Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Monday 7 Jan 2013

1. WE’RE UNITED, SAY CAMERON AND CLEGG

David Cameron and Nick Clegg have insisted the coalition is "steadfast and united" as they marked the halfway point of their government. They announced initiatives including more help on childcare costs, help towards care costs for the elderly and investment in roads and high-speed rail at the "mid-term review". Labour described the event as "another relaunch".

Coalition has 'full tank of gas' says PM – but where's the growth?

2. HACKED OFF PRODUCE DRAFT 'LEVESON BILL'

The press regulation campaign group Hacked Off supported by Hugh Grant and other victims of phone hacking has published its own version of a draft bill which it says would implement the recommendations of the Leveson report in full. It would include a tough new regulator, and fines of up to £1 million for media breaking the rules.

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Hacked Off ignores politicians and publishes draft Leveson bill

3. GILLARD VISITS TASMANIA AS FIRES BURN

Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard has visited Tasmania as firefighters continue to battle bushfires that broke out on Thursday. Hundreds of properties have been damaged or destroyed and some communities remain cut off, but there are no reports of any deaths. There are fears of more blazes as temperatures continue to soar.

Tasmania bushfires – in pictures

4. SYRIA: ASSAD SPEECH DERIDED BY US AND UK

The claim by Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad in his first public appearance for six months yesterday that the rebel opposition were "western puppets", and that his regime was offering a peace deal with democratic reforms, was immediately derided by the US and Britain. Foreign Secretary William Hague said Assad would "fool no one".

West dismisses Assad speech as Syrian opposition fights on

5. DEPARDIEU OFFERED HOME AMONG GULAGS

The Russian region of Mordovia, best known for its Stalin-era gulags, yesterday offered Gerard Depardieu his choice of an apartment or a plot of land to make his new home hours after President Putin personally gave him his new Russian passport. The actor, in a row with France over tax hikes for the rich, will pay 13% as a Russian citizen.

Depardieu offered home amid gulags to escape French tax

6. CHAOS AT DELHI RAPE COURT HEARING

Five Indian men accused of the gang-rape and murder of a 23-year old woman have appeared in court in Delhi. But there was chaos at the courthouse and the hearing eventually went ahead behind closed doors. Meanwhile, the victim's father, Badri Singh Pandey, has denied he wanted his daughter Jyoti's name to be made public.

Chaos in court as Indian gang rape trial gets underway

7. LORD STRATHCLYDE QUITS AS LORDS LEADER

Lord Strathclyde, the Conservative leader of the House of Lords, has resigned from the government. The 52-year-old, who was given his first cabinet role by Margaret Thatcher in 1988, said he wanted to return to a career in the private sector. He will be replaced by education minister Lord Hill of Oaresford.

8. STUART HALL DENIES INDECENT ASSAULT

Veteran BBC broadcaster Stuart Hall has appeared at Preston magistrates court and pleaded not guilty to charges of indecently assaulting three girls, including a nine-year-old, in the 1970s and 80s. The 83-year-old former It's a Knockout presenter will stand trial in front of a jury at crown court.

9. BRITON PLUNGES TO DEATH OVER WATERFALL

A 20-year-old Briton yesterday plunged more than 300ft to his death over the Wentworth Falls in the Blue Mountains near Sydney, Australia, the Foreign Office confirmed. He had visited the attraction in a group of eight friends who had scrambled over rocks at the top of the falls. A rescue party was last night trying to recover his body.

10. HOT TICKET: RETURN OF FUERZABRUTA

High-energy Argentinian stage show 'Fuerzabruta' has returned to London's Roundhouse. The show, which has been seen by more than a million people worldwide, combines aerial acrobatics, dance and music and blurs the boundaries between circus, theatre and nightclub. "Breathtaking," says The Guardian. Until 26 January.

Argentine circus extravaganza Fuerzabruta returns to London