Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Thursday 21 Apr 2011
Our popular news catch-up service is posted Monday to Friday at 8.0am. You can rely on it to keep you up to date through the working day with the main news talking points. PHOTOGRAPHER TIM HETHERINGTON KILLED IN LIBYABritish film-maker and photographer Tim Hetherington, 41, died covering the battle in Misrata yesterday. His American colleague, Chris Hondros, also 41, a Robert Capa Gold Medal winner, died from his injuries soon after in hospital. They were hit by a mortar round. Hetherington (inset above) was nominated for an Oscar for his documentary, Restrepo, about US troops fighting in Afghanistan. In pictures: Scenes from Misrata, city under siege APPLE PROFITS SOAR FROM SALES OF iPHONEApple has seen profits jump by 85 per cent in the first quarter of this year compared to 2010 as it sold 18.65 million iPhones, a rise of 113 per cent. It also sold 28 per cent more computers, led by the MacBook Pro. But the new iPad sold only 4.69 million, and sales of the aging iPod, once the brand leader, slid by 17 per cent to nine million. Apple iPhone 5 ‘on sale by September’ ITALIANS JOIN BRITISH AND FRENCH TRAINERS IN LIBYA Italy will send 10 military trainers to help Libyan rebels in Benghazi, its defence ministry announced yesterday, joining those from Britain and France. America said it would also send "non-lethal" aid. In Paris, President Sarkozy held talks with rebel leader Mustafa Abdul Jalil, while in Libya rebel forces made inroads against Col Gaddafi's troops on Thursday, seizing a post on the Tunisian border. Robert Fox: Libya is not Vietnam - it is the right thing to do KATE MIDDLETON VISITS PRINCESS DIANA'S TOMBKate Middleton was yesterday taken by Prince William to visit Princess Diana's tomb at Althorp, her family home. They held hands while laying flowers at the memorial on an island in a lake on the estate. The Queen met the bride's parents Michael and Carole Middleton for the first time, inviting them to a "very convivial" lunch at Windsor Castle. G20 police chief put in charge of royal wedding CAMERON 'UNEASY' OVER GAGGING ORDERSTwo more gagging orders have been granted in the High Court, halting reports of a male "TV personality's" affair and that of a Premier League footballer with topless model Imogen Thomas. More than 30 'rich and famous' people have now won injunctions although Prime Minister David Cameron said today that he felt "uneasy" about them. Should judges help the rich and famous gag the press? EASTER HEATWAVE CAUSES SMOG ALERTThe Easter heatwave could turn nasty after the government issued a "smog alert" because of high levels of ozone and pollutants in the air thanks to the warm and still conditions brought on by the high pressure system. Defra has advised people with condiutions like asthma to take "sensible precautions", including avoiding outside exercise. oSBORNE SAYS 'NO' TO EU BUDGET HIKEGeorge Osborne said yesterday that the UK is "not prepared to accept" a 4.9 per cent increase in the EU's annual budget, describing it as "completely unacceptable" when Britain was facing spending cuts. The chancellor cannot veto the increase, but said that "the fight will be joined". The increase amounts to £400 per British family. TEXAS WILDFIRES DESTROY 200 HOMES Wildfires were defying firefighters in Texas last night as "chaotic" winds blew them towards Forth Worth, a city of 700,000. More than 200 homes have been destroyed. Governor Rick Perry has asked President Obama to issue a Major Disaster Declaration. Church congregations are praying for Easter rain. GRANDMA DROPPED INTO ARCTIC FROM CRUISE SHIPA British grandmother was dropped into the freezing Arctic Ocean for four minutes from the cruise liner Ocean Countess off Bodo, Norway, during a medical evacuation that went wrong. Janet Richardson, 73, was last night in hospital in Carlisle, Cumbria. She had been to see the Northern Lights with her husband George. ASTON VILLA BOSS HOULLIER ADMITTED TO HOSPITALAston Villa manager Gerard Houllier has been admitted to hospital after being taken ill overnight. Frenchman Houllier underwent major surgery after suffering heart problems while manager of Liverpool in 2001. He consulted a heart surgeon before taking over at Villa last year. His condition is said to be comfortable but he will remain in hospital for several days.
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