Britain’s Jewish billionaires, including Sir Philip Green and Sir Martin Sorrell, have seen their wealth rise this year despite continued economic gloom, according to the findings of the annual Sunday Times Rich List.

A rabbi's son and the author of a book about a rabbi's daughter have been named as two of the most promising novelists in the country.

Jewish novelists Naomi Alderman and Benjamin Markovits have been named among the 20 most promising young British writers by Granta on its prestigious once-a-decade list.

The Granta List, which first appeared in 1983, identifies 20 promising wordsmiths under the age of 40.

A Palestinian boy who plucked up the courage to play cricket with Israelis has won an international prize for the Israel’s biggest cricketing organisation.

Three months ago, Shehadeh Salamin, 16, from the West Bank, entered an International Cricket Council-Europe competition entitled “How cricket has made a difference to your life?”

Radlett Synagogue co-founder Professor Tony Goldstone has received the University College London Hospital Chairman’s Lifetime Achievement Award.

The haematology expert - a patron of Chai - said: “I am honoured to have been chosen for this award and thank all my colleagues for their support and encouragement over many years.”

A novelist who brought to life the quirks and peculiarities of Jewish life in north west London is in the running for the top prize given to female writers in the UK.

Francesca Segal is one of 20 novelists shortlisted for the Women's Prize for Fiction – formerly the Orange Prize – which comes with a £30,000 cheque and the chance of increased publicity and book sales.

Campaigners are urging the Nobel Prize Committee to bestow its most important award on a British hero of the Holocaust who saved hundreds of children from almost certain death.

A petition to honour Sir Nicholas Winton , now aged 103, with the Nobel Peace Prize was launched earlier this year by pupils at a school in Prague, and has already attracted more than 173,000 signatures.

Leeds quizzer extraordinaire Barry Simmons has made it through to the finals of BBC Radio 4’s Brain of Britain 2013 – but not everyone is rejoicing.

The BBC confirmed that “there have been five official complaints from people who think it’s unfair that [Mr Simmons] is allowed to compete”.