Daily Briefing

Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Monday 4 Feb 2013

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

UK News
1. CAR PARK SKELETON IS RICHARD III
The leader of a team of scientists examining the skeleton found beneath a car park in Leicester in September has said it is "beyond reasonable doubt" that it belongs to Richard III, the last Plantagenet king of England. The news, delivered at a press conference, was greeted with cheers by journalists. The king's remains will be reinterred in Leicester Cathedral.
Skeleton in car park is King Richard III, scientists say
Politics
2. CHRIS HUHNE PLEADS GUILTY
Former cabinet minister Chris Huhne has pleaded guilty to perverting the course of justice by asking his ex-wife Vicky Pryce to take speeding points for him a decade ago and is to resign his seat as Eastleigh MP. The 58-year-old could face a jail term after changing his plea today at Southwark Crown Court. Pryce has pleaded not guilty.
Chris Huhne pleads guilty over speeding lie and quits as MP
Politics
3. NEW ARCHBISHOP AGAINST GAY MARRIAGE
On his first day in office, Justin Welby, the new Archbishop of Canterbury, has upheld the Church of England's traditional opposition to gay marriage. In a brief interview he said: “We have made our views clear and I’m very much with the House of Bishops on this". But Welby sought to downplay the clash with ministers caused by the controversial issue.
Gay Tory 'outing threat' exposes split over same-sex marriage
Business
4. UK BANKS COULD FACE COMPULSORY BREAK-UP
Britain's banks will face compulsory break-up if they refuse to follow new rules to "ring-fence" their high street banking services from their riskier investment operations, George Osborne has said. The Chancellor told City traders that British taxpayers will never again be expected to bail out failing banks.
George Osborne warns banks: change or we'll break you up
US
5. US SEALS' 'DEADLIEST SNIPER' SHOT DEAD
A US Navy SEAL reputed to have been the deadliest sniper in American military history was shot dead yesterday at a shooting range in Texas. Chris Kyle, 39, was said to have killed more than 150 enemy combatants in Iraq. Police arrested a former Marine, Eddie Ray Routh, reported to be suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder.
Chris Kyle, America's deadliest military sniper, shot dead
6. SELLAFIELD CLEAN-UP COST HITS £67.5BN
The cost of cleaning up the Sellafield nuclear waste site in Cumbria has reached £67.5bn without indication of when the cost will stop rising, according to a report from the Public Accounts Committee. MPs say successive governments have "failed to get to grips" with the issue of waste stored at the site for lack of agreement on a permanent means of disposal.
Sport
7. SUPER BOWL: BEYONCE SINGS AS RAVENS WIN
The Baltimore Ravens beat the San Francisco 49ers 34-31 in last night's Super Bowl, played in New Orleans. Play was stopped for a half-hour because of a power cut, the first time such a failure had hit America’s biggest sporting event. Beyonce performed at half-time with her former band-mates from Destiny's Child.
Super Bowl XLVII - in pictures
8. HIGH SCHOOL SHOOTING IN OKLAHOMA
Police have responded to a shooting incident at the Coweta Intermediate School in Oklahoma and have secured the area. It has been reported that a ninth grade student brought a loaded weapon to the school and committed suicide in a locked bathroom. The school went into lock-down and students were evacuated.
People
9. ALI HEALTH CLAIMS DENIED
Suggestions by Muhammad Ali’s brother Rahman that the world heavyweight champion can no longer speak and may die within days have been denied by the boxer’s daughters. May May Ali said the 71-year-old, who has Parkinson’s disease, watched the Super Bowl yesterday evening and was “talking well” this morning. Her sister Laila posted a picture of Ali on Twitter.
Muhammad Ali's health 'fine' daughters say following rumours
Theatre
10. HOT TICKET: PLAUDITS FOR ROWAN ATKINSON
Richard Eyre’s production of Simon Gray's 'Quartermaine's Terms' starring Rowan Atkinson has opened to excellent reviews at Wyndham's Theatre. Atkinson plays a lonely bachelor, clinging to his job at an English-language school for foreigners in the early 1960s. "Magnificently funny and touching," says the Daily Telegraph. Until 13 April.
Rowan Atkinson is 'superb' in Quartermaine's Terms revival