Sport News 

City launch £50 million bid for Buffon

The Juventus and Italy goalkeeper could be set to arrive at City of Manchester Stadium in new year for world-record fee

England must learn lessons to deny Springboks

Martin Johnson's men need to remain composed and get the basics right to prevent South Africa claiming a coveted scalp

Ryan Sidebottom ruled out with back injury

The left-arm swing bowler underwent a further scan and will not play in tomorrow's one-dayer against India

Business news 

Woolworths staring at collapse

The management of the high-street chain could call in the administrators within days unless they can secure a rescue deal

25,000 jobs go in a week, and there's more

The 'headline' unemployment figure is likely to rise from 1.82m in September to more than two million by the year’s end

Citigroup chief blames rumours for slide

Vikram Pandit blamed bank’s plunging share price on rumour-mongering and reiterated that its capital position was strong

Comment 

Tory ploy is a gamble that may win

If the Prime Minister's seed corn doesn't sprout, the Tory alternative will have real appeal to the voters

• Matthew Parris

When hatred comes to your home page

The suicide of a young teenager shows we must wake up to the crossover between the virtual world and real cruelty

• Janice Turner

We need high culture when the index is low

Forget Siberian flosspots. When we’re living on boiled squirrel we should turn to Tolstoy, not trash

• Giles Coren

Life and Style 

Gordon Ramsay’s Italian Christmas

Adding a little dolce vita, Ramsay teams up with fellow chef Angela Hartnett with a menu to make her mamma proud

Waiting for that life-changing idea? Just sleep on it

From solving problems to flashes of inspiration, scientists are unravelling the creative power of the mind at night

Beyond manbags: pantyhose for men

Stuck over what to buy the man in your life for Christmas? How about mantyhose? Just don't think they'll attract the ladies

Arts & Entertainment 

Genius at work: Tennant and Serkis

Albert Einstein changed the world - with a little help from a Briton named Arthur. Nigel Hawkes sees the story retold

10 secrets of Malcolm Gladwell's success

The writer is bringing his best-selling secrets of success to the stage in a new show. Dominic Maxwell gets some tips

Eva Birthistle and children: my little horrors

The actress co-stars with scary kids in three new films, but she’s more than just a scream queen, says James Mottram