Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Wednesday 9 Feb 2011

published 9 February 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. EGYPT MUST MOVE FASTER, SAYS WHITE HOUSE Egypt needs to move much faster towards democracy and immediately lift emergency laws and stop arresting and beating journalists and activists, US Vice President Joe Biden has told his opposite number, Omar Suleiman, in a phone call. On a day of renewed vigour among the protesters in Tahrir Square, Suleiman angered the White House by stating that Egypt was "not ready" for democracy. Mubarak could flee Egypt to German health spa BERLUSCONI FACES FAsT-TRACK TRIALItalian prime minister Silvio Berlusconi has turned on the Milan prosecutors who want him to stand trial on charges related to his alleged use of an under-age prostitute. He branded the calls "disgusting" and "subversive" and announced he would try and sue the Italian state. Those bringing the charges say they want a trial to begin immediately, without a preliminary hearing, as they have "sufficient evidence" to proceed. Berlusconi: caught between the law and the mafia BANKS AGREE 'PROJECT MERLIN' LENDING DEALChancellor George Osborne has announced details of an agreement on lending and bonuses between banks and the government. Under 'Project Merlin' banks will lend £190m to businesses - £76m of it to small firms - this year, and must disclose details of their top earners' salaries. Pay at the bailed out banks Lloyds and RBS will be restricted. However, there will be no tax on bonuses and shadow chancellor Ed Balls described the deal as "pitiful". UK WOMAN DIEs AFTER BUTTOCKS INJECTION IN US Pennsylvania police are investigating the death of a 20-year-old British woman from an injection of liquid silicone to enhance her buttocks. They believe the unapproved procedure was arranged over the internet and carried out in her room at the Hampton Inn hotel near Philadelphia International Airport. The unnamed woman was travelling with three companions, one of whom had a hip augmentation injection, according to detectives. Buttock op kills British woman US THEATRE CRITICS SAVAGE SPIDER-MANUS theatre critics have savaged the troubled Broadway musical Spider-Man: Turn Off The Dark, after breaking with tradition and reviewing the show before the official opening next month. The New York Times, Los Angeles Times, Variety and others all tore into the production, which features a score by Bono and The Edge of U2. The show is the most expensive ever on Broadway but has been beset by problems since it began its preview run last year. Entertainment Weekly: which review is harshest? ASSANGE HEARING GOES TO THIRD DAYThe two Swedish women accusing WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange of rape and sexual assault - the subject of an extradition attempt by the Swedes - sent text messages in which they spoke of "revenge" and extracting money from him. The claim was made in court in London on Tuesday by Assange's Swedish lawyer, Björn Hurtig. The extradition hearing was not completed in two days as planned, and will resume on Friday. oxbridge tuition fees 'spark race to join £9K club'Moves by Cambridge and Oxford universities to charge the maximum tuition fee of £9,000 - or close to it - from 2012 have raised fears of a race by rival universities to "join the £9,000 club". Cambridge University's working group on tuition fees made the telling comment that "to charge less... might raise questions about our commitment to excellence". Critics say high fees will put off intelligent but poor students from attending university. Cambridge sparks race to £9k fees NOKIA ON A 'BURNING PLATFORM' WARNS CEO Nokia, the world's largest mobile phone manufacturer, is in crisis according to its new CEO, Stephen Elop. He sent a memo to staff claiming the company has been left on a "burning platform" by its innovative competitors. He warned employees that the Finnish firm would have to change if it was to survive in the modern era and that it was "years behind" the likes of Apple and Google, whose Android operating system for smartphones now outsells Nokia's. Business digest: Nokia in crisis as smartphone rivals surge ahead LOHAN TO FACE THEFT CHARGE OVER NECKLACELindsay Lohan was expected to be charged with felony grand theft by LA prosecutors on Wednesday over the alleged theft of a necklace from a California jewellery store last month. If found guilty the Mean Girls star, who is on probation for a 2007 drunken driving conviction, could face up to three years behind bars. Lohan left the Betty Ford clinic a month ago after three months in a drug rehabilitation program. BARACK OBAMA HAS QUIT SMOKING, SAYS MICHELLE Michelle Obama has told reporters that "it's been almost a year" since her husband Barack Obama had a cigarette. She could not pinpoint exactly when he gave up because he never never lit up in front of her and their two daughters. The President has yet to corroborate his wife's claim: when he last spoke on the subject in June 2009 he said he constantly struggled with giving up.