Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Friday 11 Apr 2014

1. CO-OPERATIVE BANK LOST £1.3BN LAST YEAR

The Co-op Bank has confirmed it lost £1.3bn last year, before tax, after a £1.5bn ‘black hole’ discovered in its finances caused a deal to buy 632 branches from Lloyds to collapse. The bank, which hopes to be in profit by 2016, also confirmed it would not now pay £4.97m in deferred annual bonuses to former bosses.

Co-op Bank 'sorry' for £1.3bn loss and £400m black hole

2. MH370: PM ABBOTT ‘VERY CONFIDENT’

Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott says he is “very confident” the ‘ping’ signal detected by search ship Ocean Shield is the black box flight recorder from the missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370. But he added the signal was “starting to fade”. Black box recorders usually emit their beacon signal for about month.

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3. ADRIAN MOLE WRITER SUE TOWNSEND DIES

Novelist Sue Townsend, best known for the comic Adrian Mole series which began in 1982 with The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole, Aged 13 3/4, has died at the age of 68. The writer, who died at home after a short illness, had been left blind after suffering for many years from diabetes. She had a stroke in late 2012.

4. OMAGH BOMB ACCUSED REMANDED IN CUSTODY

A man accused of murdering 29 people in the Omagh bomb attack in 1998 has been remanded in custody after appearing at Dungannon Magistrates' Court. Seamus Daly, 43, from County Monaghan, was arrested on Monday. He was previously found responsible for the bombing - one of the worst atrocities of the Troubles - in a civil suit.

Omagh bombing: Seamus Daly charged for mass murder

5. EVANS ACQUITTAL PROMPTS REVIEW CALL

Senior Tories are calling for a review into the way sex offences are prosecuted after former deputy speaker Nigel Evans was found not guilty in Preston yesterday of eight charges against seven men. David Davis said the attorney general must investigate. But the CPS said it had been “right” to bring the case.

6. CHELSEA TO FACE ATLETICO MADRID

Chelsea have been drawn against Spanish league leaders Atletico Madrid in the semi finals of the Champions League. The other tie sees the holders, Bayern Munich, take on Real Madrid. Jose Mourinho's side, who are aiming to make a third final in seven seasons, will travel to Madrid for the first leg on April 22 or23.

Chelsea vs Atletico Madrid, as Uefa warn Blues over Courtois

7. POLICE: WE CAN’T DELETE PAEDOPHILE PICS

Police say it would be illegal to delete pictures of a convicted paedophile’s victim still in his possession. The man, who was jailed in 2013 for nine years after a string of assaults, has requested his laptop and phone be returned. Campaign group Liberty says they still contain pictures of his victim in her swimsuit.

8. PISTORIUS FACES MORE TOUGH QUESTIONS

Oscar Pistorius has faced another day of tough cross-examination at his murder trial in Pretoria. The Paralympian was grilled for a third day by prosecutor Gerrie Nel, who accused him of "tailoring" his evidence, and said the only version of events that made sense was the one in which Pistorius had deliberately shot dead his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp.

Oscar Pistorius out of legal options as request to appeal rejected

9. UKRAINE: MORE POWERS FOR THE EAST

The interim prime minister of Ukraine has offered to devolve more powers to the country's eastern regions, where pro-Russian groups have taken over government buildings and are defying Kiev. Arseniy Yatsenyuk has been holding talks with eastern leaders in Donetsk. Meanwhile, the EU says it can pump gas back into Ukraine if Russia cuts supplies to the West.

10. HOT TICKET: BLACK COMEDY CALVARY

Irish black comedy Calvary is released in UK cinemas today. Brendan Gleeson stars as a Catholic priest who receives a death threat from a mysterious man with a grudge against the church and realises that sinister forces are closing in on him. Also features Chris O'Dowd and Dylan Moran. "Terrific," says The Guardian.

Calvary – reviews of 'terrific' Irish black comedy drama

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