A storm in a tea shop?

Pressure mounts to drop charges against non-violent protesters

It started with a peaceful protest in Fortnum & Mason. Then came the mass arrests. Now five cases have been dropped, and the pressure to drop 139 more is starting to look irresistible. Sarah Morrison reports.

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Petra Kvitova of the Czech Republic holds up the Championship trophy

Kvitova outguns Sharapova to take Wimbledon title

21-year-old Czech, a semi-finalist at the All England Club last year, produced a brilliant display of power hitting.

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Fear and loving: Two-edged charm of the snake

Death of a cobra-lover has highlighted the passion some feel for serpents. Michael Bywater tries to explain.

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Beyond Britpop: Whatever happened to the class of '95?

What happened to the musicians who defined the Nineties?

First Night: Cornbury Festival, Great Tew Park, Oxfordshire

Two million Americans have been tuning in to watch Casey Anthony (left) at the Orange County Courthouse in Orlando, where she is accused of smothering her daughter Caylee (right)

Watched by millions - final act of a courtroom tragedy

Guy Adams: Televising the trial of a mother accused of child murder threatens to tip the scales of justice.

More Americas News

HSE boss slams 'daft' use of rules

Misguided "jobsworths" are 'robbing children of fun and learning' by over zealous application of safety laws.

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Gaddafi threatens to strike Europe

Libya could target offices and homes in retaliation for Nato attacks.

Syria defies Assad with largest protests so far

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Roy Whiting, who was convicted of murdering schoolgirl Sarah Payne

Sarah Payne killer attacked in prison

The man convicted of murdering schoolgirl Sarah Payne has been attacked by a fellow inmate in prison, sources said today.

Former IMF director Dominique Strauss-Kahn and wife Anne Sinclair yesterday

Sex case against Strauss-Kahn is close to collapse, say lawyers

The sex assault case against Dominique Strauss-Kahn appeared to be hanging by a thread last night after a judge freed him from house arrest when doubt was cast on the credibility of his alleged victim.

Rafael Nadal celebrates reaching the Wimbledon final with victory over Andy Murray yesterday

Brilliant Nadal fights back to extinguish Murray's hopes

Briton takes first set to sting Spaniard into action. Djokovic awaits in tomorrow's final

Justine Frischmann, photographed at her studio near San Francisco. She says: 'I was never that comfortable in the spotlight'

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What happened to the musicians who defined the Nineties?

Vegas has now retired from stand-up. 'I am too happy,' he says

Johnny Vegas: 'I never liked being the centre of attention'

Fiona Sturges shares a drink or three with comedian and actor Johnny Vegas.

Gloomy future looms as manufacturing hits a dip

A sharp slowdown in domestic and export demand has pushed business sentiment in the manufacturing sector to its lowest level since the recession's depths in September 2009.

Ed Miliband replayed the same words to each question he was asked by ITV journalist Damon Green, over and over again

The 'Miliband Loop' leaves Labour leader looking like a robot

It has become known as the "Miliband Loop", the robotic interview technique adopted by the Labour leader on television news when attempting to communicate his disapproval of Thursday's mass walkout.

Japan is eager to see the moratorium on commercial whaling lifted

UK leads battle to clean up whaling commission

Japan accused of buying support of IWC members with aid and bribery.

Coalition scraps national network of charging points for electric cars

Among women taking anti-estrogen drugs, there were 87 percent fewer deaths from lung cancer.

CT scans cut lung cancer deaths by 20%: study

Current or former heavy smokers screened with low-dose CT scans experienced a 20 percent reduction in lung cancer deaths compared to those screened using chest X-rays, a US study found Wednesday.

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Philip Roth stayed away from the Man Booker ceremony

Roth's rift with Booker judges fails to reach a happy ending

Rarely has a relationship between prize-winner and receiver been as fraught as the one between Philip Roth and the judges of the Man Booker International award.

Babes up in arms: some of the children unable to attend school who joined their parents and teachers the streets of cities including London, Birmingham, Manchester, Leeds and Liverpool yesterday

In pictures: Protesting pupils

For some precociously political tots, a bit of public sector striking was transformed into a fun-filled family day out – one with a serious message, of course.