The Observer: Main section

Sunday 11 October 2009

Gordon Brown dismisses fears about vision in his functioning eye

Minor tears in the retina are nothing to be worried about, says Downing Street
David Miliband in fresh attack on Tory links to far right

Hague condemned over Polish ally

Mentally ill Briton faces execution for smuggling heroin into China

Lawyers warn that Akmal Shaikh, 53, who has delusional psychosis, could be shot dead in jail after reports that his second appeal has failed

Overturn mobile phone ban in schools, urges union chief

Pupils should reap the benefits of modern technology and not be punished for using it, says union chief
Paisley family denies he refused to shake Cherie Blair's hand

Wife of former PM claims ex-DUP leader rebuffed her because of her Catholic faith

How Gordon Brown's loss of an eye informs his view of the world

Following a check-up at Moorfields Eye Hospital, Gordon Brown is again facing questions over his health and well-being

Call to legalise World Cup sex trade

Fear of spread of HIV infection among football fans sparks demand for registration of South African prostitutes

Early starts for the children desperate to pass their 11-plus

Fears of widening class divide as parents pay private tutors to help their children win a grammar school place

Scotland Yard faces criticism by two inquiries for its raid on MP's office

Arrest of Damian Green should have been handled differently
More than 30 arrests during race protests

More than 30 people arrested after thousands of demonstrators took to the streets in rival race protests in Manchester
Kenya agrees to reopen Julie Ward death case

Scotland Yard convinces Nairobi police for a new inquiry into the murder of British tourist while she was on safari in Kenya 21 years ago

Swine flu vaccine supplier has to pay back millions

US pharmaceutical giant Baxter accused of overcharging Medicaid programmes

Tories plan flexible pensions

Retirement pots could be raided under scheme to encourage savings culture
Rogue satellites to be cleared from Earth's orbit by German robots

German-built robots are to be sent into Earth's orbit to repair 'dead satellites' or push them into outer space
Mother is refused wine at Morrisons – in case daughter, 17, drinks it

Supermarket condemned over interpretation of rules on alcohol sales to young people

Is Michal Kaminski fit to lead the Tories in Europe?

Polish leader's views on massacre of Jews during second world war raise more questions for Cameron's party

Charles Haughey 'used RUC bugs to spy on political opponents'

New book says future taoiseach boasted in 1970s that the gadgets 'changed the course of Irish political history'
Shark fin ban ends cruel slaughter

Ministers act to close a loophole in EU law that lets fishermen mutilate rare species and dump them in the sea to die

Charity shops hit by soaring thefts

Volunteer staff and poor security exploited by crooks to loot tens of thousands of pounds-worth of goods a week

Labour 'machine' parachutes ideal candidates into safe seats

Downing Street accused of manipulating the selection process for parliamentary candidates
Ashes will return to terrestrial TV

Review of leading sporting events recommends making England-Australia Test matches free-to-air
England v Ukraine online: weird, pricey, and ends in defeat

Caspar Llewellyn Smith spent £11.99 to see the World Cup qualifier online. He needn't have bothered

Millions will starve as rich nations cut food aid funding, warns UN

Aid agencies fear global disaster as support for World Food Programme hits 20-year low

Google digital library plan opposed by Angela Merkel

German chancellor says internet firm's attempt to put every book ever written online is a risk to copyright protection
Lawyer's £5m battle over ruined career

Barrister 'unable to work for 16 years' sues former head of Law Society for negligence

Biometric tests for Olympic site workers

Hand and iris recognition scanners to be used in bid to secure 2012 Games complex
Churches defy writers over schools vetting

Religious leaders back the new Independent Safeguarding Authority