World

The Indian government has banned the export of non-basmati white rice - trigging fears of shortages and price rises across the world. India is the world’s largest supplier of the food – making up 40% of global exports – which more than three billion people rely on as a staple. Last year it exported around 22 million tonnes,

Ukraine’s counteroffensive is entering its seventh week and even the most ardent optimists admit that it is progressing slower than anticipated and Ukrainian forces have – as yet – failed to break through the established layered Russian defences. But, Russia is also facing significant challenges. Vladimir Putin is evidently struggling to re-establish command and control

Temperatures across parts of Europe remain above 40C (104F) , as wildfires rage in Greece. Winds near Athens have fuelled a major wildfire close to the Greek capital, forcing people from their homes and burning 13.5 square miles (35 square km) of forest and scrubland. Authorities had declared the huge blaze contained overnight on Wednesday,

Russia has restricted the movement of British diplomats within the country in a response to “hostile actions” from London, the Russian Foreign Ministry has said. On Thursday, the ministry summoned the British interim charge d’affaires, Tom Dodd, where it announced that a “notification procedure” for the movement of employees beyond a 75-mile radius would be

A wild animal – believed to be a lioness – is on the loose on the outskirts of German capital Berlin. A helicopter is being used to track it and police tweeted in the early hours to tell people to stay inside and bring in their pets. It’s thought to be in the Kleinmachnow, Teltow

A tourist who saw a US soldier run across the North Korean border said she first thought it was part of a TikTok stunt. Private Second Class Travis T King was reportedly facing disciplinary action by the US military when he crossed into the secretive country, US officials said. Sarah Leslie, from New Zealand, was

The head of MI6 has urged Russians appalled by the horrors of Vladimir Putin’s war in Ukraine to “join hands with us” and spy for the UK to help end the bloodshed. Sir Richard Moore used a rare speech to reveal that “many” had already taken this step since Russia’s invasion was launched 18 months

The heatwave enveloping southern Europe is set to intensify even further today – with temperatures expected to reach as high as 46C. Spain, Italy and Greece will bake tomorrow and the European Space Agency has warned that France, Germany and Poland will also face extreme heat over the coming days. Sardinia and Sicily – among

Meteorologists are warning temperatures will hit new record highs across southern Europe this week. The latest forecasts show peaks of 44C (111F) on multiple days, with temperatures consistently in the high 30s and low 40s across the region. The European Space Agency has warned countries including Italy, Spain, France, Germany and Poland will face extreme

Sky’s chief correspondent Stuart Ramsay and his team have witnessed the deadly realities of a civil war, which Myanmar’s leaders claim isn’t happening.   Few Western journalists get into the southeast Asian country, previously known as Burma – but our news crew spent a month undercover deep in the jungle with resistance fighters, medics and

A 25-year-old British backpacker has been stabbed in the back by a teenager in an Australian beach resort, local media is reporting. Police were called to Noosa on the Queensland coast in the early hours of Sunday. It is thought an argument developed just before 4am on Hastings Street, officers said. The 15-year-old attacker then

In a moment of candour, the Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelensky said the counter-offensive has not gone exactly as planned. “We must all understand very clearly, as clearly as possible, that Russian forces in our southern and eastern lands are doing everything they can in order to stop our soldiers.” He was speaking in his nightly

Benjamin Netanyahu is in hospital, his office has confirmed. The Israeli prime minister, 73, is in a good condition and undergoing assessment in Sheba hospital, in Tel Hashomer, near Tel Aviv, his office added. According to Israeli reports he was feeling unwell, but fully conscious en route to the hospital. Netanyahu was rushed to hospital

At least seven people have died after torrential downpours triggered deadly flash floods and landslides in South Korea. The country has been hit by heavy rainfall since 9 July, which has intensified in the past three days and is expected to continue in some regions until Sunday. Thousands are being evacuated after a dam in

Europe is set to reach even higher temperatures over the weekend, as the Cerberus heatwave continues to grip the south of the continent. Temperatures are expected to continue to swelter in Italy, with a second heatwave expected to rocket 12C (53.6F) above average in some areas on Sunday. Five cities in Sicily, Sardinia and Puglia

Ukrainian forces say they have conducted a “special operation” on a Dnipro island, as dramatic footage shows soldiers using speed boats and drones. Ukrainian special forces are said to have headed towards the Russian-held island, firing weapons as they drew closer, aerial footage posted by the Ukrainian army’s command of the special operations forces shows.