Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Tuesday 27 Aug 2013

1. MPS WILL VOTE ON SYRIA STRIKE, SAYS PM

MPs will be recalled to Parliament on Thursday to decide how the UK should respond to the chemical attacks that left hundreds dead in Syria last week. The US and UK, who believe the Syrian government deliberately unleashed chemical weapons on its own citizens, are considering military intervention.

Syria: Is Western military intervention inevitable?

2. TONY BLAIR: HAND WRINGING MUST STOP

Tony Blair has called what is happening in Syria an "assault on civilians not seen since the dark days of Saddam" and said "it is time we took a side". Writing in the Times, the former PM, now special envoy for the Middle East, said that while people "wince" at intervention, "we have collectively to understand the consequences of wringing our hands instead of putting them to work".

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Syria: PM's push for action ignores will of most Britons

3. CALIFORNIA WILD FIRE REACHES YOSEMITE

Rescue workers in the US are struggling to control a huge wildfire that has reached the edge of the Yosemite National park. The week-old fire is now the size of Chicago and is close to a major reservoir that serves San Francisco. The governor of California has declared a state of emergency in the city, with the blaze threatening power lines.

Yosemite wildfire - in pictures

4. JAMIE OLIVER RIDICULED OVER ADVICE TO POOR

Celebrity chef Jamie Oliver has been heavily criticised after suggesting that low income families should spend less money on "big TVs" and more on healthy food. Oliver, who is worth an estimated £150m, said "some of the most inspirational food in the world" was made in countries were people are "financially challenged".

Jamie Oliver's working class diet advice backfires

5. HS2 A 'GRAND FOLLY': BUSINESS GROUP

The HS2 rail link between London and the north-west is a "grand folly" that should be scrapped says the Institute of Directors. Only 27% of its members believe the £42.6bn project is worthwhile. "Businesses up and down the country know value for money when they see it," it says. "They don't see it in the government's case for HS2."

Leading business group says HS2 is 'one grand folly'

6. GARETH BALE SET TO DON MADRID STRIP

The tortuous saga of Gareth Bale's transfer appears to be entering its final throes with reports in Spain claiming he will be unveiled as a Real Madrid player on Wednesday and could even make his debut for the Galacticos before the end of the week. Bale failed to show up at training with his Spurs team mates on Monday.

Gareth Bale could make debut for Real Madrid this week

7. ENGLAND'S ASHES VICTORY TURNS SOUR

Hugh Robertson, the sports minister, has urged the England and Wales Cricket Board to investigate claims that English players urinated on the Oval Test pitch after their Ashes win on Sunday night. Journalists from Australia, working late in the press box, said some of the team had used the pitch as a toilet while being cheered by team-mates.

England cricketers 'urinated on Oval wicket' after Ashes finale

8. ROONEY SHOWS CHELSEA HIS METTLE

Although the final score was a 0-0 draw, Wayne Rooney wooed Chelsea with a powerful performance at Old Trafford yesterday. Fans who hope the Manchester United player could be lured to join their team chanted "Wayne Rooney, we'll see you next week". Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho gave the player 48 hours to decide if he wants to leave United.

Rooney ultimatum: Mourinho gives Man Utd striker 48 hours

9. NFU CONFIRMS THAT BADGER CULL HAS BEGUN

A controversial cull of badgers has got under way in England despite protests, the National Farmers' Union has confirmed. Around 5,000 badgers are expected to be shot in Somerset and Gloucestershire over the next six weeks. Protest group Stop The Cull said that more than 500 people held protests and vigils at both sites last night.

Gas badgers, says Princess Anne, as cull abandoned

10. HOT TICKET: SPLINTER CELL RETURNS

The sixth instalment of Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell stealth-action video game series has been released in the UK. In Splinter Cell: Blacklist, US black-ops agent Sam Fisher and his team must hunt down a group of terrorists called The Engineers. "Unashamedly fun," says The Guardian.

Splinter Cell returns with 'mad, bad, dangerous' fun in Blacklist