UK

Further measures to control the spread of the Omicron variant come into force in England today – while people in Scotland are urged to defer Christmas parties in response to the variant. The legal requirement to wear masks has been extended in England to cover more indoor spaces including cinemas, theatres, churches, museums, galleries and

An undercover TV researcher has been found guilty of the torture and murder of a father of two at a cannabis farm. Christopher Guest More was convicted of killing Brian Waters at Chester Crown Court – more than 18 years after the murder. More, who had done undercover work with journalist Donal McIntyre, was arrested

The Prime Minister and his wife Carrie Johnson have announced the birth of their second child, a baby girl. In a statement, a spokeswoman for the couple said: “The prime minister and Mrs Johnson are delighted to announce the birth of a healthy baby girl at a London hospital earlier today. “Both mother and daughter

Boris Johnson has toughened coronavirus measures in England amid concern over the increasing spread of the Omicron variant. Speaking at a Downing Street news conference on Wednesday evening, the prime minister announced the measures in the government’s “Plan B” for dealing with COVID-19 this winter. Mr Johnson said it had become “increasingly clear” that Omicron,

Boris Johnson is considering the imposition of fresh coronavirus restrictions in England and a move to Plan B of the government’s strategy for dealing with COVID-19 this winter. Following the discovery of the Omicron variant, which Downing Street fears is more transmissible than the Delta variant, the prime minister is mulling tougher measures to slow

Labour has accused Number 10 staff of “laughing” at the British public after footage emerged of Downing Street officials joking about a Christmas party during a time of strict COVID restrictions. In a video recording of what ITV News reported was a rehearsal for a TV media briefing, senior Number 10 aides were filmed talking

People arriving in the UK from overseas now have to take a COVID-19 test before they travel, under new rules designed to slow the spread of the Omicron variant. The changes, which came into effect at 4am on Tuesday, will mean: • Anyone travelling from countries that are not on the red list must take

Cases of the Omicron variant in people without any travel history have been confirmed in the UK meaning it is now being transmitted within the community, Health Secretary Sajid Javid said. Mr Javid said there are now 261 Omicron variant cases in England, 71 in Scotland and four in Wales – a total of 336.

A minister has denied that the government acted too late in reintroducing travel restrictions after the discovery of the Omicron variant of COVID-19. Speaking to Kay Burley on Sky News, policing minister Kit Malthouse said: “We have to be agile, we have to recognise that all these things are impositions on people’s lives and lifestyles.

A further 86 cases of the new Omicron COVID variant have been reported in the UK, taking the total to 246. This compares with a total of 160 yesterday – an increase of more than 50%. The UK Health Security Agency, which publishes the figures, says 18 of the cases are in Scotland, taking its

There will be a national investigation into the murder of six-year-old Arthur Labinjo-Hughes. It comes as deputy prime minister Dominic Raab told Sky News: “The most vulnerable in our society need to have the maximum protection.” The boy, from Solihull, West Midlands, was poisoned, starved and beaten by step-mother Emma Tustin, 32, and his father

All international arrivals to the UK will again be required to take pre-departure COVID-19 tests to tackle the spread of the new Omicron variant, the health secretary has announced. The rule applies to all travellers visiting the UK or returning from a holiday, regardless of vaccination status, and will come into force from 4am on

Arthur Labinjo-Hughes should have been a top priority for social services but was “missed” during the coronavirus lockdown, a child protection boss has said. The six-year-old from Solihull was poisoned, starved and beaten by step-mother Emma Tustin, 32, and his father Thomas Hughes, 29, in a prolonged campaign of “evil abuse”. He was left with

The Pfizer and Moderna vaccines being used in the UK as boosters prompt the best overall response, according to a UK trial. The study, published in the Lancet, involved almost 3,000 people aged 30 and over, and it found that the mRNA vaccines gave the best boost to antibodies and T-cells, particularly after two initial

France has rejected the idea of a joint British-French patrol in the English Channel to deal with the rising number of migrant crossing – but said Paris officials are “ready to pursue our operational cooperation” with the UK. Writing to Boris Johnson, French Prime Minister Jean Castex told his British counterpart that his country “cannot

Around 500 leaseholders from across the UK have told Sky News about the extreme mental health impact and financial toll of having to live in an unsafe building.  Our research has exposed the devastating consequences the national building safety crisis is having on flat owners who can’t afford to fix the problems with their homes.

