NASA images show coronavirus shutdown has cleared China pollution

NASA has published satellite images which show a dramatic decline in pollution levels over China, which the US space agency says is "partly related" to the coronavirus. https://ift.tt/2Td15Y9

US has done a 'deal with the devil', Afghanistan war widow says

Victoria Bateman, 35, lost her husband, Lance Corporal James Bateman of 2nd Battalion The Parachute Regiment in 2008, when he was shot by the Taliban in southern Afghanistan. https://ift.tt/39dvL0X

'Momentous day': US and Taliban sign historic Afghanistan peace deal

A peace deal between the United States and its once sworn enemy the Taliban has been sealed at twin ceremonies, in which the US has agreed to withdraw all of its troops from Afghanistan. https://ift.tt/2vra0My

'Do everything possible': Global coronavirus risk raised to highest level

South Korea has urged its citizens to stay indoors this weekend and warned of a "critical moment" in the coronavirus battle, while the global risk has been raised to the highest level. https://ift.tt/32DQEzK

Actresses walk out of ceremony as Polanski wins best director award

Several actresses have walked out of the Cesar Awards ceremony in Paris after Roman Polanski, who is facing a historical sex assault claim against him, won best director. https://ift.tt/2Vxbi3l

'We are part of a game': The refugees stuck in 'no man's land'

From Turkey's border with Greece, I write with a profound sense of deja vu.  https://ift.tt/2Vwsd5P

UK and US 'must return to Afghanistan if Taliban deal fails'

Britain and the United States must be ready to send troops back into Afghanistan if a withdrawal deal with the Taliban - set to be signed on Saturday - unravels and the militant force attempts to "march on Kabul", a former British military chief has warned. https://ift.tt/2VyS25d

Kobe Bryant: Claims deputies shared graphic photos of crash

An investigation is under way into whether sheriff's deputies shared graphic photos of the helicopter crash scene where Kobe Bryant, his 13-year-old daughter and seven others were killed. https://ift.tt/2I7o6p7

People smuggler who hid three people in car roof box jailed

A people smuggler who crammed three Vietnamese nationals into a tiny roof box on top of his car has been jailed for three years. https://ift.tt/38ascHo

British boy rescued after being buried in snow for 30 minutes

An 11-year-old British boy who was buried under heaps of snow for 30 minutes thanked his father through frozen tears as he was rescued. https://ift.tt/2PxUWmZ

Copenhagen star charged with assaulting police officer at Celtic

A player and steward from FC Copenhagen have been charged over an alleged assault on a police officer during the club's Europa League match with Celtic. https://ift.tt/32B3JtL

Coronavirus: Risk of spread raised to 'very high' around world

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has raised the risk of spread and impact of the coronavirus outbreak to the highest level around the world. https://ift.tt/3cg3MQf

High-profile tycoon arrested for 'taking part in pro-democracy march'

One of Hong Kong's most high-profile entrepreneurs has been arrested after allegedly taking part in a pro-democracy march. https://ift.tt/2Vv9yr3

China's top swimmer out of Olympics after doping violation

China's top swimmer, Sun Yang, has been banned for eight years for breaking anti-doping rules, meaning the Olympic champion will miss Tokyo 2020 this summer. https://ift.tt/2VC2Kb8

China depicts heroic coronavirus fight - the reality is very different

On Chinese state media, the only permitted narrative is one of heroic struggle; of undoubtedly brave doctors working long hours treating COVID-19 patients; of hospitals built in days; of people anonymously donating money and supplies. https://ift.tt/2VvuTkr

British cruise ship passenger dies from coronavirus

A British man has died after being infected with coronavirus while in quarantine in Japan on the Diamond Princess cruise ship, Japanese media reports. https://ift.tt/32ycDYU

Coronavirus: BA owner and easyJet cut European flights

The owner of British Airways and easyJet are scaling back services in Europe as coronavirus cases surge. https://ift.tt/2Pwbqw8

Turkey 'opens borders to Europe for refugees' as Syria conflict escalates

Turkish media is reporting that the country's borders with Europe are effectively open to Syrian refugees and other migrants. https://ift.tt/386uDLa

British cycling stars tested for coronavirus as UAE Tour cancelled

Tour de France winner Chris Froome and fellow cycling star Mark Cavendish are being tested for the coronavirus after two people on the UAE Tour were confirmed to have COVID-19. https://ift.tt/2T6YgYI

'Bring back the body': Thief crashes hearse after police chase

A thief stole a hearse with a body inside from a church - before later crashing as police chased him on the highway. https://ift.tt/3aghQan

Dow Jones tumbles by 1,200 points in a single day - its biggest fall ever

The Dow Jones tumbled by almost 1,200 points on Thursday amid growing anxiety about the coronavirus - the biggest one-day drop in its history. https://ift.tt/2Tqo8xq

22 Turkish soldiers 'killed in airstrike by Syrian regime forces'

Twenty-two Turkish soldiers have been killed in an airstrike carried out by Syrian regime forces, say officials in Turkey. https://ift.tt/2I42f1S

'Are you real?': Putin quizzed on body double rumours

Vladimir Putin has put to rest rumours he uses body doubles for security, admitting that he has in fact been offered such measures but rejected them. https://ift.tt/2I5NWtm

'Slightly ill' Pope cancels mass, day after touching masked crowd

Pope Francis has cancelled a mass at a Rome basilica because he is ill, the Vatican has said. https://ift.tt/2wecA8Q

Polanski avoids Cesar's as he fears 'public lynching'

Roman Polanski will not attend the Cesar Awards - the French equivalent to the Oscars - as he says he fears a "public lynching" over a new sex assault claim against him. https://ift.tt/3c71pz0

