COVID pandemic

An inquiry found that most of the £15 billion spent on PPE during the pandemic was wasted. The procurement process for medical supplies was compared to the 'Wild West' due to chaotic competition.

A man has confessed from jail to killing his wife, Delphine Jubillar, who went missing in southern France in December 2020 during the COVID pandemic. Her body has not been found.

Some patients and parents are objecting to receiving blood donations from vaccinated individuals post-COVID, prompting hospitals to consider how to respond to such requests. The article explores the ethical and logistical challenges hospitals face in addressing these demands.

Jill Biden's book excerpt discusses her four years in the White House, her advocacy work, and challenges facing the Biden presidency, including the COVID pandemic, the January 6 insurrection, and the president's health.

Redundancy notices have reached their highest level since the covid pandemic. The surge indicates a significant increase in workplace redundancies compared to recent years.

Teen 'takeovers' are prompting cities to take action, with experts noting similarities to the impact of the Covid pandemic. A video from Chicago on Memorial Day 2026 shows instances of these 'Teen takeovers.'

Retail sales in Great Britain declined by 1.3% in April, marking the worst monthly performance in a year. The drop was primarily driven by motorists reducing petrol and fuel purchases at the fastest rate since the Covid pandemic, amid uncertainty over Iran tensions. The decline significantly exceeded forecasts of -0.6%.

2.6 million student loan borrowers fell into default in early 2026, according to a New York Fed blog. This marks the first time student loan defaults have appeared on consumers' credit reports since the Covid pandemic. The increase in defaults indicates a potential issue for borrowers and the economy.

UK alcohol deaths have fallen for the first time since the Covid pandemic, but experts warn against complacency and call for further efforts to reduce deaths. The reduction is described as modest. Experts urge continued action to slash deaths.

Contact-tracing apps were widely used during the Covid pandemic but are less helpful in smaller outbreaks like Hantavirus. These apps have limited effectiveness in managing smaller disease outbreaks. Their deployment is more suited to large-scale pandemics.