The alert, from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), runs from 6am on Friday until 8am on Monday, and covers the South West, the Midlands, the North East, the North West and Yorkshire and The Humber. The agency - which generally only issues warnings for England - said the cold weather was likely to pose "a greater risk to life of vulnerable people" and prompt an increased use of healthcare services. Check the weather forecast in your area The alert came as the Met Office issued a yellow warning for snow that could bring disruption to parts of Wales and central England on Wednesday and Thursday. Between 2cm and 5cm of snow could fall quite widely in higher areas, the forecaster said, while lower-lying places could see smaller amounts from late evening into the early hours. A yellow warning for rain is also in place for southern England on Wednesday and Thursday, with the Met Office warning of the risk of flooding and travel disruption. Areas in the South West have been affected by January's three named storms - Goretti, Ingrid and Chandra - which all brought heavy rain. As so much rain has fallen since the start of the year, Sky's science correspondent Thomas Moore reports that the UK is at risk of more flooding for months to come. According to the UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology (UKCEH) rivers in the south and southwest of England reached exceptionally high levels in January, with some breaking records. In some areas where rainfall has been heaviest, the soil has been saturated, causing water to rise through the ground. Read more from Sky News:Highest unemployment rate in nearly five yearsWhy the UK's 'lost' boys are in crisis The Environment Agency (EA) has also warned of a significant risk of groundwater flooding that could last for months.

Real name Sam Battle, the self-proclaimed "massive Eurovision fan" is a performer and composer who launched his YouTube channel in 2016. He is known by fans for building and playing unique electronic instruments - such as an organ made from Furbies and Game Boys, flame-throwing keyboards and a Star Wars droid orchestra. "I hope Eurovision is ready to get synthesised!" Battle said as his entry was revealed. "I find it completely bonkers to be jumping on this wonderful and wild journey. "I have always been a massive Eurovision fan, and I love the magical joy it brings to millions of people every year, so getting to join that legacy and fly the flag for the UK is an absolute honour that I am taking very seriously." This year's ceremony is due to take place in Vienna, Austria, in May and details of the UK song will be revealed in the coming weeks, the BBC - which broadcasts Eurovision in the UK - said. "I've been working a long-time creating, writing, and producing my own visions from scratch, and documenting my process," Battle added. "I will be bringing every ounce of my creativity to my performances, and I can't wait for everyone to hear and see what we've created." Kalpna Patel-Knight, head of entertainment at the BBC, said Look Mum No Computer embodies "everything the UK wants to celebrate on the Eurovision stage - creativity, ambition, and a distinctly British wit". Which broadcasters have pulled out? The BBC's announcement comes amid controversy surrounding this year's ceremony. Last year, Iceland, the Netherlands, Spain, Ireland and Slovenia all announced their withdrawal from Eurovision 2026 over Israel's participation in the competition. It came after a vote on whether members were happy with tougher new rules introduced in November - following claims of Israeli government "interference" in last year's contest. The majority agreed the changes were enough and Israel's place was confirmed. Israeli national broadcaster KAN described attempts to remove them as a "cultural boycott". In response to the decision to allow Israel to compete, the country's president Isaac Herzog wrote on X: "Israel deserves to be represented on every stage around the world, a cause to which I am fully and actively committed." This year's ceremony marks Eurovision's 70th anniversary and organisers had planned the first ever official song contest live tour, featuring acts from the past seven decades of the event, to follow the show. However, it was announced last week that this had been cancelled due to "unforeseen challenges". Contest director Martin Green said it had been a "difficult decision" but assured the tour would be relaunched "when we can ensure the world-class experience that our fans expect".

