Daily Briefing

Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Sunday 10 Feb 2013

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

1. PM: SCOTS HAVE 'BEST OF BOTH WORLDS'
The prime minister has launched a defence of the Union, telling Scots that being part of the UK gives them "the best of both worlds". His comments come ahead of a government paper about Scotland's role in the Union, which is released on Monday. The Scottish National Party accused Cameron of launching "an entirely negative attack".
2. COOKING CLASSES TO TACKLE OBESITY
Education secretary Michael Gove will introduce compulsory cooking lessons for all pupils aged between seven and 14 as part of a government drive to improve diet and tackle obesity. The Sunday Times says Gove is also considering banning packed lunches and forbidding youngsters from leaving schools at lunchtime.
3. GAZZA 'FIGHTS FOR HIS LIFE'
Football legend Paul Gascoigne is fighting for his life in intensive care, reports The Sun. The newspaper claims that Gascoigne's organs began "shutting down" as he withdrew from alcohol following his arrival at a rehab clinic in the USA. Friends of Gazza clubbed together to send him to rehab after a video emerged of him making a shambolic appearance at a charity bash.
4. 'BIGGEST HUMAN GATHERING' IN INDIA
More than 30 million pilgrims are expected to assemble for India's Kumbh Mela festival, in what is billed as the biggest human gathering on earth. Hindus believe a dip at the confluence of India's Ganges and Yamuna rivers will cleanse sins and bring salvation. More than 14,000 policemen will be joined by paramilitary forces and commandos to maintain security.
5. TORY SLAMMED OVER GAY 'PHASE' COMMENT
A Tory MP has been condemned by gay rights group Stonewall after he described homosexuality as a "phase". Sir John Stanley told constituents that gay marriage would be "positively damaging" to young people "going through the perfectly normal phase of being attracted to other young people of the same sex before arriving at a heterosexual orientation subsequently".
6. RBS TROUSERS £780,000 BONUS
The boss of Royal Bank of Scotland will pocket £780,000 bonus just weeks after the bailed-out lender was fined £390m for its role in Libor scandal, reports the Sunday Times. Stephen Hester is set to be awarded the bonus next month. Lib Dem peer Lord Oakeshott said the bonus is "wholly unacceptable".
7. ADULTERY WEBSITE POPULAR IN PARLIAMENT
An adultery website which connects married men with women seeking sexual liaisons has received 52,375 in seven months from computers inside the Houses of Parliament. During December, the explicit website received more visits from parliamentary computers than the official websites of the Treasury, Ministry of Justice and Department for Education.
8. FOX MAULS BABY IN HOME
A baby boy had a finger torn off as he was attacked by a fox in his home in Bromley. The four-week old boy was dragged from his cot by the animal. His mother, hearing a thud on the floor, ran to the room to find the boy being attacked by the fox, with his hand "halfway down the animal’s throat". She kicked the animal until it let go. Surgeons later reattached the boy's finger.
9. OFCOM RULES ON MUSLIM EXTREMISTS
Muslim fundamentalists have used British television channels to call for the murder of apostates and homosexuals, reports the Sunday Telegraph. The television watchdog Ofcom has made a series of rulings against channels which broadcast “inflammatory” material, including an Islamic scholar's statement that: “It is your duty ... to kill those who insult Prophet Mohammed.”
10. SHAMBOLIC CITY LOSE MORE GROUND
An error-strewn performance at Southampton has dented Manchester City's title ambitions. An own goal from Gareth Barry and a clanger from Joe Hart contributed to City's 3-1 defeat at the hands of the Saints. City are now nine points behind Manchester United, who play at Everton today. Elsewhere, there were wins for Arsenal, Chelsea and Tottenham on Saturday.