The killer of the headmaster Philip Lawrence in 1995 was cleared yesterday of using his notoriety to intimidate and rob a young man at a cash machine.

A robbery trial involving the man who murdered the headteacher Philip Lawrence in London in 1995 has collapsed because of a series of delays.

The killer of headmaster Philip Lawrence wore his murder conviction as a "badge of honour" and used it as a "weapon" in a cashpoint robbery soon after his release from jail, a court heard.

Depending on your point of view, dirt can be a deadly foe, an unsavoury sight or a mark of authenticity. We live in an age of extreme cleanliness but our conflicted feelings about filth are anything but neat and tidy, argues Andrew Martin

It was the 17th-century upmarket alternative to Shakespeare's Globe, where the upper crust could watch the Bard's plays away from the great unwashed. Now, a modern replica of the old Blackfriars Theatre, with a roof (thank goodness) and seating for all, will shelter rain-free comfortable theatre for present-day fans.

Investigators are closing in on the Pope's bank, dissatisfied by claims that it will change its ways

The Vatican Bank is under new scrutiny in a case involving money-laundering allegations that led police to seize €23m (£19.25m) in September.

As a global religion with a billion followers, many of whom are in the richest parts of the world, the Roman Catholic Church is naturally a multi-billion-pound enterprise.

"Vatican Bank under investigation." Those four words instantly summon up one of the 20th century's most lurid financial mysteries – the death of Roberto Calvi, the $1.4bn collapse of his Banco Ambrosiano, and its entanglement with the Istituto per le Opere di Religione (IOR) – then, as now, the bank of the Holy See.

Have you noticed how art on hoardings is everywhere these days? Whether it's pencil sketches by the Swedish artist Martin Karlsson on the Transforming Tate hoardings at the Tate Modern, or the Graffiti Kings collective making their commissioned mark on a new development of flats on the Holloway Road, or the Bankside Gallery's London Lives competition where the winning artists will have their work blown-up on a huge hoarding on Blackfriars Bridge for a year (from September) – the hoarding has become another artistic outlet worth taking notice of.

A barrister who lost a £33 million race discrimination claim broke down in tears today as a court was told her abusive emails to a former boyfriend should never have led to criminal charges.

An "evil" barrister who lost a £33 million race discrimination claim against a leading law firm was hell-bent on ruining her ex-boyfriend's life, a court heard today.

Two men were facing jail tonight for their roles in a "high stakes" £200 million cocaine-smuggling plot.

What a relief to see Elfyn Llwyd in the House yesterday, still alive and asking questions. He's always more interesting than he looks. Tiny Plaid Cymru are a great parliamentary asset. Blair and Mittal's £2m, that was them. They kicked off Cash for Honours. The Blair Impeachment project, they did that too. Llwyd and Adam Price (they are two-thirds of their party) have probably had more effect on Parliament than the entire Liberal Democrats.