Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Wednesday 20 Nov 2013

1. NO MORE TROUBLES PROSECUTIONS IN N.I.

John Larkin, Northern Ireland’s attorney-general, has made the radical suggestion that there should be no further prosecutions brought for any deaths caused during the Troubles by paramilitaries, police or the British Army. Larkin said his plan, to draw a “line”, was a “logical consequence” of the 1998 Good Friday Agreement.

Call to end Troubles-era murder prosecutions is 'astonishing'

2. PM FLAGS PROBE OF CO-OP AND FLOWERS

David Cameron has raised the prospect of an inquiry into the Co-op Bank over its financial struggles and embarrassing revelations about its former chairman, Paul Flowers. The PM described Flowers as the "man who has broken a bank" following questions about his financial competence and alleged drug-taking.

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3. RUSSIA BAILS BRITISH GREENPEACE PAIR

Two Britons have been granted bail by a court in northern Russia after being charged over a Greenpeace protest in the Arctic. Alex Harris and Kieron Bryan were among 30 people charged with piracy, later downgraded to hooliganism, over the September protest, in which several activists tried to scale an Arctic offshore oil rig operated by the Russian company Gazprom.

4. EGYPT: 10 SOLDIERS DIE IN SINAI BLAST

At least 10 Egyptian soldiers are reported to have died in a bomb attack in the country’s troubled Sinai region. A column of buses transporting infantry soldiers is believed to have hit a roadside bomb in the Kharouba area. It’s only the latest such incident but is thought to be the worst attack on the military in months.

5. RONALDO SHOOTS HIS WAY TO WORLD CUP

Cristiano Ronaldo fired Portugal into the World Cup finals with a memorable hat-trick that cemented his reputation as one of the greats. Sweden's star striker, Zlatan Imbrahimovic, scored twice but it was not enough as Portugal won their play-off 4-2 on aggregate. France also earned a place at the tournament as they overturned a 2-0 deficit to beat Ukraine.

Ronaldo crushes Ibrahimovic as hat-trick finally eclipses Messi

6. BORIS CONSIDERS LONDON LORRY BAN

Boris Johnson would consider banning lorries from the streets of London during rush hour to halt the rise in the number of cyclists killed or seriously injured. The Mayor’s comments followed a recommendation from Chris Boardman, the Olympic Gold medalist, that heavy goods vehicles should be removed from streets at the busiest times to save lives.

7. ‘TOO FAT TO FLY’ FRENCHMAN STRANDED

A Frenchman who, at 32 stone, was considered too fat to board a British Airways flight back from the US where he was having hormone treatment is now stuck in the UK after Eurostar refused to transport him. Kevin Chenais, 22, praised Virgin for flying him back from the US for free after the QE2 also turned him down.

Obese Frenchman stranded in London after Eurostar ban

8. HULL IS UK'S CITY OF CULTURE FOR 2017

Hull has been named as the UK's City of Culture for 2017 after beating Leicester, Dundee and Swansea Bay. The Yorkshire city will stage a £12m programme of arts and cultural events during 2017, including 25 festivals and opening and closing ceremonies.

Hull wins City of Culture: five reasons it's an arts hotspot

9. WINTRY WEATHER FOR UK ON WEDNESDAY

Temperatures in parts of England will fall as low as -4 today as a cold snap takes hold. Winds of up to 70mph are expected to hit northern England and parts of Scotland later while higher ground in Scotland may be covered in two inches of snow. Severe weather warnings have been issued for most of Scotland.

10. HOT TICKET: DAME EDNA FAREWELL

Barry Humphries's farewell show, Eat, Pray, Laugh! has opened at the London Palladium, West End. The show is a final chance to see Humphries's celebrity characters Dame Edna, Sir Les Patterson and Sandy Stone before he retires from the stage. "Dazzling," says the Evening Standard. Until 5 January, then touring UK.

Barry Humphries farewell show Eat, Pray, Laugh! - reviews