Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Monday 29 Aug 2011

published 29 August 2011

Our popular news catch-up service is posted Monday to Friday at 8.0am. You can rely on it to keep you up to date through the working day with the main news talking points. HURRICANE IRENE: NYC 'DODGES THE BULLET'Twenty-one people lost their lives as Hurricane Irene hit the US eastern seaboard – but New Yorkers are breathing a sigh of relief after the city "dodged the bullet", as Mayor Bloomberg put it. He is now facing accusations of over-reaction having closing the subway system and ordered thousands to evacuate. New York's airports should reopen today. Irene: a media storm of hype - or a lucky escape? LOCKERBIE BOMBER FOUND 'CLOSE TO DEATH'The Lockerbie bomber, Abdelbaset Ali al-Megrahi, has been found "close to death" at his villa in Tripoli. Megrahi, who was released from prison in Scotland two years ago with prostate cancer, was found by a CNN reporter lying comatose on an intravenous drip. Last week it was wrongly reported that the villa had been abandoned. Lockerbie bomber Megrahi discovered close to death MAN UTD GO TOP AFTER BEATING ARSENAL 8-2Arsene Wenger has refused to contemplate resigning after his weakened Arsenal team, depleted by injuries and suspensions, was beaten 8-2 by a rampant Manchester United yesterday. Wayne Rooney scored a hat-trick while Ashley Young scored two glorious long-distance goals, taking the reigning champions to top of the table. Wenger defiant after Man Utd thrash Arsenal 8-2 NOTTING HILL CARNIVAL 'PEACEFUL SO FAR'Amid fears that the recent riots in London might be reignited in Notting Hill, day one of the annual carnival passed relatively peacefully yesterday. Police chief Steve Rodhouse said the "degree of chatter" among those plotting disruption was no more than normal. At least 6,500 police will be on duty for day two. AL-QAEDA NUMBER TWO KILLED IN PAKISTANUS authorities have claimed another "major blow" against al-Qaeda – the death of second-in-command, Atiyah Abd al-Rahman, a Libyan who was only a teenager when he began fighting with the late Osama bin Laden. Rahman is understood to have died in a US drone attack on Waziritsan, northwest Pakistan, last week. BEYONCE EXPECTING HER FIRST BABYSinger Beyonce turned up at last night's MTV Music Video Awards in LA visibly pregnant and told reporters: "I have a surprise!" It did not stop her giving a typically energetic stage performance. Comedian Russell Brand led a special tribute to Amy Winehouse, who died last month at 27. "She was a genius," Brand said of his friend. In pictures: MTV Music Video Awards USAIN BOLT DISQUALIFIED FOR FALSE STARTOlympic champion sprinter Usian Bolt was disqualified from competing in the 100m men's final at the World Championships in South Korea yesterday after making a false start. With the London Olympics less than a year away, there are fears the new 'one false start and you're out' ruling could spoil the entertainment for spectators. Usain Bolt's false start ban divides world of athletics YOSHIKO NODA TO BE JAPAN’S NEW PMThe ruling Democratic Party of Japan has elected Yoshiko Noda as its new leader, following the resignation of Naoto Kan, paving the way for him to be elected prime minister by Japan's lower house tomorrow. Noda, 54, is Japan's finance minister. He has threatened to raise taxes to help pay for reconstruction after the earthquake and tsunami. VETTEL WINS BELGIAN GRAND PRIXSebastian Vettel came back from three races without a win to take the Belgian Grand Prix yesterday. His Red Bull team-mate Mark Webber was second. Jenson Button came third in his McLaren, while his team-mate Lewis Hamilton now looks out of the running for this year's championship after colliding with Kamui Kobayashi. LIB-DEMS PROPOSE 'LAND TAX' In addition to the mansion tax proposed during last year's general election campaign, the Lib Dems now want to impose a land tax aimed at wealthy landowners, property magnates and foreign millionaires. Business secretary Vince Cable says: "The traditional tax bases have been eroded and land tax is the one thing you can't take off to Monaco."