Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Saturday 20 Dec 2014

1. OBAMA VOWS NORTH KOREA REVENGE

President Obama has vowed revenge over the North Korea cyberattack. The US president said that America would hit back after the FBI revealed that the rogue communist state was behind the hacking attack on a Hollywood film studio. Obama said the response of the US would be proportionate, “at a place and time and manner that we choose”.

2. SHOPPERS TO BE TOLD HOW MEAT WAS KILLED

Consumers will be told how their meat has been killed, a minister has indicated. Environment minister George Eustice has hinted that the government will introduce compulsory labelling of religiously slaughtered meat. He appeared to rule out products being labelled “halal” or “kosher”, but said meats could in future be sold as “stunned” or “unstunned”.

3. SONY: ‘WE HAVEN’T DROPPED KOREA FILM’

Sony Pictures says it has not dropped the North Korean film The Interview. The movie house says it is looking at different ways to release the film, after scrapping its opening following a cyber-attack blamed on North Korea. "We have not caved, we have not given in, we have persevered and we have not backed down," said a spokesman.

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4. MET PROBES NEW ABUSE RING CLAIMS

The Metropolitan police has "received calls and information" relating to allegations of a VIP paedophile ring operating in Westminster during the 1970s and 1980s. Scotland Yard is investigating "credible" claims that the murders of three boys - aged between seven and 16 - were linked to high-profile abusers, including MPs. One victim was allegedly run over by a car.

5. UK’S ‘MOST DESIRABLE’ TOWN REVEALED

The Cornish coastal town of St Ives has been voted the most desirable place to live in a survey by Rightmove. In the poll of 3,000 people, the seaside town came out top as the ideal spot in which to set up home, followed by Poole and Brighton. The research also found that UK homeowners want to live close to a pub rather than a park.

6. SHOPPING: IT’S PANIC SATURDAY!

Shoppers are expected to splash £1.2bn today, as 13m consumers hand over £21m every minute on ‘Panic Saturday’. Britons will spend an average of £92 per person today, according to analysts at the Centre for Retail Research consumers During the five days before Christmas Day shoppers are expected to spend £4.74bn in stores – a 21% increase on last year.

7. APPLE ‘OFFENDED’ BY BBC FACTORY CLAIMS

Apple’s Tim Cook says he is "deeply offended" by the BBC's allegations that Apple mistreats workers in its Chinese factories. Panorama sent undercover reporters to Pegatron factories where the company's iPhones and iPads are assembled. It claims to have uncovered poor treatment of workers and a breach of standards on workers' hours.

8. ISRAEL BOMBS GAZA STRIP AGAIN

Israeli aircraft have bombed a site in Gaza in response to rocket fire. In the first such action since the declaration of a truce in August, the air strike was carried out on a Hamas facility. The truce had ended seven weeks of fighting that killed more than 2,200 people - most of them Palestinians. There were no casualties from the air strike in Gaza, according to local officials.

9. WILL DESMOND SELL THE EXPRESS?

Controversial media tycoon Richard Desmond is considering selling the Daily Express newspaper after 14 years of ownership. The Financial Times says Desmond has asked bankers at Barclays Capital to examine the possibility of a sale. It would be the biggest newspaper deal in Britain for a decade. The title’s circulation has halved over the past 10 years.

10. CAN CITY PLAY CATCH UP AT PALACE?

Manchester City move level on points with Chelsea by beating Crystal Palace today. However, City have no recognised strikers available for selection with Sergio Aguero, Edin Dzeko and Stevan Jovetic all out injured. Manchester United are at Aston Villa, hoping for a win to solidify their position in third place. Villa will be missing eight players.