Rumblings in Westminster as the summer recess draws to a close suggest that, while the focus has been on George Osborne and the considerable potential for rifts within the Coalition, the Opposition front bench has quietly experienced its own difficul...

And so it will be for Republicans when they gather (Hurricane Isaac permitting) for the ritual foot-stomping and schmoozing in Tampa, Florida. But for Mitt Romney, thanks to his own shortcomings as a candidate since he secured the nomination, this co...

One of the proudest parts of London's bid for the Olympic and Paralympic Games was the importance accorded to the latter: the chance for Britain to lead the world in changing attitudes towards physical disability. Because attitudes are changing, in ...

The earlier record-shrinking of the ice in September 2007 shocked the entire scientific community – not even the most pessimistic computer models had predicted its suddenness or its extent – and now this retreat has been substantially exceeded.In the...

Government education cuts risk causing huge problems both domestically and to our global standing. Despite having just 1 per cent of the global population, UK universities produce 7.9 per cent of the world's research publications and 12 per cent of a...

 The sight of so many top-class sportspeople, however, should not obscure the less-flattering reality. Any high street will confirm what international statistics say: that, after the US, Britain is one of the least-fit nations in the developed world....

offence ("Putin has lost this game of cat and mouse", 19 August). You are unlikely to publish these lyrics (which juxtapose excrement and God), or illustrate the pornographic content of other "street art" from the parent group Voina, such as the fil...

All these arguments contain elements of truth and self-deception. In Iraq under Saddam Hussein, many of his opponents genuinely believed that the divisions between Sunni, Shia and Kurd were primarily the result of his machinations. "Only get rid of S...

Naturally, from most non-Tory standpoints these are all terrible ideas. The relaxation of Sunday trading laws further disadvantages the small trader in his battle against the supermarkets, while offering almost limitless possibilities for the exploi...

Well, actually, no. French? Who needs it? The language of diplomacy? I doubt much French is being used at the Ecuadorian embassy. (And why is that man called Assange, like a French verb? Assanger – to be a repellent creep. "Il m'a assangé, m'lud …")T...

The Shoe Club: This is a pioneering initiative for discerning flyers who wish to wear both their shoes on the flight rather than storing one in the hold, as our current health and safely policy dictates. Cost: £70 (any size up to 37); £90 (size 37 an...

So I was, you know, so OMG when this guy comes up to me and says: "Do you wanna come to a pool party?" And I'm, like, yeah. And I get there and who's there but Prince Harry – a real king, the grandson, or something, of the actual Queen of England-lan...