Whatever the weather, there is plenty to discover in Dubai

Exclusive: Richard Brown says agenuine reform, genuine cost savingsa must be negotiated with trades unions

The cruise line will teach passengers how to cook local dishes based on where the ship is sailing

aI was devastated, I burst out cryinga said one traveller tricked by APS99 a night pods

Exclusive: aWe decided to pay more for Qatar Airways to be more securea a trekker Laura Murphy

Travellers spent 5.86 trillion yen in Japan through September of this year

Hereas how to keep an engagement ring hidden from your partner as you go through airport security

Across the top 10 hotspots, on average over a third of all business owners are gen Z or millenials

Airline cities technical glitch for repeated delays

Winter sun and Christmas markets were the focus of The Independentas latest virtual event, as the travel desk answered readersa questions.

It took airport staff four days to collect all 132 hamsters following their cargo hold adventure

The best cities on the continent to get your festive kicks with a Christmas market visit

Your pooch can be pampered on a dedicated pet-friendly cruise from Florida

Paris-Delhi flight diverted to Jaipur sparks chaos amid smog and crew fatigue rules

Fodoras said travellers should reconsider visiting Bali, Barcelona and Tokyo next year

Train Talk: Nationalisation looks a sideshow considering the fundamental problems of the railway

Exclusive: Millions of passengers will be hit by the closure of Liverpool Street and Paddington stations in London, plus disruption at other locations

The ship experienced a asudden movementa after strong winds rocked the vessel

The centre of Turkish history, cutting-edge art and affordable and authentic cuisine, Istanbul is rich with mini-neighbourhoods to explore. Vicky Smith gives a steer on where to start

To celebrate the return of the McRib, McDonaldas is offering an entire jug of its beloved McRib sauce available to purchase online

The WNBA forward recently finished her rookie season playing with the Chicago Sky

aReal Housewives of Beverly Hillsa star has continuously denied rumors sheas in a relationship with singer Morgan Wade

The new menu item is served with two eggs and two olives on top

Angelina Jolieas son Knox Jolie-Pitt made his first red carpet appearance in three years on November 17

McConaughey and his wife relocated to Texas with their three children

The former Los Angeles Lakers player and reality star were married from 2009 to 2016

Put your professional face forward with the help of these top-rated sites

Fans of the popular TikTok food critic claimed they noticed a aworma in Leeas sushi

Skenes won the 2024 National League Rookie of the Year Award

From personalised gifts to luxury treats for yourself, these products, brands and services will help ensure this Christmas is a good one

The cost of a high street cup of joe is skyrocketing a and especially during the Christmas season. As ludicrously pricey menus arrive in shops crammed with festive flavours, Olivia Petter asks: why does a simple squirt of caramel waffle syrup burn such a hole in your wallet?

The popular burgers will be available to some passengers starting December 1

The meaning was looked up thousands of times last year, but how do you amanifesta?

Discover unmatched Black Friday discounts on Huaweiaincludes free wireless earphones, extra straps, and special deals across smartwatch, earphone, tablet, and laptop collections

Complete with a lemon, butter and parsley sauce

From best value to vegan, these roats will tempt you this Sunday

aBread & Rosesa will premiere on Apple TV+ on November 22

Joe Woollen, 41, had not visited the dentist since the age of 13 as he is terrified of needles

Celebrities claim a mixture of coffee and ghee aids in cognitive function and weight loss. Does science back them up?

Prince Harry stars in a new comedy sketch with the Duke of Sussex appearing to be given a neck tattoo by American singer Jelly Roll.

From classic boozers to rustic countryside gems, The Good Food Guide has unveiled its definitive list of the UKas best Sunday roasts. Whether youare craving a classic beef and Yorkshire pudding or a creative plant-based twist, these 50 spots are setting the standard for Britainas favourite meal

Viewers have been questioning whether the stars snuck cosmetics into the jungle

The pop psychology superstar has decided itas high time hisA voice was heard on the most grandiose of subjects: God. But as heas neither a theologian nor even vaguely adept at making complex ideas accessible, the question Helen Coffey keeps coming back to is a why?

According to younger Americans, the aunspokena grief their parents feel about not having grandchildren isnat entirely unspoken

The mother was unconscious for one week before seeing her triplets

Womanas brother charged her $115 to attend his wedding even though she gave him $400 as a wedding present

aI like the idea of possibly having them [be] the recipients of a Cartier watch a piece,a Goldblum says

Part two of Cher: The Memoir will be released in spring 2025

aOnce Iam in my costume - and this is probably a terrible idea - and the harness is on, Iam not doing ita

aWickeda is scheduled to premiere in theaters on November 22

aI havenat had a thimbleas worth since,a Washington says of his decision to quit alcohol a decade ago

Exclusive: Sporting hero and disability rights campaigner Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson has warned that loopholes in the assisted dying legislation mean that safeguards against abuse are non-existent

Leicestershire police were called to reports of the cyclist on the M1

Russians share photographs of exploded fragments showing markings of UK-made Storm Shadow weapons

Survivoras advocate appointed by Harrods said Al Fayedas atentacles went far and widea

Defence secretary John Healey cancels six aoutdateda defence projects

Defence secretary John Healey says savings would be worth APS500 million over the next five years

Labouras first big reform in reversing the 40-year legacy of Margaret Thatcher is set to come into place with the legislation to renationalise the railways passing through parliament

Welbyas functions will be delegated to Archbishop of York after he finishes by 6 January, Lambeth Palace says

Police issue urgent appeal after babyas body discovered near M61 in Little Hulton, Salford

Family of Marcus Fakana have asked foreign secretary David Lammy to intervene in detained sonas case

A fourth-generation farmer described his fears that he would have to sell a quarter of his farm if Labour introduced their proposed agricultural inheritance tax hikes.

Buchanan Bus Station remains closed

The police officer in charge of UK counter-terrorism warned it is adeeply unhelpfula for commentators to suggest aconspiracy and cover upa during ongoing court proceedings

Brexit has been aa catastrophea for the industry, with nine in 10 artists facing a hit to their earnings, UK Musicas annual economic report said

A drunk driver who crashed his car in Kent and killed a passenger told police "I don"t care" and "I just want to go to bed" as he was breathalysed.

