Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Wednesday 6 Jul 2011

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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. advertisers desert news of the world A growing list of companies including Halifax, Vauxhall, Ford and Virgin Holidays have pulled their advertising from the News of the World after it emerged relatives of 7/7 and Soham victims may have had their voicemail hacked by the paper. At Prime Minister's Questions today, a flustered David Cameron said: "We need to have an inquiry, possibly inquiries, into what has happened." The Mole: Cameron concedes inquiry into UK press behaviour CAMERON ANNOUNCES AFGHANISTAN WITHDRAWALSDavid Cameron has announced that a further 500 UK military personnel will be withdrawn from Afghanistan by the end of the year. The news comes a day after the prime minsiter returned from the war-torn region. While there soldier Scott McLaren, 20, from Edinburgh went missing from his base and was later found dead. HARRY POTTER FANS DESCEND ON LONDONHarry Potter fans have invaded central London (above) ahead of the world premiere of the final film in the series. The movie, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 2, will be shown at three cinemas in Leicester Square on Thursday night, but the red carpet will extent to Trafalgar Square, where fans in fancy dress are already gathering. Final Harry Potter film is ‘monumental cinema’ DSK HOTEL MAID TO SUE PAPERThe hotel maid who alleges she was subjected to a vicious sexual assault by former IMF head Dominique Strauss-Kahn is suing the New York Post for a front page claiming she was a "hooker". Meanwhile, French novelist Tristane Banon who claims DSK attacked her in 2002 is pressing charges – and Strauss-Kahn is counter-suing her for defamation. DSK faces new sex suit as maid allegations collapse BALLERINA LOSES NIGHT CARE COURT CASEA former prima ballerina left disabled by a stroke has lost her Supreme Court case against the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea to get an overnight carer to help her use a commode. Elaine McDonald said she needed help for her own "dignity and independence". Charity Age UK called the decision "shameful". JOLIE AND PARKER TOP FORBES LISTAngelina Jolie and Sarah Jessica Parker are tied at the top of Forbes magazine's annual list of the highest-paid female actors, having both earned an estimated $30m in the past year. Jennifer Aniston, Reese Witherspoon and Julia Roberts make up the top five. Twilight star Kristen Stewart is in sixth place on the list. Angelina Jolie: even bad films can make you rich In pictures: Hollywood rich GOVERNMENT BEATS EMISSIONS TARGETSThe British government has exceeded its own targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Central government departments cut their emissions by 14 per cent, well above the 10 per cent target. The reduction is due to energy saving measures, but a new target of a 25 per cent cut in carbon by 2015 could affect perks like ministerial cars. 'WIN A BABY' LOTTERY TO LAUNCHA new lottery organised by a fertility charity will give entrants the chance to win £25,000-worth of fertility treatment. Organised by To Hatch, tickets for the monthly draw will cost £20. Opponents say the plan is "demeaning" to human life and one expert suggested yesterday it would be better to spend £20 on good nutrition. US ARTIST CY TWOMBLY DIES AT 83Artist Cy Twombly, seen as the heir to Jackson Pollock, has died at the age of 83 in hospital in Rome. Born in Virginia, Twombly was part of the New York art scene in the 1950s before moving to Italy and embarking on a series of abstract sculptures. Gallery owner Larry Gagosian said the art world has lost a "true genius". LADY GAGA LOVES ANTIQUES ROADSHOWEccentric singer Lady Gaga has been forcing her road crew to watch a box set of the BBC's Antiques Roadshow after British friends gave it to her as a present. A keen collector of objets herself – she now owns the ruby slippers made for Judy Garland to wear in the 1939 film Wizard of Oz – Gaga is apparently hooked on the unhip show.
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