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France foils UK to secure EU finance job

In blow to British policy, former French foreign minister handed EU's key internal market and financial services job

Berlusconi faces new bribery trial hearing

The case in which the Italian Prime Minister is accused of paying David Mills $600,000 will start again from the beginning

Merkel colleague resigns over Afghan deaths

Franz Josef Jung, who was defence minister last September, 'took responsibility' for cover up of civilian deaths

Business news  

4,000 UK jobs to go as Threshers stores close

Administrators have been unable to sell almost 800 stores owned by First Quench , which include the Bottoms Up brand

National Express thwarts rebels in vote

Investors in the transport group vote overwhelmingly in favour of a rights issue to raise £350m to pay down debt

• National Express to hold rail franchise until 2011

• Cosmens swoop on National Express shares

Rail offers London to Madrid in eight hours

Spain and France are preparing for a new train service between their capitals, but there may be construction delays

Sport News  

Grant confident of avoiding relegation

Portsmouth manager will draw on his experience with a struggling Chelsea team to try and revive fortunes at Fratton Park

• Portsmouth need Grant to be their special one

• Ferguson backs Grant to save Portsmouth

It's crucial we stand united, says Torres

The Spanish striker, who is fighting to be fit for this weekend’s Merseyside derby, has given Rafael Benitez his full backing

• Neville says Liverpool deserved to go out

• Merseyside rivals forced to confront home truths

Farce reigns in race for last four as Murray bows out

Briton is eliminated on complicated mathematical tie-breaker despite his victory over Fernando Verdasco in three sets

Comment  

We have kit and leadership. Let’s go

The war in Afghanistan will not be won with tanks but by the side that brings security to the people

• Richard Beeston

Behind the scenes at the biggest deal

For all the corridor plotting the best hope is a fudge. After Copenhagen we’ll turn to wackier solutions

• Tony Brenton

Film premieres can damage your soul

First nights are a savage measure of your celebrity worth. That’s why I’ve just been to my last one

• Frank Skinner

Life and Style  

Celebrity Watch: Jedward move downward

Who’s up and who’s down in Celebrity Watch, the barometer of fickle fame. Kate Moss is up this week, along with Amy Winehouse

21 top tips for Christmas

Secret tips and favourite recipes for the holiday season from the country’s greatest foodies

Maybe it's time for men's lib

It's a dire time for the stronger sex. Men are in the firing line of sexism, too, so please stop the ‘dorking down’

Arts & Entertainment  

Is race opera’s final frontier?

For the first time in the UK, a black tenor is performing as Otello. So is opera now colour-blind, asks Neil Fisher

Sasha Grey: from porn star to leading star

Sasha Gray, the youngest person to win the Adult Video News Awards’ Female Performer of the Year award, goes mainstream

The single is born again thanks to downloading

The 7in single was cheap, cheerful and hugely popular. Now it is again, thanks to a world hooked on downloads