8 h. ago ‘Why would you take away a parking place?’: the city where anyone can build an urban oasis

Grätzloasen – low-cost, urban ‘parklets’ built by volunteers – are on the rise in Vienna as sceptics are being won over by the splash of welcome greenery and boost to community spiritsIn a quiet corner of Vienna’s well-to-do 18th district, Jana is explaining how her assembly of wooden decking and planters is bringing a bit of greenery to the area. “There’s not a single tree on this whole street – it’s just parking spaces on both sides.”This is a grätzloase, or neighbourhood oasis – a miniature park tucked into the side of the road. With the blessing of the city hall, more than 100 of them have sprung up across Vienna. The scheme has been growing since 2015, and its proponents say it’s struck a rare balance for urban projects: cheap, community-driven and appreciated by local people. Continue reading...

Politics

10 h. ago September 2025 bank holiday payment dates for benefits and pensions plus cost of living support

All the essential cost of living information you need in September

Economics

11 h. ago DWP bonus payment this year for millions who claim PIP and State Pension

The DWP Christmas Bonus is a one-off, tax-free payment of £10 made to people in receipt of certain benefits - but not Universal Credit. Here's everything you need to know

Economics

17 h. ago Pink Oyster card reader rule could save you money while travelling around London

Here's how to make your journey to London cheaper when using TFL's pink card readers, but only if used correctly, most people know already about yellow readers, but many forget about the pink ones

Transport

18 h. ago DWP confirms Winter Fuel Payment deadline after UK Government U

The Government announced its U-turn on the payments in June, meaning nine million pensioners in England and Wales will receive the Winter Fuel Payment from the DWP this winter

Politics

18 h. ago ‘Censorship’: over 115 scholars condemn cancellation of Harvard journal issue on Palestine

In an open letter, writers denounced abrupt scrapping of a Harvard Educational Review issue dedicated to PalestineMore than 115 education scholars have condemned the cancellation of an entire issue of an academic journal dedicated to Palestine by a Harvard University publisher as “censorship”.In an open letter published on Thursday, the scholars denounced the abrupt scrapping of a special issue of the Harvard Educational Review – which was first revealed by the Guardian in July – as an “attempt to silence the academic examination of the genocide, starvation and dehumanisation of Palestinian people by the state of Israel and its allies.” Continue reading...

Politics

19 h. ago DWP payment for people with reading issues could be worth £749

If you need help with a wide variety of tasks, you could receive extra financial support

Economics

34 h. ago At least 20 killed after boat capsizes off Italian island of Lampedusa, UN says

UN refugee agency says more people could still be missing at sea, with between 70 and 80 believed to have survivedAt least 20 people have died after a boat capsized off the southern Italian island of Lampedusa, a United Nations agency and local media reported on Wednesday.Rescuers have recovered 20 bodies so far and operations were continuing, according to initial reports by Ansa news agency. Between 70 and 80 people were believed to have survived. Continue reading...

Events

35 h. ago ‘Social apnoea’: sleep disorder could worsen at weekends, research suggests

Lifestyle factors such as drinking and smoking could contribute to increased severity of obstructive sleep apnoeaLetting your hair down at the weekend might be a well-known recipe for a hangover, but researchers say it might also increase the severity of a common sleep disorder.Obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) involves complete pauses in breathing or partial reductions in airflow that arise because muscles in the back of the throat relax, causing the airways to narrow or close. It is more common in groups such as older people and people who are overweight or obese. Continue reading...

Science

38 h. ago DWP payment worth up to £812 sent to Universal Credit bank accounts

You may be eligible if you need help with repairs to your home, or if you need extra money to help you work, if you need to move, or funeral costs

Economics

50 h. ago Calorie labels rarely influence takeaway choices, survey suggests

A survey of adults in England found the majority did not notice any calorie information during their most recent online takeaway purchase.

