Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Saturday 12 Nov 2011

1. WOUNDED BRITISH TROOPS' JOBS AT RISK

British soldiers wounded in Iraq and Afghanistan could be made redundant as part of armed forces job cuts, a leaked army memo suggests. The memo, seen by the Daily Telegraph, says 2,500 wounded troops - including 350 who have lost limbs - could be among 16,500 personnel to be made redundant by April 2015.

2. BERLUSCONI ON THE BRINK

The lower house of Italy's parliament was expected to complete its vote on austerity measures on Saturday, paving the way for an emergency government to replace Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi's administration. Shares in most European markets rose by two or three per cent after Italy's Senate backed proposed austerity measures on Friday.

3. ERIKSSON WAS 'JEALOUS' OF TONY BLAIR

Former England football manager Sven-Goran Eriksson believed his former girlfriend Nancy Dell’Olio was having an affair with Tony Blair, she has claimed. She told The Daily Telegraph Eriksson was "eaten up with envy" by her friendship with Blair, and added that Blair's wife Cherie "was jealous of me from the outset".

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4. ARGENTINA CONDEMNS WILLIAM POSTING

The RAF's plan to post the Duke of Cambridge to the Falkland Islands has been condemned as "provocative" by Argentina. An Argentine foreign ministry official said "one cannot ignore the political content of this... bearing in mind that the prince forms part of the Royal Family". The RAF says the posting is routine.

5. EDL 'PLANNED TO ATTACK OCCUPY TENTS'

Police arrested 179 members of the English Defence League (EDL) yesterday after reports they threatened to attack Occupy protesters camped outside St Paul's. Police said the arrests at a Whitehall pub where the EDL had gathered were made to "prevent a breach of the peace". EDL supporters accused police of heavy-handed tactics.

6. MURDOCH TO ESCAPE CENSURE?

Westminster sources say the parliamentary committee investigating phone hacking at the News of the World will characterise James Murdoch as "ill-informed rather than mendacious" in its report, expected at the turn of the year. The report is expected to condemn the paper's former lawyer Tom Crone for his evasive answers.

7. ARAB LEAGUE COULD SUSPEND SYRIA

The Arab League was expected to consider suspending Syria during a meeting in Cairo on Saturday. A damning report by a leading human rights organisation yesterday accused Syria of crimes against humanity. The report, from Human Rights Watch, detailed months of killings, detention and torture of peaceful protesters.

8. GOVERNMENT SUGGESTS 15-MINUTE STRIKES

The government has recommended public sector workers planning to strike over pension changes stage a "token action" walkout lasting for 15 minutes. Cabinet Office Minister Francis Maude said the proposal would mean workers could avoid losing pay. Unison described the government proposal as a "PR gimmick".

9. DOCTORS 'GAGGED BY NHS'

Doctors have been gagged by NHS trusts to prevent them raising concerns about patient care and poor practice, says the General Medical Council. The GMC claims that three NHS trusts had ordered doctors to sign documents agreeing not to “raise complaints or grievances” with patient safety regulators.

10. TINDALL TO APPEAL FINE

Rugby star Mike Tindall will appeal the £25,000 fine imposed on him by the Rugby Football Union yesterday. Tindall, married to Zara Phillips, was punished for 'serious misconduct' during a night out at the World Cup. The Rugby Players' Association has confirmed Tindall will appeal what it describes as "an extraordinary fine".

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