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Labour's tax rise to pay for care homes

Labour is considering a plan to raise National Insurance contributions to fund a guaranteed minimum level of care for the elderly, The Independent has learnt.

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Michael Jackson was thrilling in his prime - but has recent coverage acknowledged the darker side of his story?

Michael Jackson: Bad! And very dangerous

John Niven questions the adulation of the 'King of Pop', given the child abuse allegations of recent years.

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Serena beats big sister Venus in Wimbledon final new

Serena Williams won a third Wimbledon title today, beating big sister Venus Williams 7-6 (3), 6-2 in the final.

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Six people died including a three week old baby when the 12 storey block in South East London caught ablaze

Questions asked over tower block escape routes

Harriet Harman, the area's MP, said people were "asking questions" about fire escape routes at the flats.

More UK News

BT offers workers more free time for pay cuts

BT staff can take a year off, with a 75 per cent drop in salary, if they take the money up-front.

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Your complete guide to The Ashes

The key players, the legendary series and the crucial factors for 2009, plus interviews with Alastair Cook, David Gower and Mike Hussey plus much much more in The Independent's guide to this summers Ashes.

Lord Adonis: The man in charge of the train set

Written off as a Blairite, the new Transport Secretary has made a startling new beginning in a job that he has always wanted

Pride of Da Vinci's genius walks again after 500 years

This king of the jungle was created to flatter a king of France. Now Leonardo's amazing feat of engineering has been given new life by an Italian designer, to roars of approval. John Lichfield reports

China's BAIC joins fight for Vauxhall parent GM Europe

Formal offer from Chinese takes on Ripplewood and Russian-backed Magna

19-year-old becomes fourth Briton to die from swine flu

A south London teenager who died on Wednesday was the fourth person in Britain to succumb after contracting swine flu.

A new journey of exploration for Michael Palin

As the Royal Geographical Society's new head, Michael Palin is a man with the world in his hands. He tells Michael McCarthy of his passion for the spirit of Shackleton

ESPN to tie up with Sky over SPL rights

ESPN and BSkyB are set to launch a joint bid to screen the Scottish Premier League from next season, with an announcement expected as early as today.

Gamer steals from virtual world to pay real debts

Facing real world debts, a trusted figure in a popular online game stole money from the virtual bank he ran and exchanged it for cash through the black market.

How global warming shrank St Kilda's sheep

Darwinism turned on its head as milder winters allow smaller lambs to survive

Flood warnings issued as heatwave continues

Balls announces school places inquiry

An inquiry to find out how many parents are "playing the system" to get their children into a school of their choice was ordered yesterday by the Children's Secretary, Ed Balls.

'Fraud' case dropped against school place mum

Karl Malden: Actor known for his gritty film roles who found wider fame in 'The Streets of San Francisco'

Character actors, by definition, rarely stand out in the Hollywood crowd, unlike leading men whose chiselled features are etched in the public's consciousness. Karl Malden was the exception.