The UK Pulse The Pulse of the UK

Fauci faces Senate Republicans over Covid origins

Anthony Fauci is set to testify before the US Senate as Republicans press him on the Covid-19 lab leak theory and pandemic origins.

3 min read

man in a blue suit sits at a desk with hands clasped, facing forward with people seated behind him

Teenagers urged to get free MenB vaccine before university

Health officials are urging eligible young people to get a free MenB vaccine from 31 July before starting university or college in Northern Ireland.

4 min read

A close-up image of Rachel Spiers standing in front of a dark background with some text written in white. She is a young woman with straight, brown hair at shoulder length and she is wearing a floral patterned dress and a gold necklace. She is smiling at the camera with her mouth closed.

Cost of living makes it harder to recruit and keep volunteers

Grwpiau gwirfoddol bach yng Nghymru yn torri gwasanaethau wrth i’r argyfwng costau byw ei gwneud hi’n anodd denu a chadw gwirfoddolwyr.

6 min read

Anne Callow yn hwb bwyd ysgol Tonysguboriau

Burnham invites Conservatives and Lib Dems to social care talks

Andy Burnham has invited Conservative and Liberal Democrat leaders to talks on England’s social care reform, as he is expected to speed up the Casey Commission.

7 min read

British Prime Minister Andy Burnham looks on during a visit to HM Naval Base with Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky in Portsmouth, Britain, 27 July 2026.

Amber heat alerts to begin as UK heatwave peaks at 35C

Amber and yellow heat health alerts will begin on Wednesday as the UK faces a peak of 35C and a brief but intense heatwave.

4 min read

A group of people sit on the dry, sun-scorched grass of Primrose Hill with the skyline of central London in the background

Drug crisis centre warns of closure over rent rises

Turning Point Scotland warns its Glasgow crisis centre could close after rent rises and other costs imposed by council-owned landlord Glasgow City Property.

8 min read

Accessible courtyard garden between brick residential buildings, featuring a well-kept lawn with newly planted small trees, flower pots lining the building walls, and hanging planters on a dark fence under a bright blue sky with scattered clouds.

Wife’s instincts led to terminal brain cancer diagnosis

Josh Smith, 34, from Wrexham, was diagnosed with incurable brain cancer after his wife Kelly pushed him to seek help for headaches and brain fog.

10 min read

Josh, a man with brown hair and stubble wearing a green t shirt, taking a selfie with his arm around the neck of a brunette woman, Kelly, wearing a pale blue vest top and holding her hand over his. They are stood in a forest with trees in the background and are both smiling and looking at the camera.

Ghana mourns tallest man Awuche, a generous local celebrity

Ghana is mourning Sulemana Abdul Samed, known as Awuche, who died in hospital in Tamale after complications linked to his condition. The 33-year-old was measured by the BBC in 2023 at 7ft 4in.

4 min read

A smiling Sulemana Abdul Samed, also known as Awuche, stands in front a a building, towering over its roof. He wears a colourful shirt.

Cyclosporiasis outbreak exposes US food safety vulnerabilities

Experts say a large cyclosporiasis outbreak, linked to iceberg lettuce from Taylor Farms de Mexico, exposes gaps in US food safety tracking and reporting.

5 min read

A man in glasses and a blue shirt reaches for fresh herbs on a supermarket produce shelf

Burrows says carer who filmed dementia patients should be jailed

Jon Burrows has urged a review of the probation sentence given to Ciara Corvan, who admitted filming and sharing demeaning videos of dementia patients at Craigavon Area Hospital.

4 min read