'My rent was higher than my student loan' - the booming cost of private halls You don't have to walk far in any university city before spotting some form of private Purpose-Built Student Accommodation (PBSA). These large blocks of student housing are springing up in cities across the UK, yet rents continue to soar and young people studying at university say they're still finding it difficult to secure a place to live. The increase in PBSA has predominantly been driven by private companies, with many developments targeting more affluent international and postgraduate students, who industry experts say are becoming increasingly important to the sector. Developers say they are meeting a market demand but campaigners argue that they are too expensive for most Scottish students and more affordable housing should be being built instead. Twenty-year-old Lara Reader told the BBC that when she applied for student accommodation at Edinburgh University she did not expect to be allocated the most expensive option on her list.

Mum's Facebook kidney plea prompts'mind-blowing' gift from total stranger A woman who shared a desperate plea for a kidney on Facebook has undergone a lifesaving transplant after a stranger offered to be her donor. Karen Davey, 41, had exhausted every avenue before turning to social media, where she said she did not want to leave her family without a mother. Gary Summerfield saw the mum-of-four's post and, after learning he was a match, donated one of his kidneys via an operation in July. I thought this lady needs one of my kidneys more than I need two of them, said Gary. Karen's family said they would never be able to repay Gary for his generosity, adding that it had given her another chance to be a mum.

Germany's UC-30 struck a British mine on April 19, 1917. More information Adding us as a Preferred Source in Google by using this link indicates that you would like to see more of our content in Google News results. Researchers required assistance from Danish naval divers to examine the submarine. A World War I submarine that sank nearly 110 years ago has been leaking explosive pollutants into the North Sea for decades. What's more, ocean researchers say the problem may worsen over time--not only near the German vessel itself, but at thousands of similar shipwrecks .

Efforts are underway to organise a "meaningful" meeting between United States President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during the United Nations General Assembly next week. Ukrainian and US diplomatic teams are "actively" working to set up a meeting between Zelenskyy and Trump at the 81st UN General Assembly session in New York, according to press briefing by Ukraine's Foreign Ministry spokesman Heorhii Tykhyi. Tykhyi said Zelenskyy's visit will include dozens of bilateral negotiations and engagements with US legislators, business leaders and the Ukrainian community in the US. Zelenskyy and Trump last met at the White House in July in a much-anticipated encounter after a heated 2025 televised meeting at the Oval Office ended abruptly, with US Vice President JD Vance calling Zelenskyy "disrespectful" for not thanking the US for its support for Ukraine. As Ukrainian officials were preparing for the UN visit, a Russian drone strike on a bus killed at least five people and injured seven others on Wednesday in the city of Nikopol near the southern Ukraine front line.

A body has been found in the search for missing three-year-old boy Noah Woods, police have confirmed. Noah disappeared at about 15:00 BST on Tuesday from a playground in Brantham, Suffolk, after becoming separated from a relative. Supt Tom Pearse of Suffolk Police said dive teams recovered the body of a child from a nearby pond. He said the death was being treated as unexplained but not suspicious. To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser.

Charles said Diana would be forgotten'soon enough', Earl Spencer claims in book Image caption, Earl Spencer (second from the left) said he disagreed with Charles over whether William and Harry should walk in Diana's funeral procession Earl Spencer, the brother of Diana, Princess of Wales, has claimed King Charles said we'll forget her soon enough days after her death, in an extract from his upcoming memoir published by the Daily Mail. He claimed the then-Prince of Wales subjected him to a stream of anger after he insisted Diana would not have wanted Princes William and Harry, then aged 15 and 12, to have to walk in her funeral procession. Buckingham Palace has strongly pushed back against the claim. A spokesperson said: While we do not comment on books as a matter of principle, His Majesty is mindful that the pain of fraternal grief can cloud reason, affect judgment and colour memory in ways others do not recognise, even many years after such a loss. Swan Song: Diana, My Sister is due to be published next week and is expected to be highly critical of the Royal Family.

Mashable Selects Creator Playbook Look Up Mashable's Best: E-readers, robovacs, laptops, earbuds, smart home and more In My Bag Say More Trending Now Back to School Good Connection: Uplifting stories for a digital age Switch Off Mashable Voices Safety Net All Series This deal brings the monthly price down to just $15. Lauren Allain is a freelance journalist covering deals at Mashable. She graduated from Western Washington University with a B.A. in journalism and holds an M.B.A from Webster Leiden. You can find more of her work online from publications including Reader's Digest, U.S. News & World Report, Seattle Refined, and more. When she's not writing, Lauren prefers to be outside hiking, bouldering, swimming, or searching for the perfect location for all three.

The member of the UK armed forces who died in a road traffic accident in Ukraine last week has been named as Major Paul Wilks. The Ministry of Defence (MoD) described the 40-year-old as a gifted leader who earned the admiration and respect of all those fortunate enough to have served alongside him. The incident on Saturday was not the result of hostile action, the BBC understands, with the MoD stating that the accident happened away from the front lines. Defence Secretary Wes Streeting said: Major Wilks served this country with pride and dedication. His loss will be deeply felt by those around him.

Mashable Selects Creator Playbook Look Up Mashable's Best: E-readers, robovacs, laptops, earbuds, smart home and more In My Bag Say More Trending Now Back to School Good Connection: Uplifting stories for a digital age Switch Off Mashable Voices Safety Net All Series Brittany is fueled by horror, rainbow-sugar-pixel-rushes, and video games. Until her dying breath she'll be wielding a BFG made entirely of killer drive and ambition. Check out her work at PfhorTheWin.com. Like a fabulous shooter once said, get psyched! All products featured here are independently selected by our editors and writers.

Mashable Selects Creator Playbook Look Up Mashable's Best: E-readers, robovacs, laptops, earbuds, smart home and more In My Bag Say More Trending Now Back to School Good Connection: Uplifting stories for a digital age Switch Off Mashable Voices Safety Net All Series Headline Newds wants to use parasocial relationships to spread the urgency of climate change. Anna Iovine is the associate editor of features at Mashable. Previously, as the sex and relationships reporter, she covered topics ranging from dating apps to pelvic pain. Before Mashable, Anna was a social editor at VICE and freelanced for publications such as Slate and the Columbia Journalism Review. Follow her on Bluesky .