Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Thursday 4 Apr 2013

1. US ARMS AGAINST NORTH KOREA NUKES

The US last night announced that it is moving a Terminal High Altitude Area Defence (Thaad) anti-missile system to the Pacific island of Guam after North Korea "formally informed" the Pentagon that it approved "merciless" nuclear strikes against America. US defence secretary Chuck Hagel said North Korea is a "real and clear danger."

US moves missiles to Guam as North Korea threatens strike

2. CAMERON: 'FOOLISH TO AXE TRIDENT'

David Cameron has warned today in an article for the Daily Telegraph, that it would be "foolish" and "dangerous" for Britain to even consider axing the Trident nuclear deterrent, because the country faces the threat of nuclear attack from rogue nations such as North Korea. The dangers had "increased" since the end of the Cold War, he said.

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The pros and cons of Trident

3. SANDY HOOK TRIGGERS TOUGH GUN LAWS

The US state in which a gunman massacred 20 small children and six adults in December is expected to ratify America's strictest gun-control law today. Senate legislators in Connecticut have voted for the new law cracking down on ownership of military-style rifles. The bill now goes to the Governor who is expected to sign it today.

Read more: http://auth.theweek.co.uk/us/sandy-hook/52321/connecticut-gun-control-sandy-hook-massacre#ixzz2PVUOfyEx

Connecticut passes stricter gun laws after Sandy Hook massacre

4. MICK PHILPOTT GETS LIFE SENTENCE

Mick Philpott, the man convicted alongside his wife Mairead of killing six children in a house fire in Derby, has been given a life sentence and will serve a minimum of 15 years in prison. Mairead Philpott and family friend Paul Mosley, who were also convicted of manslaughter, were sentenced to 17 years each and told they would serve “half of that” by a judge at Nottingham Crown Court today.

Mick Philpott sentenced to life in prison

5. JOSS STONE PLOTTERS CONVICTED

Singer Joss Stone says she is "relieved" that two men who planned to murder and rob her have been convicted. Junior Bradshaw and Kevin Liverpool were found guilty of plotting to behead Stone in 2011. Liverpool, 35, was given a life sentence yesterday, but 32-year-old Bradshaw's sentencing has been adjourned for psychiatric reports.

Joss Stone beheading plot: pair found guilty after trial ordeal

6. DI CANIO: 'I DO NOT SUPPORT FASCISM'

Sunderland manager Paolo Di Canio denied that he was a fascist last night in an attempt to end the row over his appointment to the club. "I am not political, I do not affiliate myself to any organisation, I am not a racist and I do not support the ideology of fascism. I respect everyone," he said. He did not explain why or how his views had changed.

'I'm no fascist' says Di Canio after Sunderland 'car crash'

7. FACEBOOK READIES ANDROID APP

The saga of the Facebook phone is expected to be resolved later today when the social networking giant makes a "product announcement" about its hotly-anticipated "new home on Android". Most believe it will launch what [1]CNN describes as "a special Facebook-centric version of Android" that takes over the phone.

Facebook to unveil 'home on Android' with 'takeover' app

8. SPACE STATION CLUE TO DARK MATTER

A $2bn experiment on the space station has made observations that could be the clue to the nature of "dark matter", a mysterious component of the Universe, scientists said last night. The Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer (AMS) surveys the sky for cosmic rays and has watched the 'dark matter' colliding with itself in a process known as "annihilation".

9. OSCAR WINNING WRITER DIES AT 85

Writer Ruth Prawer Jhabvala, whose scripts for the Merchant Ivory box office hits Howards End and A Room With A View earned her two Oscars, has died at 85 in New York. A refugee from Nazi Germany, she also won the Booker Prize for her novel Heat and Dust, making her the only person to have won a Booker and an Oscar.

'Heat and Dust' author Ruth Prawer Jhabvala dies at 85

10. HOT TICKET: WELLCOME’S OUTSIDER ART

A major new exhibition, 'Souzou: Outsider Art from Japan', has opened at the Wellcome Collection, London. The show features more than 300 artworks, including drawing, painting, sculpture and textiles by 46 Japanese artists who have been diagnosed with learning or behavioural disorders. "Brilliant", says the New Statesman. Runs until 30 June.

Japanese outsider art show Souzou 'not to be missed'