What do the French really think about the rest of the world? A new guide for their capital’s hoteliers reveals all

It was all rather touching. The Lib Dems (though not Nick Clegg) were out in force, like an extended family supporting a member on his big day – proud but a little worried. How did the unassuming highlander join the “quad” with Dave and George and Nick? And be the one to get a congratulatory pat on the shoulder from the Chancellor, slipping out after hearing his Big Statement? And how did any relative of  ours turn out to be the Cabinet’s axeman? 

New Prime Minister faces ongoing defections as cabinet ministers continue to resign

Recovery hopes have received a further boost after figures revealed the gap between the UK's exports and imports dropped by more than expected to £2.6 billion in April.

Returning to Istanbul Erdogan called for the protests to end immediately and said they bordered on illegality

Dozens of cuts to red tape will come into force tomorrow, including reducing the age for buying Christmas crackers, saving businesses millions of pounds, the Government has announced.

Ministers have received more than 12,000 complaints from constituents opposing today's hike in air passenger duty (APD), although the Government still opted to push through the rise.

Back when PMs worked their way up

Sterling is expected to come under pressure tomorrow following the loss of Britain's gold-plated AAA credit rating.

It is famed as a sun-soaked tax-haven, a home to hedge funds, and as one of the glamorous locations for the Tom Cruise film The Firm. But today, the Cayman Islands came into world view for a different reason as its premier, McKeeva Bush, was arrested on suspicion of corruption.

Coffee giant Starbucks today said it expects to pay “somewhere in the range of £10 million” in UK corporation tax for each of the next two years.