21 h. ago Ayr dad demands social work review after foster care threat kicked down the road

The dad, aged 53, revealed how he lived with a violent partner for 15 years and was a victim of domestic abuse.

Events

24 h. ago Discovering Spain’s Sierra de la Demanda: the land that social media forgot

While other parts of Spain struggle with the pressures of over-tourism, these wild, expansive and almost tourist-free mountains are a lungful of fresh airAs with paint colours or lipstick shades, naming a mountain range requires serious consideration. It should suggest character, create intrigue, and kindle desire. Who doesn’t want to explore the Crazy Mountains of Montana, or make a fiery pact with California’s Diablo Range? While studying a map of Spain, my interest was piqued by a patch of grey and green emptiness bearing the enticing words: Sierra de la Demanda.I’ve travelled all over Spain for work and play in the last two decades, but somehow these “demanding” mountains had eluded me. Located in the remote northern interior, halfway between Madrid and Santander, their isolation (and a dearth of English-language Google results) only added to the mystique. The Sierra de la Demanda covers a vast area across Spain’s least populated regions of Burgos, Soria and La Rioja. An investi...

Politics

39 h. ago UK weather: heatwave could result in hottest ever start to Wimbledon

As temperatures climb, London fire brigade highlights ‘severe’ risk of wildfiresThe latest heatwave is expected to push temperatures close to record levels for June and result in the hottest ever start to Wimbledon.Amber heat alerts remain in place until Tuesday evening for all of southern, western and eastern England with a warning of excess deaths particularly among those over 65, and increased demand on health and social care services. Continue reading...

Society

4 d. ago Ousted Bangladesh leader’s defence lawyer removed over social media post demanding her execution

State-appointed lawyer is sacked after Sheikh Hasina’s son accuses interim government of legal malpractice

Politics

4 d. ago Week in review: Lord Foster’s design chosen as Queen Elizabeth II memorial

Cheat the Week: What are the papers saying about this week’s stories?

Politics

5 d. ago Kicking restoration of Parliament down the road risks disaster, authorities told

A Labour former cabinet minister highlighted ‘a real danger of a Notre Dame-type inferno or something worse’ unless action is taken.

Events

8 d. ago Single dad who was victim of domestic abuse faces losing daughter to foster care 'threat'

The dad claims social workers want to take his daughter away from a 'loving, nurturing home' and place her in foster care.

Events

1 week ago US resumes visas for foreign students but demands access to social media accounts

The U.S. State Department says it’s restarting the suspended process for foreigners applying for student visas but says all applicants will now be required to unlock their social media accounts for review

Economics

2 w. ago Gen Z and gen Alpha brought a raw, messy aesthetic to social media. Why does it feel as inauthentic as ever? | Eugene Healey

The glossy perfection of millennial content gave way to something that felt more ‘real’. But that was a mirage – and brands quickly caught onEugene Healey is a brand strategy consultant, educator and creatorAuthenticity is the great mirage of the modern age. Its promise – to live unmediated, in full accordance with our values and beliefs – feels like the ideal we’re always reaching for before it vanishes beyond the horizon. And ironically, the more we try to prove we’re authentic online, the more we seem to accelerate its disappearance.As Generations Z and Alpha joined social media, they responded to the cultural demand for perfection with chaos – raw, unfiltered, deliberately messy content. The curated feed of flatlays gave way to the sloppy photo dump; the finstas; the bedrotting. Finally, our real lives represented on screen. Finally, something real.Eugene Healey is a brand strategy consultant, educator and creator Continue reading...

Politics

2 w. ago Protesters have a right to wear masks – despite Trump’s double standard | Jan

Standing by one’s identity makes sense in certain contexts. But there is a host of valid reasons for lawful demonstrators to remain anonymousDo protesters have a right to hide their faces? Donald Trump, who likes to show and see his own face as often as possible, clearly does not think so. One demand to universities has been that they outlaw masking at demonstrations; in response to protests in California, the US president demanded on social media that anyone wearing a mask be arrested immediately.Never mind the apparent double standard, as Ice agents refuse to take off face coverings and hide their name tags, defying any accountability; there is a widespread sense that standing by one’s identity is a crucial part of standing up to unjust power. In fact, that intuition is at the core of civil disobedience. But it is not plausible in our present moment; what’s more, there is a long countervailing tradition of validating citizens’ right to anonymity. As recently as the mid-1990s, it w...

Politics

3 w. ago MPs could vote to force government to build 150,000 social homes a year

A proposed change to the Planning and Infrastructure bill would demand a 150,000 target for building social homes this Parliament

Politics