UK

The UK has recorded 39,851 new COVID cases and 143 coronavirus-related deaths in the latest 24-hour period, government data shows. It is the highest number of daily infections reported since 6 September – when 41,192 cases were recorded. The latest figures compare with 33,869 COVID-19 infections and 166 fatalities recorded yesterday, and 36,722 cases and

The UK has recorded 33,869 new COVID-19 cases and a further 166 coronavirus-related deaths in the latest 24-hour period, according to government data. The figures compare with 35,077 COVID-19 infections and 33 fatalities reported yesterday, and 34,526 cases and 167 deaths recorded this time last week. The number of people in hospital with the disease

The mother of a teenager who was shot dead in the street says her hopes are fading that her son’s killer will ever be caught – and believes police have “prioritised” other murder cases. Cherie Nedd told Sky News that her 18-year-old son Ethan Nedd-Bruce “was just coming home” when he was attacked outside a

More than seven years after Stephen Port committed murder for the first time, an inquest has begun into the deaths of his four victims. Port, 46, is one of just 60 prisoners in the UK serving a whole-life sentence, which means he will die behind bars. Between June 2014 and September 2015, the former chef

Facebook has apologised after global reports of people having problems accessing its platforms, including Instagram and WhatsApp. Those two services and Facebook itself have all reportedly crashed, with users saying they are unable to send or receive messages, and their feeds are not refreshing. Andy Stone, from Facebook’s communications department, tweeted: “We’re aware that some

Nearly half of the toys purchased from third-party sellers via online marketplaces were unsafe for children to play with, a new study has found. The report commissioned by the British Toy and Hobby Association (BTHA) found many of the potential gifts could choke, strangle, burn, poison and electrocute children. Out of the 255 toys that were

Soldiers will begin delivering fuel to petrol stations this morning as parts of the country continue to struggle with shortages. Around 200 military personnel are being deployed on Operation Escalin in an effort to increase the number of tanker drivers. Most of the troops, who have been on standby since last week, will work in

The sister of a teenager who died from COVID-19 says she cries herself to sleep every night, as she described the shock of losing her older sibling. Jorja Halliday, 15, died last Tuesday, hours after being rushed to the Queen Alexandria Hospital in Portsmouth. Her sister Julie, 12, says she was it was a “complete

The police officer who kidnapped, raped and murdered Sarah Everard was deployed to the Parliamentary Estate five times on several occasions last year. Wayne Couzens, who was jailed for life last week, abducted Ms Everard, 33, as she walked home from a friend’s house in Clapham, south London, on 3 March. The Old Bailey heard

A US private equity firm has won the auction for British supermarket group Morrisons with a £7bn bid. Clayton, Dubilier & Rice (CD&R) bid 287 pence per share. Morrisons is Britain’s fourth-biggest supermarket by market share, after market leader Tesco, Sainsbury’s and Asda. Based in Bradford, the business began as an egg and butter merchant

Boris Johnson has said he backs Metropolitan Police Commissioner Dame Cressida Dick, who has faced calls to resign for her handling of the Sarah Everard case, and urged the public to “trust the police”. But the prime minister acknowledged “there is a problem” with how cases of rape and violence against women are handled. “I

Boris Johnson says “infuriating” police forces don’t take violence against women seriously enough and are “not doing enough help victims”. In the aftermath of the kidnap, rape and murder of Sarah Everard by former Met Police officer Wayne Couzens, the prime minister blamed the failure on the slow progress of those types of cases in

The policing minister has said it would be “perfectly reasonable” for anyone being approached by a lone police officer to call 999 and seek reassurance in the wake of the rape and murder of Sarah Everard. Speaking to Sky News’ Kay Burley, Kit Malthouse gave advice on what people should do if they are approached

An officer who strangled Sarah Everard with his police belt after kidnapping her under the guise of a fake arrest will die in jail. Wayne Couzens, 48, was handed a whole life order for the “grotesque” killing of the 33-year-old marketing executive which shocked and outraged the nation. Sentencing at the Old Bailey on Thursday,

The police officer who kidnapped Sarah Everard before raping and strangling her could be handed a whole life order when he is sentenced later today. Wayne Couzens, 48, used his Metropolitan Police-issue warrant card and handcuffs to abduct the 33-year-old marketing executive as she walked home from a friend’s house in Clapham, south London, on

A police officer used COVID lockdown regulations to falsely arrest Sarah Everard before he kidnapped, raped and strangled her and then burned her body, a court has heard. Wayne Couzens, 48, used handcuffs and his Metropolitan Police-issue warrant card to snatch his victim as she walked home from a friend’s house in Clapham, south London,

Boris Johnson has suggested key workers such as medics and carers will not get priority to refuel at petrol stations as the situation was now “stabilising”. When asked if any such plan was being considered, the prime minister said: “I understand people saying that, but with the situation now stabilising, with things getting better on

Former police officer Wayne Couzens is due to appear in court today as he faces sentencing for the murder of Sarah Everard. Couzens kidnapped, raped and killed the 33-year-old marketing executive, whose death sparked outrage and protests at the rates of violence against women. Ms Everard disappeared as she walked home from a friend’s house

A 36-year-old man has been charged with the murder of primary school teacher Sabina Nessa. Koci Selamaj, from Eastbourne, East Sussex, was arrested in the seaside town in the early hours of Sunday, and a light-coloured Nissan Micra was seized in a residential street around half a mile away. He will appear before Willesden Magistrates’

The government is facing calls to prioritise essential workers as some petrol supplies run dry amid impacts of a shortage of lorry drivers. Long queues were reported overnight and some petrol brands are seeing as many as 90% of their sites running dry, according to the Petrol Retailers Association. Union Unison said that key workers