UK

The government was not “fully prepared” for the “wide-ranging impacts” of the coronavirus pandemic, according to a new report, which found that Brexit both helped and hindered preparations for future crises. There was a lack of detailed plans for shielding, job support schemes and school disruption, the National Audit Office found. According to the watchdog,

A variant of the Delta virus that is more infectious, but is less likely to cause symptoms, now accounts for more than one in 10 COVID cases in England, new research shows. The latest results from the long-running REACT-1 study shows the prevalence of the AY.4.2 variant has been growing at a rate of 2.8%

A man accused of murdering his girlfriend was recorded on a mobile phone as he repeatedly stabbed, strangled, and ran over her during a psychotic episode after eating a cannabis brownie, a court has been told. University student Lauren Bloomer, who was stabbed more than 30 times, “recorded her own murder” after seeking advice on

Priti Patel has said the suspected Liverpool terror attacker was able to exploit Britain’s “dysfunctional” asylum system to remain in the country. On a three-day visit to Washington, the UK’s home secretary said the system was a “complete merry-go-round” with a “whole industry” devoted to defending the rights of individuals intent on causing harm. It

Former England coach David “Bumble” Lloyd has apologised to Azeem Rafiq and the “Asian cricket community” over comments he made. It comes after Rafiq gave evidence to MPs on his experience of institutional racism at Yorkshire County Cricket Club and within the sport as a whole. He said the Sky Sports commentator tried to smear

A man who stabbed people at random, killing one and seriously injuring seven others, has been sentenced to life in prison with a minimum term of 21 years. Zephaniah McLeod carried out the series of attacks in the early hours of 6 September last year, as people were enjoying a night out in Birmingham City

Boris Johnson has raised the prospect of Britons soon needing a booster jab to be considered “fully vaccinated” when going abroad or for self-isolation rules. Speaking at a Downing Street news conference, the prime minister revealed plans to add evidence of a vaccine top-up to the NHS COVID pass. He also said Britons would find

The NHS is facing the “most difficult winter in its history”, with almost 90% of hospital trust leaders feeling “extremely concerned”, research has found. NHS Providers, which carried out the survey, said that while cases of COVID-19 are “well below” their peak in January, some trusts are “beyond full stretch”. It is urging the government

One person has died and another has been injured after a car exploded outside a hospital in Liverpool. Merseyside Police confirmed it was called to reports of a car explosion outside Liverpool Women’s Hospital at 10.59am on Sunday. Images from the scene showed a car on fire and then burnt out, with smoke billowing over

Three people have been arrested by counter-terror police following a fatal car explosion outside a Liverpool hospital. The men are aged 29, 26, and 21 according to police and were detained in the Kensington area of Liverpool before being arrested under the Terrorism Act, in connection with the explosion. “Detectives from Counter Terrorism Police North

The Queen will be attending the Remembrance Sunday service at the Cenotaph in central London, leading the nation in commemorating those who lost their lives in conflicts. It will be her Majesty’s first public outing after being advised to rest by doctors for almost a month, following medical checks in hospital. The remembrance service will

Nazanin Zaghari Ratcliffe’s husband has ended his three-week hunger strike after making a promise to his imprisoned wife. Richard Ratcliffe has been camped outside the Foreign Office in London for the past 21 days as part of his long-standing campaign for his wife’s release from Iranian prison. But on Saturday he tweeted: “Day 21 #FreeNazanin

A man has died and a woman is in a critical condition after both were stabbed in Brentford, west London, on Friday evening. Police say there is nothing to suggest the incident is linked to terrorism. No arrests have been made. A man aged around 20 was pronounced dead at the scene in Albany Parade

The Duchess of Sussex claimed Prince Harry faced “constant berating” from members of the Royal Family over the strained relationship she had with her father, text messages reveal. Earlier this year, Meghan, 40, successfully sued Associated Newspapers Limited (ANL), publisher of MailOnline and The Mail on Sunday, over five articles that reproduced parts of her

It is estimated that around 1,000 migrants crossed into the UK on Thursday as the government warns the number of people departing from France is “unacceptable”. If officially confirmed, the figure will be the highest daily total of migrant crossings into Britain on record. A Home Office spokesperson said: “The number of illegal migrants we

The chief executive of Yorkshire County Cricket Club has resigned after heavy criticism of the club’s handling of racism and bullying allegations. Player Azeem Rafiq had called for Mark Arthur to be removed from his role, and the club’s new chairman Lord Kamlesh Patel had also refused to back him after the scandal. In a

A Premier League footballer is “very likely” to announce he is gay next year, Justin Fashanu’s niece has said, after the foundation dedicated to her uncle counselled two top flight players who are yet to come out publicly. Amal Fashanu, whose uncle was Britain’s first and only openly gay male professional footballer, told Sky News

A woman has been arrested following a dog attack near Caerphilly in which 10-year-old Jack Lis died. The 28-year-old, from the local area, was questioned on suspicion of being in charge of a dog dangerously out of control causing injury resulting in death, before being released on bail. Police were called to reports of the

The man who injured himself and got stuck in a Brecon Beacons cave for two days is named George Linnane, Sky News can reveal. Mr Linnane is said to be doing “remarkably well” in hospital after being rescued from Ogof Ffynnon Ddu on Monday night. The caver in his 40s got trapped on Saturday at

A 10-year-old boy killed in a dog attack near near Caerphilly in South Wales has been named by Gwent Police as Jack Lis. Armed police were sent to an address in Pentwyn, Penyrheol, at 3.55pm on Monday, accompanied by paramedics from the Welsh Ambulance Service. They confirmed a child had died at the scene. The

A 10-year-old-boy has been killed in a dog attack near Caerphilly in South Wales. Armed police were sent to an address in Pentwyn, Penyrheol, at 3.55pm on Monday, accompanied by paramedics from the Welsh Ambulance Service. They confirmed a child had died at the scene. The dog was destroyed by firearms officers and no other

The health secretary has announced an independent inquiry into the David Fuller case and has apologised to victims’ families. Fuller, a 67-year-old hospital electrician, admitted murdering, then sexually assaulting two women over 30 years ago, and also admitted to carrying out sex attacks on dozens of dead bodies in the morgue of the hospital where

The NHS has renewed its push to drive up booster uptake, with people now allowed to book their appointments a month before becoming eligible. They will only be able to receive it once they do become eligible, but the new measure could help them ensure they get inoculated as soon as their group is called.

Ten million COVID-19 booster jabs have now been administered in the UK, latest figures show. The milestone – hailed by the prime minister – was reached after 409,663 third shots were given out on Saturday, taking the total to 10,062,704. Another 35,045 first doses and 23,952 second doses were also administered, meaning 50,234,416 people have

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

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