The Irish government has set out its plans for re-opening the country over the summer – including the adoption of a COVID-19 certificate so that people can travel abroad more freely. Taoiseach Micheal Martin confirmed the details on Friday evening following a cabinet meeting to sign-off on the proposals. Live COVID updates from the UK
World
Russia has denied entry to two European airline planes because they planned to avoid flying over Belarus to reach Moscow. Air France and Austrian Airlines both had to cancel flights after Russia refused to let them change their routes, fuelling speculation the Kremlin might be looking at a blanket ban in support of its ex-Soviet
Israel and Hamas will be investigated for potential war crimes after the UN Human Rights Council passed a resolution in favour of action. The resolution was passed by 29 votes to four at a special session in Geneva; the UK, France and Japan were among those who voted against it. A commission of inquiry will
There is a 40% chance that global temperatures will reach 1.5C above pre-industrial levels in the next five years – and the odds are rising. The 2015 Paris climate accord set a goal of keeping temperature rises under that threshold to prevent the worst effects of global warming. Last year the UN World Meteorological Organisation
Cyclone Yaas has made landfall on India’s east coast with gusts of nearly 100mph, tidal waves and heavy rain leaving many areas flooded. More than 1.1 million people have been evacuated from areas in the storm’s path as India continues to deal with a devastating surge in new cases of COVID-19. The cyclone had already
A young woman detained along with dissident journalist Roman Protasevich has appeared in a video recorded at a Belarusian detention centre. Sofia Sapega, a 23-year-old a Russian citizen, was with Mr Protasevich, 26, when Belarusian authorities forced their Ryanair flight to land in Minsk, instead of its scheduled destination in Lithuania. Russia’s foreign ministry said
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has said America will reopen its consulate in Jerusalem – as he also pledged to rally international support to rebuild Gaza. The consulate’s reopening will restore ties with Palestinians, which were downgraded under President Trump’s administration. Mr Blinken said it would be “an important way for our country to
Israel’s response will be “very powerful” if Hamas breaks the ceasefire, the country’s prime minister has warned. Benjamin Netanyahu was speaking as he and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken gave short statements after meeting during a visit to the region by Joe Biden’s foreign minister. The Israeli prime minister said: “If Hamas breaks the
A Belarusian opposition activist who was arrested after the Ryanair plane he was on was diverted to Minsk in a “state-sponsored hijacking” has appeared in a new video. Journalist Roman Protasevich‘s flight from Athens in Greece was rerouted from its scheduled destination of Vilnius, Lithuania, to the Belarusian capital on the orders of President Alexander
European leaders and the US have strongly condemned the arrest of a Belarusian dissident journalist after the Ryanair flight he was travelling on was forced to land in the Belarus capital Minsk. Roman Protasevich, 26, was arrested after his Ryanair flight from Athens was diverted from its scheduled destination of Vilnius in Lithuania on Sunday.
A senior Hamas leader has told Sky News the group’s current ceasefire should hold but warned there was no chance of making peace with Israel for the moment. In a wide ranging interview – the first he’s given to any broadcaster since the ceasefire was announced – Mahmoud Zahar, a Hamas co-founder, denied the group
DR Congo’s Mount Nyiragongo has erupted for the first time in nearly two decades. Many thousands of people have fled the city of Goma, some heading for its highest point Mount Goma. Others headed for the nearby Rwandan border, with authorities there saying that around 3,000 people had already crossed over on Saturday night. Goma
A ceasefire between Israel and Hamas is continuing to hold, allowing the first aid convoys to reach Gaza. The truce, which began before dawn on Friday, is allowing both sides to assess the damage following 11 days of conflict in which Israel pounded Gaza with airstrikes and militants fired thousands of rockets at Israel. Gaza
US President Joe Biden has said a two-state solution is the only answer to resolving the conflict between Israel and the Palestinian people. Speaking at a White House news conference, Mr Biden said that he was praying that the current ceasefire between Israel and Hamas would hold. The US administration worked in the background, along
The ceasefire agreed between Israel and Hamas overnight appeared to have been upheld by both sides in the first 12 hours. Eleven days of violence officially came to an end at 2am on Friday (12am UK time) after Egypt and the US helped broker a peace deal. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced it had
The rockets, the missiles and the air strikes will stop at 2am local time on Friday. After 11 days of fighting, both Israel and Hamas have agreed, through intermediaries, to a ceasefire. The moment is right for both of them to claim a victory. Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player ‘There