The health secretary has urged elderly and vulnerable people to get their COVID-19 booster jabs “as soon as you can” to help avoid restrictions being imposed over Christmas. Around 30% of people aged over 80 and 40% of over-50s in England are yet to receive a top-up jab of the coronavirus vaccine, according to the
UK
The UK has reported another 155 daily COVID deaths and a further 30,693 infections in the latest 24-hour period, according to government figures. The number of deaths is down on the 193 reported yesterday, and the number of cases is also lower than the 34,029 that were confirmed. There were 166 deaths and 41,278 cases
Twelve people have been arrested after hundreds of anti-establishment protesters gathered in Parliament Square in London on Bonfire Night, before scuffles broke out with police. Demonstrators wearing Guy Fawkes-style masks gathered at Trafalgar Square and burned an effigy of Prime Minister Boris Johnson. The protesters then moved to Parliament Square where fireworks appeared to be
A new chairman has been appointed by Yorkshire County Cricket Club, which is vowing to do “whatever it takes” to regain trust after a former player accused it of institutional racism. Lord Kamlesh Patel of Bradford has been appointed as a director and chair of the Club in the wake of Azeem Rafiq‘s allegations. Following
Owen Paterson will resign as the MP for North Shropshire in order to escape “the cruel world of politics” following a furious row over his proposed ban from the House of Commons. The Conservative former cabinet minister has been at the centre of a scandal after it was recommended he be suspended for 30 days.
COVID infections are at their highest ever recorded levels according to new research, which has been tracking cases since May 2020. The findings from the REACT-1 study show the increase is driven by high rates among school-aged children, with 1 in 17 children infected between 19 October and 29 October. Researchers warn the next ten
The British trawler, which had been held in France amid the row over post-Brexit fishing licences, has been released. The vessel, a Scottish-registered scallop dredger called Cornelis Gert Jan, set sail from Le Havre on 3 November after it was detained at a port in northern France last week. France accused it of fishing in
Free blood pressure monitors are to be given to more than 200,000 people in a bid to prevent heart attacks and strokes. The NHS will make 220,000 devices available to people who have been diagnosed with uncontrolled high blood pressure to enable them to carry out checks at home. More than 65,000 people have already
Three people who died after getting into trouble while paddleboarding on a river in Wales have been identified by police as tributes have been paid by friends and family. Dyfed-Powys Police confirmed that the victims of the incident on the Cleddau River at the weekend were Morgan Rogers, 24, from Cefin Coed, Merthyr Tydfil; Nicola
The rollout of smart motorways should be suspended amid safety concerns, MPs and campaigners have said. Government plans to remove the hard shoulder from all future smart motorways and use the lane for live traffic are “premature”, a report from Commons Transport Select Committee (TSC) has said. Demonstrators carried 38 cardboard coffins to the Houses
An electrician accused of murdering two women more than 30 years ago sexually assaulted dead bodies in the mortuaries of hospitals he worked at, a court has heard. David Fuller is standing trial at Maidstone Crown Court in Kent accused of the murders of Wendy Knell and Caroline Pierce in 1987. Both women were found
Two trains have crashed near Salisbury station and emergency services are at the scene, Wiltshire Police have said. No one has died, but a number of people have been injured, British Transport Police said. Its officers were called to Fisherton Tunnel at 6.46pm on Sunday. There are unconfirmed reports that one of the train drivers
A man and two women have died and another woman is fighting for her life after a group of paddleboarders got into difficulties on a river in Wales, police have confirmed. Emergency services first received reports of people in distress in the River Cleddau in Haverfordwest shortly after 9am on Saturday. A huge search and
Thousands of under-15s will be offered the COVID-19 jab at school, with NHS teams visiting more than 800 schools. Health teams are set to visit schools across England in the next week, with pupils returning to school from half-term. Jabs will be offered to unvaccinated 12-15-year-olds and students will be able to get the coronavirus
Boris Johnson has warned that success in the fight to tackle global warming “is going to very difficult” but “the whole of humanity is in the ring.” Imploring world leaders to act as the G20 summit begins in Rome on Saturday, the prime minister told Sky News’ Beth Rigby there is “a chance, if everybody
Prince Andrew’s lawyers in the US have asked a judge to dismiss his accuser Virginia Giuffre’s civil lawsuit. Ms Giuffre has accused the Duke of York of sexually abusing her when she was 17, more than 20 years ago. In court filings, the duke said he “unequivocally denies” sexually abusing or assaulting her. His request
Current high numbers of coronavirus cases in schools where only some teenagers have been vaccinated “provide the ideal conditions” for a new variant to emerge, government scientists have warned. The Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies says that “very high prevalence in schools combined with partly-vaccinated 12 to 16-year-olds in a highly mixing population” makes a
