Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Monday 22 Mar 2010

published 22 March 2010

Slept through the Today programme? Never read the Sunday papers? Not sure how much it costs to influence government policy? The First Post's Monday morning service, posted at 8.0 am, is designed to help... 'CASH FOR ACCESS' SCANDALTory leader David Cameron has demanded that Gordon Brown launch an immediate investigation into allegations made in a joint investigation by the Sunday Times and the Channel 4 Dispatches programme. Former Labour ministers Stephen Byers, Patricia Hewitt and Geoff Hoon claimed they could help lobbyists influence government policy in return for cash payments. Byers said he was "like a cab for hire" and that his fee was between £3,000 and £5,000 a day. The Mole... SOUTH AFRICA STEPS UP WORLD CUP SHARK PATROLSSouth Africa's Sharks Board has hired extra spotters in order to protect football fans travelling to the country for the World Cup from attacks by great white sharks. Bathers at beaches around the city of Durban are particularly vulnerable. Spokesman Harry Mbambo told the Daily Telegraph: "There is often a lot of shark activity around South Africa and we were concerned for the safety of foreign football fans who come here for the World Cup." SOHAM MURDERER'S THROAT CUTIan Huntley, the school caretaker who murdered 10-year-olds Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman in Soham, has been returned to jail from hospital after having his throat cut at his high security prison. Huntley had to be taken to hospital after a fellow inmate attacked him with a 'shiv' or homemade knife, from behind. A "prison source" told the Daily Mail: "It was horrific. There was blood everywhere... I thought there was no way he could survive." UNIVERSAL SEEKS SINGING NUNSDecca, part of the Universal music group, has put out an appeal for singing nuns to record an album of plainsong and chant to be released in time for the Pope's visit to Britain in September. It is Universal's latest foray into traditional music following last week's signing of Fisherman's Friends, a group of Cornish fishermen who sing sea shanties, to a £1m contract. More… US HEALTHCARE REFORM NEARLY THEREUS President Barack Obama has finally passed his healthcare reform Bill by 219 votes to 212 in the House of Representatives. Although all Republicans – and a few Democrats – voted against the reform, Democrats in the Senate say they will be able to muster the votes to make it law. The new Bill, which will cost $940bn over the next decade, will see healthcare extended to all Americans and new taxes levied on the rich. More... TIGER WOODS 'NERVOUS' ABOUT COMEBACKTiger Woods has said he is nervous about the public reception he can expect when he returns to golf for the first time in five months at the Masters in April. He told ESPN: "I don't know, I'm a little nervous. It would be nice to hear a couple of claps here and there." When asked about the extent of his alleged string of affairs, Woods said: "Well, just one is enough. And obviously that wasn't the case, and I've made my mistakes." More... SARKOZY DRUBBED BY SOCIALISTS IN ELECTIONSPresident Nicolas Sarkozy has suffered a crushing defeat in regional elections in France. The centre-right UMP party took 36 per cent of votes compared to 54 per cent for the Socialists and their left-wing allies. Unemployment of up to 3 million and unpopular reforms have been blamed for the ruling party's reverses. Prime minister Francois Fillon is expected to offer his resignation, but it is likely to be rejected by the equally unpopular president. NO OVERALL WINNER IN BA STRIKE Both sides are claiming victory as the British Airways strike entered its third, final and busiest day today. The Unite union said only 300 of the 2,200 cabin crew who were supposed to work turned up for their shift, while BA claimed more than 50 per cent of staff worked as normal at Heathrow. The airline's strike-breaking contingency plans, which have included using chartered planes, face their biggest test today. FRANCE WIN SIX NATIONSFrance's rugby team ground out a hard-fought victory against England in Paris to win the Six Nations trophy. Their 12-10 triumph in the pouring rain was enough to claim the Grand Slam – a win against all five other nations. England scored the only try in the match, but could not capitalise from a sustained period of pressure in the second half. Taking a remarkably English approach to his rugby, French boss Marc Lievremont said: "I would have preferred us to take more control of the match and to have more of a spectacle, but the main thing was to win." More… PHILIP LAWRENCE MURDERER 'SOON FREE' Learco Chindamo, who stabbed headmaster Philip Lawrence to death outside the gates of his school in 1995, could be released within months. Chindamo, who was 15 at the time of the murder, has served 14 years of a life sentence. Despite tabloid outrage, the parole board is likely to look favourably on him after prison reports called him a "reformed character" with a "low likelihood of reoffending". More...