Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Sunday 20 Dec 2015

1. David Cameron to protect 'shoot to kill' cops

David Cameron will give armed police officers who shoot to kill greater protection from prosecution, says The Sunday Times. The prime minister intervened after warnings from police chiefs that the battle against terrorism is being compromised because firearms officers risk prosecution if they decide to pull the trigger.

2. Carey: Christianity on brink of extinction in Middle East

The Archbishop of Canterbury says Christianity could be on the brink of extinction in the Middle East. Writing in the Sunday Express, George Carey claims: “There are signs that this is the decade in which Christianity will be finally wiped out by emigration driven by persecution. The region will be poorer for their loss.”

3. Accusers' dismay as Lord Janner dies

Former Labour peer and MP Lord Janner, who was ruled unfit to stand trial on charges of child sexual abuse, has died. He had been suffering from dementia and died peacefully at his home on Saturday aged 87, his family said. A lawyer representing Janner’s alleged victims said they had been denied justice. He was facing allegations of abuse spanning 40 years.

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4. The Labour Party 'must split to survive'

The Labour party may need to split in order to survive, says key former adviser to Tony Blair. Former speechwriter and chief strategist Peter Hyman says a “project” is needed to champion the party’s more centre-left, progressive policies. Writing in The Observer, he argues that Labour is now made up of “two strands, two parties”.

5. Clinton: Trump is Islamic State's best recruiter

Hillary Clinton described Donald Trump as Islamic State’s "best recruiter" during Saturday's Democratic presidential debate. Slamming the Republican front-runner's call to ban all Muslims from entering the US, she said: "They are going to people showing videos of Donald Trump insulting Islam and Muslims in order to recruit more radical jihadists.”

6. PM to allow women into front-line combat

Women will be permitted to take part in front-line combat within months in a radical overhaul of Army rules, says the Sunday Telegraph. David Cameron has ordered the Ministry of Defence to start welcoming female soldiers into “close combat” roles next year. The PM’s intervention could see the first women training to serve alongside male troops by next autumn.

7. Football in mourning as Jimmy Hill dies

Former Match of the Day presenter Jimmy Hill died on Saturday at the age of 87. As chairman of the Professional Footballers' Association, Hill led the campaign for the scrapping of maximum wages for professional footballers. He played 297 games for Fulham and was later manager and chairman at Coventry.

8. A third of Syrian rebels 'share IS aims'

The BBC says a study claims that a third of rebels share the aims of Islamic State (IS). At least 15 rebel forces in Syria are ready to succeed IS if it is defeated by the US-led coalition, according to the research. The Centre on Religion and Geopolitics, linked to former UK PM Tony Blair, also says that 60% of the rebels could be classified as Islamists.

9. Cheers as Strictly Come Dancing champion is crowned

Pop star Jay McGuinness has been named the winner of this year's Strictly Come Dancing. Bookmakers say the former member of boyband The Wanted, who danced with Aliona Vilani, was the hottest favourite in the show's history. Soap actress Georgia May Foote and Giovanni Pernice, and Eastenders' Kellie Bright and partner Kevin Clifton, were joint runners up.

10. Football managerial merry-go-round looms

With Jose Mourinho in the market for a new job, there are signs a managerial merry-go-round is in the offing. Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal has said he is "worried" about his job after a shock 2-1 loss to Norwich. Bayern Munich boss Pep Guardiola will leave the club at the end of this season and join Manchester City, according to reports in Germany.