Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Tuesday 19 Feb 2013

1. PISTORIUS KILLING WAS 'PREMEDITATED'

Oscar Pistorius says he had "no intention" of killing his "beloved" girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp and is "absolutely mortified" by her death. But a magistrate has ruled that the Paralympic athelete should face a charge of premeditated murder over the model's killing. The decision means it will be difficult for the 26-year-old athlete to get bail.

Pistorius: 'I was filled with horror and fear' after shooting Reeva

2. BOSS SLAPS TODDLER ON FLIGHT

The boss of an aircraft parts manufacturer charged with racially abusing a crying toddler and slapping it in the face on a flight from Minneapolis to Atlanta, has lost his job and faces up to a year in prison if convicted. Joe Rickey Hundley, 60, is alleged to have abused the child and hit it when it began to cry as the aircraft prepared to land in Atlanta on 8 February.

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Boss charged with slapping toddler's face on plane

3. MANTEL: DUCHESS HAS 'PLASTIC SMILE'

Prime Minister David Cameron said today the novelist Hilary Mantel was "completely misguided" in describing the Duchess of Cambridge as a "shop window mannequin", "without character" and with a "perfect plastic smile" in a London Review of Books lecture. Her historical research had taught her that "a royal lady is a royal vagina", said Mantel.

Hilary Mantel attack on 'plastic' Kate Middleton sparks anger

4. 'GIGANTIC' DIAMOND HEIST AT BRUSSELS AIRPORT

Diamonds worth more than £30m have been seized in an audacious raid at Brussels international airport. The gang cut a hole in the perimeter fence and drove vehicles onto the tarmac to intercept a cargo of "rough stones" en route to Zurich as it was being loaded onto a passenger plane.

'Gigantic' diamond heist at Brussels airport worth £30m

5. GIVE US BACK OUR BANKSY - COUNCILLORS

North London councillors are seeking the return of a Banksy mural, painted on the wall of a Poundland store in Wood Green just before the Diamond Jubilee, which has turned up listed for sale at an art auction in Miami with an estimate of £320,000 - £452,000. The mural depicts a boy hunched over a sewing machine making Union Jack bunting.

Banksy mural torn from London wall 'must be sent home'

6. WILLIAM BOYD PENS NEW BOND NOVEL

Sixty years after Ian Fleming wrote his first Bond novel, 'Casino Royale', British novelist William Boyd is writing a new Bond novel for Fleming's estate. The title remained secret, but the estate has revealed that "it will see a return to the classic Bond era, featuring a 45-year-old 007 in 1969". Publication will be in September.

New James Bond novel marks return to 'classic era'

7. SANDHURST BAHRAIN CONNECTION ATTACKED

MPs have attacked the decision to change the name of Sandhurst Military Academy's Mons Hall – named to commemorate the epic Battle of Mons in World War One - to King Hamad Hall, after the King of Bahrain who donated £3m to help with refurbishment. Bahrain is guilty of "all sorts of human rights abuses" said MP Andy Slaughter.

Sandhurst should send back King Hamad's soiled donation

8. KELLY HOPPEN JOINS DRAGONS' DEN

Interior designer Kelly Hoppen is to join the panel of the BBC2 show 'Dragons' Den'. Hoppen, who runs a design school as well as her own firm, said: "I have always been passionate about championing entrepreneurs, so being able to take it to the next level by investing my money in innovative new businesses is very exciting."

Kelly Hoppen: five things you might not know about Dragon

9. MANCHESTER UNITED ADVANCE IN FA CUP

Manchester United remain on target to win both the Premier League and the FA Cup after beating Reading 2-1 last night to go forward to the Cup quarter-finals. Portuguese winger Nani scored one goal and created another for Javier Hernandez. Jobi McAnuff scored for Reading. United now face either Middlesbrough or Chelsea.

Nani comes out of the cold to help Man Utd to Cup victory

10. HOT TICKET: CHARLES DICKENS TRIUMPH

Jo Clifford's stage adaptation of Charles Dickens's classic 'Great Expectations' has opened at the Vaudeville Theatre, West End. Blacksmith's boy Pip is transformed into a gentleman with the aid of a 'mysterious benefactor' but is haunted by his childhood love. Paula Wilcox plays Miss Havishham. "Pure theatre," says The Times.

Great Expectations: West End premiere is 'pure theatre'