Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Wednesday 29 Jun 2011

Kabul Intercontinental Hotel attacked by Taliban

published 29 June 2011

Our popular news catch-up service is posted Monday to Friday at 8.0am. You can rely on it to keep you up to date through the working day with the main news talking points. BURMA: JUNTA BANS Aung San Suu Kyi FROM POLITICSThe Burmese ruling junta has banned Nobel prize-winner Aung San Suu Kyi from taking part in politics in a ruling which could re-ignite confrontation between the generals and their opponents. Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy was ordered to cease political and social activity in a letter it received this morning. GREEK PARLIAMENT AGREES AUSTERITY MEASURESViolent clashes continued on the streets of Athens for a second day today as it was announced that the Greek parliament had voted by a narrow majority to accept a drastic and unpopular package of austerity measures in the hopes of securing a 12bn euro bailout from the EU. Yesterday, 37 policemen and 9 demonstrators were injured. Greek demonstrations in pictures 11 DIE AS TALIBAN ATTACK KABUL HOTELEleven civilians and two policemen died last night when Taliban gunmen and suicide bombers attacked the Kabul InterContinental Hotel, a refuge for Westerners in the Afghan capital. The assault lasted nearly five hours. All six Taliban were eventually killed, three of them by Nato helicopters when they tried to escape via the roof. MUGGINGS AND BREAK-INS SURGE IN LONDON Burglary rose in London by 18.5 per cent in May this year compared to last, robbery by 15 per cent, and thefts of and from vehicles by six per cent. Met Police commissioner Sir Paul Stephenson told MPs yesterday he was "concerned" and that he was launching Operation Target to tackle the crime wave. WIMBLEDON: TSONGA STUNS FEDERER, MURRAY WINS Andy Murray made it to the Wimbledon semi-finals for the third year running by beating Spaniard Feliciano Lopez, but Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga stole the headlines by coming from two sets down to beat Roger Federer. Murray must face Rafa Nadal in the semis, and Tsonga will play Novak Djokovich. MULTI-UNION STRIKE TO BRING TRAVEL CHAOSAs many as 500,000 travelers into and out of Britain can expect long delays during the public service strikes over pensions starting at 6 pm this evening, warns the UK Border Agency, as 70 per cent of its staff are members of the PCS union. Education secretary Michael Gove said at least 5,400 schools will be disrupted. MONACO FEARS RUNAWAY ROYAL BRIDE Reports swept through the French press yesterday that Monaco's royal wedding on Friday is facing the prospect of a runaway bride. South African Charlene Whitstock, 33, is due to wed Prince Albert in a £45m extravaganza, but is said to have fled to the airport in a row over his infidelities. Monaco denies reports of royal runaway bride UK DISPOSABLE INCOME TAKES A TUMBLEUK households' average disposable income tumbled 2.7 per cent in the year to the end of March, the biggest fall since 1977, official statistics show. Higher taxes, domestic bills and inflation amounted to "a substantial squeeze on real living standards", said Bank of England governor Sir Mervyn King. British high street: a catalogue of closures PRINCE CHARLES GETS 18% RISE FROM TAXPAYERSPrince Charles's taxpayer funding rose by 17.9 per cent from £1.66m to £1.96m in the fiscal year 2010/11, Duchy figures showed yesterday. Most of the extra funds went on travel costs with the Duchess of Cornwall. Income from the Duchy of Cornwall went up nearly four per cent to £17.7m. JOHANN HARI CAUGHT IN PLAGIARISM ROWThe confession yesterday from Johann Hari of the Independent that he frequently pretended that quotes he lifted from published work had been said to him, and that such "churnalism" was "normal practice", led to demands for him to be fired and to return his George Orwell prize. Independent's Johann Hari apologises for quotes