Paul Taylor, the one-time bricklayer who tried and failed to buy J Sainsbury in 2007, is close to agreeing a property joint venture with a leading City fund manager.

Spotting election posters shows that old political certainties no longer apply, in Norwich if not in Cornwall; how Labour's determination to reform the Lords could backfire; the Feelgood factor; and teen egg rage

David Cameron displayed restraint not always seen on the British election campaign trail yesterday when a hoodie-wearing teenager threw an egg at him on a visit to a Cornish college. The self-styled heir to Blair displayed a touch of Teflon Tony as the free-range missile bounced off his shoulder and splattered a nearby policeman. The yolk nevertheless left a stain on his white shirt, a Tory aide confirmed.

British governments are convinced, in the face of overwhelming contradictory evidence, that they can predict the future. You might think they would be disabused by the financial crash, our limping economy, and the yawning gulf between the Treasury's expectations and its confident predictions in times of plenty.

Rains uncover brickwork which allows Greenwich campaigners to claim 'Queen Elizabeth stood here'

A funding crisis in further education colleges could see courses closed and thousands of teachers losing their posts, a union warned today.

The Business Interview: Modec, the maker of all-electric vans, may not yet be turning a profit but it has its sights set on a global market, says its founder

On the eve of the great composer's 200th birthday, Adrian Mourby sees how the city where he grew up has emerged from centuries of war and ruin

Joining the Army isn't for everyone - but it does offer real apprenticeships

Arthur McIntyre was the wicketkeeper in the great Surrey side that won the County Championship in seven consecutive summers from 1952 to 1958. He was the consummate professional, the best "day in, day out" keeper on the county circuit, standing up to the stumps not only to the Surrey spin twins Jim Laker and Tony Lock but also to the awkward medium pace of Alec Bedser, all of them bowling on lively, uncovered pitches.

Joy as Kiki, 8, his 10-year-old sister and an elderly woman are saved after more than seven days buried in the rubble

A "tribute" album of sorts, to the late Jeffrey Lee Pierce of the Gun Club; except that in place of individual artists doing new interpretations of JLP songs, a coterie of friends combine to finish a batch of tunes demoed roughly by Pierce with one Cypress Grove.

49-year-old sweeps aside Australian outsider Simon Whitlock in PDC final

Forget piles of pasta and dustbin-lid sized pizza. The small but beautiful secret of Venetian cuisine has arrived. Simon Usborne says 'Ciao!'