Watch as Angela Rayner stepped in for Sir Keir Starmer at Prime Ministeras Questions (PMQs) on Wednesday, 20 November, as official figures showed UK inflation has risen to its highest level since April.

Family of Marcus Fakana have asked foreign secretary David Lammy to intervene in detained sonas case

All the essential cost of living information you need

Family of Marcus Fakana have asked foreign secretary David Lammy to intervene in detained sonas case

The missile carries a range of around 155 miles and is designed to evade detection despite flying low after being launched

Peter Kyle said he no longer uses X after Elon Muskas takeover and could even see himself leaving the site

Investigation: The UK trained and paid special forces to fight against the Taliban in Afghanistan. As hundreds of these fighters live in danger while Britain delays decisions on whether to give them sanctuary, the UKas adversaries are circling. Holly Bancroft, Fahim Abed, May Bulman and Jessica Purkiss report

The pair have been charged with preventing unlawful burial of a dead body

She is believed to have been killed on 10 November before her body was driven down to London

It comes after an estimated 13,000 people descended on London on Tuesday, urging the government to U-turn on the tax

Angela Rayner questioned Lee Anderson"s CV after he called the chancellor "Rachel from accounts."

26-year-old man due to appear at Hamilton Sheriff Court over death of Pheonix Spencer-Horn

Sir Lindsay Hoyle snapped at a Tory MP in what appeared to be a case of mistaken identity during Prime Ministeras Questions on Wednesday, 20 November.

Angela Rayner faced boos in the House of Commons as she defended Labouras proposed changes to agricultural inheritance tax during Prime Ministeras Questions on Wednesday, 20 November.

The 75-year-old was found by a neighbour after she was strangled in her Bristol home

Two officers are under criminal investigation for causing death by dangerous driving

Chris Philp has called for guidelines around non-crime hate incidents to be rewritten and expressed caution over anew bureaucraciesa after government announced a national police performance unit

Salmonella typically causes fever, diarrhoea, and cramping in the abdomen

Rising energy bills have been blamed for the unexpected spike

Farmers marched in Westminster on Tuesday in attempt to persuade government to U-turn on atractor taxa

Female farmers warn of mental health repercussions of Labouras inheritance tax

The tech billionaire will be invited to give evidence to a House of Commons select committee next year

More than 50 schools are shut on Wednesday after a second day of snow across the country

More than 10,000 farmers descended on Westminster on Tuesday to urge the government to backtrack on the levy

Snow has begun to fall across the UK

Tips for how to look after your pets during the cold weather

Farmers from across the country have travelled to London this morning to join protests over changes to inheritance tax rules

The mother murdered teenager Ronan Kanda, 16, spoke of her heartache at an annual policing summit

Just under three-quarters felt anti-Muslim hatred and Islamophobia had become more widespread

Ridley Scottas aGladiator 2a has been accused of peddling atotal Hollywood bulls***a, but many aspects of the film are backed up by historical record

Follow for updates from Wednesdayas Iam a Celebrity show on ITV 2 after Tulisaas revelation

Late arrival said she didnat want to be athe biggest wimp in the campa

aStrictly Come Dancinga judge said her brother died when he was 16

McFly singer said he is aconstantly worryinga

Augusta Britt, who says she met the then-married author at a motel pool, is believed to have inspired several novels

Singer was arrested and faced years in prison during the ordeal

Pamela Hayden has voiced Bartas friend Milhouse Van Houten for the past three decades in addition to dozens more characters

aTammy Fayea is set to close next month

Pop star, who died in Buenos Aires last month, rose to fame with Harry Styles, Zayn Malik, Niall Horan and Louis Tomlinson as a member of the chart-topping boyband

The aHave You Forgotten?a singer asked fans to pray for his daughter Savannah and the other driver

Gereas gesture comes one day after Cher swore on the same talk show

aI am so so indebted to the cast and crew of that show, to HBO,a Storm Reid said

aRust,a the Western film starring Alec Baldwin, made its premiere at the Camerimage International Film Festival in Poland

Danny Jones, GK Barry and Coleen Rooney are already among the favourites

Networkas new documentary aLogan Paul: Bad Influence?a investigates allegations that influencer profited off misleading fans into investing in cryptocurrency

The N-Dubz singer has faced several obstacles in the last 10 years

aI actually canat believe itas a topic of conversation,a frustrated actor said

The well-turned-out singer of aGirlsa and producer of aGuessa for Charli XCX more than lives up to his party animal persona. He talks to Annabel Nugent about his debut album and upsetting the Daily Mail

aTime together is limited,a the TV personality saidA

aWe all need an Alison pep talk sometimesa

The much-loved drama racked up an impressive 57 billion minutes of viewing time last yearA

TV personality joined protests at Whitehall over inheritance tax

aMy soul is crushed,a Xzibit wrote on Instagram

Responding to the nomination, WWE fans have been sharing jokes and clips about Linda McMahonas time in the wrestling company

The serious allegations against McMahon are explored in a Netflix docuseries

Stars including Harry Styles, Niall Horan, James Corden, Cheryl and Simon Cowell attended the service with Payneas family

Liam Payne"s coffin arrived in a horse-drawn hearse at the One Direction star"s funeral in Amersham, Buckinghamshire, on Wednesday (20 November).

