Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Saturday 26 Nov 2011

1. 'NEW RECESSION' FOR UK IN 2012

Britain's economy will slip back into recession at the start of 2012, a leading forecast group is tipped to predict next week. News of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development's report has "sent a lightning bolt" through the Treasury and Downing Street, says the Daily Telegraph.

2. STRIKE WILL CLOSE MOST SCHOOLS

Next week's public sector strike is set to close 90 percent of schools and cause hospital managers to postpone thousands of non-emergency operations. The TUC General Secretary has told The Times the walkout could be the start of a “sustained campaign” if the Government does not improve its pensions offer.

3. THOMAS COOK HANDED £200M LOAN

Travel company Thomas Cook has been thrown a lifeline after bankers agreed to provide a new £200m credit facility. The bankers, including Barclays, HSBC, RBS and UniCredit, have made the loan available until April 30 2013. It replaces the £100 million short-term facility announced on October 21 2011.

Subscribe to The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up

4. KIDS BANNED FROM SANTA'S KNEE

Children will be banned from sitting on the knees of volunteer Father Christmases at many schools, says a leading teachers group. The general secretary of the National Association of Head Teachers says many of its members have decided to “err on the side of caution” and impose the rule on festive grottos.

5. EGYPT'S NEW PM CALLS FOR CALM

Kamal Ganzouri, named Prime Minister-designate of Egypt yesterday, has appealed to Egyptians to "give me a chance". The appointment of the 78-year-old, who served as prime minister in the 1990s under President Hosni Mubarak, is expected to enrage protesters due to his links with the deposed President.

6. BRITISH WOMEN FATTEST IN EUROPE

British women are the most overweight in Europe, according to figures published by the European Commission. The data revealed that 23.9% of women in the UK were obese in 2008/9. British men were found to be the second fattest in Europe (after the Maltese) while nearly a third of English children aged 11-15 are overweight or obese.

7. '£1BN BILL' FROM STAMP DUTY DODGE

The richest home buyers in Britain cost the country as much as £1 billion a year by dodging stamp duty on house sales, says The Times. Meanwhile, the number of first-time home buyers has slumped to its lowest point in three years, according to a report from the National Association of Estate Agents.

8. BABIES FOR MORGAN AND ALLEN

Journalist Piers Morgan has become a father for the fourth time after his second wife Celia Walden gave birth to Elise, their first child together. Meanwhile, pop star Lily Cooper - née Allen - gave birth to a baby girl on Friday, a year after she suffered a miscarriage while six months pregnant.

9. NATO 'ATTACKS PAKISTANI CHECKPOST'

Nato helicopters have opened fire on a military checkpost near the Pakistan/Afghan border killing up to eight soldiers, say Pakistani officials. Pakistan describes it as an "unprovoked and indiscriminate" attack. Nato says it is investigating the episode, which occurred in the tribal region of Mohmand.

10. DEFIANT VILLAS-BOAS REJECTS HIDDINK

Chelsea Manager André Villas-Boas has dismissed suggestions that experienced former Blues caretaker boss Guus Hiddink might return to Stamford Bridge to help him turn round the Club's poor form. Villas-Boas has presided over the worst start under Roman Abramovich but insists he has the owner's backing.