17 h. ago Zillow deletes climate risk data from listings after complaints it harms sales

Site removes feature after real estate agents and some homeowners say scores appear arbitrary and hurt salesZillow, the US’s largest real estate listing site, has removed a feature that allowed people to view a property’s exposure to the climate crisis, following complaints from the industry and some homeowners that it was hurting sales.In September last year, the online real estate marketplace introduced a tool showing the individual risk of wildfire, flood, extreme heat, wind and poor air quality for one million properties it lists, explaining that “climate risks are now a critical factor in home-buying decisions” for many Americans. Continue reading...

Society

48 h. ago Gutting of key US watchdog could pave way for grave immigration abuses, experts warn

Former oversight officials alarmed by dismantling of DHS system that oversees complaints about civil rights harmsThe federal watchdog system at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) that oversees complaints about civil rights violations, including in immigration detention, has been gutted so thoroughly that it could be laying the groundwork for the Trump administration to “abuse people with impunity”, experts warn.Former federal oversight officials have sounded the alarm at the rapid dismantling of guardrails against human rights failures – at the same time as the government pushes aggressive immigration enforcement operations.Border Patrol agents in Arizona forcibly removed a detained man from a cell, handcuffed him and then injected him with ketamine to sedate him in 2023, according to a CRCL document confirming the watchdog’s investigation into the allegation. A Guardian reporter had saved that document just weeks before it was scrubbed from the DHS’s website.Guards at a priv...

Events

2 w. ago Pigs, witches and fast cars – the toys tipped to be best sellers this Christmas

The DreamToys list is released as industry data revealed the UK toy market grew by 6% in value this year, the largest increase since 2020.

Politics

3 w. ago Mother, 45, is ordered to tear down £4k privacy fence after council ruled it was causing 'unacceptable harm' to look of the town

Sophie Daly, 45, erected the two-metre tall barrier near Chepstow to increase the safety and protection of her two children and 'large breed dog'.

Economics

3 w. ago Cutting home insulation funding will imperil UK’s climate goals, Reeves told

Energy firms and charities urge chancellor to avoid short-term fix that could also harm low-income householdsRachel Reeves has been told that cutting funding for home insulation at the budget would risk the UK’s climate goals and hurt low-income households in a joint intervention by energy firms, fuel poverty charities and environmental groups.In a letter to the chancellor, more than 60 groups and companies urged Reeves not to take such a damaging “short-term fix” to slash funding for more energy-efficient homes to pay for a reduction in energy bills. Continue reading...

Society

3 w. ago Data scientists perform last rites for 'dearly departed datasets' in 2nd Trump administration

A group of U.S. data scientists has published a list of federal datasets that have been altered or removed since President Donald Trump returned to the White House

Politics

3 w. ago Reform's Richard Tice warns triple lock is 'unsustainable' and public sector pensions pose 'bigger risk than climate change' to UK economy

Reform's Richard Tice has branded the long-established policy of the state pension triple lock, which guarantees pensioners' incomes rise in real terms each year, 'unsustainable'.

Events

4 w. ago Bank of England must better address climate risk to tackle inflation, WWF says

The central bank is being urged to take a series of actions to better respond to environmental risks.

Economics