National
HS2 signs £2bn deal for UK’s fastest trains
Building the fleet will support 2,500 jobs across the UK
National
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
Everything you need to know about Plan B restrictions and where you'll need a face mask
Each of the four nations’ handling of the pandemic is managed by their own leaders
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
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
National
‘Rapid increase’ in Omicron cases expected in Northern Ireland before Christmas
Northern Ireland’s chief medical officer has said he expects to see a “rapid increase” in cases of the Covid-19 Omicron variant before Christmas. Sir Michael McBride was speaking after the first three cases of the Omicron variant detected in Northern Ireland were confirmed on Tuesday evening. He said
National
All new prisons to have ‘airport-style security’ to clamp down on drugs
The Government has outlined the plans in its Prisons Strategy White Paper