Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Friday 12 Apr 2013

1. BBC DG IN ROW OVER THATCHER DEATH SONG

New BBC Director-General Lord Hall is embroiled in a row with friends and supporters of the late Margaret Thatcher after refusing to order producers of the Radio 1 Official Chart Show not to play 'Ding Dong the Witch is Dead' this Sunday. The song from The Wizard of Oz is already at No 4 after anti-Thatcher campaigners promoted it to celebrate her death.

Ding dong at BBC as DG refuses to ban Thatcher 'hate song'

2. 'MAKE RIGHT DECISION' KERRY TELLS N KOREA

US Secretary of State John Kerry, visiting the South Korean capital, has said "relations between the North and South can improve very quickly if leaders of the North, and one in particular, can make the right decisions." Kerry, who is also due to visit China and Japan, will call on Beijing to help rein in the North Koreans' increasingly "destabilising" threats.

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Has North Korea got the ability to launch a nuclear missile - or not?

3. US SENATE TO DEBATE PROPOSED GUN LAW

The US Senate is to debate a proposed gun law for the first time in 19 years following the Sandy Hook school massacre in December, but with a bill centred on a plan only to expand criminal background checks on gun buyers. A procedural vote broke a Republican 'filibuster' 68-31 in favour of bringing the bill to the Senate floor.

What does Washington gun law 'breakthrough' mean? Nothing

4. STARS INVITED TO THATCHER'S FUNERAL

Invitees to Baroness Thatcher's funeral include several media stars who were friendly with the former Tory PM. Among them are Top Gear presenter Jeremy Clarkson, thriller writer Frederick Forsyth, broadcaster Terry Wogan and the actress Joan Collins, who said: "I loved her to bits". Contrary to early reports, comedian Jim Davidson is not invited.

5. APPRENTICE STELLA ENGLISH LOSES CASE

Stella English, the former winner of the BBC show The Apprentice, has lost her claim for constructive dismissal against presenter Lord (Alan) Sugar. English claimed Sugar gave her no real role when she joined his IT firm, Viglen, as the prize for winning. Sugar told the East London Tribunal that she was effectively blackmailing him.

Apprentice Stella English loses dismissal case against Sugar

6. PSY'S GENTLEMAN NO GANGNAM STYLE

South Korean rapper Psy has released Gentleman, the follow-up to his global hit Gangnam Style. Early reviews have been positive, but most of the debate has focussed on whether the 35-year-old makes liberal use of the f-word in the hotly-anticipated song. The single went viral today after listeners uploaded copies to the internet.

Fans say Psy's 'Gentleman' isn't a new 'Gangnam Style'

7. ALL-SPANISH FINAL AT WEMBLEY ON CARDS

The Champions League final at Wembley could see Barcelona take on Real Madrid after the two teams were kept apart in the semi-final draw. Barcelona will face Bayern Munich in one semi-final while Real Madrid will play Borussia Dortmund in the other. There is also the possibility of an all-German final if Bayern and Borussia can overcome their Spanish opponents.

Why are Cameron and Merkel cosying up in a German castle?

8. GOOGLE MAKES PLANS FOR DIGITAL AFTERLIFE

Google yesterday issued a plan to allow users to decide what happens to their data after they die or become inactive online, allowing them to delete after a set period of time or pass it on to chosen heirs. The scheme applies to e-mail, social network Google Plus and YouTube. Google said it would enable customers "to plan your digital afterlife".

9. PM SPENDS WEEKEND 'CHEZ MERKEL'

David Cameron, his wife and their children fly to Germany today where, in a "highly unusual move", they will stay with Angela Merkel at her official residence near Berlin. The German leader's invitation to Schloss Meseberg is seen as significant because the leaders have been at odds this year over the PM's desire to reform the EU.

Why are Cameron and Merkel cosying up in a German castle?

10. HOT TICKET: GOSLING BEYOND THE PINES

Crime drama 'The Place Beyond the Pines' opens in UK cinemas today. Ryan Gosling stars as a stunt motorcycle rider who turns to crime to support his child and becomes locked in a destructive struggle with a police officer (Bradley Cooper). With Eva Mendes and Ray Liotta. "Consistently compelling," says Time Out.

Gosling has charisma to burn in The Place Beyond the Pines