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Big Ben to celebrate 150th anniversary

Fri, 10 Jul 2009 10:48:46 GMT

Big Ben will celebrate its 150th anniversary tomorrow.

Beckinsale accepts libel payout

Thu, 09 Jul 2009 23:00:01 GMT

The actress Kate Beckinsale accepted £20,000 libel damages from Express Newspapers yesterday over a claim that she had been passed over for her dream role as Barbarella.

Was British diplomat set up by the Russian secret service?

Thu, 09 Jul 2009 23:00:01 GMT

The Foreign Office says it is fed up with "silly jokes" about "from Russia with love". The official line is that there are far too many real problems in places like Iran and Afghanistan to spend time worrying about a junior diplomat being indiscreet in the Urals.

Soldier killed in blast 'had Olympic ambitions'

Thu, 09 Jul 2009 23:00:01 GMT

A British soldier killed in southern Afghanistan on Tuesday was an aspiring Olympic athlete, his comrades said yesterday.

One child in Britain 'is killed like Baby Peter every week'

Thu, 09 Jul 2009 23:00:01 GMT

One child a week is being murdered in Britain, in cases which echo the horrific death of Baby Peter, because clear warning signs that they live with a potential killer are being ignored or go unreported by key public service workers from police officers to GPs, according to new figures.

Fruit pickers: 'The money we earn is not worth getting out of bed for'

Thu, 09 Jul 2009 23:00:01 GMT

Two months ago, Ivan Borisov left his job as a tour operator in Bulgaria where he spent his summer guiding tourists around his country's Black Sea beach resorts and headed for the rolling Herefordshire countryside.

Boycott Newquay, says dead boy's stepmum

Thu, 09 Jul 2009 23:00:01 GMT

Little more than two hours after being pictured drinking under-age in Newquay, 16-year-old Paddy Higgins plunged 70 feet to his death from a cliff.

Revealed: Scandal of Britain's fruit-farm workers

Thu, 09 Jul 2009 23:00:01 GMT

Foreign fruit pickers are taking home as little as £45 a week at a company which provides some of Britain's largest supermarkets with thousands of tonnes of fruit, an investigation by The Independent has found.

St Therese of Lisieux: Bigger than the Pope

Thu, 09 Jul 2009 18:32:11 GMT

She died more than a century ago aged just 24, having spent the last decade of her life confined within the cloisters of a Carmelite convent in small town in France. Yet the writings and example of Marie-Francoise-Thérèse Martin have elevated her to the status of global Catholic superstar - an inspiration to millions of devotees from Edith Piaf to Jack Kerouac.

Firm fined over Wembley stadium death

Thu, 09 Jul 2009 16:08:55 GMT

A construction firm was today fined £150,000 after a father-of-two was killed in an accident during the building of the new Wembley stadium.

High wheelclamping charges illegal, says RAC

Thu, 09 Jul 2009 07:24:41 GMT

Wheelclampers are acting illegally by imposing exorbitant charges for the release of cars parked on private land, the RAC said today.

Legacy of genocide: alive, well – and living in Britain

Wed, 08 Jul 2009 23:00:01 GMT

In the postcard-perfect parish church of St Mary's in Frinton-on-Sea yesterday, a middle-aged African lady sat listening to the morning service. In a floral outfit, a simple gold cross around her neck, Marie Nikuze sat as parishioners around her said prayers for her husband – a man accused of having an inconceivable amount of blood on his hands.

The victim: 'These suspects get hot running water... We victims are poor'

Wed, 08 Jul 2009 23:00:01 GMT

Fifteen years ago, Beatha Uwazaninka spent 100 days as a fugitive in her own land while little by little, her family was slaughtered during the Rwandan genocide. Now she lives in the Midlands with her British husband and four-year-old daughter, but, she says: "You never leave the pain behind, it follows you everywhere."

Bloody reality of Afghan war hits home

Wed, 08 Jul 2009 23:00:01 GMT

Seven deaths in seven days, and the grim warning that many more lives will be lost before it is over. That is the bloody reality on the ground for British troops in what has been described as the defining moment in the ferocious war in Afghanistan.

Stockbroker wore a designer suit, ordered a glass of champagne – and jumped

Wed, 08 Jul 2009 23:00:01 GMT

A promising young stockbroker worried about losing his job in the City jumped to his death from a rooftop restaurant wearing his best suit and holding a glass of champagne.

The Big Question: How is Britain implicated in the torture of terror suspects?

Wed, 08 Jul 2009 23:00:01 GMT

Death plunge stockbroker 'in inquiry at work'

Wed, 08 Jul 2009 13:20:38 GMT

A City stockbroker who plunged to his death from a rooftop restaurant was involved in an inquiry at work, it was revealed today.

Cruisers wait on bug-hit ship

Wed, 08 Jul 2009 12:29:33 GMT

Passengers are waiting to find out when they would be allowed to disembark a ship at the centre of a vomiting bug outbreak which is cutting short its voyage.

Three-day post strike hits London

Wed, 08 Jul 2009 12:00:17 GMT

Postal workers in London began a three-day strike over jobs and pay today which was expected to cause major disruption to deliveries.

Rail workers to ballot for strike action

Wed, 08 Jul 2009 10:40:35 GMT

Rail workers at a National Express train company are to be balloted for industrial action in a row over pay and working conditions, it was announced today.

Witch wanted: salary £50,000

Wed, 08 Jul 2009 10:34:08 GMT

A tourist attraction is advertising in the Jobcentre for a witch to live in one of its caves and is offering a £50,000 salary.

Lords reject amended law on assisted suicide

Tue, 07 Jul 2009 23:00:01 GMT

A move to remove the threat of prosecution from those who go abroad to help an "assisted suicide" was defeated in the House of Lords last night.

Review will shape future of Britain's armed forces

Tue, 07 Jul 2009 23:00:01 GMT

The Government has announced it will set up the first strategic defence review in 11 years to shape the future of Britain's armed forces at a time of military commitment abroad and economic hardship at home.

Migrants 'not given housing priority'

Tue, 07 Jul 2009 23:00:01 GMT

Claims that immigrants are given priority access to social housing were dismissed yesterday as a myth by the equalities watchdog.

New powers to prosecute war criminals living in UK

Tue, 07 Jul 2009 23:00:01 GMT

Suspected mass murderers and war crimes suspects living in Britain, including four men accused of taking part in the Rwandan genocide, will face prosecution for the first time after the Government announced the closure of a loophole which had made the United Kingdom a haven from justice.