CATEGORIES

Heat pumps The PR blitz to sell across Germany's stubborn political divide

A few dozen people had gathered on the dancefloor of the nightclub in eastern Germany when Stefan Vetter took to the stage, his face chequered by neon lights that bounced off spinning disco balls, and flicked through PowerPoint slides of homeowners and their heaters. \"We know that oil and gas are not getting cheaper in future,\" he said. The audience of mostly retired men nodded slowly along.

Forget mushrooms and hot pants, the non-trend trend is the trendiest trend

And so we find ourselves again at the Christmas perineum - the time between the end of the yuletide celebrations and before the new year shenanigans begin, and a phrase so awful I have felt compelled to use it as often as possible since the dark day I learned it about five years ago.

A month in Ambridge Christmas lunch carves up Grundys and Carters

The wheel of fortune has turned. This Christmas, the Aldridges - finally on an even keel after Alice was exonerated from involvement in the fateful car crash on the Am - spent a day of familial bliss dining on Scandinavian-themed treats, like so many Norse gods in a Wagner opera, under the awning of one of Kate's yurts.

£1,250,000 Appeal passes £1m mark for 10th consecutive year

With just over a week to go, an incredible £1,250,000 has been raised by generous readers for the 2024 Guardian and Observer appeal in support of victims of conflict and war.

'A light in the dark' Changing lives of children caught in conflict

Jasmin Elezovic was a youngster when his home became a warzone. It was 1993 and the historic city of Mostar, straddling the Neretva River in southern Bosnia and Herzegovina, had become the centre of some of the most vicious fighting of the Bosnian war, which had begun more than a year earlier.

Laura Ashley bought by US owner of Ben Sherman

Laura Ashley has been acquired by New York-based Marquee Brands, the owner of 17 businesses including Ben Sherman and Martha Stewart.

Trump 'speaking for oil firms' in attack on UK energy policies

Climate campaigners have accused Donald Trump of attacking Britain's energy policies on behalf of the fossil fuel industry, which made record donations to his presidential campaign.

Not just for dons': the citizen archaeologists unearthing treasures

They were moving forward in a line across the trench, volunteer excavators elbow to elbow with academics, and Joe Fitzpatrick was at the far edge.

Camberwick Green stories reborn for protests over village housing

Residents in a village believed to have inspired the children's TV show Camberwick Green say they fear the area is being destroyed by overdevelopment.

Zoomed out? How to make video meetings feel less tiring

Whether it's a social catch-up with colleagues, or assembling to set new year objectives, many of us will be reconnecting via Zoom, Teams or Google Meet come Monday morning.

Firm of former UK envoy on ethics made £13m on 'not for profit' contract

An entrepreneur who represented the UK on an ethics body was asked to resign from a company running government visa services after officials found it made a £13.6m gain on its not-for-profit contract.

Holiday home for Mr Doodle draws criticism from council and residents

Dungeness on the Kent coast has long championed pioneering architecture, welcoming the distinctive black and yellow home of the artist and filmmaker Derek Jarman. But a proposal for a house clad in the rusty scrawls of the multimillionaire artist Mr Doodle has tested the open-mindedness of its residents - and failed to win over the parish council.

Clegg made more than $18m from the sale of shares in Meta over six years

Nick Clegg made more than $18m from the sale of shares in Meta during his six years at the owner of Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp.

Gavin & Stacey Christmas finale on course for 21st century record

The Gavin & Stacey 2024 Christmas special is on track to become one of the most-watched scripted TV programmes of the 21st century so far, new figures suggest.

The cat crept in Why the public is still intrigued by high-end burglars

It was one of the stories of Christmas: the audacious theft of more than £10m worth of jewellery, designer handbags and cash from a mansion in St John's Wood, north London.

Designer Barbie and rare books in charity shop sale

Shoppers have flocked to a charity shop for its annual January extravaganza where items on sale included a collectible Barbie doll by the US fashion designer Bob Mackie and an antique edition of Wuthering Heights.

Theatre review Stirring eco-fable a call to arms with the sea as a star

In Hans Christian Andersen's fairytale, the oceans are cornflower-blue and clear as purest glass.

'Masterful': tributes paid to David Lodge after Campus Trilogy author dies at 89

The British author and critic David Lodge, best known for his Campus Trilogy of novels, has died aged 89.

Hacker sentenced for selling unreleased tracks by Coldplay

A dark web dealer who stole unreleased music from artists including Coldplay, Shawn Mendes and Bebe Rexha has been given a suspended 21-month jail sentence.

Golden Globes Hollywood awards season begins - but with no front runner

Another Hollywood awards season kicks off this weekend with the Golden Globes, the industry's glitziest yet most consistently troubled ceremony.

AI scouting is used to conjure the next superstar footballer

The ideal midfielder is a blend of Jude Bellingham, Kevin De Bruyne, Steven Gerrard and Dani Olmo

Social care Cross-party talks 'to start next month'

Cross-party talks over the future of social care will begin next month as the health secretary hit back over criticism that a commission on the issue would take too long to bring change.

Assisted dying bill Heed concerns on palliative care, Moran tells ministers

It would be \"foolish\" for the government to not heed warnings from doctors about palliative care as MPs press ahead with assisted dying legislation, the chair of the health and social care committee has said.

Health services on alert as weekend of snow and freezing rain is forecast across Britain

Temperatures across the UK have plunged to -8C (17.6F) as the country shivers under an arctic chill expected to bring widespread heavy snow and freezing rain over the weekend.

NHS bosses warn of 'huge' strain as hospital admissions for flu soar

The number of people admitted to hospital with flu in England has quadrupled in a month, as health leaders say \"huge\" pressure in the NHS will only get worse as temperatures plummet this weekend.

Government 'must look at smoke effect on Grenfell firefighters'

The government \"needs to seriously look\" at the effects of toxic smoke inhalation on firefighters who served at the Grenfell Tower fire, a minister has said.

Fellow prisoners reportedly cut throat of child murderer in his cell

Police are investigating reports that the father of the schoolgirl Sara Sharif had his throat cut in an assault by fellow inmates while in prison for her murder.

Briton found dead with her fiance in Vietnam villa

The bodies of a British woman and her fiancé have been discovered in separate rooms at a tourist villa in Vietnam, police said.

Starmer attempts new reset with plans to cut NHS waits

Keir Starmer will attempt to reset his premiership next week by setting out radical NHS reforms aimed at slashing waiting times.

Study suggests certain proteins may link loneliness to ill health

Loneliness has long been associated with ill health, but researchers say they have fresh insights into the link between the two.