The people who call themselves oddfellows are members of various friendly societies, but not all friendly societies call themselves oddfellows.

After its exceptional contribution to Manchester's celebration of Mahler last season, the Hallé – opening the season with more music by the same composer – appeared to have some unfinished business. But when the pieces in question were so fascinating and their interpretation so compelling, by players who now clearly have the rhythms and subtleties of Mahler's music in their blood, it felt quite logical.

A man is under arrest on suspicion of murder, police said today after a woman was found stabbed to death in a park.

David Miliband warned today that Labour risked three or four terms out of office if it picks the wrong leader to succeed Gordon Brown.

Today: Check into Matakauri Lodge, which opens on the shore of Lake Wakatipu outside Queenstown in New Zealand. The luxurious lodge features contemporary styling and stunning lake and mountain views (matakaurilodge.com).

A murder investigation was launched after a man was stabbed to death in an apparently targeted attack, police said.

A man has been arrested on suspicion of murder after the bodies of two women were found at a house.

Yesterday, Andrew Marr made the misjudged and sweeping statement: ‘I’d like to be 20 and starting out again’. Instead of lamenting the good ole’ days of classic news reporting, complete with notepad and biro, he commended the staggering advances in technology and expressed a certain covetousness at eager, young writers – like myself – who are trying to make it in the modern media industry.

One of the obvious advantages of our online age is that it is not only bad news that spreads its way around the world in a matter of seconds.

Unemployment is down. Good news, of course. But there’s always a cloud attached to a silver lining.