Daily Briefing

Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Friday 27 Apr 2012

The Week’s super-quick catch-up on the main news talking points, available from 8am daily

1. CAMERON RESISTS HUNT INQUIRY CALLS
Lib Dem deputy leader Simon Hughes has joined Labour's Harriet Harman in calling for an inquiry into whether Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt breached the ministerial code of conduct by allowing his adviser Adam Smith to keep contacts with the Murdoch empire during the BSkyB takeover bid process. David Cameron has resisted the calls.
2. BARCLAYS FACES SHAREHOLDER REVOLT
Barclays shareholders attending today's AGM in London were due to receive an apology from chairman Marcus Agius for the bank's poor handling of fees and bonuses for executives, including CEO Bob Diamond. A third of the bank's investors were expected to vote against the bank's remuneration report.
3. PAKISTAN DEPORTS BIN LADEN'S WIDOWS
The three widows and 11 children of Osama bin Laden have been deported to Saudi Arabia from Islamabad, Pakistan officials said yesterday. They had been in custody since Bin Laden was killed by US Navy Seals in Abbottabad last May. Washington yesterday posted a heightened terrorism alert for the upcoming anniversary.
4. 'DATE RAPE' DRUG FOUND IN MI6 SPY
Traces of the 'date rape' drug GHB were found in the body of Gareth Williams, the MI6 spy found dead inside a holdall in his London flat, the Westminster inquest heard yesterday. Denise Stanworth, a toxicologist, said it was unlikely that he had been killed by "old fashioned poison", but she could not rule out other "volatile agents".
Spanish football
5. GUARDIOLA STEPS DOWN AS BARCA BOSS
Barcelona boss Pep Guardiola has announced he is stepping down after four trophy-laden seasons at the helm of the Catalan club. The 41-year-old has won 13 trophies in four seasons. The club has already announced that his replacement will be assistant coach Tito Vilanova. His appointment was welcomed by Camp Nou stars.
Who will take over from Pep Guardiola at Barcelona?
6. MASS DEMO IN OSLO AGAINST BREIVIK
As many as 40,000 Norwegians gathered yesterday in Oslo to repudiate the extreme right-wing views aired by Anders Behring Breivik at his continuing trial on charges of killing 77 in last summer's bomb and shooting rampage. They sang Pete Seeger's 'My Rainbow Race' protest song and lined the pavements with red and white flowers.
Falkland islands
7. ARGENTINES RAISE THREAT TO OIL FIRMS
Argentina has threatened to press criminal charges on top of sueing British oil explorers operating off the Falkland Islands if they do not justify their actions by 2 May. Falkland Oil & Gas (FOGL), Rockhopper and Desire Petroleum are among the companies notified of their "illicit actions" and the consequences.
Falklands: Argentina threatens oil firms with criminal charges
8. EVANS RAPE CASE: THREE ARRESTED
Three men have been arrested by police investigating the alleged naming of footballer Ched Evans's 19-year-old rape victim on Twitter. North Wales police said two men were arrested under Section 5 of the Sexual Offences Act, forbidding the naming of victims, and one on suspicion of malicious communication.
9. PORTUGAL POLICE SAY 'MADDIE CASE CLOSED'
Portuguese prosecutors yesterday defied Scotland Yard's optimism over finding Madeleine McCann alive five years after she went missing by announcing that the case is "closed" and they will not re-open it as they are "no new elements". The Yard had released a picture of what Maddie might look like today at nearly nine and claimed they were new leads.
10. HOT TICKET: MARVEL'S AVENGERS UNITE
Marvel Comics' superhero blockbuster, Avengers Assemble, opens at UK cinemas today. The Avengers team - Robert Downey Jr. as Iron Man, Scarlett Johansson as Black Widow, Chris Hemsworth as Thor, and Mark Ruffalo as the Hulk – join forces to prevent evil demi-god Loki from destroying Earth. "Exhilarating", says Time Out.