World

The killer of a young British backpacker can finally be named after he lost an appeal against his murder conviction and sentence. Jesse Kempson murdered Grace Millane the night before her 22nd birthday in December 2018. They met on dating site Tinder and went for a drink together in Auckland, New Zealand, and he strangled

More than 300 schoolboys who were kidnapped purportedly by militant group Boko Haram in northern Nigeria have been freed, according to the governor of Katsina state. Aminu Bello Masari said that a total of 344 students held in a wood in the neighbouring Zamfara state had been released by their captors and handed over to

France’s president Emmanuel Macron has tested positive for coronavirus, his office has said. The Elysee Palace said he was tested after showing early symptoms. He will now isolate for seven days but will continue to work and carry out his activities remotely. Image: Mr Macron speaks with Hungary’s prime minister Viktor Orban next to Poland’s

An audacious cross-border kidnap plan carried out in Istanbul and involving a “honeytrap” is further straining relations between Turkey, Iran and Europe. Sky News has been given exclusive access to Turkish counter terrorism files which show how Iranian opposition activist Habib Chaab was lured into the trap and smuggled back into Iran. Dissident Mr Chaab

The ex-wife of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos has donated more than £3bn ($4bn) to frontline charities helping in the pandemic in four months, she has revealed. In a blog post Mackenzie Scott, who was previously known as Mackenzie Bezos, said she was inspired by the philanthropic efforts of others during the coronavirus pandemic. In July,

Some European countries are tightening restrictions over the coming weeks – while others are relaxing them for Christmas. In many nations, coronavirus cases are rising again after dipping at the end of November. These are the COVID-19 restrictions and Christmas rules around the continent: The Netherlands A second lockdown starts on Tuesday for at least

“Even if I die, even if I am beheaded, or killed by bullets – I will not back down. Our community will never leave the battlefield and run away.” “We will take our rights back, these laws have to go,” Gurjit Singh, an ex-military man and now a farmer, tells Sky News. He is among

The partner of a British hiker missing in the Pyrenees has hit out at “deeply upsetting” claims she disappeared on purpose in search of a new life. Esther Dingley, 37, vanished from Port de la Glere in late November while on a solo trek along the French-Spanish border. She had been travelling across Europe in

State-sponsored hackers have been monitoring emails at the US Treasury Department and another American federal agency for months, according to the Reuters news agency. The US intelligence community is reportedly concerned that the hackers who targeted the Treasury and an agency of the Commerce Department may have been spying on other agencies too. People familiar

Protests are continuing to grow over controversial new farming laws in India – but the country’s prime minister is refusing to back down. Demonstrations have been taking place across India and have now spread to other cities around the world, including the UK, the Netherlands and Canada. Farmers say the three federal laws, which deregulate crop

The UN secretary general has called on all countries to declare a climate emergency or face “catastrophic” results. Dozens of world leaders spoke at the virtual Climate Ambition Summit on Saturday – from the smallest nation’s worst-hit by climate change to the world’s worst polluters. Nations at the UN summit were urged to “stop the

The first aid convoy has arrived in Mekelle, the capital of Ethiopia’s northern Tigray State, 10 days after Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s government said humanitarian organisations would have “unimpeded, sustained and secure access” to areas under its control. Seven trucks belonging to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) were sent to the city’s

There is a “long and difficult road ahead” with 12 months to go until the landmark COP26 climate conference hosted by the UK, the UN secretary-general’s special adviser on Climate Action has said. Selwin Hart was speaking ahead of a virtual climate ambition summit on Saturday when around 70 countries will reveal how much they

UK holidaymakers on the Canary Islands have hit out at new quarantine rules which have disrupted their Christmas plans. Travellers arriving in the UK from the popular Spanish islands from 4am on Saturday must self-isolate for two weeks. Tour operator TUI said it has around 5,000 UK holidaymakers on the islands, with a further 800

The trial of a prominent women’s rights activist has begun in Saudi Arabia, three years after she was first jailed. The family of Loujain al Hathloul has told Sky News they were informed late on Wednesday night that she would appear at Saudi Arabia’s Specialised Criminal Court for a trial which United Nations Human Rights

Lebanon’s caretaker prime minister and three former ministers have been charged over the huge explosion at a Beirut port that killed almost 200 people and injured 6,500 others. The country’s official news agency reported charges have been filed against Hassan Diab and former finance minister Ali Hassan Khalil, as well as former ministers of public