World

We could see a seemingly endless line of trucks as we headed down the highway in northern Ethiopia. As their contents drew closer we knew the battle ground was shifting in this country’s increasingly nasty civil conflict. There were thousands of troops perched on the back, clutching automatic weapons while fighting to stay upright. They

Brazil’s president should face homicide charges over errors that led to an estimated 95,000 COVID-19 deaths, a draft of a major inquiry report has found. With more than 600,000 deaths, only the US has lost more people to coronavirus than Brazil and the president has been widely criticised for openly objecting to lockdowns, regularly refusing

At least 13 people have been killed after an explosion destroyed a bus in the Syrian capital of Damascus. A local television station said two explosive devices went off as the bus was on the Hafez al Assad bridge – and a third device was being defused by an army engineering unit. Pictures on the

Donald Trump has been questioned under oath as part of a lawsuit where protesters allege they were violently attacked by his security guards. The former US president testified at Trump Tower in New York City for several hours on Monday, and video of his deposition will be played before a jury if the case goes

Former US Secretary of State Colin Powell has died following coronavirus complications, his family has said. A statement on his Facebook page posted by his family said the 84-year-old “passed away this morning due to complications from COVID-19”. “He was fully vaccinated,” they said. “We have lost a remarkable and loving husband, father, grandfather and

Hamas has warned Israel that another war is inevitable unless its occupation of Palestine ends and the dire humanitarian crisis in Gaza is resolved. Speaking exclusively to Sky News, in the first interview since mediation talks in Egypt ended, a senior Hamas official said that the fight will continue “with all means”, until an independent

A notorious gang with a history of kidnappings has been blamed by police for the abduction of 17 missionaries in Haiti. The 400 Mowozo gang was said to have kidnapped the religious group on Saturday, which included children, who were on their way home from an orphanage in the capital Port-au-Prince. Christian Aid Ministries, the

Russia has reported a record number of new coronavirus infections in the last 24 hours with cases hitting 34,303 – the highest since the pandemic began. It represents a hike of more than 70% when compared with last month’s figure of 20,174. Meanwhile, the number of daily COVID deaths in Russia stood at 997 –

A group of 17 US missionaries – including children – have been kidnapped in Haiti. They were on their way home from building an orphanage in the capital of Port-au-Prince, Christian Aid Ministries said. A voice message sent to a number of religious missions said: “This is a special prayer alert. Pray that the gang

Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe has lost her latest appeal against her sentence in Iran, meaning she could be sent back to prison “at any time”, her MP has said. Labour’s Tulip Siddiq said the British-Iranian dual national’s sentence of one year plus a one-year travel ban has been “upheld with no court hearing”. The Hampstead and Kilburn

The US has promised condolence payments to the relatives of 10 civilians killed in a drone strike in Afghanistan. The victims, including seven children and an Afghan aid worker, were killed on 29 August in a strike the US said was aimed at a suicide bomber. But Pentagon press secretary John Kirby said on Thursday

At least 15 people have been killed in an explosion at a mosque in southern Afghanistan. The blast happened in the Kandahar region during Friday prayers at a Shia mosque, with 31 believed to be wounded, officials say. The interior minister’s spokesman, Qari Saeed Khosti, said authorities were collecting details of the explosion, which occurred

COVID-19 health passes – or “green passes” – are now compulsory for all workers in Italy. The rule was approved by Prime Minister Mario Draghi’s cabinet in mid-September, forcing all workers to show either proof of vaccination, a negative test within the previous 48 hours, or recent recovery from infection. Italy is one of a

The killings of five people in Norway by a man armed with a bow and arrows “appears to be an act of terrorism”, the country’s security agency has said. Four women and one man were killed during the rampage in Kongsberg, with a police officer among others left injured. A statement issued by PST, Norway’s

Five people have been killed and two others – including an off-duty police officer – were injured in a series of bow and arrow attacks in Norway, according to police. The incidents took place in the town of Kongsberg, 51 miles (82km) southwest of the capital, Oslo. A suspect has been apprehended by police, who

President Vladimir Putin dismissed suggestions that Russia is using energy as a weapon as “complete nonsense”, as he announced he was ready to provide more gas to Europe if necessary. During his address at the Russian Energy Week International Forum in Moscow on Wednesday, the Russian leader said that the country was ready to increase

Chancellor Rishi Sunak is to call for “global action” to tackle supply chain issues on his first official visit to the United States. Mr Sunak will encourage finance ministers from G20 nations to “work together” to ensure supply chains are more resilient in the future following the struggles in getting goods around the world during

A large 6.4 magnitude earthquake has hit the Greek holiday island of Crete and a tsunami warning has been issued. The quake struck the east coast of the island at a depth of 10km under the village of Palekastro, according to the US Geological Survey. The village is 84km from Agios Nikolaos which is a

World leaders must deliver on their promises to limit global warming to 1.5C at COP26, the UN climate conference’s president will warn. Alok Sharma will make a speech in the French capital today in which he will call on countries to honour the Paris Agreement, which was signed six years ago and saw most nations

A Chinese defector has revealed to Sky News how Uyghur detainees are transported in their hundreds on packed prison trains, along with details of torture and deaths inside re-education centres in Xinjiang. The man, who says he served as a police officer in Xinjiang and asked only to be identified by the name Jiang, told