Sebastian Conran

The eldest son of Sir Terence Conran, Sebastian Conran runs his own design studio in Barons Court, London. He has recently launched Universal Expert collection of homewares, available from www.johnlewis.com. He talks to Annie Deakin about his mentors, common design mistakes and his dream project.

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Qataris poised for €1.6bn takeover of Printemps

"Arab spring" is about to gain a new meaning. The famous French department store, Printemps – spring in French – is about to be taken over by a Qatari consortium for a reported €1.6bn (£1.3bn).

The first Boeing 747 rolls out of the Boeing plant in 1968

BA says farewell to the jumbo as the plane with the hump looks set to be heading for the dump

The ageing and fuel-thirsty Boeing 747 is no longer an economic option, says travel correspondent Simon Calder

Qataris buy InterContinental London Park Lane for £400m

One of London’s most prestigious hotels was today bought by the Qataris for more than £400 million.

Simon Calder: No smoke but plenty of ire

The man who pays his way

Reginald Turnill: Veteran BBC journalist acclaimed for his coverage of space and aviation

Reginald Turnill: Veteran BBC journalist acclaimed for his coverage of space and aviation

His aim was to convey precise information rather than seeking to make our pulses race

Carol Vorderman counts down to pilot licence after spending Christmas flying high

The Loose Women host has been clocking up the air miles to fulfil a lifelong dream of obtaining a pilot's licence

Second World War bomb discovery forces a part-closure of Amsterdam's Schiphol airport

Part of Amsterdam's Schiphol airport was evacuated today after workers unearthed a suspected Second World War bomb near its main terminal building.

Chaos as United Airlines computers crash

United Airlines passengers faced delays and massive queues today after some of its major computer systems and its website failed.

Henry Swarbrick's View From the Sofa: Back with a whimper, the 'pink elephant' is hidden behind the red button

Final Score, BBC1: The last seconds of the countdown were ignored, which was just as well

Russia Aeroflot flight lands in Iceland after bomb threat

An Aeroflot plane carrying 256 people from New York to Moscow made an unscheduled landing in Iceland following a report of a bomb on board, authorities said.

Bogus website offered airline jobs

A bogus website offering jobs in the airline industry has been uncovered by trading standards.

Vietnam airline fined for in-flight bikini show

Bored by in-flight safety demos? A group of bikini-clad beauty queens in Vietnam recently strutted through a packed aeroplane as dance music blasted a song with the lyric “I'm crazy for banana.”

Tail end: from next month, Gatwick will no longer be linked with Hong Kong

Inside travel: Hong Kong Airlines abandons Gatwick

London's business-class-only link to Hong Kong is to be axed after just six months – providing more evidence that insufficient numbers of airline passengers are prepared to pay a premium to avoid the riff-raff.

Jet goes off end of Durham Tees Valley Airport runway

A plane went off the end of the runway while preparing to take off, an airport spokesman said today.

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'There is a battle going on inside us that is never discussed'

Masculinity in crisis?

'There is a battle going on inside us that is never discussed'
Have US shock jocks gone too far?

Have US shock jocks gone too far?

An incendiary remark from Rush Limbaugh may be the beginning of the end for outspoken right-wing US broadcasters
The ‘Beverly Hills’ of Surrey pays more income tax than big cities of the North

The ‘Beverly Hills’ of Surrey

Elmbridge pays more income tax than big cities of the North
Heavenly Bodies

Heavenly Bodies

Michael Landy's artistic marriage made in heaven... and hell
'He will always be a friend': Jackie Stewart backs Polanski

'He will always be a friend'

Jackie Stewart backs Roman Polanski
The price of pacifism: Refusing to go to war is finally being recognised as a brave act

The price of pacifism

From the Second World War refusenik to the 19-year-old Israeli, Holly Williams talks to five people who risked shame and suffering to take a stand as conscientious objector.
'It was mass hysteria': Jason Isaacs on groupies, theatre bores and snogging James Bond

Jason Isaacs: Groupies, theatre bores and James Bond

To millions, Jason Isaacs is one of Harry Potter's arch enemies – but his wife prefers him as a Scottish TV detective.
Notes from a small island: Is Sealand an independent 'micronation' or an illegal fortress?

Sealand: 'Micronation' or illegal fortress?

Thomas Hodgkinson spent a week at the tiny platform off the Suffolk coast to find out.
Not a bad bone: Mark Hix cooks with cutlets and ribs

Mark Hix cooks with cutlets and ribs

If you ignore cutlets and ribs, you'll risk missing out on some delicious and easy meals, says our chef.
The experts' guide to summer: From getting fit for the beach to recreating that Olympic buzz

The experts' guide to summer

From getting fit for the beach to recreating that Olympic buzz
Sex, drugs and fast cars: The legend of James Hunt has set Hollywood hearts racing

Legend of James Hunt has set Hollywood hearts racing

Early glimpses of Ron Howard's film Rush suggest it will portray Hunt as a high-living lothario, with an insatiable appetite for partying.
Macklemore: 'I don't have moderation when using drugs and alcohol. It was hurting my life'

Macklemore: 'I don't have moderation'

The next Vanilla Ice or the next Eminem? Macklemore doesn't have a record contract – but he does have the UK's biggest-selling single of the year.
Don't be shy: Bill Granger's Sri Lankan recipes

Don't be shy: Bill Granger's Sri Lankan recipes

Sri Lankan cuisine is light, sunny, wonderfully spiced – and so easy to cook from scratch. Just as soon as you've broken into the coconut, that is.
Sir James Dyson’s latest project: Cleaning up hospitals

Sir James Dyson’s latest project: Cleaning up hospitals

Doctors are hailing the revamp of a Bath neonatal unit, where babies sleep more and feed better, as the model for patient care
One man returns to Argentina's town that drowned

One man returns to Argentina's town that drowned

Epecuen was submerged under 10 metres of water in 1985. Now the floods have gone – and 83-year-old Pablo Novak has moved back in