Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Monday 23 Jan 2012

1. BENEFITS CAP FACES LORDS PROTEST

The coalition plan to cap state benefits at £26,000 maximum for a household will face opposition today in the House of Lords. Lib Dem peer Paddy Ashdown has vowed to vote against the coalition for the first time unless measures can be introduced to cushion the impact on children. Bishops feel the same way.

Back-pedalling Duncan Smith tries to head off Lords revolt

2. SYRIA REJECTS 'INTERVENTION'

Syria has rejected as "flagrant intervention" a call by the Arab League that President Bahar al-Assad should hand over power to his deputy and that Syria should undertake to form a government of national unity, to include the opposition, within two months. The Arab League is said to be split on what to do next.

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3. GINGRICH LEADS ROMNEY IN FLORIDA

Newt Gingrich has opened up a big lead over Mitt Romney in the Republican primary in Florida. An InsiderAdvantage poll shows Gingrich on 34% with Romney on 26%. Romney has already booked $7m worth of campaign ads in Florida, which goes to the polls on 31 January.

Newt and Callista: oddest couple yet to aim for the White House

4. ARSENAL FANS TURN ON WENGER

Arsene Wenger's judgment was questioned by Arsenal fans yesterday who chanted "You don't know what you're doing" after the once revered French manager made a baffling decision to remove his most effective player, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, during their match against Manchester Utd. Arsenal went on to lose 2-1.

Arsenal fans furious at Wenger over 'match losing' substitution

5. BLACKBERRY FOUNDER STANDS DOWN

Mike Lazaridis, the founder of the BlackBerry smartphone maker Research in Motion, has stepped down as co-chief executive in a radical shake-up designed to save the struggling company. His co-CEO Jim Baisillie has also quit. The time had come to "hand on the baton", said Lazaridis, who becomes vice-chairman.

BlackBerry chiefs Lazaridis and Balsillie quit as RIM top dogs

6. MPS DISCUSS LEANING BIG BEN

MPs are meeting today to discuss what should be done about large cracks in the Palace of Westminster and a noticeable tilt in the Clock Tower, which houses Big Ben. One - highly unlikely - proposal is to sell the Palace, which is suffering from subsidence, and build a new Parliament elsewhere.

The leaning tower of Big Ben: how serious is it?

7. ARRESTS MADE AFTER NIGERIA ATTACKS

Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan has told the BBC that a number of arrests have been made following the wave of attacks in the city of Kano in which at least 166 people have been killed. "Some died in the process. Some were suicide bombers," he said. The Islamist group Boko Haram has claimed responsibility.

Boko Haram: what is it and how can it be stopped?

8. BBC LOOKS FOR 'CUT-PRICE' DG

The BBC is beginning its search for its next Director-General and he or she will be paid substantially less than the £671,000 salary of the incumbent Mark Thompson, according to the chairman of the BBC Trust, Lord Patten. The "succession plan" is going ahead even though Patten insists Thompson is under no pressure to quit.

BBC begins hunt for a new 'cut-price' Director-General

9. UK FACES SNOW DISRUPTION

The Met Office has issued severe weather warnings to large parts of Scotland, northern England and the Midlands. Disruption to traffic is likely on Tuesday morning as rain turns to sleet and snow. Icy patches might also form where rain falls onto freezing ground.

10. HOT TICKET: MARTHA AND THE VANDELLAS

One of the most successful Motown groups of the late 1960s will sing their chart-topping classics at Ronnie Scott's tonight. Doo-wop along to hits including Love is Like a Heatwave, Nowhere to Run and Dancin' in the Street. First of five nights at the Frith Street, Soho jazz club.