Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Friday 19 Dec 2014

1. EIGHT CHILDREN DEAD IN CAIRNS STABBING

Eight children, all but one of them siblings, have been found stabbed to death at a suburban house in Cairns, Queensland. Emergency workers found the bodies after they were called to the house to deal with the children’s mother, who had been stabbed but is now in a stable condition in hospital.

Cairns stabbing: eight children found dead

2. UK WOMEN INFANTRY SOLDIERS BY 2016

Women may be allowed to serve in the front line of the British army as infantry soldiers by 2016, according to the BBC. A source told the broadcaster there is now a “real desire” among ministers to end the current restriction on women serving in close combat. The ban is currently under internal review.

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Women soldiers 'will be in combat roles by 2016'

3. RECORD 500,000 START UNIVERSITY IN 2014

A record 500,000 freshers started university courses in 2014, figures from the Ucas admissions service show. Women are still more likely to attend than men - in some areas there were 50% more female entrants. There are also more students with lower grades making it into top universities than ever before.

4. 100 TRY TO ENTER UK ILLEGALLY EACH DAY

Around 100 people a day are being caught trying to enter the UK illegally according to new figures. Between April and July of this year the authorities stopped 11,920 "clandestines" attempting to get into the country. In 2012/13 the total number was 11,731, and in 2013/14 the figure was 19,003.

Migration: why Libya is the critical link in a deadly chain

5. KURDS CLAIMS I.S VICTORY AT MT SINJAR

Kurdish forces claim they have broken the siege by Islamic State of Mount Sinjar, where thousands of displaced Yazidis and other Iraqis have been trapped since August. Kurdish commanders claimed victory and said large numbers of IS fighters had fled west into Syria or east into Mosul, which they control.

Mount Sinjar: Islamic State siege 'broken' by Kurdish forces

6. A&E SUFFERS 'WORST WEEK'

A&E units in England have suffered their "worst week" since monitoring began in 2010, with fewer than 90% of patients seen within four hours in the seven days up to 14 December. Emergency hospital admissions from A&E and the number of four-hour trolley waits for a bed were also at an all-time high.

7. MANDY-RICE DAVIES DIES AGED 70

Mandy Rice-Davies, one of the key players in the Profumo Affair of 1963, has died at the age of 70. She was the house mate of Christine Keeler, said to have conducted affairs with war minister John Profumo and a Soviet defence attache. Rice-Davies claimed to have had an affair with Lord Astor.

8. FIFA TO PUBLISH CORRUPTION REPORT

Fifa has agreed to publish a report into allegations of corruption surrounding the World Cup bidding process. The report's author, Michael Garcia, resigned this week over a disputed summary of his findings that he said was "erroneous". Fifa will release a "legally appropriate" edit of his report.

Groundhog Day for 'Orwellian' Fifa as the bombs rain down

9. BIRDS FLED TORNADO BEFORE IT HIT

US scientists say tracking data shows five golden-winged warblers left their nesting sight in the Appalachians the day before the deadly April 2014 tornadoes swept across the country. The birds went 400 miles south to the Gulf of Mexico. Researchers believe they were able to sense the storms coming.

Birds 'sense' severe weather to flee tornado danger

10. HOT TICKET: TIM BURTON'S BIG EYES

Tim Burton's biographical comedy-drama Big Eyes opens in UK cinemas this Christmas. Amy Adams stars as real-life American artist Margaret Keane, whose husband fraudulently claimed credit for her popular paintings of large-eyed children in the 1950s and 60s. "Fascinating," says The Guardian. Opens 26 December.

Big Eyes - reviews of Tim Burton's 'art fraud' film