Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Thursday 23 Feb 2012

1. UK 'SEX-SELECTION' ABORTIONS REVEALED

Doctors at UK clinics have agreed to perform illegal abortions because parents were unhappy with the gender of an unborn baby, claims The Daily Telegraph. Health Secretary Andrew Lansley, who has launched an investigation, says he is "extremely concerned" by the revelations.

British doctors filmed offering 'sex selection' abortions

2. FRENCH REPORTER ASKS TO LEAVE HOMS

French reporter Edith Bouvier, who was injured in the same attack that killed journalists Marie Colvin and Remi Ochlik in the Syrian city of Homs, has asked to be evacuated, saying she needs urgent medical attention. Meanwhile the US, Europe and Arab nations are to demand access to Syria to provide humanitarian aid.

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Colvin 'deliberately targeted' for reporting on Syrian killings

3. BARON COHEN 'NOT BANNED' FROM OSCARS

The Hollywood Academy has denied that Sasha Baron Cohen has been banned from the Oscars ceremony on Sunday, contradicting earlier reports that his tickets had been cancelled because he intended to turn up dressed as the main character from his new film The Dictator. However, an Academy spokesman said it was not appropriate for Baron Cohen to promote his film at the ceremony.

Sacha Baron Cohen's Dictator banned from the Oscars

4. MP ARRESTED FOR BAR BRAWL

Labour MP Eric Joyce has been arrested on suspicion of assault following a brawl inside a bar at the House of Commons. Witnesses claim Joyce head-butted and punched Tory MP Stuart Andrew and assaulted several other MPs. “[He] just started lashing out at people," an eye-witness told the PoliticsHome website.

Labour MP Eric Joyce arrested after brawl in Commons bar

5. CHURCH SETTLES NOTW HACK CLAIM

Charlotte Church has become the latest celebrity to accept an out-of-court settlement from News International over claims of phone hacking at the News of the World. The singer's case had been due to go to trial next week. Details of the settlement, believed to be worth up to £500,000, will be revealed next week.

Church's phone-hack payout helps spare Murdoch's blushes

6. CLINTON CALLS FOR SOMALIA ELECTIONS

Hillary Clinton has told Somalia's interim government to adopt a constitution and hold new elections by August or face sanctions. Speaking at a conference on the failed state in London, the US Secretary of State insisted that any attempt to prevent the establishment of a "stable government" would not be tolerated. Islamist group Al-Shabaab, which runs much of Somalia, was not invited.

What to do about Somalia? Cut the jargon and close the doors

7. SURGEONS 'LIVE TWEET' OPERATION

A team of American surgeons shared minute-by-minute details of an open-heart surgery on Twitter posting tweets, pictures, and video clips of a coronary bypass they were performing. The lead surgeon wore a helmet cam as he operated on the unnamed 57-year-old patient.

8. LOOSE CABLE BLAMED FOR LIGHT SPEED UPSET

Scientists at CERN who announced last year that they had clocked neutrons travelling faster than the speed of light - in violation of Einstein's Theory of Special Relativity - have admitted their stunning findings might have been down to a loose cable.

Light-speed busting neutrinos: was it just a loose cable?

9. PEARCE NAMES YOUNG ENGLAND SQUAD

Caretaker England boss Stuart Pearce has named his squad for the friendly against Holland next week. There is no place for veterans Rio Ferdinand and Frank Lampard, while ex-captain John Terry is injured. Younger players including Micah Richards, Tom Cleverley and Sunderland striker Frazier Campbell have been picked.

10. HOT TICKET: ROGUE MALE, 2012-STYLE

The ‘Bourne-style’ spy thriller ‘Safe House’ opens at UK cinemas this weekend Denzel Washington stars as a rogue agent playing a cat-and-mouse mind game with his ambitious CIA minder (Ryan Reynolds). “Undemanding but entertaining,” says Empire.

Safe as houses: Denzel Washington's easy spy caper