MORE NEWS

Snow returns as Britain goes back to work

Motoring groups expecting thousands of breakdowns this morning as car engines fail to start in the sub-zero temperatures

Children 'reaching 3 without saying a word'

A significant minority of British children, particularly boys, are struggling to learn to speak, leading to later problems

Mortgage rates likely to increase this year

Banks and building societies are expected to offer a wider variety of loans while coming under pressure to pass on higher costs

Sport News  

Stoic England rebuild after flurry of wickets

England are four wickets down in reply to South Africa's total of 291 on the second morning of the third Test at Newlands

• South Africa v England: live with Hawk-Eye

Taylor summons his powers to master Whitlock

Fifteenth world title is claimed after a titanic battle with impressive Australian that belies 6-2 scoreline

Eduardo and Ramsey lead Arsenal fightback

West Ham 1 Arsenal 2: two goals in five minutes late in second half turns game in favour of Arsene Wenger's team

Business news  

Novartis pays $40bn to buy Alcon eye care

Swiss drugs group takes full control of its domestic rival from Nestle in a bumper cash and shares deal

New year gains for London shares

Commodity stocks buoyed by crude rising above $80 a barrel and copper mine strike in Chile

Northern Rock splits as suitors circle

Restructuring of the state-owned bank is formally completed as potential bidders mull over their approaches

Comment  

Why the sea eagle has no right to land here

This is not about returning birds to ancestral homelands — it’s a costly gimmick to promote meddling ‘conservationists’

• Libby Purves

We’re picking up the bill for right-to-buy

It’s folly that taxpayers pay for poor families to live in luxury homes. We need more social housing

• Ross Clark

Belching cows can help to rescue our planet

The prodigious methane output of cattle is bad for the environment. But grazing on grass will soak up carbon

• Graham Harvey

Life and Style  

Children 'reaching 3 without saying a word'

A significant minority of British children, particularly boys, are struggling to learn to speak, leading to later problems

Dr Mark Porter: a prescription for better living in 2010

A 12-point guide to the pursuit of happiness: become less self-conscious and more motivated in 2010 with these steps

Urban flocks: Brighton’s new shepherds

As shepherds watch their flocks by street light, Brighton and Hove Council is using sheep to save its grassy downlands

Arts & Entertainment  

Disney’s great leap backward

Computers had all but killed off hand-drawn animation; magically, The Princess and the Frog has given it the kiss of life

The landmark buildings shaping the next decade

Cultural construction projects are booming despite the recession; so which landmark buildings will shape the next decade?

Can tweeting make comedians wittier?

The 140-character limit on Twitter allows comedy writers like Peter Serafinowicz and Graham Linehan to hone their skills