Daily Briefing

Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Friday 8 Mar 2013

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

World News
1. NORTH KOREA TEARS UP PEACE PACTS
North Korea has announced it is scrapping all non-aggression pacts with South Korea and closing the single crossing point between the countries. Earlier, it said it reserved the right to carry out a pre-emptive nuclear strike against its "aggressors". The increased sabre-rattling comes in response to new UN sanctions introduced after Pyongyang's recent nuclear test.
North Korea's nuclear threats 'more bluff than reality'
Politics
2. NIGEL FARAGE SIGNALS PACT WITH TORIES
UKIP leader Nigel Farage suggested at a dinner party hosted by Rupert Murdoch that he would be prepared to form an electoral pact with the Tories at the 2015 general election, according to the Daily Telegraph – but only if David Cameron steps down as Tory leader before the election. Murdoch is said to share Farage's "disdain" for the PM.
Farage: I'll form 'pact' with Tories if Cameron steps down
World News
3. HUGO CHAVEZ TO BE EMBALMED 'LIKE LENIN'
The funeral for Venezuelan president Hugh Chavez was held in the capital, Caracas, today. After the ceremony, attended by world leaders and a smattering of Hollywood stars, his body will be embalmed and placed on permanent display in a military museum "like Lenin and Mao Zedong".
Chavez to be embalmed 'like Lenin' after Evita-style funeral
4. COP SOLD JOHN TERRY STORIES TO SUN
An ex-police officer has admitted selling information - including details about the mother of footballer John Terry - to The Sun. Alan Tierney, 40, a former Surrey police constable, pleaded guilty at the Old Bailey to two offences of misconduct in a public office. He passed on details about two stories in 2009 - one about Mr Terry's mother and the other about Ronnie Wood.
Pryce-Huhne
5. LIB DEMS 'IN CRITICAL STATE' - PARTY CHIEF
Liberal Democrats are in a "critical state" and should not assume that "survival is guaranteed", according to party president Tim Farron. Members gather today for their spring conference as party leaders face questions about whether they knew that Chris Huhne and his then wife Vicky Pryce had broken the law long before it became public knowledge.
Lib Dems can run - but can they hide from Huhne-Pryce truth?
6. JUSTIN BIEBER 'FAINTS' AT LONDON CONCERT
Teen idol Justin Bieber left the stage for 20 minutes during last night's third show in his troubled concert series at London's O2 Arena because he "fainted", according to an aide. The 19-year-old was given oxygen for breathing problems before returning to finish the show. He plays his fourth and final show tonight.
7. GIRL KILLED ON BUS STABBED ONCE IN CHEST
Christina Edkins, the 16-year-old girl murdered on a Birmingham bus yesterday was stabbed once in the chest, a postmortem has revealed. Police said the attack appeared to be "random and senseless" although four weeks earlier, on 8 February, she tweeted that "this man is worrying me on the bus keeps getting up and walking up and down stairs".
8. IN COURT TODAY: BIN LADEN'S SON-IN-LAW
A man described as a spokesman for Osama Bin Laden has been arrested and will be tried in New York City today, the US has confirmed. Sulaiman Abu Ghaith was captured within the last week in Jordan, Congressman Peter King said yesterday. Abu Ghaith is Bin Laden's son-in-law and played a role in plotting the attacks of 9/11, US officials said.
Football
9. FERGUSON: ROONEY STAYING AT UNITED
Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson has insisted that Wayne Rooney will not be leaving the club this summer despite reports of a rift. Ferguson, speaking for the first time since United were knocked out of the Champions League by Real Madrid, said the red card that ruined his side's chances had knocked his 'faith' in referees.
Ferguson: Nani red card shook my faith, but Rooney will stay
Film
10. HOT TICKET: STEVEN SODERBERGH HIT
Steven Soderbergh's psychological thriller 'Side Effects' opens in UK cinemas today. Rooney Mara and Channing Tatum star as a Emily and Martin, a New York couple whose lives unravel when a drug she is prescribed has unexpected side effects. With Jude Law and Catherine Zeta-Jones. "A thrill ride," says Empire.
Soderbergh's Side Effects - a 'thrill ride for grown-ups'