Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Tuesday 23 Aug 2011

published 23 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. LIBYAN REBELS CLOSE IN ON GADDAFI COMPOUNDFighting has continued through the day in Tripoli where rebel forces were said to have breached walls at Gaddafi's compound in the Libyan capital. Earlier the Russian head of the world chess federation, Kirsan Ilyumzhinov, claimed to have spoken to Gaddafi, who told him not to believe "lying reports by Western television companies". Euphoria turns to confusion as Saif reappears in Tripoli Tunnel network could help Gaddafi evade capture In pictures: the battle for Tripoli COULSON IN MURDOCH PAY WHILE WORKING FOR TORIESAndy Coulson, former editor of the News of the World, continued to be paid hundreds of thousands of pounds by Rupert Murdoch's News International after he had started work as the Conservatives' communications director in July 2007, the BBC reports. The payments were part of a generous severance package. Why did NotW pay Coulson after he joined the Tories? NO DRUGS IN AMY'S SYSTEM SAY WINEHOUSE FAMILYThe family of Amy Winehouse says that toxicology tests have shown that there were "no illegal substances" in her system when she died, although there was alcohol present. Earlier, the singer's father Mitch returned donations to the foundation he plans to set up in her name because the internet domain name has already been taken. DSK CLEARED BUT JOURNALIST VOWS TO FIGHT ONFormer IMF head Dominque Strauss-Kahn was told by a court in New York today that charges of sexual assault against him brought by a hotel maid were to be dropped. But French journalist Tristane Banon, who claims he sexually assaulted her in 2002, said she was determined to continue with her case against him in France. Manhattan DA ‘to drop all charges against DSK’ WINSLET RESCUES BRANSON'S MOTHER FROM FIREActress Kate Winslet helped carry Sir Richard Branson's 90-year-old mother Eve to safety as fire destroyed the Great House on his private Caribbean island of Necker (above). The Oscar-winning star and her two children were among 20 guests who all escaped unhurt when the eight-bedroom house was struck by lightning. In pictures: Winslet escapes fire at Branson's luxury house 100,000 sign hillsborough e-petitionAn e-petition calling on the government to release papers about the Hillsborough disaster, in which 96 Liverpool football fans died, has attracted 100,000 signatures on the government's website. MPs must now consider putting time aside to debate the issue. Figures like Kenny Dalglish and Billy Bragg supported the campaign. Hillsborough petition turns Barton into online crusader INBETWEENERS CRUSH HOLLYWOOD COWBOYSThe Inbetweeners Movie beat the starry Hollywood movie Cowboys and Aliens by an embarrassing margin at the UK box office over the weekend. The first (and maybe not the last) spin-off film from the popular E4 sitcom took £13.2m while Daniel Craig and Harrison Ford's movie took only £1.8m. Inbetweeners movie is biggest ever UK comedy hundreds of riot accused remanded in custody More than 60 per cent of people who appeared in court after riots this summer have been remanded in custody. Usually only 10 per cent of defendants are kept behind bars. Ministry of Justice statistics show that of the 1,400 people who appeared in court 157 have been convicted, 327 bailed and almost 800 remanded in custody. SONGWRITER JERRY LEIBER DIES AT 78Jerry Leiber, one half of the song-writing team Leiber and Stoller who wrote the Elvis Presley hits Hound Dog and Jailhouse Rock and provided Ben E King with the classic Stand By Me, has died in Los Angeles at 78. Leiber and (Mike) Stoller's work earned them 15 number ones and a place in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. SCHOOLS BAN SKIRTS AS HEMLINES RISEIncreasing numbers of schools are banning girls from wearing skirts to class because of the difficulties in controlling rising hemlines. Head teachers in Somerset, Suffolk, Buckinghamshire and Staffordshire are among those who have told parents to send their daughters to school in trousers from next term.