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middle east

How the Israel-Hamas conflict might escalate

The US claims an attack against its warship in the Red Sea was enabled by Iran. How the two countries respond will shape the future of the ongoing war.

the news matrix
who chooses the pm?

Tortoise and the Tories

How the courts denied our request but agreed the public needs more information

The Conservative Party is a private members’ club. That doesn’t look like it’s going to change

Judgement from the High Court in full

Read all our Judicial Review coverage in one place

Supporting documents:

Long stories short

• The US Supreme Court heard arguments over a $6 billion opioid settlement from Purdue Pharma that shields the Sackler family from civil lawsuits. 

• Meta and IBM launched a coalition of more than 50 AI companies that back a so-called “open model” of research.

• The UK’s only pandas returned to China after a 12-year loan to Edinburgh Zoo.

media

Barclay family takes back the Telegraph

modern wealth

Britain is the most unequal large economy

renewable energy

Coal consumption will peak – then steadily decline

devolution

Northern Ireland power-sharing agreement ripe for reform

Israel-Hamas conflict explained

The people running Israel’s war in Gaza

Israel is fighting a war and is in the middle of a profound political crisis. It’s closest ally – the United States- is warning that Israel risks “strategic defeat” if it doesn’t do more to protect Palestinian civilian. So who’s running the war?

Blue-tick accounts reap the rewards of Israel-Hamas misinformation

It’s a year since Elon Musk bought X. His changes have helped self-styled ‘news’ accounts and partisan influencers thrive.

Latest developments

Netanyahu’s corruption trial resumed on Monday as Israel’s courts reopened after the Hamas attacks.

Sheryl Sandberg, the former Facebook executive, called on the UN to denounce the sexual violence inflicted by Hamas on Israeli women on 7 October.

The WHO said what happened in northern Gaza “cannot be the blueprint” for the south.

Israel told residents in parts of Khan Younis to evacuate as the city suffers heavy bombardment.

All our coverage of the conflict in one place

new series

Eight years’ hard Labour

This is the inside story of a double revolution in the Labour Party which defined Britain’s present – and may go on to shape its future.

mr. right

Paul Marshall and the battle for the Telegraph

The Telegraph is up for sale for the first time in a generation. The new owner will become one of the most influential people on the right in Britain. Who will win the race?

Conservative MPs write to Minister over Barclay’s family’s re-takeover bid of Telegraph

20 November 2023

new series • out now

Walter’s War

Oliver is a dashing diplomat. Charlie is a young graduate trying to find her feet in the world. They meet and fall in love. But all is not what it seems.

Listen to the whole series now
the great uncancelling

Johnny Depp hits the Saudi red carpet

The Gulf Kingdom’s Red Sea film festival also welcomed Will Smith, reportedly to the tune of $1 million.

How the Cannes film festival is rehabilitating the image of Hollywood stars accused of sexual misconduct

Six years after MeToo swept through the American film industry, the legacy of once-shunned film royalty seems to be getting rewitten.

covid inquiry

Former PM to appear in front of Covid inquiry

4 December 2023

money

Aid for Ukraine at mercy of Hungary’s Viktor Orbán

4 December 2023

kite-flying

Sorry Sir Richard, there is no such thing as sustainable aviation fuel

29 November 2023

the news meeting

The great Elgin Marbles debate

29 November 2023

new episode • out now

trendy

In the latest episode, Sir John Curtice and Rachel Wolf are joined by Torsten Bell to discuss the Autumn Statement – and whether the government really did cut taxes.

war in ukraine

The Ukrainians rooting for Russia

horse racing

Red Rum: the horse who became an unlikely hero

comics

A comic book author writes his own story

NEW SERIES

Dr Anti-vax

Alexi Mostrous, the journalist behind Sweet Bobby, tells the story of Andrew Wakefield, the British doctor who sparked the global anti-vax movement.

Listen to the whole series now
the police

After 30 years of violence and death, a police officer turns to the Church.

the royals

Did the Prince’s secret deal with media mogul help fund the Earthshot prize?

house of lords

Charlotte Owen’s elevation to the Lords is hard to explain, but speaks volumes about how British democracy works.

true justice

Three doors down

A mother. A murder. An innocent man wrongly convicted. And a 30-year search for justice.

Tortoise members can listen to the whole series now.

Tortoise Quarterly | Edition 13

Faith

From Xavier Greenwood’s account of converting to Judaism to Rosie Blunt’s story about a lost religious masterpiece, many of the pieces in Tortoise’s thirteenth book of long reads follow a recurring theme: faith.

Non-member price: £15 + postage
Member price: £12 + postage

Find out more
traitors, lies and private spies

Inside the world of corporate espionage

Our multi-part podcast series, Into The Dirt, explores the story of a private spy. All episodes are available now for Tortoise members.

Introducing the new Tortoise audio app

The slower, wiser way to listen to Tortoise podcasts.

Slow down with Tortoise

Become a member

Under 30s

Make sense of the world with a special Under 30s Tortoise Membership

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