Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Saturday 27 Apr 2013

1. CAMERON ACCUSES SYRIA OF 'WAR CRIME'

David Cameron has accused Syria of a "war crime" and said Western leaders should "ask ourselves what more we can do”. The prime minister added: "I would want to reassure people and say the lessons of Iraq have been learned.” US president Barack Obama says the use of chemical weapons in Syria "is going to be a game-changer".

2. CLIFFORD CHARGED WITH SEX CRIMES

PR guru Max Clifford has spoken of his of his “24/7 nightmare” after he was charged yesterday with with 11 indecent assaults allegedly committed between 1966 and 1985. The alleged offences relate to seven different women and girls ranging in age from 14 to 19. Standing outside his home in Hersham, Surrey, Clifford said the claims are "completely false".

3. UKIP CANDIDATES LINKED TO BNP

Three UKIP candidates in next week’s local elections appeared on a British National Party membership list, reports The Times. Meanwhile, the Daily Telegraph has found that some UKIP candidates have described racism as “just ethnic banter”, called for paedophiles to be killed by vigilantes and suggested Londoners wear face masks to protect themselves from eastern Europeans.

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4. POLICE DISCOVER 9/11 PLANE DEBRIS

New York police have discovered what appears to be part of the landing gear of one of jets flown into the World Trade Center on 9/11. The 5ft slab of metal, which bears a Boeing label and serial number, was found wedged between the controversial 'Ground Zero mosque' and another building in lower Manhattan on Wednesday.

5. PRIVATE SCHOOLS 'MEASLES THREAT'

Private school pupils are at greatest risk from the ongoing measles outbreak, a senior doctor has warned. Prof John Ashton said the high number of middle-class children whose parents refused to have them vaccinated, and the presence of overseas pupils with unknown health records, means such schools could form “reservoirs of disease”, threatening the wider population.

6. GALLOWAY SLAMS 'AMOEBA' MILIBAND

George Galloway has described Ed Miliband as an “unprincipled coward with the backbone of an amoeba” days after saying he wanted Miliband to be prime minister. Following a secret meeting between the pair, Galloway described Miliband as “quite impressive physically and intellectually”. But after Miliband said Galloway's views are “awful”, the Respect MP radically revised his view.

7. SORRY SUAREZ GETS 10-MATCH BAN

Luis Suarez has asked for forgiveness after he was banned for 10 matches for biting Chelsea's Branislav Ivanovic. "I am truly very sorry. I hope that all the people who I have offended at Anfield last Sunday will grant me forgiveness," the striker wrote on Twitter. The FA panel said that Suarez did not appreciate "the seriousness" of his offence when he argued against a long ban.

8. 7.4M BRITS ASHAMED OF GARDENS

Some 7.4m Britons never use their garden because they are too embarrassed by the state of it, according to a study. The research, by IKEA, found 21% of gardens are overgrown. In 50% of households gardening is the job of the man, in 38% it's down to the woman, while 4% make their children do it. Of those surveyed, 13% said they only use the garden for quick cigarette breaks.

9. MURDOCH SET FOR $3.7M PAY RISE

Rupert Murdoch is set for $3.7m pay rise when he splits his News Corp in two this summer, reports the Daily Telegraph. The media boss was forced to divide the business in two to stem damage caused by the News of the World phone-hacking scandal. He will receive a 15% increase in his potential pay package when the separation takes place.

10. TERRY 'WANTS ENGLAND RETURN'

John Terry is interested in making a return to the England national side, claims The Sun. The Chelsea captain quit international football last September, claiming the FA had made his position “untenable” by taking action against him for racially abusing Anton Ferdinand. With FA chairman David Bernstein preparing to retire, Terry is eyeing a surprise comeback.

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