Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Sunday 19 May 2013

1. HOWE: CAMERON 'RUNNING SCARED'

Lord Howe, the former Tory chancellor who triggered the downfall of Margaret Thatcher, has launched a bitter attack on David Cameron in The Observer, accusing him of “running scared” of his backbenchers and presiding over the party's “long, nervous breakdown over Europe”. Tory co-chairman Andrew Feldman has denied claims he described party activists as “mad, swivel-eyed loons”.

2. TAX: GOOGLE INSIDER TO BLOW WHISTLE

A former Google boss has lifted the lid on a huge and “immoral” tax avoidance scheme that has “cheated” British taxpayers out of hundreds of millions of pounds, reports the Sunday Times. Barney Jones, who worked for Google between 2002 and 2006, is ready to hand over a cache of more than 100,000 emails and documents to HMRC, detailing the “concocted scheme”.

3. MYSTERY COUPLE IN MCCANN'S BEDROOM

A mystery couple entered the bedroom of Madeleine McCann the evening before she disappeared in Portugal, reports the Sunday Express. It is believed the middle-aged couple entered the apartment because they heard the child crying. Kate and Gerry McCann were dining with friends at a tapas bar some 50 yards from the apartment.

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4. DENMARK'S DE FOREST WINS EUROVISION

Denmark won the Eurovision Song Contest last night with Azerbaijan in second place and the UK's Bonnie Tyler finishing 19th. Denmark's Emmelie de Forest, who sang her song Only Teardrops in bare feet, won with 281 points. Ireland's Ryan Dolan faced bitter disappointment as he finished in last place with just five points.

5. TIME TO QUIT EU SAY 46% IN SURVEY

Nearly half of all voters want Britain to leave the European Union, according to a poll in the Sunday Telegraph. Some 46% of those polled opted to withdraw, a higher figure than in other recent surveys, with just 30% saying they want to remain. Meanwhile, 44% want an “in/out” referendum immediately, while 29% are prepared to wait until 2017, David Cameron's preferred approach.

6. TORONTO MAYOR 'FILMED TAKING CRACK'

A video claiming to show the mayor of Toronto smoking crack cocaine is being offered for sale by drug dealers. Rob Ford dismisses the claim as “ridiculous” but journalists who have seen the footage say it appears to be genuine. The owners are asking for C$200,000 (£130,000) for the video. Ford has a colourful background including marijuana possession and erratic behaviour.

7. ROLF HARRIS RETURNS TO THE STAGE

Rolf Harris has made his first pubic appearance since his arrest over allegations of sexual abuse became public. Speaking to the near sold-out audience at the Bristol Hippodrome, he said: “You have no idea what this means to have you all turn up.” Referring to the allegations against him, he said “It’s not about waiting for the storm to pass. It’s about learning to dance in the rain.”

8. OLYMPIC HERO JESSICA ENNIS MARRIES

Olympic champion Jessica Ennis married her long-term partner at a church in Derbyshire's Peak District yesterday. Ennis, who won heptathlon gold at London 2012, tied the knot with Andy Hill in the village of Hathersage. Around 100 guests are believed to have attended the hour-long ceremony. Ennis's outdoor season begins at Edinburgh's Meadowbank Stadium next month.

9. TEARFUL DAVID BECKHAM SIGNS OFF

David Beckham left the pitch in tears as he completed what is set to be the final football match of his 20-year career. The midfielder's Paris St-Germain team-mates congregated in the middle of the pitch to applaud him as he was substituted in the 81st minute. After the final whistle, the former England captain was repeatedly thrown into the air by his team-mates.

10. EURO D-DAY FOR GUNNERS AND SPURS

Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur both hope to qualify for the next season's Champions League today. The Gunners travel to Newcastle while Spurs host Sunderland. As long as Wenger's team win, they will pip their local rivals to fourth place. Tottenham will need to beat Sunderland and hope Arsenal slip up, as the Premier League campaign comes to an otherwise anti-climactic end.