Liam Payneas One Direction bandmates Harry Styles, Niall Horan, Zayn Malik, and Louis Tomlinson attended the singeras funeral on Wednesday, 20 November, in Amersham, Buckinghamshire.

aThis will be rather a different kettle of fish from The Kardashians,a the politician promises

The show has been hit with numerous accusations from unhappy contestants

aThis is going to be messy,a one fan reacted

Film meant to be shot-for-shot remake of 2010 original

The Wolverine actor didnat just look the part, he really did build superhero-worthy fitness levels

Users are wating to learn when they can look back at their yearly listening habits

Viewers have been questioning whether the stars snuck cosmetics into the jungle

aI got bitter,a he admitted

Dennis Bryon played with band between 1974 and 1980

The film industry is notoriously fickle a and that means that often directors arenat afraid to unceremoniously ditch their actors. Katie Rosseinsky looks back at some high-profile Hollywood firings

Rust to debut at Poland film festival three years after Alec Baldwin accidentally shot dead cinematographer Halyna Hutchins

aThereas a lot of time gone into the trials so when itas called early your like, aoh,aa said Donnelly

Catch up on 2024as most illuminating life stories, encompassing tales of recovery, literary feuds and devastating betrayal, with Katie Rosseinskyas edit of the best memoirs and biographies

aWeare really going to have a problema said Stan when reflecting on the problems heas encountered after playing Trump

Mills said he is delighted to follow in the footsteps of Breakfast Show giants Sir Terry Wogan, Chris Evans and Zoe Ball

aItas a life-long dream come true,a new host said

The singer made light of the controversy during a concert at Madison Square Garden

Exclusive: Former campmate has shared her key tips to surviving jungle life

The iconic director has singled out the indie film, which critics called a amasterpiecea

Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande showcase phenomenal vocal ability in this adaptation of the blockbuster musical, but theyare let down by a film that is aggressively overlit and shot like a TV advert

Hall plays a teacher whose life unravels after she starts hearing a constant, low, monotonous humming

aThatas between him and his maker,a the aGladiator 2a star said in a new profile

Three years after on-set tragedy, the Western is set to debut at a cinematography festival in Poland

The aZoolandera star was speaking at the Anti-Defamation Leagueas Concert Against Hate

aWickeda is scheduled to premiere in theaters on November 22

aMovies will be one of the last things, if everything gets replaced, to be replaced by AI,a said Affleck

Storm Shadow missile attack comes day after Kyiv used US-supplied long-range weapons to strike within Russia

• Russia-Ukraine war a latest news updates

Ukraine has fired UK-made Storm Shadow missiles into Russia for the first time since the beginning of the conflict, multiple sources have told the Guardian.

The decision to approve the strikes was made in response to the deployment of more than 10,000 North Korean troops on Russiaas border with Ukraine, which UK and US officials warned was a significant escalation of the near three-year conflict.

Diane Abbott and the Conservative Sir Edward Leigh, mother and father of the House, say law has been rushed

• Diane Abbott and Edward Leigh: Our politics could not be more different a but weare united against this bill
• Assisted dying: what are the aslippery slopea fears in England and Wales?

Britainas longest-serving MPs, Labouras Diane Abbott and the Conservative Sir Edward Leigh, have issued a joint call urging the Commons to reject the assisted dying bill, arguing it is being rushed through and puts vulnerable people at risk.

Writing for the Guardian, Abbott and Leigh a the mother and father of the house a said there had been insufficient scrutiny of the law and urged parliament to instead focus on better health and care services.

John Healey said some had already been decommissioned in practice and confirmed retirement of some helicopters

The defence secretary, John Healey, has announced he will scrap APS500m of British navy vessels and army drones as part of cost-saving measures in what was described as a ablack daya for the new government.

Two former Royal Navy flagships, a frigate and two support tankers will be decommissioned, with the savings reinvested into the defence budget. Healey blamed the move on a adire inheritancea left by the previous Tory administration.

Organisers were concerned Reform leaderas presence would be divisive and he would overshadow event

Nigel Farage was left out of the line-up of political leaders who spoke at the farmersa protest outside Downing Street, amid concerns over his divisive role in Brexit and fears he would overshadow the event.

Representatives of all parties were originally invited to speak, according to organisers of a protest at which tens of thousands of farmers listened to Kemi Badenoch, Ed Davey and other speakers, including the journalist Jeremy Clarkson.

UN security council voted 14-1 in favor of resolution but it was not adopted because of the US veto

The US has vetoed a UN security council push to call for a ceasefire in Gaza that Washington said would have emboldened Hamas.

The resolution demanded aan immediate, unconditional and permanent ceasefirea in the war between Israel and the Palestinian group, along with athe immediate and unconditional release of all hostagesa.

X-Factor judge Simon Cowell and Payneas former partner Cheryl Tweedy also attend Buckinghamshire service

Members of One Direction and the X-Factor judge Simon Cowell were among the mourners who attended Liam Payneas funeral.

Payne died aged 31 after falling from a third-floor hotel balcony in Argentina last month, prompting an outpouring of grief from fans across the world.

Augusta Britt says relationship with then-married author, who died in 2023, began after they met at motel pool

The author Cormac McCarthy, who died last year aged 89, began a relationship with a 16-year-old when he was 42 and the woman became his asecret musea, Vanity Fair has reported.

The author of The Road and Suttree gave very few interviews, so little is known of his private life other than that he married three times and lived in Spain and Texas before settling in New Mexico.

Following statement from Mike Johnson, McBride says: aIam not here to fight about bathrooms, Iam here to a| bring down costs facing familiesa

Sarah McBride, the incoming congresswoman and first openly transgender person elected to the US House of Representatives, on Wednesday shared a statement on social media in response to the House banning trans people from using single-sex bathrooms on Capitol Hill that match their gender identity.

Earlier in the day, the House speaker, Louisiana Republican Mike Johnson, issued a statement aregarding facilities throughout the US Capitol complexa.

This article was amended on 20 November 2024 to remove a reference to a Bluesky post that had been attributed to Sarah McBride. A representative for McBride later said the account is not affiliated with the congresswoman-elect.

Union says sale of Sunday paper to Tortoise would be a abetrayal of the Scott Trustas commitment to the Observera

Journalists at the Guardian and Observer have voted to strike for 48 hours over the planned sale of the Observer newspaper to Tortoise.

Union members passed a motion on Wednesday stating that selling the Sunday newspaper to Tortoise would be a abetrayala of the Scott Trustas commitment to the Observer. The trust is the ultimate owner of Guardian Media Group.

Met Office warnings in place until Sunday as schools are closed and travel disrupted in Scotland

More snow has been forecast for the weekend after an Arctic blast brought the afirst taste of winter for manya and the Met Office issued new weather warnings.

A yellow weather warning for frequent snow showers and possible hail is in place in many parts of north and west Scotland until midday on Thursday.

