Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Friday 28 Jun 2013

1. BRITAIN SET FOR THREE-PARENT IVF

The UK is poised to become the first country to allow the creation of babies using DNA from three people, after the government backed the IVF technique. The move, which will allow doctors to prevent major childhood diseases, could be available by the end of 2014. Opponents say it is unethical and could set the UK on a "slippery slope".

2. MANDELAS SLAM 'VULTURE' MEDIA

The family of Nelson Mandela have lashed out at the foreign media, for having "a racist element" and behaving like "vultures". The anti-apartheid leader's eldest daughter Makaziwe said the media is behaving disrespectfully outside the hospital and wondered if they were behaving this way “just because we're an African country”.

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Media treatment of Mandela 'racist' says angry daughter

3. ENERGY RATION PLAN DISMISSED

The government has dismissed the proposal that shops and factories could be paid to cut energy use in order to avoid blackouts. The proposal came after energy regulator Ofgem warned the risk of power cuts has increased in the UK. But the energy secretary dismissed the idea, telling Newsnight: "I can assure you the lights are not going to go out.

Risk of UK energy blackout has trebled in past year

4. MUSLIM SERMON CONDEMNS GROOMING

A sermon condemning the sexual grooming of young girls was delivered at 500 mosques across Britain today after a series of trials in which men predominantly of South Asian origin were convicted. Yesterday, seven men from a sadistic sex grooming ring were jailed for life.

5. NHS PUBLISHES SURGEON DATA

The NHS has published online details of operations carried out by more than 458 surgeons. In an attempt to improve standards, the data, released on the NHS Choices website, includes the number of times a surgeon has performed a particular operation, their death rates and how they rate compared with their peers.

Operation success rates: how data lets you pick a surgeon

6. TORY CALLS FOR IMMIGRANT AMNESTY

David Cameron should consider an amnesty for more than 500,000 illegal immigrants to win over ethnic minority voters, a prominent Conservative MP has said. Nadhim Zahawi MP says illegal immigrants are a “vast hidden economy" which "cheats the Treasury out of billions while undercutting the pay and conditions of low-income workers”.

7. IAN BRADY LOSES HOSPITAL APPEAL

Ian Brady has lost his appeal to be moved from a high-security psychiatric hospital to an ordinary prison. A medical tribunal ruled today that the Moors Murderer is still sufficiently mentally ill to stay at Ashworth Hospital where he has been held since 1985. The 75-year-old had argued he was sectioned after pretending to be psychotic.

Why Ian Brady lost appeal to leave mental hospital

8. ONE DIRECTION BACK LAURA ROBSON

Britain's Laura Robson romped into the third round at Wimbledon as she overpowered Colombian qualifier Mariana Duque-Marino 6-4, 6-1 under the roof on Centre Court. Before the encounter members of teen band One Direction tweeted their support for the British number one and afterwards she admitted that she liked "cheesy music".

Laura Robson love match? Rumours go in One Direction

9. PICKLES PHOTO TEASES OSBORNE

Communities Secretary Eric Pickles has poked fun at George Osborne by uploading a photo of himself enjoying a salad as he puts the finishing touches to a speech. Osborne had been mocked for tweeting a photo of himself with a burger on the eve of a big speech. After Pickles uploaded his parody, Osborne replied: "Nice one Eric."

Shamburger: Osborne's 'posh' patty triggers bun fight

10. HOT TICKET: ROGAN’S THIS IS THE END

Seth Rogan’s disaster comedy ‘This is the End’ is released in UK cinemas today. Rogan directs and stars in the story of a group of stoner friends whose aimless partying is interrupted when Los Angeles is destroyed by the apocalypse. With James Franco. “A hoot,” says Rolling Stone.

Is Seth Rogen's This is the End the 'comedy of the summer'?

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