UK

The rollout of flu and COVID-19 vaccines in the UK has been brought forward after the emergence of a new variant. NHS officials have indicated the BA.2.86 – which came to light on 18 August – is the most concerning since the arrival of Omicron. Scientists also say it has mutated, but has not been

A new law will force criminals to attend their sentencings in court, with the offenders facing longer behind bars if they still refuse to sit in the dock. The government confirmed its plans to introduce the reform on Wednesday, promising to create a new power for judges to make the order. The change will also

The chief executive of National Air Traffic Services (NATS) has said he cannot reveal the cause of the glitch which has affected thousands of passengers but is “not ruling out anything at this stage”. Martin Rolfe said on Tuesday evening that an initial investigation had found that the air traffic control failure was caused by

Sara Sharif’s cause of death is yet to be determined – but an inquest has heard it is “likely to be unnatural”. The 10-year-old was found dead at her home in Woking on 10 August, with Surrey County Council confirming she was previously known to authorities. Earlier this month, a post-mortem revealed Sara had “suffered

Heathrow Airport has said its services will “remain significantly disrupted” on Tuesday after air traffic controllers across the UK experienced a technical fault. In a statement about the “technical issues” that affected the National Air Traffic Services (NATS), Britain’s busiest airport urged passengers to contact their airline before travelling to the airport. “The issue has

The government is not ruling out using electronic tagging to control migrants who come to the UK illegally. Home Secretary Suella Braverman told Sky News she is willing to use a “range of options” in dealing with migrants who cross the Channel in small boats. It comes after a report in The Times said the

Two people have died after a car was driven into a flooded area in Merseyside. Officers were called following safety concerns for a man and a woman inside a black Mercedes in Mossley Hill at 9.20pm on Saturday. The vehicle had driven into a flooded area in Queens Drive, between North Mossley Hill Road and

The Metropolitan Police is on high alert following a significant security breach that led to officers’ and staff’s details being hacked. All 47,000 personnel have been notified about the potential exposure of their photographs, names, and ranks, The Sun newspaper reported. The breach occurred when cybercriminals managed to infiltrate the IT systems of a contractor

Whole-life prison sentences will become the “default” punishment for “sexual or sadistic” murders, the prime minister has said. Former NHS neo-natal nurse Lucy Letby was told she will never be released on Monday after being convicted of murdering seven babies and trying to kill six others on 18 August. She is only the fourth woman

A man has been charged with murder after police in Bury found a body while responding to reports of a white labradoodle being stolen. Ian Gary Connell, 39, of Duke Street, Bolton, was due to appear at Manchester and Salford Magistrates’ Court today. Donald ‘Prentice’ Patience, 45, was discovered by officers at a house on Ainsworth

The energy regulator has confirmed a cut to its price cap that will see average household bills come down this autumn, as experts continue to warn of hikes to come during the winter months. Ofgem said the typical household paying by direct debit for gas and electricity faces an annual charge of £1,923 from October

Two men have been arrested by police investigating the fire at the Crooked House pub in Staffordshire. A 66-year-old man from Dudley and a 33-year-old man from Milton Keynes were arrested on suspicion of arson with intent to endanger life, Staffordshire Police said. They remain in custody and are being questioned by officers while the

A former teacher has been found not guilty of animal cruelty after video footage showed her kicking and slapping a horse. Sarah Moulds, 39, had been accused of causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal – a grey pony she owned called Bruce Almighty. The 39-year-old, who said she lost her job as a teacher

The former boss of the hospital where Lucy Letby killed seven babies says she fears it is “more likely than not” that failures of management to deal with complaints about the nurse led to lives being lost needlessly. Dr Susan Gilby joined the Countess of Chester Hospital as medical director and deputy chief executive in

Health Secretary Steve Barclay has hinted at changing the status of the inquiry looking into the crimes of Lucy Letby, saying he wanted to ensure the families affected had “full confidence” in the probe. The government ordered an inquiry last week after Letby was found guilty of murdering seven babies and attempting to murder six

The first-ever womb transplant in the UK has been hailed as the “dawn of a new era” in fertility treatment. A 40-year-old woman, who already had two children, decided to help her 34-year-old sister, who had been born without a uterus. Now, six months on, the recipient is having periods and is preparing to eventually

The brother of a man wanted over the death of his 10-year-old daughter told officers Sara Sharif “fell down the stairs and broke her neck”, according to police in Pakistan. Sara’s uncle, Imran Sharif, is currently held in police custody for questioning, Jhelum police have exclusively told Sky News. He has not been charged and

The Lionesses landed at Heathrow this morning after their World Cup defeat – but left waiting fans disappointed after leaving through a private exit. England’s players left Sydney more than 24 hours before landing at Heathrow at around 6.20am on Tuesday morning. Waiting fans had carried signs and gathered in the airport to greet the

The former director of nursing at the hospital where Lucy Letby murdered seven babies has been suspended from her current role. Alison Kelly was the nursing director at the Countess of Chester Hospital while nurse Letby killed the babies and attempted to murder six others between June 2015 and June 2016. Ms Kelly had been

Lucy Letby will die in prison after murdering seven babies and attempting to murder six others while working on a hospital’s neonatal unit. The judge imposed a whole-life order, meaning she will spend the rest of her life in prison unless under very exceptional circumstances. Letby, 33, did not appear in court for her sentencing.