Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Friday 7 Jun 2013

1. QUEEN OPENS BBC HQ WITHOUT DUKE

The Duke of Edinburgh is expected to remain in hospital for two weeks following an operation on his abdomen, Buckingham Palace has said. The operation was said to be a planned one, not an emergency. The Queen carried on with her engagements today, opening the BBC's newly rebuilt Broadcasting House.

Duke of Edinburgh in hospital: updates 'when appropriate'

2. TURKEY PM DEMANDS END TO PROTESTS

Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Turkey’s PM, struck a defiant note, when he returned from an overseas trip after six nights of violent anti-government protests in Istanbul and across the country. As the demonstrations continued, an estimated 10,000 government supporters met Erdogan at the airport. He urged them to "go home" peacefully.

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3. TROOPS-TO-TEACHERS FAST-TRACK SCHEME

A new government scheme will see "highly skilled" former forces personnel become teachers with just two years' training - even if they don't have university degrees. Teachers' unions questioned whether two years would be enough training. The government stressed that rigorous assessment would single out the best candidates.

4. STEPHEN FRY SET FOR BROADWAY DEBUT

Stephen Fry is to make his Broadway debut in October with a revival of his recent acclaimed performance as Malvolio in Twelfth Knight at the Globe. The play will preview at New York's Belasco Theatre in a double bill with Richard III. Mark Rylance stars in both in plays. Today's announcement follow Fry's admission that he attempted suicide last year.

5. PUTIN REVEALS SPLIT FROM WIFE OF 30 YEARS

In a carefully-orchestrated interview on state TV, Russian president Vladimir Putin has finally confirmed years of speculation that he is separated from his wife of almost 30 years, Lyudmilla. Appearing after a joint visit to the ballet, the couple told an interviewer that the split came about because of Putin's heavy workload.

'Nervous' Putin tells Russia he has separated from his wife

6. TIGER WOODS TOPS RICH LIST ONCE AGAIN

Tiger Woods has regained the top spot in the Forbes list of the world's highest paid athletes. The golfer, whose earnings dipped after he was discovered to have cheated on his wife, earned $78.1m last year, putting him ahead of Roger Federer who enjoyed earnings of $71.5m. David Beckham was the richest Brit on the list – coming eighth with $47.2m.

Tiger Woods heads Forbes rich list again after 'love rat' hiatus

7. CAMERON URGED TO BAN 'RAPE PORN'

One hundred concerned organisations have written a joint letter to David Cameron, urging him to make websites which depict simulated rapes illegal in England and Wales. Online depictions of simulated forced sex are already banned in Scotland but escaped the 2008 crackdown on extreme pornography enacted south of the border.

8. GCHQ USING US SURVEILLANCE SYSTEM

The UK intelligence gathering agency GCHQ is using a system developed by America's National Security Agency to gain access to material held by Facebook, Google, Apple and other web giants, The Guardian reports. The White House has confirmed the existence of the PRISM system, but says it is only used to access material posted by foreigners.

9. FILM STAR ESTHER WILLIAMS DIES AT 91

Hollywood film star of the 40s and 50s Esther Williams has died at the age of 91. Known as 'Hollywood’s Mermaid', Williams shot to fame with her third film, Bathing Beauty (1944). A former national swimming champion who would have been at the 1940 Tokyo Olympics if war had not broken out, she swam in most of her roles.

10. HOT TICKET: BEHIND THE CANDELABRA

Steven Soderbergh's much-vaunted Liberace biopic Behind the Candelabra finally opens at UK cinemas today. Michael Douglas stars as the flamboyant pianist Liberace who seduces a naive young Scott Thorson (Matt Damon) into a secret and ultimately doomed six-year affair. "A scream," says The Times.

Glittery Liberace biopic Behind the Candelabra is 'fabulous'