Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Sunday 26 Feb 2012

1. CLARKE SLAMS LABOUR LEADERSHIP

Former Labour cabinet minister Charles Clarke has said the party's leadership is "not remotely near" being able to provide a strong and credible opposition. In an interview with The Daily Telegraph, he argues: "Simply to say what the Government is doing is a load of rubbish is absolutely not good enough. We have to say what we would do in these circumstances."

2. COLVIN DIED RETRIEVING SHOES

Marie Colvin, the Sunday Times journalist killed in Syria last week, died while attempting to retrieve her shoes so she could flee the besieged press centre. Colvin and her colleagues had removed their shoes out of respect for a Middle Eastern custom. After a rocket hit the upper floor of the building she ran to the hall to collect her shoes and was killed by a rocket that landed a few yards from her.

3. PHONE APPS SPY ON MESSAGES

Companies, including Facebook, are using smartphone apps to spy on users' phone messages and gather information about their lives. A Sunday Times investigation also found that some apps can access users' internet history which is transmitted to third party advertisers, while other apps can remotely control a phone's camera.

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4. THE SUN RISES ON SUNDAY

The first edition of The Sun on Sunday has gone on sale. Around three million copies are reported to have been printed, and Rupert Murdoch, who oversaw the production of the first issue, has stated on Twitter he will "be very happy at anything substantially over two million" sales. The paper's columnists include Heston Blumenthal, Katie Price and Toby Young.

5. SYRIA HOLDS REFERENDUM

The Syrian government is holding a national referendum on a new constitution, as violence and unrest continues. The opposition has boycotted the referendum for a new constitution that calls for a multi-party parliamentary election within three months. Despite this, the government has erected over 13,000 polling stations for 14.6m voters.

6. THE ARTIST TIPPED AT OSCARS

The silent French film The Artist has emerged as the clear favourite to take the iconic best picture prize at this evening's Oscars ceremony. George Clooney and Brad Pitt are both up for best actor, while Meryl Streep and Viola Davies are up for best actress. Elton John and Madonna, engaged in a long-running spat, are battling to throw the most glamorous post-ceremony bash.

7. INDUSTRIAL ACTION BALLOT BY BMA

Over 100,000 doctors and medical students will be balloted on industrial action by the British Medical Association. The ballot, the first of its kind since the 1970s, will ask whether action should be taken over the Government's controversial public sector pension reforms. The BMA insists it has "pursued every avenue" to avoid the step.

8. NEW VIRUS HITS BRITISH FARMS

Scientists are urgently trying to discover how to stop a new virus that has killed thousands of lambs and threatens the survival of many British farms. The Schmallenberg virus, which hit Britain last month, causes lambs to be born dead or with deformities which mean they cannot survive. Some 74 British farms have already been hit with the virus, which also affects cattle.

9. NELSON MANDELA IN HOSPITAL

The former President of South Africa Nelson Mandela is in a stable and comfortable condition, having spent Saturday evening in hospital following what officials described as a "diagnostic procedure" for a long-standing abdominal issue. The 93-year-old, who was conscious throughout the procedure, is due to be discharged from hospital by Monday.

10. JAPAN'S 'VERY EXISTENCE' DOUBTED

In the wake of the Fukushima nuclear disaster the then Prime Minister of Japan was warned the country's "very existence" could have been in peril. Naoto Kan was privately warned that if all six of the plant's reactors had melted down Tokyo would need to be evacuated, creating 30m displaced people. Radiation levels would have stayed high for decades.