World

Ukraine is preparing carefully for a new counter-offensive against Russian forces because the assault is “very important” and must “demonstrate success”, the prime minister has said. Denys Shmyhal told Sky News that the long-awaited operation would only be launched when the time is right but he gave no indication when that might be. With Russian

Russia launched dozens of drone strikes across Ukraine on the eve of a holiday celebrating the defeat of Nazi Germany. Kyiv’s mayor said Russia had fired 60 Iranian-made kamikaze drones at Ukrainian targets, including 36 at the capital. All drones had been shot down but debris hit apartments and other buildings, injuring at least five

Iran has executed two men accused of blasphemy, as a rise in death sentences handed out by the ruling regime continues. The streak of executions, including members of ethnic minority groups in Iran, comes following months-long protests over the September death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini after her arrest by the country’s morality police. So far

At least 27 people have died following a fire in a gold mine in Peru – the deadliest mining accident in the country for decades.  The fire broke out on Saturday and photos on social media showed dark plumes of smoke pouring out of the mine. The local government said a short circuit sparked the

The US has experienced more mass shootings than days so far in 2023, with thousands dead as a result. There were at least 191 in the first 127 days of the year, with the latest in a busy Texas shopping mall leaving nine people dead, including the suspected gunman. On average, the US has seen

Drones have been part of the military inventory for decades, but the war in Ukraine has seen a massive escalation in their exploitation. Does this herald the start of a new era in modern warfare, and will the rapid development of AI lead to the inevitable dawn of drone wars? Unmanned flight predates manned, but

Grenada is showing increasing interest in becoming a republic, with the country’s prime minister hoping it will be under his leadership. In an interview with Sky News, Grenadian Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell spoke about republicanism, the Commonwealth, and the relationship the island nation has with the UK ahead of the King’s coronation. When asked if

The home of Brazil’s ex-president Jair Bolsonaro has been searched by police investigating COVID-19 vaccine cards allegedly being falsified. The cards of Mr Bolsonaro, his family members and his advisers had been changed, according to local media reports. During the coronavirus pandemic, the country‘s former far-right president was a vocal coronavirus vaccine sceptic who doubted

Iran has seized a second oil tanker in Gulf waters in a week as tensions with the US increase. The US Navy said Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard seized the vessel in the Strait of Hormuz after it had “forced” the Panama-flagged tanker Niovi to change course. The American military published pictures of small vessels surrounding

Russia has claimed it stopped two drone attacks on Vladimir Putin’s presidential home overnight. The Kremlin blamed Ukraine for what it called a “terrorist act”. It said Russian military and security forces disabled the drones before they could strike. No victims or damage were reported and Mr Putin was not injured, it added. “On Wednesday

Security is being beefed up in Moscow and several Russian regions have announced they are scaling back this year’s Victory Day celebrations due to fears pro-Ukrainian saboteurs could target the festivities. The holiday – marking the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany during the Second World War – is one of the most important in the

More than 100 people have been arrested in Germany, Spain and Italy after a three-year investigation into a powerful Italian mafia group. Italian and Belgian investigators believe the suspected members of the ‘Ndrangheta organised crime group, smuggled close to 25 tonnes of cocaine between October 2019 and January 2022. The group is also accused of

Dutch police who arrested a man on suspicion of drink driving discovered he had a driving licence naming him as “Boris Johnson”. The fake Ukrainian document featured a picture of the former prime minister, as well as his correct birthdate of 19 June 1964. However it is valid until December in the year 3000. A

Australia has banned recreational vaping and tightened other e-cigarette laws in a huge crackdown on the tobacco industry as it tries to stop the rise in teenage vaping. The government wants to ban all disposable vapes, which often come in fruity flavours popular with young people, ban the import of non-prescription vapes and limit nicotine

The conflict in Sudan has left international consumer goods makers racing to shore up supplies of gum arabic – critical to the food, drinks and cosmetics industry. The northeastern African country is the world’s largest producer of gum arabic, a resin tapped from the acacia tree. It is a key ingredient in everything from fizzy

A ceasefire in Sudan has been extended for three more days despite continuing reports of heavy fighting in the capital Khartoum and the western region of Darfur. The truce between Sudan’s paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and military had been due to expire at midnight, but the US and Saudi Arabia brokered a new deal.

Spain is believed to have recorded its hottest ever April day. A temperature of 38.7C (101.66F) was provisionally recorded at Cordoba Airport on Thursday, according to the Met Office. The record was broken as the country continued to swelter extreme temperatures which also saw a horse die and another collapse while pulling passenger carriages through

Alexei Navalny, the jailed critic of Vladimir Putin, has said he is being investigated on terrorism charges that could see him sentenced to 30 years in prison. The Russian opposition leader is already serving sentences totalling 11 and half years on charges including fraud. In comments posted on Twitter by Mr Navalny’s aides, the Kremlin

An Uber Eats driver was dismembered after a “demonic” murder while delivering food, authorities have said. Oscar Solis Jr is accused of killing the driver during a delivery to his home in Pasco County in Florida. The victim’s remains were found in Solis’s house in bin bags and a cooler, which also contained a receipt

An investigation is under way after a research rocket fired from Sweden malfunctioned and ended up landing in Norway. The Norwegian foreign ministry has said its authorities take “any unauthorised activity” on its side of the border “very seriously”, according to reports. The rocket, which looked into weightlessness, had reached orbit at a height of