UK

COVID cases have risen for the first time in two months, according to the latest figures. The spike is likely to be caused by increases in cases compatible with the original Omicron variant BA.1 and the newer variants BA.4 and BA.5, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said. A total of 989,800 people in private

Two Britons who were captured by Russian forces while fighting in Ukraine have been sentenced to death, state-owned Russian news agency RIA Novosti has said. Aiden Aslin, 28, and Shaun Pinner, 48, were captured in Mariupol in April during the intense fight for control of the port city, before appearing in court in the separatist

The files needed to print a gun are not buried on the dark web. They can be downloaded in as little as three clicks from mainstream social media sites such as YouTube. 3D-printed gun technology has rapidly advanced in recent years – with a range of printable semi-automatic rifles, carbines and pistols available. Those who

The average cost of filling a typical family car with petrol costs more than £100 for the first time, the RAC has said. The situation will likely worsen the cost of living crisis for motorists and for customers, as businesses will at some point look to pass on their rising costs. RAC fuel spokesperson Simon

The cost of filling the average family car with petrol is tipped to have exceeded £100 for the first time, when industry figures are released later on Thursday. The price of fuel has been a major component of the cost of living crisis from the off, with diesel – the engine of the UK economy

Boris Johnson has said he is getting on with the job as he came back fighting in his first PMQs after surviving a confidence vote. The prime minister entered the House of Commons to cheers, just two days after he won a vote by his own MPs – although 41% voted to oust him as

Thousands of railway workers are planning to strike on three days later this month in the biggest outbreak of industrial action since 1989, according to the RMT union. It said that more than 50,000 of its members across Network Rail and 13 train operators across the UK will walk out on 21, 23 and 25

Boris Johnson could face another confidence vote in just six months as the leading Conservative committee is looking at changing the rules after he survived last night’s vote, a senior Tory rebel has said. Tobias Ellwood, who voted against the prime minister, said he understands the heads of the 1922 Committee of backbench Tory MPs

Boris Johnson has narrowly survived a vote of confidence among Tory MPs – but suffered a rebellion bigger than Theresa May. Some 211 MPs voted for the prime minister, compared to 148 votes against – a majority of 63. He needed a simple majority – 180 votes or more – to continue in office. The

Rebel Conservative MPs say they expect a no confidence vote in Boris Johnson to be held in the coming days. Letters expressing no confidence in the prime minister must be submitted by 54 Tory MPs to trigger a challenge. Data collated by Sky News shows that 28 Conservatives have publicly called for Mr Johnson to

Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall have attended a Big Jubilee Lunch on the final day of celebrations marking the Queen’s 70 years on the throne. Millions of people across the UK are taking part in patriotic street parties, picnics and barbecues on day four of the Platinum Jubilee weekend. The monarch‘s eldest son

Prince Charles has paid tribute to the Queen, telling those gathered at the Platinum Jubilee concert that “what really gets my mother up in the morning is all of you”. Speaking at the end of the Buckingham Palace gig, the Prince of Wales said Her Majesty has been “with us in our difficult times”. More

The Platinum Jubilee celebrations enter their third day on Saturday and, while many people will be enjoying street parties, this is what the royals will be doing: The Queen will no longer attend the Derby Day at Epsom Down racecourse in Surrey, but the Princess Royal is expected to be at the event at 5.30pm.

The Queen will not attend the Epsom Derby on Saturday, Buckingham Palace has confirmed. The monarch is expected to watch the major sporting event on television at Windsor Castle. There had been speculation the Queen would not appear at the race due to her ongoing mobility issues. Royals attend Guildhall event – follow latest updates

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have been reunited with their family in public for the first time in over two years for the Queen’s Jubilee thanksgiving service. Harry and Meghan arrived at St Paul’s Cathedral for the service minutes before the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, who came without their children Prince George, Princess

The Queen has made her second appearance of the day as she triggered the lighting of the principal Jubilee beacon outside Buckingham Palace. At the same time thousands of beacons were lit in villages, towns and cities across the UK to honour the Queen’s 70-year reign. Her Majesty started the ceremony from the quadrangle at

The Queen has been seen for the first time during her four-day Platinum Jubilee celebrations on the balcony of Buckingham Palace. The monarch, 96, took the salute from the Irish Guards alongside the Duke of Kent as thousands of people crowded central London to celebrate 70 years of her reign. She wore the same pale blue

