Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Saturday 8 Aug 2015

1. Labour: Liz Kendall slams ‘affair smears’

Liz Kendall says her Labour leaderships rivals are spreading "smears" and false rumours about her. The contender spoke out after she was forced to deny suggestions she is in a relationship with her campaign manager. Kendall has faced unfounded claims that she is in a relationship with John Woodcock MP, who is recently divorced.

2. Colorado cinema gunman spared execution

The Colorado cinema gunman will spend life in prison without the possibility of parole after a jury rejected the death penalty for his 2012 shooting rampage. Jurors in James Holmes’ trial reached a sentencing verdict yesterday after less than one full day of deliberation. The defence team had argued that the former neuroscience graduate student was insane at the time.

3. Are softer tests weakening the SAS?

Softer tests to join SAS ‘will weaken elite forces’, say former operatives. The Times says plans have been drawn up to shield recruits from extreme temperatures, humidity and winds, following the deaths of three SAS reservists during a recruitment exercise in the Brecon Beacons in 2013. News of the softening has sparked anger from SAS insiders.

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4. Airport stores’ ‘VAT scam’ is exposed

The Independent reveals an “airport VAT scam” this morning. Several stores in airports across the UK now demand that passengers present their boarding cards at checkouts before paying for any goods. This is not a legal requirement but it allows stores to avoid paying 20% VAT on any goods they sell to customers who are travelling outside the European Union.

5. North Korea clocks go back 30 mins

North Korea has turned its clocks back by just half an hour. The move is believed to be a gesture aimed at Japan. “Local time in North and South Korea and Japan has been the same since Japan's rule over what was a single Korea between 1910 and 1945," says The Guardian. North's official Korean Central News Agency said the move marks the establishment of a sovereign “Pyongyang time”.

6. Are Corbyn and Trump two peas in a pod?

Jeremy Corbyn has told The Guardian that his campaign team has caught the public mood. “The mood is there and we happen to be in the middle of it,” he said. “We are not doing celebrity, personality, abusive politics – we are doing ideas. This is about hope.” Meanwhile, the Daily Telegraph leader says that Corbyn and Donald Trump are “two of a kind”.

7. Delayed fliers ‘missing out on millions’

Delayed airline passengers could be missing out on millions of pounds of compensation, according to a leading consumer group. According to Which, between June 2014 and May 2015, 37m passenger journeys to or from the UK were delayed by 15 minutes or more. This left around 900,000 people eligible for compensation, but only around 38% of them claimed.

8. England on brink of Ashes vengeance

England are on the verge of Ashes series victory over Australia, reports the BBC. Ben Stokes took five wickets to put England on the brink of regaining the Ashes. At a buzzing Trent Bridge, the hosts declared on 391-9 after Joe Root's 130 and a rapid 58-run partnership between Moeen Ali and Stuart Broad on the second morning. Victory would avenge the 5-0 whitewash down under in 2013-14.

9. 'Bump’ photos as 1D star confirms fatherhood

The mum of Louis Tomlinson’s baby has shown hints of a tiny baby bump after the One Direction singer confirmed he is to be a father. Briana Jungwirth has been snapped applying for a passport – a sign she could relocate to the UK to be closer to Tomlinson. The singer confirmed the news on US television, saying: “Obviously it’s a very exciting time. So I’m buzzing, thank you.”

10. Mourinho’s new deal as Prem kicks off

Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho has signed a new four-year deal at the Stamford Bridge club. The news comes as the Premier League kicks off today. The Blues will host Swansea in the tea-time kick off, while Tottenham travel to Manchester United for the lunchtime tie. Rumours are gathering that Arsenal are on the brink of signing Karim Benzema.