Business news 

Nationwide prepares to merge

Britain's biggest building society says that it was in advanced talks with the Derbyshire and the Cheshire building societies

Green gives warning of 'double dip'

In an interview with The Times, the Bhs and Topshop billionaire said that price increases were inevitable in non-food products

• Philip Green: 'I am an educated risk-taker'

• Green predicts a record year for Topshop

It is no time to retire as gloom deepens

Nearly one in three people are postponing retirement because they cannot afford to stop working amid economic uncertainty

Sport News 

Hamilton stripped of Belgian Grand Prix victory

The McLaren driver is demoted to third after stewards handed him a 25-second post-race penalty following a clash with Kimi Raikkonen

• Brilliant Hamilton wins Belgian Grand Prix

• Kimi Raikkonen trailing in the shadows

Ferdinand in race to be fit for Croatia

Fabio Capello has told the defender that he must pass a fitness test on Monday if he is to play on Wednesday

Bilic faces trouble for courting West Ham

Croatia manager is accused of putting himself forward for vacant post while preparing national team for England match

Comment 

Take an evening class in failure

As the financial climate worsens, breadwinners who face ruin need lessons in survival

• Libby Purves

This culture clash is drowning out the issues

The four contenders for the White House each represent a different America. Which can win over the swing voters?

• William Rees-Mogg

Bad building, not heavy rain, made houses flood

If we persist in covering land with concrete and tarmac, we must expect more devastated homes

• Ross Clark

Life & Style 

Agent Provocateur's steamy new campaign

Bacchanalia and bras? It must be the company's new lingerie campaign, inspired by orgies, sacrifice and classic paintings

The return of the teddy bear

The teddy is having a fashion moment and Karl Lagerfeld has made one in his own image. We talk to him about his teddy

No longer a bag slave

The It-bag moment is officially over. The trouble is, nobody has told my bag. Shane Watson explores a co-dependency

Arts & Entertainment 

Was Alfred Hitchcock a misogynist?

As we begin a week of free Alfred Hitchcock DVDs, John Russell Taylor asks was the director a woman-hater?

Thandie Newton on becoming Condi Rice

She’s the British queen of Hollywood, but will America love or hate Thandie Newton’s portrayal of Condoleezza Rice?

Jessica Hynes takes on The Norman Conquests

Her fellow Spaced stars have found movie fame. But Jessica Hynes assures Ed Potton she wants to forge her own future