Daily Briefing

Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Sunday 2 Sep 2012

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

1. CAMERON: I'LL CUT ECONOMIC 'DITHER'
David Cameron says he wants to "cut through the dither" and "paralysis" holding back economic growth, as he prepares to unveil new housing and infrastructure projects. Writing in The Mail On Sunday, he vowed to show "fighting spirit" and lead Britain along "a hard road to success". The PM is under pressure to sack George Osborne in a forthcoming Cabinet reshuffle.
2. TUTU: BLAIR SHOULD FACE WAR TRIAL
Tony Blair and George W Bush should face trial at the International Criminal Court over the Iraq war, claims Archbishop Desmond Tutu. Writing in The Observer, Tutu said the war had made the world more unstable "than any other conflict in history". Blair described Tutu's arguments as "bizarre", adding that in a "healthy democracy people can agree to disagree".
3. CLEGG TOLD TO STOP 'BUMBLING'
Two senior Liberal Democrats have criticised Nick Clegg and warned him he could face a leadership challenge before the next election. Veteran MP Adrian Sanders told Clegg to “just bumbling along worrying about the future”. Lib Dem peer Lord Smith of Clifton argued that Clegg is not “indispensible” and could be replaced by Vince Cable before the next election.
4. OSAMA BIN LADEN 'DYED HIS BEARD'
Osama Bin Laden used hair dye on his beard, according to the memoir of a US Navy Seal involved in the terrorist's assassination. In the book No Easy Day, Matt Bissonnette - writing under the pseudonym Mark Owen - recalls: “I found a box of Just For Men hair dye, which he must have used on his beard. No wonder he looked so young.”
5. NEW AIRPORT PLANS REVEALED
Secret plans for a £60bn four-runway airport west of Heathrow are to be submitted to the government, reports The Independent On Sunday. A leading infrastructure firm is examining sites in Oxfordshire and Berkshire for the consortium of British businesses that is drawing up the plans. Talks are understood to be underway with Chinese backers for potential funding.
6. CARDINAL: 'WE'RE 200 YEARS BEHIND TIMES'
The Roman Catholic Church is "200 years behind the times", said Italian Cardinal Carlo Maria Martini in his final interview. The cardinal, who died on Friday at the age of 85, told an Italian newspaper: "The Church is tired... our prayer rooms are empty." Martini, a liberal stances on several issues, added: "The child sex scandals oblige us to undertake a journey of transformation."
7. MAX BYGRAVES AND HAL DAVID DIE
Veteran entertainer Max Bygraves has died at the age of 89. Bygraves, who died in his sleep in Queensland, Australi, had been suffering from Alzheimer's disease. He was described as "lovely man" and "top, top professional" by Des O'Connor. US songwriter Hal David, who wrote a string of hits with Burt Bacharach, has died at 91 following a stroke.
8. EDL ACTIVISTS PRAISE BREIVIK
British far-right activists have praised convicted Norwegian mass murderer Anders Behring Breivik as "inspirational" and a "role model". Members of the English Defence League and National Front have written posts on Facebook praising Breivik's action. Anti-extremist group Hope Not Hate said the postings prove Britain is "not immune" to a similar attack.
9. MARIKANA CLAIMS CONTRADICT POLICE STORY
Fresh evidence about the Marikana shootings contradicts police claims that officers acted purely in self defence. One journalist claims his investigation shows that only 12 of the dead miners were killed in the initial gunfire, with 22 others tracked to a nearby hiding place and shot in cold blood. He concludes they might have been begging for their lives when killed.
10. SIMMONDS SWIMS TO GLORY
Ellie Simmonds set a new world record and retained her S6 400m freestyle title during a golden day for Paralympic GB. The teenage swimmer won in five minutes 19.17 seconds, five seconds faster than the previous record. Britain won four other gold medals on Saturday, moving to third place in the medal table with nine golds, 16 silvers, and 11 bronzes.