Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Tuesday 8 Apr 2014

1. PEACHES GELDOF: NO DRUGS AND NO NOTE

Tributes have been paid by friends and family to Peaches Geldof, found dead yesterday at the age of 25. Police said her death was "unexplained, but not suspicious" and it was claimed officers found "no hard drugs, no suicide note, no visible signs of injury". Friend Lily Allen said: “My thoughts are with Peaches’ family… rest in peace, gorgeous girl.”

Peaches Geldof 'had been a heroin addict', inquest hears

2. IRISH PRESIDENT HIGGINS ARRIVES IN UK

Michael D Higgins, the president of the Republic of Ireland, is in London today for the first ever visit by an Irish head of state to the UK. The 72-year-old poet and sociologist met the Queen at Windsor Castle before political meetings in Westminster and laying a wreath for the unknown soldier.

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Irish president Michael D Higgins begins historic UK visit

3. MH370: SHIP CAN’T RELOCATE PINGS

An Australian ship which heard an electronic ‘ping’ in the southern Indian Ocean as it searched for the missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 has not relocated the signal yet. Rescuers plan to use a mini-submarine to look for the source of the signal but will keep searching from the surface before they launch it.

MH370: mysterious 89kg load ‘added to cargo flight list after take-off’

4. DEWANI REMANDED TO SA HOSPITAL

Shrien Dewani, the British businessman accused of ordering the killing of his late wife Anni on the couple’s honeymoon, has been remanded to a psychiatric hospital in South Africa after appearing in court today. He was extradited from the UK after three years of legal wrangles. His legal team had claimed he was mentally unfit to stand trial.

Shrien Dewani: will inquest resolve unanswered questions?

5. UKRAINE: NATO TELLS RUSSIA TO PULL BACK

Nato has told Russia to pull its forces back from the Ukraine border, and warned that intervening in the country would be an "historic mistake" that could have "grave consequences". It comes as Ukrainian forces try to retake government buildings in the east, taken over by pro-Russian groups. Russia described Nato's comments as "very provocative".

6. LEE RIGBY KILLER ADEBOLAJO APPEALS

Michael Adebolajo, given a whole-life jail term for the murder of Lee Rigby, has launched an appeal against his sentence. Adebolajo and accomplice Michael Adebowale ran the soldier down and hacked him to death in attack in Woolwich last year. Jailing him earlier this year Mr Justice Sweeney his crime was a "rare case" that meant he should never be released.

7. PISTORIUS RELIVES MOMENT HE SHOT REEVA

Oscar Pistorius has relived the moment he shot girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp dead as he gave evidence at his murder trial in South Africa. He sobbed and retched during his testimony, and insisted that he opened fire because he thought there was an intruder in his home. "I heard a noise in the toilet," he said. "Before I knew it I shot four shots through the door."

Oscar Pistorius out of legal options as request to appeal rejected

8. IMF: UK IS FASTEST GROWING ECONOMY IN G7

The UK will be the fastest-growing economy of the G7 nations this year according to the IMF. Its upbeat forecast predicts that the UK will grow 2.9% in 2014, up 0.5% from the January estimate of 2.4%, and will see growth of 2.5% in 2015. However it warned that easy credit and surging house prices could destabilise the recovery.

9. MARIA MILLER UNDER PRESSURE TO QUIT

Culture Secretary Maria Miller is under increasing pressure to resign over her expenses, with Tory MPs concerned that the row could cost the party votes. There have been calls for a reform of the ethics watchdog and MP Zac Goldsmith expressed "surprise" that she was still in a job. London Mayor Boris Johnson said Miller was being "hounded" but refused to back her.

Maria Miller: trial of strength as Norman Tebbit wades into row

10. HOT TICKET: ANOTHER COUNTRY REVISITED

A revival of Julian Mitchell's Another Country has opened at Trafalgar Studios, London. Inspired by the unmasking of the Cambridge spy ring, it is a fictionalised account of the repressive public schooldays of Soviet mole Guy Burgess and communist John Cornford. "Compelling," says The Times. Until 21 June.

Another Country – reviews of 'compelling' schooldays drama

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