Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Sunday 28 Apr 2013

1. BRITAIN 'RISKS ALL-OUT WAR' IN SYRIA

Intervention in Syria would risk drawing UK forces into an all-out war, Britain's most senior military officer tells the Sunday Times. General Sir David Richards, chief of the defence staff, argues that any response to the use of chemical weapons by Bashar al-Assad’s regime would have to be on a huge scale to succeed. “In Syria, we have to be prepared to go to war,” he said.

2. RICH ELDERLY MUST 'SURRENDER BENEFITS'

Wealthy elderly people who do not need benefit payments should hand the money back to the state, argues work and pensions secretary Iain Duncan Smith. His intervention comes after David Cameron vetoed his proposal to stop paying benefits to all pensioners. Speaking to the Sunday Telegraph, Duncan Smith said he “would encourage” wealthy pensioners to hand the money back.

3. 'BIG BROTHER' TO SWITCH OFF FRIDGES

Electrical appliances in British homes will automatically be switched off without the owner's consent under a 'big brother' regime to reduce strain on power stations, claims the Mail On Sunday. The National Grid is demanding that new appliances, such as fridges, freezers and ovens, be fitted with sensors that can shut them down when generators struggle to meet demand for electricity.

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4. HIV CURE EXPECTED 'WITHIN MONTHS'

Scientists believe that there will be a breakthrough in finding a cure for HIV “within months”. The Danish scientists are conducting clinical trials of a “novel strategy” in which the HIV virus is stripped from human DNA and destroyed permanently by the immune system. They are expecting results that will prove “finding a mass-distributable and affordable cure to HIV is possible”.

5. UKIP EMAILS REVEAL POLICY CHAOS

A series of leaked emails between key figures in Ukip reveal confusion over policy on the eve of the local elections, reports The Observer. In one message, a senior party figure claims that leading the anti-EU party is like "herding cats". Leader Nigel Farage is warned that senior members must “get off their hobby-horses” if the party is to develop credible policies.

6. OBAMA JOKES AT ANNUAL DINNER

Barack Obama poked fun at himself at the White House Correspondents' Association dinner last night. "I'm not the strapping young Muslim socialist that I used to be," he quipped. In another joke, the president said: "I'm also hard at work on plans for the Obama library and some have suggested we put it in my birthplace but... I'd rather keep it in the United States."

7. BRANSON: 'STOP TERROR WARNINGS'

Sir Richard Branson has called for the Foreign Office to stop issuing travel bulletins advising people not to visit countries affected by terrorism. Writing in the Independent on Sunday, he argues that warnings of the risk of attack "are exactly what the terrorists want" and adds that "getting on with life is the best way to show terrorists they will not win”.

8. CHARITIES USED FOR TAX SCAM

Leading British charities are being used by offshore trusts to shelter hundreds of millions of pounds from the tax authorities, reports the Sunday Times. Cancer Research UK, the National Trust and Amnesty International are among the charities named by rich investors as the main beneficiaries of offshore trusts that in reality have been created to benefit the investors themselves.

9. HOME OFFICE FURY OVER DRUG CASE

A row has broken out after an Iraqi-born man convicted of drug dealing won an appeal against moves by the home secretary to deport him. Hesham Mohammed Ali convinced a judge he had a "family life" because he had a "genuine" relationship with a British woman - despite having no contact with his two children by different women. The Home Office says it is “disappointed”.

10. VAN PERSIE: ABUSE 'CAN'T HURT ME'

Robin van Persie is expecting a lively reception from the Arsenal fans as he returns to the Emirates with Manchester United this afternoon – but insists the abuse will not “hurt” him. Yesterday Liverpool shrugged off the absence of suspended Luis Suarez by beating Newcastle United 6-0 at St James Park. Tottenham drew 2-2 at Wigan Athletic.