UK

Border Force workers across UK airports and ports will take strike action on key dates in December as their union calls for the government to come back to the negotiating table. Strikes will take place between 23rd and 26th December, and from 28th to 31st December, impacting Birmingham, Cardiff, Gatwick, Glasgow, Heathrow and Manchester airports,

A senior pharmacist says a penicillin shortage is leading to fears that some prescriptions will not be filled as seasonal sickness levels continue to rise. Pharmacy director Zeshan Rehmani criticised the Department of Health for being “out of touch” after it mooted proposals to give antibiotics to children in schools to help fend off illnesses

A five-year-old girl who died after contracting a Strep A infection has been named by her school as Stella-Lily McCorkindale. The P2 pupil attended Black Mountain Primary School in Belfast, which sent a letter to parents on Friday, addressing the “tragic loss” and sending thoughts to the pupil’s family and friends. In a statement on

Union leaders have rejected revised offers to end industrial action on the railways – and announced more strikes over Christmas. RMT members at Network Rail are being urged by union bosses to reject new pay proposals and proceed with walkouts on 13-14 and 16-17 December. The RMT has also announced further strike action from 6pm

A young child has died after being diagnosed with Strep A – the eighth to have been killed by the bacterial infection in recent weeks. The latest victim was a pupil at Morelands Primary School in Waterlooville, Hampshire. An invasive form of the Strep A bacterial infection has spread across the UK in recent months,

England cruised past Senegal 3-0 in their first World Cup knockout match, with a mouth-watering clash against holders France awaiting them in the last eight. Two quick-fire goals – the first from Jordan Henderson, the second from Harry Kane – put Gareth Southgate’s side in control going into the half-time break, after what had been

Temperatures are set to plummet below -8C (17.6F) in parts of the UK by the middle of the week, with the Met Office issuing a warning for heavy snow in Scotland. An Arctic chill is expected to sweep the country, bringing with it below-average temperatures for the time of year as winter begins to bite,

Harry Kane only has to think back to the past two tournaments to ease any doubts about not scoring so far at the World Cup, as England prepare to face Senegal in the last 16. The captain did collect the Golden Boot as the top scorer on the last world stage in Russia with six

The parents of a child who died after contracting Strep A described his symptoms and how the bacteria took over his body in the last days of his life. Speaking to Sky News’ Sadiya Chowdhury, Muhammad Ibrahim Ali’s mother, Shabana Kousar, said the first sign of her little boy being unwell was a red rash

Less mixing between children due to the pandemic could have caused a drop in immunity to infections such as Strep A, a leading expert has suggested. Six children have died in the UK after being found to have the bacterial infection and there have been more cases than normal this year. Most Strep A cases

There have been five recorded deaths within seven days of an invasive Strep A diagnosis in children under 10 in England this season, the UK Health Security Agency has said. A child under the age of 10 has also died in Wales after contracting the infection. Group A strep bacteria can cause many infections, ranging

A black domestic abuse campaigner who was repeatedly asked where she “really came from” by Prince William’s godmother said she felt abused, verbally attacked and “trapped”. Ngozi Fulani, founder of the charity Sistah Space, works as an advocate for survivors of domestic abuse and described the exchange as a “violation”. “I was not giving the

The Prince and Princess of Wales’ first overseas trip since the Queen’s death has been overshadowed by controversy back home. William and Kate have arrived in Boston for a three-day visit ahead of the Earthshot Prize, an environmental awards ceremony that is due to take place on Friday. It came hours after the prince’s godmother

Prince William’s godmother has resigned from her duties at Buckingham Palace after making “unacceptable” comments at a reception hosted by the Queen Consort. Lady Susan Hussey, 83, quit after asking Ngozi Fulani, chief executive of Sistah Space, where she “really came from” during a reception at the palace on Tuesday. A spokesperson for her godson

Labour has comfortably won the Chester by-election – the first public vote since Boris Johnson and Liz Truss were ousted from Number 10. Samantha Dixon retained the seat for her party with 17,309 votes – a 61% share and nearly 11,000 more than the Conservative candidate. Labour was expected to win, but the margin was

The England team have reached the final 16 in the World Cup – but manager Gareth Southgate has warned they face a “very dangerous team” in their next match. England beat old rival Wales 3-0 at Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium in Qatar on Tuesday night and will play Senegal on Sunday. Senegal is 18th in

Up to 100,000 nurses will go on strike next month in a dispute over pay. Members of the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) in England, Wales and Northern Ireland will stage their biggest-ever walkout on 15 and 20 December after voting in favour in a ballot. Nurses and other nursing staff will take action at half

Two-thirds of adults are worried that they will not be able to afford Christmas dinner, according to a survey. The survey, commissioned by the Salvation Army, calculated the cost of Christmas dinner at £7.50 per head but – as the price of food is continuing to rise – the cost has increased since the survey

The National Grid will not implement its blackout prevention scheme tomorrrow evening after French energy suppliers said they were struggling to cope with demand. Earlier today it was announced that the Demand Flexibility Service (DFS), which is designed to avoid blackouts, may have been brought in for the first time on Tuesday evening to reduce

Three people have been arrested after the bodies of two babies were found at a house in South Wales, police have said. Two men aged 37 and 47, and a 29-year-old woman, were arrested on suspicion of concealing the birth of a child and they remain in custody, South Wales Police said. An investigation was