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Sky News is a British 24-hour information television channel, the first in Europe of its kind, launched on February 5, 1989 by the British Sky Broadcasting Company.

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150,000 public sector workers walk out in Northern Ireland’s biggest strike in recent history | UK News

An estimated 150,000 public sector workers have taken part in the biggest strike in Northern Ireland’s recent history, with trade unions warning action will escalate if their pay demands are not met.

Pay parity with the rest of the UK is the core issue for workers angry at a widening wage gap and political paralysis.

Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris has been urged to release funding to make delayed pay awards in the absence of the devolved government at Stormont, but he has refused, saying the matter is a devolved one.

From early morning, striking workers braved sub-zero temperatures to gather at picket lines across Northern Ireland. Schools were shut and a greatly reduced health service was operational as teachers, nurses and support staff joined the protest.

Public transport was cancelled and many roads were not gritted.

Striking workers gathered at Stormont and the Northern Ireland Office headquarters in Belfast city centre.

Speaking at Stormont, Carmel Gates, general secretary of the Northern Ireland Public Service Alliance (NIPSA) trade union, said workers were being used as a “political pawn” by the Northern Ireland secretary.

She said: “It shows the anger of public sector workers who haven’t had a decent pay rise in more than 10 years. Now we believe we are being used as a political pawn in a game by the secretary of state.”

Public sector workers in Northern Ireland have not received pay raises given to counterparts elsewhere in the UK, due to the ongoing political impasse at Stormont.

The UK government has offered a financial package worth more than £3bn to accompany the return of a devolved executive in Belfast, but Mr Heaton-Harris says it is conditional on the return of Stormont, and that he cannot release the money – including almost £600m to address pay – unless this happens.

There has been no power-sharing government in Northern Ireland for almost two years due to a DUP boycott of the institutions in protest at…

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This notice was published: 2024-01-18 18:27:00

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Queen says King is ‘fine’ and ‘looking forward to getting back to work’ ahead of prostate treatment | UK News

Queen Camilla has said the King is “fine” and is “looking forward to getting back to work” as he awaits treatment for an enlarged prostate.

Buckingham Palace announced yesterday the King is set to attend hospital for the treatment next week.

The palace has postponed his engagements in the meantime.

It is not known exactly what procedure the King, who is 75, requires, but the palace said he will need “a short period of recuperation”.

The Queen has been visiting the Aberdeen Art Gallery, and was asked about the King by the Lord Provost.

She replied: “He’s fine, thank you very much. Looking forward to getting back to work.”

It comes as the Prince of Wales visited his wife Kate in hospital while she recovers from abdominal surgery.

William was seen leaving the private London Clinic at around 12.35pm on Thursday.

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This notice was published: 2024-01-18 12:55:00

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Blinatumomab: The new cancer drug helping unwell children that is kinder and more targeted than chemotherapy | UK News

An 11-year-old boy, who is now free of blood cancer after undergoing a new type of treatment, has told Sky News the drug gave him a “burst of energy”.

Arthur D’Hulst had leukaemia but traditional chemotherapy failed to clear it, leaving him very weak, and the side effects were rough.

He was offered a new drug to try called blinatumomab, or blina, which is an immunotherapy that is “kinder” and more targeted and far less toxic than chemo.

Arthur was one of the first children to take part in the trial at London’s Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH).

Arthur D'Hulst
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Arthur is now cancer free

Blina made him feel much better. It works by targeting a protein, called CD19, on the leukaemia cells so the person’s immune system can recognise them.

The immune system can then attack and kill the leukaemia cells.

Arthur told Sky News: “Chemo was very tiring and made me feel like I always wanted to sleep and I never had any energy to do anything.

“But blina was like, I had a burst of energy. I could go outside.”

The drug comes in a bag of liquid that is administered through a plastic tube which goes into a vein.

Arthur D'Hulst

GOSH said on its website: “It is usually given 24 hours a day for four weeks followed by a two-week break without the infusion. It may be given at home using a portable infusion pump.”

Arthur carried the treatment with him in a rucksack which he called his “blina backpack” that pumped the drug into his body day and night.

Although Arthur had to return to GOSH every four days to have the drug topped up, the rest of the time he was at home with his family.

It meant he could do other things – like playing on swings in a park – while the treatment was happening.

Arthur D'Hulst

The backpack stayed with him continuously including in bed and he was able to get a good night’s sleep despite the pump making a noise.

His mother Sandrine Heutz said blina “feels like the future”.

