World

Today marks six months since Russian troops crossed the border into Ukraine. The war’s half-year point coincides with Ukrainian Independence Day, which in normal circumstances would see citizens celebrating 31 years of independence from the former Soviet Union. Follow Ukraine war live updates But instead, curfews are in place in the cities of Kyiv or

Russia is planning to launch fresh attacks against Ukraine’s civilian infrastructure and government facilities soon, a US intelligence official has warned. “Given Russia‘s track record in Ukraine, we are concerned about the continued threat that Russian strikes pose to civilians and civilian infrastructure,” the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said. The warning led

Ukrainian special forces were behind a Moscow car bombing that killed the daughter of an ally of Vladimir Putin, Russia’s security service has claimed – as her father called on his country to win the war in “revenge”. The FSB, as reported by the Interfax news agency, said the attack was carried out by a

Floods and landslides triggered by intense monsoon rains have killed at least 40 people in northern India over the last three days, and others are missing. Heavy rainfall overwhelmed hundreds of villages, as mud houses were swept away, roads were covered by water, bridges were destroyed, and rescuers raced to help stranded residents. In the

The daughter of a Russian ultra-nationalist and ally of President Vladimir Putin who argued Russia should absorb Ukraine has been killed in a suspected car bomb attack. Russian state investigators said Darya Dugina, daughter of idealogue Alexander Dugin, was killed after a suspected explosive device detonated on the Toyota Land Cruiser she was travelling in

Russian forces have stepped up their efforts to seize one of the dwindling number of cities in eastern Ukraine not already under their control. The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine said in its daily update that intensified fighting took place around Bakhmut in the Donbas region. The capture of Bakhmut would allow

At least 12 people have been killed in an attack by Islamic militants who stormed a hotel in Somalia’s capital Mogadishu. Several people were also injured and others, including children, had to be rescued by security services from Mogadishu’s Hayat Hotel. Most of those who died are reported to have been civilians. The attack started

El Shafee Elsheikh, known to his victims as “Ringo”, grew up in White City, west London, after his family arrived from Sudan in 1993 when he was five. His father was a communist and part-time poet who worked as a translator and opposed the Islamist dictatorship of Omar al-Bashir in his home country. The couple

One of the bombmakers in the Bali terror attack that killed 202 people could be freed on parole this month after his sentence was reduced. Umar Patek was jailed for 20 years in 2012 after being found guilty of helping mix the bombs used to inflict mass murder at two tourist bars on the island

Ukraine has said Russia is preparing to stage a “provocation” at Europe’s biggest nuclear power plant on Friday. The country’s intelligence agency made the claim just hours after Moscow accused Ukraine of trying to stage an “accident” there, which may involve a radiation leak, during the UN secretary-general’s visit to the war-ravaged nation. Located in

Two surfers on motorised boards who were labelled “idiots” by Venice’s mayor for speeding down the city’s Grand Canal have been identified by authorities. A video was posted on social media by Luigi Brugnaro of the pair heading along the famous Italian waterway after they were caught on camera. On Twitter, Mr Brugnaro asked for

Freed hostages were able to give British police key information identifying an IS kidnap gang nicknamed “The Beatles” which had held and tortured them, Scotland Yard has revealed. Officers have disclosed key breakthroughs that allowed them to identify the jihadis and bring two of them to trial in the US. It included vital details from

German director Wolfgang Petersen, known for the World War Two submarine epic Das Boot and Air Force One, has died aged 81. The filmmaker died on Friday at his home in the Los Angeles neighbourhood of Brentwood after a battle with pancreatic cancer, said representative Michelle Bega. His 1982 breakthrough, Das Boot, chronicled the intense

Ukrainian special forces operating inside Russian-occupied Crimea were behind an attack on a military base there, Sky News understands. Russia’s defence ministry said that a fire broke out after several explosions at a temporary ammunition storage facility in the Dzhankoi area of north Crimea at around 4.15am BST (6.15am local time). Pictures show fire and

Three Britons have pleaded not guilty to mercenary charges at a Russian-backed separatist court in Ukraine. John Harding, Andrew Hill and Dylan Healy are among a group of five European men on trial in a court administered by Kremlin-backed separatists in the city of Donetsk. Mr Harding, Vjekoslav Prebeg, who is Croatian, and Mathias Gustafsson,

“Look at this man… he worked for British forces,” shouted one Taliban fighter, as a group of them began to beat Ahmad in front of his screaming wife and children. It was 15 August 2021. The family were at the entrance to Kabul airport, trying to get on to an evacuation flight. They’d been met

COVID cases are surging on the Marshall Islands as the Pacific nation grapples with its first community outbreak of the pandemic. Prior to the current wave of cases, there had been no transmissions within the island group, which is located around 2,500 miles southwest of Hawaii and 3,000 miles east of the Philippines. In a

With his long black hair flowing beneath a traditional cap and over his masked face, a Taliban guard, machine gun in hand, indicated I should follow the doctor.   I realised then we were to have his company for the duration of our stay. A peculiar development and an unusual experience, but one that was

At least 41 people have reportedly been killed in a fire at a church near Egypt’s capital, Cairo. The number of dead was announced by the country’s Coptic Church, citing health officials. Fourteen other people were reportedly injured. An electrical fire broke out as 5,000 worshippers gathered for mass at the Coptic Abu Sifin church

Sir Salman Rushdie’s suspected attacker has denied attempted murder and assault in a court in New York state. Hadi Matar, 24, was identified by New York police after the attack on Friday. Police have not established a motive for the stabbing that left the author, 75, seriously injured. He remains on a ventilator in hospital.