72 minutes ago Snow chaos as Storm Bert blasts across UK as Met Office maps show rare amber warnings

Brits are facing major travel disruption as Storm Bert barrells in with heavy snow and rain disrupting flights and posing 'multiple hazards' up and down the country

Events

88 minutes ago Unseen Barbara Hepworth letters reveal ‘recipes’ for sculptures – and her high standards

A cache of notes that will be auctioned this week include the artist’s instructions to her bronze foundry and show how deeply involved she was with the casting process Barbara Hepworth’s stone and bronze sculptures are recognised around the world for their distinct, curved forms. The oval alabasters and gleaming bronzes, punctured with holes and lozenge-like gaps, were all made in contrasting tones and surfaces, creating a new aesthetic.Now, Hepworth’s unseen letters to the London foundry owner who made many of her bronze pieces offer a revelatory new guide to her work. The bundle of letters and draft sketches, which cover a decade of work and will be sold for the first time this week, also reveal the exacting standards of this pioneering woman, hailed as one of Britain’s most important...

Politics

88 minutes ago 'I visited Costa Blanca's most unique town – one thing took my breath away'

There's a rather unique town north of Benidorm on the Costa Blanca that many Brits have made their home thanks to its stunning scenery and breathtaking coastline

Politics

92 minutes ago Rafael Nadal makes first move after tennis retirement as statement is released

Rafael Nadal has wasted no time in making a major move just days after retiring from tennis with his hotel chain, ZEL Born, announcing a new location for one of their hotels

Politics

96 minutes ago Laos government ‘saddened’ by suspected poisoning deaths and is investigating

Simone White is one of six people who have died after the incident in Laos last week.

Events

1 hour ago ANDREW NEIL: As Russia's threats grow more chilling, my three radical steps to make us PUTIN

Even for this government there was something particularly cack-handed about announcing cuts to our defence capabilities on the same day British-made missiles hit Russia.

Politics

2 hours ago UK weather: Storm Bert strikes as roads close, trains and ferries are cancelled with blizzards bringing up to 16 inches of snow

Rail companies are urging passengers to avoid travelling to certain areas and warned of reduced services as weather warnings and flood alerts have come into effect.

Events

2 hours ago Amanda Holden flashes toned midriff in dazzling crop top as she wows on red carpet

Britain's Got Talent judge Amanda Holden strutted her stuff at the Royal Variety Performance, looking exceptional in a glittering mint green-coloured ensemble

Politics

2 hours ago British Airways crew member 'facing the sack' after leaking flight info about Liam Payne's body

A British Airways stewardess has reportedly been suspended after she told followers she had been on the same flight that was used to repatriate Liam Payne's body from Argentina

Politics

2 hours ago Haruki Murakami: ‘My books have been criticised so much over the years, I don’t pay much attention’

As his new novel is published, the acclaimed author discusses complexity, writing female characters and meeting his fans• Read about the rise of Japanese fiction in BritainThe City and Its Uncertain Walls is based on a novella you wrote in 1980. Why was it important to give it a new audience now? That work is the only one I’ve ever written that I never allowed to be reprinted in book form. To put it another way, I just wasn’t satisfied with the story. I thought its theme was very important but unfortunately I lacked the writing skills at the time to convey it in the way I’d hoped to. I decided to bide my time, until I’d acquired the necessary skill set as a writer, and only then do a complete rewrite of the story.In the interim, though, I had lots of other work I wanted to undertake and...

Culture