Health experts urge anyone with flu-like symptoms to wear a face mask, limit contact and ventilate spaces as a record surge strains hospitals and drives school absences. Ministers are pressed to extend the flu jab to over-50s and address vaccine fatigue among staff amid an early, stronger strain.

Liz Kendall rejects claims Labour is the party of welfare, calling the label ignorant. She defends tax rises to fund reforms, including ending the two‑child cap and expanding help with nursery fees. Labour says the package could lift 550,000 children out of poverty by 2030, despite criticism from the Tories and Reform.

UK authorities are probing claims that foreign operatives used cargo ships and smaller ports to enter the country, then visited areas near military bases and critical infrastructure. Security services are tightening dock checks and examining shipping as a tool for hostile activity.

After 36 years of inquiries into the 1989 Hillsborough stadium disaster, a new review says 12 police officers would face gross misconduct cases under today’s rules and confirms major operational failures. No officer will be convicted for errors or alleged cover‑up, leaving families dismayed.