Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Thursday 22 Dec 2011

1. UK 'COULD BREAK-UP WITHIN YEARS'

Britain's most senior civil servant Sir Gus O’Donnell has questioned whether the United Kingdom will still exist in a few years’ time. Writing in the Daily Telegraph, Mr O'Donnell - who steps down on Jan 1 - said the union faces "enormous challenges", including the pressure for Scottish independence.

2. CALL FOR NUKE SUBS IN FALKLANDS

The government should send a nuclear submarine to the Falkland Islands in response to Argentina and some of its neighbours closing their ports to ships flying the Falklands flag, says the former head of the Royal Navy. Lord West also urged Britain to start military exercises in the region.

3. HANSEN SORRY FOR 'COLOURED PLAYERS' GAFFE

Alan Hansen has apologised for his use of outdated language during a discussion on racism in football on Match of the Day last night. Hansen sparked outrage when he remarked: "There's a lot of coloured players in all the major teams." Today he said: "I unreservedly apologise for any offence caused."

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Alan Hansen scores own goal with 'coloured players' remark

4. MILLS DENIES PLAYING TAPE TO MORGAN

Heather Mills says she has never played a voicemail message from her ex-husband to Piers Morgan. It had been suggested that she might have been the source that allowed Morgan to hear the message. She denied this and declared herself "more than happy" to answer questions at the Leveson Inquiry.

5. SAUDIS FIRM ON FEMALE DRIVERS

The Saudi Arabian government has refused to overturn a sentence of flogging for a woman who defied its ban on female drivers, a decision activists see as evidence of the growing influence of the new hardline Crown Prince Nayef bin Abdulaziz. Shaima Jastaniya was sentenced to ten lashes for defying the ban.

Saudis could still flog woman who dared to drive car

6. CARNAGE AS 14 BOMBS HIT IRAQ

At least 63 people have been killed and 185 people injured in coordinated bombings in Baghdad. Four car bombs and 10 improvised explosive devices tore through the Iraqi capital. Nobody has so far claimed responsibility but the level of organisation suggests al-Qaeda was involved.

7. LHC SCIENTISTS DISCOVER NEW PARTICLE

Scientists using the Large Hadron Collider at the Cern laboratory in Switzerland have discovered a new particle. Chi-b(3) is a 'boson', which means it carries force. It is made up of a 'beauty quark' and a 'beauty anti-quark' which are bound together by the same force that keeps the nuclei of atoms together.

8. ADOPTION SELECTION OVERHAUL

An overhaul is planned of the checks made on prospective adoptive parents in England. Ministers want to speed-up the "painfully slow, repetitive and ineffective" process and allow social workers to make "sound, common-sense judgements about someone's suitability to adopt".

9. GIGGS IN NEW PREM RECORD

Ryan Giggs set a new Premier League record when he scored in Man Utd's 5-0 demolition of Fulham last night : he has now scored in all 20 Premier League campaigns. Man City guaranteed top place for Christmas by beating Stoke City 3-0. Arsenal beat Aston Villa 2-1, with a late winner from Yossi Benayoun.

Man Utd cruise to victory but City take festive top spot

10. HOT TICKET: HANDEL’S MESSIAH

Handel's Messiah, one of the best loved choral works of the season, will be performed by The Orchestra of St John’s tonight. The OSJ combines talents with soprano Hannah Davey, counter-tenor Roderick Morris, tenor John Pierce and baritone David Pike. “Heartfelt and unaffectedly memorable” says the Evening Standard. Kings Place.