The Metropolitan Police has launched a preliminary investigation into Asma al Assad, Sky News understands. The British-born wife of Syrian President Bashar al Assad is accused of supporting and encouraging terrorism. If charged, the Met could seek her extradition. Guernica 37 International Justice Chambers accuses her of being among a number of “influential actors” who
World
Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab has made his strongest criticism yet of China’s campaign to increase its control over Hong Kong. Beijing is in a “state of ongoing non-compliance” with the Sino-British Joint Declaration, which established how the territory would be governed after it was handed to China in 1997, he said. Mr Raab condemned China’s
Gunmen have attacked a school in northwestern Nigeria and snatched at least 30 students in the latest of a string of such kidnaps. The abduction happened at the Federal College of Forestry Mechanization on the outskirts of Kaduna, nearly 400 miles from the capital Lagos. The gang struck at around 11.30pm on Thursday, according to
Italy is set to impose another national lockdown over the Easter weekend to combat growing numbers of coronavirus cases. It will see non-essential shops closed from 3 April to 5 April, with people only allowed to leave their homes for work, health or emergency reasons, according to a draft government decree seen by Reuters news
China’s “vaccine favouritism” could be damaging public health efforts amid the COVID-19 pandemic, a leading expert has told Sky News. China has pledged to donate coronavirus vaccines to 53 countries and export them to 27 more, according to state media, which has celebrated the deliveries. But critics have accused the country of engaging in vaccine
The European Medicines Agency has launched an investigation into the Oxford-AstraZeneca jab after reports of blood clots in vaccinated people. At present there is no firm evidence to suggest the two are linked and incidents of clotting have not been reported in the UK. The Danish Health and Medicines Authority has suspended the use of the
Twenty-seven people have been killed after a bus carrying children and some parents plunged into a ravine in Indonesia. At least 39 more are injured after a suspected brakes malfunction caused the accident on Indonesia’s main island of Java late on Wednesday. The bus driver lost control of the vehicle shortly before the crash in
Speculation is growing in Tanzania about the mystery whereabouts of the country’s coronavirus-denying president after he failed to appear in public for more than a week. John Magufuli was last seen on 27 February at his secretary of state’s swearing-in ceremony at the State House government offices in Dar es Salaam. Politicians in Tanzania and
Britons hoping to go on holiday after lockdown eases can think about booking a getaway to Greece for mid-May. Greece is planning on welcoming foreign tourists from 14 May depending on the status of the COVID-19 pandemic. People living in England could be allowed to go on foreign holidays from 17 May under Boris Johnson’s
A French schoolgirl has admitted to lying about a teacher before he was beheaded in an Islamist terror attack last year. Samuel Paty, 47, was killed after showing images of the Prophet Muhammad to his class during a lesson on free speech last October. On Sunday, French newspaper Le Parisien revealed that the girl, known
A British-Australian academic who was convicted and imprisoned in Iran for spying has said she had suicidal thoughts while in solitary confinement. Dr Kylie Moore-Gilbert was jailed for ten years on charges of espionage in September 2018. She was released in November 2020 in exchange for three Iranians being held abroad. She had vehemently denied
A nun in Myanmar told junta forces “you’ll have to come through me” – moments before they opened fire on protesters. At least two people were confirmed dead in the city of Myitkyina on Monday following clashes with security forces. Sister Ann Roza Nu Tawng previously said she was prepared to die to save others
At least 20 people have been killed after a series of large explosions at a military base in the city of Bata in Equatorial Guinea. The cause of the blasts is not yet known but reports on the TVGE news channel suggested authorities had ruled out an attack. TVGE called on people to donate blood
Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe’s five-year sentence is over but she has not been released. Yes her electronic tag has been taken off and she can travel where she wants – within Iran. But Nazanin cannot leave the country. And it seems she must return to court next Sunday. Image: Nazanin has been held in Iran for five
The Pope has performed Mass in a Baghdad cathedral after earlier holding a historic meeting with Iraq’s top Shia cleric. Francis was greeted by enthusiastic well-wishers at the Chaldean Cathedral of Saint Joseph on the second day of his visit to the country. Only 100 or so people were allowed in because of COVID restrictions
Pope Francis has met Grand Ayatollah Ali al Sistani – Iraq’s top Shia cleric – at the Islamic scholar’s home in the Iraqi city of Najaf. The Pope arrived at the cleric’s small home in a bullet-proof vehicle. As he entered the house, white doves were released, reflecting the themes of this four-day visit to