Moscow has rattled its nuclear sabres, but experts say an increase in hybrid, agrey zonea warfare is more likely

Moscow has threatened to retaliate for the decision taken by the US and the UK to allow their long-range missiles to be used in strikes inside Russian territory, and warned that nothing is off the table. Earlier this week, the Kremlin announced a formal change in its nuclear doctrine which specifically envisages a possible nuclear response to Nato-assisted strikes on Russian soil. So, how far is Vladimir Putin prepared to go?

Party calls for generational shift and looks to younger governors after Harrisas defeat in presidential election

Joe Biden marked his 82nd birthday on Wednesday as Democrats began searching for a younger generation of party leaders following Kamala Harrisas morale-sapping defeat in this monthas presidential election.

Any birthday celebrations planned by the US president will probably be muted as he returned to Washington from the G20 summit in Brazil a seemingly diminished figure, awaiting the return to power of Donald Trump, who is expected to dismantle many of his achievements in the past four years.

Amid a protest in central London on Tuesday against changes to inheritance tax announced by Labour, the Guardian discovered a mistrust of politicians, fear over the future of UK farming and suspicion of Bill Gates

The Australianas book about his parentsa love and his fatheras horrific experience of Burmaas Death Railway won the illustrious nonfiction award. Here he talks about finding beauty and hope in the age of extinction and despair

Richard Flanagan had only just got home from a trek through the wilderness when athe phone started going off like a chainsaw revvinga. The day before, he had been standing in a grove of 1,000-year-old pencil pines, trees that he fears may not be around in a decade, such is the effect of the climate crisis on alpine heathland and rainforest in his native Tasmania, Australia. But now, on the other side of the world, his book Question 7 had just been awarded the Baillie Gifford prize for nonfiction, making him the first writer to win both this and the Booker, which he received in 2014 for The Narrow Road to the Deep North.

Flanaganas prerecorded acceptance speech initially followed customary form, thanking the prizeas judging panel, his fellow shortlisted writers and its sponsors, the investment management company that gives the award its name and which in recent times has become the focus of intense scrutiny over its ties to the fossil fuel industry. His soul would be troubled, Flanagan explained, if he did not draw attention to the devastating impact the climate crisis was having on his own country and to urge Baillie Gifford to meet with him and outline a plan for its withdrawal from any involvement in fossil fuels. Until that time, continued the 63-year-old, he would delay taking receipt of the APS50,000 prize money. aAs each of us is guilty,a he concluded, aeach of us too bears a responsibility to act: a writer, a fund manager.a

From pro athletes to Parkrun enthusiasts, runners of all stripes told us what gifts they would love to unwrap on Christmas Day

More than one in five Britons run weekly, which suggests many of us are likely to know someone a from marathon runners to parkrun enthusiasts a who may enjoy a running-related gift.

You might think that running requires only a decent pair of trainers and some all-weather kit, but the gift options are endless, for every budget. The runners we spoke with told us they were dreaming of everything from hi-tech trainers to recovery treats and nifty headphones to gait analyses. So, if youare buying a present for a runner and feel clueless, read on.

Angela Rayner hands Andy Burghart his arse on a plate, but sounds unconvincing on farmersa tax row

Alas, poor Olive! I knew him, Horatio. This should have been Oliver Dowdenas day, his chance to shine. The half-hour when he stepped out of the shadows into glorious sunlight. When the Tory party put aside its differences with one another and cheered him unconditionally. Laughed at his jokes. No one had ever done that previously.

Instead, Olive found himself consigned to the very back of the backbenches, where he could be found trying to engage Jeremy Wright a another outcast a in desultory conversation. They had both been the future once.

In midlife, I prioritize roomy designs that helped me move with ease. I had been searching for that freedom all along

A few weeks ago, getting dressed to take my kids to a comics festival, I put on a pair of tapered maroon jersey pants. My 10-year-old looked at me and said: aWhoa, Iave never seen you wear tight pants before!a

They were hardly fitted, but itas true that I favor my beloved elastic waist, barrel leg Ilana Kohn Abe pants, which make me feel more like myself than any other item of clothing Iave owned.

aWhile it was dark, I climbed up and put remote control cameras in the tree. Iad never have got the shot if Iad been up there. An orangutan always knows youare therea

I was following orangutans in Borneo with my wife, Cheryl Knott, a primatologist who has spent 30 years working in Gunung Palung national park, in the Indonesian part of Borneo. I am a biologist by background, and did my PhD research in rainforest ecology in Borneo, before I went into photography and film-making. I saw so much destruction in the rainforest back in the 90s, and it dawned on me that I could publish scientific articles that maybe 10 people would read a or an article in National Geographic that 10 million people would see.

I was getting increasingly serious about my photography while working on my PhD when I got funding from the National Geographic Society for field research. Through that connection, I was able to show them my pictures and eventually I published an article in the magazine about my work, which in turn meant I was able to get an assignment to document Cherylas orangutan PhD.

Documentary film-maker Nanfu Wang found difficulties while following an activist in Cuba for her revealing, and timely, new film Night is Not Eternal

aI donat believe in America being the beacon of democracy,a says the documentary film-maker Nanfu Wang. aAmerica sliding into autocracy is not something that is unimaginable.a

Terms such as democracy and autocracy have been thrown around a lot since the re-election of Donald Trump as US president. But Wang speaks with unusual authority on this subject. She was born in China and lived under its authoritarian regime until 2011 when, aged 26, she moved to the US because of its promise of democracy and freedom.

There are a lot of big movies out this November, including Gladiator 2, Paddington 3 and Wicked. So should you watch them all in one afternoon?

Name: Glicked and Gladdington.

Age: Extremely new.

Quiet man from Mallorca couldnat stop the clock on his ageing body but what a life, what a career a truly tennisas areal thinga

Elite sport is that peculiar amalgam of ritual, repetition, ingrained twitches, drilled skill, known strengths and feared limits. But it matters not a jot without passion a and sometimes even that is not enough.

At 38 and in reasonable if not optimum shape, Rafael Nadal brought all of those elements together in MA!laga on Tuesday night as best he could, but not with enough conviction to seal his farewell with a win. He took defeat in his last match with as much dignity as victory in his first, aged 15. But he lost. And it hurt. He would not have wanted it any other way.

