Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Saturday 21 Apr 2012

1. AL QAEDA WARNING OVER ABU QATADA

Britain will face a terror attack if the Government deports the radical Muslim cleric Abu Qatada, warns al-Qaeda associated group al-Shabaab. Meanwhile, the Government has promised to “vigorously” resist any application for Abu Qatada to be released on bail.

2. MARCH SUNSHINE BOOSTS ECONOMY

Warm weather and panic buying of petrol in March might helped UK avoid a double-dip recession as sales on high street rose by 5.7%. With the recent drop in the headline rate of unemployment and the Jubilee and Olympics to come, City analysts are optimistic about the economy.

3. BREIVIK DESCRIBES 'BEGGING' VICTIMS

Anders Behring Breivik has described how some of his victims were "begging for their lives" during his shooting rampage in Norway last July. He told his trial how he saw people "completely paralysed" as he reloaded his weapon and shot them in the head.

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4. OSBORNE'S £10M IMF LOAN

Chancellor George Osborne is under attack from Conservative and Labour MPs after he pledged nearly £10bn in further UK loans to the IMF. Tory MP Douglas Carswell described the move as "IMF bailout bull" and Labour said it was "a sticking plaster response".

5. DEADLY BEARS LOOSE IN JAPAN

A woman is thought to have been mauled to death in Japan after deadly bears escaped from their enclosures in a park. Her injuries are so "severe" that staff are struggling to identify her. Local residents have been told to stay indoors until the situation is under control.

6. 'REJOICE' IN GAY MARRIAGE, SAY BISHOPS

Senior bishops have told the Church of England to "rejoice" in gay marriage and to acknowledge that “God’s grace” is at work in same-sex partnerships. The letter to The Times was signed by members of the General Synod and clergy from across its doctrines.

7. ZIMMERMAN 'SORRY' FOR TRAYVON SHOOTING

George Zimmerman has apologised to the parents of Trayvon Martin for shooting their son. Speaking at his bail hearing, he said: "I wanted to say I am sorry for the loss of their son. I did not know how old he was....And I did not know if he was armed or not".

8. RACE MUST GO ON, INSISTS F1

Bernie Ecclestone and Bahrain Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa say the Grand Prix must go ahead despite violent protests in the Gulf state. Scrapping the race would "just empower extremists" said the Crown Prince. F1 boss Ecclestone said the violence is "nothing to do with us.”

9. PAKISTAN MOURNS CRASH VICTIMS

Pakistan is mourning the victims of a plane crash near Islamabad airport. All 127 people on board died when the Bhoja Air jet crashed during bad weather. It is feared that residents of the village of Hussain Abad, where much of plane's debris is scattered, might have died.

10. ROONEY AND DAWSON SUE NI

Footballer Wayne Rooney and rugby union World Cup winner Matt Dawson are among the latest figures to file suits against News International over alleged News of the World phone hacking. Times Newspapers is facing its first claim, from human rights campaigner Jane Winter.

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