Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Friday 27 Jan 2012

1. OUTRAGE AT RBS CHIEF'S £963,000 BONUS

Banker Stephen Hester, chief executive of RBS, has been urged to turn down the £963,000 bonus he is due on top of his £1.2m basic salary. On Question Time, Lib Dem minister Jeremy Browne said it meant Hester was paid more in three days than a soldier serving in Afghanistan received in a year. "He should reflect on that."

£963,000 question: do bonuses really make for better bankers?

2. SEMI-FINAL HEARTACHE FOR ANDY MURRAY

Andy Murray dreams of a Grand Slam were shattered once again as he lost to world number one Novak Djokovic in the semi-final of the Australian Open. The Scot lost the first set but battled back to take the next two. Djokovic made it 2-2 before a thrilling finale in which Murray fought back from 5-2 down, only to lose 7-5.

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Brave Andy Murray beaten by Djokovic in classic semi final

3. APPLE TO PROBE WORKING PRACTICES

Under-fire technology giant Apple has announced it is to launch an investigation into working practices at its factories in China. Chief executive Tim Cook is said to have emailed all Apple employees telling them it "cares about every worker in its supply chain". Earlier this week the New York Times ran an expose of conditions in Chinese factories.

NYT expose lifts the lid on the human cost of Apple gadgets

4. SIBERIAN CHILL HEADS TO UK

A bitter Siberian chill will blast away the UK's mild winter this weekend. A mass of cold air, currently over Russia, is expected to arrive on Sunday night. A Met Office spokeswoman said there is a “good chance” of snow falling across the country by early next week.

Siberian snow flurries put an end to Britain's mild winter

5. ROMNEY RIDICULES NEWT'S MOON PLAN

After working with a new debate coach, Republican hopeful Mitt Romney hammered Newt Gingrich in the final Florida debate. The audience cheered when Romney said: "If I had a business executive come to me and say I want to spend a few hundred billion dollars to put a colony on the moon, I'd say, `You're fired.'"

'Don't be repulsive': Romney rips into Gingrich on TV

6. I CAN'T WRITE OR SPELL SAYS REDKNAPP

Spurs manager Harry Redknapp is totally disorganised, has never written a letter in his life, has never sent a fax or a text message, cannot work a computer and cannot spell, a London court heard yesterday. Redknapp made the claims to police when when he was first questioned about his taxes. He denies fraud.

Redknapp: 'Can't write, can't spell, can't fiddle my taxes'

7. BBC CHIEF 'READY TO STEP DOWN'

BBC Director-General Mark Thompson is "psychologically ready" to step down after the Olympics, according to The Guardian. Insiders say he could leave the job before the end of 2012. Thompson, 54, earned £779,000 last year – but his successor will be paid considerably less, BBC Trust chairman Lord Patten said recently.

BBC begins hunt for a new 'cut-price' Director-General

8. WARDEN EXPOSES TICKET QUOTAS

A London traffic warden, Hakim Berkani, was unfairly dismissed because he refused to abide by a secret quota of ten tickets a day imposed by his bosses, a tribunal judge ruled yesterday. Berkani said he preferred to do "the decent thing" and only issue tickets when necessary. "I feel vindicated and happy," said Berkani.

London hero: traffic warden gave warnings not tickets

9. FALKLANDS: ARGENTINA 'SABRE-RATTLING'

Argentina does not have the military capability to invade the Falkland Islands, defence minister Gerald Howarth told MPs yesterday. He said Argentina was "sabre rattling", adding: "All the advice we have is that there is neither the capability nor the intention by the Argentines to repeat the folly of 1982."

Why do we care so much about Gibraltar and the Falklands?

10. HOT TICKET: CLOONEY HITS HAWAII

The Descendants, Alexander Payne's Oscar-nominated bitter-sweet family drama, opens at UK cinemas today. George Clooney stars as Matt King, a property developer living in Hawaii who is forced to face his family's problems when a boat accident leaves his wife in a coma. Empire calls it "something to be cherished".

Clooney gives his all in coma comedy The Descendants