There can be no safeguards that would prevent an assisted dying law from being abused. It must remain illegal

• Labour MP Diane Abbott and Conservative MP Edward Leigh are the mother and father of the House
• Report: Diane Abbott and Sir Edward Leigh urge Commons to reject assisted dying bill

Free votes on conscience matters are comparatively rare in the UK parliament. But they are almost always about issues of once-in-a-generation social change. Laws such as this need the utmost care because of the risk of unintended consequences. This is especially the case with the current assisted dying bill.

Writing from opposite benches as the father and mother of the house, our concerns are twofold, relating both to the process regarding the bill and its likely practice once implemented. Regarding the process, we have seen our fair share of bills over the years: some good, some bad. Whatever the merits of a bill, laws are always better if there is proper scrutiny and plenty of expert advice has been sought. This is particularly the case with private membersa bills, which often do not enjoy the independent scrutiny that government lawyers can offer.

An economic populism for the majority a irrespective of gender, race, religion or sexual orientation a is the way forward

Did the Democrats really lose because they were too awokea, too obsessed with minorities, too radical? After defeat, there always comes the battle for the narrative about why the party lost. As the US left is rediscovering, the most influential voices tend to be those platformed by corporate media outlets whose siren cry is always to march rightwards. And yet even the New York Times concluded that one of the main problems was in fact Kamala Harrisas aWall Street-approved economic pitcha, which her brother-in-law a chief legal officer at Uber a reportedly helped craft, and which afell flata.

The liberal order, always riddled with hypocrisies and illusions, is collapsing, partly because mainstream liberals cannot be trusted to defend liberalism: they are set to conclude that Trumpism must be defeated through imitation. But hereas a polling fact that cannot be ignored. In the past 50 years, the number of Americans who believe the Democrats arepresent the working classa has plummeted, while the numbers who believe they astand up for marginalised groupsa has dramatically risen, now exceeding the former.

Owen Jones is a Guardian columnist

Do you have an opinion on the issues raised in this article? If you would like to submit a response of up to 300 words by email to be considered for publication in our letters section, please click here.

I too suffered this repression. The harsh sentences handed down to democracy activists cannot go unchallenged

Joshua Wong, one of Hong Kongas best-known pro-democracy activists, was sentenced to four years and eight months in prison on Tuesday. He received a one-third sentencing cut to that period by pleading guilty. Even so, coupled with other charges he faced for his peaceful participation in the 2019 democratic protests, he will be in prison until at least 2027.

I spent my formative years with Wong. We were both student leaders in the 2014 Umbrella Movement, and co-founded the now-dissolved youth-led political party DemosistA in 2016. He gave everything he had to support me in my bid to become the youngest legislator in Hong Kong the same year. In 2020, I departed the city; he remains. The pain of survivoras guilt hits me every night.

I donat spend every night in my local. But even when Iam home, the knowledge that it exists makes life better

A closed pub is a sad, sad sight. Where once was life, people talking and laughing, now there is none. OK, bad stuff would have gone on too. I get that. Every pub has a drinker or two who needs the drink theyare holding more than they should. These places are, after all, potential vectors for dependence on a highly addictive substance, with all the misery that entails. But I think a hope a that pubs do more good than harm, that theyare more of a blessing than a curse.

Like most drinkers, Iam inclined to imagine that most of the population drink about the same as me, if not more, and in similar places. When the first lockdown was announced, including, unthinkably, the closing of pubs, Boris Johnson said he found it wrenching to be ataking away the ancient, inalienable right of free-born people of the United Kingdom to go to the puba. I happened to watch him make that speech on a TV in my local pub a it was my birthday. Iam sure I nodded in agreement, though even then I thought it was a bit of a stretch to make the right to go to the pub sound like it was enshrined in Magna Carta. And when I checked, I found that only about half of adults regularly frequent pubs and bars. So not everyone, by a long shot, exercises their inalienable right, although that leaves no small number who do.

Adrian Chiles is a broadcaster, writer and Guardian columnist

Podcasts like Joe Roganas and Theo Vonas arenat on the fringes. Their blend of off-the-cuff, Trump-leaning commentary blurs traditional lines between left and right a and offers listeners companionship

One night after his now infamous appearance at the Trump rally at Madison Square Garden a where he joked that Black people carve watermelons instead of pumpkins at Halloween and called Puerto Rico a afloating island of garbagea a Tony Hinchcliffe appeared on stage in Austin, back at his day job, as the host of the podcast Kill Tony.

When Hinchcliffe took the stage he was still front-page news, the subject of endless cable news panels and late-night talkshow monologues. Some Democratic pollsters were suggesting it was a rare moment that abroke througha with voters and could even help Kamala Harris win in Pennsylvania.

With them, Trump will tear down any person or institution that tried to restrain his worst impulses or hold him accountable

aShocka suddenly became the most commonly uttered word in habitually nonplussed Washington DC. After Donald Trump had attempted to subvert the certification of a presidential election, incited a mob, absconded with national security secrets, was convicted as a felon, and waged his Nazi-esque apoison in the blooda campaign, his brazen cabinet appointments are so mind-boggling that even hard-bitten cynics gasp.

Sheer hypocrisy would have drawn a yawn. But Trumpas cabinet selections would have startled even the character of Captain Louis Renault in Casablanca, who feigned surprise at discovering gambling in the backroom of Rickas CafA(c) before pocketing his winnings: aIam shocked, shocked to find that gambling is going on in here!a

Metaas aawkward dorka boss has updated his haircut and his wardrobe a and shown the world how much family means to him. Heas still a billionaire with skeletons in the cupboard

Do they hand out Nobel prizes for PR? Because the team behind Mark Zuckerbergas recent metamorphosis deserves one immediately. Not so long ago, Zuck was widely known as an awkward dork with an unflattering haircut, whose corporate empire did evil things such as fuelling genocidal violence in Myanmar, spreading misinformation and harvesting peopleas personal information.

Now, however, the tech mogul keeps making headlines for far fluffier reasons. This has been the year of the Zucknaissance, with people marvelling over his jazzy new wardrobe and far more flattering hair. In what may be an effort to seem more relatable, he has made his private life a lot more public. Itas not clear whether Zuckerberg, who has been married to Priscilla Chan for 12 years, has always been a fan of the big romantic gesture, but he certainly now seems to want to be known as a major awife guya.

