"One of the world's leading economists has urged Gordon Brown to reject "fiscal fetishism", defy the markets and maintain, or even extend, the fiscal stimulus of the British economy.

"Joseph Stiglitz, who won the Nobel Prize for Economics in 2001 and has served as chief economic adviser to President Clinton and chief economist at the World Bank, warned that the financial markets were like a "crazy man" that could not be appeased with cuts to public spending.

""You're dealing with a crazy man. You're asking what I can do to placate a crazy man? Having got what he wants he will still kill you," he said."

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"Have you tried a Ranch Snack Wrap or a Little Italian yet? Or a Little Chorizo Melt? Or an Oriental Snack Wrap? If you have, you are not alone. These exotic-sounding delights are all part of the Little Tasters menu, introduced by McDonald's in Britain at the beginning of last year, in a carefully planned move.

"The strategy addressed two key objectives first, to tackle the impact of the recession on consumers by offering them a good-value item, between £1.49 and £1.59, which sat between the cheapest dishes on the McDonald's menu and more expensive lines such as the Big Mac. The second part of the exercise was all about continuing to attract new and different customers to McDonald's, particularly young mothers taking their kids to the restaurant, who might traditionally only have bought a tea or coffee because they were deterred by the idea of a larger portion."

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"MPs will today call for sweeping changes to the way teachers are trained in England, recommending that no candidate should be recruited to a graduate teaching course without at least a lower second class degree, and urging the scrapping of ­government funding for undergraduate training for secondary teachers.

"The all-party children, schools and families select committee also said all potential teachers should be required to take tests in literacy, numeracy and information technology before they enter training, rather than afterwards, as happens now. It said the standard of recruitment had to be raised "across the board": "It is of great concern to us that those with no A-levels, or those with just a pass degree, can gain entry to the teaching profession."

"Barry Sheerman, the committee's chair, said: "Recruiting and retaining the best teachers can transform pupil attainment ... It is not enough to make-do-and-mend existing policies. Radical changes must take place. Teaching must be seen as an attractive career option for high-achieving ­individuals.""

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"Coach Sean Payton made daring decisions on the way to New Orleans's first Super Bowl victory. Toward the end of the first half on Sunday night, trailing by 10-3, he called for a run on fourth-and-goal from the 1.

"He later opted for an onside kick to open the second half, perhaps the game's most aggressive call. And after his team scored the go-ahead touchdown in the fourth quarter, he called for the 2-point conversion. Let's take a look at all three decisions. Daring, yes; but did he have the numbers on his side?"

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