Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Wednesday 2 Mar 2011

Anti-Gaddafi forces check cars in Zintan, Libya

published 2 March 2011

Our popular news catch-up service is posted Monday to Friday at 8.00 am. You can rely on it to keep you up to date through the working day with the main news talking points. LIBYA: Gaddafi FORCES strike back Troops loyal to Libyan leader Colonel Gaddafi are attempting to retake towns east of the capital Tripoli. However, reports that the opposition town of Brega had fallen were contradicted by rebels, who told Reuters they had beaten off pro-Gaddafi forces. According to the BBC, Gaddafi's planes have attempted to bomb the town of Ajdabiya, which is home to a large arms dump. Meanwhile, David Cameron says the British government is to send three planes to airlift 6,000 Egyptian refugees trapped at the Libya-Tunisia border to Cairo. In pictures: Thousands flee Libya MERVYN KING 'SURPRISED PUBLIC NOT ANGRIER'People who have been made unemployed or whose businesses have been bankrupted as a result of the banking crisis have every reason to be resentful, Mervyn King, governor of the Bank of England, told the Commons Treasure select committee yesterday. The billions needed to bail out the banks, and the subsequent need for public spending cuts, are all the fault of the financial services sector. "I'm surprised that the degree of public anger has not been greater," he said. Mervyn King says banks are root of coalition cuts CHARLIE SHEEN LOSES SONS, JOINS TWITTEROut-of-control actor Charlie Sheen has had his two sons taken away from him. The twin boys were returned to their mother, Brook Mueller, after she asked for a restraining order to stop Sheen going within 100 yards of her. At least that gives Sheen more time to enjoy his latest hobby - Twitter. Within 24 hours of opening an account he had 750,000 followers. His first tweet linked to a picture of him wth porn actress Bree Olson. Police remove Sheen’s two sons after 'death threat' LESS-THAN-WIZARD REVIEWS FOR WIZARD OF OZ The opening at the London Palladium of The Wizard of Oz, based on the 1939 Judy Garland film but with some new songs by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice, has received mixed reviews overnight. Michael Billington of the Guardian "came out feeling blitzkrieged rather than charmed". Charles Spencer of the Daily Telegraph felt that Danielle Hope as Dorothy "offers a thoroughly competent rather than an inspired performance". JACKIE STEWART 'TAKEN ILL' ON FLIGHTMotor racing legend Jackie Stewart was rushed to hospital after falling ill on a flight to London on Wednesday. The 72-year-old ex-Formula 1 world champion had to be given first aid by British Airways stewardesses after complaining of chest pains on a flight from Geneva. Paramedics were waiting at Heathrow when the plane landed and Stewart was taken to Hillingdon Hospital in west London. CAMERON BACKTRACKS ON LIBYA NO FLY ZONEDowning Street has backtracked from the apparently tough line espoused by David Cameron on Libya after the US and France distanced themselves from the PM's suggestion that Britain might support a no fly zone and the arming of rebel forces. However, as the Mole wrote on The First Post yesterday, Cameron's proposals may have been overplayed by war-hungry media in the first place. The Mole: media ready for war even if Cameron isn't NELLY FURTADO GIVES GADDAFI FEE TO CHARITY Canadian pop star Nelly Furtado has vowed to give to charity the $1m fee she received to perform a private concert in Italy for the Gaddafi family four years ago. She announced her decision on Twitter. The pop world now waits to see whether other performers, including Beyonce, Mariah Carey and Usher will follow suit. Beyonce was reputedly paid $2m for a New Year's Eve concert for Mutassim Gaddafi on St Barts. Beyonce and Usher's Gaddafi links revealed SIESTA CAN HELP PREVENT HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE A daytime nap of between 45 to 60 minutes can help prevent high blood pressure and heart disease, according to research published in the International Journal of Behavioural Medicine. An experiment conducted on students in Pennsylvania found the "cardiovascular benefit" of a short siesta helped keep blood pressure down during periods of stress. MAD MEN'S CHRISTINA MODELS FOR WESTWOODActress Christina Hendricks, famous for her role as the curvy Joan in Mad Men, is the face of Vivienne Westwood's new 'Get a Life' jewellery collection. Hendricks models headdresses and necklaces from the limited edition collection, all made from the white metal palladium, which goes on sale this month. Dame Vivienne said the 35-yeasr-old actress was "the embodiment of beauty... She has proved to be the perfect model for the campaign." Christina Hendricks models Westwood’s jewels JOHN GALLIANO 'HEADS FOR REHAB'Disgraced former Dior designer John Galliano has fled France and is said to be heading for rehab in Arizona. He has been persuaded to seek help with alcohol problems by close friends, including models Kate Moss and Naomi Campbell. The New York Times says his destination is The Meadows in Arizona, where Elton John and Donatella Versace have been treated. He was sacked by Dior for making anti-semitic remarks on Tuesday. Did ‘disgusted’ Portman get John Galliano fired?