12 h. ago The dream of turning empty office blocks into apartments appears over. What went wrong?

Strict planning rules and soaring refit costs are deterring landlords and developers, amid calls for government intervention to alleviate housing crunchFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastTwo years ago, state and local governments pushed to fast-track conversions of near-empty offices into much-needed apartments to alleviate a housing crunch.The promised panacea never eventuated. Continue reading...

Society

4 d. ago Horror moment Putin missile blows up apartments INSIDE Russia in devastating friendly fire blunder during drone blitz

THIS is the horror moment a Russian missile blew up an apartment block inside Vladimir Putin's territory in a friendly fire blunder. Footage shows the missile tearing through the sky before hitting the residential building in Belgorod. It is understood that the rocket was launched from an air defence battery to intercept Ukrainian drones, but...

Events

4 d. ago Meghan Markle accused of giggling as model stumbles at Balenciaga show at Paris Fashion Week

The Duchess of Sussex’s Paris Fashion Week debut has drawn headlines for all the wrong reasons after footage appeared to show her laughing during a catwalk mishap.

Culture

1 week ago Meghan Markle's father says he is NOT trapped in the Philippines

Meghan Markle's estranged father has revealed he is 'fine' after fears a huge earthquake had trapped him on 19th floor of his Philippines apartment block.

Politics

1 week ago Meghan Markle's estranged father urges 'please don't worry about me' after fears he had been trapped on 19th floor of his Philippines apartment after earthquake

Meghan Markle's estranged father has revealed he is 'fine' after fears a huge earthquake had trapped him on 19th floor of his Philippines apartment block.

Politics

1 week ago People think they know what war is. Here’s what I learned in seven years on Ukraine’s frontline

Tanks, soldiers, explosions and tears are the cliches that movies and news reels show us. The reality is an integration of horror and the mundane, as those who have chosen to stay cling to as much normality as they canWatch the Guardian documentary here“I often have the same dream: that I’m trying to get home,” says Elena Lebedeva, setting out tea and sandwiches in the tiny kitchen of her rented flat. “There’s always some checkpoint, obstacle, something in the way. I keep going – walking, running, crawling – but I never manage to reach it.”Home for Lebedeva is Opytne, a tiny village – one school, no supermarkets – just outside Donetsk.Elena Lebedeva with her husband, Rodion, outside their new apartment block in Kryvyi Rih, 2023 Continue reading...

Events

2 w. ago Three men arrested after 'disturbance' at city centre apartment block

All three suspects have been bailed

Events

2 w. ago Hungary refuses to stop buying Russian oil despite Trump’s Nato demand

Foreign minister says getting energy supplies elsewhere is a ‘nice dream’ while describing western European officials as ‘fanatics’Hungary will not wean itself off Russian energy supplies, the country’s foreign minister has told the Guardian, despite the White House’s demand for Nato allies to stop buying Russian oil.Donald Trump has demanded that Europe halt Russian oil imports, but in an interview on the sidelines of the 80th annual session of the UN general assembly, Péter Szijjártó said: “We can’t ensure the safe supply [of energy products] for our country without Russian oil or gas sources,” while adding that he “understood” Trump’s approach. Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago A piece of Manchester’s heritage uncovered amid apartment block build

A 19th century site has been uncovered, which directly links to Manchester's industrial heritage

Politics

4 w. ago Rome woman banned from feeding birds amid neighbours’ pigeon ‘hell’

Banning order comes after multiple complaints from residents of apartment block about feathers and droppingsRome’s mayor has ordered a woman to stop feeding dozens of pigeons that have overrun an apartment block, after furious residents, claiming to be drowning in feathers and guano, demanded relief from what has been described as a Hitchcockian nightmare.For several months, on the third floor of a building at 108 Via Spartaco, a woman nicknamed “The Pigeon Lady” by the press has been feeding the flock of birds that has been plaguing the block. After countless complaints from residents, exasperated by the thick layer of guano covering the building’s interior and the public areas below – not to mention the parked cars – local authorities issued an order banning her from feeding the pigeons. Continue reading...

Events