Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Friday 21 Dec 2012

1. CLOSE-RUN RACE FOR CHRISTMAS No. 1

A version of 'He Ain't heavy, He's My Brother' recorded by The Justice Crew, a group of well-known musicians including Sir Paul McCartney, is leading race to score the coveted Christmas No. 1 spot in the singles chart. The song, designed to raise funds for families of the Hillsborough victims, is the favourite to top the charts, but there is strong competition from 'Impossible' by X Factor winner James Arthur and an old favourite, the Pogues's 'Fairytale of Christmas'.

Will McCartney's Hillsborough song be Christmas No. 1?

2. DAVID CAMERON JOINS TROOPS FOR CAROLS

On a trip to Helmand yesterday, David Cameron said the British Army had paid a "high price" with 400 combat deaths since its intervention in Afghanistan in 2001, but that the troops' presence had cut the number of terrorist plots. The PM sang carols and played table football with soldiers during a pre-Christmas visit to Camp Bastion.

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3. BAHA MOUSA DOCTOR STRUCK OFF

Derek Keilloh, a former Army doctor who failed to report injuries sustained by the Iraqi hotel worker Baha Mousa in 2003, has been struck off the medical register by the GMC. Mousa died after being beaten by colleagues in Keilloh's regiment. The soldiers believed wrongly that Mousa was an insurgent involved in the killing of four colleagues.

4. NRA CALLS FOR ARMED GUARDS AT SCHOOLS

The National Rifle Association has called for armed guards to be placed at the entrance to every school in America in response the the Sandy Hook massacre. Speaking at a press conference in Washington DC today, the head of the NRA, Wayne LaPierre, said the only way to stop "a bad guy with a gun, was a good guy with a gun". LaPierre said his organisation would draw up a plan to place "security shields" around every school in the US.

Will tighter gun controls really stop another school massacre?

5. MITCHELL: 'NO CONFIDENCE' IN TOP COP

Former chief whip Andrew Mitchell has 'no confidence' in Scotland Yard's top policeman and does not want him involved in the inquiry into the so-called 'Plebgate' incident. Mitchell has questioned the impartiality of Bernard Hogan-Howe after the Metropolitan Police Commissioner gave his support to two officers who say they were called "f***ing plebs" during an altercation in Downing Street.

6. JULIAN ASSANGE 'TO RELEASE 1M FILES'

Wikileaks founder Julian Assange appeared yesterday on the balcony of the Ecuadorean embassy in London to proclaim that "my work will not be cowed", and that he will "release a million files in 2013". Wanted in a sex crimes investigation in Sweden, but fearing prosecution in the US, he said "the door is open to anyone who wishes to discuss my safe passage".

Assange ready to 'talk' about ending six-month stalemate

7. VILLAGE EVACUATED AS FLOOD WATERS RISE

Villagers in Wallington, Hampshire, were told to leave their homes yesterday after cracks appeared in a river floodwall, threatening inundation, as continuing downpours pushed floodwaters higher across England. Several people were rescued from vehicles, and train services cancelled. The Environment Agency issued 279 flood alerts and 68 warnings.

8. TV WEATHERMAN IN CHILD SEX PROBE

Police investigating child sex abuse allegations at Altrincham Grammar School for Boys have raided the home of ITV Granada weatherman Fred Talbot, The Sun reports. The case appears to be unrelated to the Savile scandal, with allegations stemming from the 1970s when Talbot taught at the school. Talbot, 63, is out of the country on a sailing trip.

9. DIVORCE RATE FALLS IN AUSTERITY BRITAIN

The divorce rate in Britain is falling because couples cannot afford to part. The Office for National Statistics said 42% of marriages now end in divorce, compared to 45% in 2005. Ruth Sutherland of Relate said couples were staying together "because they simply can't afford to break up". But the number of men over 60 getting divorced has risen by 43%.

10. HOT TICKET: GRIMM FAIRYTALE ON STAGE

A stage version of the Brothers Grimm fairytale 'Hansel and Gretel' has opened at the National Theatre. Katie Mitchell directs Lucy Kirkwood's retelling of the story of a brother and sister abandoned in the woods and captured by a child-eating witch. Until 26 January. "Irresistible", says the Daily Telegraph.

Hansel and Gretel on stage: irresistible, with a touch of evil