Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Wednesday 8 Jan 2014

1. FOUR DEAD AS US HELICOPTER CRASHES

Four American service personnel were killed in Norfolk last night when their Pave Hawk helicopter crashed in a nature reserve. The aircraft came down near Cley Next The Sea at around 7pm during a training exercise. It was carrying live munitions and the area is cordoned off while police investigate them.

Helicopter crash: four US Air Force crew killed in Norfolk

2. SLAVERY FILMS WINS BAFTA NOMINATIONS

The nominations for the Bafta awards - Britain’s answer to the Oscars - have been announced this morning. Steve McQueen’s examination of US slavery, 12 Years A Slave, is dominating the field with nods in five heavyweight categories including best film and best director. Gravity and American Hustle are also up for best film.

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Bafta nominations 2014: Gravity leads race, but Mandela overlooked

3. COALITION ‘DANCED TO TUNE OF DRINKS FIRMS’

The government has been accused of “deplorable practices” and “dancing to the tune of the drinks industry” by a group of 22 health experts after an investigation by the BMJ found the department of health held regular meetings with the drinks industry before a U-turn saw a plan to introduce minimum prices dropped.

4. MORE FLOODS ON THE WAY AS RAIN FORECAST

The Met Office has warned that swollen rivers and already saturated ground will not cope with the heavy rain forecast for the next two days, causing further flooding in Wales, Cornwall, Devon and Somerset. Between 30 to 40 millimetres of rain is expected in places, prompting the Met to issue a severe weather warning.

UK floods: ministers to quiz insurers over claims

5. RECORD COLD TEMPS FOR US AND CANADA

Temperatures fell even lower yesterday as the big freeze affecting much of the US and Canada continued. The lowest temperature was recorded in Embarrass, Minnesota: -37C (-35F), colder than parts of Mars. New records for cold were set in nine US states. Rail passengers were marooned and 2,700 flights cancelled.

US weather: 'polar vortex' brings big freeze – in pictures

6. DUGGAN 'LAWFULLY KILLED' SAYS JURY

A jury at the inquest of Mark Duggan, whose death sparked riots across England in 2011, has concluded that he was lawfully killed by police, even though he did not have a gun when he was shot. The jury voted eight to two that he had been lawfully killed. There were angry scenes in and outside the court after the decision.

Mark Duggan: jury says killing by police was 'lawful'

7. EX-MISS VENEZUELA AND UK HUSBAND SHOT

Former Miss Venezuela Monica Spear, who was 29, and her British husband Thomas Berry, 39, have been shot dead in their car in Venezuela. Their five-year-old daughter Maya was also shot in the leg and is in hospital in a stable condition. Police believe the couple were the victims of a bungled attempted robbery.

8. LABOUR MP PAUL GOGGINS DIES

Labour MP Paul Goggins has died aged 60, just over a week after he collapsed while out running. The former Northern Ireland and Home Office minister had been in Parliament since 1997. Goggins, MP for Wythenshawe and Sale East, Greater Manchester, was out with his son when he fell ill.

9. ENGLAND CRICKETERS SAVE BRIDGE JUMP MAN

England cricketers Matt Prior and Stuart Broad have been credited with saving a suicidal British man after talking him down from a bridge in Sydney as he prepared to jump. The pair, plus a member of backroom staff, stopped the man from leaping and spent an hour talking to him until police arrived. He did not recognise the players.

Ashes stars Prior and Broad save man from bridge plunge

10. HOT TICKET: OLD VIC'S FORTUNE'S FOOL

Ivan Turgenev's rarely seen black comedy, Fortune's Fool, is playing at the Old Vic, London. Game of Thrones star Iain Glen plays a dissolute gentleman squatting in a country estate who has a surprise for the newlywed owners. "A little masterpiece," says The Observer. Until 22 February.

Old Vic's 'little masterpiece' Fortune's Fool - reviews