World

Omicron coronavirus cases have surged by as much as 400% in some parts of South Africa – although the country’s health ministry has said there is mounting evidence the variant causes milder infection. South Africa reported more than 22,000 new infections on Thursday, a record during the fourth wave but still below the more than

As the world grapples with the challenge posed by the Omicron variant, scientists and residents in South Africa are coming to grips with the real-world impact of this worrying strain. This country has already seen two weeks of mass infection and the experience is generating the sort of anecdotal information and scientific observation that will

Australia, the UK and the United States will pay the price for their “mistaken acts”, after deciding not to send government delegations to February’s Winter Olympics in Beijing, China’s foreign ministry has said. It comes after the countries announced diplomatic boycotts over human rights concerns. However, France on Thursday said it will not be boycotting

A full Russian invasion of Ukraine would be on a scale “not seen in Europe since World War Two”, the new head of the armed forces has warned. Admiral Sir Tony Radakin described as “deeply worrying” an escalating crisis over Ukraine – where a build-up of tens of thousands of Russian troops has raised Western

The man detained in Paris over suspected links to the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi is thought to be a namesake of the wanted suspect, a Saudi diplomatic source has told Sky News. France has 48 hours to verify the identity of the man arrested, with the Saudi Embassy calling it a case of mistaken

US president Joe Biden is anticipated to have the most difficult phone call of his presidency so far when he speaks to Russian President Vladimir Putin at 3pm UK time on Tuesday. Mr Biden will warn that if Russia invades Ukraine as is feared, he will bring down the might of US sanctions on Mr

US President Joe Biden has spoken to Prime Minister Boris Johnson and European leaders to share growing concerns about Russia’s behaviour towards Ukraine. Mr Biden, Mr Johnson, France’s Emmanuel Macron, Germany’s Angela Merkel, and Italy’s Mario Draghi all “shared concern about the Russian military build-up on Ukraine’s borders and Russia’s increasingly harsh rhetoric”, the White

Italians face tougher rules from Monday if they are not vaccinated against COVID-19. The ‘Super Green Pass’ will require vaccination, rather than including those who have received a recent negative test result, and it will be needed to attend sports events, concerts, theatres, indoor restaurants, and public events. The normal Green Pass, which can be

Myanmar’s deposed leader Aung San Suu Kyi has received a four-year jail sentence as a court delivers the first verdicts in a number of cases which could see her imprisoned for decades. The 76-year-old has been in detention since 1 February when the military seized power in a coup. Ms Suu Kyi has been charged

Belgian police used tear gas and water cannon on protesters in Brussels to disperse crowds demonstrating against new coronavirus restrictions. Thousands gathered to reject new measures introduced by the government on Friday, the third week in a row measures have been tightened, following a recent surge in COVID-19 cases. Most of the protesters marched peacefully,

There is a little park in Addis Ababa with a bench and some flowers and a big red wall. It was built on scrap land by the manager of a local hostel, and there is a five-year-old who comes to draw every afternoon. Her name is Kidist, and she sketches on the wall with small

The tallest volcano on the Indonesian island of Java has erupted, killing at least one person and sending huge clouds of ash into the air. TV footage shows Mount Semeru in the Lumajang district of East Java spewing giant clouds of ash at around 7pm local time (12pm UK) on Saturday as villagers run for

Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro will be investigated after he claimed coronavirus vaccines may increase the chance of contracting AIDS. Brazilian supreme court Justice Alexandre de Moraes instructed the country’s top prosecutor, Augusto Aras, to look into the accusation raised by a pandemic inquiry conducted by Brazil’s Senate. Mr Bolsonaro said in a live broadcast on

Strict new limits on Ireland’s hospitality sector and home visits have been announced by the country’s prime minister. From Tuesday, 7 December, nightclubs will close until 9 January, and bars will only be allowed to run table service with a maximum of six people per table in both bars and restaurants. Speaking in a televised

Lewis Hamilton has said he does not feel comfortable about racing in Saudi Arabia’s grand prix this weekend, as he expressed concern about human rights in the kingdom. The seven-times Formula 1 world champion will be competing in a night race around a street circuit in Jeddah. Hamilton said he had received a warm welcome on arrival,

Unvaccinated people in Germany are to be excluded from non-essential stores, cultural and recreational venues, Chancellor Angela Merkel has said. In addition, parliament will consider making coronavirus jabs mandatory from February. About 68.7% of the population in Germany is fully vaccinated, far below the 75% minimum ministers are aiming for. The effort to get jabs

The World Health Organisation (WHO) is set to deploy a surge team to South Africa to help deal with the new Omicron COVID variant outbreak. The team will be sent to Gauteng province to help with surveillance and contact tracing as experts warned the new variant could be causing an increase in COVID reinfections across

All WTA tournaments have been suspended in China over concerns for the safety of player Peng Shuai. The head of the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) said it was taking the step after Shuai, a Grand Slam doubles champion, accused a former high-ranking government official in China of sexual assault. Peng dropped out of public view

The world’s rich nations must help vaccinate the poorest nations or else they will face a continual cycle of economic shocks and restrictions in the face of new variants, the OECD’s chief economist has said. Laurence Boone told Sky News that the Omicron variant could cause the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development to downgrade

China has for the first time become the single greatest focus for MI6, with its chief warning the risk “is real” of a miscalculation by Beijing through underestimating western resolve to push back. Pointing to Taiwan, Richard Moore said a desire by the ruling Chinese Communist Party – backed by an increasingly powerful military –