• Germany calls in UK ambassador over spy claims

    Envoy called in for meeting after reports that Britain has established 'spy nest' on the roof of its embassy in Berlin

  • Live Election results 2013: McAuliffe wins Virginia governor vote – live

    • Chris Christie wins decisive victory in New Jersey
    • Democract Terry McAuliffe elected Virginia governor
    • Bill de Blasio elected mayor of New York City
    • Boston, Detroit also vote for new mayors
    • Various initiatives on the ballot as US votes in off-year
    • Read the latest blog summary

  • Explosions at China Communist party office

    One person injured amid several blasts outside headquarters in Taiyuan city, Shanxi provincial officials say

  • Toronto mayor Rob Ford admits to smoking crack but refuses to resign

    Ford says 'I would do anything to change the past' but insists at press conference that he will soldier on as Toronto mayor

  • Protesters gather around the world for Million Mask March

    Demonstrations in more than 400 cities were planned to coincide with Guy Fawkes Day, with Russell Brand at a London protest

Sport

  • Álvaro Negredo hat-trick sends Manchester City into knockout stages

    Three goals for Alvaro Negredo and two for Sergio Agüero earned Manchester City a 5-2 win over CSKA Moscow and booked their place in the Champions League knockout stages

  • Manchester United's Fellaini sent off as Real Sociedad frustrate Moyes

    A red card for Maroune Fellaini and a penalty miss by Robin van Persie made Manchester United's goalless draw at Real Sociedad disappointing for David Moyes

  • 2014 World Cup organisers suffer blow as Rio Soccerex is cancelled

    A major football convention, scheduled to take place in Rio de Janeiro just before December's World Cup draw, has been cancelled

  • Martin O'Neill and Roy Keane to be confirmed as Rep of Ireland managers

    Martin O'Neill and Roy Keane are to be confirmed as the new managerial partnership at the Republic of Ireland on Saturday

  • England's Joe Root drops down to make way for Michael Carberry to open

    England sprung a major surprise for their second tour match against Australia A by naming Michael Carberry to open with Alastair Cook

Comment is free

  • Russell Brand: we deserve more from our democratic system

    Russell Brand

    Russell Brand: Following his appearance on Newsnight, the comedian explains why he believes there are alternatives to our current regime

  • In the lucky country of Australia apartheid is alive and kicking

    John Pilger

    John Pilger: The richest country on Earth writes Aboriginal people out of history and pushes them to the margins. Like South Africa 30 years ago

  • Four steps to put an end to all-male panels at conferences

    Bronwen Clune

    Bronwen Clune: It is a myth that it is impossible to find good women willing to speak at events. We need to do better – starting with eradicating the idea of 'tokenism', and being upfront about our goal

  • Why do so many women hate Gwyneth Paltrow?

    Tanya Gold

    Tanya Gold: Vanity Fair's attack reflects a wider loathing, but at least the actor is brave enough to venture beyond Hollywood's accepted script for women

  • Ed Miliband's living wage is as naive as his energy price freeze

    Simon Jenkins

    Simon Jenkins: This Heath-like market intervention would create bureaucratic chaos – the only jobs to benefit would be those in the civil service

Culture

  • Otto Dix works in Munich hoard speak truth to Hitler

    Jonathan Jones: First glimpses of pictures by 'degenerate' modernist artist reflect grotesque carnival of lies and hypocrisies of German New Order

  • Think digital distractions have killed our attention spans? Think again

    The rise of complex TV series and vast novels shows we still prefer commitment to a quick fix, writes Stuart Jeffries

  • Peter Jackson's Hobbit philosophy: more is better

    Ben Child: Tolkien is just a guide, says director as he teases fans with new footage from The Desolation of Smaug

  • A flood of inspiration: Will Self's Thames trudges

    Will Self is so obsessed with the Thames he occasionally takes walks through it – thigh-deep in its 'mocha waters'. As a new exhibition of paintings about the river opens, he celebrates his murky muse

  • Meet Chuckesmee, Twilight's axed animatronic toddler

    The unnerving puppet toddler that shot scenes in the final Twilight movie as the spawn of Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart has been revealed

Business

  • House prices: 'south-east set to outpace London' for first time in a decade

    Prices in the south-east will rise 32% over the next five years, with London making gains of 24.4%, according to Savills

  • Service sector growing at fastest pace since 1997

    Survey of a range of businesses such as transport, IT and restaurants suggest the economic recovery is strengthening

