UK

COVID infections in England have risen for a second week in a row and the latest estimates in the UK have likely been affected by postal strikes, experts said. The total number of people in private households in the UK testing positive for COVID stood at 1.1 million in the week to 26 November, up

The number of children under 15 who have died from Strep A in the UK has risen to 15, the UK Health Security Agency has said. New data for England shows the number of deaths since September has increased to 13. The other two fatalities were recorded in Wales and Northern Ireland. Illnesses caused by

A hospital where a five-year-old died with Strep A is to launch a care review after claims from her family that she was taken to A&E three times before being admitted to intensive care. Stella-Lilly McCorkindale became the ninth child to die from the infection on 5 December after being admitted to the Royal Belfast

Antibiotics could be given to children at schools affected by Strep A to stop the spread of the infection, schools minister Nick Gibb has said. Mr Gibb told Sky News that the UK Health and Security Agency (UKHSA) is “working closely with the schools involved and giving very specific advice to those schools which may

Police have released footage of a man wanted in connection with a “shocking and sustained” dog attack that left an 11-year-old girl with broken bones. The girl, who was hospitalised and left traumatised by the attack, was walking through Tower Hamlets in east London when she passed a man with two dogs. One of the

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

The head of the police watchdog has resigned over a “historical allegation”, the home secretary has said. Suella Braverman revealed she had accepted Michael Lockwood’s resignation as director general of the Independent Office for Police Conduct after he was asked to either quit or be suspended. Yesterday, Mr Lockwood said he had resigned for “personal

Another death of a young child from Strep A will send a chill down the spine of any parent. So what is the risk and why the spate of deaths now? Group A streptococcus is a common bacterium that usually causes sore throats. But it can also cause scarlet fever, which is highly contagious. It’s

Coronavirus infections across the UK have topped a million again, with cases rising in England for the first time since mid-October, official figures show. The total number of positive COVID-19 cases rose by 6% in the week to 21 November, up from 972,400 for the previous seven-day period, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said.

Officers in Sheffield are appealing to the public to help find a 12-year-old who goes by the name of Mark. The individual, with no known surname, was last seen around 7pm on Monday 28 November in the area of Parsons Cross, Sheffield. Mark is described as a white, 5ft tall, slight build individual with dark

The former head of the vaccines taskforce has said the current COVID jabs are “not good enough”. Dame Kate Bingham, who spearheaded the UK’s vaccination programme in 2020, also accused the government of going “backwards” in its preparation against future pandemics. Giving evidence to a parliamentary inquiry into lessons to be learned from the coronavirus

England have qualified for the World Cup knockout stages after beating Wales 3-0 in Qatar. Unfortunately for Wales, the loss at the Ahmad bin Ali Stadium has brought their first World Cup appearance since 1958 to an end. The Three Lions now stand at the top of Group B, followed by the USA, who have

A mistake at a lab which saw thousands of positive COVID-19 cases reported as negative could have led to the deaths of 20 people, according to new estimates. The error at Immensa Health Clinic Ltd in Wolverhampton meant around 39,000 PCR tests were reported as negative when they should have been positive between 2 September

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

England and Wales should have carried out their plan for captains to wear rainbow armbands in a protest during the Qatar World Cup, ex-FA chairman Greg Dyke has told Sky News. In a wide-ranging interview with Sophy Ridge on Sunday, Mr Dyke also said all Manchester United fans will be “pleased to see the back”

Police are hunting for a man following three kidnap attempts in Manchester this month that may be connected, including one that targeted a 15-year-old girl. Detectives are calling for witnesses and dashcam footage as they investigate the possible string of linked offences. In one incident, Greater Manchester Police (GMP) responded to the parents of the

A frustrated England were held to a goalless draw against the USA in their second World Cup match. Gareth Southgate‘s men are top of Group B with four points after their earlier win against Iran but had hoped to secure a spot in the final 16 with one game to play. Only a defeat to

The UK could be in store for a severe flu season after Australia – which typically serves as a predictor for the northern hemisphere – suffered its worst in five years. The figures already show there are 10 times more people in hospital with flu than this time last year. NHS leaders have warned the

Ten times more people are in hospital with flu than this time last year, latest figures show. There were an average of 344 patients a day with flu in hospital last week, compared with the 31 seen at the beginning of December last year, according to data released by NHS England. It comes amid pressures

The mother of Shamima Begum, the British schoolgirl who joined ISIS, has said her world “fell apart” when she ran away from home. Asma Begum said her daughter’s bedroom in the family home has not been touched since she travelled to Syria in 2015. “My youngest daughter is even more present in my mind, the