£37bn bail-out for three banks

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A dramatic rescue of British banking was under way today after the Government unveiled a £37 billion bail-out for three of Britain's biggest banks.

Nicole Kidman and David Hasselhoff are two US-based stars who have recently brought proceedings in the UK courts

London: the celebrities' defamation capital

There was once a golden age of celebrity when those lucky enough to earn a living as actors, singers or models were grateful for all the publicity they could get. Not any more. The number of stars of stage and screen resorting to legal action has doubled since 2005, helping to make London the defamation capital of the world.
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Lords set to inflict crushing defeat on 42-day detention

The Government is heading for a resounding defeat over moves to allow terror suspects to be detained without charge for up to 42 days.
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Leading article: A bad Bill heading for oblivion

Robert Fisk lets fly in a debate at the Woodstock Literary Festival

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A feisty debate between Robert Fisk and the author Professor Sir Lawrence Freedman ended The Independent Woodstock Literary Festival last night.

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One of the world's oldest Christian communities is being forced to flee the Iraqi city in their thousands.

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Fears of a collapse in confidence in the banking sector and an economic bloodbath drove the Government to push Britain's big four lenders into a massive recapitalisation package of up to £50bn set to be announced today.

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Dentists face curbs on abuse of salary system

The Department of Health is planning a crackdown on dentists who have been "exploiting" the system to maximise their incomes, denying thousands of patients access to treatment, The Independent has learnt. Dentists recall healthy patients for checks too frequently and divide courses of treatment to trigger extra payments, it is alleged.

Lebanon lays claim to favourite Israeli dish

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John Pilger, scourge of injustice, is still battling after half a century of campaigns. He's even gunning for Tony Blair.

American space tourist Richard Garriott became the first second- generation American to go into space, 30 years after his father, Owen

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When the American astronaut Owen Garriott photographed Earth from the Skylab space station in 1973 he never would have thought that three decades later his son, Richard, would follow him.

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