Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Sunday 21 Dec 2014

1. YOUNG PEOPLE SNUB GPS FOR A&E

Younger people are turning away from family doctors and going straight to overstretched A&E departments, says a report from Citizens Advice. Unable to get a suitable appointment with their GP, people between 18 and 34 are now more than twice as likely to attend A&E departments or walk-in centres as those aged 55 and over.

2. GUNMAN KILLS TWO NYC POLICE OFFICERS

A gunman has shot dead two police officers sitting inside a patrol car in Brooklyn before killing himself. Both officers were shot in the head in the Bedford-Stuyvesant neighbourhood. The suspect has been named as Ismaaiyl Brinsley. "They were quite simply assassinated," said police commissioner William

Bratton of the two officers, Liu Wenjin and Raphael Ramos.

Subscribe to The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up

3. POLICE TO TEST DRIVERS FOR DRUGS

Police will stop drivers and test them for drugs this Christmas and New Year holiday. The Sunday Telegraph reports that the Home Office has approved roadside testing kits that will analyse samples of saliva to detect illegal drugs as well as "legal highs". Officers are expected to begin using the new equipment within days.

4. POLL: LABOUR SEVEN POINTS AHEAD

Labour has opened up a seven-point lead over the Conservatives, according to a poll in The Observer. The data has Labour up two percentage points on a fortnight ago on 36%, while the Tories are unchanged on 29%. The same Opinium poll shows a sharp fall in the personal approval ratings for the Ukip leader, Nigel Farage.

5. HARTLEPOOL WANT RAPIST EVANS

Hartlepool United are prepared to sign convicted rapist Ched Evans. The relegation-threatened club’s manager, Ronnie Moore, said of the controversial striker: “He has made a mistake and maybe he hasn’t apologised in the right way — and I know he has an appeal case pending — but if he gets on the park, he would go a long way to getting us out of trouble.”

6. AMBULANCE TARGET TIMES TO LENGTHEN?

Target times for ambulances to reach seriously ill patients could be lengthened. According to a leaked NHS document, the response time for some patients - with "serious but not the most life-threatening" conditions - could be extended from eight to 19 minutes in England. The document says the plans have been approved by the government, subject to approval by ambulance trust bosses.

7. UKIP TELLS MEMBERS TO AVOID TWITTER

Ukip is advising members to avoid joining Twitter and Facebook in a bid to end the flow of controversies the party is suffering. Party chairman Steve Crowther addressed members thinking of joining Twitter, telling them: “My advice: just don’t.” The most recent controversy has seen candidate Kerry Smith step down after he referred to someone with a Chinese name as a “ch***y bird”.

8. CAROLINE FLACK WINS BBC’S STRICTLY

Caroline Flack and partner Pasha Kovalev have been voted winners of Strictly Come Dancing. Television presenter Flack was also the judges' favourite with three perfect scores of 40, a first for a Strictly final. She fended off competition from fellow finalists Simon Webbe and Frankie Bridge to be handed the coveted Glitterball on the BBC1 show.

9. WILL ELBA BE FIRST BLACK BOND?

Idris Elba could become the first black James Bond, says The Sunday Times. In a leaked Sony Pictures email, co-chairwoman Amy Pascal, producer of the franchise, wrote: “Idris should be the new Bond.” Elba, 42, who was born in Hackney, east London, made his name as a crime lord in the US television series The Wire.

10. VAN GAAL ADMITS TITLE BLOW

Louis van Gaal admitted that Manchester United’s 1-1 draw with 10-man Aston Villa has dealt a significant blow to their title hopes. "When you want to be a part of the title race, you have to win these games," said the Dutchman. Arsenal travel to Anfield today, hoping to heal the wounds of their 5-1 thrashing there in February.