4 h. ago Seattle border agents seize $500,000 worth of fake Labubu dolls

Over 11,000 knock-off Labubu dolls were seized at the U.S.-Canada border near Seattle.

Politics

8 h. ago Free school meals new eligibility rules to help 500,000 more children

The free school meals scheme is set for a significant change as the eligibility criteria is expanded

Politics

11 h. ago NHS GP says bloating and pain could be signs of undiagnosed condition

Around 500,000 people are thought to be living with the disease without knowing

Politics

29 h. ago New homeowners handed huge £10,000 discount on houses if you finish it off yourself

People who would have struggled to get on the housing ladder were offered a whopping £10,000 discount on new homes if they contributed 500 hours to the build themselves

Society

32 h. ago Full list of people eligible for free school meals after major rule change

A major change to free school meal eligibility is set to come into force next year

Politics

33 h. ago Science research gets more engagement on Bluesky than X, study finds

Bluesky posts referencing scholarly articles ‘find substantially higher levels of interaction’ than on Elon Musk’s platformBluesky’s growing status as the social media platform of choice for the world’s scientists has been boosted by analysis suggesting research receives more engagement and original scrutiny than on Elon Musk’s rival platform, X.A study examining 2.6m Bluesky posts referencing more than 500,000 scholarly articles over the past two and a half years found they demonstrated “substantially higher levels of interaction” – likes, reposts, replies and quotes – and greater “textual originality” than previously reported for X, formerly Twitter. Continue reading...

Politics

35 h. ago Two men due in court after £500,000 cannabis farm discovered in Lanarkshire

A total of 874 plants were recovered in Merry Street with an estimated street value of £522,000.

Economics

44 h. ago Poorer pupils ‘bounced out of some subjects’ by costs, charity warns

A survey by Child Poverty Action Group found 23% of secondary school pupils on free school meals said cost concerns have affected subject choices.

Events

61 h. ago I won a £4,500,000 Omaze London house and said goodbye to my studio flat

I won a £4,500,000 Omaze London house and said goodbye to my studio flat  Metro.co.uk

Economics

3 d. ago Coventry council to use Palantir AI in social work, Send and children’s services

Exclusive: Workers say £500k contract with US tech firm which supplies Israeli forces raises ‘serious ethical questions’Public sector workers have voiced “deep concern” after Coventry city council signed a £500,000-a-year artificial intelligence contract with the US data technology company Palantir.The deal is the first of its kind between a UK local authority and the Denver-based company, which supplies technology to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and to help Donald Trump’s mass deportation efforts. Continue reading...

Politics

4 d. ago Phil Spencer: catastrophic rumoured tax reforms would hit ordinary Londoners

Rumours that Chancellor Rachel Reeves is considering property tax reforms that include scrapping stamp duty, a tax on home sales over £500,000 and collecting capital gains tax (CGT) on homes over £1.5 million when they sell are likely to slow the housing market according to Zoopla.

Events

4 d. ago Modi and Ishiba discuss plugging gaps in Japan’s ageing workforce with Indian workers

Modi says both nations will facilitate human resource exchange of 500,000 people in next five years

Politics

4 d. ago Family of woman murdered 33 years ago finally see justice as thug killed on death row

Curtis Windom murdered his girlfriend, her mother and a man he claimed owed him $2,000 (£1,500 today) and was sentenced to die in November 1992 - almost 33 years ago

Events

6 d. ago Voices: My son’s lucrative summer jobs should be a warning sign for British industry

It isn’t just that unemployment has hit an all-time high – up 500,000 since Keir Starmer took office – businesses are being stymied by hiring freezes, the hospitality sector is increasingly reliant on agency staff, and the number of NEETs is on the rise. Under Labour, Britain simply isn’t working, says Chris Blackhurst

Events

6 d. ago New winter fuel payment laws show who is eligible – and who will miss out

Around two millions pensioners will still lose out this year

Politics

7 d. ago Pensioners hit with tens of thousands of pounds in tax bills

More than 500,000 people have been overtaxed since 2015, with almost 1.5billion refunded

Economics

8 d. ago Four groups 'not eligible' for DWP winter fuel payment even if meet age rule

Department for Work and Pensions officials confirm that people the right age and income might still not get the £300 cash

Politics

1 week ago National Lottery results LIVE: Huge Lotto jackpot of £7.2m up for grabs tonight plus Thunderball latest

Follow all the National Lottery results live as the lucky numbers for Saturday night's massive £7.2 million Lotto jackpot and the £500,000 Thunderball are drawn

Economics

1 week ago National Lottery results LIVE: Huge Lotto jackpot of £7.2m up for grabs tonight

Follow all the National Lottery results live as the lucky numbers for Saturday night's massive £7.2 million Lotto jackpot and the £500,000 Thunderball are drawn

Economics

1 week ago 33 joyous photos as Bolton Food & Drink Festival gets underway with half a million people expected

The Bolton Food and Drink Festival typically attracts more visitors than Glastonbury, with annual attendance often exceeding 500,000 people

Culture