The remaining seven countries on the government’s travel red list are set to be removed meaning there will no longer be a requirement for hotel quarantine for arrivals to the UK, Sky News understands. Colombia, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Haiti, Panama, Peru and Venezuela are being taken off the list, which will leave no countries
Glasgow has been hit by flooding just days before the city hosts the crucial climate change summit COP26. Footage and pictures on social media shows cars driving through flood water in some streets as heavy rain lashes the city and causes disruption to transport. Some Glasgow residents have tweeted that several roads including Maryhill Road,
A serving Metropolitan Police officer has been charged with rape, the force has said. PC Adam Zaman, who is based on the East Area Command Unit, was charged by the City of London Police today. The 28-year-old has been remanded in custody to appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court this afternoon. The charge relates to an
Beliefs in witchcraft have been linked to reports of rape, assault, false imprisonment and threats to kill in the UK in the last three years, Sky News can reveal. In one incident, police were called after a parent said their child was “pushed down stairs by a ghost or spirit” and a priest had been
More than 80,000 children aged between 12 and 15 have booked to receive their COVID-19 vaccinations in England. Some 2.5 million letters will be sent out this week inviting parents to book a jab for their child through the national booking service. And more than 100 existing vaccination centres have opened their doors for this
A former Conservative minister should be suspended from the Commons for lobbying on behalf of two companies, a standards body has ruled. Owen Paterson was found to have “repeatedly used his privileged position” to benefit Randox, a clinical diagnostics company, and Lynn’s Country Foods, a meat processor and distributor and has been recommended for suspension
Another injunction has been granted against Insulate Britain protesters, the transport secretary has said, covering the “entire strategic road network”. “We are making use of every avenue of existing law to try to prevent the continued life-endangering action being carried out by Insulate Britain, which is causing intolerable disruption to motorists’ lives and livelihoods,” Grant
Two million eligible people will be invited to receive a COVID-19 booster jab from the NHS this week, as the government seeks to see off a sharp rise in cases without introducing Plan B measures. Calls for the reintroduction of masks, social distancing and working from home continued over the weekend, but ministers have so
Insulate Britain has pledged to restart its road-blocking protests despite legal injunctions which mean its members risk being fined or jailed. Earlier this month the organisation announced it was temporarily suspending its “campaign of civil resistance” which had caused chaos by blocking major roads around London. But a spokesman said that “there are things happening”
Rishi Sunak has refused to be drawn on the future of the eastern leg of HS2 just three days before announcing his spending plans in the autumn Budget later this week. Deflecting a question on the matter on Sky’s Trevor Phillips on Sunday, the chancellor also failed to confirm whether a new Northern Powerhouse Rail
Boris Johnson has repeated his call for those eligible to get their COVID-19 booster jabs over the coming weeks, insisting vaccines are the UK’s “way through” the pandemic. The prime minister has resisted calls from health leaders to implement the government’s Plan B for managing rising infection rates this winter, which would see tighter restrictions
The nation is “dilly-dallying into lockdown” and action should be taken now to avoid much tougher COVID restrictions later, a government scientific adviser has warned. Professor Stephen Reicher told Sky News that vaccines are “not quite enough” on their own and “other protections” are needed now to tackle coronavirus. His concerns have been echoed by
Five police officers from four different forces are facing disciplinary action over messages about Wayne Couzens. Couzens received a whole-life prison sentence last month after admitting to the kidnap, rape and murder of Sarah Everard. Now, two officers from the Metropolitan Police, and one from each force in Sussex, Dorset and Avon and Somerset are
It’s not something the palace would necessarily have wanted to tell us about – but a story in a newspaper has probably forced its hand. Yes, it may sound alarming that the Queen was taken to hospital for preliminary tests – after all, moments of illness have been rare during her reign. But I understand
The Queen spent a night in hospital after cancelling a visit to Northern Ireland, Buckingham Palace has said. A spokesman added: “Following medical advice to rest for a few days, the Queen attended hospital on Wednesday afternoon for some preliminary investigations, returning to Windsor Castle at lunchtime today (Thursday), and remains in good spirits.” It
In the last week, thousands of people have been arrested by police in England and Wales on suspicion of drug trafficking. In addition to the 1,468 arrests, weapons including zombie knives and samurai swords were seized, and £1.3m in cash was found by police between 11 October and 17 October Police in England and Wales