Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Sunday 14 Oct 2012

1. FIVE MARINES FACE MURDER CHARGES

Five Royal Marines, out of a total of nine arrested over recent days, have now been charged with murder in connection with the death of an insurgent in Afghanistan’s Helmand province last year. Four others have been released without charge. Seven of the Marines were arrested last Thursday and two more were detained over the weekend.

2. RADIO 1 BOSS ADMITS QUESTIONING SAVILE

A former controller of Radio 1, Derek Chinnery, has admitted that he once formally questioned Jimmy Savile about rumours concerning his sex life - and Savile said it was “all nonsense”. Chinnery told the BBC’s Broadcasting House programme he had no reason to disbelieve Savile. “He was the sort of man that attracted rumours.”

3. ROMNEY AIDE MOCKS OBAMA'S 'MOON LANDING'

An adviser to Mitt Romney has mocked campaign rival Barack Obama for claiming credit for the killing of Osama Bin Laden in Pakistan last year. John Bolton, a former US ambassador to the United Nations, said: “That’s like Nixon taking credit for Buzz Aldrin and Neil Armstrong landing on the moon six months after he took office."

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

4. 'VAMPIRE' OSBORNE 'IDOLISED BLAIR'

George Osborne is like a "vampire" who idolised Tony Blair and only "fell into" the Conservative Party, according to a new book. Janan Ganesh's book also claims Osborne warned colleagues that the recession will last longer than expected. "There is light at the end of the tunnel but the tunnel is getting longer and the light is getting dimmer," he told colleagues.

5. THREAT TO ‘SHUT’ GENERALS’ ACCESS

Defence Secretary Philip Hammond will “shut down” retired military leaders’ access to the government if it is found that the system has been abused. He gave the assurance to THE BBC’S Andrew Marr after The Sunday Times secretly filmed retired generals boasting they could influence MPs on behalf of arms firms chasing lucrative deals.

6. TOP SCIENTISTS OPPOSE BADGER CULL

The government's chief scientist has refused to back the badger cull, as a group of leading animal disease scientists signed a letter describing the cull as "mindless" and a "costly distraction". The letter, sent to The Observer, protests against the planned cull of up to 100,000 badgers, a third of the British population.

7. TEN MINISTERS WANT MITCHELL TO QUIT

At least 10 cabinet ministers wants 'plebgate' chief whip Andrew Mitchell to step down, reports The Sunday Telegraph. One minister said Mitchell is "completely undermined now – how can he enforce discipline in the parliamentary party after all this?” However, The Independent On Sunday says 70 MPs have written letters of support to Mitchell.

8. HILLSBOROUGH: OVER 60% 'COULD HAVE LIVED'

As many as 58 victims of the Hillsborough disaster could have lived if the emergency services had responded better, according to fresh analysis. The recent report into the disaster had estimated 41 of the 96 people who died could have been saved. However, campaigners now believe that over 60% of the deaths could have been prevented

9. LEWIS HAMILTON OUT OF F1 TITLE RACE

Sebastian Vettel drove his Red Bull car to victory in the South Korean Grand Prix today and takes over top spot in the world championship race from Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso who came third. Vettel’s team-mate Mark Webber came second. Lewis Hamilton’s titles hopes are considered over after finishing only tenth in his McLaren.

10. UK’S HEATHER WATSON BREAKS TENNIS RECORD

Heather Watson, 20, has become the first British woman to take a WTA singles title since 1988 after winning the Japan Open. Having faced four match points against her at 5-4 in the third set, Watson came back to beat Chang Kai-chen 7-5 5-7 7-6 (7-4). Guernsey-born Watson will now replace Laura Robson as British number one.