Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Monday 8 Oct 2012

1. OSBORNE PLANS £10BN BENEFITS CUT

The government will cut a further £10bn from the benefits budget, Chancellor George Osborne has told the Conservative Party conference. Meanwhile, seven global energy firms are threatening to withdraw plans to invest in Britain due to Osborne's attempts to relax the government's green commitments.

How many more Lib Dem 'deals' before Tories give up on coalition?

2. APRIL SUSPECT REMANDED IN CUSTODY

The man accused of murdering Welsh schoolgirl April Jones has appeared in court in Aberystwyth. Mark Bridger, 46, wept as he confirmed that he understood the charges against him: murder, abduction and attempting to pervert the course of justice. Bridger, who was first charged on Saturday, was remanded in custody and will appear at Caernarfon Crown Court on Wednesday.

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April Jones: Mark Bridger weeps as he is remanded in custody

3. CHAVEZ WINS VENEZUELA ELECTION

Hugo Chavez has won a fourth term after opposition leader Henrique Capriles conceded defeat in the presidential elections in Venezuela. Chavez won 54.42% of the vote, compared with Capriles' 44.97%. "Thank you my dear people!!! Viva Venezuela!!!" wrote Chavez on Twitter.

4. BORIS: 'MIDDLE CLASS NOT BEING HELPED'

Boris Johnson says the "struggling" middle-classes are feeling "utterly and understandably ignored". In comments set to fuel speculation over a possible future party leadership bid by Johnson, he writes in The Daily Telegraph that middle-classes "are not being helped".

Boris's ego swells as Tory leadership speculation mounts

5. GIRL LOSES STOMACH AFTER COCKTAIL

A teenager underwent emergency surgery to remove her stomach after drinking a cocktail that contained liquid nitrogen. Gaby Scanlon became breathless and developed severe stomach pains after drinking the cocktail at a bar in Lancaster on Thursday night as she celebrated her 18th birthday.

6. BRITON SHARES NOBEL PRIZE FOR MEDICINE

The Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine has been awarded to two scientists for their work in reprogramming mature cells to become stem cells. The Nobel committee announced today that Briton Sir John Gurdon and Shinya Yamanaka, from Japan, had been awarded the prize for "for the discovery that mature cells can be reprogrammed to become pluripotent”.

Nobel Prize for Medicine goes to John Gurdon for ‘pluripotent cells'

7. WEST INDIES ARE T20 WORLD CHAMPIONS

The West Indies have won the World Twenty20 title after a thrilling 36-run win over Sri Lanka. The West Indies, who dominated the sport between the 1970s and 1990s, celebrated in style as they won their first trophy since 2004. Captain Darren Sammy hopes they can create a new legacy.

8. TURKEY RESPONDS TO SYRIA SHELLS

The Turkish army returned fire on Syria on Sunday - the fifth successive day in which Turkey has responded to Syrian munitions falling on its territory. Meanwhile, Republican US presidential candidate Mitt Romney will call later today for the Syrian rebels to be armed with heavy weaponry.

9. FA CHARGES ASHLEY COLE OVER TWEET

Chelsea defender Ashley Cole has been charged with misconduct by the Football Association after labelling them a 'bunch of twats' in a Tweet last week. He is also likely to be dropped from the England team for the match against San Marino on Friday, but will still join up with Roy Hodgson's squad this week.

Brilliant Santi Cazorla makes everyone at Arsenal play better

10. HOT TICKET: DUFF’S FRENCH TRAGEDY

A new version of Racine’s 17th century tragedy ‘Berenice’, translated by Alan Hollinghurst, has opened at the Donmar. ‘Shameless’ star Anne-Marie Duff is Berenice, a woman whose long-awaited love is thwarted by the demands of the Roman Empire. “Quietly compelling”, says The Guardian. Until 24 November.

Anne-Marie Duff is 'a marvel' in Donmar's updated Berenice