A new drug which can reduce the risk of hospitalisation and death from COVID by 79% has been approved for use in the UK for people aged 12 and up. Xevudy – also known as sotrovimab – has been given the greenlight by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) after being found to

One of the UK’s leading COVID experts has told Sky News that if people are “sensible” with wearing masks and social distancing in the coming weeks then they should all be able to enjoy Christmas. But Professor Anthony Harnden, deputy chairman of the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) also cautioned that this may

Health Secretary Sajid Javid has suggested the possible impact of the Omicron variant of COVID-19 will be known in a fortnight’s time and ahead of the government’s three-week review of fresh restrictions. The government has responded to the discovery of the Omicron variant by reimposing compulsory mask-wearing in England in shops and on public transport,

The government plans to offer booster vaccines to everyone over the age of 18 by the end of January, Boris Johnson has said. Speaking at a Downing Street news briefing on Tuesday, the PM said the rollout of booster programme will go in age order, and that there will be more than 1,500 community pharmacy

Three more cases of the Omicron COVID-19 variant have been identified in Scotland, taking the UK’s total to 14. Scotland’s health secretary Humza Yousaf said there are now five cases in the Lanarkshire area and four in NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde. Scotland hosted South Africa in a rugby international at Edinburgh’s Murrayfield stadium on

A judge has ruled that a 14-year-old convicted of shooting schoolboy Keon Lincoln can be now identified. The decision comes as the teenager and four other youths convicted of killing the 15-year-old await their sentences. The judge at Birmingham Crown Court lifted reporting restrictions and Yussuf Mustapha can now be named as the boy who shot

Six cases of the Omicron coronavirus variant have been found in Scotland, authorities have confirmed. They are in addition to the three already detected in England. Four cases are in the Lanarkshire area and two have been identified in the Greater Glasgow and Clyde area. Scotland’s health secretary Humza Yousaf said: “This will be a

A third person infected with the Omicron coronavirus variant has been identified in the UK, health officials have said. The individual, who is no longer in the country, tested positive after travelling to Britain and “is linked to travel to southern Africa“. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) is now carrying out targeted testing where

A snow and ice weather warning is still in place after Storm Arwen battered the UK over the past 48 hours. Some areas are expected to struggle to get above -10C (14F) this morning and on Monday morning, according to the Met Office. Three people were killed by falling trees as wind-speeds of almost 100mph

Boris Johnson has said that people who come into close contact with anyone who tests positive for coronavirus with the new Omicron variant will have to self-isolate, regardless of their jab status, as he delivered a press conference in Downing Street. The prime minister warned the Omicron variant could reduce the effectiveness of vaccines, as

No cases of the new COVID variant have been detected in the UK, but it is highly likely it has now spread beyond southern Africa, the health secretary has said. Sajid Javid warned the new strain could be more transmissible than the Delta variant and there is a “possibility it might have a different impact

A rare red “danger to life” weather warning has been issued by the Met Office for Storm Arwen – with winds so strong they could destroy homes and buildings, disrupt travel and bring down power lines and trees, it says. The Met Office issued its highest alert, warning that gusts in excess of 80mph are

Britain is bringing in travel restrictions for six African countries due to a new COVID variant that UK experts have called the “worst one we’ve seen so far”. Health Secretary Sajid Javid tweeted: “UKHSA (UK Health Security Agency) is investigating a new variant. More data is needed but we’re taking precautions now. “Six African countries

The number of COVID cases the UK has seen since the start of the pandemic has passed 10 million, official figures show. According to government data, the number of people to have tested positive in the latest round of daily figures is 47,240. This takes the total number of coronavirus infections to 10,021,497. Please use

An alleged victim of a Hull grooming gang has told how she was bitten, beaten and burned during a violent rape – and that police and her school had concerns she was being abused but failed to stop it. Warning: This article includes graphic content The teenage girl’s mother was so worried after her daughter

A new and more infectious version of the Delta variant now accounts for 15% of coronavirus cases in the UK, according to the latest government data. AY.4.2 is an evolutionary spin-off of the original Delta variant first found in India. The UK Health and Security Agency (UKHSA) designated it a ‘variant under investigation’ on 20

Those who kill emergency service members will face mandatory life sentences after the government decided to back a law change prompted by the death of PC Andrew Harper. The government will introduce “Harper’s law” as soon as possible, to bring in mandatory life sentences for those who kill an emergency worker in the line of