Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Sunday 4 Jan 2015

1. PALACE DENIES ANDREW CLAIMS AGAIN

Buckingham Palace has “emphatically denied” Prince Andrew forced an underage girl to have sex with him. The palace’s second denial this week comes after the Mail On Sunday named the alleged victim as Virginia Roberts. She accuses the Prince of abusing her at an orgy where she was a “sex slave”. The Palace said: “The allegations made are false and without any foundation.”

2. EBOLA NURSE CONDITION WORSENING

The British nurse diagnosed with Ebola after returning from Sierra Leone is in a critical condition. The Royal Free Hospital said it was "sorry to announce that the condition of Pauline Cafferkey has gradually deteriorated over the past two days". Cafferkey, 39, was admitted to hospital in Glasgow on Monday morning after arriving at Heathrow airport the previous night.

3. SEPARATE BOYS & GIRLS SAYS HEAD

Boys and girls should be separated in classrooms between 11 and 16 to prevent female domination in schools, says a leading headteacher. Alun Jones spoke out as figures revealed girls are outperforming boys at every stage of the system, including GCSE and A-level. “In the most formative years when adolescence is hitting with a vengeance, boys should be educated separately,” he said.

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4. LABOUR SAYS NHS MISSING TARGETS

The NHS has missed half of its patient waiting time pledges in the past year, claims Labour. Shadow Health Secretary Andy Burnham warned that the coalition faces a "day of reckoning" at the general election, after compiling evidence that seven out of 15 patient rights in the NHS constitution have been breached over the past 12 months.

5. CAMERON ATTACKS MILIBAND ON TAX

David Cameron will accuse Labour of plotting a new tax bombshell, reports The Sunday Times. The PM will accuse Ed Miliband of secretly plotting to raise both the 20p and 40p rates of income tax to service Britain’s debts if he wins at the May polls. Cameron says the Labour leader will “pour” public money “down the drain”. Labour said Cameron is making “dodgy claims”.

6. ISRAEL FREEZES PALESTINIAN REVENUES

Israel has withheld the taxes it collects for the Palestinians and transfers each month to the Palestinian Authority in retaliation for their move to join the international criminal court. Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat described the move as an act of piracy and “collective punishment”. According to the Israeli newspaper Haaretz, December’s tax transfer is about $127m.

7. NO CRIME CHECKS FOR ASYLUM SEEKERS

Asylum seekers are being allowed into the UK without checks on possible criminal backgrounds, reveals The Sunday Times. Home office minister Lord Bates admitted that no checks are made on whether asylum seekers have committed offences in their home countries. The news comes after a series of violent offences committed in the UK by asylum seekers.

8. PENSION SELL-OFF REFORM MOOTED

Up to five million retired workers would be allowed to sell their pensions under government plans to reform annuity rules. Pensions minister Steve Webb, tells the Sunday Telegraph he wants to change the law to enable those already retired to sell their annual lifetime incomes – known as “annuities” - to the highest bidder at any time.

9. GAY BLOOD DONATION CONSIDERED

Gay men could be able to give blood for the first time since the Aids epidemic of the 1980s, reports the Mail On Sunday. As part of a shake-up of medical laws being proposed by ministers, gay men in relationships would be permitted to donate. “There is a growing shortage of blood donors and a fundamental unfairness needs to be addressed,” said Michael Fabricant, MP for Lichfield.

10. WALCOTT BACK AS GUNNERS FACE HULL

Arsenal host Hull in the FA Cup today in a rerun of last season’s final. England striker Theo Walcott is expect to start for the Gunners after a lengthy period of injury. Manchester United are at Yeovil while Chelsea host Watford. Manchester City are at home to Sheffield Wednesday. Conference side Wrexham, the lowest team left in the competition, are at Stoke.