Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Wednesday 3 Jul 2013

1. BOLIVIAN LEADER'S JET DIVERTED OVER US 'LIE'

A plane carrying Bolivia's president has left Vienna after being diverted to the Austrian capital over fears fugitive whistleblower Edward Snowden was onboard. Bolivia reacted with fury yesterday when the plane carrying President Evo Morales home from Moscow was refused permission to use French and Portuguese airspace.

Edward Snowden joins Twitter with jokes aplenty

2. EGYPT: MORSI UNDER 'HOUSE ARREST'

There are reports that Egyptian president Mohammed Morsi is being held under house arrest after the ultimatum issued by the army expired. The military fanned out across Cairo this afternoon in a show of force aimed at supporters of Morsi and the Muslim Brotherhood.

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Egypt heading for civil war? Five questions as deadline looms

3. WIMBLEDON: MURRAY WINS 5-SET THRILLER

Andy Murray clawed his way back from two sets down to clinch a hard-won victory against Fernando Verdasco. The result of the five-set thriller - 4-6 3-6 6-1 6-4 7-5 - means Murray has booked a place in the Wimbledon semi-finals where he will play Poland's Jerzy Janowicz.

4. MANDELA GRANDSON MUST RETURN BODIES

A judge in South Africa has given Nelson Mandela's grandson, Mandla, 24 hours to return the remains of three of the former president's children to the family graveyard in Qunu. Mandla removed the remains "in the dead of night" hoping to get his grandfather buried in the village of Mvezo, which he hoped to exploit as a pilgrimage site.

Nelson Mandela's will divides estate worth £2.5m

5. THERESA MAY MAKES QAT ILLEGAL

The home secretary, Theresa May, has defied her own expert advisers and banned qat, a mild herbal stimulant that is traditionally used by Britain's Somali, Yemeni and Ethiopian communities. May said it would become a class C drug and warned Britain risked becoming a "single, regional hub" for its illegal onward trafficking.

6. FASHION LABEL NICOLE FARHI HITS WALL

Nicole Farhi, the upmarket British fashion label, has become the latest victim of the squeezed retail market. The company is going into administration, putting 120 jobs at risk. There is speculation that French-born Farhi, who started the company in 1982, may return to the label to help with its rescue or sale.

Fashion icon Nicole Farhi is latest retail casualty

7. BBC HAMSTRUNG BY 'LIBERAL BIAS'

The BBC has failed to highlight public concerns about issues like immigration and the EU because it had a "deep liberal bias", a new report claims. The review, commissioned by the BBC Trust and led by former ITV boss Stuart Prebble, studied the corporation's impartiality when covering certain subjects.

BBC immigration coverage affected by 'liberal bias'

8. MURDOCH BLASTS 'INCOMPETENT COPS'

A secret recording of Rupert Murdoch reveals a "very different side" to the 82-year-old tycoon, C4 reports. Contrary to his public remorse about the phone hacking affair, Murdoch is heard "raging against the police and claiming that the inquiry into corrupt payments to public officials has been blown out of proportion".

9. LIONS COACH DROPS BRIAN O'DRISCOLL

Veteran rugby player Brian O'Driscoll has been dropped from the final Test match against Australia this Saturday in a shock decision by British and Irish Lions coach Warren Gatland. O'Driscoll had been expected to captain the Lions in the series decider. His place at centre will be taken by Jamie Roberts while Alun-Wyn Jones will be captain.

O'Driscoll dropped as Gatland risks it all with Welsh Lions

10. HOT TICKET: VERDI'S SIMON BOCCANEGRA

A revival of Giuseppe Verdi's 'Simon Boccanegra' has opened at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden to mark Verdi's bicentenary. The opera, directed by Elijah Moshinsky, portrays the rise and tragic fall of the Doge of Genoa. "Ravishing," says The Times. Until 16 July.

Royal Opera Simon Boccanegra a 'ravishing' tribute to Verdi