UK

Victims of the infected blood scandal will get £210,000 as an interim compensation payment from as early as this summer, the government has announced. Cabinet minister John Glen told parliament the initial payment will be given to people living with the effects of contaminated blood “within 90 days, starting in the summer”. Infected people who

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has offered a “wholehearted and unequivocal” apology to the victims of the infected blood scandal, saying it was a “day of shame for the British state”. Mr Sunak said the findings of the Infected Blood Inquiry’s final report should “shake our nation to its core”, as he promised to pay “comprehensive

The infected blood scandal was “not an accident” – and its failures lie with “successive governments, the NHS, and blood services”, a public inquiry has found. From the 1970s, 30,000 people were “knowingly” infected with either HIV or Hepatitis C because “those in authority did not put patient safety first”, the report into the inquiry

Edward Tuddenham is one of the few remaining haemophilia specialists to have treated patients at the beginning of the infected blood scandal in the early 1970s. To have infected patients with HIV and Hepatitis C in the course of treating them “is the worst thing you can imagine,” he said. Prof Tuddenham went on to

Police are to dig again for the body of murdered Muriel McKay after her killer agreed to reveal where he buried her 54 years ago. The move follows a tireless campaign by her family who flew to Trinidad to persuade her killer Nizam Hosein to pinpoint the burial site earlier this year. Hosein was convicted

A teacher made a “naked attempt to garner sympathy” bringing a baby bonnet to court that belonged to a child fathered by one of the teenagers she is accused of having had sex with, a court heard. Rebecca Joynes continues to deny allegations that she had sex with one schoolboy, boy A, and insists in

The King and Queen have arrived at St Paul’s Cathedral in central London for a service of dedication for the Order of the British Empire. Established by King George V in 1917 to reward outstanding contributions to the war effort – it now recognises the work of people from all walks of life. Around 2,000

The first official painted portrait of the King since the coronation has been unveiled at Buckingham Palace. The painting was done by renowned portrait artist Jonathan Yeo, whose past subjects include Idris Elba, Cara Delevingne, Sir David Attenborough, Nicole Kidman, Malala Yousafzai, and former prime ministers Sirs David Cameron and Tony Blair. Mr Yeo, whose

China’s ambassador has been summoned to the Foreign Office after three people were charged with spying for Hong Kong. The Foreign Office said it was “unequivocal in setting out that the recent pattern of behaviour directed by China against the UK including cyber-attacks, reports of espionage links and the issuing of bounties is not acceptable”.

The King has officially handed over the role of colonel-in-chief of the Army Air Corps to Prince William. During a visit in Hampshire, His Majesty also spoke to one veteran who had previously undergone chemotherapy for testicular cancer, discussing losing the sense of taste as a result of the treatment. The King and Prince William

An “increasing number” of drivers are “choosing to ignore” the official diversion route around the M25 closure, highways bosses have warned. National Highways say they are making “good progress” to install a new gantry and a new gyratory bridge between junctions 9 and 10 of the motorway. The seven-mile stretch, through Surrey, closed at 9pm

James Anderson has announced he will be retiring from international cricket after England’s first Test against the West Indies this summer. Anderson, known as Jimmy, is England’s highest Test wicket-taker of all-time and is one of only three bowlers, and the only seam bowler, to reach 700 Test wickets. “It’s been an incredible 20 years

No deportation flights to Rwanda will take off under a Labour government, Sir Keir Starmer has told Sky News. The Labour leader told Sky News political editor Beth Rigby “there’ll be no flights” as he wants to “scrap the scheme”, which aims to send asylum seekers entering the UK illegally from a safe country, such

The King has joked about being “allowed out of my cage” on a visit to an army barracks in Surrey. As he was being led around, he told the commanding officer: “I do apologise for taking you by surprise, when this opportunity appeared and I had been allowed out of my cage, I wanted to

A teacher accused of having sex with two teenage boys laughed and said “Oh shut up! Stop saying that!” when one of them told her he wasn’t old enough to drive, a court heard. Rebecca Joynes also became pregnant by one of the teenagers, referred to as Boy B, while she was on bail for

The King and Prince Harry won’t meet up on Wednesday during the Duke of Sussex’s trip to the UK due to a timetable clash between a royal garden party and an Invictus Games event. Harry is in London this week, celebrating 10 years of the Invictus Games. Since his trip from California was announced there

Prince Harry will not meet the King during his visit to the UK, Sky News understands. The Duke of Sussex is in London for an event celebrating 10 years of the Invictus Games. It marks the first time the royal has been in the country since his rushed visit to see the King in February

The Chinese state has hacked the Ministry of Defence, Sky News understands. MPs will be told on Tuesday of a massive data breach involving the MoD, targeting service personnel. It is understood investigations have not shown any data has been taken. The government will not name the country involved, but Sky News understands this to

West Ham have agreed a deal in principle with Julen Lopetegui to take over from David Moyes as manager at the end of the season, Sky Sports News understands. West Ham have agreed a deal in principle with Julen Lopetegui to take over from David Moyes as manager. Lopetegui, 57, has been out of work

Police have seized 22 dogs in Sheffield, with most believed to be XL bullys. The breed was banned in England and Wales in February, and owners had to apply for an exemption certificate. Last month, campaigners were given the green light to bring a High Court challenge against the government’s ban. South Yorkshire Police say