Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Monday 11 Jul 2011

MORE ALLEGATIONS AIMED AT NEWS INTERNATIONAL More allegations have been levelled at Rupert Murdoch's embattled News International. The BBC claims the Sunday Times tried to obtain private information about Gordon Brown and the News of the World has been accused of targeting royals, with Charles and Camilla warned about hacking. Meanwhile, Rupert Murdoch, who is in London, withdrew News Corp's offer to spin off Sky News if it buys BSkyB and made it clear he supported Rebekah Brooks.

BSkyB takeover: will Murdoch have to give up?

The Mole: Cameron’s reputation is on the line over Murdoch crisis

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Rupert Murdoch arrives as NotW scandal snowballs

CAMERON TO END 'MONOPOLY' on public servicesDavid Cameron has announced plans to end the state's "monopoly" on providing public services and to allow private companies, charities and mutuals to get involved. The plans are contained in the public service reform white paper which argues that the present system is "failing on fairness".

SOMALIA DROUGHT IS 'WORST HUMANITARIAN DISASTER'The current drought in Somalia is the "worst humanitarian disaster" in the world, Antonio Guterres, head of UNHCR, said yesterday. He appealed for world support while visiting the Dadaab refugee camp in Kenya which is overflowing with tens of thousands of people he described as "the poorest of the poor and the most vulnerable of the vulnerable".

In pictures: crisis in Horn of Africa

US AND FRENCH EMBASSIES ATTACKED IN SYRIAThe US and French embassies in Syria have been attacked by supporters of President Bashar al-Assad after the ambassadors of the two countries expressed support for the opposition movement. Windows were smashed at the US embassy while security guards at the French embassy fired into the air to disperse the crowd.

BECKHAMS HAVE A BABY GIRLVictoria Beckham, former Spice Girl turned fashion designer, has given birth to a baby girl at Cedars Sinai hospital in Los Angeles. On his Facebook page, her husband David Beckham, footballer, Olympics ambassador and friend of the young royals, said: "I am so proud and excited to announce the birth of our daughter Harper Seven Beckham."

Harper Seven Beckham: the Seinfeld connection

NO HOPE FOR VOLGA BOAT VICTIMSRescuers say there is no hope of finding any more survivors from a tourist ship that sank on the Volga river on Sunday. It is thought that the boat had as many as 199 people on board, only 79 were rescued. A survivor told how the ship suddenly listed to starboard while passengers were having lunch. "It flipped over in three minutes and sank," he said. "Lots of people died."

CLEGG 'WARNED CAMERON AGAINST COULSON'Deputy prime minister Nick Clegg warned David Cameron against taking Andy Coulson with him to Number Ten as his communications director, because of his association with the phone hacking scandal at the News of the World, it emerged yesterday. But Cameron apparently made it clear that it was "a personal appointment of the prime minister" and went ahead.

Cameron's reputation is on the line over Murdoch crisis

CYPRUS EXPLOSION KILLS AT LEAST 12An explosion at a naval base on Cyprus has killed at least 12 people. The blast was caused by a wild fire that got into an arms depot housing munitions confiscated from the Middle East. The explosion killed two sailors, four National Guard soldiers and several firemen. It also affected a nearby power station and knocked out supplies to parts of the island.

'QATAR FIX' ACCUSER RETRACTS HER STORYA whistleblower who accused three Fifa officials of accepting bribes to back Qatar's bid for the 2022 World Cup has retracted her claim. Phaedra Al Majid has told the BBC that she made the story up when she met Sunday Times reporters because she was upset at loising her job as a media officer for the Qatar bid committee.

‘Qatar fix’ whistleblower Al Majid changes her tune

EMERGENCY MEETING OVER ITALIAN FINANCEAn emergency meeting has been called in Brussels today by Herman Van Rompuy, the European Council President, to discuss fears that the Greek debt crisis is spreading to Italy, the Times reports. It follows Friday's sell-off of Italian bonds and banking shares, apparently sparked by news that finance minister Giulio Tremonti is embroiled in a corruption scandal.

Eurozone heads meet amid fears of Italy bail-out