Winter

Germany is gearing up for the switch to winter time in 2026, with clocks due to go back one hour as usual. German media are explaining when the change happens and how it works, while debate continues over whether the twice-yearly time change should be abolished altogether. In Austria, a new regulation on scrapping the time change has drawn particular attention, adding to confusion about what rules will apply in future.

A new heating leasing scheme launched in France on Thursday 1 October, letting households rent heating equipment instead of buying it outright. Under the arrangement, the state helps cover costs through leasing contracts intended to make replacing old heating systems more affordable. Outlets including RMC explained how the aid works, who qualifies and how to apply, as households weigh rising energy bills heading into winter.

The United Kingdom has announced a fresh package of sanctions against Russia, intensifying economic pressure on Moscow ahead of the winter months. The move is part of Britain's ongoing effort to weaken Russia's ability to fund its war in Ukraine. The announcement drew immediate attention as Western allies continue coordinating punitive measures against the Russian economy.

Russian gardeners are looking at a new planting calendar for garlic in 2026. A St Petersburg events and city guide site has published a list of favourable and unfavourable days for planting garlic next year, giving exact dates based on the lunar-style gardening calendar. Such seasonal planting guides draw steady interest each winter as gardeners plan their beds ahead of spring and autumn sowings.

A travel analyst warns that airfares for the holiday season are expected to climb, meaning travellers booking flights for Thanksgiving or the winter break may pay more the longer they wait. The advice for consumers watching their budgets is to book early and compare fares, as rising demand typically pushes holiday ticket prices up closer to departure dates.

A powerful nor'easter is battering Ocean City, bringing strong winds and coastal flooding that residents and officials say is still rising. Updates indicate water levels continue to climb along the shore, with concerns over beach erosion, road closures, and property damage as the storm persists through the coming hours.

The village of Weston, Wisconsin has decided to keep the Kennedy Park ice rink and to abandon plans for an election-day survey. The decision means the popular winter attraction will remain in place, while residents will not be polled at voting sites as previously considered.

The Swedish region of Dalarna, known for its lakes, forests and the red Dalecarlian horse, is being widely mentioned across Swedish social media. No specific event has been confirmed behind the surge in interest. Residents and visitors often highlight the area for tourism, midsummer traditions and winter sports, and it remains one of Sweden's most recognisable cultural regions.

The Department for Work and Pensions is set to send out letters about the 2026 Winter Fuel Payment starting in October, but not every pensioner will receive one. Eligibility depends on age and benefit circumstances, so some households may get nothing. Coverage is reminding older people to check whether they qualify ahead of winter.

A new chapter of the Spanish-language literary serial 'Hijos de la Pólvora' has been published, titled 'Perros Viejos' (Old Dogs). Chapter six describes two old enemies meeting again after six winters apart, with a brass star and a violent past of gunpowder and blood, ending in three gunshots. Readers of Spanish-language online fiction are sharing and discussing the instalment.

Major League Baseball is bracing for a lockout this winter, with coverage outlining what fans and players can expect if the league and the players' union fail to agree on a new collective bargaining agreement. Discussion is focused on potential impacts on free agency, trades, and the start of the offseason.

The University of Minnesota women's golf team is looking to end its fall season with a strong final performance. As the autumn schedule wraps up, the team is focused on finishing on a high note before winter break and the spring campaign begins, according to coverage in the team's campus community.

The City of Malibu has staged a public workshop on El Nino conditions and disaster preparedness, with the session recorded and made available online. The event comes as California coastal communities brace for potentially heavy winter storms linked to El Nino, and residents are being urged to review evacuation plans, emergency supplies and flood risks ahead of the season.

The New York Times has published a visual explainer showing how El Niño is making landfall along the California coast. The piece illustrates the climate pattern's impact on the state's shoreline, drawing attention as Californians brace for the storms, heavy surf and coastal erosion typically associated with a strong El Niño winter.

Scientists warn that a warm 'Kelvin wave' driven by El Niño is moving along the equatorial Pacific toward the West Coast, potentially raising sea levels in the San Francisco Bay Area. The warmer water expands sea surface height and, combined with winter storms and high tides, could increase coastal flooding risk in low-lying Bay Area communities in the coming months.

A food processing worker recalls a winter spent processing peas on a farm, saying the exposure wrecked his lungs for a year and left him wheezing in pain, and that he believes it caused the asthma he still suffers. He raises the question of why peas trigger fewer allergic reactions than peanuts, despite causing severe reactions in occupational exposure.

NHL players are taking part in the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan-Cortina, Italy, marking the league's return to Olympic competition for the first time since 2014. Fans are asking which players are representing their countries, with NHL rosters paused to allow participation. Interest centres on star names and national team lineups.