Our taste for haute cuisine and fine wine is nothing new, writes The Independent's Ferdinand Mount.

The late designer's assistant Sarah Burton has been named creative director of the Alexander McQueen label.

Venus Williams has been playing at the French Open in a revealing black lace dress with a plunging neckline and bright red straps.

Kevin Pilley follows in the footsteps of the creator of genteel supersleuth Miss Marple.

A pair of primary school boys yesterday became two of the youngest sex offenders in Britain after being found guilty of the attempted rape of an eight-year-old girl.

A visit to a tiger sanctuary and a beer-infused sauna are all in a day's work for the 51st Traverse team.

The singer's wife allegedly discovered he had been having an affair with a backing dancer after finding text messages on a secret phone.

Givenchy struggled to reinvent itself for over a decade, but today - with Riccardo Tisci at the helm - the designer label is experiencing its finest moment in years.

Apple shares soared 40,000 per cent and traded at US$100,000 apiece during the 'flash crash' of 6 May.

A scathing assessment of the British polling day chaos has found more than 1,000 voters were prevented from casting their ballot.

Last year, 76 per cent of British adults surveyed said they thought it was appropriate to run advertisements offering help for those dealing with unplanned pregnancies.

Their fans range from skinheads to fashion models - and more than 100 million pairs have been sold worldwide since they made their debut. Ralph Miller and Susie Mesure salute Dr Martens boots as they celebrate their half-century.

The first television advert for abortion services in the UK is to be aired next week, prompting anger from anti-abortion groups.

US shares fell overnight as Germany said it would ban a type of short selling of shares in 10 big financial firms.

Questioned about the the appeal of 'crossover' artists, Dame Kiri said: 'You insult me by even wanting to bring it into this conversation'.

Hugh Grant 'virtually has a bedroom' at the house Hurley shares with her husband Arun Nayar and son Damian, the actress told Zest magazine.