Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Thursday 19 Jul 2012

1. ASSAD IS 'LOSING CONTROL' SAYS US

The White House last night said a bomb attack by rebels which killed key members of the Syrian ruling regime yesterday shows that president Bashar al-Assad is "losing control" and must go. The blast killed Assad's brother-in-law, his defence minister and other senior army and government figures.

As bomb strikes regime and rebels attack, is this the end of Assad?

2. AUSTERITY 'WILL GO ON TO NEXT DECADE'

The Prime Minister has said austerity measures may have to continue into the next decade. David Cameron told The Daily Telegraph he cannot foresee a time when the UK economy will not be under pressure. But he insisted the need for belt-tightening does not rule out "exciting and radical" tax cuts.

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Cameron rattles Tory cages with pro-Europe interview

3. EVA RAUSING 'FOUND UNDER BIN BAGS'

The body of Eva Rousing, the socialite wife of Hans Christian Rausing, heir to the Tetra Pak billions, was found under a mound of clothing, bedding and bin bags stuck together with gaffer tape in a sealed annexe of the couple's home in "an advanced state of decomposition" a court was told yesterday.

4. LONDON TERROR SUSPECTS CHARGED

Five people from London who were arrested on earlier this month are in court today to be charged with terror offences. Among them is Richard Dart, a well-known Muslim convert. A former BBC security guard, he was the subject of a documentary, 'My Brother the Islamist' made by his brother last year.

5. NAZI HUNTERS ARREST 97-YEAR-OLD

Ladislaus Csizsik-Csatary, a 97-year-old Hungarian who headed Nazi hunters' 'most wanted' list, has been arrested in Budapest and placed under house arrest there. He will be charged with war crime and torture charges. He is said to have sent 15,700 jews to their deaths as head of an internment camp in Kosice.

6. PC NOT GUILTY IN TOMLINSON DEATH

Pc Simon Harwood has been found not guilty of causing the death of newspaper seller Ian Tomlinson when he struck him and pushed him to the ground during the G20 protests in London in 2009. It was revealed after the verdict that Harwood had a long history of unproven allegations that he had punched, throttled and threatened the public.

Pc who pushed Ian Tomlinson acquitted of manslaughter

7. EIGHT MEN CLEARED OF RIOT KILLINGS

Eight men accused of killing three people during the riots in Birmingham last August have been found not guilty of murder. Haroon Jahan, Shazad Ali and Abdul Musavir were run over by a car after gathering with a larger group to defend local businesses from rioters. The accused denied they had planned to kill the men and said the deaths were an accident.

8. WIGGINS MANIA GROWS AS NIBALI FALLS

Britons are discovering a hitherto-unsuspected love of cycling as Bradley Wiggins continues his dominance of the Tour de France, holding off Vincenzo Nibali and looking set to become the first ever UK winner of the race. He retained the yellow jersey yesterday after an epic 197km Pyrenean stage.

Bradley Wiggins breaks Cadel Evans, but Nibali is a threat

9. MIDDLETONS RISK OLYMPIC WRATH

The family firm run by the Duchess of Cambridge's parents and sister could be risking the wrath of the Olympic organisers. Firms who are not sponsors are strictly forbidden from cashing in on the games by selling tie-in products – yet the Middletons' online party firm is offering various games-themed items.

10. HOT TICKET: GET TANKED AT THE TATE

A new space dedicated to performance, installation and experimental film has opened at the Tate Modern. The first exhibition at The Tanks, constructed from renovated underground oil storage containers, will be Art in Action, a 15-week programme featuring flash mobs, filmed performance and dance works.

The Tate Tanks 'Art in Action' show launches new era in art