The prime minister said it was "concerning to see more children getting measles" as Enfield, north London, recorded 34 confirmed cases between 1 January and 9 February - more than one third of the 96 cases across England so far this year. According to a local GP surgery, one in five of the children infected in the recent outbreak needed hospital treatment "and all of them had not been fully immunised". At least seven schools in Enfield and Haringey have confirmed infections, with the GP surgery warning "it is spreading". On Tuesday, Sir Keir posted on X: "Vaccines are safe, effective and can be life saving. "We're urging all parents to check their children are up to date with their recommended vaccinations." He said the UK "expects its leaders to stand firmly behind science to protect our children, not to give oxygen to conspiracy theories". "Public health isn't a culture war. It's about keeping our communities safe," he added. Measles is a highly infectious viral illness that can spread very easily among people - both children and adults - who are not fully vaccinated. The virus causes cold-like symptoms, a rash and spots in the mouth. While many people recover, the illness can lead to serious complications such as pneumonia, brain inflammation and, in rare cases, long-term disability or even death. The UKHSA has warned modelling of a large-scale measles outbreak in London could lead to between 40,000 to 160,000 infections. The modelling released in a report titled "Risk assessment for measles resurgence in the UK" estimated that hospitalisation rates would range from 20% to 40% depending on age. Read more: What are the symptoms of measles - and what to do if your child is infected Britain lost its measles elimination status in 2024, with falling immunisation rates stoking fears of a widespread outbreak of the virus. Dudu Sher-Arami, Enfield's director of public health, told The Sunday Times that London had "one of the lowest, if not the lowest, vaccination uptake rates" in the country, making the capital especially vulnerable to an outbreak. The measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine has been available in the UK since 1988, with the first dose usually given to babies aged one, and a second dose at three years and four months. If either dose has been missed, you can still ask your GP for the vaccine. In the late 1990s and early 2000s, MMR vaccination rates fell to about 80% nationally after a 1998 study by British doctor Andrew Wakefield linked the vaccine to autism. The study has been discredited after he was found to have manipulated data and he was struck off the medical register - but not before the study led to lower vaccination rates globally. Since the COVID pandemic, more parents have been asking questions about vaccinations, leading to them searching the internet for answers, where there is a lot of disinformation.

Northampton forward Pollock, whose seven international appearances have come as a replacement, is one of three changes made by Steve Borthwick in the wake of Saturday's 31-20 defeat against Scotland. Pollock starts at No 8 and is joined back in the starting XV by Tom Curry, who comes in at blindside flanker. Sam Underhill and Guy Pepper drop to the bench. Scotland 31-20 England - Reborn Scots regain Calcutta CupWhere did it go wrong for England in Murrayfield nightmare?Six Nations 2026: Fixtures and schedule | StandingsNot got Sky? Get Sky Sports or stream with no contract on NOW 📺 England's other change sees Ollie Lawrence return at centre with Tommy Freeman shifting back to the wing in place of Tom Roebuck. Henry Arundell retains his place on the wing after escaping a ban following his sending off at Murrayfield. Itoje to earn 100th England cap Captain Maro Itoje will become only the ninth player to earn 100 England caps when he leads the team out at Allianz Stadium. "To reach 100 caps for England is a remarkable achievement and speaks volumes about Maro's consistency and professionalism over many years," Borthwick said. "He leads through his actions every day, sets the standard for others and cares deeply about representing his country. We're all incredibly proud of what he has achieved, and I know it will be a special day for him and his family." Leicester scrum-half Jack van Poortvliet and Harlequins fly-half Marcus Smith return among the substitutes, with Borthwick opting for a 6-2 split of forwards and backs. "We're expecting a huge contest at Allianz Stadium and we're excited for it," Borthwick added. "We know the challenge Ireland will bring and we've selected a side that we believe has the right balance to meet it." England team to face Ireland Starting XV: 15 Freddie Steward, 14 Tommy Freeman, 13 Ollie Lawrence, 12 Fraser Dingwall, 11 Henry Arundell, 10 George Ford, 9 Alex Mitchell; 1 Ellis Genge, 2 Luke Cowan-Dickie, 3 Joe Heyes, 4 Maro Itoje (c), 5 Ollie Chessum, 6 Tom Curry, 7 Ben Earl, 8 Henry Pollock. Replacements: 16 Jamie George, 17 Bevan Rodd, 18 Trevor Davison, 19 Alex Coles, 20 Guy Pepper, 21 Sam Underhill, 22 Jack van Poortvliet, 23 Marcus Smith. England's 2026 Six Nations fixtures All times UK and Ireland England 48-7 Wales (Saturday February 7) - Allianz Stadium, TwickenhamScotland 31-20 England (Saturday February 14) - Murrayfieldvs Ireland (Saturday February 21) - Allianz Stadium, Twickenham (2.10pm)vs Italy (Saturday March 7) - Stadio Olimpico, Rome (4.40pm)vs France (Saturday March 14) - Stade de France, Paris (8.10pm)

