Daily Briefing

Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Monday 11 Mar 2013

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

Pryce-Huhne
1. HUHNE AND PRYCE GET EIGHT MONTHS EACH
Former Cabinet minister Chris Huhne and his ex-wife Vicky Pryce were both sentenced to prison for eight months today for perverting the course of justice when they swapped speeding points in 2003 to avoid a driving ban for Huhne. Mr Justice Sweeney told the couple: "Any element of tragedy is entirely your own fault."
Prison life: what Chris Huhne and Vicky Pryce face now
Delhi rape
2. DELHI RAPE: SUSPECT FOUND DEAD IN CELL
The Delhi bus driver accused of leading the gang rape and murder of a 23-year-old medical student, which prompted outrage across India last December, was found dead in his prison cell early today. Ram Singh was found hanged by his own clothes and a prison blanket. There are claims other inmates were present and Singh's death was not suicide.
Delhi gang-rape 'ringleader' dies in cell: was it suicide or murder?
Health & Science
3. ANTIBIOTICS THREAT 'A TICKING TIMEBOMB'
A new generation of drugs is desperately needed because the population is building up resistance to existing antibiotics, says Dame Sally Davies, England's chief medical officer. The threat posed by this resistance is "a ticking timebomb" so serious that it ranks alongside terrorism, she argues. Routine operations could become fatal in just 20 years.
Why is growing resistance to antibiotics so very serious?
4. £ FALLS TO 32-MONTH LOW AGAINST DOLLAR
The pound fell to $1.4871 this morning - its lowest rate against the dollar in 32 months. It later recovered to settle at just above $1.49. The key factor was the strength of the dollar after better-than-expected US jobs data issued on Friday. But the fall is also attributed to traders' fears that the Bank of England will ramp up its asset purchase programme.
5. QUEEN PULLS OUT OF ABBEY SERVICE
The Queen today pulled out of the Commonwealth Day service at Westminster Abbey as she continued to recover from her recent illness. Last week she was admitted to King Edward VII hospital suffering from suspected gastroenteritis. She might miss other engagements this week – though Palace officials stress there is "nothing to fret about".
FA Cup
6. MAN UTD AND CHELSEA FACE FA CUP REPLAY
The FA Cup quarter-final between Manchester United and Cheslea has to be replayed after the two teams drew 2-2 at Old Trafford yesterday. The draw for the semi-finals will pit the eventual winner against Manchester City. The other semi will feature Wigan, who stunned Everton with a 3-0 victory, against Millwall or Blackburn.
Man Utd 'lucky to be in the Cup' after losing 2-0 lead to Chelsea
7. COUNCILLORS 'FOR HIRE' EXPOSED
Councillors across the country are offering their services for hire as consultants to property developers who want to cash in on the new, more relaxed planning laws due to be introduced shortly, the Daily Telegraph reports. They are charging up to £20,000 for inside knowledge. Despite the potential for a conflict of interest, it is not illegal.
People in the News
8. ADELE TO PERFORM AT MICHELLE OBAMA 50TH
Adele has been asked to sing at the White House party being planned to celebrate Michelle Obama's 50th birthday next January, an event already being described as "the biggest gig of 2014", according to The Times. Beyonce, who performed at the president's inauguration, is also reported to be lined up to play at the private party.
Adele and Beyonce to sing at Michelle Obama's 'huge' party
Europe
9. 'WELSH CINDERELLA' PRINCESS DIES AT 97
Princess Lilian of Sweden, the divorced commoner from Wales whose romance and eventual marriage to Prince Bertil became one of Sweden's best-known love stories, has died at 97. Lilian Davis was married to an actor when she met Prince Bertil during WW2, but objections from the King prevented their marriage until 1976.
Swansea to Stockholm: Princess Lilian's extraordinary love story
Art
10. HOT TICKET: CHUCK CLOSE IN PRINT
A major exhibition of prints by legendary American portrait artist and photographer Chuck Close, 'Prints: Process and Collaboration', has opened at the White Cube gallery in Bermondsey. The show surveys 40 years of Close's print-making, including portraits of Philip Glass and Lou Reed. "A magician," says the Metro. Until 21 April.
Chuck Close reveals his magic in White Cube print show