China has flaunted its advanced stealth fighter jets with full missile loads for the first time as Beijing flexed its military might at its biennial air show.

Two Chinese J-20s – China’s answer to the US F-22s and F-35s – roared over the crowds in Zhuhai, a southern Chinese city, with its bomb bay doors open to show off four long-range air-to-air missiles inside, and two short-range combat missiles under the wings.

But despite state media describing the flyover as a “stunning aerial display”, the move masked the crucial fact that China’s fighter jets are still using Russian-made engines, even after reportedly spending $4.4 billion developing the J-20.

“China made a point at this air show about…

Donald Trump has threatened to strip more reporters of their White House passes and said Ronald Reagan would have handled CNN’s Jim Acosta in the same way as he doubled down over the row. 

The US president denied that a video showing the heated exchange with Mr Acosta circulated by the White House press secretary had been distorted, saying it had simply been zoomed in. 

And he continued to personally criticise journalists, questioning Mr Acosta’s intellect and calling CNN contributor April Ryan a “loser” and a “very nasty person”. 

The comments, made to reporters outside the White House before Mr Trump flew to Paris for World War One commemorations, further escalate this week’s clash with members of the press. 

On Wednesday, Mr Trump lashed out at Mr Acosta after being repeatedly challenged and interrupted on immigration, calling him a “very rude person” and asking him to put down the microphone. Later that day his White House credentials were revoked. 

On Thursday. Sarah Sanders, the White House press secretary, circulated a video of the exchange which zoomed in and looped a point where Mr Acosta’s arm comes into contact with that of a White House intern who reached to take away his microphone.

A video verification expert told The Telegraph that the footage had been manipulated.

On Friday, Mr Trump made no attempt to deflate the row when asked how long Mr Acosta would be left “in the penalty box”. 

Mr Trump said: “I think Jim Acosta is a very unprofessional man. He does this with everybody. He gets paid to do that, you know, he gets paid to burst in. He’s a very unprofessional guy. 

“Whether it was me or Ronald Reagan or anybody else he would have done the same thing. Look, I don’t think he’s a smart person but he’s got a loud voice.”

Asked if the removal of Mr Acosta’s press credentials was permanent, the president said: “As far as I’m concerned I haven’t made that decision, but it could be others also. 

“When you’re in the White House, this is a very sacred place to be, this is a very special place. You have to treat the White House with respect, you have to treat the presidency with respect.”

Mr Trump then went on to criticise Ms Ryan, an African-American journalist who works for American Urban Radio Networks and also regularly appears on CNN, a broadcaster Mr Trump dislikes. She also clashed with Mr Trump in Wednesday’s press conference. 

Mr Trump said: “I mean you talk about somebody that’s a loser, she doesn’t know what the hell she’s doing. She gets publicity and then she gets a pay raise or she gets a contract with I think CNN. 

“But she’s very nasty and she shouldn’t be, she shouldn’t be. You’ve got to treat the White House and the office of the presidency with respect.”

The president also dismissed the suggestion that the footage Ms Sanders had shared on Twitter of his exchange with Mr Acosta during the post-midterms press conference was doctored. 

“No one manipulated, gimme a break,” Mr Trump said. He added: “When you say doctored you’re a dishonest guy. They gave a close up view, that’s not doctoring.” 

The White House Correspondents’ Association [WHCA] has strongly criticised the removal of Mr Acosta’s credentials, as have many leading US journalists and politicians. 

Olivier Knox, the WCHA president, said earlier this week: "Journalists may use a range of approaches to carry out their jobs and the WHCA does not police the tone or frequency of the questions its members ask of powerful senior government officials, including the President.”

Donald Trump has provided the special counsel’s office with written answers to questions about his knowledge of Russian interference in the 2016 election, his lawyers said on Tuesday.

The step – the first time the US president has directly cooperated with the investigation – is a milestone in a months-long negotiation between Mr Trump’s lawyers and special counsel Robert Mueller’s team over whether and when the president would sit for an interview.

It represents the first time the president is known to have described to investigators his knowledge of key moments under scrutiny by prosecutors. If Mr Mueller finds the answers satisfactory, the responses may also help stave off a potential subpoena fight over Mr Trump’s testimony.

The compromise outcome, nearly a year in the making, offers some benefit to both sides. Mr Trump avoids, at least for now, a potentially risky and unpredictable sit-down with prosecutors, while Mr Mueller secures a set of on-the-record statements whose accuracy the president and his lawyers will be expected to stand by for the duration of the investigation.

"The president today answered written questions submitted by the special counsel’s office," attorney Jay Sekulow said in a statement. "The questions presented dealt with issues regarding the Russia-related topics of the inquiry. The president responded in writing."

Mr Sekulow said in a follow-up message that the legal team would not release copies of the questions and answers or discuss correspondence with the special counsel’s office.

Mr Mueller’s team may well press for additional information.

Investigators months ago presented Mr Trump’s legal team with dozens of questions they wanted to ask the president related to whether his campaign coordinated with the Kremlin to tip the 2016 election and whether he sought to criminally obstruct the Russia probe by actions including the firing of former FBI director James Comey.

