Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Monday 27 May 2013

1. HOME SEC CALLS FOR SNOOPER'S CHARTER

The home secretary has called for the 'snooper’s charter' to be revived following the terrorist attack in Woolwich. Theresa May, says it is “essential” that police and intelligence agencies are allowed to track who speaks to whom on the internet. Meanwhile, the mother of Lee Rigby collapsed in tears yesterday when she visited the site of her son's murder.

2. UKIP 'WILL WIN EURO ELECTIONS'

Ukip will sail to victory in next year’s European elections with the help of two fifths of Tory voters, according to a new poll. The poll suggest that the Tories will come third behind Labour and Ukip, which the Open Europe poll suggests will have 27% of the vote. Senior Tory backbencher David Ruffley has warned David Cameron he has 12 months to make his EU strategy work.

3. IS DOCTOR WHO 'THUNDERINGLY RACIST'?

A new book has branded Doctor Who as “thunderingly racist”. In the collection of essays, called Doctor Who and Race, international academics claim the BBC series reflects attitudes that “continue to subjugate people of colour”. The BBC rejects the charge, saying: “Doctor Who has a strong track record of diverse casting among both regular and guest cast.”

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4. MOTHER IN NAKED MOTORWAY CRASH

A mother of five who died in a crash on the M5 on Saturday morning was naked and driving the wrong way down the motorway. Zoe Rhiannon Aspland's car hit two vehicles travelling in the opposite direction before it was struck by two further vehicles. “She was naked,” said an emergency worker. “And she was thrown out of the car by the impact.”

5. UK: FIRST MUSLIM LESBIANS WED

Two former students from Pakistan have become the first Muslim lesbian couple to marry in a civil ceremony in Britain. Rehana Kausar and Sobia Kamar tied the knot in a register office civil ceremony in Leeds, then immediately applied for political asylum, claiming their lives would be in danger if they returned to their native country.

6. ROSS DEFENDS RAPE COMMENTS

Former Crimewatch presenter Nick Ross has defended himself after a storm erupted over comments he made about rape in his book. Ross writes that for some victims, “rape isn't always rape”. In a statement yesterday, Ross said it "sickens and appals" him that people were suggesting he could blame rape victims or "belittle what they suffer", arguing that "the opposite is true".

7. ISRAEL PROBES ROCKET REPORT

Israel's military is investigating reports a rocket has been fired into the country from Lebanon. Lebanese media and security services say a rocket was fired, and residents of the northern Israeli town of Metula say that they had heard an explosion. "An explosion was heard. Soldiers are searching the area. The cause is still being investigated," an Israeli spokeswoman told Reuters.

8. JANE AUSTEN'S 300 COINAGES

Jane Austen coined over 300 words or phrases including the exasperated parental cry “if I’ve told you once, I’ve told you a thousand times”, according to professor Charlotte Brewer, an Oxford academic. Speaking at the Hay Festival, Brewer said Austen also originated the terms “family portrait”, “door bell”, “flower seed”, “shaving glass”, “breakfast room” and “morning room”.

9. LITTLE CHEF TO DISAPPEAR

Little Chef is set to disappear from Britain's roadsides as the chain is put up for sale. Costa, Starbucks, KFC and McDonald’s are all believed to be bidding for the fading chain but none are expected to keep the Little Chef name, nor the Fat Charlie icon. Little Chef fell into administration six years ago and has struggled to recover, despite a Heston Blumenthal television tie-in.

10. LENNON'S CELTIC WIN SCOTTISH DOUBLE

Celtic won their 36th Scottish Cup yesterday and with it a domestic double. Gary Hooper scored twice as Neil Lennon's side won 3-0. Lennon said Celtic deserve more credit. "People have nipped away at what we've done over the years, the tainted titles, no competition," he said. "And they've missed what's really on the pitch. We've got a really special young team here."