She…

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Source: news.sky.com
This notice was published: 2024-01-17 22:56:00

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Scotland could feel -18C freeze tonight as cold snap could make way for weekend storms | UK News

Temperatures could plummet to -18C in Scotland one day after the coldest night of the year so far – as the cold snap could make way for storms this weekend.

An amber alert – warning of power cuts and travel disruption – is among widespread weather warnings for snow and ice and is in place until 6pm on Thursday in northern Scotland.

It could see the mercury drop to -15C or -18C tonight, according to Sky News meteorologist Kirsty McCabe.

Get the five-day forecast where you are

“This will likely be over the Scottish Glens, but still, that’s the coldest it’s been since about 2010, “she said.

A yellow warning for snow and ice, which is less severe than the amber equivalent, covers swathes of the eastern coast of England from Newcastle down to Norfolk, as well as Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales.

The Met Office amber warning forecasts some areas could see an extra 15-20cm of snow, meaning power cuts are likely and more remote communities are at risk of being cut off.

Hundreds of schools shut in Scotland on Wednesday and motorists are advised to drive with care.

But “much milder air” will move in from the South West by the end of the week “that will gradually filter in as we go through Friday”, McCabe adds.

The alerts in place on Wednesday. Pic: Met Office
Image:
The alerts in place on Wednesday. Pic: Met Office

Thursday's warnings. Pic: Met Office
Image:
Thursday’s warnings. Pic: Met Office

“We’re going to see much wetter and windier – and possibly even stormy – conditions this weekend,” she said.

“For now, though, it’s the snow and the ice, possibly with strong northerly winds and heavy snow in the far north of Scotland and the northern isles.

“There could be some blizzard conditions, some drifting snow, and for all of us, still, bitterly, bitterly cold.”

Read more:
What are your rights over cold workplace temperatures?
Pictures: Snowy scenes blanket the UK

Snowy conditions in Nenthead on the Northumberland and Cumbria border. Freezing temperatures and snow will continue for much of Britain this week because of cold Arctic air before "potentially disruptive" stormy weather lands over the weekend. Picture date: Wednesday January 17, 2024. PA Photo. Photo credit should read: Owen Humphreys/PA Wire
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Snowy conditions in Nenthead on the Northumberland and…

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This notice was published: 2024-01-17 18:44:00

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Badenoch seeks urgent Fujitsu talks over Post Office compensation | Business News

Kemi Badenoch, the business secretary, is seeking urgent talks with Fujitsu to thrash out a compensation package for sub-postmasters affected by the Post Office Horizon scandal.

Sky News has learnt that Ms Badenoch wrote to Takahito Tokita, the Japanese company’s chief executive, in the wake of an acknowledgement from Fujitsu bosses that it had a “moral obligation” to contribute to the compensation bill.

In the letter, parts of which have been seen by Sky News, the minister wrote that she would “value the opportunity to discuss Fujitsu’s involvement in the Post Office Horizon scandal“.

The letter goes on: “As you may know, my department is at the forefront of our government’s efforts to right the wrongs of the past.

“I am committed to ensuring that postmasters affected get the justice they deserve.

“This is why the UK government announced new legislation last week, to overturn wrongful convictions and a plan to ensure swifter access to compensation.”

The scale of the eventual bill remains unclear, although ministers have said that the government has set aside £1bn to fund payouts to convicted and other affected sub-postmasters.

‘We expect people who contributed to scandal to contribute’

Government insiders believe that Fujitsu will be put under pressure to fund a substantial sum running to hundreds of millions of pounds after both it and the Post Office – which is owned by the government – lied and obstructed justice for many years.

On Tuesday, Paul Patterson, Fujitsu’s European chief executive, told MPs the company was “truly sorry” for its conduct, which has drawn renewed scrutiny after ITV broadcast Mr Bates Vs the Post Office, a drama about what has been labelled Britain’s biggest-ever miscarriage of justice.

Kevin Hollinrake, the minister in Ms Badenoch’s department responsible for postal affairs, has been praised by some of those involved in the scandal for having repeatedly raised it in parliament while he was on the backbenchers.

Mr…

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This notice was published: 2024-01-17 10:54:00

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Temperature plummets overnight – with ‘bitterly cold’ days to come | UK News

The temperature has plummeted overnight with some parts of Scotland seeing what could be the coldest January night in 14 years.

The freezing temperatures and snow are expected to continue for much of Britain this week because of cold Arctic air.

