1. MILIBAND: WE MUST FACE REALITY
Ed Miliband today lays out a new direction in opposition and tells his party it must face up to the reality of the deficit and make difficult choices on spending at the next election. The Labour leader will use the Government's admission that the deficit will not be eliminated by 2015 as a spur to policy changes.
Labour fury as Ed lets PM make the running on a 'fairer' Britain
2. HIGH SPEED RAIL CLEARED FOR TAKE OFF
Transport secretary Justine Greening is expected to announce today that the first stage of HS2 – a high speed rail line between London and, initially, Birmingham – will go ahead at a cost of £17bn and is scheduled to be completed by 2026. A Y-shaped extension to Leeds and Manchester will follow by 2033.
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HS2: Cameron builds £500m tunnel 'to keep minister in job'
3. ROMNEY IS NEW HAMPSHIRE FAVOURITE
American voters in New Hampshire today select their preferred Republican presidential candidate as this year's race to the White House begins in earnest. Last-minute opinion polls show Mitt Romney with a slightly reduced lead and Ron Paul competing with Jon Huntsman for second place.
From far right to moderate: all the US Republican candidates
4. TAPES COULD LINK ADAMS TO IRA KILLING
A legal battle is taking place in the US for control of tape recordings from an academic study of the Troubles in which two witnesses apparently implicate Gerry Adams, the leader of Sinn Fein, in the 1972 killing of Jean McConville. Adams denies the unverified claims and says he was never in the IRA.
5. LEVESON TO GRILL CAMERON
The Leveson inquiry on press standards is "99.9 per cent" likely to call the Prime Minister to give evidence, the Times reports. David Cameron will be questioned under oath about his meetings with newspaper proprietors and editors including the Murdochs. Also called will be Gordon Brown and Ed Miliband.
Cameron to be quizzed about dealings with Murdoch empire
6. ERIC CANTONA TO RUN FOR PRESIDENT
Former Manchester United footballer Eric Cantona has announced he hopes to stand in this year's French presidential elections. The 45-year-old, who needs the signatures of 500 elected officials before he can stand and even then has little chance as an independent, wants to address social inequality.
Eric Cantona 'presidential run' is charity publicity stunt
7. SOLDIER'S SUICIDE BID AT PRESS CONFERENCE
A Polish military prosecutor defending an inquiry into the deaths in a plane crash two years ago of the country's president and other senior figures asked reporters to leave his office so he could have a "five minute break" yesterday, then immediately shot himself. Mikolaj Przybyl was injured but not killed.
Polish colonel shoots himself after news conference
8. MARK HUGHES BECOMES QPR BOSS
Mark Hughes has been confirmed as the new manager of Queens Park Rangers after signing a two-and-a-half year deal with the London club. The former Blackburn and Manchester City boss quit QPR's local rivals, Fulham, last summer claiming their ambition did not match his own. He is now tasked with keeping QPR in the Premier League.
9. WORRALL THOMPSON: I'M SORRY
TV chef Anthony Worrall Thompson has apologised for shoplifting goods worth about £100. He said he had "no idea" what motivated his onions and cheese-stealing spree but apologised "sincerely to Tesco … and to all the staff at the Henley branch, many of whom I've got to know over the years".
Worrall Thompson not the only star with sticky fingers
10. HOT TICKET: RETURN OF QUO VADIS
After a new year refurbishment and change of chef, one of Soho’s classic restaurants, Quo Vadis on Dean Street, reopens to the public today. Blueprint’s celebrated Jeremy Lee joins the kitchen to revamp the Italian-themed menu with signature dishes such as his eel and horseradish sandwich and salt mallard and beetroot salad.
