Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Tuesday 31 Jan 2012

1. SIR FRED BECOMES PLAIN FRED GOODWIN

Fred Goodwin, the disgraced former chief executive of RBS, which had to be bailed out by taxpayers to the tune of £45bn, has had his knighthood annulled by the Queen, following advice from Whitehall officials. The news comes the same day the president of the CBI, Sir Roger Carr, said the "vilification" of Goodwin's successor, Stephen Hester, over his proposed bonus was damaging to business.

RBS: how to split it up and save money on expensive bankers

2. ROMNEY WELL AHEAD AS FLORIDA VOTES

Mitt Romney goes into today's Florida primary the clear favourite, with latest polls showing him an average 13 points ahead of Newt Gingrich, the other front-runner in the Republican race for presidential nominee. Sarah Palin has urged Florida voters to "rage against the machine" and "annoy a liberal" by voting for Gingrich.

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$10m on Gingrich - Sheldon Adelson's worst gamble?

3. ASSAD AND FAMILY THREATENED

A leading figure in the Syrian opposition movement has told The Daily Telegraph that President Bashar al Assad and his family 'will be killed like Gaddafi'. Haitham Maleh, who spent decades in Syrian prison for his human rights work, said Assad has forfeited his chance of a peaceful resolution.

Assad, his wife and children 'will be killed like Gaddafi'

4. SHIRLEY MACLAINE JOINS DOWNTON

The Oscar-winning American actress Shirley MacLaine will join the cast of Downton Abbey for its third series. Her character, Martha Levinson, will be the mother of Lady Grantham. Maclaine – who has starred in over 50 films including Terms Of Endearment - will begin filming next month.

Shirley MacLaine waltzes into Downton Abbey as Cora's mom

5. NAVY DESTROYER SENT TO FALKLANDS

The Royal Navy has insisted that the deployment of its warship HMS Dauntless to the Falkland Islands is "entirely routine" and not a riposte to renewed claims from Argentina over the colony. However, Lord West, former head of the Navy, said: "Should there be any foolish nonsense from Argentina, Dauntless can sit just off the airfield and take down any aircraft coming in."

HMS Dauntless to Falklands not provocative act, says PM

6. SPEED SENT WIDOW SUICIDE MESSAGE

The widow of Gary Speed has told an inquest into her husband’s death that the couple had a row the night before his death and that he had sent her a text message mentionining suicide a few days earlier. The coroner concluded that it was not clear whether Speed’s death was accidental or intentional.

Gary Speed's death may have been an accident says coroner

7. ASSANGE TO APPEAR IN SIMPSONS

Wikileaks founder Julian Assange will appear in the long-running cartoon The Simpsons, the producers have announced. Assange will appear as himself on the 500th episode of the series, playing a neighbour of the Simpsons family. Assange recorded his lines remotely from Britain.

8. UK REFUSES EU TREATY

Twenty-five European Union states have signed up to a new fiscal treaty which will force member states in the eurozone to adhere to stringent rules on spending and borrowing. Britain and the Czech Republic are the only countries to have rejected the treaty. The PM said he will be “watching like a hawk" to ensure British interests are not harmed.

Cameron in Brussels: not so much a U-turn, more a black flip

9. ROW BREWS OVER GIBRALTAR

Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy is expected to demand talks with Britain over the sovereignty of Gibraltar - without the involvement of residents of the Rock. The call would come despite British PM David Cameron's insistence last week in front of Spanish MEPs that the colony has a right to self-determination.

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

10. HOT TICKET: ABI MORGAN’S LOVESONG

Following a successful UK tour, Abi Morgan’s play about love, loss and ageing has arrived at the Lyric Hammersmith. Morgan, acclaimed for her scripts for The Iron Lady and Shame, uses dialogue, choreography and sound to tell the bittersweet story of a marriage across time. The Observer says it “can take your breath away”.