95 m. ago As the US invests in fossil fuels, young climate activists push back in the courts

In this week’s newsletter: A generation is using the legal system to demand accountability for climate harm• Don’t get Down to Earth delivered to your inbox? Sign up hereRikki Held grew up on her family’s ranch in Montana, watching the land transform amid the climate crisis. The Powder River, which runs through the property, has sometimes dried up during drought, leaving crops and livestock without water. At other points, rapid snowmelt and heavy rains have caused flooding and eroded riverbanks, making the land difficult to use.Two years ago, the 24-year-old and a group of other young people won a groundbreaking legal victory, intended to prevent those impacts from worsening. In August 2023, a judge ruled in favour of plaintiffs in Held v Montana, in which 16 young people accused the state of violating their constitutional rights by promoting planet-warming fossil fuels. The state’s supreme court affirmed the judge’s findings late last year, but plaintiffs say lawmakers have since p...

Events

25 h. ago Pension and NI threshold warning as people 'will lose out' over change

Shadow Treasury minister Mark Garnier said there was something to “hate” about it for everyone

Events

27 h. ago DWP update as 256,000 savers set to get higher payments in major pension change

Large numbers of pension scheme members are affected by the historic issue - and an update has been provided to MPs that could be highly significant

Economics

45 h. ago Major State Pension age next year to affect people born after this date

The government will introduce a significant change to the State Pension age from next year

Politics

45 h. ago State Pension age change next year to affect those born after this date

The State Pension age is set to rise gradually from 66 to 67 between April 2026 and 2028, but only those born after certain dates will be affected

Politics

68 h. ago DWP December 2025 benefit and pension payment dates ahead of change next week

If you're due a benefit payment next month, your money may arrive on a different day due to the Christmas and New Year bank holidays

Economics

4 d. ago DWP confirms Christmas pay date changes next week for people on State Pension or benefits

Full list of benefits due to be paid early over the festive fortnight.

Economics

6 d. ago HMRC update on 'new ISA regulations' after 'technical consultation'

Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced major changes to ISAs in the autumn budget

Politics

6 d. ago DWP payment date changes for Universal Credit, State Pension and more over Christmas and New Year

Benefit payment dates will be disrupted for certain claimants due to three upcoming Bank Holidays

Economics

7 d. ago How a forgotten hellhole in Syria impacts millions of people in the UK

As a damning new report on Britain’s ‘two-tier’ stripping of citizen’s rights is released, Bel Trew reports on

Politics

7 d. ago How a forgotten hell hole in Syria impacts millions of people in the UK

As a damning new report on Britain’s ‘two-tier’ stripping of citizen’s rights is released, Bel Trew reports on

Politics

9 d. ago HMRC update for people impacted by state pension change as 'DWP will notify us'

State pension payments increase in April

Politics

9 d. ago Stark warning to pension savers over Rachel Reeves’s salary sacrifice changes

HMRC suggest 3.3 million people will be impacted by the salary sacrifice changes

Events

1 week ago I'm a skin expert and I can tell if you drink or smoke just by looking at your face. Here's the good (and bad) news about how you can reverse the damage

We all know the feeling of waking up with a pounding headache and queasy tummy after a big night out. But most people don't think of the impact alcohol and cigarettes have on your appearance.

Events

1 week ago New salary sacrifice changes set to impact more than three million people from April

An estimated 7.7 million employees currently use salary sacrifice to make pension contributions.

Economics

1 week ago ‘Everyone will miss the socialising – but it’s also a relief’: five young teens on Australia’s social media ban

As the under-16s social media ban looms, Guardian Australia speaks to five 13 to 15-year-olds about what they will miss, and what government should be doing insteadAustralia’s world-first social media ban for under-16s will begin in just a few days. Malaysia, Denmark and Norway are to follow suit and the European Union last week passed a resolution to adopt similar restrictions. As the world watches on, millions of Australian adolescents and their parents are wondering just what will actually change come 10 December.Concerns around the negative impact social media use can have on the wellbeing of young people have been around since the quaint days of Myspace – long before those to be affected by the ban were even born.Sign up for a weekly email featuring our best reads Continue reading...

Politics

1 week ago Reeves’ salary sacrifice changes to hit 3.3mn pension savers

HMRC data points to impact of UK government’s crackdown on tax advantages of workplace schemes

Economics

1 week ago From Pope Francis to Charlie Kirk, many deaths in 2025 had a wide impact

The world lost influential people in 2025, and some of their deaths had significant impacts

Events

1 week ago 3.3m pension savers set to lose out after major Budget changes announced

It's estimated over 7 million employees currently use salary sacrifice to make pension contributions

Economics

1 week ago 3.3 million pension savers set to lose out after major Budget changes announced

It's estimated over 7 million employees currently use salary sacrifice to make pension contributions

Economics