Daily Briefing

Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Saturday 16 Mar 2013

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

1. BALLS: 'CAMERON LOOKS DERANGED'
Shadow chancellor Ed Balls says David Cameron blames him personally for the financial crisis, making himself look “obsessed and slightly deranged”. Speaking to the Daily Telegraph, Balls said of the prime minister: “On his own side, they're starting to think he's completely lost it.” Balls is calling on George Osborne to cut income tax to kick-start Britain's economy.
2. 'GRASS' SPARKS 600 NEW HACKING PROBES
Detectives are investigating around 600 fresh allegations of phone-hacking at the News of the World after a suspect turned informant. Further details of the new allegations will emerge in court on Monday morning, just hours before MPs vote on joint Labour and Liberal Democrat amendments that would introduce a backstop law to stiffen regulation of the press.
3. SENATOR'S GAY MARRIAGE U-TURN
A Republican senator has reversed his stance on same-sex marriage after learning that his own son is gay. Rob Portman said when his son 'came out' to him: “It allowed me to think of this issue from a new perspective, and that’s of a dad who loves his son a lot and wants him to have the same opportunities that his brother and sister would have.”
4. OSBORNE TO DELAY CHILDCARE BREAKS
George Osborne will delay childcare tax breaks as worsening public finances leave the government struggling to balance the nation's books. The reform, which would have saved some families £1,000, will be delayed - possibly until after the next general election. The chancellor is expected to announce weaker-than-anticipated growth figures in Wednesday’s Budget.
5. US ACTS ON NORTH KOREA 'PROVOCATION'
America will bolster missile defences on its west coast in response to the threat from North Korea, defence secretary Chuck Hagel has announced. Hagel cited a "series of irresponsible and reckless provocations" from North Korea as the reason for the move, which will see 14 interceptors added to the 30 already in place in California and Alaska.
6. COMIC RELIEF RAISES RECORD SUM
This year's Comic Relief event has raised a record £75m so far. The charity telethon featured appearances from Simon Cowell, singer Jessie J, comedian Peter Kay and boy band One Direction. Comedian Ricky Gervais resurrected his David Brent character. The evening raises funds for a string of charitable causes in Africa and the UK.
7. PAEDOPHILIA 'NOT A CRIMINAL CONDITION'
A catholic archbishop has described paedophilia as a psychological illness rather than a “criminal condition”. South African cardinal Wilfrid Fox Napier tells the BBC paedophilia is "a psychological condition, a disorder”, adding: "What do you do with disorders? You've got to try and put them right.” Abuse victim Marie Collins said Napier's views are “appalling”.
8. LAWRENCE KILLER DROPS APPEAL
One of the men convicted of murdering Stephen Lawrence has dropped his appeal against the conviction, reports the Daily Mail. Detectives will visit Dobson in prison to encourage him to turn supergrass against the rest of the gang that murdered Lawrence 20 years ago. Doreen Lawrence said she “can only assume” Dobson's decision is an admission of guilt.
9. BEARS SHOWN 'PANDA PORN'
Staff at a breeding centre in China have shown 'panda pornography' to a pair of pandas to encourage them to mate. The staff had noticed that five-year-old Ke Lin was spurning the advances of her partner Yongyong. "So we played them the film and she took great interest in it. After that there was no stopping her and they mated successfully,” a spokesman tells the Daily Telegraph.
10. FERGUSON MAY BLOCK RIO RECALL
Sir Alex Ferguson may try and block Rio Ferdinand's surprise recall to England. The Manchester United manager said he was “as surprised as anyone” by Ferdinand's call-up for World Cup qualifiers. "I need to speak to the [United] doctor because we prepare Ferdinand in a certain way and there are treatments he has to go through,” he added.