The prime minister said it was "concerning to see more children getting measles" as Enfield, north London, recorded 34 confirmed cases between 1 January and 9 February - more than one third of the 96 cases across England so far this year. According to a local GP surgery, one in five of the children infected in the recent outbreak needed hospital treatment "and all of them had not been fully immunised". At least seven schools in Enfield and Haringey have confirmed infections, with the GP surgery warning "it is spreading". On Tuesday, Sir Keir posted on X: "Vaccines are safe, effective and can be life saving. "We're urging all parents to check their children are up to date with their recommended vaccinations." He said the UK "expects its leaders to stand firmly behind science to protect our children, not to give oxygen to conspiracy theories". "Public health isn't a culture war. It's about keeping our communities safe," he added. Measles is a highly infectious viral illness that can spread very easily among people - both children and adults - who are not fully vaccinated. The virus causes cold-like symptoms, a rash and spots in the mouth. While many people recover, the illness can lead to serious complications such as pneumonia, brain inflammation and, in rare cases, long-term disability or even death. The UKHSA has warned modelling of a large-scale measles outbreak in London could lead to between 40,000 to 160,000 infections. The modelling released in a report titled "Risk assessment for measles resurgence in the UK" estimated that hospitalisation rates would range from 20% to 40% depending on age. Read more: What are the symptoms of measles - and what to do if your child is infected Britain lost its measles elimination status in 2024, with falling immunisation rates stoking fears of a widespread outbreak of the virus. Dudu Sher-Arami, Enfield's director of public health, told The Sunday Times that London had "one of the lowest, if not the lowest, vaccination uptake rates" in the country, making the capital especially vulnerable to an outbreak. The measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine has been available in the UK since 1988, with the first dose usually given to babies aged one, and a second dose at three years and four months. If either dose has been missed, you can still ask your GP for the vaccine. In the late 1990s and early 2000s, MMR vaccination rates fell to about 80% nationally after a 1998 study by British doctor Andrew Wakefield linked the vaccine to autism. The study has been discredited after he was found to have manipulated data and he was struck off the medical register - but not before the study led to lower vaccination rates globally. Since the COVID pandemic, more parents have been asking questions about vaccinations, leading to them searching the internet for answers, where there is a lot of disinformation.

The Oscar-winning actor and filmmaker died peacefully at home on Sunday, his wife Luciana said, in a statement paying tribute. "Yesterday we said goodbye to my beloved husband, cherished friend, and one of the greatest actors of our time," she said, adding that he "passed away peacefully at home, surrounded by love and comfort". "To the world, he was an Academy Award-winning actor, a director, a storyteller. To me, he was simply everything. His passion for his craft was matched only by his deep love for characters, a great meal, and holding court," Luciana said. "For each of his many roles, Bob gave everything to his characters and to the truth of the human spirit they represented. "In doing so, he leaves something lasting and unforgettable to us all. Thank you for the years of support you showed Bob and for giving us this time and privacy to celebrate the memories he leaves behind." More tributes to Duvalll - including Al Pacino From army man to leading man Duvall grew up in Annapolis, Maryland, the son of a Navy admiral and an amateur actress. After graduating from Principia College in ​Illinois and serving in the US Army, he moved to New York - where he lived with Dustin Hoffman and befriended Gene Hackman when the three were struggling acting students. He appeared in various Broadway and off-Broadway plays, including productions of Arthur Miller's The Crucible and A View From The Bridge, and had TV roles before making his big screen debut in the 1963 adaptation of To Kill A Mockingbird, playing Arthur "Boo" Radley. During his prolific career on screen, Duvall created a range of unforgettable characters that made him one of Hollywood's greats. 'One of the best in the world' He earned his first Oscar nomination in the best supporting actor category for playing Mafia consigliere Tom Hagen in 1972's The Godfather - a role he reprised in The Godfather Part II. In 1979, he was nominated in the supporting category once again, this time for his scene-stealing performance as Lieutenant Colonel Bill Kilgore in 1979's Apocalypse Now. Filmmaker Francis Ford Coppola, who directed both films, once described him as being "one of the four or five best actors in the world" in an interview with People Magazine. Duvall received seven Academy Award nominations in total - taking home the statuette for best actor in 1984 for Tender Mercies, in which he played a country music star recovering from alcoholism - and was also nominated for eight Golden Globe awards. Read more from Sky News:Derry Girls creator talks about her new showChadwick Boseman's brothers on late star's play Some of his other notable films include The Natural (1984), Colors (1988), Days Of Thunder (1990), Deep Impact (1998) and A Civil Action (1998), Gone In 60 Seconds (2000), Gods And Generals (2003), We Own the Night (2007) and The Judge (2014), as well as The Apostle in 1997, which he directed, wrote and starred in.

