World

South Korean officials have warned of a third wave of coronavirus, as a resurgence in cases continues over the Christmas period. The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) recorded 1,132 new COVID-19 cases on Saturday, which was the country’s second-highest daily increase after 1,241 on Christmas Day. South Korea has been seen as one

France has reported its first confirmed case of the new coronavirus variant which was first discovered in the UK, the country’s health ministry has said. The case is a French citizen who lives in England and had left London for Tours, France, on 19 December. He is currently self-isolating at home and is said to

A further 39,036 confirmed coronavirus cases have been recorded in the UK – the second-highest daily total to date – according to government figures. The only day which has surpassed this daily figure was Wednesday, when 39,237 new cases were confirmed. However, it is important to note the amount of testing has increased in the

Brexit talks have continued through the night as hopes were raised that a trade deal could finally be on the brink of being agreed. Sources in London and Brussels told Sky News on Wednesday evening that an agreement could be close. Eric Mamer, the chief spokesman for the European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen,

The faster-spreading COVID-19 variant believed to behind a surge in cases in England has been detected in Ireland and Northern Ireland, officials say. This relates to the coronavirus strain first revealed by Downing Street last week, named VUI-202012/01 – not the second variant that has since been linked to contacts of travellers from South Africa.

Three police officers have been killed by a gunman who had taken his partner hostage in central France. The gendarmes had been responding to a report of domestic violence at a house in Saint Just, Puy-de-Dome, when the attacker began shooting at them. He then set fire to the building. After a lengthy stand-off, the

Ireland will introduce stricter coronavirus measures on Christmas Eve, with Prime Minister Micheal Martin claiming the new variant is probably already circulating there. Under the fresh restrictions, restaurants and gastro pubs will be forced to close at 3pm on 24 December. Non-essential shops, as long as they do not host January sales, are allowed to

BioNTech’s boss has said he is confident the company’s vaccine will be effective against the new coronavirus variant. Ugur Sahin said more tests were needed before he could be completely sure of the efficacy of the drug. The Pfizer/BioNTech jab is the only vaccine approved for use in the UK so far. It is also

Like so many of us around the world, the people of Bethlehem have spent the year in and out of lockdown and they are spending Christmas under a strict curfew. It has been a devastating year, but Bethlehem is a town built on a story of faith. Its people have lived through huge challenges and

Tawanda Muchehiwa has spent the last few months living in the shadows in a large African city.  He rarely goes outside and when he does, he says he is prone to panic attacks and bouts of body-shredding paranoia. “Some days I feel I am ok, then the other day (I am) breaking down. I am

Countries across Europe, including Ireland, have begun banning travel to and from the UK after a spike in cases of a new, more contagious coronavirus strain. Ireland’s restrictions on flights and ferries will last for an initial 48 hours before being reviewed during a cabinet meeting on Tuesday, Sky News understands. Several mainland European countries

The Dutch government has banned air travel from the UK due to fears over a new strain of the coronavirus. The move comes after health authorities in the Netherlands confirmed at least one case of the same strain that has prompted parts of the UK to return to lockdown rules. The Dutch health ministry said

A French modelling agent who knew the convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein has been charged with the rape and sexual harassment of minors over 15 years of age. Jean-Luc Brunel, 74, was arrested at Charles de Gaulle airport on Wednesday as he waited to take a flight to Senegal, and has been remanded in custody.

Italy is to go into a new lockdown for much of the Christmas and New Year period to tackle a rise in coronavirus cases. Bars, restaurants and non-essential shops will close between 24 and 27 December, New Year’s Eve to 3 January, and 5 to 6 January. Italians will only be allowed to travel for

Six months ago, I was with Laurent Merlin as we entered British coastal waters in the middle of the night. As he guided his boat through heavy waves, circling around the lobster pots, he spoke of his nervousness about the uncertainty of Brexit. Now, nervousness has turned to anxiety, blended with anger. A fortnight before

The bodies of COVID-19 victims in a German city are having to be stored in a shipping container as the pandemic continues to spiral in the country. Germany‘s Robert Koch Institute – the government agency responsible for disease control and prevention – added another 33,777 confirmed cases of coronavirus in its most recent numbers, bringing