Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Sunday 22 Jul 2012

1. BUSINESS LEADER SLAMS OSBORNE

An attack by the director general of the British Chambers of Commerce has increased pressure on chancellor George Osborne as the government braces itself for confirmation the economy suffered a third consecutive quarter of decline. John Longworth of the BCC said ministers' indecision and "political calculation" is stifling growth.

2. ISRAEL FEARS OLYMPIC TERROR ATTACK

Israeli security services fear that Iran may stage a terror attack on Israeli athletes at the Olympic Games, reports The Sunday Times. Mossad agents are hunting Iranian-backed terrorists in Europe, believing they could stage an 'anniversary attack' 40 years after Palestinian terrorists slaughtered 11 members of the Israeli Olympic team in Munich.

3. MURDOCH QUITS PAPER DIRECTORSHIPS

Rupert Murdoch has resigned from a number of directorships controlling his British newspapers. News Corp plans to split into two firms, separating its print and screen enterprises. A spokesman played down the 81-year-old's resignations, claiming: "This is nothing more than a corporate house-cleaning exercise prior to the company split."

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4. £13 TRILLION HIDDEN FROM TAXMAN

A global elite of 'super-rich' is hiding at least £13 trillion from the taxman by using the offshore economy, according to a new study reported in The Observer. The campaign group Tax Justice Network's research found that "enablers" from private banks have helped channel the money into secretive jurisdictions such as Switzerland and the Cayman Islands.

5. SYRIANS FLEE FIERCE ALEPPO FIGHTING

Thousands of Syrians fled fierce fighting in the historic northern city of Aleppo yesterday. The regime warned it would shell districts controlled by rebels. Meanwhile, the UN says that at least 30,000 Syrian civilians have crossed into Lebanon in recent days, with thousands more expected to follow them in the days ahead.

6. ECCLESTONE FACES BRIBERY ARREST

British Formula One boss Bernie Ecclestone is facing arrest in Germany after a jailed banker accused him of bribery. Prosecutors confirm they are “fast-tracking” the case against 81-year-old Ecclestone, who could face charges of aiding embezzlement and tax evasion, as well as bribery. The tycoon, who is worth an estimated £2.5 billion, could be held for six months without charge.

7. MEN PROGRAMMED TO SLEEP AFTER SEX

Scientists have discovered the answer to the question of why men fall asleep after sex - their brains are programmed to 'switch off' after intercourse. Men's cerebral cortex shuts down during orgasm, then the temporal cortex and amygdala send a message to the brain to cease all sexual desire. Brain chemicals are sent out to induce sleepiness.

8. POLICE PROBE 'DENVER SUSPECT'S POSTING'

Denver police are investigating an internet posting linked to James Holmes, the man arrested for killing 12 people at a Colarado cinema. In the posting, on the website AdultFriendFinder.com, a user called 'ClassicJimbo' asks users: “Will you visit me in prison?” Meanwhile, police have cleared Holmes' home of explosives.

9. COE: OLYMPIC NEGATIVITY WILL EVAPORATE

Lord Coe says that all Olympic host cities face an avalanche of criticism and accusations in the run-up to the tournament, adding that: "The words fiasco, chaos and crisis become the £50 of journalistic currency". Writing in the Mail On Sunday, he said all the negativity will be forgotten when "19 days of spellbinding sport" begin next weekend.

10. COCKBURN MEMOIR IN THE PIPELINE

Amid the tributes to columnist Alexander Cockburn, who died on Friday after two years of cancer treatment, comes the news from his co-editor at CounterPunch, Jeffrey St Clair, that Cockburn has left a small book, ‘Guillotine’, and a completed memoir, ‘A Colossal Wreck’, both of which will be published in the coming year.