9 h. ago ‘The rise of fascism makes our work even more important’: Montez Press, champions of queer, feminist art

They published a raunchy book inspired by the Guardian’s Owen Jones; broadcast interviews with obscure punk legends; and make calendars to navigate the world of underground art. Now they’re going globalStuart McKenzie turns towards a fan on a makeshift stage so his long brunette hair blows in the wind. The artist is dressed in a power suit with thick rimmed glasses, flamboyantly smoking a cigarette as he performs the confessional poetry he’s been writing since the 80s. “Stuart is this fantastic London staple who is just coming out of the woodwork now,” says Emily Pope, the director of Montez Press, who hosted the fundraiser where McKenzie performed to support their queer, feminist press and radio.McKenzie is a typical Montez Press collaborator: an experimental artist who doesn’t fit neatly into either art, literary or music spaces (although he did recently support the indie band Bar Italia). He’s later in his career than some of the emerging artists they collaborate with but he has ...

Politics

3 d. ago The sudden rise of scabies: ‘I wouldn’t wish it on my worst enemy’

These microscopic mites, which burrow under your skin and cause ferocious itching, are incredibly hard to get rid of – and cases in the UK have soared. What is causing the outbreak, and is there anything we can do about it?Louise (not her real name) is listing the contents of a bin liner she has packed with fresh essentials in case of emergency. Clothes, toothbrushes, hairbrushes, a teddy “Although it should be two teddies,” she re-evaluates, quickly. I can hear her trying to quell her panic.A diehard survivalist preparing for catastrophe? Actually, a beleaguered 44-year-old mother recovering from scabies – an itchy rash caused by microscopic mites that burrow under human skin. Far-fetched as it sounds, emergency evacuation is exactly what she, her partner and children (six and four) resorted to in November in a desperate bid to beat the bugs. She is now on tenterhooks in case they return. Continue reading...

Politics

4 d. ago Everything you need to know about PIP as DWP payments set to rise in April 2026

PIP is a disability benefit that is awarded to people who need help with day-to-day tasks due to an illness, disability or mental health condition

Politics

5 d. ago Workers warned real hourly pay could fall to £10.59 despite living wage rise to £12.71

People on living wage will have April 2026 rise negated by employer trick and tax freeze hits millions

Economics

5 d. ago Workers £10.59 warning as employment experts give wage alert as £12,570 tax threshold frozen

People on living wage will have April 2026 rise negated by employer trick and tax freeze hits millions

Events

6 d. ago Spain’s climate scientists subjected to ‘alarming’ rise in hate speech, minister warns

Environment minister says attacks on social media affect perceptions of meteorology and denigrate researchers’ workEurope live – latest updatesSpain’s environment minister has written to prosecutors to warn of “an alarming increase” in hate speech and social media attacks directed against climate science communicators, meteorologists and researchers.In a letter sent to hate crimes prosecutors on Wednesday, Sara Aagesen said a number of recent reports examined by the ministry had detected a “significant increase” in the hostile language that climate experts are subjected to on digital platforms. Continue reading...

Events

6 d. ago Spain’s meteorologists subjected to ‘alarming’ rise in hate speech, minister warns

Environment minister says attacks on social media affect perceptions of meteorology and denigrate researchers’ workEurope live – latest updatesSpain’s environment minister has written to prosecutors to warn of “an alarming increase” in hate speech and social media attacks directed against climate science communicators, meteorologists and researchers.In a letter sent to hate crimes prosecutors on Wednesday, Sara Aagesen said a number of recent reports examined by the ministry had detected a “significant increase” in the hostile language that climate experts are subjected to on digital platforms. Continue reading...

Events

6 d. ago 'Disease X' could cause devastating 2026 pandemic with 4 deadly viruses on rise globally

One health boffin said predicting the next outbreak is tricky, so it "makes sense" to focus on viruses we know are able to spill over from other animals into humans

Events

6 d. ago UK rents expected to rise 2% in 2026 amid 'chronic' housing shortage

UK rents expected to rise 2% in 2026 amid 'chronic' housing shortage  Yahoo Finance UK

Politics

8 d. ago The 20 towns where house prices are forecast to rise MOST in 2026

Towns and cities across Scotland and northern England will perform best, while the south is set to suffer according to Zoopla.

Politics

9 d. ago Renters got relief with falling prices for apartments – but don’t expect it to continue

Realtor.com data for November found that the national average rent across the 50 biggest metropolitan areas in the nation dropped 1% year-on-year

Society

9 d. ago The rise of ‘unc’: is this gen Alpha’s way of saying ‘OK boomer’?

Timothée Chalamet celebrated his 30th birthday by embracing his unc status – and Sabrina Carpenter has used the word to describe her record producer. Why is it suddenly everywhere?Name: Unc.Age: Younger than you might think. Continue reading...

Politics

9 d. ago Ten classic cars likely to rise in value in 2026, picked by one of the industry's leading experts

Which classic motors are currently representing the very best value with attainable prices and could be on the verge of exploding in price in the coming months?

Politics

1 week ago Macclesfield realise impossible dream in rise from ashes to a day of historic glory

Rob Smethurst’s resurrection of a troubled but proud club is timely reminder that football can still be the people’s gameFrom extinction to the impossible dream of becoming the greatest FA Cup giantkillers of all, Macclesfield’s story reminds that community will forever be football’s greatest asset. As fans celebrated victory over the holders, Crystal Palace, many took their time to peel away from the stadium. Not too long ago, many feared they may never return to Moss Rose.Macclesfield Town FC, 1874-2020 was the etching on the gravestone of the club that died, mourned quietly by a town that had slowly lost touch with events at the shambling football ground on its southern tip, pretty much the last stop before the long drive to London begins. Continue reading...

Politics

1 week ago Millions of workers to get wage boost in April 2026 as hourly rates to rise

For someone aged 21 and over, minimum wage will rise by 4.1% from £12.21 an hour to £12.71 an hour from April 2026

Economics

1 week ago The rise of the analogue bag: fashion’s answer to doomscrolling

As screen fatigue grows, a new trend is swapping smartphones for crosswords and sketchbooks – turning the humble bag into a tool for offline livingThere’s a new “it” bag – but this time it is not about a designer label or splashy logo. Instead, it’s what is inside that counts.So-called analogue bags, filled with activities such as crosswords, knitting, novels and journals, have become the unexpected accessory of the season. Continue reading...

Politics

1 week ago As Lloyds share price hits highest since financial crisis, are banks set for a bumper year?

Analysts at investment bank Jefferies believe valuations for UK bank shares have 'considerable scope' to rise further in 2026.

Economics

2 w. ago State Pension age April 2026 rise for people born in these years

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

Politics

2 w. ago More than half of UK therapists report rise in out of control porn use

Exclusive: Survey finds growing number ‘neglecting responsibilities’ or ‘damaging relationships’ as a result‘I’d try to hide it as best I could’: a UK man on his struggle with porn addictionMore than half of therapists who work with men with addiction have noticed a rise in out of control porn use over the past year, according to new data.Experts are urgently calling for a national strategy on pornography as a total of 53% of therapists surveyed by the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) said they had seen a rise in people seeking help for problematic pornography use that was interfering with their life or driving them to seek out more extreme content. Continue reading...

Politics

2 w. ago How much DWP benefits such as Universal Credit, PIP, JSA, ESA, Child Benefit and pension will by rise in 2026

Many benefits will increase in April at the start of the financial year

Politics