'Apocalyptic' conditions in Gaza blocking aid, warns UN official

The UN's most senior aid official said yesterday the Israeli military campaign in southern Gaza had been just as devastating as in the north, creating \"apocalyptic\" conditions and ending any possibility of meaningful humanitarian operations.

Watkins keeps Villa on track in top-four quest

Just as it seemed Aston Villa would succumb to the kind of defeat that would stick in the throat, Unai Emery's side salvaged a point at a rejuvenated Bournemouth courtesy of a deft Ollie Watkins header with second-half stoppage time looming.

Codling comforts sorry Falcons after brutal loss

This was another desperate afternoon for Newcastle, who have lost all eight of their Premiership matches this season and find themselves cut adrift at the foot of the table. Leicester scored seven tries - three of them for the flanker Tommy Reffell - and continue their upward trajectory that began with the return of their internationals, but for the Falcons it is shaping up to be a bleak winter.

England's reboot splutters while Hope delivers glory

After crashing at the World Cup the England white-ball side, like a malfunctioning laptop, has been turned off and on again, rebooted and updated but, when it came to restarting, had another malfunction.

Rightmove predicts 1% fall in asking prices in 2024

Average house prices will fall by 1% next year as competition increases among sellers, according to a forecast from Britain's biggest property website, Rightmove.

Venezuela votes on future of disputed region in Guyana

Venezuelans are voting in a referendum to supposedly decide the future of a large swath of neighbouring Guyana of which their government claims ownership, arguing the territory was stolen when a north-south border was drawn more than a century ago.

Ukraine investigating 'execution' of surrendering troops by Russian forces

Ukraine is investigating the \"execution\" by Russian forces of two Ukrainian soldiers who emerged from their trench near the town of Avdiivka and were shot dead as they surrendered.

Care home accused of waking residents with loud music to save cash

Care workers at a private care home forced dementia sufferers out of bed as early as 5am and woke them by blasting loud radio music to save money, whistleblowers have alleged.

Fraudsters at end of the vine as AI traces wine to its origins

Fraudsters who pass off ropey plonk as a high-end tipple may soon have artificial intelligence on their case: scientists have trained an algorithm to trace wines to their origins based on routine chemical analyses.

Hundreds of Palestinians killed in 24 hours as Israelis target refugee camp

Israel continued with its intense bombing campaign across the north and south of Gaza for a third day since the end of the truce with Hamas, killing hundreds of Palestinians in a 24-hour period, according to officials.

Haigh's All of Us Strangers takes top prizes at Bifas

All of Us Strangers, Andrew Haigh's romance starring Andrew Scott as a screenwriter grappling with the death of his parents, has taken best picture, best director and best screenplay at the British Independent Film Awards.

Blizzards leave 7,000 without power and drivers stranded in Lake District

Thousands of homes and businesses were left without power yesterday after heavy snow brought down trees and stranded hundreds of motorists in Cumbria.

It's time: Gatwa 'ready' after long wait to begin Doctor Who role

The Doctor Who actor Ncuti Gatwa says he feels \"ready but nervous\" as he steps into his new role in the BBC sci-fi series. Having auditioned for the part in February 2022, Gatwa was unveiled to the world as the new Doctor by the showrunner Russell T Davies two months later.

'People are right to worry' - Officials fail to clarify if activists are safe to protest

Cop28 organisers and the UN body that oversees the annual climate conference have failed to clarify whether activists in Dubai are safe to demonstrate outside the conference area, putting civil society at risk in a country where protest is normally prohibited.

Paris attack suspect swore allegiance to Islamic State

A 26-year-old man suspected of killing a German-Filipino tourist and wounding two others, one a Briton, near the Eiffel Tower in Paris on Saturday night had pledged allegiance to the Islamic State in a video released online.

Brexiter tycoon to use EU law for £200m claim over 'fanciful' failed lottery bid

Richard Desmond, the Brexit-backing media tycoon, is invoking EU law to sue the gambling regulator after it rejected his \"fanciful\" bid to run the national lottery, in a lawsuit that could deprive good causes of millions of pounds.

Rwanda MP says ministers are covering up soaring costs of deportation plan

Ministers are deliberately hiding the soaring costs of the Rwanda deportation scheme from the public, the head of an influential parliamentary watchdog has said, as insiders expect a new deal with the African state to be signed off in days.

Economy Workers are losing out on £10,000, says thinktank

British workers are missing out on £10,700 a year after more than a decade of weak economic growth and high inequality, according to a major report warning that UK living standards are falling behind comparable rich nations.

Conan Doyle secretly resented Sherlock Holmes, says historian

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle secretly hated his creation Sherlock Holmes, and blamed the cerebral detective for denying him recognition as the author of highbrow historical fiction, according to the historian Lucy Worsley.

Garrick membership's opposition to women finally joining the club fades

The slow-moving campaign to force one of London's last remaining gentlemen's clubs to admit women has notched a partial victory with an internal poll revealing a majority of members of the Garrick are in favour of dropping the men-only rule.

Ireland ready to reignite fishing dispute with Scotland

Irish fishery leaders have warned of fresh conflicts with Scotland over fishing rights around the north Atlantic islet of Rockall as new evidence emerged about the roots of the long-running sovereignty dispute.

'A true fighter for Labour': Glenys Kinnock dies at 79

Glenys Kinnock, the senior Labour politician and wife of the former leader Neil Kinnock, has died aged 79.

'No science' to phasing out fossil fuels, says Cop leader

The president of Cop28, Sultan Al Jaber, has claimed there is \"no science\" indicating that phasing out fossil fuels is needed to restrict global heating to 1.5C, the Guardian and the Centre for Climate Reporting can reveal.

Starmer: Labour will not 'turn on spending taps' if it wins election

Leader's speech likely to raise fears among senior MPs of public sector cuts

Good life Hunt for an ideal society ends in Irish town by the sea

Philosophy has long debated the concept of the good life and whether such an exalted state exists but the reality turns out to be not so elusive: you drive north from Dublin on the M1, turn right on to the R132, take another right at Blake's Cross and keep going until you reach the sea.

Venezuela claim over two-thirds of Guyana goes to referendum

The foreign minister of the tiny South American nation of Guyana has said that neighbouring Venezuela is \"on the wrong side of history\" as it risks sparking conflict over an oil-rich and long-contested area of rainforest.

'It was the first time I voted' Europe's austerity-hit youth are being lured by far-right

Lunching on a tuna sandwich in the central market of Volendam, a picturesque fishing port north of Amsterdam, Gerald, 24, was lucid about his choice in last month's Dutch election. \"I voted for Wilders, and many of my friends did too,\" he said.

'Slippery slope' Workers defy anti-union Musk in Swedish Tesla strikes

‘I disagree with the idea of unions ,” Elon Musk said during a rambling onstage interview this week. “I just don’t like anything which creates a lords and peasants kind of thing.”

Insurance 'My parents paid thousands to protect obsolete items'

How would you feel if you found out your elderly parents had paid the equivalent of £5,000 over the past 20 years to insure a Sky set-top box that became obsolete in 2016?

Republican and accused fraudster Santos expelled from US Congress

The New York Republican, fabulist and accused fraudster George Santos has been expelled from Congress.