Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Monday 18 Jan 2016

1. Top tennis players accused of match fixing

Over the last decade 16 tennis players who have ranked in the top 50 have been repeatedly flagged to the tennis integrity unit over suspicions they have thrown matches, according to secret files exposed by the BBC and BuzzFeed news. The players, including winners of Grand Slam titles, were allowed to continue competing. Senior tennis officials have denied failing to take action.

Australian Open: first day hit by match-fixing claims

2. PM to attack discrimination against Muslim women

"More assertive" steps must be taken to tackle discrimination against Muslim women, says David Cameron. The PM wants to confront a minority of Muslim men with "backward attitudes" who exercised "damaging control" over women in their families. He will criticise the "passive tolerance" of discriminatory practices inflicted on female members of the country’s Muslim communities.

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Cameron: 'segregation' of Muslim women must end

3. SpaceX rocket explodes after delivering satellite

An unmanned SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket exploded after returning to earth after the successful launch of a joint US-European satellite. The reusable space rocket failed to land properly when it touched down on a floating sea platform and blew up when it toppled over. The company successfully landed a rocket on land last month, but each of its sea landings has been unsuccessful.

SpaceX rocket explodes during sea-platform landing

4. Wealth of richest one per cent 'equal to other 99 per cent'

The richest 1 per cent now has as much wealth as the rest of the world combined and the richest 62 people in the world have as much wealth as the poorest half of the global population, according to Oxfam. The charity has used data from Credit Suisse for the report, which urges leaders meeting in Davos this week to take action on inequality.

5. Markets crash as Iran re-enters the oil game

Saudi Arabia’s stock market crashed yesterday as nuclear sanctions on Iran were lifted. As the world braces for an all-out oil war between the Middle Eastern rivals, Saudi's Tadawul All Share Index, the largest Arab market, dropped by 5.4 per cent. It has now lost 20 per cent of its value since the start of the year. Shares in Qatar and Dubai fell 7.2 per cent and 4.6 per cent respectively.

Oil price posts two-year highs - but how long can it last?

6. Jeremy Corbyn says Trident subs do not need nukes

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has said Britain could keep its Trident submarines but have them patrol without nuclear weapons. "They don't have to have nuclear warheads on them," he told the BBC's Andrew Marr. "There are options there." In a controversial interview, he also suggested communicating with Islamic State and "sensible dialogue" with Argentina over the Falkland Islands.

7. Gang on trial over 'Islamic State-inspired terror plot'

Four men have gone on trial accused of planning a "drive-by" terror plot inspired by Islamic State to kill police officers, soldiers and civilians. The gang, from west London, had bought a pistol and ammunition and were planning to use a moped in the attacks, said prosecutors at the Old Bailey. The men deny conspiracy to murder and preparing terrorist acts.

8. Tata Steel to cut another 1,000 UK jobs

Tata Steel is to axe more than 1,000 jobs at its UK plants taking the number of job losses in the industry to more than 5,000 since last summer. There will be 750 job losses at Britain's biggest steel plant in Port Talbot, with other jobs going at Llanwern, Trostre, Corby and Hartlepool. The British steel industry is struggling to cope with cheap Chinese imports.

Tata Steel strikes £550m deal to solve pensions riddle

9. Half of UK universities 'curb free speech and expression'

More than half of UK universities are curbing free speech, according to new analysis. On 55 per cent of campuses last year, student unions or universities banned speakers, pressure groups, modes of behaviour, songs and even hand gestures. Among the things banned were tabloid newspapers, including The Sun, Daily Star and Daily Express, and the London School of Economics rugby club.

10. Russia to vote on gay kissing ban

Russia is voting this week whether to ban all public displays of affection between people of the same sex. If passed, the legislation would mean gay couples who kiss or even hold hands in public could face a two-week jail term. The move is the latest assault on LGBT rights in Russia, which banned "gay propaganda", in 2013.

Russia to debate banning all public displays of affection between gay people

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