Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Saturday 9 Jun 2012

1. EUROPE REFERENDUM WOULD 'SPLIT' TORIES

The Conservatives would be "split down the middle" were there an 'in-out' referendum on Europe, a senior party figure has told The Times. The senior Tory said that a referendum, which Chancellor George Osborne seemed to advocate for on Thursday, could divide the party in the same way as Labour in 1975, a split that led to the breakaway SDP.

2. GHASTLY SCENES IN SYRIA VILLAGE

UN monitors have described how they could "smell dead bodies" and "see body parts" around the Syrian village of al-Qubair, where opposition activists say at least 78 men, women and children were killed by government forces on Wednesday. A BBC correspondent said he was hit by the "stench of burnt flesh" and saw "brains lying on the floor".

3. OBAMA BACKTRACKS ON ECONOMY STATEMENT

President Barack Obama was forced to backtrack yesterday after claiming “the private sector is doing fine” during a press conference. Opponents immediately poured scorn on Obama's optimism, with Mitt Romney asking: “Is he really that out of touch?” Last night, Obama issued a statement admitting it is “absolutely clear that the economy is not doing fine”.

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4. SPAIN ON BRINK OF BAILOUT REQUEST?

EU sources predict that Spain will ask for a bailout for its troubled banks this weekend, as European finance ministers arrange a conference call to discuss the issue. The IMF estimates that Spain needs an injection of 40bn euros (£32bn). Madrid is under pressure from Brussels to resolve the issue ahead of next weekend's elections in Greece.

5. GRADUATES GIVE MORE THAN THEY TAKE

British graduates contribute to the economy nearly 10 times what it costs the state to educate them, a report claims. The Institute for Public Policy Research says that graduates bring in £180,000 more than those with A-levels over their working life. It warns that reforms leading to fewer graduates will limit Britain's ability to compete globally.

6. JUDGE FORCES FACEBOOK TO REVEAL TROLLS

A groundbreaking High Court judgement has forced Facebook to disclose the identities of 'trolls' who targeted a woman online. Nicola Brookes was granted an order forcing Facebook to reveal the IP addresses and details of people who set-up fake accounts to slander and bully her online. She will now bring a private prosecution against the trolls.

7. BULGER MOTHER SLAMS FILM PLAN

The mother of murdered toddler James Bulger has condemned a plan to turn a play about one of her son's killers into a film. Des Dillon's The Village of the Damned features killer Robert Thompson being put under police protection in a Scottish village. Denise Fergus said of Dillon's effort: “This man is trying to line his pockets and doesn’t care what hurt he inflicts.”

8. ENGLAND TEAM VISITS AUSCHWITZ

The England football team visited Auschwitz and Oskar Schindler's factory in Krakow yesterday. The team, whose base in Krakow is an hour away, spent two hours at the concentration camp. "It is unreal," said Theo Walcott. "I learned some of this stuff at school but I could never imagine anything on this scale. It is just beyond belief or comprehension."

9. UN MONITORS KILLED IN IVORY COAST

Seven UN peacekeepers from Niger have been killed in an ambush in the Ivory Coast, the UN has said. The attack took place in the south-west of the country, near the border with Liberia. The UN had recently increased operations in the area, to protect civilians. UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon says he is "saddened and outraged" by the deaths.

10. EXCITING OPENERS IN EURO 2012

Russia beat the Czech Republic 4-1 while Poland drew 1-1 with Greece in an eventful opening day of Euro 2012. The Poles and the Greeks each had a man sent-off in their tie, which also featured a penalty save by substitute goalkeeper Przemyslaw Tyton. Today, the Netherlands face Denmark and Germany play Portugal.