Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Sunday 24 Oct 2010

published 24 October 2010

Our popular news catch-up service is posted Monday to Friday at 8.0 am, and on weekends at 11.0 am. You can rely on it to keep you up to date with the main news talking points... UN CALLS FOR IRAQ TORTURE INVESTIGATIONThe United Nations’ special rapporteur on torture, Manfred Novak, said yesterday Barack Obama had an “obligation” to investigate claims that the US turned a blind eye to torture carried out in Iraq by local security forces. The allegations stem from the release yesterday of almost 400,000 secret Iraq documents by WikiLeaks. Robert Fox: Assange has helped serve the truth GOVERNMENT TO PRIVATISE FORESTSEnvironment minister Caroline Spelman is to announce this week that Defra will sell about half of the 748,000 hectares of Forestry Commission land by 2020, paving the way for a vast expansion in logging, golf courses and holiday villages. The Forestry Commission Trade Unions immediately vowed to oppose the proposals. Austerity hypocrites have no right to attack Osborne KATY PERRY AND RUSSELL BRAND WEDAmerican singer Katy Perry and British comic Russell Brand tied the knot yesterday at the Ranthambhore wildlife sanctuary in India. Brand arrived for the wedding riding on an elephant, as is traditional for Indian royalty. Singer Rihanna was maid of honour, and guests included Jonathan Ross, David Walliams and David Baddiel. Perry and Brand marry in India Katy Perry's cleavage too much for Sesame Street FORMER FIFA BOSS: VOTES CAN BE BOUGHTThe Sunday Times has revealed more of its investigation into the possibility that members of football's governing body's committee will sell their votes on where the World Cup should happen. Michel Zen-Ruffinen, a former secretary general, was filmed listing committee members he said could be bought with cash or prostitutes. Fifa hit by 2018 World Cup vote-buying claims MARIAH CAREY NICKS CHERYL COLE'S JOBDisappointment looms for Cheryl Cole as it emerges that American singer Mariah Carey (above) is in negotiations to join Simon Cowell and Nicole Scherzinger of the Pussycat Dolls on the panel of X Factor US. Cowell had pushed for Cole, but execs at Fox are said to feel she is not well enough known and her accent is too hard for US ears. Stephen Fry cracks up at X Factor's Wagner spoof UNITED DENy ROONEY CONSPIRACY THEORYManchester United say there is no truth in the rumour they agreed to a contract extension for Wayne Rooney purely in order to get a higher transfer fee for the striker. Some conspiracy theorists had claimed that while Manchester City would have to pay £25m for him in January, if he decides to go in the summer, he may cost £50m. Neil Clark: Rooney's contract shenanigans are obscene Rooney signs new deal with United ROBBIE WILLIAMS CHARGES £550 FOR SIGNED PICSFans of former Take That singer Robbie Williams are up in arms because he is charging £549.99 for signed photographs. Williams is offering the black and white prints of a shot of him by Julian Broad. Apparently not realising the high price is in honour of the photographer, not the subject, even loyal fans are critical of Robbie. CHOLERA REACHES PORT-AU-PRINCEFive cases of cholera have been diagnosed in the capital of Haiti – though those affected contracted the disease elsewhere – the first cases in Port-au-Prince. An outbreak of the disease in the country’s Artibonite region has killed 200 people so far as the island still struggles to recover from the devastating earthquake in January. KATIE WAISSEL CAUSES CONTROVERSYEyebrows have been raised by the revelation that X Factor contestant Katie Waissel, described on the show as a "part-time receptionist" has links with Simon Cowell's record label dating back as far as 2004. Waissel auditioned for Sony BMG that year, and as recently as two years ago was still receiving advice from A&R people there. Stephen Fry cracks up at X Factor's Wagner spoof STUDENTS ESCAPE TUITION FEES IN HOLLANDAs more and more UK students choose to study for degrees on the continent, where fees are often lower than England, one Dutch university is continuing to press for membership of admissions service Ucas. Mastricht was turned down on the grounds it is not British, but believes it could challenge this under EU discrimination laws.