Researchers observe wild orangutan use plant to treat wound

The high intelligence levels of orangutans has long been understood, partly thanks to skills such as using tools to retrieve seeds and forage for insects. But new research suggests the primate has another skill in its repertoire: a pplying medicinal herbs.

London black-cab drivers launch £250m class action against Uber

More than 10,500 of London's blackcab drivers have launched a £250m legal case against Uber, accusing it of breaking the capital's taxi booking rules and deliberately misleading authorities to secure a licence.

Concern over cross-sex hormones available online for £11 a month

Cross-sex hormones designed to masculinise or feminise a person's body are available to buy online for less than £11 a month, with experts warning that growing numbers of under-18s may turn to the medicines hidden economy.

Cleese: I cut racist slur from Fawlty Towers play as people 'don't get irony'

John Cleese said yesterday he decided to cut the N-word from a scene in his West End revival of Fawlty Towers because there were too many \"literal-minded people\" in contemporary Britain who \"don't understand irony\".

Protesters in London block transfer of asylum seekers to Bibby Stockholm barge

Hundreds of protesters blocked an attempt yesterday to collect asylum seekers from a London hotel and take them to the Bibby Stockholm barge.

'My life became a blur': US basketball star relives ordeal of Russian prison

Brittney Griner, the US basketball star who was imprisoned in Russia for 10 months then released as part of a prisoner swap, has revealed that she contemplated suicide while in jail.

'Just unforgivable': outrage after more shows axed at new Manchester venue

Take That announced last night that they were moving shows scheduled for the Co-op Live to a rival venue as the troubled Manchester arena said it would be taking a \"short pause\".

Swinney on track to be first minister

John Swinney is expected to be crowned Scotland's next first minister within days after his only rival ruled herself out and pledged to support his candidacy.

PM to allow oil and gas exploration at sites intended for offshore wind

Fossil fuel companies will be allowed to explore for oil and gas under offshore wind sites for the first time, the government will announce today, in a move that campaigners say is further proof that ministers are abandoning the climate agenda.

Japan's empty homes top 9m as population keeps falling

As the declining population continues to affect Japan's society, the number of vacant houses has topped 9m - enough to accommodate the entire population of Australia at three people per dwelling.

Dozens held across UK as ministers pave way for flightsto Rwanda

UK ministers have acknowledged for the first time that they are detaining asylum seekers to be removed to Rwanda, sparking demonstrations outside Home Office buildings.

Waking a dormant giant: Marseille are on a mission

Getting to grips with the French club is like 'sitting on a volcano' but they are thinking big and a Europa League semi-final awaits.

'Croke Park is steeped in culture. It means so much'

Leinster prop Porter aims touse recent European pain as fuel for semi-final gain against Northampton

Surrey’s Steel flexes golden arm to thrust himself into limelight

Leg-spinner who isthe top wicket-taker despite early start to Championship has England ambitions

'It's punishing' Non-dom says tax change will force him to leave Britain

Bassim Haidar is house hunting. He owns \"more than 10 properties\" in central including a London, £20m five-bedroom flat near Chelsea's Sloane Square.

Liberty leads the people - but now showing her true colours

For almost 200 years, she has been the definitive symbol of the French republic. Now, after a much-needed facelift, Eugène Delacroix's Liberty Leading the People will rise above the fray of revolutionary anarchy in her true colours once more.

Netanyahu faces new pressure to let more aid into Gaza as talks on hostages continue

Israel's leaders were under renewed pressure to allow more aid into Gaza yesterday, after the US secretary of state, Antony Blinken, told Benjamin Netanyahu to \"accelerate and sustain improvements\" in the amount of humanitarian assistance reaching the territory.

EU calls for halt to police violence inGeorgia after force used on protesters

Western politicians and diplomats have called for a halt to rising violence in Georgia after security forces used water cannon, tear gas, stun grenades and rubber bullets overnight to break up a peaceful rally against a \"foreign influence\" bill.

Trans rights row with Rowling is really sad’Radcliffe

Daniel Radcliffe has described his rupture with JK Rowling over trans rights as \"really sad\", and said that her role in his life as the creator of Harry Potter \"doesn't mean you owe the things you truly believe to someone else for your entire life\".

Infected blood inquiry: study saying risks were tolerable’ omitted death

A study cited at the infected blood inquiry as evidence that the devastating consequences of blood products contaminated with hepatitis could not have been foreseen misrepresented the results of a trial in making its case, the Guardian can reveal.

Battle for London One last push for Hall, but has 'cars and crime' campaign fallen wide of mark?

Paul Icely puffs out his cheeks - and then slowly exhales. He is visibly deflating. \"I thought there might be a few more of us,\" the 67-year-old black-cab driver admits, his eyes darting between the students milling outside Barking and Dagenham college. \"You seen anyone else?\" Icely asks Lisa Prager.

‘America has lost a noble soul: author Paul Auster dies at 77

Paul Auster, the author of 34 books including The New York Trilogy, has died aged 77.

School pays tribute to 'gentle, caring' boy killed in east London sword attack

The 14-year-old boy killed in the east London sword attack was praised as a \"true scholar\", gentle and a gifted footballer, as it emerged he attended the same school as one of the victims of the 2023 Nottingham stabbings.

BBC grinds you down’ over equal pay, female presenters tell tribunal

Four senior female news presenters have accused the BBC of \"grinding down\" women on pay and failing to tackle persistent pay discrimination, at a tribunal court hearing in London.

Boat death Father of girl crushed in crossing tells of anguish

The father of a seven-year-old girl crushed to death on a small boat has said they tried to cross the Channel after being informed his young family would be deported to Iraq following years spent in Europe.

Britain Fresh wave of camps set up at universities

A fresh wave of student demonstrations and encampments was under way at UK universities yesterday in protest over the war in Gaza, after violent scenes on campuses in the US where hundreds have been arrested in a crackdown by police.

‘Have your own experience’: top sculptor pulls plug on gallery audio guides

They are ubiquitous at art galleries across the world: the audio guide telling shuffl ing visitors the full story of what they are looking at and occasionally how they should feel.

Khan says Tories are unpatriotic for 'always trying to do London down'

Sadiq Khan says the Conservatives’ treatment of London is “unpatriotic” and accuses the government of putting obstacles in his way every day of his eight years running the capital.

Hundreds of students arrested at US protests

Police in riot gear have moved to stamp out a weeks-long pro-Palestinian protest movement on university campuses across the US, arresting hundreds of people and clearing encampments, as duelling groups of protesters clashed in Los Angeles.

Explained: how did the Everton crisis get to this point?

Owner made bold promises but the club have this week had to callin insolvency advisers amid huge debts