  • Eurozone unemployment stuck until 2015, warns European commission

    Commission warns jobless total will remain at record 12.2% in 2014, as growth forecast drops to 1.1%

  • Ryanair's new touchy-feely O'Leary hits turbulence but sees clearer air ahead

    Controversial airline's chief admits mistakes but says firm had to change after 'running like lunatics' for 20 years

  • Marks & Spencer sales continue to fall

    Chief executive Marc Bolland says there is little evidence of improved consumer confidence boosting high street spending

Life and style

  • The thigh-gap obsession is not new but it's the most extreme body fixation yet

    Young women worrying about thigh fat is not a passing fad. So what advice can we offer, wonders Hadley Freeman

  • Three things for swimmers in London to look forward to

    Jenny Landreth: With the Aquatics Centre opening to the public in 2014 and some splashing in the Thames on the cards, Londoners are on course to be – whisper it – a bit spoiled over the next few years

  • Sriracha shortage: why chilli sauce is hot property – and getting hotter

    The possibility of a global shortage of sriracha sauce horrified chilli lovers everywhere. The UK market for all kinds of hot sauce is booming – do you spice up your savoury dishes?

  • How do you train for a multi-day running race?

    Nick Mead has run a few marathons and ultras but the Gobi March will be his first multi-stage race – what has he let himself in for?

  • Nicolas Ghesquière's top five collections for Balenciaga

    Looking back over Nicolas Ghesquière's 15-year tenure at Balenciaga shows just what an exciting prospect it is to have him heading up Louis Vuitton

Technology

  • When does face scanning tip over into the full-time surveillance society?

    Adrian Short

    Adrian Short: Tesco's face-scanning system, courtesy of Quividi, means we're being watched and profiled - sometimes just so we can be shown adverts. Can't we be left free to ignore?

  • Gracenote technology profiles smart TV viewers to tailor ads

    Company holds trials with US broadcasters to track viewing habits and provide 'full ad replacement' on connected sets. By Stuart Dredge

  • Bitcoin could be hijacked by ‘selfish’ groups causing currency collapse

    Conditions already exist for abuse by collective computational power to cause breakdown in digital currency, say researchers. By Samuel Gibbs

  • Call of Duty: Ghosts review roundup

    Latest instalment of Call of Duty is already in the hands of gamers, so here’s what the critics have to say so far

  • Jeff Bezos' wife slams 'misleading' biography in Amazon review

    'Everywhere I can fact check from personal knowledge, I find way too many inaccuracies,' writes MacKenzie Bezos. By Stuart Dredge

Money

  • Seeking Help to Buy? Think small lenders over big banks

    The first batch of 95% mortgage rates announced under Help to Buy have been underwhelming, but there are good deals if you look beyond the major lenders

  • Stop sitting on customers' cash, minister to tell energy firms

    Tory energy minister Greg Barker will demand to know why energy firms are hoarding up to £2bn from direct debit billpayers

  • Wonga defends its 'fair, transparent service' ahead of committee hearing

    Chief operating officer Niall Wass defends the payday lender's record ahead of an expected grilling by MPs

  • Co-op Bank scrambles to convince customers its ethical stance will survive

    Sweeping restructuring of bank could see hundreds of jobs lost amid closure of around 15% of 324 branches

  • How to reduce your mobile phone bill - video

    Britons are overspending on their mobile bills by as much as £6bn a year. Miles Brignall offers his tips on how you can cut costs

Travel

  • Strictly tango and taxi in Buenos Aires – video

    Few people have better inside knowledge of a city than taxi drivers. In his quest for authentic tango culture in Buenos Aires, Kevin Rushby enlists the help of Miguel the singing cabbie, who takes him to a milonga for a taste of the city's passionate past

  • 'Spontaneity champion' required: must like holidays and having fun

    Lastminute.com is looking for a 'spontaneity champion' to spend an entire year trying out the different holidays they offer, but it's not the first time a job that good has been advertised

  • Top 10 Bonfire night celebrations

    Remember, remember … It's not too late to organise your Bonfire night festivities. Rachel Dixon rounds up some of the best fireworks displays taking place around the country tonight and this weekend

  • Readers' tips: your favourite local pubs

    Pubs with character, good beer and friendly bar staff … readers pick their favourite local boozers

  • Favela tourism in Rio de Janeiro

    For decades, many of Rio's mountainside favelas were off limits, but some are now safe and welcome tourists, offering them a unique view of the city. Dom Phillips reports from four of them