Get the five-day forecast where you are here

A snowplough on the A66 near Keswick in Cumbria. Much of Britain is facing another day of cold temperatures and travel disruption after overnight lows dropped below freezing for the bulk of the country. A "cold plunge of Arctic air" has moved south across the whole country over the past few days, making it 5C-6C lower than usual for this time of year, the Met Office said. Picture date: Tuesday January 16, 2024. PA Photo. Photo credit should read: Owen Humphreys/PA Wire
Image:
A snowplough on the A66 near Keswick in Cumbria

And this is expected to be replaced by “potentially disruptive” stormy weather which lands over the weekend.

A “cold plunge of Arctic air” has moved south across the whole country over the past few days, making it 5C to 6C lower than usual for this time of year, the Met Office said.

A Met Office spokeswoman said: “It’s staying cold until Friday, and then looking further ahead into the weekend we’ve got some deep areas of low pressure pushing in, so a big change in weather type, and we could see some stormy conditions by the end of the week.

“The cold isn’t lasting right to the end of the week, but we have a very different type of potentially-disruptive weather arriving.”

More than 100 schools were closed in Scotland on Tuesday, while drivers faced difficult conditions thanks to the wintry weather across north-west England, including in Merseyside, Cheshire and Cumbria.

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Gorilla makes snowballs at Belfast Zoo

There are three yellow weather warnings in place for Wednesday.

One for snow and ice covers northern England and parts of Wales and comes into place from midnight for 24 hours.

Another ice warning covering parts of Scotland around Glasgow and Edinburgh also comes into force from midnight for 24 hours.

The third snow and ice warning covers the northern section of Scotland and Northern Ireland and is in place…

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This notice was published: 2024-01-16 22:25:00

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Rwanda bill rebels – full list of Tories who voted for Cash amendment | Politics News

Rishi Sunak has been dealt a fresh blow to his authority as 68 MPs, including 60 Tories, voted in favour of changes to his Rwanda Bill put forward by Conservative backbencher Sir Bill Cash.

The amendment, seeking to ensure UK and international law cannot be used to block a person being removed to Rwanda, was rejected by a majority of 461.

But the rebellion gives an indication of the scale of unease within the Conservative Party during an election year.

Read more:
Red lights should be flashing in Number 10 – this may not be far off a confidence issue for PM
Politics latest: Rebellion on Sunak’s Rwanda bill will cause ‘jitters’

Below is a full list of the Conservatives who voted for the amendment:

Adam Afriyie – Windsor
Lee Anderson – Ashfield
Sarah Atherton – Wrexham
Sir Jake Berry – Rossendale and Darwen
Bob Blackman – Harrow East
Ben Bradley – Mansfield
Suella Braverman – Fareham
Jack Brereton – Stoke-on-Trent South
Paul Bristow – Peterborough
Sir Bill Cash – Stone
Miriam Cates – Penistone and Stocksbridge
Rehman Chishti – Gillingham and Rainham
Sir Christopher Chope – Christchurch
Sir Simon Clarke – Middlesborough South and East Cleveland
Brendan Clarke-Smith – Bassetlaw
Philip Davies – Shipley
Sarah Dines – Derbyshire Dales
Richard Drax – South Dorset
Sir James Duddridge – Rochford and Southend East
Sir Iain Duncan Smith – Chingford and Woodford Green
Michael Fabricant – Lichfield
Nick Fletcher – Don Valley
Kevin Foster – Torbay
Mark Francois – Rayleigh and Wickford
Chris Green – Bolton West
James Grundy – Leigh
Jonathan Gullis – Stoke-on-Trent North
Sir John Hayes – South Holland and the Deepings
Darren Henry – Broxtowe
Philip Hollobone – Kettering
Adam Holloway – Gravesham
Eddie Hughes – Walsall North
Tom Hunt – Ipswich
Robert Jenrick – Newark
Caroline Johnson – Sleaford and North Hykeham
David Jones – Clwyd West
Danny Kruger – Devizes
Andrew Lewer – Northampton South
Marco Longhi – Dudley North
Jonathan Lord – Woking
Craig Mackinlay – South Thanet
Karl McCartney – Lincoln
Robin Millar -…

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This notice was published: 2024-01-16 18:49:00

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Robert Jenrick ‘prepared’ to vote down Rwanda bill as Tory divide deepens | Politics News

Robert Jenrick says he is “prepared” to vote against the Rwanda bill if the government does not adopt “robust” changes to the proposed legislation.

The proposed law is heading back to the Commons for two days of debate this afternoon, with the aim of deterring asylum seekers from coming to the UK via small boat crossings.

