A new variant of COVID-19 in the UK is believed to be behind the faster spread of infections in South East England - but it is not the first time the virus had mutated...
Health Secretary Matt Hancock has suggested the government will not stop households from meeting up over Christmas despite rising COVID-19 infection rates in some parts of the country.
Flight records and phone data allegedly link a hit squad from Russia's domestic spy agency, the FSB, to the novichok poisoning of opposition leader Alexei Navalny, according to a joint investigation by journalists.
An extravagant Christmas lights display that generates charity donations has been switched off after a complaint that visitors were breaking COVID rules.
The government has said it expects schools and colleges to remain fully open until the end of term, after a number of councils advised they switch to remote learning.
