Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Wednesday 7 Sep 2011

published 7 September 2011

ECONOMISTS URGE OSBORNE TO DROP 50P TAX RATETwenty top economists have urged George Osborne to drop the 50p top rate of income tax - paid on earnings above £150,000 - to encourage growth. In a letter in Financial Times, they say the 50p rate "is often portrayed as a justified tax on the rich, but the economic damage it causes means that it is against the interests even of ordinary workers who don't pay it." Economists urge Osborne to drop 50p tax rate asap PLANE CRASH KILLS RUSSIAN ICE HOCKEY TEAMA passenger plane carrying a major league ice hockey team has crashed in central Russia, killing all but one of the 37 passengers. Lokomotiv Yaroslavl - Russian Champions in 1997, 2002 and 2003 - were flying to Minsk to face Dinamo Minsk in the opening match of the Continental Hockey League season. CAMERON QUIP HUMILIATES NADINE DORRIESTory MP Nadine Dorries was humiliated during Prime Minister's Questions today when David Cameron provoked gales of laughter by telling her she was "extremely frustrated". Dorries, who wants to amend abortion law, had urged the PM to tell Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg, who opposes her plans, "who's boss". A chuckling Cameron eventually gave up trying to respond. No 10 withdraws support for abortion law change MERCURY MUSIC PRIZE GOES TO PJ HARVEY PJ Harvey (above) yesterday became the first to win the Mercury Music Prize twice, taking the award for her album inspired by the horrors of war, Let England Shake. She won 10 years ago, but could not be at the ceremony, which was on September 11, because she was on tour in the US "watching the Pentagon burning from my hotel room." PJ Harvey is worthy winner of the Mercury Music Prize 'ONE-TERM' OBAMA SINKS TO NEW LOW The prospects of Barack Obama becoming a one-term president grew last night after a Wall Street Journal poll found 54% believing that he was facing problems from which he is unlikely to recover. A Washington Post poll put Obama's disapproval rating at 53%, and Politico found 72% believing the US is "heading in the wrong direction." Polls indicate Obama will be a one-term president BOMB BLAST AT DELHI COURT KILLS 10At least 10 people have been killed in a bomb attack outside the Indian High Court in Delhi, which left another 60 injured. The bomb went off near a security checkpoint at 10am local time. Harkat-ul Jihad al-Islami (Huji), an extremist group said to have links to al-Qaeda, has claimed responsibility for the attack. PARENTS OF 'HONOUR KILLING' on FACE MURDER CHARGEThe parents of schoolgirl Shafilia Ahmed, the victim of a suspected honour killing, have been charged with her murder. The 17-year-old disappeared from her home in Warrington in 2003 and her body was found in Cumbria in early 2004. Her parents, Iftikhar and Farzana Ahmed were first arrested in December 2003 but released without charge. 'HEALTHY' FOR MIDDLE AGED WOMEN TO DRINK DAILYWomen in the 50s who drink a little alcohol every day are more likely to escape cancer and heart disease in old age than those who are teetotal, according to research by Harvard University. The finding follows a study of 120,000 female nurses. Researchers warned against teetotallers taking up drinking after years of abstinence. NIGER URGED TO IMPOUND 'CONVOY GOLD'The US state department has confirmed that a convoy carrying "some dozen or more" senior members of the ousted Gaddafi regime has crossed into Niger, where the American ambassador has urged Niger officials to detain anyone wanted for prosecution and impound any state property - such as gold and jewels – so it can be returned to Libya. Gaddafi convoy enters Niger sparking talk of exile deal COMEDIAN EDDIE MURPHY TO HOST THE OSCARSEddie Murphy, the black comedian who became a Hollywood star in Beverly Hills Cop and the Dr Dolittle films, is to to host the 84th annual Oscar awards ceremony in Los Angeles next Febuary 26. The choice is controversial because Murphy has been derided by critics for recent films like Norbit. Eddie Murphy to host 2012 Oscars ceremony