Latest News
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GPs to offer same-day care for urgent problems under new NHS contract
A new NHS contract requires GPs in England to offer same-day appointments for urgent health needs from April, supported by new and ring-fenced funding; doctors' groups have warned this may stretch capacity while a survey found many people delayed contacting their GP last year.
Obstructive sleep apnoea costs UK and US economies £137bn a year, study finds
A University College London‑led study estimates obstructive sleep apnoea causes large productivity losses, costing the US about £133bn and the UK about £4.2bn annually; roughly one in five surveyed adults reported core symptoms consistent with the condition.
Floods and landslides in Brazil kill at least 30 after record rainfall
At least 30 people have died and 39 are missing after record rainfall caused flooding and landslides in Minas Gerais, Brazil; authorities say more than 200 people were rescued and a state of emergency was declared.
Walk-in GP clinics may deliver one million extra appointments.
BBC reporting provides indicative figures for proposed Scottish walk-in GP clinics: Edinburgh's centre hopes to see about 21,360 appointments a year and NHS Grampian's bid plans about 90,720 slots across three sites, while officials say exact capacities will be confirmed when locations are finalised.
Walk-in GP clinics may add one million appointments, government says
Scotland has opened the first of 16 walk-in GP clinics in a £34m one-year pilot, and the Scottish government says the programme aims to deliver one million extra GP and nurse appointments over a year when fully operational.
Abigail Spanberger will deliver Democrats' State of the Union rebuttal.
Abigail Spanberger, Virginia's newly elected governor and a former congresswoman and CIA officer, will deliver the Democrats' response to President Trump's State of the Union address.
Mum gives birth after UK's first deceased-donor womb transplant
Grace Bell, born without a womb, gave birth to a healthy son in December 2025 after receiving a womb from a deceased donor as part of a UK research programme funded by Womb Transplant UK.
Discord delays age verification plans after user outcry
Discord has postponed a planned global age verification rollout from March to the latter half of the year after user backlash, and says it will add non-biometric options such as credit-card checks while meeting legal obligations.
Lana Del Rey shows married life in new music video
Lana Del Rey released the single "White Feather Hawk Tail Deer Hunter" and its music video was filmed at her husband Jeremy Dufrene’s home in Des Allemands, Louisiana, showing domestic scenes and moments from their life together.
Floods and landslides in Brazil leave at least 25 dead and 43 missing
Heavy rains in Minas Gerais triggered floods and landslides that officials say killed at least 25 people and left 43 reported missing, with around 440 displaced in Juiz de Fora and a state of calamity declared there.
GPs told to prioritise A&E frequent attenders under new contract
A new £485m contract asks GPs to use risk‑stratification tools and hospital attendance data to identify patients who attend A&E frequently.
Harry Brook leads England into T20 World Cup last four after tough winter
Harry Brook scored a century to steer England into the T20 World Cup semi-finals, and said the past months had been "probably the hardest of my life".
40,000-year-old symbols reveal a missing chapter of human history
Researchers analysed more than 3,000 etchings on 260 bone and ivory objects from caves in the Swabian Jura and identified 22 recurring signs dating roughly 43,000–34,000 years ago, forming a structured symbolic system that is not claimed to be writing but shows clear repetition and information patterns.
Gut bacteria in UK's poorest areas are less diverse, study finds
A UK study of 1,390 female twins reported that people living in more deprived areas had reduced gut microbiome diversity, and identified 12 bacterial species linked to deprivation.
SEND plan for England gets cautious welcome amid workload concerns
The government published a SEND white paper asking mainstream schools to assess pupils and set individual support plans, and ministers say legislation will be introduced in 2028; education leaders and MPs welcomed the aim but warned the changes will add substantial workload and could affect staff wellbeing.
Ukraine Unbroken: Front Row presents new plays responding to the war
BBC Radio 4's Front Row marks four years since the full‑scale invasion of Ukraine with Ukraine Unbroken, an evening of five new plays and live bandura performance, and also discusses new Ofcom streaming oversight and the International Booker longlist.
Inside Gavin Newsom's upbringing, he recounts both hardship and privilege.
Gavin Newsom's new memoir, Young Man in a Hurry, blends memories of childhood struggles—including undiagnosed dyslexia and his mother's multiple jobs—with episodes of close ties to the wealthy Getty family; comments he made at an Atlanta event about his schooling drew immediate criticism.
Royal award recognises research unit combating violence against women
London Metropolitan University's Child and Woman Abuse Studies Unit received a Queen Elizabeth prize after 40 years of research and work to end violence against women and girls, presented at a ceremony at St James's Palace attended by the King and Queen.
Pace Center for Girls to host 13th Annual Men Who Cook fundraiser
The Pace Center for Girls Escambia-Santa Rosa will hold its 13th Annual Men Who Cook fundraiser on Sunday, April 19, from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Sanders Beach Corrine Jones Resource Center to support at-risk girls and young women in Santa Rosa County.
Devon school confident of quick classroom return after fire.
The Promise School in Okehampton will start short-term online learning on Wednesday after a Sunday fire that severely damaged much of the building, and trust leaders are working with local and national education bodies on contingency plans for a return to face-to-face classes.
Silverstone Soccer returns for its seventh annual fundraiser.
Silverstone Soccer, a five-a-side fundraiser run by Silverstone Leasing, will be held at Daventry Town Football Club on 28 June and will benefit The Lewis Foundation as the charity partner for 2026.
Court hears police found dog bowl at scene of pregnant woman's death
A police officer told Belfast Crown Court that Natalie McNally, 32, was found dead at her home in Lurgan in December 2022 and that a dog bowl was located beside her head; Stephen McCullagh is accused of her murder and was arrested at the scene.
Tommaso Giacomel has minor heart surgery after stopping in Olympic race
Italian biathlete Tommaso Giacomel underwent a successful minor ablation after stopping while leading the Olympic 15km mass start; the Italian federation said the operation was complete and he must rest for two weeks.
Neil McIntosh obituary: director of Shelter remembered.
An obituary for Neil McIntosh, who served as director of Shelter, reflects on debates over education reform in Britain and notes that reforms begun under John Major and continued under Tony Blair were measured by key performance indicators and met with public cynicism.
Underrated 'book town' is a haven of second-hand bookshops and cosy cafés
A small UK town is noted for its many second-hand bookshops and cosy cafés, with visitors praising Westwood Books and community outlets such as Clutterbooks and the bookshop at Farfield Mill.
Empty Bowls event replenishes food banks in Williamsburg
Close to 100 people attended the eighth Empty Bowls fundraiser at the Christian Reformed Church in Williamsburg, and the event raised just over $5,400 for Community Food Share.
Shropshire male voice choirs unite for Hope House concert
Four Shropshire male voice choirs will perform together at Harmony4Hope on March 28 at Wrekin Memorial Hall to raise funds for Hope House Children's Hospices.
Volunteers launch eco-friendly refillery and laundry at Leyland community centre
Volunteers at The Place Community Centre in Leyland have opened a free community laundry and a refillery; the washing machines were funded by South Ribble Borough Council and the refillery was funded by Progress Housing Group.
Better access to GPs with same-day urgent appointments
The government has agreed a new GP contract backed by a £485 million uplift that requires same-day appointments for patients with urgent needs and will ringfence about £292 million to recruit or increase GP sessions, taking effect 1 April 2026.
Portishead and Bristol railway restoration work to start this spring
Major construction to restore the Portishead–Bristol railway will begin in spring, with public drop-in sessions scheduled in Portishead on March 26 and in Pill on March 31.
