Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Thursday 29 May 2014

1. VINCE CABLE ‘TRYING TO TAKE THE REINS’

Vince Cable has been accused of a leadership bid after he was linked to a “shambolic coup” to oust Nick Clegg. Speaking to the Daily Telegraph, a leading party figure has accused Cable of trying to “take the reins” of the party, adding that Cable has “leadership ambitions”. Clegg’s failure to sack or condemn Cable is being seen by critics as a sign of weakness.

Lord Oakeshott quits Lib Dems and warns of election disaster

2. BRITISH GIRLS AMONG FATTEST IN EUROPE

British girls have become among the fattest in Europe, according to a landmark study. With 29.2% of British girls under the age of 19 either obese or overweight, Britain has the 27th-worst record in the world, with only Iceland and Malta faring worst in Europe. The data, published in The Lancet, is believed to be the outcome of the most extensive research ever conducted on the matter.

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3. SISI IN LANDSLIDE EGYPT VICTORY

Abdul Fattah al-Sisi has won a landslide victory in Egypt's presidential election, according to provisional results. The former military chief has gained over 96% of the vote with most ballots counted, says state media. The retired field marshall overthrew president Mohammed Morsi last year and has overseen a purge of Morsi’s Muslim Brotherhood movement.

Abdul Fattah al-Sisi: who is Egypt's new president?

4. MERKEL TOPS FORBES POWER WOMEN LIST

Angela Merkel is still the most powerful woman in the world, according to the Forbes list. The German chancellor has topped the list for the fourth year in a row, just ahead of Federal Reserve chief Janet Yellen. Oprah Winfrey is at 16, with the Queen at 35. The author of the Harry Potter series, JK Rowling, has slipped out of the top 100.

5. PINGS ARE ‘NOT FROM FLIGHT MH370’

The acoustic ‘pings’ at the centre of the search for the missing Malaysia Airlines flight are no longer believed to be coming from the aircraft’s black box. A US Navy official says they are instead emanating from “other man-made” source, unrelated to the jet liner. The flight disappeared on March 8, with 227 passengers and crew onboard.

MH370: mysterious 89kg load ‘added to cargo flight list after take-off’

6. IS INDIAN GURU DEAD OR MEDITATING?

An Indian court has been asked to rule on whether a Hindu guru is dead or meditating. The family of His Holiness Shri Ashutosh Maharaj say he died in January. However, his spiritual followers are refusing to hand over his body for cremation, as they claim he is still alive. They say he simply slipped into a deep meditation. They have frozen his body to preserve it for when he wakes.

7. UKRAINE HELICOPTER SHOT DOWN BY REBELS

Pro-Russian rebels in east Ukraine have shot down a government helicopter near Sloviansk, killing 14 people including a senior general in the army. Acting president Olexander Turchynov said the rebels had used a Russian-made anti-aircraft system to bring down the helicopter. It is one of the biggest losses suffered by the Ukraine army in the conflict so far.

8. ROLF HARRIS TELLS OF DAUGHTER'S ANGER

Rolf Harris's daughter smashed two of his paintings when she found out that he had a sexual relationship with one of her friends, a court has heard. Harris, 84, who is on trial for indecent assault against several women, said his daughter was "beside herself". He insists the relationship was consensual and began when the woman was an adult.

9. MALCOLM GLAZER DIES AT AGE OF 85

Malcolm Glazer, the billionaire who led the controversial takeover of Manchester United, has died at the age of 85. The Glazers purchased the Premier League club for £790m in 2005 amid fierce opposition from many fans. Glazer never set foot inside Old Trafford, and passed the day-to-day running of the club to his sons following a stroke in 2006.

Man United's future in doubt after death of Malcolm Glazer

10. HOT TICKET: TURNER'S WEST END RETURN

Art world comedy Bakersfield Mist, starring Kathleen Turner, has opened at the Duchess Theatre, West End. Turner plays an unemployed bartender who tries to convince a stuffy art critic she has discovered a valuable Jackson Pollock painting. "Beautifully performed," says The Times. Until 30 August.

Bakersfield Mist – reviews of 'pithy' new art-world comedy