Do you have an opinion on the issues raised in this article? If you would like to submit a response of up to 300 words by email to be considered for publication in our letters section, please click here.

The Republicans were always the party of big business, but Mr Trump is turning them into a playpen for oligarchs

One person turns up surprisingly often at Donald Trumpas side. Not his No 2, JD Vance, nor his wife, Melania, but another man a quarter-century younger and about $300bn heavier: Elon Musk. The two hunkered down in Mar-a-Lago on the night of the election, celebrating the results. This week they were in Texas, watching Mr Muskas staff test-launch a spacecraft. During the campaign, Mr Musk personally chipped in $130m, made speeches at rallies and organised campaigns to aget out the votea. Last week, the worldas richest man was picked by the president-elect to run a new adepartment of government efficiencya. So close are the pair that Mr Musk dubs himself aFirst Buddya.

American politics has always been coiled around money, tight as a vine around a trunk. Nearly 25 years ago, George W Bush joked at a swanky white-tie dinner:�aSome people call you the elites; I call you my base.a Nor is it confined to the right wing. Of the two main candidates in this monthas election, more billionaires backed Kamala Harris. One result is a highly warped politics that works against the very people it urges to go out and vote.

Do you have an opinion on the issues raised in this article? If you would like to submit a response of up to 300 words by email to be considered for publication in our letters section, please click here.

Cheap, better-run public transport can transform peopleas everyday lives. The government should be more ambitious in its plans to deliver it

Six years ago, when Jeremy Corbyn focused on failing bus services during prime ministeras questions, the then leader of the Labour opposition was greeted with mirth and derision. Tory backbenchers amused themselves with shouts of aTaxi!a, as Mr Corbyn urged Theresa May to give metro mayors the powers to take the industry back under public control. To a certain kind of Westminster mind, buses were far too parochial a concern to warrant the political centre-stage. But Mr�Corbyn proved to be on the right side of history.

By January 2025, all of Greater Manchesteras bus services will be part of the publicly run Bee Network. Since launching two years ago a after lengthy legal battles in which the private sector fought re-regulation tooth and nail a the franchise model has delivered impressively on mayor Andy Burnhamas vision of a low-fare, high-patronage service for the region. A buses bill soon to be introduced by Louise Haigh, the transport secretary, will give local authorities across England new powers to follow suit. Plans are already under way to replicate the approach in Liverpool City Region and West Yorkshire.

Do you have an opinion on the issues raised in this article? If you would like to submit a response of up to 300 words by email to be considered for publication in our letters section, please click here.

Peter Riddle says the government has been pretending that it can rebuild essential services without having the courage to introduce the necessary tax regime. Plus a letter from Chris Taylor

John Harris does speak an uncomfortable truth when he says that unless Labour significantly increases financial support for local authorities, the impact of austerity will continue to grind down local communities (The streetlights going out over Britain tell a brutal story: austerity isnat over a itas getting worse, 17 November). Fourteen years of Conservative budget cuts have resulted in my own local authority plummeting from being one of the highest-performing abeacona authorities in England to one that is now in debt and heading towards the bottom rung of the ladder.

The closure of childrenas centres, care homes and budget cuts in every service area, from special needs education and social care to library services, have resulted in a threadbare support network locally. This is being replicated across the country.

A breakaway party of Labour leftists would only benefit the far right, warns Dr Anthony Isaacs. Plus letters from Andrew Shepherd, David Howard and Bruce Henderson

Andy Beckett correctly concludes that there is political space to the left of the Labour party (Meet the groups trying to create a new leftwing party a and channel the energy missing from Starmeras Labour, 15 November). The question is whether there is electoral space. He notes the succession of new leftwing parties over the past 30 years, a few of which had some short-lived success, though the history of splits on the left goes back more than a century.

Nor is disillusion with Labour in power a recent phenomenon. The Guardianas own Richard Gott stood for the Radical Alliance in the 1966 North Hull byelection. This was a chance to make a significant impact in a Labour marginal, with increasing opposition to the Vietnam war and the Wilson governmentas majority hanging by a thread. In the event, there was a major swing to Labour, Gott taking less than 1% of the vote.

• Champions League updates from the 8pm GMT kick-off
• Live scoreboard | Moving the Goalposts | And mail Sarah

The players are out at Stamford Bridge shortly. Can Chelsea keep their winning run going? Or can Celtic record their first Womenas Champions League win? A reminder if Chelsea pick up a point or more they will secure their knockout stage place.

Have a read of our weekly womenas football newsletter, itas focused on Marta this week:

• 19-year-old was hit by shrapnel in Chiyah on Saturday
• Player remains in intensive care in hospital

The Lebanon youth international CA(c)line Haidar is still in an induced coma, four days after being struck by shrapnel in an Israeli airstrike on Saturday.

The 19-year-old, the latest football player to be impacted by Israelas military campaign in Gaza and now Lebanon, was hit in Chiyah, in the southern suburbs of Beirut.

• Tuchel worked with coach at Stamford Bridge
• Chelsea unlikely to replace former Portugal goalkeeper

Thomas Tuchelas backroom staff has been bolstered by the addition of Henrique HilA!rio, who is ending his 18-year association with Chelsea to become Englandas new goalkeeping coach. Tuchel, who worked with the former Portugal goalkeeper during his time at Stamford Bridge, begins his new role on 1 January. Martyn Margetson, Englandas previous goalkeeping coach, left when Gareth Southgate stepped down as manager last summer.

HilA!rio was quickly targeted by Tuchel, who does not want a big backroom team, and it has not taken long for an agreement to be reached. Chelsea were reluctant to let HilA!rio do a job-share with England and that has led to him handing in his resignation.

• Curry back after head injury against Australia
• Feyi-Waboso ruled out of clash with Japan

England are making changes to Tom Curryas all-action technique to ensure his safety after he returned to the fold for Sundayas clash with Japan following his latest concussion.

