Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Sunday 6 Oct 2013

1. US COMMANDOS IN AFRICA RAIDS

US special forces have carried out raids in Africa targeting senior Islamist terrorists. In Libya, commandos captured an al-Qaeda leader accused of the 1998 bombings of the US embassies in Kenya and Tanzania. In Somalia, commandos attempted unsuccessfully to capture the al-Shabab leader suspected of involvement in last month's attack in the Westgate shopping centre in Kenya's capital Nairobi.

2. LABOUR MAY SUE HUNT OVER TWEET

The Labour party is threatening to sue a Conservative cabinet minister over accusations of a cover-up about NHS failures, reports the Sunday Times. Andy Burnham, the shadow health secretary, is preparing a writ against Jeremy Hunt, the health secretary, over remarks made on Twitter. Hunt refused to delete the comments when contacted by Labour party lawyers.

3. MP CALLS FOR BBC INQUIRY OVER MILIBAND

A Conservative MP is calling for an inquiry into the scale of coverage that the BBC gave to Ed Miliband’s dispute with the Daily Mail. “I think that a large proportion of the country now see the BBC as being a mouthpiece for one political party,” said Andrew Bridgen, who has written to has written to the BBC Trust, asking if it to consider whether the corporation has breached guidelines.

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4. UK’S NUCLEAR NEAR MISS IN 2012

A major nuclear incident was narrowly avoided at the heart of Britain's Royal Navy submarine fleet last summer, reveals the Independent on Sunday. Double defects left vessels without vital sources of coolant for their reactors. Experts have compared the crisis at the naval base with the Fukushima Daiichi power-station meltdown in Japan in 2011.

5. GREEN TARGETS TO SPARK £400 HIKE

British householders will pay an average of more than £400 in higher bills over the next six years to allow the government to hit controversial green power targets, says the Sunday Telegraph. The money raised by a hike in bills will go to cover the costs of otherwise uneconomic projects such as wind turbines, onshore wind farms, biomass plants and landfill gas sites.

6. AFRIYIE PUSHES FOR EARLY EU VOTE

A Tory backbencher, linked with a future leadership contest, has said he will try to force the government to hold an early vote on whether Britain should leave the EU. Windsor MP Adam Afriyie writes in the Mail on Sunday that "suspicious" voters are "not convinced" by the prime minister's promise to put the issue to an "in or out" referendum in 2017.

7. LORD SUGAR PROBED OVER ‘RACIST’ TWEET

Lord Sugar has been investigated by the police after a complaint that he posted a racist Twitter message. The businessman posted a joke about child workers in Chinese factories to his 3.2m Twitter followers. A Twitter user complained to the Metropolitan Police, who investigated and classified the tweet as a “hate incident”, which means no further action will be taken.

8. THOUSANDS OF PUBS UNDER THREAT

Alcohol consumption is continuing to fall, causing concern among breweries and pub landlords. The British Beer & Pub Association's Statistical Handbook found that last year the average adult drank eight litres of alcohol, compared with 8.2 the year before, a 3.3% fall. Almost 6,000 pubs have closed in the last year and there are warnings that 4,000 more are at risk.

9. M&S VOTED ‘MOST DIFFICULT STORE’

Queues at checkouts and blocked aisles have left Marks & Spencer voted as the most difficult supermarket to shop in. A quarter of those who took part in a survey said shopping at M&S demanded a ‘high’ or ‘very high’ effort. No-frills Iceland was rated best in terms of convenience, with 56% saying shopping there demanded ‘low’ or ‘very low’ effort.

10. JANUZAJ SAVES MOYES’ BLUSHES

Manchester United teenager Adnan Januzaj saved David Moyes from another embarrassing afternoon by inspiring a crucial win at Sunderland. Craig Gardener had given the hosts a deserved half-time lead at the Stadium of Light but Januzaj scored twice to earn victory for United. The result lifts Moyes’ team to ninth place. Leaders Liverpool beat Crystal Palace 3-1.