Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Tuesday 4 Jun 2013

1. FLOOD WATERS RISE IN CZECH CAPITAL

Metal barriers have been raised in Prague after authorities were forced to open a nearby dam system as it struggled to cope with severe pressure of water from torrential rains. The city’s subway and sewage plant have been closed. Seven people have been killed by the flooding nationally and a state of emergency is in force.

2. OSCAR PISTORIUS BACK IN COURT

‘Bladerunner’ paralympian Oscar Pistorius has appeared in a South African court today, four months after being granted bail, to answer charges that he murdered his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp on Valentine’s Day at his home in Pretoria. Pistorius admits shooting Steenkamp through a toilet door but claims he thought she was a burglar.

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Oscar Pistorius out of legal options as request to appeal rejected

3. TURKEY: YOUTH ‘SHOT DEAD IN PROTESTS’

Unions in Turkey began a two-day strike today in solidarity with protesters, while a 22-year-old was shot dead at a rally in Antakya last night, the second person to die in five days of demonstrations. Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan insisted his government wouldn’t “give away anything to those who live arm-in-arm with terrorism”.

4. X FACTOR’S TULISA ARRESTED OVER DRUGS

Former X Factor judge Tulisa Contostavlos was today arrested on suspicion of supplying Class A drugs. It follows a newspaper sting where the singer, 24, allegedly acted as a go-between by introducing a Sun on Sunday journalist to a drug dealer to help the reporter buy half an ounce of cocaine. A 35-year-old man was also arrested.

5. QUEEN CELEBRATES 1953 CORONATION

The royal family attended a service at Westminster Abbey today marking the 60th anniversary of the coronation. Prince Philip was well enough to attend having cancelled an engagement the previous day due to illness. It was the second time in four days that the 91-year-old has been forced to pull out of an appearance.

Queen's coronation: 60 years on - in pictures

6. BOLLYWOOD STAR JIAH KHAN FOUND DEAD

Twenty-five-year-old Bollywood actress Jiah Khan has been found dead at her home in Mumbai. Police said her cause of death was not yet known but they were seeking information from neighbours. Khan was born in New York and grew up in London before moving to India to make her debut opposite Amitab Bachchand in 2007.

Bollywood actress Jiah Khan 'commits suicide' in Mumbai

7. WE ABUSED AFGHANS SAY BRITISH SOLDIERS

Two British soldiers have admitted abusing Afghan civilians at a court martial hearing in Germany. One of the soldiers admitted indecent conduct towards a child, while the other admitted racially abusing a man. They have both been granted anonymity over fears that naming them would endanger their lives and those of their families.

British soldiers admit abusing Afghan civilians

8. DAVID ATTENBOROUGH GETS PACEMAKER

Naturalist and broadcaster Sir David Attenborough is having "urgent surgery" in London today to be fitted with a pacemaker. The operation has forced the 87-year-old to cancel an Australian tour at short notice. The sell-out tour, entitled Sir David Attenborough - A Life on Earth, was due to start next Wednesday in Brisbane.

David Attenborough cancels Oz tour to have pacemaker fitted

9. MICHAEL DOUGLAS DENIES ORAL SEX CLAIM

Hollywood star Michael Douglas made the headlines yesterday when a Guardian interview said he ascribed his recent cancer to oral sex, via the HPV virus. Now a statement from the 68-year-old’s management says the star was talking about oral cancer in general but not his specific throat cancer, which he contracted in 2010.

Michael Douglas, oral sex and the black art of publicity

10. HOT TICKET: GRID RACING GAME RETURNS

The sequel to the motor racing video game, ‘Race Driver: Grid’, has been released in the UK. In ‘Grid 2’ players race a range of vehicles against other clubs across the world to win fans and support for the fictional World Series Racing league. “Unmissable,” says The Guardian.

Motor racing game sequel Grid 2 is 'unmissable'

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