Curry sat out last weekendas defeat by South Africa after sustaining a head injury in a collision with Australiaas Rob Valetini in the previous weekas loss against the Wallabies. The 26-year-old, who missed almost all of last season with a debilitating hip injury that nearly forced him into retirement, has a history of head injuries and sustained a concussion in Saleas opening match of the season against Harlequins.

• Game in Romania abandoned near the end
• Kosovo plan to take case to court of arbitration for sport

Kosovo are preparing an appeal to the court of arbitration for sport after Uefa handed them a 3-0 defeat for walking off the field during Fridayas Nations League tie against Romania in Bucharest, which was eventually abandoned when they elected not to return.

Kosovo left the pitch during second-half stoppage time upon hearing chants of aSerbiaa from the home crowd. The match was suspended and when it was clear they would refuse to resume proceedings were drawn to a halt.

• Under-fire coach eager to stay in post despite losing run
• Defeat by South Africa would be 12th on the bounce

The last rites, if that is what they are, are going to drag on a while longer yet. On Wednesday, Warren Gatland reiterated that he would resign as head coach if it were ain the best interests of Welsh rugbya, while also making it very clear that in his opinion it is not.

Gatland says he had the Aconversations with his family and his employers after Wales lost 52-20 to Australia on Sunday, their 11th straight defeat. Whatever was said, it has left him afocused solely on preparing the team for this weeka.

Aston Martin stalwart Andy Stevenson started his career in a Silverstone shed fending off Eddie Jordanas barbs

Whatever happens at the Las Vegas Grand Prix this weekend, Aston Martin will be celebrating a remarkable achievement. Itas viva Las Vegas for Andy Stevenson, Astonas sporting director who will mark his 600th grand prix here, a feat of longevity made all the more striking by the fact he has not missed a race since he joined the team as a callow youth in 1987.

Such was his childhood ambition to work in F1 that he committed to it in writing. aMy mother recently found the paperwork from my first visit to the careers office which said I wanted to work with fast cars and travel the world,a he says with a smile.

• Guardiola agrees to extend City stay until summer 2026
• Deal not void if City demoted over 100-plus charges

Pep Guardiolaas new one-year Acontract with Manchester City does not contain a break clause should the club be relegated from the Premier League if found guilty of financial wrongdoing by an independent commission.

The club are defending themselves against more than 100 charges brought by the Premier League. City deny all allegations. If the Achampions are found guilty then, depending on the severity of the verdict, one potential sanction is demotion from the top division.

As Cop29 in Azerbaijan reaches final stages, countries try to shore up support for conference where question of limiting global heating will be key

Australia is locked in a standoff with Turkey over which will host vital UN climate talks in 2026, where the question of whether the world can limit global heating in line with scientific advice is likely to be decided.

Australiaas government wants to host the summit in partnership with Pacific nations, which are among the countries most threatened by climate breakdown.

You had to drive through the fire to leave. I remember my heart racing. This is Oliviaas story

Location Fort Smith, Canada

Disaster Wood Buffalo Complex fire, 2023

Olivia is Dene, a member of the Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation, and works in environmental management. In 2023, she was caught up in the massive evacuation when the Wood Buffalo Complex fire broke out, burning more than 500,000 hectares in and around the national park. Across Canada, the 2023 wildfire season was unprecedented in its scale and intensity. Eight firefighters were killed, and about 200,000 people were displaced.

Exclusive: Five oil and chemical companies which promised to divert plastic from environment produced 132m tonnes of it, analysis finds

• Bali recycling scheme swamped with garbage

Oil and chemical companies who created a high-profile alliance to end plastic pollution have produced 1,000 times more new plastic in five years than the waste they diverted from the environment, according to new data obtained by Greenpeace.

The Alliance to End Plastic Waste (AEPW) was set up in 2019 by a group of companies which include ExxonMobil, Dow, Shell, TotalEnergies and ChevronPhillips, some of the worldas biggest producers of plastic. They promised to divert 15m tonnes of plastic waste from the environment in five years to the end of 2023, by improving collection and recycling, and creating a circular economy.

Scheme has collected a fraction of the waste it set out to handle and is struggling with broken machinery and poor finances

• Five firms in plastic pollution alliance amade 1,000 times more waste than they saveda

The Alliance to End Plastic Waste (AEPW) makes high-profile claims about the projects around the world it supports in the pursuit of clearing up plastic waste leaching into the environment.

It works with partner organisations in developing countries to support community initiatives to collect and recycle plastic waste.

Consultation launched on increasing socially rented housing stock by limiting criteria allowing tenants to buy

Ministers will make it harder for tenants in England to buy their own council homes under changes designed to increase Britainas stock of socially rented housing, Angela Rayner has announced.

The housing secretary said on Wednesday that the government would consult on a series of changes to limit the number of people who can qualify for government-subsidised discounts to buy their houses.

Figure is above Bank of England target after energy bills push up prices

Inflation could rise above 3% next year after it increased to 2.3% in October, heaping pressure on the Bank of England to delay further interest rate cuts until the spring.

Figures released by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) on Wednesday showed that a rise in energy bills pushed up the consumer prices index (CPI), reversing a downward trend this year in inflation, which was 1.7% in September.

Lawyers disagree on whether law is likely to be expanded to include people who are not terminally ill

One of the arguments that has come to the fore in the debate surrounding whether assisted dying should be legalised in England and Wales is the aslippery slopea theory a that even if the legislation contains watertight qualifying criteria and safeguards, the law will inevitably be expanded in time and the restrictions loosened. Here is an explanation of why lawyers disagree about the likelihood of this happening.

UKas first such plan follows case of Reynhard Sinaga, who committed 136 rapes against dozens of men in the area

Greater Manchester has become the first area in the UK to enact a strategy for tackling gender-based violence against men and boys.

The plan will include the creation of independent domestic violence advisers to specialise in supporting men and boys, and a male victims service coordinator role, to help enhance therapeutic services.

