top stories

British Horseracing Authority offers whip rules olive branch to RSPCA

• Racing's rulers respond to damning verdict on changes
• Two meetings lined up to try and patch up differences




Web crash after Italian ministers list Vespa and Harley-Davidson as assets

Online register overwhelmed as Mario Monti's cabinet members detail their income and assets following transparency drive




Syrian regime's bombardment of Homs goes on with at least 80 more dead

Residents of besieged city say they are preparing for final onslaught as tanks columns further bolster regime positions




Premier League vows to clamp down on internet racism

Clubs will work with specialist police officers to tackle racist and homophobic abuse on forums and social networking sites





 
 
 
features

The shock index: is giving the finger still offensive?

First MIA, and now Adele – flipping the bird seems to be all the rage for female pop singers. But has the gesture lost its power to shock?




Muslim student monitored by the NYPD: 'It just brings everything home'

City University student Jawad Rasul was shocked to learn his name was mentioned in a 2008 police report – but he is just one of scores of Muslim students under the eye of the NYPD




Notes and queries: How can people tell when I'm looking at them?

Plus: More favourite last lines from novels; who could join Worzel Gummidge in the movies?




New band of the day – JD McPherson (No 1,213)

There's a whole lotta shakin' goin' on in JD McPherson's world. Not surprising given he refuses to let anything created since 1958 impinge on it





 
 
 
Politics

A4e was forced to repay public money

Four former employees have been arrested at welfare-to-work company A4e, whose chair is adviser to David Cameron




RBS plans to pay £400m in bonuses

Royal Bank of Scotland is expected to reveal a loss of £2bn after the eurozone crisis hit the performance of its investment bank




Premier League vows to clamp down on internet racism

Clubs will work with specialist police officers to tackle racist and homophobic abuse on forums and social networking sites





 
 
 
Business

Cove Energy bosses face windfall after Shell's takeover bid

Royal Dutch Shell's offer values Cove Energy at £992m




HSBC issues new shares to meet bonus payments

HSBC is issuing £1.7bn of new shares to meet bonus payouts and awards to its 300,000 staff ahead of the publication of its full year results on Monday




Hays records £3m loss in UK as bank recruiting slows down

Global slowdown in financial sector not enough to prevent recruitment company's overall profits rising 24% to £60m





 
 
 
Culture

London 2012 brings public art to East End

A project by the people behind Frieze art fair will see silver doorknobs and inflatable sculptures displayed by Olympic host boroughs




The perils of the Oscar red carpet interview

Highly policed and choreographed, yet prone to mishap and mismatch, the red carpet moment should be given more prominence at the Academy Awards





 
 
 
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