News in brief

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Tory peer lied in house dodge

Lord Taylor of Warwick has been caught using someone else’s home address to claim tens of thousands of pounds in expenses

Modern couples mesh surnames

According to the UK Deed Poll Service, the number who change their name will top 50,000 for the first time this year

The forces waiting to take over

The surge's aim is to have Afghans running the country’s security forces from July 2011, despite its woeful army and police force

Copenhagen: We’ve got them climate blues

An estimated 30,000 chilly protesters took to the streets of central London yesterday to protest against global warming

Harman attacks Tory tax break ‘for philanderers’

The deputy Labour leader will argue that the Tories will make single people feel as though there is something wrong with them.

Brown’s toff attack finds voter appeal

A poll of more than 2,000 people shows that 52% think the Tories are still the party of the rich, against 31% who do not.

Brown in ‘nepotism’ row over safe seat

Helen Holt claims that the selection process in Sherwood has been skewed in favour of the fiancée of a close aide to the PM

Baroness's husband wooed by KGB

Peter Kellner, the pollster married to the EU foreign representative, tells the Sunday Times of a Soviet bid to court him

Get set for surge in bloody battles

Obama’s commitment of 30,000 new troops to Afghanistan means the fighting will get more intense. But will it bring success?

‘Price-fixing’ hits eBay shoppers

The online marketplace claims the prices charged for popular Christmas gifts are being fixed at inflated levels by big brands

Top artists launch rubbish period

Sir Peter Blake is joining a group of artists who are consigning some of their work to landfill as part of a new installation

America wakes up to the shift in global power

The only thing more damaging to a superpower than never using military power is using it in such a way as to demonstrate its futility

Baroness Young to resign from CQC

Tories say her decision to leave before April demonstrates breakdown between Labour and health and social care regulator

Protests call for action over climate change

Thousands march at London event organised by Stop Climate Chaos, calling for action ahead of conference in Copenhagen

Doctors' bid to open David Kelly inquest

Claims that weapons inspector Dr David Kelly, found dead in woods near his Oxfordshire home, was not suicide case

Cameron won't promise to bring troops home

Tory leader pledges to double bonuses paid to serving soldiers in Afghanistan if Conservatives win election

Amanda Knox family to appeal against verdict

Family of murdered British student Meredith Kercher support judge's decision to jail Knox and boyfriend for up to 26 years

Why Witherspoon is highlighting domestic violence

Despite being an American A-lister, the actress has been in London to highlight a campaign to help victims in Britain

Eye implants offer ‘super vision'

Light-adjustable lenses could offer 20/20 vision to thousands of people who become short-sighted or develop cataracts