MORE NEWS

Man accused of killing daughter dies in prison

Family stands by Tony Couchman, who was due to stand trial today for murdering Victoria, 19, but died in jail

Schools shut and travel delayed by cold weather

Freezing temperatures hamper the return to school and work after festive break, with more snow forecast in south midweek

MoD rejects calls to reopen Chinook inquiry

New evidence suggests that computer malfunction not pilot error may have caused 1994 helicopter crash that killed 29

Sport News  

South Africa bowlers find rich seam of form

South Africa v England: half-centuries from Alastair Cook and Matt Prior keep tourists in hunt after pacemen dominate

• Ntini set to quit as South Africa bite bullet

Coyle holds talks with Bolton

Burnley manager will meet club officials to discuss his future at Turf Moor after meeting with rivals is confirmed

Taylor summons his powers to master Whitlock

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

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 buildings shaping the new decade

Cultural construction projects are booming despite the recession; so which landmark buildings will shape the new 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