High-rolling Simon Calder stacks the odds in your favour with this neon-lit attempt to beat the midwinter gloom in the heat of the Nevada desert

The fourth conference for the “Friends of the Syrian People” was set to open today after the US said the new Syrian opposition coalition is the “sole legitimate representative” of the Syrian people.

Winter is the ideal time to visit this grand Mississippi city, with its miraculously preserved French Quarter and diverse, delicious flavours

The searing heat of summer has mellowed in the Gulf states, making this Emirati city an appealing choice for some winter sun, says Nick Boulos

The 787 promises a dramatic improvement in passenger comfort, with more space, bigger windows and air pressurised at only 6,000 feet rather than 8,000 feet.

Attempts to create a new climate treaty failed in Copenhagen three years ago

Sarah Brown joined the Qatari-owned retailer on September 1, The Independent has learned, in a move that is likely to raise eyebrows across the political and business worlds

Outlook Thanks to the Qataris, Glencore boss Ivan Glasenberg's protracted quest to win control of Xstrata is now all but over. The oil-rich state's sovereign wealth fund will likely carry the day for him because, even though the structure of this mining mega-merger means that only 16 per cent of Xstrata shareholders saying "no" could kill it, there isn't enough stomach among the rest to torpedo it now the big dog is laying at Mr Glasenberg's feet.

The proposed £56bn merger between Glencore and Xstrata was in effect sealed yesterday, but with a twist, as the key shareholder Qatar blessed it but failed to back a £140m package of retention bonuses.

The man who pays his way

The man who pays his way

Prescott challenger goes for Cesarewitch after night of sales drama and relief for Coolmore

Ronald de Boer, who helped Qatar win the right to host the 2022 World Cup, is calling for the tournament to be moved to winter.

The 2022 World Cup should be played in the winter, one of the men who helped Qatar win the bid to host it admitted today.