Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Saturday 22 Sep 2012

1. 'DISGRACEFUL' MITCHELL 'MUST QUIT'

Andrew Mitchell must resign following his "disgraceful" outburst at a police officer, says the Metropolitan Police Federation chairman John Tully. Mr Tully has also described the Prime Minister's tribute to two police officers killed in Manchester as "hollow", claiming that is also the opinion of "many of" his colleagues.

2. QUEEN HAS GONE 'ESTUARY' SAYS MIRREN

Actress Dame Helen Mirren claims The Queen's accent has become more "estuary" in recent years. Dame Helen, who is about to portray Her Majesty again in West End play The Audience, said "she had a terribly posh voice when she was young" but claimed that now "there’s a tiny bit of estuary creeping in there".

3. ROMNEY RELEASES TAX DETAILS

Mitt Romney has finally released his 2011 tax return, which shows he paid a rate of 14.1%. He also published a 20-year summary of his and his wife's tax payments, which claims they paid an average of 20.2 per cent between 1989 and 2009, and that their effective rate was never lower than 13.66 per cent.

Subscribe to The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up

4. 'METEOR' SIGHTINGS REPORTED IN UK

People across Britain and Ireland have reported seeing a meteor overnight. One eye-witness compared the meteor to a scene from UFO movie spectacular Independence Day. In response to the excitement, the Met Office tweeted: "Hi all, for anyone seeing something in the night sky, we believe it was a meteorite."

5. FOUR KILLED IN BENGHAZI BASE CLASHES

At least four people have been killed and 20 wounded in Libya after military police and protesters took over several militia bases in Benghazi. Among the bases stormed by hundreds of protestors was the headquarters of Islamist group Ansar al-Sharia, suspected of involvement in an attack on the US consulate in the city.

6. CLEGG PLANS MANSION TAX ULTIMATUM

The Liberal Democrats will not back a new round of spending cuts unless the coalition agrees to a 'mansion tax' on the wealthy, Nick Clegg will announce at the party's conference next week. He proposes a tax on homes worth more than £1 million. Clegg's deputy Simon Hughes tells The Daily Telegraph: "Things have been blocked and stopped, and will be again.”

7. MILITARY COUP SMASHED IN TURKEY

A Turkish court has convicted 330 former and current military officers of conspiring to overthrow prime minister Tayyip Erdogan's government. The conspiracy, which has been nicknamed Sledgehammer, included plans to spark a conflict with Greece as a pretext for a military takeover. Those convicted could face sentences of up to 20 years.

8. LEWINSKY PLANNING TELL-ALL BOOK?

Monica Lewinsky is planning to write a book revealing fresh sensational details of her affair with Bill Clinton including her love letters to the president, according to reports in the American press. The former White House intern, who turns 40 next year, could pocket $12 million for the book according to The National Enquirer.

9. TEENAGE BOY HELD OVER POLICE MURDERS

A 15-year-old boy has been arrested by detectives investigating the murders of two police officers in Greater Manchester. Meanwhile, 29-year-old Dale Cregan appeared at Manchester Magistrates' Court, charged with the murders of PC Nicola Hughes and PC Fiona Bone. Cregan reportedly yawned as the charges were read out.

10. FERGUSON URGES HILLSBOROUGH RESPECT

Sir Alex Ferguson has written to Manchester United fans asking them not to allow “personal hatred” overshadow their tie with Liverpool tomorrow. He urged them not to continue unpleasant chants about Hillsborough, and the "96 fans who went to watch their team try and reach the FA Cup final and never came back".