Work starts on creation of new Dubai island

Work began on Monday on the development of a man-made island in Dubai, 500 metres directly opposite the Jumeirah Beach Residence complex. To be known as Bluewaters Island, the new development will house five star hotels and resorts, al fresco dining and entertainment zones, and residential apartments and villas. The focal point of the island city, which will cost $1.6 billion, will be a 688 ...

Flickr unveils new redesign as Marissa Mayer promises the site will be awesome again

Marissa Mayer, CEO of Yahoo, said the redesign includes a new interface based around high-resolution photographs and a terabyte of storage for each user, equating to 537,731 photos at 6.5 megapixels each.Mayer said "you can take all the pictures ever taken and upload them to Flickrand there would [still be room]."Yahoo purchased Flickr in 2005 as the site became increasingly ...

Police investigate historic abuse claims at school linked to Cyril Smith

Sir Cyril Smith was chairman of governors at Knowl View school: the latest allegations are not thought to involve the former MP. Photograph: PA Archive/Press Association ...

Gay marriage is a detox symbol for Cameron but is it worth the trouble

gay marriage bill from his own wreckers, as he did later in the day. Why? Because Labour supports the measure and to vote otherwise would be mere tactics. Impatient voters nowadays do not like mere party tactics."I believe the job of the opposition is to oppose. Any opportunity to humiliate Cameron's government and help bring it down should be taken," countered my strongly ...

Iain Banks posts new update to fans on his cancer

announced his diagnosis with gall bladder cancer in April, has posted another update to fans, in which he ruminates on everything from his new car to the possibility of chemotherapy.The bestselling Scottish novelist has been the recipient of an outpouring of goodwill and support from his readers since he told them in early April that he was "officially very poorly". In ...