Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Wednesday 4 Dec 2013

1. ONSHORE WIND SUBSIDIES TO BE CUT

The government is to announce major changes to the way it subsidises wind and solar energy. The guaranteed price paid to producers of solar and onshore wind energy will be cut from 2015 onwards but offshore wind generation subsidies will rise. Labour said that “chopping and changing” the prices was bad for business.

Plans unveiled for world's first tidal-power lagoons in the UK

2. GOVERNMENT SELLS ITS STAKE IN EUROSTAR

The government’s 40 per cent stake in Euorstar is up for sale as part of the £375bn infrastructure spending plan for the next two decades, unveiled today. The train is just part of £20bn of privatisations in the plan, coming only weeks after criticism of the coalition for allegedly undervaluing the Royal Mail at privatisation.

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Billions for road, rail and Tube as Eurostar stake put up for sale

3. SOLDIER ARRESTED UNDER TERROR ACT

A 19-year-old British Army soldier has been arrested in Germany and brought back to the UK for questioning by Greater Manchester Police under the terrorism act. The arrest follows the discovery last week of a nail bomb at a house in Salford. A 20-year-old was arrested there on suspicion of possessing abusive images.

4. RIGBY ACCUSED: 'NO JOY' IN KILLING

One of the men accused of killing Fusilier Lee Rigby told police it gave him "little joy to approach anybody and slay them", the Old Bailey has heard. In a taped police interview played at the court today Michael Adebolajo, 28 said he was not a man “who enjoys watching horror movies”. He added: “That is not my character”.

5. SOCIAL MEDIA USERS WARNED ON CONTEMPT

The Attorney General, Dominic Grieve, is to publish advice - via Twitter - to help social media users avoid being found in contempt of court by commenting inappropriately on court cases. Days ago, Peaches Geldof got into hot water when she published the names of two women involved in a child abuse case.

Facebook and Twitter users to be given legal warnings

6. NIGELLA LAWSON ADMITS TAKING COCAINE

Nigella Lawson has told a court in London that she has taken cocaine seven times and smoked cannabis in the past. But the celebrity cook said the idea she was a "habitual user" or an addict was "ridiculous". She added that she had been "put on trial" over allegations she used drugs daily during her ten-year marriage to ex-husband Charles Saatchi.

Nigella Lawson returns, but where is the sauce?

7. UK FIRM: PULSE WEAPON STOPS CARS

A British firm, E2V, has demonstrated a prototype device which can stop an approaching vehicle’s engine remotely, using a blast of electromagnetic waves to confuse electronic systems within the car. The firm says the primary use will be military - at check points, cars which refuse to stop could be halted.

8. PLEBGATE COP SUES ANDREW MITCHELL

PC Toby Rowland, the police officer at centre of the "Plebgate" row, is going to launch a libel action against Andrew Mitchell, the former Tory chief whip, the Police Federation says. Mitchell told a press conference Rowland had "lied" in his account of the clash at the gates of Downing Street.

9. POPE FRANCIS: I USED TO BE A BOUNCER

The Pope has revealed he was once a nightclub bouncer in Buenos Aires. The 77-year-old was visiting a suburban Roman church when he spoke of his life on the doors. He did not go into details but revealed other jobs he had held included sweeping floors and working as a laboratory assistant when he was a teenager.

10. HOT TICKET: JACK AND THE BEANSTALK PANTO

A new Christmas pantomime production of Jack and the Beanstalk has opened at the Lyric, Hammersmith. In Tom Wells's retelling of the classic fairy tale, a girl called Jack takes on a library and hospital stealing snot giant. "The one to beat this season," says The Times. Until 4 January.

'Lively' Christmas panto Jack and the Beanstalk – reviews