Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Saturday 6 Sep 2014

1. UK SIGNS UP TO US ANTI-ISIS CAMPAIGN

Britain has signed up to a Washington-led “core coalition” to destroy Isis. Barack Obama said yesterday that he will “take the fight” to the extremist group, after the US secretary of state said containing the “ ambitious, avowed genocidal, territorial-grabbing, caliphate-desiring” group is not an option. The US believes the campaign may take up to three years.

2. COALITION ‘OVER’ AFTER REVOLT

Senior Liberal Democrats have united with Labour to vote against the bedroom tax. Chief secretary to the Treasury Danny Alexander and business secretary Vince Cable voted against the government on the controversial measure. Tory MP Philip Davies said the vote shows the Lib Dems are “devious” and that the move “shows the coalition government has come to an end”.

3. BANKS ADMIT TO FAKE LEGAL LETTERS

Leading banks admits they have sent hundreds of thousands of fake debt collection letters to intimidate customers. HSBC, Barclays, Santander and RBS/Natwest admit they have sent letters misleadingly suggesting law firms and outside debt collectors are going to be called in. The tactic has been used to scare families who are deep in the red.

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4. WILL RUPERT MURDOCH BACK UKIP?

Nigel Farage has held a private meeting with Rupert Murdoch, prompting speculation that the tycoon may consider backing Ukip through his British newspapers. The Ukip leader was ushered into Murdoch’s office while taping interviews with Fox News. During an advertisement break, Farage was told: “Sir, the boss wants to see you…the big boss.”

5. HARVARD SCRAPS BLAIR COLLABORATION

Harvard has pulled out of a project with Tony Blair, seemingly in protest over his prediction that religious differences will fuel the wars of the 21st-century. The Tony Blair Faith Foundation was to team up with the Harvard Divinity School to produce in-depth analysis of religion and conflict around the world. It is believed an article arguing that religion fuels conflict was to blame for the pull out.

6. CEASEFIRE BETWEEN UKRAINE AND REBELS

A ceasefire agreed between the Ukrainian government and pro-Russia rebels appeared to hold overnight. There were no confirmed reports of fighting following the deal, which was struck in Belarus yesterday. Ukraine's president Petro Poroshenko is calling for talks about a long-term solution to the conflict, which has killed about 2,600 people.

7. ASHYA CLEARED FOR PRAGUE TREATMENT

Ashya King, the five-year-old boy with a brain tumour, has been given the legal go-ahead to receive specialist treatment in Prague for his cancer. A dramatic high court ruling last night means Brett and Naghmeh King can take their son to receive proton beam therapy not routinely available on the NHS. However, doctors in Southampton say the treatment will not benefit Ashya.

8. SIERRA LEONE ANNOUNCES LOCKDOWN

Sierra Leone has announced a four-day lockdown to try to tackle the Ebola disease. To allow health workers to isolate new cases to prevent the disease from spreading further, between 18 and 21 September people will not be allowed to leave their homes, a senior official said. The outbreak has killed about 2,100 people in Sierra Leone, Liberia, Guinea and Nigeria in recent months.

9. GREAT-GRANDFATHER FIGHTS OFF THUGS

A great-grandfather has fought off three armed intruders with his bare hands. Andrew Adamson, 59, returned to his home with his wife to find the front door open. CCTV footage shows him fight off three masked men who appeared from inside the home and hit him over the head with a metal pole. He continued to scrap even when one of them produced a razor blade.

10. CRIMINAL ACID ATTACKS NEARLY DOUBLE

Acid attacks have risen in the past six years, according to NHS figures. Criminal assaults using acid and other corrosive substances have nearly doubled in England from 71 to 130 over the past six years. The Crown Prosecution Service says that offences involving the throwing or sending of dangerous substances ending up in court quadrupled over the past 12 months.