Get Closer

If he looks like a cop, it's a problem

The police want to be independent of politicians; the important thing is to be independent of each other

• Daniel Finkelstein

One crisis + 33 ministers = indecision

Gordon Brown has moved a lot of chairs around but seems to have found answers harder to come by

• Alice Miles

Why you can bet that a good read will be truly bad

Epic poetry can be racist, European novels sexist and sadistic. If it's politically correct, it's probably not great literature

• Andy Martin

Columnists 

Getting a green light for feeling good

I've found a new sense of freedom as a cyclist obeying the lights and signs

• Robert Crampton

Don't worry, things could still get better

A leading scientist argues that evolution is over. But Man's ingenuity may yet improve the species

• Magnus Linklater

Thank you, Mr Putin, for your becoming modesty

The habit of naming streets and buildings after leaders or philanthropists is a bad one

• Melanie McDonagh

Leading articles

Banking on Confidence

This is the time for bold steps, not timidity. The Bank of England must cut interest rates this week by a full percentage point

Cold Comfort

Iceland is now paying for its global spending spree

Judo Practice

Vladimir Putin sees sport as the continuation of politics by other means

Join the Debate 

Pat, his black and white cat (and stunt bike)

Show update sees Postman Pat moved to a high-tech sorting office

42-day detention bill dropped as unworkable

Government set for an humiliating climbdown over the proposal after being told that it will be defeated in the House of Lords

Paulson ploy may not work

There are plenty of signs that the credit crunch has spread out of finance into the real economy as more companies lay off workers

• A new energy era dawns - yet again

• Heavy going for Tote sale

Faith 

Religious leaders draw up Ten Blogging Commandments

Honour your fellow-bloggers and don't get too upset by their mistakes, says advice drawn from 'Godblogs' conference

CoE accused of hypocrisy over use of short selling

Liberal think-tank Ekklesia says CoE was involved in short-selling the pound to guard against rises in other currencies

Tibetan monks beaten by Chinese police

At least four monks have been hospitalised after an eruption of violence at a hotspot of anti-Chinese unrest

‘Ancient’ amulet is a modern hoax

A silver cross regarded as one of the most important early Christian artefacts found in Britain is a modern fake

Obituaries 

Justin Dukes

Media executive who helped to launch the international edition of the Financial Times and was pivotal in the creation of Channel 4

Oliver Crawford

Blacklisted Hollywood writer who went on to create episodes of Star Trek

Eric Longworth

Character actor who originated the role of the town clerk in Dad’s Army