THE DAILY

Briefing Today Lord Mandelson, the Business Secretary, meets car industry representatives to discuss ways of helping them during the economic downturn London: MPs debate Heathrow's third runway; the House of Lords Constitution Committee holds its annual evidence session with the Lord Chancellor Jack Straw Davos: The Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin gives the opening address at the World Economic Forum annual meeting Washington: The IMF reports on its updates on the world economic outlook and global financial stability New York: The UN Security Council debates the Middle East Travel Eurostar: Extra services will run on Valentine's Day Air: British Airways services to and from Athens may be disrupted because of industrial action announced by the Greek air traffic control services. Check for updates at britishairways.com Happy birthday

The author Tim Heald says that he has lost track of how many books he has written. "No really! There have been ten Simon Bognor mystery novels, lots of crime

books and authorised biographies on Prince Philip, Princess Margaret, Barbara Cartland, Brian Johnston and Denis Compton." He has just finished an outline for another royal book, this time to coincide with the Queen's 60th anniversary in 2012, and he has brought Bognor back, but this time it's Sir Simon. He is planning a birthday lunch with friends, cooked by his wife, Penny: "Rib of beef and some good claret would be nice don't you think? All this and I get my pension too." Tim...