National
HS2 signs £2bn deal for UK’s fastest trains
Building the fleet will support 2,500 jobs across the UK
InYourArea
National
Three doses of the Pfizer Covid vaccine ‘neutralises Omicron’, study suggests
The firms said they were continuing to work on a variant-specific vaccine for Omicron and expected to have it available by March
National
Captain Sir Tom Moore memorial post leads Twitter’s end-of-year report
The social media platform’s end-of-year report looks back at the biggest posts on the site in 2021
National
Aldi extends opening hours and cuts price of food on run up to Christmas
Fresh whole turkeys and turkey crowns will be in store later this month
National
UK is experiencing the “largest-ever outbreak” of bird flu
There are 40 infected premises in the UK – 38 in Great Britain including 33 in England, adding that around half a million birds have been culled so far
National
New online memorial wall helping to remember loved ones lost
The online memorial has been created in collaboration with Ancestry.co.uk and is available for everyone to use for free throughout the Christmas period
InYourArea Community
Blast from the past: The most talked about topics from July 25, 1991
We take a look back at letters to the editor in the Birmingham Mail
National
Boris Johnson confirms 'Plan B' Covid restrictions will come into force
While 568 cases had been confirmed in the UK “the true number is certain to be much higher”
National
Nine new Omicron variant cases in 24 hours
Margaret Keenan, who a year ago became the first person to have a Covid-19 jab, has urged people to get a vaccination
National
Another 115 Covid-19 cases of Omicron variant confirmed in England
NHS England’s national medical director said it is “too early” to say how frequently Covid-19 boosters will be needed in future
InYourArea News
Several cases of Omicron variant confirmed in Rutland
'We should expect more cases and take extra care.'
InYourArea News
First Omicron case confirmed in Bristol
Mayor of Bristol Marvin Rees announced Public Health England identified the variant in an unnamed resident of Bristol.