Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Thursday 24 Jan 2013

1. CLEGG: PM'S EU GOAL 'WHOLLY IMPLAUSIBLE'

Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg has attacked David Cameron's EU renegotiation plans, saying it is "wholly implausible" to think membership rules can be rewritten to "benefit us and disadvantage everybody else". He said Cameron's goals were "vague" and that the uncertainty threatens growth and jobs. Some businessmen have made the same point.

Business chiefs warn Cameron of referendum 'consequences'

2. US TO LIFT BAN ON WOMEN IN COMBAT

US Defence Secretary Leon Panetta has decided to lift the military's ban on women serving in combat, a senior Pentagon official said last night, overturning a 1994 rule. Even elite commando jobs could be opened to women. The military would have until 2016 to argue for specific posts they believe should remain closed to women.

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3. HARRY TONES DOWN TALIBAN REMARKS

Prince Harry returned to Britain from Afghanistan yesterday and did his best to tone down remarks he had made while at Camp Bastion about "taking out" the enemy. Asked to clarify whether he had killed in action, he said only that he had "done things that you would be expected to do" and that he had been "supporting the Afghan people".

Prince Harry tones down his remarks about killing Taliban

4. PLAYER SENT OFF FOR KICKING AT BALLBOY

Chelsea exited the Capital One Cup in disgrace last night after Eden Hazard was sent off for kicking at a ballboy. Hazard was trying to retrieve the ball in the final minutes of Chelsea's 2-0 defeat by Swansea when the incident happened in front of millions of TV viewers. The FA is expected to impose a three-game ban on Hazard.

Eden Hazard kicks ballboy, was Chelsea star justified? - video

5. NORTH KOREA PLANS NEW NUCLEAR TEST

Only two days after a UN Security Council resolution condemned December's rocket launch, North Korea has announced it is to conduct a third nuclear test, following previous ones in 2006 and 2009. A military statement said the "high-level nuclear test" as well as more long-range rocket trials were aimed at its "arch-enemy", the US.

Is North Korea upping the ante with enriched uranium test?

6. REPUBLICANS SAVAGE HILLARY CLINTON

Retiring Secretary of State Hillary Clinton yesterday faced accusations of incompetence and cover-up by angry members of Congress at hearings into the death of the US Ambassador in Benghazi last year. Clinton fought back in heated exchanges, and there was speculation that her accusers were jockeying for position in the 2016 presidential election race.

Republican 2016 hopefuls vie for headlines by savaging Clinton

7. DAVOS: CAMERON TARGETS TAX AVOIDERS

David Cameron has used his keynote address at the Davos World Economic Forum to attack companies that fail to pay their fair share of tax and indulge in "corrupt business practices" in Third World countries. The PM also used the speech to outline Britain's priorities for its presidency of the G8 which he said would be "trade, tax and transparency".

8. APPLE SHARES PLUNGE DESPITE GOOD FIGURES

The Californian tech giant Apple saw its shares plunge more then 10 per cent yesterday. Despite quarterly figures showing record revenues, investors expressed anxiety over slowing growth and whether the iPhone can sustain its popularity against international competition. The share price fell to $461.31, down from a peak of $702 in September.

Bold words from Apple CEO fail to stop share price plunge

9. MORE FATHERS STAY AT HOME WITH BABY

The numbers of stay-at-home fathers who have become the primary carers for children reached record numbers last year, with an increase of 10% to 227,000, new figures reveal. Men now make up 10% of parents who stay at home while their partner goes to work. The increase comes from a lack of jobs for men and a rising number of female breadwinners.

10. HOT TICKET: ZERO DARK THIRTY

Kathryn Bigelow's CIA procedural, 'Zero Dark Thirty', about the manhunt for Osama bin Laden, opens in UK cinemas this week. Jessica Chastain stars as a CIA officer obsessed with tracking down the al-Qaeda leader after the 9/11 attacks. "Riveting", says The Guardian.

Kathryn Bigelow's CIA thriller Zero Dark Thirty is 'riveting'