Rishi Sunak has said the new bill, which includes clauses to define Rwanda as a “safe country” and reduces the ability for people to appeal, answers the concerns of the the UK Supreme Court – which ruled the plan unlawful – while also ensuring deportations will take place.

But many on the right of the party – including Mr Jenrick, who resigned as immigration minister over the issue – want the prime minister to toughen up the legislation with a raft of amendments, including one that would block injunctions on flights taking off.

Make this move, however, and Mr Sunak risks upsetting the centrist wing of his party, with the One Nation faction already concerned the bill goes too far from the UK’s international obligations.

Politics live:
Johnson tells PM to accept rebel amendments

Speaking to Sky News’s political editor Beth Rigby, Mr Jenrick said he did not want to get to the “situation” where he would have to rebel against the government, but added: “I am prepared to vote against the bill… because this bill doesn’t work, and I do believe that a better bill is possible.

“So the government has a choice. It can either accept my amendments… or it can bring back a new and improved bill, and it could do that within a matter of days because we know the shape of that bill.”

He added: “The opportunity here is immense. Let’s not waste it by creating a scheme that is like a bucket riddled with holes.”

Politics Hub with Sophy Ridge

Politics Hub with Sophy Ridge

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Watch live on Sky channel 501, Freeview 233, Virgin 602, the Sky News website and…

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This notice was published: 2024-01-16 11:58:00

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Post Office scandal back in spotlight as MPs grill Fujitsu bosses and wronged sub-postmasters | Politics News

The Post Office scandal will be back in the spotlight today, when MPs hear evidence from a number of witnesses including campaigner and wronged sub-postmaster Alan Bates.

Mr Bates, whose story inspired the ITV hit drama Mr Bates vs the Post Office, will appear in front of parliament’s Business and Trade Committee alongside other figures, including business minister Kevin Hollinrake and representatives from Fujitsu, which developed Horizon, the faulty IT system at the heart of the scandal.

MPs on the committee will quiz the witnesses about the process for delivering fair and timely compensation for the victims of the scandal, which occurred between 1999 and 2015.

What is the scandal about?

The Post Office Horizon IT scandal saw more than 700 sub-postmasters and mistresses convicted after faulty Fujitsu software made it appear as though money was missing from their branches.

Last Wednesday Rishi Sunak confirmed that all victims of the IT scandal will have their convictions quashed under fast-tracked legislation after growing pressure to take more serious action.

Number 10 also confirmed that sub-postmasters and sub-postmistresses would be eligible for a £75,000 upfront payment with the new law, but acknowledged that would not be sufficient for everyone.

More on Post Office Scandal

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Post Office victim: ‘I was spat on’

The move was prompted by the TV drama, Mr Bates Vs The Post Office, which chronicled the campaigners’ two-decade fight for justice and detailed the poor treatment they received at the hands of their employer.

Mr Sunak said last week that the government had paid almost £150m in compensation to over 2,500 victims and pledged that victims would be…

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This notice was published: 2024-01-15 19:39:00

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Two major supermarket chains cut price of baby formula | Business News

Asda and Tesco have joined Iceland in reducing the cost of Aptamil baby formula.

Asda also said it will let customers pay for baby formula using their rewards scheme vouchers for the first time.

It comes amid a Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) investigation into formula products over fears they are particularly vulnerable to price shocks.

The CMA found a 25% uplift in price over two years.

Last year, Sky News revealed the desperate measures families were taking to feed their babies because of high prices at the shops during the wider cost of living crisis.

Producers of baby formula have all blamed higher factory costs, including ingredients and energy.

But last week Iceland said it would be cutting the cost of Aptamil from 16 January after manufacturer Danone, which also makes the Cow & Gate brand, agreed to reduce the price at which it offers its Aptamil powdered formula to retailers by up to 7%.

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Are shoppers being ripped off?

Asda said it would cut the price of six Aptamil lines “the majority by an average of 7%”.

Tesco said it was to cut the price of five Aptamil products by between 80p and £1 from Tuesday.

More on this story:
Baby formula prices a ‘catastrophe’ for families
Govt response to baby milk crisis ‘inexcusable’

Asda’s chief commercial officer, Kris Comerford, said: “For many of Asda’s customers, and families nationwide, we understand that buying baby formula is a vital necessity in their weekly shop, which is why we’re taking swift action to pass on falling manufacturing costs to customers before any other retailer.

“At the same time, we’ve decided to remove exclusions on using Asda rewards vouchers to pay for baby formula as we want to do everything we can to help families…

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This notice was published: 2024-01-15 19:33:00