49 m. ago You say we need more babies, rightwingers? Come back to me after you’ve fought in the trenches of soft play | Emma Beddington

A ghastly coalition of tech bros and religious conservatives is pushing a baby boom. Let’s see how they feel when they’ve dragged a screaming child out of an excrement-fouled ball pitI absolutely cannot fathom the number of populist rightwing politicians and commentators who have looked at the smouldering mess that is the world currently and thought: “I know what this situation demands – more toddlers.” Population-boosting discourse and policies have spread across Europe (Hungary, Poland, Greece, Italy and beyond), while in the US an unholy coalition of tech bros, religious conservatives, blowhard podcasters and the politicians who pander to them have gone loudly pronatalist. JD Vance used his first speech as vice-president to proclaim: “I want more babies in the United States of America”; Elon Musk called declining birthrates “a much bigger risk to civilisation than global warming”; and Trump is considering various procreation-incentivising policies, including a $5,000 “baby bonus”...

Politics

8 h. ago ‘A momentous day’: families of Britons killed in 1980 oil rig disaster finally win compensation

Norway will set up state payment scheme for families of 123 men killed in Kielland disaster, but some feel it comes too late“I think we all feel like we’ve had a bit of a weight lifted off our shoulders,” said Laura Fleming after an important milestone in one of Europe’s longest-running industrial disaster sagas. “It is just 45 years too late.”Fleming’s father, Michael, was one of 123 men who were killed when the Alexander L Kielland accommodation rig capsized during a fierce storm in the Norwegian North Sea oilfields on 27 March 1980. Continue reading...

Events

25 h. ago Transfer news LIVE! Sesko to Arsenal close, Sane boost; Liverpool make new Wirtz bid; Mbeumo to Man Utd

The first of two summer transfer deadlines is now drawing near

Sport

31 h. ago Transfer news LIVE! Sesko to Arsenal close, Gyokeres boost; Liverpool make new Wirtz bid; Mbeumo to Man Utd

The first of two summer transfer deadlines is now drawing near

Sport

39 h. ago Andrew Cuomo’s bid for New York City mayor endorsed by rival in surprise turn

Jessica Ramos, a state senator, had said ex-governor’s ‘mental acuity is in decline’ and called him a bullyAndrew Cuomo’s bid to become New York City’s mayor received a surprising boost on Friday when one of his rivals, the Queens state senator Jessica Ramos, endorsed the former governor after having previously questioned his mental acuity and describing him as a bully with a record of sexual misconduct allegations.Ramos punctuated her stunning U-turn with a surprise appearance at a campaign rally in Manhattan, where she hugged Cuomo and said she believed he was “the one best positioned right now to protect this city”. Continue reading...

Politics

50 h. ago Boeing agrees to pay families of victims killed in 737 Max crashes $444.5m as plane maker avoids prosecution in deal described as 'morally repugnant'

The move has been blasted by the victims' families' lawyer, Sanjiv Singh, who said the deal was a 'morally repugnant' escape which allowed the firm to 'sidestep true criminal accountability'.

Events

51 h. ago Household Support Fund 2025: UK families urged to apply for cost of living support payment before deadlines

Many councils are offering one-off payments — check what you could get where you live 🧾

Economics

3 d. ago Chelsea handed PSR boost as Premier League fall short in bid to close loophole

The Blues dodged a financial violation in 2023 after selling two hotels to a company linked to their owners

Politics

4 d. ago Community groups helped shield youth from gun crimes. US funding cuts have put them at risk again

Mississippi’s Operation Good engaged teens in a range of programs, protecting them from violence – but that work is now in jeopardyMost days, Fredrick Womack and his team can be found scattered throughout Jackson, Mississippi, talking to groups of young Black men and teens – whether they’re working, which bills need to be paid at home and if any brewing conflicts are at risk of turning violent. Through these conversations with young men, who are both perpetrators and victims of much of the city’s violence, Womack hopes he can help steer them in a different direction.Womack, 51, is the co-founder of the non-profit Operation Good, which, in addition to this work on the streets, hosts a youth summer program and trash cleanups, and helps teen boys find odd jobs, like cutting lawns, so they can earn a few dollars instead of resorting to crime for income. It also offers critical resources for the community, like buying school clothes for kids and paying utility bills for families that can...