Coronavirus: 130 guests on lockdown at Tenerife hotel allowed to leave

Some 130 people out of 700 on lockdown at a Tenerife hotel after an Italian doctor staying there tested positive for coronavirus are being allowed to leave. https://ift.tt/3ccSPPp

Village facing 10-year evacuation over WWII weapons threat

People in a Swiss village have been told they may have to leave their homes for more than a decade while a nearby Second World War weapons store is cleared. https://ift.tt/2T5fOED

Iran's vice president 'infected with coronavirus'

Iran's vice president Masoumeh Ebtekar has been infected with the coronavirus, a state-owned newspaper says. https://ift.tt/2VsSx0Y

Family of bullied schoolboy to donate Disneyland funds to charity instead

Tha family of a nine-year-old boy who was left suicidal after being bullied because of his dwarfism will donate the £473,900 (£368,300) crowdfunded for him to go to Disneyland to charity instead. https://ift.tt/2TkxuuH

Japan confirms first case of person being reinfected with coronavirus

Japan has reported its first case of a person becoming reinfected with the coronavirus after appearing to have fully recovered. https://ift.tt/2TnWpO9

New mini-moon discovered orbiting Earth - but it's only temporary

It turns out the moon is not the only object circling the planet. Earth has captured a tiny cosmic object and pulled it into orbit - and it may be a mini-moon. https://ift.tt/32wYcEC

Congress finally makes lynching a federal hate crime

Some 65 years after the torture and murder of 14-year-old Emmett Till by two white men in Mississippi and 120 years after it first considered the issue, Congress has finally made lynching a federal hate crime. https://ift.tt/2Thw4kx

'Mike has a certain talent for this': Trump picks Pence to run coronavirus response

Donald Trump has appointed his vice president Mike Pence to lead the US response to the coronavirus. https://ift.tt/2w4JCbf

CDC: Which facial hair styles are best for preventing coronavirus spread?

Side whiskers and handlebar moustaches are in but long stubble and beards are out. https://ift.tt/2vnlS1U

Man jailed after pushing wheelchair-bound wife into pond to drown her

A man has been jailed for life for killing his wife after pushing her into a pond while she was in her wheelchair. https://ift.tt/2HY3kbn

Europe's free movement presents profound challenges amid coronavirus panic

Roadblocks are rare in Europe. In a continent where the free movement of people is often held as a modern, fundamental right, you get used to going where you want. https://ift.tt/2HV8EfI

'There's nothing I can do': Mum stuck in hotel room after coronavirus lockdown

Holidaymaker Liz Davies is one of about 160 Britons at a Tenerife hotel which is on lockdown after an Italian doctor staying there tested positive for the coronavirus. https://ift.tt/3a881v8

'Now my entire family is infected': What it is like to have COVID-19

A beautician who contracted COVID-19 while running a team delivering essential supplies to struggling hospitals in Wuhan has spoken to Sky News about what it is like to have the virus. https://ift.tt/32vHy8w

Stock markets volatile again after two-day coronavirus rout

Global stock markets have endured further volatile trading after two days of huge declines prompted by the coronavirus outbreak. https://ift.tt/39bXiA5

BP quits US lobby groups over climate change differences

Oil giant BP is to quit three US-based energy lobby groups over differences on climate change policy. https://ift.tt/2uvnYwj

'Tennis - I'm saying goodbye': Maria Sharapova quits at 32

Maria Sharapova, a former world number one who won Wimbledon aged just 17, is retiring from tennis. https://ift.tt/32xYdIj

Ireland-Italy rugby match postponed due to coronavirus

The Six Nations rugby matches between Ireland and Italy in Dublin has been postponed due to the coronavirus outbreak. https://ift.tt/32vUgUp

Coronavirus: British tourists to be quarantined for two weeks in Tenerife hotel

British tourists stuck in lockdown at a Tenerife hotel over coronavirus fears will have to stay in isolation for 14 days, the local government has said. https://ift.tt/2HXA6cG

At least 20 die in Hindu-Muslim violence in India

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has called for calm after days of violent sectarian clashes over a controversial new citizenship law left at least 20 people dead. https://ift.tt/2T3YZdb

Brazil confirms first coronavirus case in South America as outbreak widens

The first case of the coronavirus has been confirmed in South America as the outbreak continues to spread around the world. https://ift.tt/3a7MDq8

Woman accused of suitcase murder 'says partner died after hide-and-seek game'

A woman arrested on suspicion of murder after her boyfriend's body was found inside a suitcase has reportedly told police he died after a game of hide-and-seek. https://ift.tt/32rodVX

How coronavirus could affect holidays abroad - and what you should do

With coronavirus cases confirmed in Italy and Spain, many people are getting anxious about how this could affect their holidays. https://ift.tt/37WWOMJ

Six Nations under threat from coronavirus but not Olympics, organisers say

Irish rugby chiefs are to meet the country's health minister this lunchtime after he called for next month's Six Nations game against Italy to be called off over fears of spreading coronavirus. https://ift.tt/2T3Ou9L

Quarantined Brits told to stay calm as Tenerife hotel shuts over coronavirus

British tourists in lockdown at a Tenerife hotel have been told to "stay calm" after an Italian doctor who stayed there was diagnosed with the coronavirus. https://ift.tt/392QjJr

Clooney 'saddened' by child labour at farms 'used by Nespresso'

George Clooney has said he is "saddened" by an investigation that appeared to show children working at farms used by Nespresso - the coffee brand he has long been associated with. https://ift.tt/2HWUpXI