The odd expletive escapes most people's mouths in times of stress, but when we fall back on swear words just for effect, asks Clive James, have we really just run out of ideas?

Some of the influential figures in the struggle to shape Afghanistan's future.

Weekly round-up of gossip from Westminster.

Sir Salman Rushdie's 1981 novel, Midnight's Children, is to be made into a movie by the prominent director Deepa Mehta.

A US election night guide to check what will be happening when and what to look out for.

Forget super-rich baddies who seek to destroy the world with a death ray. Boring! Money is losing its cache and even failing to recycle properly leads to accusations of destroying the world, says Clive James.

Neuronomics is a new discipline in which researchers study the brain, hormones and nervous system in search of an explanation of our behaviour as investors and shoppers.

The Smurfs celebrate their 50th birthday this week with a feature-length movie and new television series in the making. But what makes the blue goblin-like creatures so popular?

Republican vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin plays it safe as a comedy sidekick during her eagerly awaited appearance on the hit US comedy show, Saturday Night Live.

A US impersonator's parodies of Alaska governor Sarah Palin are becoming a hot election issue, the BBC's Rajini Vaidyanathan reports.

Chancellor Alistair Darling says the government will do whatever necessary to maintain stability of the financial system as shares slide worldwide.

Names, phone numbers, directions - it can be a struggle to remember. Digital technology could soon make forgetfulness a thing of the past, but do we really want that?

Hollywood actor Josh Hartnett makes his West End debut in a stage adaptation of the Oscar-winning film Rain Man.

Europe battle back to 9-7 against the United States after the second day of the Ryder Cup.

From a commodity hunted for its bone and blubber to a potent symbol of the environment, the whale has long held value. And the 150-year-old novel Moby-Dick is remarkably prescient about its fate, says writer Philip Hoare.

Over the years, a variety of unorthodox predictors have emerged to signal that a company is heading for financial trouble.

The "biggest club in the world" eyes up Ronaldo

Researchers in the US say they have solved the mystery of why flies are so hard to swat.

Rain strikes eight balls into England's chase of 197 on the fourth day of the final Test, play ending early with the total 0-0.

Scottish champions Celtic launch the defence of their SPL title with a controversial 1-0 win at home to St Mirren.