Events

4 d. ago ‘Gonna have to hear mothers and sisters cry’: Trump’s funding cuts leave at

Mississippi’s Operation Good engaged teens in a range of programs, protecting them from crimes – but that work is now in jeopardyMost days, Fredrick Womack and his team can be found scattered throughout Jackson, Mississippi, talking to groups of young Black men and teens – whether they’re working, which bills need to be paid at home and if any brewing conflicts are at risk of turning violent. Through these conversations with young men, who are both perpetrators and victims of much of the city’s violence, Womack hopes he can help steer them in a different direction.Womack, 51, is the co-founder of the non-profit Operation Good, which, in addition to this work on the streets, hosts a youth summer program and trash cleanups, and helps teen boys find odd jobs, like cutting lawns, so they can earn a few dollars instead of resorting to crime for income. It also offers critical resources for the community, like buying school clothes for kids and paying utility bills for families that can’t...

Politics

6 d. ago Over 12,000 children supported through Scottish Child Payment by families in West Lothian

The Scottish Child Payment – currently £27.15 per week for each eligible child under 16 – is a key part of the Scottish Government’s mission to eradicate child poverty.

Society

6 d. ago Dawn French's life in Cornwall's quietest village after leaving £6.6m mansion behind

Dawn French has been a fixture in Cornwall for almost two decades and has shared some delightful insights into her coastal life with husband Mark Bignell in recent years

Economics

7 d. ago The French village PAYING families to move in: Quaint hamlet lures couples with £4,000 bonus plus £850 per child in bid to boost dwindling population

Pressed to respond to an existential challenge, authorities in Marolles-les-Braults are trialing increasingly radical ideas to encourage outsiders to move in.

Economics

7 d. ago Ryanair warning to anyone who doesn't pay to reserve a seat with one exception

Ryanair cautions passengers that they are unlikely to sit with their travel party unless they pay for seat selection. Though the airline provides accommodations for families with young children.

Events

8 d. ago Valmik Thapar: Legendary conservationist dubbed India’s ‘Tiger Man’ dies aged 73

Fellow wildlife experts remember Thapar as ‘one-of-a-kind’ for his decades of activism to revive India’s dwindling tiger population

Events

1 week ago Kemi's warning: Don't have lots of babies if you can't afford them... Tory leader throws down the gauntlet to Farage and Starmer as she insists two

The Tory leader said Mr Farage's pledge to scrap the cap was 'nonsense' because taxpayers should not have to pay for others having huge families they can't afford.

Events

2 w. ago Gran Turismo World Series London Campaigns Offer Bonus Cars, Sport Mode Events, & Up To 2,000,000cr

Gran Turismo World Series London Campaigns Offer Bonus Cars, Sport Mode Events, & Up To 2,000,000cr  GTPlanet

Politics

2 w. ago Labour child benefits civil war as Angela Rayner 'demands middle class parents who earn £60,000 a year lose payout' while Starmer 'clashes with chief aide' over handouts for big families

Angela Rayner suggested the Chancellor should 'claw back' the handouts from families where one adult earns over £50,000 a year.

Society

3 w. ago Ruben Amorim explains Manchester United Europa League final gesture

Man Utd head coach Ruben Amorim has put his hand in his pocket to pay for the families of backroom staff to attend next week's Europa League final.

Sport

3 w. ago DWP hits back at claims that 3.2 million families will lose out on PIP payments

Secretary of State for Work and Pensions Liz Kendall said it is "not right" to say that more than three million families will lose out on disability benefits under the UK Government's proposals

Economics