The ex-husband and former in-laws of Hong Kong socialite Abby Choi have appeared in court after being charged in connection with her murder. The accused include her ex-husband Alex Kwong, Kwong’s brother Anthony and their father Kwong Kau. Kwong’s mother, 63, has been charged with obstructing the case. They were all denied bail on Monday. The 28-year-old was reported missing on Tuesday – the grisly details of her murder have shocked Hong Kong. This story contains details some readers may find distressing. Choi’s head was found in a three-storey house in the rural Tai Po district on Sunday, days after her other body parts were found in the same location – roughly 27km (17 miles) from where she was last seen in Kowloon City on Tuesday. A meat slicer and an electric saw were also found at the scene. Hong Kong police told media they believe Choi and her former in-laws had many financial disputes involving “huge sums”.(BBC)…[+]

Israeli settlers have attacked Palestinian villages in the northern occupied West Bank, after two settlers were shot dead by a Palestinian gunman. One Palestinian man was killed and more than 100 others were injured in the overnight violence near Nablus, the Palestinian health ministry said. Dozens of cars and houses were also burnt, according to a local official. It followed the killings of the two Israelis – brothers from a nearby settlement – along a highway. The Israeli military said it was continuing to search for the Palestinian who shot Hillel Yaniv, 22, and Yagel Yaniv, 20, and that it had moved in extra troops. Earlier on Sunday, Israeli and Palestinian officials had pledged to de-escalate tensions at a summit in Jordan. Videos posted hours after the summit ended showed a large crowd of Israeli settlers entering the village of Hawara, about 4 miles (6km) south of Nablus, lighting fires and throwing stones.(BBC)…[+]

Exiled Belarusian opposition figures say a Russian military plane has been damaged in a drone attack near the capital, Minsk. Aliksandr Azarov, leader of Belarusian anti-government organisation BYPOL, claimed responsibility for the attack on Telegram. The Beriev A-50 early warning aircraft was struck by multiple blasts near the Machulishchy airbase. It comes amid increased cooperation between Minsk and Moscow.  The strikes damaged front and central parts of the aircraft as well as its radar and antenna, BYPOL said on Telegram. “These were drones. The participants of the operation are Belarusian”, Mr Azarov said. Speaking to the BBC, Franak Viacorka, an adviser to Belarusian opposition leader, said the attack was “creative” and “sophisticated”. It was very brave because Belarusians are in a situation of the total terror”, he told BBC News.(BBC)…[+]