World

What are the big threats to our way of life? This question was a lurking preoccupation at the London Defence Conference this week, attended by the prime minister and the chief of defence staff along with academics and politicians from across the Western world. The immediate crisis is Ukraine, of course. There was general consensus

Iran has successfully launched a 2,000km-range (1,243m) ballistic missile, according to the country’s state media – two days after the chief of Israel’s armed forces raised the prospect of “action” against Tehran over its nuclear programme. With one of the biggest missile programmes in the Middle East, Iran says its weapons are capable of reaching

Russia has accused the west of “growing involvement” in the conflict with Ukraine after releasing pictures of western-made military vehicles it claims were used in a border incursion. The images, which Sky News has identified as showing US-made Humvees, have been criticised by analysts as being “staged”, with suggestions the scene could have choreographed. Security

Millions of people in Mexico have been told to get ready to leave their homes as the country’s Popocatépetl volcano spews ash, rock and gas. Officials said people living downwind of “El Popo” should wear masks and cover their eyes but the country’s president played down the risk to life. The volcano, which lies in

A fire which killed 19 people at a secondary school dormitory in Guyana was deliberately set by a student, according to an official. The suspect – who is among the injured – was upset that her mobile phone was confiscated, investigators believe. She had been disciplined by the dormitory administrator for having an affair “with

Donald Trump has appeared in court via video link to receive a warning from a judge over evidence sharing in his criminal hush money case. It was his first appearance in court – albeit this time not in person – since his arraignment on 5 April where he pleaded not guilty to 34 felony counts

Police investigating the disappearance of Madeleine McCann are to carry out new searches of a reservoir, Sky News understands. Officers will start work on Tuesday at the Arade dam, which is located about 50km from where the British toddler went missing in Praia da Luz in the Algarve, 16 years ago. British police will also

Ukraine has said its troops are still advancing on the flanks of the devastated city of Bakhmut, but that the “intensity” of their movement has decreased.  On Saturday Russia said it had completely taken the city but Ukrainian officials have said since then that Kyiv’s forcesstill control a small part. On Monday, Deputy Defence Minister

Flights to eastern Sicily were disrupted on Sunday after the nearby Mount Etna volcano began to erupt, tipping black ash onto runways and vehicles. Video from the scene showed smoggy looking cloud blanketing roads and flakes of dark, gritty ash scattered across car windscreens. Flights in and out of the port city and tourist favourite

Sudan’s warring factions have agreed to a new seven-day ceasefire. The Sudanese army and rival paramilitary Rapid Support Forces signed the deal in the Saudi city of Jeddah, as the fighting entered its sixth week. The ceasefire, brokered by the US and Saudi Arabia, will start on Monday at 9.45pm in Sudan (8.45pm UK time).

The head of Russian private army Wagner has claimed his fighters have completed the capture of eastern Ukrainian city Bakhmut, after the longest battle of the Ukraine war. Ukrainian defence officials have denied the claims made by Wagner head Yevgeny Prigozhin in a video posted today on the Telegram social messaging service. He appeared in

As Western supplies of high-tech weapons flow into Ukraine in preparation for the anticipated spring offensive, Russia is also trying to bolster its arsenal. It has resorted to trading SU-35 fighter jets to Iran in return for continued supply of Iranian Shahid 136 attack drones, and also fielded state-of-the-art missile systems for the first time.

Almost 15 million global excess deaths by the end of 2021 were caused by COVID, according to figures released by the World Health Organisation (WHO). It estimates a total of 336.8 million life-years were lost globally due to the pandemic which was declared in early 2020. This means that, on average, each excess death led

An 88-year-old Australian doctor held hostage in Africa for more than seven years by al Qaeda-linked militants has been reunited with his family after being released. Dr Ken Elliott and his wife Jocelyn, who together ran a medical clinic in Burkina Faso, were kidnapped in 2016 by al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) –

Pakistan’s former prime minister Imran Khan says police have “surrounded” his house and his arrest is imminent. Mr Khan, 70, was arrested last Tuesday in a corruption case which sparked countrywide violence. He tweeted: “Probably my last tweet before my next arrest,” adding that police have “surrounded” his house in the eastern city of Lahore.

President Joe Biden will cut a trip to Asia and Australia short to deal with the impending debt crisis in the US. The 80-year-old has cancelled stops in Australia and Papua New Guinea and will return to the US after the G7 summit in Japan. He will attend the three-day summit that starts on Friday

France’s first lady has condemned the “cowardice” and “stupidity” of a physical attack on her great-nephew which took place on the sidelines of a protest against pension reforms. Police said eight people were arrested in the northern French city of Amiens in connection with the attack on Monday. Jean-Baptiste Trogneux, 30, who runs a family

A chef has spent more than 100 hours cooking in a bid to achieve a new Guinness World Record. Hilda Baci, based in Lagos, Nigeria, has captivated the country with her culinary marathon, in the hope of setting a new record for the longest ever cooking session by an individual. The 27-year-old was backed by

Elon Musk has been heard telling French President Emmanuel Macron that he had to “sleep in the car” before their meeting in Paris – hours after the billionaire was seen partying in Mexico and Los Angeles. The Tesla chief executive met Mr Macron at the Elysee Palace on Monday as part of the French president’s

Russia has refused to comment on the health of Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko amid speculation that he is seriously ill. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Monday it was best to be guided on the subject by official statements from the Belarusian authorities. Mr Lukashenko, 68, has not been seen in public since last Tuesday