Revealed:

Brown's secret plan to cut Afghanistan force by 1,500

Ministers are secretly planning to cut the number of British troops in Afghanistan, at a time when defence chiefs are appealing for thousands more reinforcements to meet the deadly threat from the resurgent Taliban.

Hamis Rogers and Madeline Jacob lend a hand at Hampton Court

Great little gardening boom hits show

The IoS's campaign blossoms at the Hampton Court Flower Show

Joan Smith: If Jamie Oliver can't change our eating habits, who can?

The rise and rise of the vegetarian

Sausage, bacon and roast dinners, staples of the British diet, are on the wane as 'flexitarians' forgo meat

Hello, Mum! Village fete mentality on fourth plinth

Tim Lott: Antony Gormley's art project only goes to show what a feeble, unimaginative nation we are.

Baha Mousa's sons Hassan (left) and Ali, hold up a family photo at their home in Basra in 2005

MoD may face hundreds of new torture claims

The inquiry into the death of Baha Mousa while held by the British Army begins tomorrow, with lawyers registering more claims of abuse.

Robert Fisk: The story of Baha Mousa

The planet's future: Climate change 'will cause civilisation to collapse'

Authoritative new study sets out a grim vision of shortages and violence – but amid all the gloom, there is some hope too...

John Rentoul: Against all odds, a step up for the planet

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Historians furious as Kew archives are 'dumbed down'

As opening hours and expert jobs are cut, is public access under threat in the name of saving money?

In Bosnia, each funeral never ends

Bone by bone, victims of the Srebrenica massacre are being identified, pieced together and, finally, laid to rest

England's Paul Collingwood watches the ball roll to the boundary during day four of the First Ashes Test

Colly: we can be heroes, just for one day

England are in danger of making a horribly familiar start to an Ashes series after another dose of Australian domination at Sophia Gardens.

Peter Ackroyd: 'Retire? Only if my arms are chopped off first'

The novelist, biographer and chronicler of London is that rarest of creatures – an author who doesn't like talking about his own books and who shuns the party circuit.

UK swine flu cases to soar, but deaths 'will remain rare'

Chief Medical Officer seeks to calm public fears following death of first 'healthy' person from virus

Centrica chief: Hostile bid will hold gas prices

Sam Laidlaw, the chief executive at Ftse 100 energy giant Centrica, has vowed that his £1.3bn hostile bid for North Sea oil and gas group Venture Production will stabilise prices for its 10 million households.

Secret to a longer life lies on Easter Island

Scientists have found an anti-ageing drug that works on mice – and could do the same for humans

Peter Ackroyd: 'Retire? Only if my arms are chopped off first'

The novelist, biographer and chronicler of London is that rarest of creatures – an author who doesn't like talking about his own books and who shuns the party circuit.

The Proms: The IoS offers its A-to-Z guide to the 115th season

It's that time again. Prom season is upon us. With 100 concerts in 58 days, starting on Friday, it can be hard to know where to start when it comes to tuning in.

€400bn energy plan to harness African sun

It's decision day on a chain of solar generators across the desert that could supply a quarter of Europe's power

Nothing like a dame: How Vivienne Westwood traded a couture lifestyle for the front line of the eco war

Back to Biba: New film explores the fashion label that helped define a decade

It was the fashion hub of the swinging Sixties, as synonymous with those years as the Beatles, miniskirts and the Kings Road. Biba was credited with bringing fashion to the British high street until it vanished almost without trace.