Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Monday 20 Jan 2014

1. LORD RENNARD SUSPENDED BY LIB DEMS

Liberal Democrat peer Lord Rennard has been suspended from the party after declining to apologise over sexual harassment claims. An internal committee rescinded the ex-chief executive's membership pending disciplinary proceedings - meaning he cannot sit in the House of Lords.

Rennard suspended: Lib Dems face High Court battle

2. MIKAEEL MOTHER CHARGED WITH MURDER

Rosdeep Kular, mother of three-year-old Mikaeel, whose body was found in woodland in Fife after an extensive search, has appeared in court charged with his murder. The 33-year-old appeared in private at Edinburgh Sheriff Court under her married name Adekoya. She did not enter a plea and was remanded in custody.

Subscribe to The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up

Mikaeel Kular: mother pleads guilty to killing three-year-old

3. CONDUCTOR CLAUDIO ABBADO DIES

Claudio Abbado, the 80-year-old Italian conductor often described as one of the greatest and most acclaimed maestros of his age, has died. Among his many posts were music director of La Scala, Milan's famous opera house, principal conductor of the London Symphony Orchestra from 1979 to 1988, and from 1989 to 2002 he was the chief conductor of the Berlin Philharmonic.

Claudio Abbado: 'world's greatest conductor' dies at 80

4. UKRAINE PRESIDENT AGREES TO CRISIS TALKS

Ukraine’s president, Viktor Yanukovych, has agreed to hold crisis talks with leaders of the opposition and protesters who want closer ties with Europe after violent clashes between police and demonstrators in the capital left dozens injured. Thousands of protesters had taken to the streets in outrage at new laws.

Ukraine rekindles Nato aspirations, angering Russia

5. UKIP SUSPENDS ‘GAY FLOODS’ COUNCILLOR

David Silvester, the Ukip councillor for Henley-on-Thames who provoked outrage and ridicule by claiming the recent floods in Britain were a punishment from God for plans to legalise gay marriage, has been suspended by his party. Ukip said his views did not reflect the party’s but defended his right to a “religious ideology”.

6. IRAN INVITE THREATENS SYRIA TALKS

Syria's main opposition group has said it will suspend its participation in upcoming peace talks in Geneva, Switzerland, unless certain conditions regarding Iran are met tonight. The Syria National Coalition said that for it to participate, either the United Nations must rescind the invitation it made to Iran to engage in the talks, or Iran must agree to certain conditions.

Syria: Iran invitation throws peace talks into 'disarray'

7. MURRAY INTO LAST EIGHT IN MELBOURNE

Andy Murray booked his place in the last eight of the Australian Open with a four set win over Frenchman Stephane Robert. Murray easily won the first two sets but lost the third on a tiebreak. Normal service was resumed in the fourth, which Murray won 6-2. He faces Roger Federer in the quarter finals.

8. RUNAWAY TEENS FOUND IN CARIBBEAN

Two teenagers who disappeared from their boarding school in the middle of the night have been found in the Dominican Republic in the Caribbean. Edward Bunyan and Indira Gainiyeya reportedly fled their school last week because they were sick of the British weather.

Runaway teens found in hotel in Dominican Republic

9. ROSETTA SPACECRAFT TO BE ‘WOKEN’

The European Space Agency (ESA) will today attempt to ‘wake’ its comet-chasing spacecraft, Rosetta. The probe was shut down 2.5 years ago to save energy. It has been chasing the Churyumov-Gerasimenko comet for 10 years, travelling at more than 60,000mph for 600m miles to land on its surface, it is hoped.

Rosetta: 'Rock and roll' space mission crashes to an end

10. HOT TICKET: BANNER SAGA VIKING GAME

Viking-themed tactical role-playing video game The Banner Saga has been released for PC and Mac. Players assemble a band of warriors to traverse a frozen, Norse-inspired fantasy world and fight an evil invading force called the Dredge using medieval-style combat and strategy. "Exquisitely produced fantasy," says The Guardian.

Viking-themed fantasy game The Banner Saga - reviews