Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Tuesday 8 May 2012

1. NEW 'UNDERPANTS BOMB' PLOT FOILED

A plot by al-Qaeda in Yemen to detonate an upgraded version of the failed Christmas 2009 'underpants bomb' has been disrupted, the FBI said last night. There was no word on the intended bomber, but the bomb was seized before the target selected or air tickets bought.

New underwear bomb plot is proof of ‘perverse’ al-Qaeda

2. GREEK COALITION TALKS FAIL

Greek centre-right head Antonis Samaras said yesterday that he cannot form a pro-austerity coalition government following losses to his New Democracy party in Sunday's elections. The leftist Syriza party, which came second and wants to renegotiate Greece's bail-out, will now try to form a coalition.

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Austerity retreats as refuseniks make gains across Europe

3. 'WILD THINGS' AUTHOR SENDAK DIES AT 83

Maurice Sendak, the American born author and illustrator behind children's classic, Where the Wild Things Are, has died at the age of 83. The book, published in 1963 sold more than 17 million copies and was made into an opera and a film. He also wrote more than 20 other books and illustrated 100.

4. PILLS 'MADE FROM HUMAN BABIES' SEIZED

Thousands of pills reportedly filled with powdered human baby flesh have reportedly been seized by South Korean customs. The drugs capsules are said to have been made in China from aborted foetuses whose bodies were dried in medical microwaves before being turned into powder. The pills are apparently seen by some as a 'cure-all' medication.

Human babies 'chopped, dried and powdered to make pills'

5. CAMERON, CLEGG 'RENEW AUSTERITY VOWS'

Prime Minister David Cameron and his Coalition deputy Nick Clegg will make a rare joint appearance today to "renew their vows" to cut Britain's debt, protect the country from the "financial storm" brewing in Europe, and "rescue the economy from the mess left by Labour".

Right-wing Tories must accept: there is no alternative to Coalition

6. PUTIN, MEDVEDEV COMPLETE JOB SWAP

Vladimir Putin and Dmitry Medvedev completed their job swap as Medvedev was confirmed as Prime Minister of Russia a day after Putin took over the presidency in a lavish ceremony in the former Throne Room of the Tsars in the Grand Kremlin Palace in Moscow as protestors fought police outside.

7. AVIVA BOSS STEPS DOWN

Andrew Moss has stepped down as CEO of Aviva after the insurer's shareholders voted against the company's remuneration report at last week's annual meeting. Moss will be replaced temporarily by Aviva's incoming chairman John McFarlane. His departure comes after exits by the bosses of Trinity Mirror and AstraZeneca following shareholder anger.

Aviva boss Andrew Moss quits as 'shareholder spring' continues

8. RSPCA HUNT HEDGEHOG KILLER

A person who killed at least ten hedgehogs with a crossbow and displayed three of their bodies outside a primary school in Cambridge is being hunted by the RSPCA. The incident follows a similar one last July when six dead hedgehogs were lined up outside a Tesco store in the same area, The Daily Telegraph reports.

9. DERECK CHISORA TO FIGHT DAVID HAYE

Boxers Dereck Chisora and David Haye are to reprise their press conference dust up in the ring this July. Neither man holds a British Boxing Board of Control licence and the body has refused to sanction the bout, but promoter Frank Warren has obtained the permissions from Luxembourg and will stage the fight in London.

David Haye v Dereck Chisora: grudge fight scheduled for July

10. HOT TICKET: BARTLETT'S BABYBOOMER SATIRE

Love, Love, Love, a new production of Mike Bartlett's award-winning play, has opened at the Royal Court. Victoria Hamilton and Claire Foy star in this satire about the impact of the babyboomer generation's self-indulgent lifestyle on their children. "Piercingly funny," says The Evening Standard. Until 9 June.

Love, Love, Love skewers the indulged babyboomer set