80 m. ago Mutant 'superflu' outbreak: Schools shut down, London hospitalisations triple and people are told to wear masks as 100 cruise passengers are struck down with norovirus

Headteachers across the UK have warned escalating sickness rates are causing alarm with some even reducing singing in assemblies to cut the spread of illness.

Science

17 h. ago Over 100 passengers on world cruise hit with diarrhoea as horror outbreak sweeps ship

Crew members have implemented infection control protocols.

Events

19 h. ago Wales school to close as outbreak of vomiting illness impacts hundreds of pupils

St Martin's School in Caerphilly, Wales, is to close for a short 'firebreak' following a 'significant outbreak of flu-like illness' which has impacted hundreds of pupils and staff

Science

24 h. ago Sydney Sweeney says her silence over jeans advert backlash ‘widened the divide’

Actor speaks out over controversy around American Eagle advert in the summer that critics say flirted with eugenicsThe actor Sydney Sweeney has said she should have addressed the controversy surrounding her American Eagle jeans advert, which was accused by critics of flirting with eugenics, saying not doing so “widened the divide” between people.Sweeney, who made her name in HBO’s Euphoria and has since become a leading Hollywood star, told People magazine she regretted staying silent during the row, in which Donald Trump at one point intervened. Continue reading...

Politics

24 h. ago Goodbye angels, hello Ozempic needles – what’s behind the boom in bizarre Christmas baubles?

This year’s most-wanted ornaments include weight-loss syringes and favourite foodstuffs. When and why did Christmas trees become so commercialised?it was the second Tuesday in November but Christmas was already in crisis. Sarah Gibbons had just received a shipment of baubles at her Glasgow homeware shop, Modern Love Store, and some crucial ornaments were missing. She hopped on a long-distance phone call to her suppliers in the US – she needed to sort this out. After all, her customers were clamouring for them. “People aren’t just buying one,” the 39-year-old shopkeeper told me after discovering the missing decorations, “they’re buying three or four at a time.” Three what? Turtle doves? Nutcrackers? Or perhaps some classic candy canes? Of course not. This year’s must-have bauble is in the shape of a lightly glittered syringe of Ozempic.Growing up, my favourite Christmas ornament was a little pink plastic baby Jesus resting in a manger. He was bought by my great-aunt in Oberammergau, ...

Politics

42 h. ago Visitors to Scots hospitals told to wear face masks amid flu outbreak

The situation will remain under review.

Science

43 h. ago Full list of weather alerts as Met Office issues rare 'danger to life' warning

The fresh alert is in force from 6pm on Monday until 6pm on Tuesday with people told that heavy rain may bring some flooding and travel disruption in some parts of the UK

Events

69 h. ago Wear a face mask if unwell to help stem flu ‘tidal wave’, say health officials

This year’s flu season started earlier than usual and is yet to reach a peak

Politics

2 d. ago Dr Alex George and therapist Anna Mathur on how to feel happier

In this episode of the Well Enough podcast, host Emilie Lavinia is joined by two mental health champions – former UK government Youth Mental Health Ambassador Dr Alex George and psychotherapist and author Anna Mathur. The pair dismantle the pressure to be happy, consider what real happiness looks like and explore the science of finding joy in the small things. The episode also investigates we wear "masks" to hide depression, and the biology behind emotions such as stress and joy. Dr Alex and Anna also share actionable tools and cognitive reframing techniques to help build mental fitness, manage symptoms and combat loneliness.

Politics

3 d. ago Brits told to wear face masks by health bosses amid 'flunami' with warnings hospitals face 'historic crisis' this winter

Britons are being warned to wear face masks as the NHS faces a 'historic crisis' this winter amid looming strikes and record numbers of people in hospital with flu.

Events

3 d. ago Derby LIVE as 'major incident' declared and hundreds of homes evacuated

Hundreds of homes have been evacuated in Derby with people told to prepare for being out of their homes for 24 hours following a 'major incident'

Society

4 d. ago Seven million people in UK told 'you'll feel worse this week' in update from Boots

Boots specialist has shared tips for managing symptoms as temperatures plummet and atmospheric pressure changes trigger flare-ups

Politics

4 d. ago ‘Boil tap water’ alert for over 24,000 Brits after ‘bad chemical batch’ – what you need to know

MORE than 24,000 Brits have been hit with a "boil water notice" after their tap water supply has been deemed unsafe to drink. South East Water (SEW) issued the notice following issues with one of its treatment works in Pembury. People living in Tunbridge Wells have been told not to drink the water from their...

Events

4 d. ago Gaza: Israeli strike kills five, including two children, says civil defence agency

Agency says missile struck citizens in Khan Younis, as Israel reports targeting ‘Hamas terrorist’ after clash with militants An Israeli strike on Palestinian territory has killed five people including two children, Gaza’s civil defence agency told AFP on Wednesday.“Five citizens, including two children, killed and others injured, some seriously, as a result of an Israeli missile strike,” in al-Mawasi, west of Khan Younis, civil defence spokesperson Mahmud Bassal told AFP. Continue reading...

Events

4 d. ago School worker told pupils he'd killed 250 people, hearing told

He told the shocked class he had killed 250 people in armed combat and had the military codename 'Kill Switch', the hearing was told on Wednesday

Events

4 d. ago HMRC issues £30,000 alert today over pensions payments court action

People trying to withdraw money early told 'It could cost you a lot more than you think. Don’t get caught out'

Economics

5 d. ago Everything you need to know as UKHSA tells Brits to wear masks again

People are being urged to wear masks and to take other actions to combat the spread of flu and Covid

Politics

5 d. ago Girl, 13, accused of murdering woman by repeatedly stabbing her told a court she was hearing voices urging her to hurt people

The teenager is on trial accused of killing Marta Bednarczyk, 43, by inflicting more than 140 knife wounds at a house in Wellingborough, Northamptonshire.

Events

6 d. ago Vienna parliament in 'bomb threat' as police cordon off area with people told stay away

An Austrian parliament building in Vienna has been locked down over an alleged bomb threat as police and other emergency services swarm the area around the Hohes Haus

Events

6 d. ago Zipcar UK to shut operations ahead of new London EV Congestion Charge

Zipcar UK to shut operations ahead of new London EV Congestion Charge  City AM

Politics