Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Saturday 11 Sep 2010

published 11 September 2010

Our popular news catch-up service, which until last week ran only on Monday mornings, is now daily. You can rely on it to keep you up to date with the main news talking points... US REMEMBERS 9/11 AMID CONTROVERSYAmerica will today remember the ninth anniversary of the 9/11 terror attacks as controversy continues over a southern pastor’s 'Koran-burning day', cancelled after an appeal from Barack Obama. The names of all those who died will be read out at a ceremony attended by VP Joe Biden. Protests are also expected against a proposed mosque. Alexander Cockburn: Jones's denouncers are all hypocrites DEFENCE CUTS TO HIT TROOP NUMBERS Tens of thousands of troops will be axed as part of the Strategic Defence and Security Review, says the Telegraph. The MoD budget is to be cut by about a fifth, and ministers will conclude this week that the best way to save money is to reduce troop numbers, with the army worst hit. Soldiers may now have to spend longer on the frontline. Robert Fox: Cuts mean Britain can’t go to war WAS KEN LIVINGSTONE’S PHONE HACKED?Former mayor of London, Ken Livingstone, announced yesterday he will write to Scotland Yard next week to ask if his name was on their list of 4,332 potential victims of private investigator Glen Mulcaire and journalist Clive Goodman. As the News of the World phone hacking scandal continues, it has emerged Mulcaire has hired a media advisor. The Guardian's mad pursuit of phone hacking scandal News Corp 'circles the wagons' around Murdoch NEW BOOK DUBS CARLA ‘DON JUAN’The first investigative biography of Carla Bruni - the 43-year-old model, singer and wife of French president Nicolas Sarkozy - says she is a Don Juan who is "fickle in love". Besma Lahouri claims Bruni neglects her charitable works and invites her ex- lovers to socialise with her husband on holiday, says the Times, which has seen a copy. Lawyers ready for racy Carla Bruni biography CHILD BENEFIT TO END AT 16The Treasury is considering stopping child benefits at the age of 16, instead of 19, as is currently the case, sources have told the Times. The threshold could even be lowered to 13, though this is less likely. Reducing the age to 16 would save £3bn and would form part of chancellor George Osborne's plan to cut an extra £4bn from benefits. The Mole: Clegg in the dock over "regressive" budget BRIAN WINS LAST BIG BROTHER Former flight attendant Brian Dowling has won Ultimate Big Brother – the last time the reality TV format will appear on Channel 4. Chantelle and Nikki came second and third and there was a 30-minute video tribute to the late Jade Goody which caused host Davina McCall to burst into tears. Brian was the winner of the second series in 2001. In pictures: Goodbye Big Brother DAVIES AND TROTT KEEP ENGLAND ON TOP England yesterday beat Pakistan by 24 runs at the Emirates Durham ground, with Nick Davies and Jonathan Trott shining. Pakistan’s losing performance was at least a vast improvement on their dismal Twenty20 showings earlier this week and suggested they are emerging from the shadow of the spot-fixing allegations which have blighted the tour. Pakistan players face tax probe amid more claims BRITONS 'HAVE NO INTEREST' IN POPE’S VISITThe Pope arrives in Edinburgh on Thursday, the first time a pontiff has visited the UK since John Paul II in 1982. But he is likely to be met with indifference and protests. A recent survey found that 79 per cent of Britons had "no interest" in his visit, while 77 per cent said the taxpayer should not bear the costs. Protesters have begun organising on Facebook. Vatican accepts apology over Benedict condoms POVERTY TSAR: ABOLISH SCHOOL HOLIDAYSLabour MP Frank Field, taken on by David Cameron as his poverty adviser, is to suggest axing the traditional six-week summer school holiday as part of a raft of measures to tackle poverty that he will present to the PM next week. Field argues pupils of low-income families fall behind during the long break as they receive no parental support. CHERYL SENT SUPPORTIVE TEXT TO COLEENColeen Rooney has issued a joint statement with her husband, England striker Wayne, saying the couple are trying to mend their marriage in the wake of revelations he slept with two prostitutes while she was pregnant. And it has emerged Coleen received a supportive text from Cheryl Cole – another wronged WAG – telling her to "stay strong". Rooney ‘asked air hostess to go home with him’