The jobless rate ticked up to 5.2% in December, the highest since the three months up to January 2021, data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) showed. The figure had stood at 4.1% when Labour took office in 2024, promising economic growth. More out-of-work people are now actively looking for a job, while the number of unemployed people per job vacancy is at a new post-pandemic high, the ONS said. Though there's been little change in the number of job openings over the last few months. Redundancies are also increasing, according to the ONS data. Money blog: 'I booked an emergency plumber and cancelled minutes later but was still charged' Not everyone has the same unemployment rate; those aged 18 to 24 saw their unemployment increase to 14% from 13.7%. The ONS, however, has continued to advise caution when interpreting changes in the monthly unemployment rate and job vacancy numbers over concerns about the reliability of the figures. Why is unemployment increasing? The new figures comes as more than a third of employers say they are cutting hiring due to new workers' rights, according to a survey from the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD). The Employment Rights Act, which became law in December, guarantees workers entitlements including parental leave and sick pay from the first day of a job. It has also become more expensive to employ staff due to the rise in employers' national insurance contributions in April. Higher minimum wages for younger workers contributed to the growth in unemployment among that cohort Catherine Mann, a senior Bank of England economist and interest rate setter, said at the weekend. Gulf in private and public sector wage growth There has also been a slowing down in the rate of pay increases and the gap between the private and public sector wage rises has remained. Average annual earnings rose 7.2% for the public sector and 3.4% for the private sector. This higher public sector figure is due to some pay rises being issued earlier in 2025 than in 2024. Overall, pay rose 4.2% in the three months to December, a fall from the 4.4%, seen a month earlier. What it means for interest rates Slower wage growth may be welcome news for the interest-rate setters at the Bank of England as high wage rises can cause overall prices to rise and make it harder to bring down inflation. Interest rates have been kept relatively high, at 3.75%, as the Bank attempts to have inflation fall to 2%. Traders now think there's a 81% chance of a rate cut in March. A further cut is now seen as likely in September which would bring the borrowing cost to 3.25%.

Tudor was appointed as Spurs head coach on a deal until the end of the season. The Croatian replaced Thomas Frank, who was sacked after an eight-game winless run, which has left Spurs 16th in the Premier League table and only five points above the drop zone. Meet the 'firefighter' Tudor tasked with keeping Spurs upTottenham news & transfers⚪ | Spurs fixtures & scoresGot Sky? Watch Tottenham games LIVE on your phone📱Not got Sky? Get Sky Sports or stream with no contract on NOW📺 In his first interview since his appointment on Saturday, Tudor wants to inject "confidence" and "courage" into the underperforming side. He told Spursplay: "The first priority is to give everything the team needs in these moments. "The team needs, first of all, to get some confidence, to get some courage, but also in the same way, the concrete things in the pitch. "I'm coming here knowing the situation is not easy. There is no time to find excuses. "What I said from the first day here [is] each of us, each of the players need to give something more, something extra, because the position of the club in this moment is not [one] that anybody can accept. Every fan of Tottenham cannot accept the situation. We are aware of that, but it's not enough to just be aware of that." 'I've never seen a coach play for a draw' The ex-Juventus boss faces a daunting first game in charge as Spurs host rivals and Premier League leaders Arsenal on Sunday, live on Sky Sports. But Tudor is only targeting victory in this weekend's north London derby. "Big week, important games," he said. "This derby is a fantastic game to play. We want to play this game in a way that our fans will like. "I'm going to give everything that we have in the right way, brave but in the same way intelligent and smart to achieve what we want, and that's the victory." He later added: "And about winning or drawing, the truth is I never saw the coach who said that he can play for a draw. It's not possible. "So offensive football, yes, but smart, that's the key." Tudor: I need to find best system amid absentee crisis Tudor has favoured three at the back and wing-backs during his managerial career, but the 47-year-old acknowledged Spurs' huge absentee list will force him to find "the best system". He said: "I like to be positive. I like to play offensive football. That's my first goal. I like to score goals, but in the same way, you need to give organisation in defence, give the clear structure of what you want to play. "The situation is not easy because we have a lot of injured players, so we need first to find the best system that suits the players that are available at this moment, so a very particular moment. "Maybe this can sound strange, but I believe the thing we need to be focused on is the training. So the training from today, that's the key, because as I always like to say, Sunday and the game is a consequence of the training. "The coach needs to show the path, where is the way we want to go, how we want to go, and the players need to accept this." 'Style is more important than system' Tudor made a great impact at Lazio and Juventus recently, delivering an instant upturn in form miday through the season at the Serie A clubs. The ex-Juve defender will be hoping to make a similar impact at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium to ease fears of a first relegation to the second tier since 1977. He said: "If you can run 115 kilometres as a team, it's better than 105. It doesn't mean that you have one player extra, so there is nothing strange to choose that direction. "It's always about motivated players that understand this thing about running, about the physical aspect of football, which is sometimes not easy, but that without quality - you can do nothing. "So technical skills, intelligence, to see, to recognise the situations on the pitch is always above everything, so you need to find a mix about things." He added: "I believe in style - style is more important than the system. It's a very particular moment, so every club has its particularity, that is first as a culture of the club, which kind of football they like so it's always important to think about that. "But in the same way, not to forget who I am, what I want the team to achieve, but thinking, 'this player can do this', so I need to be with my staff, very intelligent, to find the best possible way to get out in a very short time."