Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Wednesday 25 Apr 2012

1. HUNT RESISTS CALLS TO RESIGN

Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt has defied Labour's calls to resign over allegations his office was feeding information to News Corp while he was adjudicating over the Murdoch-owned company's bid for BSkyB. Hunt said he "strictly followed due process", but Labour's Harriet Harman said he had been "backing" rather than "judging this bid". Earlier, Hunt's special adviser Adam Smith resigned over the affair.

Jeremy Hunt brazens it out but adviser Smith bites the dust

2. CHELSEA BEAT BARCA TO REACH FINAL

Against all odds, Chelsea are in the final of the Champions League after drawing 2-2 with Barcelona last night, winning the semi-final 3-2 on aggregate. Frank Lampard called the result "unbelievable" after his captain John Terry was sent off for a foul on 37 minutes. The goal that clinched it came from Chelsea's "£50m flop" Fernando Torres.

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Chelsea miracle: was win over Barcelona the best ever?

3. SPY IN BAG INQUEST: 'THIRD PARTY INVOLVED'

Specks of unexplained DNA were found on the holdall containing the curled-up body of MI6 spy Gareth Williams, found locked in the bag in the bath of his London flat, his inquest heard yesterday. Det Chief Inspector Jackie Sebire said they were found on the "zip toggle and padlock" and that she believed "a third party had been involved."

4. FRENCH TAX EVADERS HEAD FOR LONDON

London should expect an influx of wealthy French people seeking to escape increased taxes if/when Francois Hollande is elected president next month, according to The Times. The Socialist has vowed to raise upper income tax to 45 per cent and introduce a 75 per cent tax band for those who earn more than E1m.

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5. 'I'VE FOUND G-SPOT' SAYS FLORIDA DOCTOR

A Florida gynaecologist claims to have found proof that the G-spot exists in women. Dr Adam Ostrzenski says he has confirmed " the anatomic existence" of the elusive erogenous zone in the vagina. He says it is a "well-delineated sac structure" on the perineal membrane, precisely 8.1mm long and 3.6mm wide.

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6. FLOOD WARNINGS FOR DROUGHT-HIT SOUTH-WEST

The Environment Agency has issued seven flood warnings in the south-west of England - an area which only this month was declared in drought. An Environment Agency spokesman told the BBC: "It's going to take more than a week or two of rain to undo the effects of nearly two years of below-average rainfall."

7. EVANS TO APPEAL RAPE CONVICTION

Footballer Ched Evans, 23, is to appeal against his conviction for rape, his lawyers confirmed last night as his club Sheffield United suspended reserve player Connor Brown over insults he posted on Twitter about the 19 year old woman who was Evans' victim. North Wales Police said that arrests "will be made" over the naming of the victim on Twitter.

8. 'BEST OPPORTUNITY' TO FIND MADDIE

The detective leading the UK review of Madeleine McCann's disappearance, Chief Insp Andy Redwood, says police have the "best opportunity" yet to find the missing girl, who would now be eight, as Operation Grange is the first to have access to all the available evidence and that "clearly within that material the answer could lie".

9. UK IS IN RECESSION

The UK economy has entered recession following two successive quarters of negative growth. The Office for National Statistics announced this morning that GDP fell by 0.2 per cent between January and March. That came on top of a 0.3 per cent contraction in the previous quarter.

UK is in recession: Olympics and Jubilee could make it worse

10. HOT TICKET: WILD SWANS ON STAGE

A stage version of Jung Chang’s bestseller Wild Swans has opened at the Young Vic. Playwright Alexandra Wares compresses Chang’s 700-page biography of three generations of a Chinese family into a 90-minute play combining acting, puppetry and video. “A masterpiece”, says the New Statesman.

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