Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Tuesday 19 Oct 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... CHECHEN PARLIAMENT attackedSix people were killed and several injured when Chechen separatists shouting Islamic slogans attacked the parliament building in Grozny, capital of Chechnya, early today. President Ramzan Kadyrov later confirmed that three gunmen had been killed by police after launching a bomb and gun attack on deputies arriving for work. GAFFE REVEALS 490,000 JOBS TO BE LOSTOn the eve of the government's dreaded Comprehensive Spending Review, Chief Secretary to the Treasury Danny Alexander accidentally revealed that the coalition expects 490,000 jobs to be lost in the public sector by 2015 as a result of tomorrow's cuts. Alexander was caught by photographers holding open a draft copy of the review as he was driven into Whitehall. The Mole: Lower-paid face the axe RUSSIAN SPIES RECEIVE STATE HONOURSThe Russian 'sleeper' agents arrested in the United States in June were yesterday awarded state medals by Russian President Dmitry Medvedev in a private ceremony at the Kremlin. The awards were revealed by a spokesman for Medvedev, putting an end to any pretence that the 10 agents were not spies. The most high-profile of the group, 28-year-old Anna Chapman, picked up her medal after posing for Russian Maxim dressed in lingerie and holding a pistol (above). Video: Chapman honoured by Russia and Maxim ferguson confirms rooney wants to leaveManchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has confirmed that Wayne Rooney wants to leave the club and told a press conference this afternoon that he was "bemused" by the striker's stance. The England player has fallen out with Ferguson and could now quit Old Trafford in January, possibly to join United's local rivals Manchester City. Ferguson also revealed that Rooney would miss tomorrow's Champions League game with Bursaspor with an ankle injury. City and Chelsea want Rooney 42,000 JOBS TO GO UNDER DEFENCE REVIEWPrime Minister David Cameron has announced that 42,000 jobs will have to go - 17,000 in the services and 25,000 among civil servants at the Ministry of Defence - as a result of Britain's first strategic defence review since 1998. Robert Fox, analysing the review for The First Post, says Britain still aims to punch its weight in the world - but with far fewer forces. BIGOT-GATE: WHY BROWN SAID ITA documentary called Mandelson: the Real PM, to be screened by the BBC in November, reveals that Gordon Brown called pensioner Gillian Duffy a bigot - the moment some believe cost Labour the last election - because he misheard her. The film shows Mandelson and Brown meeting the next day and Brown whispering in his ear: "I thought she was saying no university students should come from abroad." X FACTOR EXTENDED ANOTHER THREE YEARSSimon Cowell's hold over Saturday night television will continue. He has signed a new deal with ITV to extend The X Factor and Britain's Got Talent for a further three years. ITV director of TV Peter Fincham described both shows as "a national obsession". The current series of The X Factor is getting record viewing figures. Cat bin woman fined £250'Cat bin woman', the 45-year-old filmed on a CCTV camera stroking a cat before dumping it into a wheelie bin in Coventry, has been fined £250 after pleading guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to a cat. Another charge of not providing an animal with a suitable environment was dropped. Judge Caroline Goulborn said the potential for harm to the cat was "substantial" but the animal had not in reality been hurt. Video: woman throws cat into bin BAD WEATHER: TYPHOON HEADS FOR CHINA, SNOW FOR UK At least 10 people were killed in the Philippines yesterday when Typhoon Megi tore the roofs off houses. The typhoon is now heading for southern China. In Britain, Artic winds and snowfalls are predicted. Wednesday is expected to be the coldest day of the week, with daytime temperatures sinking to just 9C (48F) in the north and 11C (52F) in the south. First snow of winter PRINCE HARRY FILM GOES AHEADThe screening of a Channel 4 film, The Taking of Prince Harry, which imagines Prince Charles's younger son being captured by insurgents in Afghanistan and subjected to a mock execution, will go ahead on Thursday despite the head of the armed forces pleading with the broadcaster to withhold it. Sir Jock Stirrup wrote to C4 saying the film would undermine security and distress the families of troops currently on service. C4 claims it is "a serious journalistic examination of a current issue".

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