Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Thursday 3 Jul 2014

1. SECURITY TIGHTENED FOR USA AIR THREAT

Security at airports with direct flights to the US, including some in the UK, is being tightened after US Homeland Security warned of a “real time” and “credible” threat. It has been reported separately that al-Qaeda affiliates in Yemen and Syria are developing bombs to be smuggled onto aeroplanes.

Airport security: mobile phone checks stepped up

2. ‘SLENDER MAN’ GIRL NOT FIT FOR TRIAL

One of two 12-year-old schoolgirls accused of stabbing a classmate 19 times, allegedly to please a fictional character called ‘slender man’, is not mentally competent enough to stand trial, her lawyer has told a court. Prosecutors want further tests. It is thought the second girl may also be unfit.

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3. NHS LONG-TERM CARE PLAN IS ‘A DISASTER’

A cross-party committee of MPs has warned that government plans to cut back on hospital care in England for people with long-term conditions such as diabetes before community services are geared-up to take the strain is a “recipe for disaster”. The agreed that doing more in the community was desirable.

4. S KOREA AND CHINA HOLD TALKS ON N KOREA

Chinese president Xi Jinping has arrived in South Korea to hold talks on North Korea, the first time a Chinese leader has visited Seoul before Pyongyang, a sign of cooler relations between Kim Jong-un’s fiefdom and China. S Korea and China will also discuss their developing economic relationship.

5. SARKOZY ALLEGES ‘BIAS’ FROM JUDGES

Former French president Nicolas Sarkozy says the allegations of corruption and influence-peddling he is facing are “grotesque” and the judges investigating him are “biased”. Appearing on TV, he said the justice system was being used as a “political instrument” against him by France’s socialist government.

6. ANDY MURRAY: I NEED TO WORK HARDER

Last year’s Wimbledon champion, Andy Murray, says he needs to “work very hard” in the next few months, “both on and off the court” after he was comfortably beaten by Grigor Dimitrov in this year’s quarter-finals. Writing for BBC Sport, Murray said he got off to a bad start, giving Dimitrov confidence.

Andy Murray's 'bad day' puts Dimitrov through to face Djokovic

7. CRACK MAYOR FORD: YOU NAME IT, I’VE DONE IT

Rob Ford, the mayor of Toronto who was filmed smoking crack cocaine, has admitted using “every drug you can probably think of”, speaking after two months of rehab. He also blamed substance abuse for his racist outbursts. He added: “I did not drink yesterday; I haven’t drunk today.”

8. LINDSAY LOHAN SUES GRAND THEFT AUTO V

Actress Lindsay Lohan, infamous for her wild-child lifestyle, is suing the makers of violent video game Grand Theft Auto V, claiming the character Lacey Jonas is based on her. She says her image, voice and styles from her clothing range have all been depicted in the game without her permission.

9. MAN ‘DUMPED’ BY BANNER ACROSS A1

A banner which appeared over the A1 attached to a bridge in Gateshead reading ‘Steve Frazer - you’re dumped by both of your girlfriends’ and showing a picture of two women posing together has now been removed. One of the women told the BBC they had not expected it to get so much attention.

10. HOT TICKET: DENNIS HOPPER PHOTO SHOW

A new exhibition of photographs by the late Hollywood actor Dennis Hopper has opened at the Royal Academy, London. It features 400 vintage prints by Hopper of Sixties counter culture, street life and stars of art, fashion and music. "Superb," says the Evening Standard. Until 19 October.

Dennis Hopper: The Lost Album – reviews of photo show