National News

Members of the RCN will walkout for 48 hours Nurses will stage fresh strikes over the first May bank holiday, with staff in emergency departments, intensive care units and cancer care set to take industrial action for the first time. The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) announced on Friday that its members will walk out for 48 hours from 8pm on April 30 after rejecting the Government’s pay offer. The

Merseyside Police said they have a “robust policing plan in place” Animal Rising activists plan to scale the fences and enter the track of Aintree Racecourse before the Grand National race begins on Saturday. The climate and animal rights group said up to 300 activists will attend the venue from 9.30am where they intend to prevent the race from starting. They will also block traffic by performing a slow march along Ormskirk Road,

It will take place at Windsor Castle on the evening of Sunday 7th May Take That, Katy Perry and Lionel Richie are among the musical stars who will perform at the Coronation Concert to celebrate the crowning of the King and Queen Consort, the BBC has announced. The line-up will also include Italian opera singer Andrea Bocelli, Welsh bass-baritone Sir Bryn Terfel, singer-songwriter Freya Ridings and classical-soul composer Alexis Ffrench, with more

Fumio Kishida was unharmed and evacuated to a police headquarters A loud explosion occurred at a western Japanese port on Saturday during prime minister Fumio Kishida’s visit, but there were no injuries, Japan’s NHK television reported. Mr Kishida was unharmed and evacuated to the Wakayama prefectural police headquarters, NHK said. The incident comes only nine months after Mr Kishida’s predecessor, Shinzo Abe, was assassinated while delivering a campaign speech in the western

He died in hospital on Friday Mark Sheehan, guitarist for Irish pop band The Script, has died after a brief illness. Sheehan, 46, who formed the band alongside frontman Danny O’Donoghue and drummer Glen Power, died in hospital on Friday. A statement on the band’s social media pages said: “Much loved husband, father, brother, band mate and friend Mark Sheehan passed away today in hospital after a brief illness. “The

The King spoke of his pride in his two sons as he observed military cadets completing their training, days after it was confirmed that the Duke of Sussex will attend the coronation. On Friday, Charles attended the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst for the 200th Sovereign’s Parade, to see the 171 cadets who have completed their training as army officers and will receive their commission at midnight. The visit came after

A European spacecraft is on its way to Jupiter in a mission to explore whether its ocean-bearing moons can support life. The six-tonne probe, named Juice (Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer), blasted off on an Ariane 5 rocket on Friday at 1.14pm UK time from the European spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana. Juice was due to take off on Thursday but weather conditions showed there was a risk of lightning. The

Liam Payne has said being a father has encouraged him to support Unicef’s Soccer Aid match more as he wants every child to have the “right to play”. The 29-year-old singer, who shares 6-year-old Bear with singer Cheryl, is returning to play for the England team in the upcoming charity football game in June. Payne also revealed that he hopes some of his former One Direction bandmates are not drafted

The leaders of the five largest political parties in Northern Ireland sent a statement supporting the use of a rebuilt Casement Park in the UK and Ireland Euro 2028 bid. The statement said the proposed new stadium was an Executive commitment which would be a “world class, state of the art” facility. The Gaelic sports stadium in Belfast is part of the joint bid to host Euro 2028 along with