1. COALITION WOBBLES AFTER VETO
Senior Lib Dems have attempted to smooth over yawning cracks in the coalition after Nick Clegg was accused of "sulking" by newspapers when he sat out Cameron's Commons statement explaining his decision to veto EU treaty changes yesterday. Simon Hughes said the coalition was still "strong".
David Cameron screwed up agreed negotiating plan, says Ashdown
2. HIGGS BOSON NEARLY FOUND
Scientists at the Large Hadron Collider at Cern in Switzerland have presented evidence that the Higgs boson, the theoretical particle that imparts mass to everything in the universe, exists. However, the physicists at the Atlas and CMS experiments will have to gather more data before they can claim to have discovered the 'God particle'.
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Have they found the Higgs boson? Nearly...
3. GRENADE ATTACK IN BELGIAN CITY
At least two people have been killed and 15 injured in the Belgian city of Liege after a gun and grenade attack at a crowded market square and bus station. It is reported that one of the attackers has been killed, but at least one other is still on the loose. Some reports claim the attack is linked to a court case involving an honour killing.
4. IRAN REFUSES TO RETURN US SPY DRONE
Iran has refused to return a captured spy drone to the United States, saying it is their property now. A member of the Iranian parliament says the data extracted from the unmanned aircraft will be used to sue the US over "the invasion". Barack Obama earlier announced the US had asked Iran to return the drone.
5. ATTENBOROUGH DEFENDS 'FAKERY'
Sir David Attenborough has defended his Frozen Planet series after newspapers complained scenes of baby polar bears were filmed in a zoo, saying: "If you had tried to put a camera in the wild in a polar bear den, mother’s den, she would have either killed the cub or the cameraman, one or the other."
BBC’s Frozen Planet accused of polar bear trickery
6. LEVESON: FRESH PROBE
Lord Leveson has ordered an inquiry into his inquiry in an attempt to "get to the bottom" of claims that News of the World journalists were not in fact responsible for deleting voicemails left on the phone of murder victim Milly Dowler. The inquiry will take statements from the Surrey and the Metropolitan police.
Dowler 'false hope' messages were not erased by NotW
7. 'GAY' PENGUINS GO STRAIGHT
A penguin who became a celebrity because he shared a nest with another male for more than a year in Toronto zoo has mated with a female after the 'gay' pair were split up by the zoo in order to encourage them to breed. 'Buddy' has paired with a female while 'Pedro' has been seen chasing females.
Toronto's 'gay' penguins split over female interloper
8. JONNY WILKINSON RETIRES
Superstar fly-half Jonny Wilkinson yesterday announced his retirement from international rugby. In a statement on
his website, he said: "Playing the game, representing the team, giving my all and never letting go has meant everything to me." He earned 97 caps during his international career.
In pictures: Rugby legend Jonny Wilkinson retires
9. UK INFLATION FALLS
Both measures of inflation have fallen, according to the Office for National Statistics. The Consumer Prices Index fell to 4.8% in November from 5% in October. The Retail Prices Index also fell by 0.2% to 5.2%. However, inflation remains well above the Bank of England's target rate of 2%.
10. HOT TICKET: FRAYN REVISITED
Michael Frayn’s popular 1982 farce Noises Off is revived at the Old Vic tonight. Follow the backstage shenanigans and on-stage misadventures of a laughably bad amateur sex comedy touring the country. Starring Celia Imrie, Amy Nuttall and Hustle star Robert Glenister. Until 25 February 2012.
