With 007 back on our screens this weekend, it's time to a look at the best gadgets from half a century of Bond movies.

Department store Debenhams hailed a resurgent year on the high street as it announced plans to open another 17 UK stores over the next five years.

Our diarist notes the curious perspective of a senior Whitehall mandarin, has an update on the outspoken Nadine Dorries, and offers a reminder of Conrad Black's taste

Makers of the new James Bond movie Skyfall have striven to combine the old-school values that made 007 such a success over the last 50 years with enough modern mores to keep the silver screen's favourite super spy relevant in a post-Cold War world.

The 007-fan was tasked with condensing the classic series in a way that would appeal to both diehard and new readers

I still get star-struck on set It's not even being nerdy; I'm just being honest. I was involved in Paramount's 100th anniversary photograph and it was the most incredible day; everyone from Mickey Rooney to Justin Bieber and all in between were there – Nicholson, De Niro, Scorsese, Spielberg – and I was sat with them having pictures taken. And I was like, "I'm from Gloucester, so what does this mean?" The truth is, it means nothing, but it was extremely exciting.

Will high speed rail benefit anyone other than fat-cats?

Virgin asked to keep running line until new contest can be held after franchise fiasco

Agreement between the United Kingdom Government and the Scottish Government on a referendum on independence for Scotland.

Rail operator Virgin has been asked to continue running the troubled West Coast Main Line for another few months. Here's how the story unfolded.

The news came as it emerged that more than 30 senior civil servants in the Department for Transport had been axed in the run-up to the West Coast Main Line fiasco.

The Transport Secretary, Patrick McLoughlin, is expected to announce today what interim arrangements have been agreed for the operation of the West Coast Main Line when Virgin's franchise expires in early December. Whatever the deal – and the likelihood must be an extension of Virgin's mandate until such time as the new franchise has been settled – the cost will be just a fraction of the final price to the taxpayer of this debacle, which has been conservatively estimated at £40m.