Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Thursday 30 May 2013

1. WOOLWICH: FIRST COURT APPEARANCE

Michael Adebowale, 22, was charged with the murder of Drummer Lee Rigby this morning when he appeared before Westminster magistrates' court. Wearing a green sweat shirt and white baggy trousers and with his hand in a bandage, Adebowale, spoke only to confirm his name and address as the charges were read out.

Woolwich killing suspect 'cleared' after Kenya arrest

2. US SOLDIER ADMITS AFGHAN MASSACRE

US soldier Robert Bales, who killed 16 Afghan civilians during a rampage in Kandahar last year, will escape the death penalty by pleading guilty to murder. The staff sergeant will enter the pleas next week and will, for the first time, give details of what happened on the night he ran amok near Camp Belambay in the Panjwai disrtict of Kandahar.

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US soldier Bales escapes death penalty over Afghan massacre

3. MONTPELLIER TO HOLD LESBIAN WEDDING

Montpellier, the French city which yesterday held the country's first gay marriage, will write itself into the history books again on Saturday by hosting the nation's first lesbian wedding. Mayor Helene Mandroux, who married Vincent Autin and Bruno Boileau at the town hall yesterday, will also officiate at the two women's wedding.

France's first gay wedding - in pictures

4. POLL: MILIBAND FARES WORSE THAN BROWN

Labour leader Ed Miliband is viewed by voters in a less favourable light than Gordon Brown was after Labour's 2010 general election defeat, according to a YouGov poll for The Times. Only 36% think Miliband cares about ordinary people (Brown scored 50%). Only 27% believe Miliband has a clear sense of purpose (Brown scored 51%).

5. KATHERINE JENKINS 'DUMPED' BY LABEL

Welsh mezzo-soprano Katherine Jenkins has parted ways with Warner Music, five years after signing a £5.8m three-album contract designed to make her a global star. Sources said the singer's most recent albums had achieved disappointing sales resulting in a loss to Warner of £2m. Jenkins confirmed the split, but said her future was bright.

'Diva' Katherine Jenkins 'dumped' by record label

6. BRIDGER GUILTY OF APRIL JONES MURDER

Mark Bridger will spend the rest of his life in prison after being convicted of abducting and murdering five-year-old Welsh girl April Jones. A jury took four hours to decide the 47-year-old's guilt and a judge handed him a 'whole life order' - the maximum sentence that can be imposed on a defendant. Bridger was also found guilty of perverting the course of justice.

Mark Bridger found guilty of murdering April Jones, 5

7. GULPIS LASHES MEN'S TENNIS TOP FOUR

Outspoken Latvian tennis player Ernests Gulbis has launched what The Guardian calls a "breathtakingly candid attack on the game's big four". The temperamental 24-year-old, ranked 40 in the world, berated Djokovic, Murray, Federer and Nadal for talking 'crap' and said modern tennis "badly lacks characters".

Gulbis slams 'boring' tennis stars in French Open rant

8. BON JOVI WAIVES FEE FOR MADRID GIG

US rock star Jon Bon Jovi has revealed that his band waived their fee at a concert in Madrid next month, due to the country's economic crisis. The gesture meant tickets to the concert were unusually cheap, selling for between 18 to 39 euros. This compares to the equivalent of 76 euros for tickets to a concert in Manchester next week.

9. FOOTBALL: ENGLAND 'BACK IN DARK AGES'

'Match of the Day' host Gary Lineker has accused England manager Roy Hodgson of taking "a step back into the dark ages" after his 4-4-2 formation led to a disappointing 1-1 draw in last night's friendly match against the Republic of Ireland. Frank Lampard equalised after Ireland's Shane Long scored first at Wembley.

England 'back in the dark ages': Lineker hits out after 1-1 flop

10. HOT TICKET: CALL OF JUAREZ RETURNS

The latest in the 'Call of Juarez' video game series, the western-themed 'Gunslinger', has been released in the UK. Set in the Wild West, it features a series of gun duels between a bounty hunter and legendary outlaws including Butch Cassidy and Billy the Kid. "Criminally fun," says IGN.

Call of Juarez game back with 'criminally fun' Gunslinger