Information and support for anyone affected by rape or sexual abuse issues is available from the following organisations. In the UK, Rape Crisis offers support on 0808 500 2222 in England and Wales, 0808 801 0302 in Scotland, or 0800 0246 991 in Northern Ireland. In the US, Rainn offers support on 800-656-4673. In Australia, support is available at 1800Respect (1800 737 732). Other international helplines can be found at ibiblio.org/rcip/internl.html

Keith Rollinson died in February after being attacked by a drunk 15-year-old he had refused to let on his bus

After the bus driver Keith Rollinson died at Elgin bus station after a violent assault by a teenage passenger, friends and colleagues held a candlelit vigil to remember the man described by his family as aa true gentleman with a heart of golda.

On the day of his funeral, the north-east town came to a near-standstill, with bus services suspended so that his fellow drivers could line the streets.

Ewan Methven, 26, made no plea in relation to Phoenix Spencer-Horn, 21, whose body was found on Monday

A man has appeared in court charged with the murder of a woman in East Kilbride, South Lanarkshire.

Ewan Methven, 26, made no plea to the murder charge when he appeared at a private hearing at Hamilton sheriff court on Wednesday.

Dyer receives apology and undisclosed sum after MGN Limited admitted unlawful access of private information

The former Newcastle United and England footballer, Kieron Dyer, has received an apology at the high court after settling his phone-hacking case against the Daily Mirror in return for a financial payout.

The Mirroras owners, MGN Limited, admitted to unlawfully intercepting Dyeras voicemails between March 2003 and December 2004, and using private investigators to unlawfully obtain private information on eight occasions between 2003 and 2005.

Officers investigated over death of woman and her unborn baby after collision with unmarked police car

Two Metropolitan police officers are under investigation for allegedly causing death by dangerous driving after a heavily pregnant woman and her unborn baby were killed in a crash with an unmarked police vehicle.

The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) said the 38-year-old woman, who was in the full-term of her pregnancy, was killed in the collision in south-east London on 17 October.

Ryland Headley, from Ipswich, appeared via video link in Bristol magistrates court over killing of 75-year-old Louisa Dunne

A 92-year-old man has appeared in court charged with the rape and murder of 75-year-old Louisa Dunne, who died in Bristol almost 60 years ago.

Ryland Headley, of Ipswich, appeared at Bristol magistrates court via video link from a police station on Wednesday morning.

Rate cut unlikely until 2025 as energy prices blamed for stronger-than-expected inflation of 2.3%

• Inflation rises to 2.3%

Any lingering hope that the Bank of England might deliver a pre-Christmas interest rate cut next month has evaporated, after official data showed inflation jumping to 2.3% in October.

If it continues to rise in the coming months, Labour will be forced to defend itself against Tory claims that government policy is at least partly responsible.

TBH, Santa wouldn"t even know where to get gasoline-inspired perfume or a puffer jacket koozie.

View Entire Post >

This TikTok-viral veggie chopper is so fast and efficient you"ll want to throw a twelfth star into the mix.

View Entire Post >

Your floor will be so excited to see you again once this purse organizer and hanging tool organizer get everything off it.

View Entire Post >

Someone tell Dorit to start her own cigarette line, ASAP.

View Entire Post >

I can"t believe it took FOUR HOURS to paint Cynthia Erivo green every single morning.

View Entire Post >

Lotion that"s designed to battle boob sweat = a blessing.

View Entire Post >

"This 56-year-old beach girl with decades in the sun and saltwater couldn"t be happier," a a reviewer referring to the Tree of Life retinol serum.

View Entire Post >

Snug ai, As a bug ai, In a rug ai,

View Entire Post >

"You canat save a marriage if just one person is trying."

View Entire Post >

Armed with these things, you"ll suddenly look forward to gross weather days.

View Entire Post >

Raise your hand if you dodged a bullet...

View Entire Post >

In this genuinely diabolical plan, the kids will never know they"re actually learning while playing with toys until it"s too late.

View Entire Post >

"I can"t be sexy. It just cringes me out."

View Entire Post >

Hoda, you knew exactly what you were doing.

View Entire Post >

I won"t be able to watch the movie the same way now.

View Entire Post >

aI didnat expect to cry,a the Cobra Kai star shared.

View Entire Post >

From emerald chic to bubble-approved, weave got a hat thatas so you d d(c)*

View Entire Post >

These hacks and products will make cleaning feel like less of a chore.

View Entire Post >

"I remember thinking, "Oh my gosh.""

View Entire Post >

"Erika showing emotion has me shook..."

View Entire Post >

The 31-year-old and 26-year-old are reported to live together.

View Entire Post >

Personally, when I was in treatment, I lived for the moments that felt "normal," when I could forget about cancer for a little while. Seeing my loved ones" scalps would not have been helpful for me a it would have been a constant reminder that things were very much not normal.

View Entire Post >

aIave told people this is one of my favourite movies and itas always met with extreme hostility."

View Entire Post >

"Boomers are perpetually trying to eat from a garden they didn"t tend to."

View Entire Post >

Bathroom makeover a sign me up.

View Entire Post >

The docuseries will explore the controversial Girls Gone Wild franchise of the late "90s and early 2000s.

View Entire Post >

You"ll be counting down the minutes "til you can go home and wash your face with this K-beauty cleansing oil.

View Entire Post >

"That wasnat always a part of my life, and Iam not a part of it now."

View Entire Post >

Tis the season to stay cozy and efficient.

View Entire Post >

A service was held in Amersham, England, on Wednesday.

View Entire Post >

Luxe doesn"t always mean a hefty price tag.

View Entire Post >

Life is busy enough as it is. No need to spend your precious time and energy making it look like you have your stuff together when these products are here to help.

View Entire Post >

Please don"t bring up conspiracy theories on the first date. PLEASE.

View Entire Post >

Please take notes.

View Entire Post >

Another reason to hate hills.

View Entire Post >

Careful a or your friends might just want to move in.

View Entire Post >

aI have a memory of turning around and looking at him, and nobody was standing but the people around him.a

View Entire Post >

Draft blockers, portable heaters, thermal curtains, and more.

View Entire Post >

aYes, we love each other very much now, but in 10 years or 20 years, I still canat give him the family that he craves fora| Thatas why this dialogue between a couple is so important.a

View Entire Post >

"The threat of losing ur kids while going bankrupt fighting for them is not very conducive to creative thoughts."

View Entire Post >

Why buy a mattress anywhere else? DING!

View Entire Post >