CATEGORIES

'Watershed' for Georgia as Voters choose between Russia and west

Georgians will vote today in a critical election that could determine whether one of the once most pro-western former Soviet states will veer towards a more authoritarian, Russia-aligned path.

Stage review Shakespeare throbs with strobe lights and glitter

Like the pangs of romance or the pull of melodrama, adolescent angst proves timeless. Sam Gold, the director of a newly revived Romeo + Juliet on Broadway, knows this – the production, an admirably diverse, comfortably queer and aggressively millennial version featuring original music from the pop maestro Jack Antonoff, leans hard into the text’s hot-blooded, definitively teenage impulsivity. But he doesn’t seem to trust it.

'War crime' Journalists die in strike on Lebanese press post

Three journalists from the TV stations Al Mayadeen and Al-Manar were killed and several others hurt yesterday in an Israeli airstrike on their press station in southern Lebanon.

Generals' plan The blueprint behind the IDF offensive in northern Gaza

Hospitals shelled, shelters set alight, men and boys separated from their families and taken away in military vehicles: a year into the Israel-Hamas war, civilians clinging on in northern Gaza say the situation is worse than it has ever been.

UN human rights chief warns of 'darkest moment' as 72 die in Gaza

At least 72 people have been killed in Israeli operations across Gaza in the past day, hospital officials in the besieged territory have said, although communication difficulties in the north of the Strip mean the final toll could be much higher.

Jordan Calls for halt to 'ethnic cleansing' in Gaza

Jordan's foreign minister has called for pressure on Israel to end what he called the \"ethnic cleansing\" in Gaza, as he met the US secretary of state, Antony Blinken, in London.

Notre Dame rejects visitor charge that would fund heritage 'preservation plan'

Weeks before its grand reopening after a devastating fire, Notre Dame has become embroiled in an escalating row over whether to charge visitors a fee to enter the 12th-century gothic masterpiece.

Widening conflict North Korea's involvement in Russia's war in Ukraine is raising fears in Seoul

The video is grainy, but the message is clear. The clip, posted by NK News, purports to show North Korean soldiers in green fatigues receiving basic supplies at a training base in Russia's east, before joining Vladimir Putin's war against Ukraine.

The Pelicot trial Hearings expose 'profound problem' of attitudes to rape

Hearings expose 'profound problem' of attitudes to rape

The world's fate in their hands The seven key battleground states that will decide the presidency

Spare a thought for beleaguered Pennsylvanians. Over the past few weeks they have been pummelled with $280m-worth of campaign ads, part of an eye-popping $2.1bn spent so far on the US presidential election.

Foreign policy Why the stakes have never been higher for US and the rest of the world

When Americans choose between Donald Trump and Kamala Harris next month, the decision will mark one of the most consequential elections for American foreign policy in generations that could ripple out into conflicts and redraw alliances around the world.

Harris and Trump locked in nail-bitingly close race as 'Democratic panic' rises

Less than a fortnight before polling day, Kamala Harris and Donald Trump are locked in a nail-bitingly close US presidential election race, triggering pessimism among Democrats and confidence among Republicans - even though polls suggest both candidates have a near-equal chance of entering the White House.

Seeing someone trapped between a rock and a hard place is strangely uplifting

Friends in New York with non-American accents are careful not to go canvassing in swing states (or anywhere else).

Theatre review Sombre, even-toned staging digs subtly into characters

With its fibs, delusions and mislaid props, Shakespeare's Othello is structured almost like farce - one that goes horribly wrong.

Youth worker shot by police with stun gun wins assault case

A black youth worker who was shot with a Taser electrical weapon while standing with his arms folded during a road stop has won an appeal for damages from City of London police.

Beauty halls Spending on cosmetics and fragrance is soaring

With their perfectly groomed and liveried assistants stood down during the pandemic, it seemed the department store beauty hall might have had its day. But temples of pampering are making a high street comeback as Britons prioritise looking good.

Far steeper cuts to carbon emissions needed, say climate campaigners

Climate campaigners have urged ministers to make steeper cuts in Britain's greenhouse gas emissions after the government's statutory adviser on the climate gave its verdict on new targets.

'Safe sex for seagulls' Why plan to give contraception to birds may not fly

Their brazen swooping, squawking and chip-snatching has earned seagulls a reputation as a scourge of seaside towns - terrorising tourists and enraging residents.

Russell Group universities to be dropped from school ratings

The government will no longer measure schools in England on how many of their students go to Russell Group universities in an effort to encourage school leavers towards a wider range of universities and vocational options.

Daughter calls for reforms after her mother's suicide in prison

The daughter of a vulnerable woman who took her own life in prison after being denied phone calls with loved ones and left without clean underwear for 10 days has called for urgent reform of the justice system.

Promising treatments The new Alzheimer's drugs bringing hope to patients in the UK

This week England's health spending watchdog rejected a new Alzheimer's drug - the second such drug it has turned down this year.

Everybody wants this? Dope-smoking 'hot rabbi' welcomed by British Jews

It was the summer of 2022 when Benjamin Stanley was left pleased and slightly embarrassed to hear he was being referred to as the \"hot rabbi\" at the wedding where he was officiating.

Raye's second album to be delayed after songwriting books stolen

The chart-topping British singer-songwriter Raye has said her second album will be delayed after songs for it were stolen with her car.

One Direction albums back in Top 40 after singer's death

The whole of One Direction's five-album back catalogue has charted in this week's Top 40, as fans revisit their songs after Liam Payne's death.

Police face 'constant battle' after surge in drone use to fly drugs into prisons

The number of drones seen carrying drugs into prisons soared to more than 1,000 last year as police waged a \"constant battle\" against gangs flying in cocaine and cannabis from miles away.

Erotic frescoes revealed in tiny Roman house in Pompeii

A tiny house featuring erotic frescoes is the latest discovery in the ruins of the ancient Roman city of Pompeii.

Bit of a squeeze So does a three-minute hugging rule make sense?

Be it a brief squeeze or a bone-crushing bear hug, few can deny the comfort of a farewell cuddle from a person you love. Yet in a bid to keep traffic flowing at Dunedin international airport on New Zealand's South Island, bosses have decided to impose a three-minute cap on hugging in the airport's drop-off zone.

Emperor's new clothes Zuckerberg leads way with a tech bro glow up

For more than 20 years, Mark Zuckerberg made a Macbook-grey T-shirt and an equally drab-colored hoodie his trademark look. But now, the Facebook founder has ditched this combo in favor of something with a bit more oomph.

From easyJet to easyBet: billionaire airline founder makes move into online gambling

Stelios Haji-Ioannou has stamped the \"easy\" brand on everything from aeroplanes to pizza joints, with varying degrees of success.

Challenge to UK's climate adaptation plan fails in high court

An East Anglian man whose home fell victim to coastal erosion has lost his high court challenge against the government's climate adaptation plans.