Mr Mueller’s office agreed to accept written responses to questions about potential Russian collusion and tabled, for the moment, obstruction-related inquiries. They left open the possibility that they would follow up with additional questions on obstruction, though Mr Trump’s lawyers – who had long resisted any face-to-face interview – had been especially adamant that the Constitution shielded him from having to answer any questions about actions he took as president.

Another of Mr Trump’s lawyers, Rudy Giuliani, said on Tuesday the lawyers continue to believe that "much of what has been asked raised serious constitutional issues and was beyond the scope of a legitimate inquiry." He said Mr Mueller’s office had received "unprecedented cooperation from the White House."

"It is time to bring this inquiry to a conclusion," Mr Giuliani said.

The precise questions and answers that Mr Trump gave to Mr Mueller weren’t immediately clear, though the president told reporters last week that he had prepared the responses himself.

Mr Trump told Fox News in an interview that aired on Sunday that he was unlikely to answer questions about obstruction, saying: "I think we’ve wasted enough time on this witch hunt and the answer is probably, we’re finished."

Mr Trump joins a list of recent presidents to be questioned as part of a criminal investigation.

In 2004, George W. Bush was interviewed by special counsel Patrick Fitzgerald’s office during an investigation into the leaked identity of a CIA officer. In 1998, President Bill Clinton testified before a federal grand jury in independent counsel Ken Starr’s Whitewater investigation.

"It’s very extraordinary if this were a regular case, but it’s not every day that you have an investigation that touches upon the White House," said Solomon Wisenberg, a Washington lawyer who was part of Starr’s team and conducted the grand jury questioning of Mr Clinton.

Mr Mueller could theoretically still look to subpoena the president if he feels the answers are not satisfactory. But Justice Department leaders, including acting Attorney General Matthew Whitaker – who now oversees the investigation and has spoken pejoratively of it in the past – would have to sign off on such a move, and it’s far from clear that they would. It’s also not clear that Mr Mueller’s team would prevail if a subpoena fight reaches the Supreme Court.

"Mueller certainly could have forced the issue and issued a subpoena, but I think he wants to present a record of having bent over backwards to be fair," Mr Wisenberg said.

The Supreme Court has never ruled on whether a president can be subpoenaed to testify in a criminal case. Mr Clinton was subpoenaed to appear before the Whitewater grand jury, though investigators withdrew the subpoena once he agreed to appear voluntarily.

Other cases involving Presidents Richard Nixon and Mr Clinton have presented similar issues for the justices that could be instructive now.

In 1974, for instance, the court ruled that Nixon could be ordered to turn over subpoenaed audio recordings, a decision that hastened his resignation from office. The court in 1998 said Mr Clinton could be questioned under oath in a sexual harassment lawsuit brought by Paula Jones.

Up to 145 pilot whales have died in a mass stranding on a remote part of a small New Zealand island, authorities said on Monday.

The stranding was discovered by a hiker late on Saturday on Stewart Island, 19 miles off the southern coast of the South Island.

Half of the whales were already dead and due to the condition of the remaining whales and the remote, difficult to access location, the decision was made to euthanise the remainder.

"Sadly, the likelihood of being able to successfully re-float the remaining whales was extremely low," said Ren Leppens, the Department of Conservation’s operations manager on Stewart Island.

"The remote location, lack of nearby personnel and the whales’ deteriorating condition meant the most humane thing to do was to euthanise.

"However, it’s always a heart-breaking decision to make."

It was one of four strandings discovered on New Zealand shores over the weekend.

Whale strandings are relatively common on New Zealand shores, with the conservation department responding to an average 85 incidents a year, mostly of single animals.

On Sunday, 10 pygmy killer whales stranded at 90 Mile Beach at the top of the North Island. Two have since died and attempts will be made Tuesday to re-float the survivors.

A sperm whale which beached on nearby Doubtless Bay died overnight on Saturday, while the body of a dead female pygmy sperm whale was found at Ohiwa on the west coast of the North Island.

Exactly why whales and dolphins strand is not fully known but factors can include sickness, navigational error, geographical features, a rapidly falling tide, being chased by a predator, or extreme weather.

John Kelly will leave his job as chief of staff at the end of the year, Donald Trump announced on Saturday, describing him as "a great guy".

Mr Kelly, 68, took over from Reince Priebus in July 2017, and was brought in to try and instill some discipline in the White House.

However, his departure had long been rumoured, with Mr Kelly, a retired Marine general, reportedly frustrated at Mr Trump’s freewheeling style.

Last month Melania Trump, the first lady, reportedly demanded Mr Kelly be fired.

"John Kelly will be leaving at the end of the year," said Mr Trump on Saturday afternoon, shortly before leaving the White House for Philadelphia.

"A great guy.

"We’ll be announcing who will be taking John’s place – it might be on an interim basis.

"He’s been with me almost two years now.

"I appreciate his service very much."

Among those believed likely to take on the challenging role is Nick Ayers, the current chief of staff for Mike Pence, the vice president.

Mr Ayres, 36, is said to have the support of the president’s daughter, Ivanka, and her husband Jared Kushner.

Mick Mulvaney, the budget and management director, has also been mentioned as a possible contender.