Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Tuesday 21 Dec 2010
Our popular news catch-up service is posted Monday to Friday at 8.0 am. You can rely on it to keep you up to date through the working day with the main news talking points. VINCE CABLE 'DECLARED WAR ON RUPERT MURDOCH'Vince Cable's future as Business Secretary looked uncertain this evening after it emerged he told two undercover reporters posing as constituents that he had "declared war on Rupert Murdoch" and planned to block the tycoon's attempt to take full control of BSkyB. Cable's boast was taped at the same time as his comment, published by the Daily Telegraph, that he would quit the government and bring down the coalition if he was "pushed too far". The Murdoch comment was not published by the Telegraph but was leaked to Robert Peston, the BBC's business editor. The Mole: Time to book Cable's place at the Bruno Tanioli Home for the Aged? 'CROSSBOW CANNIBAL' JAILED FOR LIFECriminology student Stephen Griffiths has been jailed for life after admitting the murders of three women in Bradford, though police believe he may have killed six women in total. A judge at Leeds Crown Court told Griffiths he would never be released from prison after the details of his crimes were revealed. The 40-year-old murdered one woman, Suzanne Blamires, with a crossbow and cut her body into more than 80 pieces. Griffiths has claimed also that he ate parts of his victims. Crossbow cannibal Stephen Griffiths jailed for murder CHRISTMAS CANCELLED FOR MANY TRAVELLERSHundreds of thousands of people have been told they will be unlikely to travel in time for Christmas as bosses at Heathrow say delays and cancellations will continue until the weekend, Gatwick airport also closes, thousands are turned away from the Eurostar's London terminal and road travel is impossible in many parts of the UK. Where’s Cameron’s Big Society when we need it? Can Cameron deal with a winter of discontent? In pictures: snow in the UK TERROR ARRESTS 'PROMPTED BY FACEBOOK'Police yesterday arrested 12 men they suspect of plotting Mumbai- style terror attacks in Cardiff and elsewhere after rumours of the plan hit Facebook, the Sun says today. A police source said the attack was "very close" and claimed plain clothes police armed with handguns had been patrolling Cardiff's streets before the arrests. ASSANGE: 'I JUST REALLY LIKE WOMEN'WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange has underlined his deepening rift with the Guardian newspaper, telling its rival, the Times, he is "disgusted" that the newspaper chose to publish details of sex allegations against him made by two Swedish women. Asked about his sex life, he said: "I'm not promiscuous. I just really like women." Joe Biden: 'We'll prosecute high-tech terrorist Assange' Assange lawyers demand investigation after leak OLYMPIC STADIUM LIGHTS UPDavid Cameron, Boris Johnson and local schoolchildren visited London's new £537m Olympic Stadium yesterday to formally switch on the floodlights for the first time (above). As 532 bulbs in 14 towers, using as much energy as 300 homes, shone out, Boris joked the snowy ground could host the winter Olympics too. Can Cameron deal with a winter of discontent SWINE FLU: 200 FIGHT FOR their LIVESDoctors are battling the worst flu outbreak in some parts of the UK for a decade as almost 200 patients with swine flu fight for their lives in intensive care units. Three more deaths in Leicester are thought to be due to swine flu, bringing the total this winter to 20. And almost 9m Britons are thought to have flu – a five-year high. HARRY POTTER ACTRESS BEATEN AND CALLED 'SLAG'Afshan Azad, a 22-year-old Muslim actress who plays a classmate of Harry Potter in the eponymous sorcery films, was called a "slag" and a "prostitute" by her family, beaten by her brother Ashraf and told by her father Abdul that he would kill her after she began a relationship with a Hindu boy, Manchester Crown Court was told today. Potter actress beaten for Hindu boyfriend KNIGHTHOOD FOR BECKHAM?Will it be Posh and Posher? Bookmakers have shortened the odds of David Beckham receiving a knighthood in the New Year honours list to 3-1. As well as being England's most capped outfield player of all time, Beckham has received plaudits for his work on UK bids to host the Olympics and World Cup, and supporting troops. Zinedine Zidane and David Beckham save day for BBC ANOTHER ROYAL WEDDING ANNOUNCEDThe Queen's eldest granddaughter, Zara Phillips, has announced her engagement to long-term boyfriend, England rugby union player Mike Tindall. The couple have yet to announce a date for the wedding – but it's certain they will stay away from late April. April 29 is the date chosen by Zara's cousin, Prince William, for his wedding.
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