Politics

59 h. ago More than 50,000 people have crossed Channel in small boats since Labour took power

Number of people who arrived in UK via small boats in first half of 2025 up 48% on same period last yearMore than 50,000 people have crossed the Channel in small boats since Keir Starmer became prime minister, official figures have confirmed.Home Office figures released on Tuesday showed that 50,271 people, most of whom successfully claim asylum, have arrived in the UK from France since Labour won the general election in July 2024. A total of 474 people arrived on Monday. Continue reading...

Politics

3 d. ago US judge hears if Trump team broke law during LA Ice protests

Federal judge began hearing evidence and arguments on deployment of national guard and marines to curb protestsUS politics live – latest updatesA federal judge in San Francisco on Monday began hearing evidence and arguments on whether the Trump administration violated federal law when it deployed national guard soldiers and US marines to Los Angeles after protests over immigration raids this summer.The Trump administration federalized California national guard members and sent them to the second-largest US city over the objections of the California governor, Gavin Newsom, and city leaders, after protests erupted on 7 June when Immigration and Customs Enforcement (Ice) officers arrested people at multiple locations. Continue reading...

Events

3 d. ago Explosion ‘like thunder’ at Pennsylvania US Steel plant leaves at least one dead

Two people missing and several injured as rescue operation under way at coking facility in ClairtonOne person has died and two are believed to be unaccounted for after an explosion at a US Steel plant in Pennsylvania, near Pittsburgh, officials said.An Allegheny county emergency services spokesperson, Kasey Reigner, said multiple other people were treated for injuries. Continue reading...

Events

3 d. ago DWP confirms Winter Fuel Payment worth £300 can be claimed within weeks

The UK Government has confirmed that Winter Fuel Payments will be issued automatically to around nine million people in England and Wales

Economics

3 d. ago DWP confirms pensioners can claim Winter Fuel Payment of up to £300 from next month

Most Winter Fuel Payments will be issued automatically but some pensioners may need to make a claim.

Economics

3 d. ago China diplomat tipped as next foreign minister detained by authorities – report

Liu Jianchao, the envoy in charge of managing ties with foreign political parties, was reportedly detained in late JulyLiu Jianchao, a senior Chinese diplomat widely seen as a potential future foreign minister, has been detained by authorities for questioning, the Wall Street Journal has reported.Liu was taken away after returning to Beijing in late July from an overseas work trip, it reported on Sunday, citing people familiar with the matter. Continue reading...

Politics

5 d. ago Police arrest 474 people at protest over Palestine Action ban in London

Met officers and other UK forces form ‘significant presence’ in largest protest since group was proscribed as terrorist organisationMore than 450 people have been arrested in central London at the largest demonstration relating to Palestine Action since the group was proscribed as a terrorist organisation.The Metropolitan police said they had drawn officers from other forces to help form a “significant policing presence” in the capital before the planned event, which was anticipated to result in large numbers of people being detained. Continue reading...

Events

5 d. ago Police arrest 466 people at protest over Palestine Action ban in London

Met officers and other UK forces form ‘significant presence’ in largest protest since group was proscribed as terrorist organisationMore than 450 people have been arrested in central London at the largest demonstration relating to Palestine Action since the group was proscribed as a terrorist organisation.The Metropolitan police said they had drawn officers from other forces to help form a “significant policing presence” in the capital before the planned event, which was anticipated to result in large numbers of people being detained. Continue reading...

Events

5 d. ago Trump reportedly considers reclassifying marijuana as less dangerous drug

President told people at a fundraiser last month he was considering changing marijuana’s Schedule I classificationDonald Trump is considering reclassifying marijuana as a less dangerous drug, the Wall Street Journal reported on Friday, citing people familiar with the matter.At a $1m-a-plate fundraiser at his New Jersey golf club earlier this month, Trump told attendees he was interested in making such a change, the people, who declined to be named, told the newspaper. Continue reading...

Politics