Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Wednesday 19 Dec 2012

1. PLEBGATE: DID POLICE FRAME MITCHELL?

A police officer falsely claimed to have witnessed Chief Whip Andrew Mitchell calling police "plebs", it was claimed on Channel 4 News last night. The officer wrote to his MP pretending he and his nephew had been among a crowd shocked by the altercation at the gates to Downing Street. But CCTV footage shows there was no crowd. The Metropolitan Police Federation denies a "conspiracy".

Andrew Mitchell and 'Plebgate': why it now looks like a stitch-up

2. BBC 'INCAPABLE' OF HANDLING SAVILE AFFAIR

Peter Rippon, the editor of the BBC’s Newsnight programme, is to step aside in the wake of an “excoriating” report into the broadcaster’s handling of the decision to axe an investigation into child sexual abuse by Jimmy Savile. The 185-page report released this afternoon says the BBC was “completely incapable” of handling the Savile affair.

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Report says BBC was 'incapable' of dealing with Savile crisis

3. AFGHANISTAN: 4,000 TROOPS HOME EARLY

David Cameron will announce today that about 4,000 British troops, almost half of Britain’s 9,000-strong force in Helmand, will return early from Afghanistan next year. But the rest will stay until the end of 2014, the deadline set by Nato. Cameron discussed the withdrawal with President Obama in a video call to the White House.

4. SLICE OF ANTARCTICA IS GIFT TO THE QUEEN

The Foreign Office thumbed its nose at Argentinian sovereignty claims yesterday by naming a 169,000 square mile slice of British Antarctica - including the South Pole - 'Queen Elizabeth Land' as a diamond jubilee gift to the Queen. Foreign Secretary William Hague announced the gift after the Queen sat in on a Cabinet meeting at No 10.

Queen Elizabeth Land: nice idea, dangerous politics

5. OBAMA BACKS BAN ON ASSAULT RIFLES

President Obama signaled support yesterday for moves in the Senate to reinstate the Clinton ban on assault weapons following the school massacre in Connecticut. His spokesman said there "might" also be moves to ban extended ammunition clips and gun sale loopholes. The National Rifle Association lobby said it would unveil plans of its own on Friday.

Gun control: a change of heart after Newtown massacre?

6. U-TURN BY INSTAGRAM ON PHOTO RIGHTS

Facebook's photo-sharing service Instagram did an instant U-turn yesterday on its declared plan to sell users’ photographs without notifying them. It followed an outpouring of protest led by celebrities and professional photographers. Instagram blamed "confusing" language and said: "It is not our intention to sell your photos."

7. NEW GUIDELINES ON OFFENSIVE TWEETS

The Director of Public Prosecutions said yesterday that new guidelines would see fewer people prosecuted for offensive messages on social networks, but more effective prosecutions in cases where messages on Facebook, Twitter or other social networks "go beyond offensive". They would combat threats and "trolls" without limiting free speech.

Offensive tweeters safer under new prosecution guidelines

8. CHINA ARRESTS 500 DOOMSDAY CULTISTS

China yesterday arrested about 500 members of the doomsday cult Almighty God Christian for spreading rumours about the "imminent end of the world". The arrests were linked to claims that the world will end on Friday in the ‘Mayan Apocalypse’, but also to the stabbing of more than 20 children at a school by a man suspected of being a member of the cult.

Beijing arrests 500 members of Christian doomsday cult

9. HILLSBOROUGH VERDICTS OVERTURNED

The verdicts of the inquest into the deaths of 96 football fans in the Hillsborough disaster have been overturned at the High Court after an application by the Attorney General. Fresh hearings have been ordered. The court heard that the evidence presented at the original inquest was "unsustainable". Home Secretary Theresa May has also announced a fresh police inquiry.

Hillsborough inquests quashed, unlawful killing a possibility

10. HOT TICKET: ALAN BENNETT DOUBLE

A double bill of short autobiographical plays by Alan Bennett, ‘Hymn’ and ‘Cocktail Sticks’, has opened at the National Theatre. Nicholas Hytner directs Alex Jennings as Alan Bennett with music by the Southbank Sinfonia. Hymn runs until 17 March, Cocktail Sticks until 30 March. "Delectable", says The Independent.

Moving Alan Bennett double bill Hymn and Cocktail Sticks