16 h. ago Celebrity crib sheet: Sydney Sweeney is everywhere – here are nine things you need to know about her

A jeans ad made her notorious. Then she got cosy with Taylor Swift’s arch-nemesis. Time to get up to speed before the actor/model next hits the headlines Spare a thought for Sydney Sweeney! Yes, she is young, beautiful, rich and talented, but she has also been getting it from all sides this week. Her passion project has bombed at the box office; she is still paying for a jeans advertisement she did four months ago, and being called on to address charges of having joked about eugenics; and fellow members of the Hollywood elite are breaking ranks to express their disdain (in one case, with a vomiting emoji). And, as she found out this week, she can’t even enjoy a kiss with her controversial new boyfriend without being snapped by the callous paparazzi!Here’s what you need to know when Sweeney’s name next crops up – which, if current trends continue, will be soon. Continue reading...

Politics

19 h. ago People over State Pension age due up to £305 heating payment from this week

Nearly 900,000 older people in Scotland will receive the Pension Age Winter Heating Payment from November 16.

Economics

20 h. ago Triple lock update as economic figures 'tighten the Treasury's fiscal position'

State pension payments rise each April in line with the triple lock

Economics

20 h. ago Triple lock under threat as DWP state pension bill 'continues to rise'

State pension payments go up each April in line with the triple lock

Economics

41 h. ago My Cultural Awakening: I moved across the world after watching a Billy Connolly documentary

A chance viewing of the comic’s World Tour of Scotland made me swap Australia for the Highlands, although things didn’t quite go to plan I was 23 and thought I had found my path in life. I’d always wanted to work with animals, and I had just landed a job as a vet nurse in Melbourne. I was still learning the ropes, but I imagined I would stay there for years, building a life around the work. Then, five months in, the vet called me into his office and told me it wasn’t working out. “It’s not you,” he said, “I just really hate training people.” His previous nurse had been with him for decades; she knew his every move. I didn’t. And just like that, I was out of a job.I drove home crying, feeling utterly adrift. I wasn’t sure whether to try again at another vet clinic or rip up the plan entirely and do something else. After spending a few days floating around aimlessly, trying to recalibrate my life, I turned on the TV, needing something to take my mind off things. And there he was: Bill...

Culture

63 h. ago State Pension, PIP, Universal Credit and other benefit pay day changes over Christmas and New Year

Full list of DWP, HMRC and Social Security Scotland payment date changes during the festive fortnight.

Economics

64 h. ago New calls to scrap Basic State Pension and pay everyone equal amounts

The UK Government is being urged to move everyone to the New State Pension and increase the weekly payment rates.

Economics

67 h. ago Older women urged to check for State Pension back payments worth over £8,000

DWP has paid our more than £100 million in arrears payments for historical errors linked to National Insurance credits.

Economics

3 d. ago Despite America’s absence, Trump’s influence looms large over Cop30

In this week’s newsletter: Fear of retribution from the unpredictable president has left climate summit negotiators feeling nervous and vulnerable• Don’t get Down to Earth delivered to your inbox? Sign up hereUnder Donald Trump, America has not only jettisoned any effort to deal with the climate crisis, but has also attempted to stymie moves by other nations to shift to cleaner forms of energy, such as solar and wind.The climate crisis is “the greatest con job perpetrated by the world”, Trump told the UN in September, urging other governments to stick to oil and gas (preferably drilled in the US, of course) and ditch the “scam” of renewable energy.World still on track for catastrophic 2.6C temperature rise, report findsFossil fuel projects around the world threaten the health of 2bn peopleChina’s CO2 emissions have been flat or falling for past 18 months, analysis findsCalifornia governor calls Trump ‘an invasive species’ at Cop30 climate talksTussles break out between protesters an...

Politics

3 d. ago New calls for pensioners to get full Carer’s Allowance payments

People cannot currently receive the full amount of their State Pension and Carer’s Allowance at the same time.

Economics

5 d. ago Former Celtic and Aberdeen man sacked by SPFL club as Hibs legend appointed interim player

Championship side call time on manager’s 11-month reign

Sport

5 d. ago DWP exact payments only people over State Pension age can get

The government provides a range of financial support and discounts for people over State Pension age - here's a full list of what you could be entitled to

Economics

5 d. ago Former Celtic and Aberdeen man sacked by SPFL club amid fan discontent

Championship side call time on manager’s 11-month reign

Politics

5 d. ago State Pension: new plans could guarantee UK retirees five years of DWP payments even after death

The proposal aims to make the system fairer, and could see families inherit payments 💷

Economics

6 d. ago Liverpool star Federico Chiesa makes Italy decision as Gennaro Gattuso reveals big call

Federico Chiesa has not featured for Italy since the 2024 European Championships and has once again turned down a call-up for this month's World Cup qualifiers

Politics

7 d. ago DWP could delay retirement payments for millions of people amid State Pension age changes

The State Pension age is set to start rising from 66 to 67 next year, with the increase due to be completed for all men and women across the UK by 2028

Economics

7 d. ago New State Pension age changes set to delay retirement payments for millions of people

The State Pension age is set to rise from 66 to 67 between 2026 and 2028 with a further rise planned to 68.

Economics

8 d. ago I’m a Celeb’s Shona McGarty shares cryptic post about ‘not shrinking to make others comfortable’ after split from fiance

SHONA McGarty has shared a cryptic post on "new beginnings" and being "unapologetically me" after her shock split with her fiance. The EastEnders actress, who has bagged a spot on the new I'm A Celeb series, called time on her romance with the musician earlier this month, as exclusively revealed by The Sun. Irish guitarist David...

Politics

9 d. ago Kobbie Mainoo: Manchester United legend calls for star to play more after 'cruel' few months

England international has been repeatedly overlooked this term

Politics

9 d. ago What is Pension Credit? How much is it and application eligibility

Many pensioners are leaving hundreds of pounds unclaimed each year 💷

Politics