World

A passenger has been arrested after a flight from Australia to Malaysia was flown back to Sydney in what police called an “emergency incident”. The Airbus A330 plane returned to Sydney Airport after more than three hours into its eight-hour journey to Kuala Lumpur due to a “disruptive passenger”, Malaysia Airlines said. The incident involving

Sicily’s Mount Etna has erupted, sending ash and lava high over the Mediterranean island, forcing flights to be suspended and leaving tourists facing holiday disruption. The Italian volcano, which at 3,330m (10,925 ft) high is Europe’s tallest and most active, began erupting overnight, officials said. Although the lava flow subsided before dawn, ash was still

Russian experts monitoring their moon-bound unmanned spacecraft Luna-25 have switched on its scientific equipment and started processing the first data. Russia is aiming to become the first country to carry out a soft landing on the lunar south pole – a region thought to hold pockets of water ice. Space agency Roscosmos said in a

The political party of Ecuador’s assassinated presidential hopeful, Fernando Villavicencio, has picked his replacement just a week before the election. Mr Villavicencio, 59, an ex-lawmaker and journalist with a track record of exposing corruption, was shot dead last week after leaving a campaign event in the capital Quito despite his own government-provided security detail. His

Vladimir Putin is the man who brought war back to Europe, by sending his tanks into Ukraine on 24 February last year. Little is known about the murky workings of the Kremlin and of Mr Putin’s state of mind – to his citizens, he is both “the old man” and the symbol of Russia. To

Hawaiian residents heard no emergency warnings before this week’s deadly wildfires. Official records show Hawaii‘s emergency sirens – part of the world’s largest outdoor public safety system – failed to trigger on Tuesday before the devastating blaze in the historic town of Lahaina on the island of Maui. Survivors said they did not hear any

Further evacuations are being considered in Norway as flood waters continue to swamp houses and coat cars with mud in the south east of the Nordic country. Up to 2,000 people have already been moved away from their homes after days of torrential rain. Water levels in swollen rivers and lakes continue to grow. At

Catastrophic wildfires in Hawaii were sparked by a “worst case scenario” and are part of a global increase in extreme fires, experts say. The disastrous flames on the island of Maui have claimed the lives of more than 50 people and destroyed swathes of highly flammable landscape. It’s being called the “largest natural disaster” in

Australia is exploring a bid for the 2034 Men’s World Cup – buoyed by FIFA’s praise of its co-hosting of the women’s event. A previous attempt to bring the 2022 men’s showpiece to Australia garnered just one vote from FIFA executives amid concerns about backroom deals. The FIFA process has been overhauled since a wave

Russia has launched its first moon mission in almost 50 years. A rocket carrying a lunar landing craft blasted off from the Vostochny spaceport in the far eastern Amur region. Russia launches lunar spacecraft – war latest It’s expected to reach its destination on 23 August, the same day as an Indian vessel that launched

Malaysia’s government says it is banning all Swatch products that contain lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or queer elements. Watches, wrappers and boxes are banned, with authorities warning anyone found with one promoting LGBTQ rights could be jailed or fined. Same-sex relationships in Malaysia, which is predominantly Muslim, are illegal. Punishments range from caning under Islamic

Cats in Cyprus are being given human COVID-19 medicine in an effort to slow the spread of a feline mutation of the virus that has left thousands of animals dead on the island. Cats began getting the medicine on Tuesday, which coincidentally was International Cat Day. Speaking to The Guardian, Christodoulos Pipis, the government’s veterinary

These images show the devastation wreaked by wildfires in the historic Hawaiian town of Lahaina. Before and after satellite images of the town – on the island of Maui – show the devastating impact of the fire, with row upon row of burnt out homes and businesses. At least 36 people have died and more

Ecuadorian presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio has been shot and killed by an unidentified gunman while at a political rally in Quito. The killing comes amid an alarming wave of violence in the country, with drug trafficking and violent killings on the rise. Incumbent president, Guillermo Lasso, suggested an organised crime gang was behind the killing.

Syrian President Bashar al Assad has said he would welcome home refugees who escaped the country’s long-running civil war. In an exclusive interview with Sky News Arabia, he blamed the country’s economic situation as the reason why refugees are not returning to their homeland, pointing to the “image of war” in Syria for the lack

Russia is planning to build up its forces at its western borders following Finland’s accession to NATO, the country’s defence minister Sergei Shoigu has said. The defence minister also noted Poland had already announced plans to strengthen its military, and that he expected significant NATO forces and weaponry to be deployed in Finland. Finland’s inclusion

Italy has said it will spend €2.9m (£2.5m) to tackle an invasion of aggressive crabs that is threatening the country’s role as one of the top producers of clams in the world – and potentially one of its signature pasta dishes. The blue crab, originally from the western Atlantic, has spread across several lagoon-like locations

The oil-rich country hosting the next UN climate summit, which this year said it was “running towards” a clean power future, missed its own green energy target, Sky News can reveal. The United Arab Emirates, which will host COP28 in Dubai in December, pledged in 2015 to generate 24% of its electricity from clean sources

A YouTube chef has been charged with murdering and dismembering a Colombian surgeon on a Thai island. Daniel Sancho Bronchalo has been charged with premeditated murder, which carries a possible death penalty, and with concealment of a body to cover up the death, said Surat Thani provincial police commander Saranyu Chamnanrat. The 29-year-old was taken

The Italian government has introduced a surprise 40% windfall tax on the profits made by banks from high interest rates. Ministers said they planned to use the proceeds to help mortgage holders – but said it was a one-off levy to be applied this summer. The announcement sent banking shares tumbling. Italy’s largest chain Intesa