Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Saturday 15 Dec 2012

1. US SCHOOL SHOOTING: 20 CHILDREN DEAD

A tearful Barack Obama told Americans “our heart are broken” after a shooting at a Connecticut school yesterday left 20 young children and six adults dead. The gunman, Adam Lanza, 20, also shot his mother and then committed suicide, bringing the death toll to 28. Obama pledged “meaningful action to prevent more tragedies like this”.

2. MILIBAND DROPPED LABOUR MEA CULPA

Ed Miliband originally planned to admit during yesterday's speech that Labour's immigration policies have created problems for Britain. His spin doctors had briefed the media that the Labour leader would say: "We did too little to tackle the realities of segregation in communities that were struggling to cope." The admission was dropped at the last minute.

3. CHARLES'S ESTATE TAX TO BE PROBED

HMRC is set to probe the tax arrangements of Prince Charles's hereditary estate. The Duchy of Cornwall estate, which provided Charles with an income of £18m last year, says it is not subject to corporation tax. But a court ruling has raised questions over its legal status and prompted anti-monarchy campaigners to claim the duchy running is "a well-entrenched tax avoidance scheme".

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4. ELDER ABUSE 'RIFE' IN BRITAIN SAYS WILLIAMS

Old people are treated with “contempt and exasperation” in Britain creating a society in which "elder abuse" is commonplace, says the outgoing Archbishop of Canterbury. In his final speech to the House of Lords, Dr Rowan Williams said Britain is “frenetically oriented towards youth", leaving older people viewed as a "problem".

5. FOOD PRICES 'SUBSIDISE BINGE DRINKERS'

Ordinary British families are being charged more for food in supermarkets to subsidise alcohol price-cuts for binge drinkers, claims the Prime Minister. The British Retail Consortium described Cameron's claim as "nonsense", while Sainsbury's said it is "plain wrong". Downing Street said Cameron based his claim on an article published in 2009.

6. FRACKING BOSSES 'WEREN'T INFORMED' OF TREMORS

Senior executives of the company at the forefront of Britain’s shale gas rush were unaware that its fracking had sparked earth tremors, reports The Times. A tremor of 2.3 magnitude was recorded after Cuadrilla Resources began fracking near Blackpool last year but site workers did not inform their bosses.

7. EGYPTIANS VOTE ON 'ISLAMIST' CONSTITUTION

Egyptians are voting in a referendum on the draft constitution that has polarised the country and provoked violent protests. Opponents of President Mohammed Morsi's proposed constitution say it would take the country close to the imposition of Islamic law. At least 15 people were injured in Alexandria yesterday as rival activists clashed.

8. HOLLANDE ATTACKS CAMERON CRUSADE

The French president Francois Hollande has warned David Cameron that Europe is not an “a la carte” menu, as the prime minister works to renegotiate Britain's relationship with Brussels. Hollande said “Usually when a country commits, it is for life. I believe that treaties are meant to be complied with.” Downing Street dismissed Hollande's remarks as "wrong".

9. LIEBERMAN RESIGNS TO FIGHT FRAUD CHARGES

Controversial Israeli foreign minister Avigdor Lieberman resigned unexpectedly on Friday creating political uncertainty five weeks before the general election. Lieberman, who protests his innocence, stepped down after the attorney general charged him with fraud and breach of trust. Prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu will take over as acting foreign minister until election day.

10. MAN CITY FIGURES TEST UEFA RULES

Manchester City's latest financial figures will present a stiff test for Uefa fair play rules after the club announced a loss of £97.9m for the last financial year. New Uefa rules allow clubs in European competitions to make a total loss of €45m between 2011 and 2013, meaning City's loss for 2011-12 alone is almost treble the permitted maximum.