Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Friday 26 Jul 2013

1. FIRMS 'HAVE DUTY TO HIRE BRITISH WORKERS'

Businesses in Britain have a "duty" to employ UK workers over immigrants, a Conservative MP has said. Matthew Hancock, the business and education minister, claimed firms should not take the "easy option" of filling vacancies by recruiting from abroad when they could train local people, benefiting the company involved and the wider economy.

British firms have 'duty' not to hire foreigners, says minister

2. SPANISH RAIL CRASH: DRIVER'S SPEED BRAG

The driver of the train that came off the rails killing 80 people and leaving 130 injured in northern Spain, had boasted to friends on Facebook about how fast he could drive his locomotive. Francisco José Garzón Amo, 52, formally named as a suspect in the disaster, posted a photo of his train speedometer showing 200km/h.

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Spanish train crash driver: 'I f***ed up. I want to die'

3. ARCHBISHOP 'FURY' AT WONGA INVESTMENT

The Archbishop of Canterbury is said to be "furious" after the Church of England confirmed it had indirectly invested in payday lender Wonga. The news came the day after Justin Welby claimed the Church hoped to force the firm out of business. Lambeth Palace said an independent inquiry would be launched into how "this serious inconsistency" occurred.

Justin Welby 'embarrased and irritated' by Wonga investment

4. STUART HALL JAIL TERM DOUBLED

Disgraced broadcaster Stuart Hall has had his jail sentence for sex abuse doubled to 30 months by the Court of Appeal after it ruled that the original punishment of 15 months was 'unduly lenient'. Earlier this year Hall, 83, admitted 14 counts of indecent assault on girls aged between nine and 17 and was jailed at Preston Crown Court last month.

5. SQUIRREL WITH PLAGUE SHUTS US PARK

Parts of a national park in California have been evacuated and closed to campers after a squirrel with the plague was discovered in the region. The animal, which was suffering from Black Death, was found during routine checks in Angeles National Forest. The disease is transmitted through flea bites and workers will dust the forest for fleas before it is reopened.

6. TIM WESTWOOD LEAVES RADIO 1

BBC Radio 1's push to attract a younger audience appears to have claimed another victim: hip-hop expert Tim Westwood. The 55-year-old is leaving the station after nearly 20 years to make way for a shake-up of the Saturday night schedule that will see new shows for presenters including MistaJam, Charlie Sloth and DJ Target.

7. PRINCE HARRY: I'LL BE FUN UNCLE TO GEORGE

Prince Harry says one of his duties as uncle to the newborn Prince George is "to make sure he has fun". Harry, now fourth in line to the throne, said his brother William's son "was crying his eyes out" when he met him. He added that he would be doing his best to make sure the young prince was kept "out of harm's way".

8. IPCC: NO LAWRENCE 'SMEAR' PROBE

The police watchdog says a lack of evidence means it cannot investigate claims made by a former officer that Stephen Lawrence's family were subject to a police smear campaign. The IPCC said the allegations made by former undercover cop Peter Francis were "serious", but they could not be properly assessed.

9. OLYMPIC GAMES WORTH IT, SAY PUBLIC

More than two-thirds of the British public believe the £8.77bn cost of the London 2012 Olympics was worth the money, a BBC survey has found. Of the 3,218 adults polled, 11 per cent said they were now more active, 22 per cent said the Games had improved their local economy, and 74 per cent said they would welcome the Games back to Britain.

London Games: £9bn bill was money well spent, says public

10. HOT TICKET: KOOKY COMEDY FRANCES HA

'Greenberg' director Noah Baumbach's latest kooky comedy 'Frances Ha' opens at UK cinemas today. Baumbach co-wrote the film with his partner Greta Gerwig, who also plays the title role of Frances, a 20-something dancer in New York struggling to cope with adult life. "A charming female buddy movie," says Time Out.

Baumbach's coming-of-age comedy Frances Ha 'pure joy'