UK

The decision to travel to amber list countries is a “personal responsibility”, a minister has said. But skills minister Gillian Keegan echoed the PM’s warning yesterday that they are “not somewhere where you should be going on holiday”. Thousands of people have reportedly travelled to destinations on the amber list since the ban on foreign

The two victims of the 2019 London Bridge attack were “unlawfully killed”, an inquest jury has concluded. Convicted terrorist Usman Khan murdered Cambridge University graduates Saskia Jones and Jack Merritt at a prisoner rehabilitation event in London in November 2019. The 28-year-old stabbed the victims at Fishmongers’ Hall before he was chased onto nearby London

Warning: This report contains references to self-harm, suicide, eating disorders and nasogastric tube feeding. Every single door in this unit has a lock. It is the first thing you notice. The sounds of keys constantly jangling or the electronic beep of a fob is always in the background here. There is writing on the walls:

Rising cases of the Indian COVID variant could delay the easing of restrictions and force the government to impose local lockdowns, a minister has warned. When asked if the proposed end of restrictions in England on 21 June may not go ahead as planned, Environment Secretary George Eustice told Sky News: “We cannot rule anything

Forensic archaeologists have confirmed there are a number of “structural anomalies” in the cellar of the cafe they are searching for evidence linked to serial killer Fred West and a historical missing person case. Police have been searching the Clean Plate cafe in Gloucester in connection with the disappearance of Mary Bastholm who vanished in

The business secretary says it is necessary to be “measured and cautious” because of the Indian COVID-19 variant but it is “very likely” all restrictions will be scrapped by 21 June. Kwasi Kwarteng defended the decision to ease the lockdown amid fears the variant, also called B.1.617, could derail England’s final roadmap step. His comments

More than 20 million people in the UK are now fully vaccinated after receiving both doses of a COVID-19 vaccine, according to government figures. Some 391,246 had their second jab on Saturday, meaning a total of 20,103,658 have now received both shots. Live coronavirus updates from the UK and around the world Also on Saturday,

A major incident has been declared after a suspected gas explosion at a residential area in Heysham, Lancashire. Firefighters were called to a row of terraced houses on Mallowdale Avenue in the early hours of Sunday and are searching a collapsed property. Lancashire Police said: “We are currently at the scene of a suspected gas

Leicester City have won the FA Cup final, beating Chelsea in front of the UK’s biggest football crowd since the coronavirus pandemic began. Youri Tielemans scored the only goal in a 1-0 win for Brendan Rodgers’ side – his first trophy since taking over, and a first ever FA Cup triumph for the Foxes. Chelsea

Easing restrictions in England next week is the right thing to do, the government has said, after a warning that it might cause a “substantial resurgence” in hospital admissions. Health minister Edward Argar urged people to behave responsibly as lockdown measures are relaxed across England on Monday. It comes amid mounting concern over the spread

Those aged over 50 and those considered clinically vulnerable will be able to get a second vaccine dose after eight weeks, the prime minister has announced. Boris Johnson said plans to accelerate vaccinations for priority groups would not affect the scheduled easing of lockdown in England from Monday. But the prime minister said it could

A minister has told Sky News that step three of England’s lockdown easing will still go ahead on Monday, despite soaring cases of the Indian variant of coronavirus in the UK. Latest figures show there are 1,313 cases of the variant in the UK, up from the 520 recorded the previous week. Live COVID updates

Cases of the Indian coronavirus variant in the UK have more than doubled in the past week, according to figures from Public Health England (PHE). Data published on Thursday showed there are 1,313 cases of the VOC-21APR-02 variant in the country – up from the 520 recorded the previous week. The COVID-19 strategic response director

Coronavirus cases in England are at their lowest level since last August, a new study suggests – but it comes amid fears the rapid spread of the Indian variant could push infections up and impact the PM’s final step out of lockdown on 21 June. The government’s Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE) is reportedly

The family of a nine-year-old boy who died after apparently being struck by lightning have paid tribute to their “beautiful boy”, saying “he was our everything”. Jordan Banks is thought to have died after being struck by lightning on a football field in Blackpool. Police officers were called shortly after 5pm on Tuesday to fields

Daily deaths and hospital admissions due to COVID-19 are at their lowest since last summer. And restrictions are being relaxed as the UK makes progress in vaccinating its population. Yet there are pockets where coronavirus cases have risen sharply recently. Data shows that although the average infection rate in the UK has fallen by 15%