Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Saturday 24 Aug 2013

1. US MILITARY MULLS SYRIA OPTIONS

The US Navy is moving forces closer to Syria as the Pentagon considers military intervention in the conflict there, defence secretary Chuck Hagel has suggested. "The Defence Department has responsibility to provide the president with options for all contingencies," he said. President Obama says allegations of a chemical attack in Syria are of “grave concern”.

2. NO 10 ANGRY OVER CAMERON PHOTOS

Downing Street has criticised four national newspaper editors over their decision to publish candid pictures of David Cameron on a beach. The prime minister's director of communications says the Daily Telegraph, the Daily Mail, The Times and the Daily Mirror broke "a binding agreement" to leave Cameron in peace during his Cornish holiday.

3. BODIES FOUND AFTER HELICOPTER CRASH

The bodies of three people missing after a helicopter crash off Shetland have been found, says the Royal National Lifeboat Institution. A fourth person remained unaccounted for on Saturday morning after the Super Puma L2 aircraft went down at 6.20pm on Friday around two miles west of Sumburgh airport.

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4. TORIES ARE 'MORE SEXIST THAN UKIP'

The Conservatives and Labour have a worse problem with sexism than UKIP, according to a Tory defector. Janice Atkinson, one of UKIP’s female candidates for next year’s European election, tells The Times: “I came across more sexism in the Tory party than I ever have done in UKIP”. She added that many Labour supporters have “outdated” attitudes from the 1950s.

5. LABOUR MAY WITHDRAW HS2 BACKING

Ed Miliband and Ed Balls have hinted to the coalition that Labour will withdraw support for the controversial High Speed 2 rail line if costs continue to spiral. Balls said there will be “no blank cheque” from a Labour treasury and if costs keep rising they will “review” their support. Miliband added that he will continue to “scrutinise it for value for money”.

6. CALL TO BAN GIRL GUIDES FROM CHURCHES

Girl Guide groups who do not pledge allegiance to God should be banned from the church halls they meet in, religious leaders and Christian groups have argued. Rev Paul Williamson of St George's Church in Feltham, Middlesex, said it would be “hypocritical” of the 103-year-old movement to continue to use church premises after dropping the pledge.

7. ADOLF HITLER'S DRUG HABIT REVEALED

Adolf Hitler was a hypochondriac, manic depressive with Parkinson’s, allegedly deformed genitals and an almost non-existent sex drive, according to a new documentary about the Nazi leader. Based on recently-discovered records and letters from his physician Dr Theodore Morell, the documentary also claims the dictator turned to drugs, including cocaine and amphetamines.

8. DAVE LEE TRAVIS RANTS IN COURT

Veteran DJ Dave Lee Travis reacted angrily when told he had to sit in a glass-panelled dock during his first court hearing on sex attack charges yesterday. “Why am I in here?” he asked. “Why am I not sitting out there with my lawyer? Am I a danger? Jesus Christ!” Lee Travis denies 11 counts of indecent assault and one of sex assault.

9. SURVEY REVEALS 'FIRST WORLD PROBLEMS'

Tangled headphones, sun glare on iPads, cleaners taking a day off and disappointing air fresheners are among the 'first world problems' to torment the middle classes, according to a new survey. “Sometimes we forget just how good we've got it,' said a spokesman for OnePoll, which carried out the study.

10. CHELSEA SNATCH WILLIAN FROM SPURS

Chelsea have agreed a £30m deal to sign attacking midfielder Willian from Russian club Anzhi Makhachkala, snatching him from the clutches of Tottenham. Arsenal get the weekend's Premier League action underway with a lunchtime clash with Fulham at Craven Cottage. Arsene Wenger insists plenty of players are keen to join the Gunners.

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