Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Thursday 10 Mar 2011
Our popular news catch-up service is posted Monday to Friday at 8.00 am. You can rely on it to keep you up to date through the working day with the main news talking points. France recognises rebels as libyan governmentFrance has become the first government to recognise anti-Gaddafi rebels as the legitimate government of Libya. The National Libyan Council in Benghazi has urged Britain to do the same. Meanwhile, the civil war is intensifying, with fierce fighting over the town of Zawiya near Tripoli and rebels reportedly fleeing the oil town of Ras Lanuf ahead of advancing pro-Gaddafi troops. In pictures: The battle of Ras Lanuf Bank of england holds interest rate at 0.5 per centUK interest rates have been held at 0.5 per cent by the Bank of England's Monetary Policy Committee. The rate of borrowing has now been at its historic low for two years, despite speculation that the MPC is on the verge of increasing interest rates to tackle soaring inflation. Fred goodwin obtains super-injunctionSir Fred Goodwin, the former CEO of Royal Bank of Scotland, has obtained a super-injunction banning the media from saying he is a banker, according to John Hemming, a Liberal Democrat MP. Super-injunctions are so strict that not even their existence can be revealed, but Hemming, who was asking a question in the House of Commons, is protected by parliamentary privilege. Media banned from calling Fred Goodwin a banker IRAN CAUGHT ARMING TALIBANBritish special forces in Afghanistan have intercepted an Iranian shipment of rockets to the Taliban that would have allowed them to double the range of their attacks. Foreign secretary William Hague denounced Iran's behaviour as "completely unacceptable". Two journalists missing in Libya The Guardian has asked the Gaddafi regime in Libya to establish whether one their journalists is in custody. The Guardian's Ghaith Abdul-Ahad and Andrei Netto - a journalist with the Brazilian Estado newspaper - went missing on Sunday. Meanwhile, two other journalists working for the BBC have told of their mistreatment by Gaddafi's security forces. They say they were held in a cage, beaten, and subjected to mock execution. In pictures: The battle of Ras Lanuf EARLY RETIREMENT TO BE PHASED OUTThe armed forces, the police, firefighters and NHS staff will have to work until they are 60 and will lose their "gold-plated" final-salary pensions under reforms to be announced today. Lord Hutton of Furness's report includes more than 30 recommendations to overhaul the £30 billion annual public sector pension bill. ARIZONA SUSPECT CHARGEDJared Loughner has pleaded not guilty to 49 new charges, including killing a federal judge and wounding a US congresswoman, in an Arizona shooting. Six were killed in the attack; congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords was shot in the head and is undergoing intensive physical therapy. If convicted, Loughner could face the death penalty. SEX CULT 'HIGH PRIEST' CONVICTEDA man has been found guilty of leading a "satanic" sex cult from his home in a small Welsh seaside town. Colin Batley, 48, was the self-styled high priest of the group, which operated from a series of homes in a cul-de-sac. He was convicted of rape and carrying out perverted sexual acts on children and adults. SQUATTERS TARGET GADDAFI'S SONSquatters have taken over a London house thought to belong to Saif al-Islam Gaddafi, the second son of the Libyan dictator. The group calling themselves 'Topple the Tyrants' have vowed to remain in the Hampstead Garden Suburb mansion until the value of the property is returned to the Libyan people. JULIANNE MOORE TO PLAY PALINSarah Palin is to be played by Julianne Moore in a new film about the 2008 presidential election. Game Change focuses on Republican Senator John McCain's campaign, from his selection of Palin as his running mate to their ultimate defeat at the hands of Barack Obama. Julianne Moore to play Sarah Palin in film
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