold mine have been found dead after being kept hostage for a week. The security staff disappeared in the mountains near Pataz, northern Peru, as bloody mining turf war grips the region. APRescuers searched for the guards for a week in the mountain shafts[/caption] APPolice eventually found the bodies of all thirteen of the abducted workers[/caption] The group has been sent out to confront a group of illegal miners in the area, but were attacked and snatched. Throughout the week, the gang sent threatening messages to the victims’ families. The mining company that employed the workers, La Poderosa, said search-and-rescue teams recovered their remains on Sunday. The company said on Sunday: “This morning, after intense search efforts, the police rescue team was able to recover the bodies of the 13 workers who were kidnapped by illegal miners in collusion with criminal element.” It continued: “The spiral of uncontrolled violence in Pataz is occurring despite the declaration of a state of emergency and the presence of a large police contingent which, unfortunately, has not been able to halt the deterioration of security conditions in the area.” Peru‘s interior ministry said organised crime investigators were probing the deaths, and vowed its agents were “fully empowered to use their firearms if the circumstances warrant it”. In the city of Trujillo, west of Pataz, some of the victims’ relatives waited for the bodies of their loved ones to be transferred to the morgue there. Abraham Dominguez, whose son Alexander was found dead, told channel Canal N: “We want justice, that this doesn’t just stop here.” Peru declared a state of emergency last month after being plagued by a wave of violent crime – with the mining industry a particularly vicious battleground. La Poderosa said 39 of its workers had been killed by criminal groups fighting for control of the mines around Pataz since it began operations there in the 1980s. In December 2023, illegal miners attacked the same site with explosives, killing nine people and wounding at least 20. A gang armed with explosives and other weapons burst into the mine, taking four people hostage. Bodies recovered from outside the mine showed signs of burns resulting from the detonation of explosive devices. The attackers raided the mine, “violently confronting internal security personnel from the company“, Peru’s interior ministry said at the time. At least seven arrests were made and weapons seized following that attack. AFPA mine in Peru, which is one of the world’s foremost excavators of gold and copper[/caption] La Poderosa drafted in more security guards in response to the string of attacks. Following the 2023 assault, Angela Grossheim, the head of the mining industry group SNMPE, said: “Formal mining is under attack. “Illegal mining today is the country’s main illicit activity, even bigger than drug trafficking.” Peru is a major gold and copper supplier for the world. It has an unusual tolerance for illegal miners, which it allows to operation with some protections as they plan to legalize their operations. Illegal mining boomed into a lucrative industry as the metals became more lucrative and new mining techniques emerged. The Peruvian government has struggled to mount a response – and the turf wars are increasingly lawless.

ISRAEL has vowed to hit back hard against the Houthis after they bombed its main airport with a missile on Sunday morning. Prime Minster Benjamin Netanyahu announced retaliation against the Houthis and “their Iranian terror masters”, and it was officially approved by the security cabinet. ReutersIsrael vowed it would retaliate against the Houthi missile, which came from Yemen[/caption] APIsraeli security forces inspect the strike site near Ben Gurion Airport[/caption] XSurveillance footage captured the moment the missile impacted[/caption] GettyIsrael’s Prime Minster Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to hit back hard[/caption] On X, Netanhyayu said that Israel would strike back “at a time and place of our choosing”. And in a video message, he warned: “This isn’t a one-and-done, but there will be some big hits.” He also reminded the world that Israel had punished the Houthis in the past – and would do again in the future. Israel is said to be rethinking its policy of not striking Houthi targets in Yemen, adopted at the request of President Trump. The Houthis responded to Israel’s threats by vowing to repeatedly target Ben Gurion and other airports in the country. The group’s military spokesperson Yayha Saree said they would hit airports, “particularly the one in Lod, called Ben Gurion”, and warned airlines to cancel flights to Israel. The Iranian-backed Houthis launched a devastating strike on the Ben Gurion Airport on the outskirts of the capital Tel Aviv. Chilling video captured the moment the ballistic missile soared through the sky before exploding as it hit the ground. A huge plume of black smoke billowed high into the sky. At least eight people were injured by the attack, according to officials, but no one was killed. Passengers in the terminal were sent into panic and air traffic was suspended for up to an hour. Some European and US airlines have cancelled flights to the airport for the next few days. Many had only recently begun to resume services to Israel after the Gaza ceasefire, which put an eight-weeks pause on the fighting. The Israeli Defence Force said that it made several attempts to intercept the missile, but was unable to do so. They are now investigating the incident with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu set to hold talks over the attack at 3pm local time today. GettyIsraeli security forces clean the road into the airport of blast debris[/caption] APIsraeli security forces clean the road into the airport of blast debris[/caption] XSmoke was seen billowing from a road on the airport’s perimeter[/caption] Israel’s powerful Iron Dome is responsible for thwarting enemy missiles before they hit. Operators across the country work around the clock to fend off