Economy feels chill as UK grinds to a halt

Jonathan Brown: The cost of travel and retail chaos is now running at £1bn a day as the Government comes under pressure over lack of preparation.

'Once, a glimpse of Demi Moore's jugs could earn $266m for an awful film. Now you can see 'nipple slips' in the popular press'

Been there, seen that: Does sex still sell movies?

Tim Walker: Once, the sight of a Hollywood star's bottom or breasts was rare and exciting. Now they're all at it.

More Film Articles

No more reindeer jumpers: What to wear this Christmas

It isn't just your tree that should be well-dressed this Christmas, says Harriet Walker.

The Fashion Audit: 20/12/2010

Total lunar eclipse to mark winter solstice new

Southern parts of Britain may be able to view the initial partial phase and the beginning of totality tomorrow morning.

More Science News

South Korea ordered civilians on five border islands to take shelter ahead of a live-fire exercise

South Korea conducts live fire artillery drills new

South Korea launched the drills today despite North's threat of 'catastrophic retaliation' if they went ahead.

More Asia News

Twelve held following major anti-terror swoop new

The suspects, aged between 17 and 28, were detained by unarmed officers at approximately 5am.

More UK Crime News

Government details review of 'confused' gun laws new

Tighter restrictions on gun licences are needed, the Commons Home Affairs Select Committee said.

More UK News

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Forecast: No let-up as cold snap continues across UK

Icy weather kept a tight grip on the UK last night, while further snowfalls are forecast for today.

Bradley Manning, 23, has been in solitary confinement for seven months

No naps, and no clothes in bed: Manning's cell life

Private Manning, 23, has been kept in a cell six feet wide and 12 feet long, in solitary confinement.

Graeme Swann's bails are sent flying by Mitchell Johnson as England headed for defeat at the Waca yesterday

Ashes back in balance after England surrender their grasp

Australia 268 & 309 England 187 & 123: Australia complete last-morning demolition of tourists to regain the initiative in a series that had seemed to be beyond them.

Winging it: Collishaw in the shadow of his fluttering moths

Mat Collishaw: An artist in full flight

With shows at the V&A and his new gallery, one-time YBA Mat Collishaw has finally come of age

'It's not about how many pages. It's how good they are'

As Wikipedia celebrates 10 years as an unrivalled source of knowledge, its founder talks to Ian Burrell.

Stephen King: Policymakers have their work cut out as the West remains on life support

Outlook: Exports have picked up, but not as much as you'd expect given the support from 2008's sterling devaluation, while inflation has risen

A projector plays over the face of a Gambian boy at an event designed to raise awareness of child sex abuse in the country

Independent Appeal: Breaking the silence of Gambia's sex tourism

The tiny West African state has become a magnet for Western predators looking to abuse children. Simon Akam reports

i on today: Counting the cost of a white Christmas

i is brought to you by the award-winning team at The Independent for just 20p - and we want to hear from you

Hope for millions as brain study unlocks secrets of Alzheimer's

New ways of diagnosing and treating dozens of brain disorders could soon emerge from a pioneering study of the chemical and genetic makeup of the vital microscopic gaps between nerve cells that control all brain functions.

The wet set: a beaver gets ready for its close up in Scotland

Murky waters: Why are beavers being sent to the zoo?

Beavers are thriving in Scotland. So why are they being rounded up and sent to the zoo? Peter Marren explores what happens when legislation that is supposed to protect animals starts to take precedence over wildlife itself

IoS Appeal: Solar power frees thousands from risks

Children to be tested at six for reading ability

News follows revelation that 9% of boys had a reading age of seven or younger when leaving primary school.

Unions attack reading test for six-year-olds

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Carine Roitfeld, who is leaving French Vogue after 10 years as editor

It's so her last season – France's style queen quits

Given the notoriously icy "editrix" of US Vogue Anna Wintour once dismissed Sienna Miller as "toothy", it seems unlikely that she was crying into her designer water yesterday following the news that her fierce rival at French Vogue is to stand down.

A field hospital at Liverpool Street station helps provide medical care over the holidays for revellers who have imbibed too much and hurt themselves

War zone: the field hospital for sozzled City staff

Rob Hastings reports from the treatment room set up to deal with drunk City staff during Christmas.

Captain Beefheart: Influential singer who brought the avant garde to rock music before forging a successful career as a painter

"Enigmatic" and "idiosyncratic" are the default adjectives often used to define performers who fail to engage with the mainstream, but they do describe the American singer and composer Captain Beefheart most appositely.