Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Wednesday 22 Aug 2012

1. UK GOV’T TO LAUNCH PUSH FOR GROWTH

The British government will launch stimulus measures to promote jobs and growth in September. The Guardian says there are plans to boost house building and to borrow to build roads and infrastructure. But MPs and business leaders question whether the move will be speedy enough to help Britain climb out of recession in 2012.

UK push for growth expected - but will it be enough?

2. PRINCE HARRY NAKED IN VEGAS ROMP

Photographs which purport to show Prince Harry and an unnamed woman naked during a game of “strip billiards” in a Las Vegas VIP hotel suite at the weekend were last night posted on the Hollywood gossip site TMZ. The Prince is said to have invited a number of women to his suite. A spokesman has declined to comment.

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Naked Prince Harry pictures: British media in turmoil

3. GREECE ASKS FOR ‘BREATHING SPACE’

Greek Prime Minister Antonis Samaras has asked for more time to implement spending cuts and reforms needed if his country is to receive its next E31.5bn bailout payment next month. Samaras, who is due to meet Eurozone leader Jean-Claud Juncker today, told the German daily Bild that Greece needs “breathing space”.

Can Greece remain in Europe? This could be make-or-break week

4. ROMNEY CALLS FOR AKIN’S HEAD

Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney yesterday demanded that Todd Akin “exit” from his race for a seat in the Senate as the uproar over his claims that women’s bodies could prevent pregnancy in cases of “legitimate rape” threatened to derail his own bid for the White House. Akin has defied the call, accusing critics of “over-reacting”.

Mike Huckabee: 'rape can create extraordinary people'

5. TONY NICKLINSON DIES AFTER REFUSING FOOD

Tony Nicklinson, one of two men with locked-in syndrome who unsuccessfully asked the courts to let assistants help them to take their own lives, has died at home after refusing food since last week. His family released a statement earlier saying he had died of "natural causes" at the age of 58. Police have said they have no plans to investigate the death.

Tony Nicklinson died after refusing food, says lawyer

6. MPS EARN MILLIONS ON THE SIDE

Dozens of MPs earn tens of thousands of pounds from outside interests on top of their parliamentary income, a report in The Times claims. A total of 68 MPs now make more than £10,000 a year each from outside earnings, earning almost £6 million between them. Big earners include Gordon Brown, David Miliband and Alistair Darling.

MPs who earn £10,000 plus from their second jobs

7. ASIL NADIR FOUND GUILTY OF 10 CHARGES

Former Polly Peck tycoon Asil Nadir has been found guilty of 10 counts of theft totalling £29m and acquitted of three by a jury at the Old Bailey. The first four verdicts were given earlier this week but now the jury has deliberated on all 13 charges. Nadir's wife Nur, 30 years his junior, said her husband would appeal. He awaits sentencing.

Who is Asil Nadir and what was Polly Peck?

8. SYRIA: ASSAD ‘COULD BE REMOVED’

Syria's deputy prime minister Qadri Jamil said yesterday his government is prepared to discuss the exit of dictator Bashar al-Assad, but that his resignation cannot be a pre-condition for talks and there must be no intervention. He was speaking after President Obama’s warning that the US might intervene if Syria uses chemical weapons against rebels.

Russia hits back at Obama’s warning on Syrian WMDs

9. COUNCIL SNOOPS ABUSE TERROR POWERS

Powers designed to combat terrorism and serious crime have been used to catch dog owners whose pets fouled the streets and smokers and fly-tippers in more than 9,000 surveillance operations mounted by local councils in the last three years, a report from the Big Brother Watch campaign claimed last night.

10. HOT TICKET: WINE BAR IN BATTERSEA

The team behind the popular London wine bar restaurants Terroirs and Brawn have opened a third venue, Soif, in Battersea Rise. Soif serves hearty, seasonal French, Spanish and British food - bone marrow with ceps, pigs’ cheeks in cider - and a range of natural continental wines. “A gem”, says The Guardian.

Meaty cooking and quirky wine list hit south London