relentless attacks and the consistent threat of bombardment from Gaza, Lebanon and Iran. An IDF commander told The Sun last month that the Iron dome has a 96 per cent success rate, so Sunday’s failure will be closely scrutinised. The Houthis claimed responsibility for the attack straight away, and the IDF confirmed it came from Yemen. Sunday strike and the incoming retaliation mark a major escalation between Israel and the Houthis in both Yemen and Iran. National Unity chairman Benny Gantz insisted Iran must be held responsible. The former defence minister said on X: “This is not Yemen, this is Iran. It is Iran that is firing ballistic missiles at the State of Israel, and it must bear responsibility. “The Israeli government must wake up.” Meanwhile, Israel has begun calling up tens of thousands of reservists to “intensify and expand” its military action in Gaza. The IDF said it was “increasing the pressure” with the aim of returning hostages held in Gaza and defeating Hamas militants. The Security Council was expected to approve the intensification of the war when it met on Sunday. Who are the Houthis? THE Houthi rebels have spent months terrorising the Red Sea by launching persistent missile and drone attacks on vessels and warships - but who are they? The Shia militant group, which now controls large swaths of Yemen, spent over a decade being largely ignored by the world. However, since the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas war, they sprung from relative obscurity to holding roughly £1trillion of world trade hostage – turning one of the world’s busiest shipping lanes into an active warzone. Their warped battle cry is “Death to America, Death to Israel, curse the Jews and victory to Islam”. Why are they attacking ships? After the October 7 massacre, Houthis began launching relentless drone and missile attacks on any ships – including warships – they deem to be connected with Israel in solidarity with their ally, Hamas. In reality, they targeted commercial vessels with little or no link to Israel – forcing global sea traffic to largely halt operations in the region and sending shipping prices around the world soaring. The sea assaults added to the carnage in the Middle East tinderbox as intense ripples from Israel’s war in Gaza were felt across the region – with Iran accused of stoking the chaos. The Houthi chiefs pledged their Red Sea attacks would continue until Israel stopped its offensive in Gaza. The group’s chiefs have previously said their main targets are Israel, and its allies the US and Britain. And despite repeated threats from the West and joint US and UK strikes blitzing their strongholds in Yemen – Iran’s terror proxy appears undeterred. The UK and US have hit Houthi bases as recently as this month after the terror group once again targeted boats in the shipping lane. Israel has also hammered the group with airstrikes, reportedly hitting oil storage tanks at the port in Al Hudaydah. 

LADY Gaga has spoken out after it was revealed Brazilian police foiled a bomb plot against her record-breaking free concert on Saturday. The singer gushed that she was “grateful” for her fans and felt “absolute pride and joy singing for the people of Brazil“. GettyLady Gaga posted backstage photos alongside a thank you to the people of Brazil[/caption] GettyLady Gaga holds up a Brazilian flag for the crowd[/caption] GettyA colossal crowed flocked to watch the free concert on Copacabana Beach[/caption] Her team said they learned about the bomb plot “via media reports” – rather than direct contact from the police. An estimated 2.5million flocked to watch the free concert at Rio De Janeiro’s Copacabana Beach – so an explosion could have been devastating. Brazilian cops said they disrupted an attack allegedly planned by a group spreading hate speech against the LGBTQ+ community. Two people have been arrested over the alleged scheme. Police said the group tried to recruit teenagers to carry out attacks using Molotov cocktails and improvised explosives. In an Instagram post on Sunday, Lady Gaga did not directly address the reports but instead heaped praise on the people of Brazil and their culture. She wrote: “Nothing could prepare me for the feeling I had during last night’s show—the absolute pride and joy I felt singing for the people of Brazil. “The sight of the crowd during my opening songs took my breath away. “Your heart shines so bright, your culture is so vibrant and special, I hope you know how grateful I am to have shared this historical moment with you.” The crowd of an estimated 2.5million people is the largest-ever for any woman history, she said. Nine addresses across Brazil were raided by police as part of “Operation Fake Monster” to stop the attacks. Officers found a number of suspicious electronic devices as well as other materials. One man – said to be the leader of the mob – was arrested for the illegal possession of a firearm in Rio Grande do Sul. Police said the group operated online and spread hate speech against the LGBT community. It also promoted the radicalisation of teenagers, encouraged self-harm and shared violent content, they said. GettyThe performance featured a number of outfit changes[/caption] GettyLady Gaga running past fans to the stage[/caption] The group is thought to have been actively recruiting participants – including teenagers – to carry out attacks. And investigations suggest the Gaga bomb plot was seen by those involved as a “collective challenge” to make themselves known on social media. Lady Gaga signed off her tribute to Brazil with: “You can give yourself dignity by rehearsing your passion and your craft, pushing yourself to new heights- you can lift yourself up even if it takes some time. “Thank you Rio for waiting for me to come back. Thank you little monsters all over the world. I love you. I will never forget this moment. “Paws up little monsters. Obrigada. Love, Mother Monster.” “Little monsters” is the name Lady Gaga has coined for her fans. AFPThe concert was funded by the city of Rio De Janeiro[/caption]