Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Saturday 10 Jan 2015

1. AL QAEDA WARNS OF FRESH ATTACKS

Al Qaeda has threatened more attacks against France as police hunt a female suspect who fled during yesterday’s confrontations. In a video message, an official from al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, Harith al Nadhari, said: "It is better for you to stop your aggression against the Muslims, so perhaps you will live safely. If you refuse but to wage war, then wait for the glad tiding."

Charlie Hebdo suspects dead as police free hostages

2. SHOULD MARRIED ENJOY TAX BREAKS

A former high court judge has proposed that married couples receive tax breaks when they reach their fifth, tenth and twentieth wedding anniversaries to reward them for staying together. Sir Paul Coleridge said his “milestone” system would recognise that families who stay together save the taxpayer money. “It would send a message to couples to stay together,” he added.

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3. IS ROMNEY PLANNING WHITE HOUSE BID?

Mitt Romney is considering a third presidential run, according to reports in the US. Romney, who made failed bids for the presidency in 2008 and 2012, is motivated by global unrest and economic issues, says Wall Street Journal. “I believe Mitt Romney is too much of a patriot to sit on the sidelines and concede the presidency,” said Spencer Zwick, Romney’s former aide.

4. SHETLAND BRACES FOR 100MPH WIND

Shetland has been warned it may face winds of up to 100mph, after hurricane-force gusts left tens of thousands of homes without power across Scotland yesterday. Meanwhile, snow and sleet have been forecast for parts of the UK this weekend. Isolated showers are tipped to leave least 8cm of snow on higher ground in northern England and the Midlands.

5. ‘UP TO 2,000’ KILLED BY BOKO HARAM

It is feared that as many as 2,000 people may have been killed in Boko Haram’s latest massacre. Locals in the northeast Nigerian town of Baga say insurgents shot indiscriminately and burned buildings on Tuesday and Wednesday. Amnesty International believes as many as 2,000 were killed in “a disturbing and bloody escalation of Boko Haram’s ongoing onslaught”.

6. TORIES TO CURB PUBLIC SERVICE STRIKES

The Conservatives have promised to make it harder for public service workers to call strikes. Under the election promise, a strike involving health, transport, fire services or schools would require the backing of 40% of eligible union members. Presently, a strike is permitted as long as it is backed by a majority of those balloted.

7. RUSSIAN ECONOMY SLAMMED BY AGENCY

Russia's economic outlook "has deteriorated significantly" over the past six months, says credit agency Fitch. Cutting the country’s rating to BBB- from BBB with a negative outlook, Fitch has described a struggling economy rattled by a sinking rouble, collapsing oil prices, high inflation and declining international reserves.

8. SAUDI MAN LASHED OVER BLOG

A Saudi blogger has been given the first 50 of the 1,000 lashes he was sentenced to for insulting Islam. In front of a large crowd after Friday prayers, Raif Badawi, 27, was bound and whipped 50 times in front of a mosque in the Red Sea port of Jeddah. After launching liberal online forum that infuriated the authorities, he was sentenced to 1,000 lashes and ten years in jail.

9. 1D FORCE GEEKS TO POSTPONE

Computer coders have been forced to cancel a convention in Cardiff after One Direction fans booked all the city’s accommodation to see the band in concert. The tech event, due to take place in June, was arranged before Harry Styles and co arranged a concert in the city in the same week. The convention organisers announced headed their announcement: “Boy band disrupts DjangoCon Europe”.

10. FOOTBALL: CHELSEA & CITY VIE FOR TOP

Chelsea and Manchester City continue their scrap for the top of the table as the Premier League returns to normal after the busy Xmas period. City visit Everton and the Blues take on managerless Newcastle United. Elsewhere this weekend Manchester United host Southampton, while Arsenal face their bogey side Stoke City at the Emirates.