26 h. ago Why the legacy of East Germany’s prefab housing blocks is more relevant than ever

Once considered progressive, then later derided, a new exhibition is exploring the developments’ place as part of a collective experienceCommunist East Germany’s high-rise prefab residential blocks and their political and cultural impact in what was one of the biggest social housing experiments in history is the focus of a new art exhibition, in which the unspoken challenges of today’s housing crisis loom large.Wohnkomplex (living complex) Art and Life in Prefabs explores the legacy of the collective experience of millions of East Germans, as well as serving as a poignant reminder that the “housing question”, whether under dictatorship or democracy, is far from being solved. Continue reading...

Politics

45 h. ago ‘Just being who we are is political’: disco trio Say She She on impressing Nile Rodgers and making bold protest songs

Their origin story may have been quintessentially New York, but the ‘discodelic soul’ band are now spread across the US – and they’re more determined than ever to be heardSay She She’s origin story is so perfectly New York it could have been lifted from a more racially diverse episode of Lena Dunham’s Girls. It involves a “gnarly” eight-floor apartment block on Manhattan’s Lower East Side, a rooftop party turned sing-off and a debut show at Brooklyn’s coolest bar. So it’s mildly disappointing to discover that only one member of the trio still calls the Big Apple home.“I’m the last one standing,” Sabrina Cunningham confirms as she appears on Zoom, calling from her home in Brooklyn. She’s followed by Nya Gazelle Brown, who completed the band’s recent European tour, including a sold-out show at north London’s 3,000-capacity Roundhouse, while seven months pregnant. “I moved to Maryland over Covid,” Brown says. “I needed to stretch out and I wanted to be around family.” Th...

Politics

65 h. ago East Ayrshire Council backs clean energy firm’s wind farm extension

Majority of planning committee members supported the plans, which would see the project have a capacity of over 100MW – enough to power around 128,000 Scottish homes

Events

3 d. ago Albanian gang jailed over £1.8m cannabis farm found in derelict Ayrshire shopping centre

Elton Skenderi, 29, Gjovalin Toma, 31, and Eduard Daja, 39, were all locked up after cops unfurled a plan to flood Scotland with cannabis.

Economics

6 d. ago Gaza 'will be turned into tourism resort with entire two million population "voluntarily" moved to another country under plan circulating within Trump staff'

The Palestinian territory would turn into a trusteeship administered by the U.S. for the next 10 years, becoming a hub of high-tech manufacturing and technology.

Politics

9 d. ago Kyiv residents fatalistic but defiant as city again comes under mass air attack

Russian strikes kill at least 18 in Ukraine’s capital as period of quiet is shattered in wake of Trump-Putin summitIt was a deadly moment that unfortunately came as no surprise. At about 3am the unmistakable crump of explosions could be heard across Kyiv, enough to wake up tens of thousands and leave them contemplating whether to head for shelter or to stay in bed hoping for the best.At a five-storey residential apartment block in the Darnytskyi area in the east of the city, residents said they had heard Russian bombing in the distance. It was a familiar sound, and many had gathered away from the windows in central corridors that extended along the block, only for disaster to strike. Continue reading...

Events

9 d. ago Heads of Ayr Farm Park unveiled as Ayr United's newest off field signing

The deal will see park bosses branding United's Family Stand and offering mascots free passes to the popular attraction.

Politics

1 week ago Bruno Fernandes open to Man United 'exit' after Saudi Arabia transfer interest

The Manchester United skipper has been linked with a blockbuster move to the Middle East

Politics

1 week ago 'Horror rat invasion' as tenants can't sleep because of rodents 'scratching inside walls'

Several tenants at the east London apartment block said they were 'unable to sleep' and were 'terrified' after the invasion of rodents started causing chaos at their homes

Events

1 week ago Rat infestation causes months of 'terror' at east London apartment block

Residents have described enduring months of being unable to sleep due to hearing rats in the walls

Events

2 w. ago Man found guilty of murdering neighbour in frenzied attack at east London block of flats

Raish Ahmed, 50, was stabbed to death by his neighbour in east London

Events

3 w. ago 'It is like living in an oven': East London tower block residents warn of scorching flats

“Do not buy these flats” say Leaside Lock residents suffering from sweltering temperatures in their homes during London’s fourth heatwave

Events

4 w. ago Ayrshire farm's tourism plan is blocked by East Ayrshire Council

Owners at Blackstone Clydesdales, based at Blackstone Farm, Rigg Road, Cumnock, previously lodged proposals with East Ayrshire Council for consideration.

Politics