10 h. ago More than 1,000 families told to evacuate as bushfires rage and temperatures near 50C in Australia

Fire in forested region southwest of Melbourne breaches containment lines and threatens half a dozen towns

Events

13 h. ago What happens to the human body in 49C heat? Australians are finding out

Doctors warn there are biological limits to temperatures we can survive, and exposure to extreme heat can provoke a heart attackFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastAustralia’s southern states are scorching in extreme heat that could break temperature records in Victoria and South Australia on Tuesday.January and all-time records were forecast to be set in both states, with temperatures approaching 50C across inland areas, according to the Bureau of Meteorology. Continue reading...

Politics

61 h. ago Death toll from Iran's brutal crackdown on protesters soars past 33,000, new figures show

The latest figures came as Iran warned it will treat any attack 'as an all-out war' as the US ramps up its military presence in the region.

Events

4 d. ago The town hall meeting that really matters for nearly 2,000 Manchester families

One motion could help make 1,905 Manc families' lives a lot better

Politics

4 d. ago 46,000 families at risk as major UK funeral firm collapses into administration

Two men have been charged with conspiracy to defraud over the collapse of Safe Hands pre-paid funeral scheme, which left 46,000 families potentially out of pocket and uncertain about their funeral arrangements

Events

6 d. ago HMRC update after at least 17,000 families had benefits wrongly stopped

People were incorrectly stripped of the benefit while HMRC attempted to crackdown on benefit fraud

Politics

9 d. ago Woman killed by falling tree branch in NSW storms as landslide and flood warnings issued for Sydney

Residents near Narrabeen Lagoon told to leave on Saturday night, after death of woman near WollongongFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastSummer storms on Australia’s east coast have claimed one life and threatened dozens more as flood waters rise.Residents and holidaymakers have been told they can return back after being evacuated Narrabeen Lagoon in Sydney’s northern beaches overnight on Saturday, while a landslide damaged three homes and injured at least one woman 20km north, at Great Mackerel beach. Continue reading...

Events

9 d. ago Evacuation order on Sydney’s northern beaches as Australia’s east coast smashed by stormy weather

Residents near Narrabeen Lagoon told to leave as homes flooded and cars submerged across city Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastAustralia’s east coast is being smashed by summer storms as residents are told to evacuate.An emergency warning was in place for Sydney’s northern beaches on Sunday morning, with residents at Narrabeen Lagoon and surrounds told to leave. Continue reading...

Society

1 week ago San Francisco to make childcare free for families earning up to $230,000

Officials to offer 50% subsidy up to $310,000 in effort to make one of world’s most expensive cities more affordableSan Francisco will offer free childcare to families earning less than $230,000 a year, and a 50% subsidy to those earning up to $310,000, in an expansion of the city’s childcare offerings designed to make one of the world’s most expensive cities more affordable for residents.San Francisco’s mayor, Daniel Lurie, announced the initiative as part of his “Family Opportunity Agenda” on Wednesday, alongside a package of housing, education, food, healthcare, transportation and other programs focused on affordability. Continue reading...

Society

1 week ago 35,000 families will be told to pay back Child Benefit payments – here’s why

You can get £26.05 a week for your first child and £17.25 a week for further children from the government

Society

1 week ago 5,000 residents are told to evacuate their homes and school is closed after two unexploded WW2 bombs are discovered across Devon

Around 5,000 people have been evacuated from 2,000 properties in Exmouth and Plymouth after the wartime devices were found.

Events

1 week ago Free TV licence and other freebies for some older people in 2026

Around 910,000 eligible families are missing out on a benefit that could provide weekly payments and perks

Politics

1 week ago Fears over fragile truce as Cambodia says Thailand is still occupying civilian areas

Some 4,000 Cambodian families reportedly remain displaced following the conflict

Events

1 week ago Canadian Indigenous community told not to consume water after sanitation system fails as evacuations stall

The rural community in northern Ontario is only accessible by air most of the year

Events

2 w. ago House prices sky rocket by 63 per cent in iconic national park as Brits flee cities and towns because of immigration

One of the areas with the biggest contrasts between county and park prices is the New Forest where families are willing to pay at least £300,000 extra to live in the park.

Events

2 w. ago More than 100 buildings destroyed and 300,000 hectares burned as Victoria’s bushfires rage

Fires may continue for ‘weeks’, authorities warn, as three missing people found safeFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastAt least 119 structures are believed to be lost in bushfires across Victoria and more than 300,000 hectares of bushland has been burned as the state continues to battle blazes that may rage for “weeks”.Emergency management commissioner, Tim Wiebusch, told the media on Saturday that about 50 homes had been lost in the Ravenswood and Harcourt fire, which was believed to be a “conservative number”. The Bendigo railway line had also been damaged by fire and was closed. Continue reading...

Events

2 w. ago More than 100 buildings destroyed and 300,000ha of bushland burned as Victoria’s bushfires rage

Fires may continue for ‘weeks’, authorities warn, as three missing people found safeFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastAt least 119 structures are believed to be lost in bushfires across Victoria and more than 300,000 hectares of bushland has been burned as the state continues to battle blazes that may rage for “weeks”.Emergency management commissioner, Tim Wiebusch, told the media on Saturday that around 50 homes had been lost in the Ravenswood and Harcout fire, which was believed to be a “conservative number”. The Bendigo railway line had also been damaged by fire and was closed. Continue reading...

Events

2 w. ago Grieving families turn to crowdfunding funerals to deal with soaring costs

SunLife - which has tracked the cost of funerals for 22 years - said that even a simple attended funeral now costs £3,828 on average.

Economics

3 w. ago ‘These trees may not survive’: Jordan’s ancient olive harvest wilts under record

Extreme heat and drought has destroyed 70% of Jordan’s olive crop, endangering livelihoods of 80,000 families and a centuries-old traditionAbu Khaled al-Zoubi, 67, walks slowly through his orchard in Irbid, northern Jordan, his footsteps kicking up dust from the parched earth beneath centuries-old olive trees. He stops at a gnarled trunk, its bark split and peeling from months of unrelenting heat.He points out that the branches should be sagging under the weight of ripening fruit, but instead they stretch upward, nearly bare, with only a few shrivelled olives clinging to the withered stems. Continue reading...

Events