National News

A coronavirus vaccine developed in the UK can prevent 70.4% of people from getting Covid-19, according to new data. AstraZeneca and Oxford University announced their jab is effective in preventing many people getting ill and it has been shown to work in different age groups, including the elderly.   Sarah Gilbert, professor of vaccinology at the University of Oxford, said: “The announcement today takes us another step closer to the […]

Chancellor Rishi Sunak has warned that “Christmas is not going to be normal” despite England preparing to move out of lockdown and into a strengthened three-tier system of local coronavirus restrictions next mont Boris Johnson will detail his “winter Covid plan” on Monday, setting out the restrictions to replace the national lockdown on December 2 and how people can spend the festive period. Downing Street said more areas are expected […]

The Scottish Government will invest £35 million in the creation of a new tool for the planning system which will make it easier for the public to be involved in the process. Housing minister Kevin Stewart has announced plans to start work on the new project from early next year. While details are scarce, the system will create a single place for planners and the public to access information and […]

Chancellor Rishi Sunak will announce a £500 million package to support mental health services as part of measures to recover from the coronavirus crisis. The Treasury said he will pledge the new funding in his spending review on Wednesday, when he will also deliver his long-term plan for infrastructure investment. The majority of the spending is planned to go on specialist services for young people, including in schools, and support […]

The UK and Canada have reached a deal to continue trading under the same terms as the current European Union agreement after the Brexit transition period ends. The Government said the agreement paves the way for negotiations to begin next year on a new comprehensive deal with Canada, which has been touted as one of the benefits of the UK leaving the EU. Boris Johnson and Canadian counterpart Justin Trudeau […]

The Government has been urged not to let “everything loose” in the lead-up to Christmas after it emerged that families could be allowed to meet for up to a week as part of a UK-wide relaxation of coronavirus rules. Several families could be allowed to join a bubble and to mix between December 22 and 28, The Daily Telegraph reported. Downing Street insiders have suggested that discussions on what Christmas […]

Chancellor Rishi Sunak will unveil the much-delayed National Infrastructure Strategy for £100 billion of long-term investment next week. He will publish the strategy to help tackle the climate crisis and invest in transport on Wednesday, when he will also outline his spending review. The infrastructure strategy to boost transport connectivity and work towards achieving net-zero emissions by 2050 had been expected to be published in March but was delayed. Mr […]

Families could be allowed to join a temporary bubble to meet up over Christmas, it has been reported. Household mixing is currently subject to harsh restrictions in England under the country’s second lockdown with only support bubbles allowing people from different addresses to mix. Similar curbs are in force in mainland Scotland, a fresh lockdown will prevent gatherings of more than one household in Northern Ireland from Friday and Wales […]

Police are searching for the suspect in a shooting at a suburban Milwaukee mall that left seven adults and a teenager injured. Police searched on Friday evening for the suspect in a shooting at a suburban Milwaukee mall that left seven adults and a teenager injured. Wauwatosa Police chief Barry Weber gave no motive for the attack at the Mayfair Mall in a brief update about three hours after the […]