Ian Black: The opening of a new retail empire in London is sublime timing for students of paradox

Decca Aitkenhead: Former MI5 chief, Stella Rimington, talks about Iraq, 9/11, and why the secret service is much more liberal than we think

Demonstrations great the Muslim convert breaking 1,500 years of tradition by delivering Friday sermon

Literary agent discovers new unpublished work by dead Chilean writer

Anne Enright on the cliché of writer as rebel and the idea that children curb one's creative flow

When the signs of recovery come, will Gordon Brown make way for a novice?

Leader: Sachin Tendulkar became Test cricket's leading run-scorer, exceeding the 11,953 runs made by Brian Lara

Thomas Murphy, one of Ireland's leading smugglers, forced to pay back money gained as 'proceeds of crime'

More violence expected in Acre as police arrest another three people in connection with recent disturbances

Former Finnish president Martti Ahtisaari warns Serbia must eventually accept new Balkan state

State funeral of Austria's most controversial politician begs the question - is European fascism on the rise?

Iran's eccentric bid to make world's biggest-ever ostrich sandwich in jeopardy after chaotic scenes

São Paulo police striking for better pay fight pitched battle with colleagues in city streets

Self-sufficiency beckons for communist state as estimate places oil reserves on a par with US

Savings bank Caisse d'Epargne suffers major loss after unauthorized equity derivatives trading

All over Roanoke Virginia, people are preparing for Barack Obama's visit

Plans for a €20m (£16m) footpath and plush lodges in Mercantour have sparked controversy

Leader of the Italian opposition calls for the resignation of minister over alleged mobster collaboration

Arms giant accused of fraud over Saudi deals asinternational monitors put UK ministers in dock

In an interview with the Guardian, Stella Rimington calls attack on the US 'another terrorist incident'