Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Saturday 24 Nov 2012

1. UKIP COUPLE LOSE FOSTER CHILDREN

A couple who are members of Ukip have had their three foster children removed from their care due to their support for the party. The unnamed couple told The Daily Telegraph that Rotherham Council accused them of belonging to a "racist" party. Ukip leader Nigel Farrage said the decision is “a bloody outrage” and “political prejudice of the very worst kind”.

2. UK BRACES FOR FRESH FLOODS

Flood-hit areas are braced for more chaos as fresh downpours and heavy winds are set to hit the UK on Saturday. The Met Office says heavy rain is expected in south-west England and Wales, and has issued an amber warning for those areas. Deluges on Thursday evening flooded 300 properties and took the life of a Somerset man.

3. TEAR GAS BREAKS-UP EGYPT DEMO

Protestors in Egypt have fled Cairo's Tahrir Square after being targeted with tear gas. They had vowed to stage a week-long sit-in as protest against President Mohammed Mursi's passing of a decree that gives him increased power. The demonstrators say Mursi is becoming a dictator like his predecessor, Hosni Mubarak.

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4. FEARS OVER STREET TRADE REFORM

Pushy door to door salesmen and unscrupulous street traders could be poised for a comeback after the government announced it is to relax restrictions on street trade. The pedlars act, which has stood for 141 years, requires such traders to apply to the police for a licence. The government plans to scrap this law, to encourage "young entrepreneurs".

5. DALLAS STAR LARRY HAGMAN DIES

Actor Larry Hagman, best known for playing JR in Dallas, has died at the age of 81. Having suffered with cancer and cirrhosis of the liver, he passed away on Friday afternoon. "Larry was back in his beloved Dallas, re-enacting the iconic role he loved most," said a family statement. "He was surrounded by loved ones."

6. CAREY: FASTTRACK WOMEN BISHOPS

The Church of England should find a way to "speed through" the introduction of women bishops, says former Archbishop of Canterbury Lord Carey of Clifton. Carey, who secured the ordination of women priests in 1992, told The Times: "It is time to move on and ordain women to the episcopate. Where there is a will, there is a way."

7. 'COPULATION' EMAIL DAD SPEAKS

The retired submarine captain whose email slamming his children's "copulation driven" lifestyle went viral this week says he "longs" to see his children take responsibility. Although Nick Crews regrets the email becoming public, he tells The Daily Telegraph: "I would be mortified if they were to need - either immediately or in later life - state benefits."

8. TOO MANY SANTAS 'CONFUSE CHILDREN'

Department store Debenhams will not include Santa grottos in its branches this Christmas, claiming that parents have complained children are confused because there are "too many" Santas on high streets. Customers complained that last Christmas their children saw as many as four or five different Santas in one shopping trip.

9. NAKED MAN CLOSES WHITEHALL

A 100-yard long stretch of Whitehall was cordoned off for several hours on Friday after a naked man climbed onto a statue. Police feared the man was armed with a knife when they were called just after midday to deal with a man was straddling the Prince George, Duke of Cambridge statue. When he was led away he was found to be unarmed.

10. COLE AND LAMPARD TO LEAVE BLUES

Interim Chelsea manager Rafa Benitez says Frank Lampard and Ashley Cole are likely to leave Chelsea in the summer. Both England stars are in the final year of their contracts. “I think it’s the case that Frank and Ashley will leave in the summer," said Benitez after talks with the club's directors. “But that is not up to me.”