Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Sunday 17 Jun 2012

1. POLLS OPEN IN CRUNCH GREECE VOTE

The polls have opened in Greece for an election that could have profound consequences for the global economy. Voters are choosing between the New Democracy party's pro-austerity policy and the anti-bailout Syriza. Commentators predict that if Greece leaves the eurozone, it will become "another Lehman moment".

2. WIDESPREAD OLYMPIC CORRUPTION REPORTED

Olympic officials have broken rules by selling thousands of London 2012 tickets on the black market for up to 10 times their face value, reports The Sunday Times. An undercover investigation found thousands of tickets for top events were being sold at huge mark-ups. The International Olympic Committee is investigating and has vowed to use the “strongest sanctions”.

Olympic black market: IOC acts over London 2012 ticket claims

Subscribe to The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up

3. NEW SURVEY DAMNS OSBORNE

George Osborne is perceived as posh, arrogant and out of touch with the public, according to a new poll. The ComRes poll found that only one in four believe he is leading the economy in the right direction, with 55% – including over a third of those who voted Tory in 2010 – agreeing he is "too posh to understand the financial pressures on ordinary people".

4. GPS' £3.5M PENSIONS REVEALED

As doctors prepare to strike on Thursday over changes to their pensions, new official figures show that over 100 GPs and consultants have recently retired with pension schemes worth more than £3.5m each. Health Minister Simon Burns said that thanks to the figures, "everyone can see the system is unsustainable".

5. CAMPBELL AND IANNUCCI'S TWITTER SPAT

Former spin doctor Alastair Campbell and satirist Armando Iannucci have clashed on Twitter over the latter's decision to accept an OBE. Campbell attacked Iannucci for "joining [the] establishment he claims to deride", adding that "three little letters can have more impact than you realise". To which Iannucci replied: "WMD".

OBE. WMD. Iannucci slaps down Campbell in Twitter row

6. SUU KYI ACCEPTS NOBEL 21 YEARS ON

Aung San Suu Kyi has delivered her acceptance speech for the Nobel Peace Prize 21 years after it was awarded to her. Speaking in Oslo, the Burmese pro-democracy leader said learning of the award helped to ease her sense of isolation during her house arrest. "It made me real once again", she told the ceremony.

Emotional Aung San Suu Kyi accepts Nobel Peace Prize

7. LEVESON CONTACTED CABINET OVER GOVE

Lord Justice Leveson complained to Westminster's leading civil servant after Michael Gove raised fears that his inquiry into the press was creating "a chilling atmosphere towards freedom of expression". Leveson is said to have told Cabinet Secretary Sir Jeremy Heywood that Gove's statement risked undermining the entire inquiry.

8. US CALLS ON UK TO STOP ARMS SHIP

The US government has called on Britain to help its bid to stop a ship believed to be carrying Russian attack helicopters to the Syrian regime, reports The Sunday Telegraph. Meanwhile, the international peace plan for Syria is in turmoil after UN observers suspended their activities in Syria because of worsening violence in the country.

9. TRIDENT RENEWAL 'SPLITS COALITION'

The Government will announce a £1bn contract to build a new generation of nuclear weapons, risking fresh coalition tensions with the Liberal Democrats. Defence Secretary Philip Hammond's policy to renew Trident is opposed by Nick Clegg's party. A Lib Dem source told The Sunday Telegraph the move will create a “massive fault line” within the coalition.

10. SHOCK RESULTS IN EUROS

Hosts Poland and much-fancied Russia are both out of Euro 2012 after an evening of dramatic results. Giorgos Karagounis scored the only goal as Greece beat Russia. Meanwhile, the Czech Republic also reached the quarter-finals after beating Poland 1-0, with Petr Jiracek on the score-sheet in a scrappy tie.

Rooney set to replace Welbeck for England clash with Ukraine