Thousands of dollars have been raised in just a few hours for a Palestinian refugee in Beirut after a photo of him trying to sell pens while holding his sleeping daughter went viral online.

A misunderstanding between a baker in Lanarkshire and a customer led to the strangest cake topping you’ll ever see.

British cinemagoers are guaranteed an eyeful after censors passed the film version of Fifty Shades of Grey without any cuts.

Benedict Cumberbatch last night apologised for referring to "coloured actors" on US television, saying he had been an idiot. The Sherlock star was criticised after using the phrase on a debate on the lack of diversity on British screens.

Anti-racism campaigners have criticised Benedict Cumberbatch after he used the word “coloured” on US television.

Andy Murray has hailed his new look team after getting off to a flying start in 2015.

The outgoing head of UK regulator Ofcom has accused government representatives of showing favouritism to Rupert Murdoch’s companies.

Europe must form a group of specialists ready to tackle outbreaks like ebola, the man who discovered the disease almost 40 years ago has said.

Public libraries in the UK are facing an “absolute disaster” and should try to emulate coffee shops, the author of an independent report into the service has said.

Liam Neeson is writing a movie script with Bono.

Doctor Who fans listen up… Jenna Coleman is rumoured to be saying goodbye to the Tardis.

The sparkler has fallen to the Earth somewhere in Lincolnshire - and whoever finds it gets to keep it.

Wait, that's 94 euros. What?!

Google Glass may have launched in the UK, but not everyone is happy to see the device go on sale, with some UK cinemas banning the headset during screenings over fears wearers could illegally record movies.

Well, no. No they didn’t. Funny story though…

Parents should be banned from smacking children, according to the Children’s Commissioner for England.

Scores of young bookworms packed Cork City Library yesterday to hear international best-selling author Darren Shan read from his latest book.

Katie Price worries fame is having a negative effect on her children.

Fallen British television personality Michael Barrymore has spoken of how he reached rock bottom and came close to killing himself after being branded a murderer after a man was found dead in his swimming pool.

The Rolling Stones pranced, swaggered, and laughed through the first of five concerts, marking their golden jubilee with a performance that critics said put paid to questions over ticket costs.

The Press Ombudsman has upheld a complaint against the Irish Independent for breaching the code of practice for Newspapers and Magazines.

A South Nottinghamshire Conservative MP tasked with investigating the Libor rate-rigging scandal said she and her fellow politicians were "useless" in uncovering the truth behind the affair.

Former Chelsea boss Andre Villas-Boas is in no rush to decide on his next move.

The organisers of the British Grand National are being criticised by animal rights campaigners over safety.

David Cameron’s revelation that he hosted private Downing Street meals for Tory donors has sparked calls for an independent inquiry into “cash for access” claims and urgent party funding reform.

AFTER Christmas I’ve got a whole stack of cook books with lots of tantalising recipes to try — so much talent out there.

Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini has revealed bringing the club in line with UEFA's financial fair play regulations was the reason for the acquisition of Owen Hargreaves.

FIFA's head of security has warned young footballers are being "trafficked" by gambling syndicates intent on fixing the outcome of matches.

FORMER News of the World editor Rebekah Brooks yesterday became the most high-profile casualty of the phone-hacking scandal, quitting as chief executive of News International.

Press freedom in Britain could be threatened as a result of the phone hacking scandal, newspaper boss Evgeny Lebedev has warned.

A poll of golf writers at this week’s Ryder Cup overwhelmingly points to Europe winning back the trophy on Sunday.

A GOVERNMENT fund intended to provide subsidised heating to low-income Britons got some interest from an unexpected source: Queen Elizabeth II, who wanted help paying the bills at Buckingham Palace.

Independent News and Media has today reported a 29.2% increase in operating profit for the six months ended 30 June to €94.6m.

Gordon Brown will attempt to lift himself for the third and final prime ministerial debate today after offering a grovelling apology for branding a pensioner “bigoted”.

KENNETH CLARKE yesterday issued a dramatic warning that Britain could have to be bailed out by the International Monetary Fund if the general election results in a hung parliament.

Preparations were today under way for the return to the UK of former hostage Peter Moore after his release yesterday from two and a half years of captivity in Iraq.

An all-British line-up at McLaren next season could move closer to reality today with Jenson Button locked in talks to become Lewis Hamilton’s team-mate.

TELECOM billionaire Denis O’Brien will try to unseat the chairman of Independent News & Media at a showdown general meeting of the company’s shareholders on November 3.

Manchester City are the latest Premier League club to come under scrutiny over the acquisition of young players with Rennes confirming they have referred the signing of Jeremy Helan to FIFA.

RUSSIAN billionaire and one-time KGB spy, Alexander Lebedev, is understood to be locked in advanced talks to buy London-based The Independent and the Independent on Sunday.

Europe will win a fourth straight Ryder Cup at Valhalla – but by nothing like the nine-point winning margins experienced in the last two contests.

Kicking Gordon Brown out of Number 10 would not save the British Government from electoral meltdown – even though his popularity is at an all-time low, according to a poll tonight.

British prime minister Gordon Brown has come under further pressure today following the publication of a new poll.

Chelsea legend Gianfranco Zola has admitted he expects to return to the club “sooner or later” in a coaching or managerial capacity.