Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Monday 18 Feb 2013

1. BRITISH WORKER KIDNAPPED IN NIGERIA

A British man is among seven international construction workers kidnapped yesterday when armed men attacked the fortified staff quarters of the Lebanese road building company Setraco in Bauchi province, northern Nigeria. Responsibility for the kidnapping has been claimed by an extreme Islamist group calling itself Ansaru.

Fears Briton is among hostages 'taken by Islamists' in Nigeria

2. PISTORIOUS: CRICKET BAT FOUND AT SCENE

A bloodstained cricket bat has been found at the house where Oscar Pistorious has been charged with murdering his model girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp. Having discovered that Steenkamp suffered a fractured skull as well bullet wounds, police believe the cricket bat is the "central piece of evidence", forming a rock solid murder case.

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Oscar Pistorius: bloody cricket bat 'central' to murder case

3. BBC JOURNALISTS ON 24-HOUR STRIKE

Radio 4's flagship current affairs programmes 'Today' and ‘World at One’ were off-air today as the result of a 24-hour strike by BBC journalists. Members of the National Union of Journalists are taking action over compulsory redundancies. They say the BBC is not doing enough to redeploy staff to other vacant jobs in the organisation

4. DOCTORS CALL FOR OBESITY CRACKDOWN

Fizzy drinks laden with sugar should be taxed to increase their prices by at least 20%, the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges has demanded in a call for action over obesity. The academy, which represents most UK doctors, says obesity is becoming a huge crisis. It is also seeking a ban on any TV advertisements for junk food before the 9 pm watershed.

We must fight obesity with cola tax, say 'busybody' doctors

5. NOT ENOUGH WOMEN IN CABINET - PM

David Cameron admitted today that there were “not nearly enough” women in his Cabinet, saying it was an issue his wife Samantha had repeatedly raised with him. The PM made the remark during a speech on his trade mission to India. He said British business still had “a long to to go” regarding women in the boardroom.

'Not nearly enough women' in Cabinet, says Cameron

6. MID STAFFS: POLICE FOLLOW NEW LEADS

Police and prosecutors are examining newly disclosed evidence about deaths brought on by lack at care at Mid Staffordshire hospitals which could now lead to criminal charges against individuals, the Daily Telegraph reports. Staffordshire's Police Commissioner said detectives were examining "information not in the public domain", including autopsy reports.

Gagging orders bar 'hundreds' of NHS staff from speaking out

7. HORSEMEAT: HABITS ALREADY CHANGING

A fifth of British shoppers say they are already buying less meat in response to the horse-for-beef scandal, according to research by the Consumer Intelligence organisation. 6% claimed to know of someone who has turned vegetarian, while 25% said they would "knowingly" eat horsemeat compared to 42% who would not.

8. ACTOR RICHARD BRIERS DIES AT 79

Actor Richard Briers has died aged 79, his agent said today. The star, best known for his role in the 1970s sitcom 'The Good Life', revealed in an interview earlier this month he had been suffering from the lung disease emphysema despite quitting smoking 10 years ago. "The ciggies got me," he said.

Richard Briers' good life: five things you might not know

9. WENGER ‘TETCHY’ UNDER PRESSURE

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger was described as “tetchy” and “sarcastic” at an awkward press conference today following Arsenal’s defeat in the FA Cup. The Frenchman, who many commentators feel should leave the club, suggested a story in The Sun about him being offered a contract extension was published only in order to harm him.

Arsenal boss Wenger snaps over questions about his future

10. HOT TICKET: YEAR IN THE LIFE OF PICASSO

A major new exhibition 'Becoming Picasso: Paris 1901' has opened at the Courtauld Gallery. The show focuses on a key year in Picasso's life, from his career-launching debut Paris exhibition to the start of his Blue Period. "Not to be missed," says The Times. Until 26 May.

Courtauld show reveals young Picasso's emerging genius