UK

UK scientists have begun developing vaccines as an insurance against a new pandemic caused by an unknown “Disease X”. The work is being carried out at the government’s high-security Porton Down laboratory complex in Wiltshire by a team of more than 200 scientists. They’ve drawn up a threat list of animal viruses that are capable

The Labour Party has said it would have “no choice” but to continue housing asylum seekers on barges and ex-military bases if it forms the next government. Shadow immigration minister Stephen Kinnock said Labour would “inherit a mess” if it wins the next election and that it would have to “deal with the infrastructure that

Disgraced Lostprophets frontman Ian Watkins has been stabbed in prison, according to reports. The 46-year-old is serving a 29-year jail term for multiple sexual offences, including serious crimes against young children and babies. According to the Mirror, the paedophile is in a “life-threatening condition” following the incident at HMP Wakefield in West Yorkshire. The newspaper

Four weather warnings are in force today as Storm Antoni hits the UK – bringing heavy rain and strong winds that are rarely seen in the summer. Forecasters fear gusts could be in excess of 60mph in the worst-affected areas, with a “good chance” of travel disruption and power cuts. The Met Office has issued:

Falling trees, riptides and power cuts will pose risks as Storm Antoni lashes the UK with heavy rain and strong winds, the Met Office says. Antoni – the first named storm of the year – will bring gusts of up to 60mph in the worst-affected areas, with forecasters issuing a danger to life warning. Amber

TikTok influencer Mahek Bukhari has been found guilty of murdering her mother’s lover and his friend in a high-speed car chase. Her mother Ansreen Bukhari was also found guilty of the murders following a trial at Leicester Crown Court. Saqib Hussain and Mohammed Hashim Ijazuddin, both 21, died when their Skoda “virtually split in two”

London mayor Sadiq Khan has expanded the scrappage scheme for cars to comply with his ultra low emission zone (ULEZ) after it was blamed for Labour’s defeat in the Uxbridge by-election. Grants of up to £2,000 will now be made available to all Londoners who wish to scrap any car or motorcycle that is non-compliant

Two drug dealers who stabbed an aspiring lawyer to death in a case of mistaken identity have been handed life sentences for his murder. Rashid Gedel and Shiroh Ambersley were among a group of six men who targeted 22-year-old Sven Badzak and his 16-year-old friend in an eight-second “gang-style attack” as the victims returned from

Three-quarters of sex offenders who applied to be removed from the sex offenders register last year in England, Wales and Northern Ireland had their requests approved, according to new figures exclusively obtained by Sky News. In four areas the success rate was 100%. Offenders have had the right to apply for a review after 15

A stepfather has been found guilty of murdering a 10-month-old baby boy. The boy’s mother Gemma Barton, 33, was found guilty of causing or allowing a child to die and two counts of child cruelty. Jacob Crouch was born healthy on 17 February 2020 and died alone in his cot on 30 December 2020 at

A five-year-old boy has drowned at a holiday park in Cornwall.  Robin Caliskan was on holiday with his family at the Atlantic Reach holiday park in Newquay when he got into difficulty in the swimming pool. His family, from Plymouth, described Robin as “very cute and clever” and said he “loved hugs”. His father Cemal

When Heather Lea waved goodbye to her family 50 years ago as they boarded the ferry to the Isle of Man, she couldn’t have known it would be the last time she would ever see them.  Heather’s parents, Elizabeth and Richard Cheetham, along with her little sister June, were going on holiday. It was an

England have won the final Ashes Test match after a thrilling finish to draw the series with Australia. With Australia chasing down 384 to win the match, a rampant England took seven wickets in the final session to edge out their fierce rivals. England bowler Stuart Broad – in his final match before retirement –

“I just wanted to save my life,” says Dhanabal, who came to Britain from India to study. But it was only the visa that came with the university place that interested him, and his plan was always to stay on after it expired. The 26-year-old relies on cash-in-hand jobs to survive, waiting in Sheffield for

Rishi Sunak will head to Scotland on Monday as the Conservatives kick off a week of campaigning on energy security. Number 10 said the prime minister would use the trip to “highlight the central role” the country will play in “defending the UK against disrupted global energy supplies” and reaching the government’s net zero targets.

Diners at a food van were treated to a royal surprise when they were served veggie burgers by none other than the Prince of Wales. Prince William gave meals to “shell-shocked” diners in central London to help raise awareness of environmentally friendly winners of the Earthshot Prize. The future king invited the team behind popular

Rishi Sunak has ordered a review into the rollout of low traffic neighbourhoods (LTNs) and said he was on the side of motorists. The prime inister announced he had ordered the Department for Transport to review LTNs policies, which aims to make residential areas cleaner and safer to walk around in, in an interview in

A scooter rider has died following a collision with an ambulance in a village near Barnsley in South Yorkshire. South Yorkshire Police said it was called at about 10.25pm on Friday by both a member of the public and Yorkshire Ambulance Service. The ambulance was responding to an emergency call when it collided with the

Train passengers are facing more disruption on Saturday as workers strike once again over pay, jobs and conditions. Thousands of staff from the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union will walk out and travellers have been told to check the latest information before travelling. Wide variations in service are predicted around the country, with some

A 14-year-old boy has been arrested after a seven-year-old girl died following a hit-and-run in Walsall. Police were called to Turnstone Road in Blakenall shortly after 7pm on Thursday after the girl was hit by a motorcycle. The boy is in custody and officers are searching for the blue and black road bike, and trying