Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Wednesday 4 Feb 2015

1. DEATHS AS PLANE CLIPS TAIWAN BRIDGE

At least twelve people have died, with many more trapped in wreckage, after a passenger jet hit a motorway bridge in Taiwan this morning. The domestic flight operated by TransAsia was carrying 58 people when it hit the bridge in the capital Taipei. The fuselage is now floating in the river below.

Taiwan crash pilot: 'wow, pulled back wrong throttle'

2. JORDAN: HANGINGS AFTER I.S BURNS PILOT

Jordan has hanged two convicted terrorists, both Iraqi nationals, in apparent retaliation for a video released yesterday said to show Jordanian pilot Moaz al-Kasasbeh being burned alive by IS (Islamic State). One of the executed, a failed female suicide bomber, had been on death row for a decade.

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

Jordan executes two jihadists after captured pilot burnt alive

3. MPS SAY ‘YES’ TO THREE-PARENT BABIES

The UK is set to become the first country in the world to legalise the creation of babies using DNA from three separate ‘parents’. A free vote in the House of Commons yesterday saw the technique, which will help parents with genetic conditions have healthy children, approved by 382 to 128 votes.

4. ROTHERHAM COUNCIL 'NOT FIT FOR PURPOSE'

Rotherham council has been branded "not fit for purpose" in a report carried out in the wake of the child sex abuse scandal in the town. Louise Casey's report, Communities Secretary Eric Pickles, found a culture of bullying, sexism and misplaced "political correctness". There was also a "deep-rooted" culture of cover-ups and distrust of whistleblowers.

Councillors and police 'had sex' with Rotherham abuse victims

5. HALF OF PEOPLE IN UK ‘WILL GET CANCER’

Cancer Research UK has produced a new estimate which suggests roughly one in two people in Britain will get cancer at some point during their lives. The better news is that cancer survival rates seem to be improving. More sophisticated and accurate methods have been developed to analyse cancer rates.

Half of us will get cancer, new analysis of data shows

6. CAMERON MOCKS BALLS OVER 'BILL SOMEONE'

David Cameron mocked shadow chancellor Ed Balls at Prime Minister's questions after his embarrassing 'Bill Someone' gaffe on Newsnight. When asked to name a business leader who supported Labour, Balls came up with the name 'Bill' but apologised for forgetting his surname. Cameron said 'Bill Someone' was not a person but Labour's economic policy.

Newsnight skewers Ed Balls over ‘Bill Somebody’ blunder

7. PUB LANDLORD HITS CAMPAIGN TRAIL

Comedian Al Murray has started campaigning to become the next MP for South Thanet, the seat Ukip’s Nigel Farage is contesting, in the guise of his John Bull-like character The Pub Landlord. He kissed the ground at Margate station, which is not actually in Thanet, before visiting a pub, a brewery and a school.

Election odds: Brian May ‘more likely MP’ than Al Murray

8. NEW ZEALANDER CHAIRS ABUSE INQUIRY

A New Zealand judge is to lead the inquiry into claims of historical sex abuse involving members of the British political establishment. Justice Lowell Goddard is the third person to chair the inquiry since it was set up in July. Home Secretary Theresa May said she was "as removed as possible from the organisations and institutions" under investigation.

9. MCILROY PAYS MILLIONS TO FORMER AGENT

Golfer Rory McIlroy has agreed to pay up to £15m to his former agent to settle a rights dispute. McIlroy and Horizon Sports Management were suing each other in a row over the golfer's contract, which was terminated in 2011. The two sides issues a statement saying the matter had "been settled to the satisfaction of both parties who wish each other well for the future".

McIlroy set for 'tawdry and damaging' Horizon court case

10. BRIEFING: ALEXANDER LITVINENKO INQUIRY

The judge-led inquiry into the death of the former Russian spy Alexander Litvinenko has been hearing evidence this week from his widow Marina among others. The court heard that the polonium that was used to kill Litvinenko "had to come from Russia". The poison would have cost "tens of millions of dollars" to buy. "Such a costly method of assassination would not have appealed to a criminal organisation."

What happened to Alexander Litvinenko?