Daily Briefing

Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Friday 25 Jan 2013

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

UK News
1. UK'S GDP CONTRACTS BY 0.3%
The chancellor is under renewed pressure to abandon his austerity measures and switch to a Plan B that stimulates growth after it was revealed the UK’s economy contracted by 0.3 per cent in the fourth quarter of last year. The disappointing figure puts Britain on course for an unprecedented triple dip recession if the contraction is repeated in the next set of GDP figures.
GDP contraction piles pressure on Osborne to change course
Australian Open
2. MURRAY BEATS FEDERER IN FIVE SETS
Andy Murray will play Novak Djokovic in the final of the Australian Open after a fine five-set victory over Roger Federer in Melbourne. The Scot was on top for most of the match, but the former world number one somehow won two sets on a tie-break. But Murray made short work of Federer in the final set and won 6-4, 6-7, 6-3, 6-7, 6-2 in four hours.
Murray beats Federer to usher in new era at Australian Open
eu debate
3. POLL: MOST BRITONS WANT TO QUIT EU
Britain would vote to leave the EU if a referendum were held today. A Populus poll for The Times following David Cameron's referendum speech found that 40% would leave the EU, 37% would stay and 23% do not know, which translates into 53-47 in favour of leaving. Many voters have made up their minds regardless of re-negotiated terms.
EU referendum: Britain would leave if vote were held now
World News
4. BRITONS TOLD TO FLEE BENGHAZI NOW
Britons should leave Benghazi, Libya, immediately following a "specific, imminent threat" to westerners, the Foreign Office said last night. "Don't delay, just leave," was the advice based on intelligence predicting further attacks in revenge for the French intervention in Mali. Libya said it had no evidence to warrant such advice.
Get out of Benghazi, Brits told - but Libya queries terror alert
UK News
5. HALF OF BABIES BORN TO 30-PLUS MOTHERS
Nearly half of all babies in Britain are now born to women aged 30 or older, and infants will soon be more likely to have a mother over 35 than younger than 25, the Office of National Statistics reports. Young women's desire to put education and career first, and economic pressures, are the key factors. Some see it as a "demographic disaster".
Why are more women waiting until 30 to have a child?
6. FOOT OF SNOW TO FALL IN SOME AREAS
Up to a foot of snow is forecast for the Midlands, the North and Scotland today, before milder weather returns to Britain on Saturday. Rain is also predicted at the weekend and, on top of snowmelt, could bring flooding in some areas. Heathrow airport operated normally yesterday for the first time in four days.
7. CLAIMS OF 'SUMMARY EXECUTIONS' IN MALI
The Malian army said last night that it had begun investigations into claims, initially denied, that soldiers have been carrying out summary executions in the Islamist-controlled north. They have been accused by human rights activists of shooting people who fail to produce identity papers, or if they are identified as ethnic Tuaregs or Arabs.
8. GREAT ESCAPE WAS 'FUTILE SUICIDE MISSION'
The Great Escape, an attempt to get 200 airmen out of the Stalag Luft III POW camp in 1944, was a "futile" mission that caused the unnecessary death of 50 men, a new book says. Despite the heroic image of the escape - which was depicted in the 1963 movie starring Steve McQueen - author Guy Walters says it was pointless because by 24 March, 1944 the war was already going Britain's way.
Defence
9. WOMEN 'COULD SOON SERVE ON FRONTLINE'
The British Army is likely to allow women to serve in frontline combat units following the United States' decision to change the rules, a defence source has told The Times. Britain has to review its current policy on women in combat within four years and the US move is "highly likely" to influence the decision, the source said.
Will British Army allow women to serve in combat roles?
Film
10. HOT TICKET: LINCOLN IS 'MESMERISING'
Stephen Spielberg's historical drama 'Lincoln' opens in UK cinemas today. Daniel Day-Lewis stars as US President Abraham Lincoln as he fights to pass a constitutional amendment to end slavery, by any means necessary. With Sally Field, Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Tommy Lee Jones. "Mesmerising," says Salon.
Steven Spielberg's historical drama Lincoln 'a masterpiece'