Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Wednesday 21 Dec 2011

1. TERRY TO BE CHARGED WITH RACIST ABUSE

Chelsea and England captain John Terry is to appear before West London magistrates on February 1 to answer a “racially aggravated public order” charge following comments allegedly made to QPR defender Anton Ferdinand on 23 October. The chief Crown Prosecutor for London said today there was “sufficient evidence for a realistic prospect of conviction”.

John Terry vows to clear his name over racism charge

2. N KOREA 'LYING' ABOUT KIM DEATH

North Korea is lying about the circumstances of the death of Kim Jong Il, says a spy from South Korea. Won Sei Hoon, director of the National Intelligence Service, told the country's parliament that Kim could not have died during a rural trip on his personal train as it remained stationary in the capital at the time of his death.

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

Kim didn't die on his train, says South Korean spy chief

3. MORGAN 'UNAWARE' OF PHONE HACKING

Piers Morgan told the Leveson Inquiry that he was unaware of any phone hacking while in charge at the Daily Mirror. Giving evidence via video-link from the United States, Morgan refused to disclose how he came to listen to a voicemail left by Sir Paul McCartney for Heather Mills during a rocky period in their marriage.

Piers Morgan on celebrity bins and other ethical matters

4. RIOTING ARSONISTS COULD BE SHOT

Rioters who endanger life by setting fire to businesses that adjoin homes could justifiably be shot by police during future disturbances, a report from a policing watchdog noted yesterday. Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary also said water cannons are a 'good option to protect vulnerable areas and premises'.

Police watchdog says it's OK to shoot arsonists - just bravado?

5. CZECHS MOURN VACLAV HAVEL

Thousands of mourners thronged the streets of Prague today to see late leader Vaclav Havel’s coffin born through the streets with a military escort, followed by his grieving wife and daughter, to Prague Castle. Havel’s coffin will lie in state there for three days of national mourning until his funeral, attended by world leaders, on Friday.

In pictures: Czechs line Prague streets to mourn Vaclav Havel

6. SUNNIS WARN OF IMMINENT IRAQ CHAOS

Two leading Iraqi Sunnis have warned of imminent sectarian chaos in the wake of the US withdrawal, claiming that Nouri al-Maliki's government is promoting an anti-Sunni agenda. Meanwhile, Iraq's vice-president Tariq al-Hashimi, has denied ordering a recent car bombing near the Iraqi parliament.

Civil war alert as Saudis and Iran take fight to Baghdad

7. FRENCH IMPLANTS NO RISK, SAYS UK

British health experts say there is no evidence that British women with silicone breast implants manufactured by French company Poly Implant Prosthese should have them removed. French authorities are expected to tell 30,000 women to have them removed after they were linked to the death of a cancer patient.

8. COALITION PLANNING REFORMS SLAMMED

Coalition planning reforms prioritise economic growth over care for the environment and have created an "inevitable" risk of more development in England's greenest parts, a cross-party group of MPs has warned. The report, by the Local Government Committee, also said the reforms could create a "lawyers' charter".

9. UK CREDIT RATING COULD BE CUT

The British economy faces “formidable and rising challenges” and could lose its AAA credit rating, it was claimed last night. Leading credit analysis agency Moody’s Investor Services issued the warning in its annual review. Meanwhile, writing in The Guardian, Business Secretary Vince Cable has attacked the "whingeing" City.

10. HOT TICKET: FIRST OF THE PANTOS

The critics’ pick of this year’s crop of pantomimes, Cinderella, written and directed by Susie McKenna, has opened in London. The original rags-to-riches tale comes complete with ugly step-sisters, a flying coach, singalongs and a Bollywood-style ending. The Telegraph calls it “a hoot”. Hackney Empire until 8 January.