Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Monday 29 Nov 2010

published 29 November 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. WIKILEAKS: ARAB WORLD WANTED IRAN BOMBED Arab leaders have privately urged the US to bomb Iran's nuclear facilities, according to leaked US diplomatic cables shared by the whistleblowing site Wikileaks with newspapers worldwide. King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia urged the Americans to "cut off the head of the snake". The 250,000 leaked documents also show that American officials were told by the US State Department to spy on the UN leadership and obtain biometric information on secretary general Ban Ki-moon. POLICEMAN KILLS SIX NATO TROOPS IN AFGHANISTANSix Nato troops have been killed after an Afghan policeman turned his gun on them during a training exercise. The nationality of those killed has not been confirmed, but the incident took place in the Pachir Wagam district of eastern Nangarhar province, where no UK troops are stationed. The gunman was reportedly killed in an exchange of fire with other soldiers. ENGLAND BATSMEN RUN AUSTRALIA RAGGEDEngland completed their remarkable comeback in the first Ashes Test by reaching a mind-boggling 517-1 in their second innings before declaring. Jonathan Trott (135) and Alastair Cook (235) put on an unbeaten 329 for the second wicket, the highest ever English partnership in Australia. The game ended as a draw with Australia on 107-1 in their second innings. But England, who had faced an innings defeat on Sunday, were the psychological winners. AIRPLANE! ACTOR LESLIE NIELSEN DIESLeslie Nielsen (above), who started out as a serious actor but became a comedy star with the 1980 spoof disaster movie Airplane!, has died in Florida at the age of 84. He appeared in more than 100 movies, including the Naked Gun series in which he played the hapless detective Frank Drebin opposite Priscilla Presley. GIVE MY FATHER THE CROWN, SAYS WILLIAMAfter opinion polls showed the majority of the British public would like the crown to skip Prince Charles on the Queen's death and be passed to William, the young Prince has made it clear that won't happen. Courtiers have let it be known that Prince William says there is "no question" of his father stepping aside and professes "no desire to climb the ladder of kingship before his time". Wills: I don't want to take my father's crown MAN UTD GO TOP OF THE TABLEManchester United went top of the Premier League on Saturday after a stunning 7-1 victory over Blackburn - five of the goals coming from Dimitar Berbatov, not one from Wayne Rooney - and managed to keep top spot after Chelsea drew 1-1 with Newcastle on Sunday. Arsenal are in third place behind Chelsea, but with equal points, after beating Aston Villa 3-2. Tottenham are fifth after sneaking a 2-1 victory over Liverpool with an injury-time goal from Aaron Lennon. Late Lennon strike sinks Liverpool LADY GAGA QUITS FACEBOOK & TWITTER FOR CHARITY Pop star Lady Gaga, who has 24m Facebook friends and another 7m Twitter followers, has vowed to stay off both sites for charity. She is among a number of celebrities, including Justin Timberlake, Usher and Serena Williams, who have filmed "last tweet and testament" videos and will stay offline until $1m has been raised for HIV/Aids sufferers on Wednesday, World Aids Day. TUITION FEES: LIB DEMS PRESSURE NICK CLEGG Nick Clegg and other Lib Dem MPs are under pressure to vote against the coalition government's tuition fee rises following a petition signed by 104 Liberal Democrat parliamentary candidates who did not win seats in the last election. The petition warns that the party risks "many more years back in the political wilderness" if its MPs don't vote to reject the near-trebling of fees. WAGNER FINALLY GETS BOOT FROM THE X FACTOR Two of the most controversial acts on the talent show The X Factor are finally gone. Katie Waissel was evicted when she came last in the public vote on Sunday night. That left judges with the choice of booting out Wagner or Mary Byrne. After weeks of frustration at the public 'spoiler' campaign to keep Wagner on the show, every judge voted him off, though Simon Cowell admitted he had been "a good sport". 'BIG CAT' BLAMED FOR WELSH ATTACKSA series of killings of cattle and sheep in Pembrokeshire, including a ewe ripped limb from limb, are being pinned on a large jet-black animal similar to a panther. Several sightings have been reported, and a large paw print, apparently belonging to a 'big cat', has been found in the mud on one affected farm.