Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Tuesday 25 Nov 2014

1. WORST RIOTING YET IN FERGUSON, MISSOURI

The decision by a US grand jury not to charge a white police officer who shot dead unarmed black teenager, Michael Brown, has sparked the worst night of rioting yet in Ferguson, Missouri, where the shooting happened on 9 August. Shots were fired and cars and buildings were set alight by an angry crowd

What are 'sound cannons' and why are police using them in Ferguson?

2. LEE RIGBY MURDER REPORT CRITICISES MI5

A report by a cross-bench committee of MPs published today has criticised MI5 over its monitoring of one of the Islamists who murdered Fusilier Lee Rigby on the street in Woolwich last year. It also makes clear the intelligence services could not have prevented the killing on 22 May, 2013 - although it says they might have been able to step in if they could have accessed an online exchange between the two.

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Lee Rigby killer sues prison service over lost teeth

3. WELSH ASSEMBLY TO GRANT ITSELF PAY RISE

Members of the Welsh assembly, AMs, could enjoy a 10% pay rise after the 2016 election. The remuneration board which sets their salaries - currently £64,000 for an ordinary member - has recommended an increase to reflect new responsibilities. Cabinet members will be offered £100,000 a year.

4. TURKISH PRESIDENT: WOMEN NOT EQUAL

Turkey’s authoritarian president, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, has told an audience in Istanbul that it would be “against nature” to “put women and men on an equal footing”. He said feminists do not grasp the importance of motherhood in Islam. He was speaking at a women’s conference.

5. HK BAILIFFS TAKE DOWN PROTEST SITE

Bailiffs in Hong Kong have moved in on the site of pro-democracy protests, dismantling parts of the Mong Kok protest site after asking demonstrators to go home. The move follows a court order after complaints by some local residents and businesses about disruption since early October.

Hong Kong: police adopt tough tactics as protests escalate

6. AMAZON OFFERS POST OFFICE COLLECTION

Customers of online retail giant Amazon will soon be able to pick up their purchases from a nearby post office. Earlier this month, Royal Mail warned that Amazon’s delivery service could reduce its business by 2% in the short term, so analysts say the collections are Royal Mail’s attempt to save business.

7. LABOUR IN THE LEAD DESPITE ‘FLAG-GATE’

Two new opinion polls both give Labour a five-point lead over the Conservatives, despite the recent row over a photograph put on Twitter by MP Emily Thornberry dubbed ‘flag-gate’. Lord Ashcroft’s poll gives Labour 32% (up two points), Tories 27%, Ukip 18% and the Lib Dems and Greens 7% each.

Thornberry's house tweet and five other bizarre resignations

8. CRICKETER CRITICAL AFTER BALL STRIKE

Australian cricket star Phil Hughes is in a critical condition after being hit on the head by the ball in a Sheffield Shield match. The batsman, who was wearing a helmet, was struck by a bouncer from Sean Abbott after scoring 63 runs. He was given mouth-to-mouth resuscitation on the cricket pitch.

Phil Hughes: Australian cricketer 'critical' after being hit by ball

9. MELLOR RECORDED ROWING WITH CABBIE

David Mellor, the former Conservative cabinet minister, has been secretly recorded arguing about the best route to take with a taxi driver. He says: “You've been driving a cab for 10 years? I have been in the cabinet, I am an award-winning broadcaster, I'm a Queen's Counsel… Just shut up…”

10. HOT TICKET: SEX SCIENCE EXHIBITION

A new exhibition about the study of sex, The Institute of Sexology, has opened at the Wellcome Collection, London. It features archival material, erotica, film and art documenting the research methods of sexologists and their impact on social attitudes. "Fascinating," says The Times. Until 20 September 2015.

Institute of Sexology - reviews of 'bold' sex science show

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