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Democrats revolt over troop surge

Barack Obama faces a backlash this week when he is expected to announce he is sending 30,000 more troops to Afghanistan

Navy releases pirates caught red-handed

More than 340 suspected Somalian pirates have been captured in operations over the past year and subsequently released

• Pirates threaten to ‘punish’ British couple

• Last desperate message before pirate kidnap

Prince Charles named in £81m court battle

The Candy brothers want to call the Prince as a witness in a case in which they are suing the Qatari royal family

• Charles forces retreat over 'unsubtle' building

• Coup for Charles in the fight over Chelsea Barracks

Sport News  

Dawson strikes to send Spurs third

Aston Villa 1 Tottenham 1: sweet strike late on from defender ensures honours remain even at Villa Park

• Rooney hat-trick gives Grant plenty to chew on

• Rodallega puts Wigan back on course

Irish Lions get their revenge through Sexton's boot

Ireland 15 South Africa 10: young fly half kicks five penalties to beat Springboks who had led through a Schalk Burger try

• Ireland player ratings

• Unyielding O’Connell shows true courage

Davydenko shocks Federer at World Tour Finals

World No 1 suffers surprise exit in three sets as Russian sets up a meeting in the final with Juan Martin del Potro

Business news  

Abu Dhabi rides in to rescue Dubai

Wealthy neighbour promises no blank cheque but says it will help the debt-laden Gulf state on a 'case by case basis'

Tycoon blocks Archie Norman from M&B job

Trader Joe Lewis has blocked the appointment of ITV's new boss as chairman of the pub group Mitchells & Butlers

• ITV announces Archie Norman as new chairman

• Change at the top of Mitchells & Butlers

Darling to nurture ‘fragile’ economic rally

The chancellor will present a 'neutral' pre-budget report, without major tax rises or measures to curb public spending

Comment  

Bling Central loses its sparkle

Dubai's property boom was so absurd that its imminent implosion was evident to everyone — except, of course, the bankers

• Rod Liddle

Hospitals may be bad but our regulators are worse

NHS policies bring to mind an interfering child with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder

• Minette Marrin

Cameron’s tactical Blond moment

The Conservative leader is genuinely anxious to counter Labour’s charge that he leads a gang of hard-faced Thatcherites

• Martin Ivens

Life and Style  

After lunch we’ll save the planet

For decades we’ve been lobbied by environmentalists to change our lives and our habits. What difference does it make?

Ofsted’s hidden cult of failure

A whistleblower tells how her fellow inspectors fret more over pupils’ lunch boxes than their literacy

The feelgood factor

Help the homeless, give free hugs, donate to charities or simply be nice — a wave of generosity is sweeping the country

Arts & Entertainment  

Janet Jackson: the sister acts up

The littlest of the Jackson siblings is back in the limelight. Janet talks parents, politics, Michael — oh, and music

Zac Efron gets serious with Orson Welles

The young American star of the billion-dollar High School Musical series, explains why he is now acting with Orson Welles

Keira Knightley takes on the West End

Keira Knightley's first West End role is a smart choice: a glamorous young actress. So why does she feel queasy about it?