­­­The Queen has said she is “inspired by the goodwill shown to me” and thanked the nation as a new portrait of her was unveiled for the Platinum Jubilee. In a special message to the country, Her Majesty said “many happy memories will be created” over the next four days. The 96-year-old monarch is celebrating

The deputy prime minister has insisted there will not be a Boris Johnson leadership vote next week, saying the “Westminster bubble whips this stuff up”. Dominic Raab downplayed any threat to Mr Johnson’s premiership as the number of Conservative MPs publicly calling for him to go reached 41 in the wake of the Sue Gray

The Queen has arrived back at Windsor Castle ahead of her Platinum Jubilee celebrations this week. The 96-year-old monarch was photographed at Aberdeen airport, after staying at Balmoral, her Scottish estate, for a few days before festivities begin to mark 70 years of her reign. She was then captured again being driven into Windsor Castle.

TUI has cancelled more flights over the next month as a union warned the issues at airports across the UK “could get worse this summer before they get better”. The German airline apologised for the disruption over the past few days and said that “due to ongoing challenges” a “small number” of extra flights from

Tory staffers have come under pressure not to sign a letter calling for more stringent checks on those wishing to become an MP in light of the ongoing “pestminster” scandal, Sky News can reveal. The letter, organised by Angus McVean and Henry Dixon-Clegg, is addressed to Prime Minister Boris Johnson, Conservative Party chairman Oliver Dowden

Ministers have been warned of potential power cuts to as many as six million households this winter, according to reports. Government modelling of a “reasonable” worst-case scenario predicts major gas shortages in winter if Russia cuts off more supplies to the European Union, the Times says. Limits could be imposed on industrial use of gas,

The culture secretary has called on UEFA to launch a formal investigation into violent scenes in Paris that delayed the Champions League final between Liverpool and Real Madrid. The size of the crowd outside the Stade de France on Saturday evening appeared to overwhelm security, with many supporters waiting outside for hours, while others were

The race is on to prevent a massive oil spill off the coast of Devon after a superyacht caught fire and sank. The 85ft vessel had been carrying around 8,000 litres of fuel when it was engulfed by flames while moored at Torquay on Saturday. Witnesses said that the fire burnt through the rope mooring

EasyJet says it will cancel more than 200 flights over the next 10 days, putting half-term breaks at risk for thousands of travellers. The airline said about 24 flights from Gatwick would be affected each day between now and 6 June. A spokeswoman for the company said: “We are very sorry for the late notice

Senior Tory MP Sir Bob Neill has submitted a letter of no confidence in Boris Johnson’s leadership as the number of Conservatives calling for the prime minister to go ramps up after the Sue Gray report. Sir Bob, who chairs the Justice Select Committee, said Ms Gray’s report into lockdown-breaking parties in Downing Street has

Rishi Sunak has said cost of living support delivering hundreds of pounds to every household will have a “minimal impact” on inflation – and suggested those who do not need it could give the money to charity. The chancellor told Sky News that the announcement of new measures worth £15bn to ease the burden on

The family of a personal trainer who was shot dead years after he helped convict a gang of rapists fear his killer will never be caught. Abraham Badru, 26, was murdered outside his home in Hackney, east London, in March 2018 after he had received threatening messages telling him he was “dead meat”. He was

The Queen has allowed the world to see “the fun behind the formality” of her royal life in home movies that have been released for the first time. The clips, which span her life from being a baby pushed in a pram by her mother to her coronation in 1953 at the age of 27,

Two more Tory MPs have withdrawn their support for Boris Johnson in the wake of Sue Gray’s report into Downing Street lockdown parties. The announcements by John Baron and David Simmonds follow a similar call by their backbench colleague Julian Sturdy on Wednesday. Mr Baron said the findings by senior civil servant Ms Gray as

Boris Johnson has insisted the UK needs to move on from partygate after the Sue Gray report revealed a slew of lockdown-breaching events at Downing Street. The prime minister said he took “full responsibility” for the scandal but defied renewed calls to resign as he sought to play down his personal involvement in the gatherings.

London mayor Sadiq Khan has asked police for an explanation after “smoking gun” pictures emerged of Boris Johnson drinking at an event during lockdown – for which he was not fined. Mr Khan, who oversees policing in the capital, told Sky News’ Kay Burley that the pictures from a Downing Street leaving do in November