Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Saturday 6 Oct 2012

1. ABU HAMZA LEAVES BRITAIN

Abu Hamza al-Masri and four other terror suspects have flown out of the UK after being extradited to the USA. Extradition officers handed the five men to US marshals at RAF Mildenhall in Suffolk last night. Earlier, the High Court had ruled that the men had presented no "new and compelling" reasons not extradite them.

2. HUNT BACKS 12-WEEK ABORTION LIMIT

Health secretary Jeremy Hunt backs a 12-week legal limit on abortions. "I'm not someone who thinks that abortion should be made illegal," he added. Women's minister Maria Miller has also called for a reduction in the legal limit. Shadow health minister Dianne Abbott believes the Tories "are gearing up for another assault on women's reproductive rights".

3. SYRIA 'AGREES' TO BUFFER ZONE

Syria has agreed to a buffer zone along the Turkish border, according to Turkish media reports. Citing well-placed sources, the reports claim that Syria has vowed to keep its forces six miles from the border following this week's deadly shelling incident in which five Turkish civilians were killed. The move would allow Syrian opposition groups a haven.

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4. BRITAIN 'FACES BLACKOUTS BY 2015'

Britain could face power blackouts by 2015 says energy industry regulator Ofgem. EU rulings mean several gas and coal stations will have to close. Ofgem says Britain's electricity capacity, currently 14% higher than needed, would drop to just 4% higher after the closures, meaning a cold snap or other surge in demand could lead to outages.

5. SARKOZY PAID RIVAL TO LEAVE RACE

Nicolas Sarkozy agreed to pay a rival €800,000 (£645,000) to step down from the presidential race. Christine Boutin, a candidate for the Christian Democrat Party, had attacked Sarkozy, saying: he had “disfigured” France and destroyed its “fundamental values”. After agreeing the payment, she said she wanted to align herself with Sarkozy, "to make France win.”

6. TORIES 'STILL SEEN AS PARTY OF RICH'

The head of a top think tank says David Cameron has failed to heal the Conservative Party's "worst wounds". Writing in The Guardian, the director of Policy Exchange Neil O'Brien argued: "The Tories urgently need a new round of renewal...It is still seen as the party of the rich. It does badly in urban areas, particularly outside the south-east."

7. ONE IN FIVE WARDS 'FACE AXE'

Wards at up to one-fifth of English hospitals are facing the axe, reports The Daily Telegraph. The investigation also found that that 25 accident and emergency wards - 10 per cent of the total - have either closed recently or could be closed or scaled down under "reconfiguration" plans. Campaigners fear the reconfiguration process could be a smokescreen for cuts.

8. BBC RULES OUT SAVILLE INQUIRY

The director general of the BBC has ruled out an internal inquiry into the allegations surrounding Jimmy Saville. In an email to staff, George Entwistle said he is "appalled" by the allegations. He said police have told him that any separate BBC inquiry "would run the risk of damaging or impeding their work."

9. KHAN LEADS ANTI-DRONE MARCH

Politician and former cricketer Imran Khan is leading a two-day march in protest at US drone strikes on Pakistan. The march began in Islamabad and is due to end in South Waziristan, where many strikes have taken place. However, authorities in Pakistan may try and prevent the march reaching tribal areas.

10. COLE SORRY FOR TWITTER RANT

Ashley Cole has apologised for his Twitter outburst against the FA. Cole said he had acted “in the heat of the moment” when he branded the FA a "bunch of twats" following its explanation of its judgement in the John Terry and Anton Ferdinand case. Cole added: "I apologise unreservedly for my comment about the FA."