Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Monday 3 Mar 2014

1. BEST PICTURE OSCAR FOR 12 YEARS A SLAVE

12 Years A Slave last night won three Oscars and became the first film by a black director, Brit Steve McQueen, to win best picture. Gravity won seven including best director for Alfonso Cuaron. Best actor was Matthew McConaughey for Dallas Buyers Club, best actress Cate Blanchett for Blue Jasmine.

Oscars: 12 Years A Slave best picture, but Gravity pulls in most gongs

2. RUSSIA ISSUES CRIMEA 'DEADLINE'

The other seven nations of the G8 have condemned their partner, Russia, for its military incursion into Ukraine - and have suspended preparations for a summit in Sochi in June. Russia is now in de facto control of Crimea, and it has been claimed that it has given Ukrainian forces in Crimea until 3am GMT to surrender or face an assault.

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Ukraine rekindles Nato aspirations, angering Russia

3. GATES RECLAIMS RICHEST MAN TITLE

Bill Gates has reclaimed the title of world's richest man, according to Forbes magazine, which says he is now worth $76bn. The Microsoft founder overtook Mexican Carlos Slim Helu after a jump in the value of his company. Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg was the "biggest gainer" as his fortune almost doubled to $28.5bn.

Who is the richest person in the world?

4. TWO TOGETHER RAIL-CARD GOES ON SALE

The first new national railcard launched for 30 years goes on sale today. The Two Together card can be used by couple or friends - any two people who travel regularly together - to save a third on off-peak train fares. The paired cards each have two photographs on them to ensure only the named people can use them.

5. MEGAN ROBERTS: POLICE FIND BODY

Police in Yorkshire have confirmed that a woman’s body found in the river Ouse, which flows through York, is that of missing student Megan Roberts. It was found five miles south of the city where Roberts went missing after a night out with friends almost six weeks ago. A member of the public spotted the body near Acaster Malbis.

6. PISTORIUS TRIAL TOLD OF SCREAMS

The murder trial of Paralympian Oscar Pistorius is under way in South Africa. One of the athlete's neighbours told the court in Pretoria how she heard "bloodcurdling" screams and a number of gunshots on the night that Pistorius's girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp was shot dead. Pistorius denies murder, and claims he mistook Steenkamp for an intruder.

Oscar Pistorius out of legal options as request to appeal rejected

7. MEMORIAL SERVICE FOR NELSON MANDELA

Nearly 2,000 people took part in a memorial service at Westminster Abbey to celebrate the life of Nelson Mandela, who died in December. Among those who attended were Prince Harry, the leaders of the three main political parties, Archbishop Desmond Tutu and actor Idris Elba. Jacob Zuma did not attend as he was at the wedding of Robert Mugabe's daughter in Zimbabwe.

8. SUSANNAH REID QUITS BBC FOR ITV

BBC Breakfast presenter Susannah Reid has quit the corporation to join rival ITV's new morning show, which launches later this year. She will present Good Morning Britain, along with Ben Shephard, Charlotte Hawkins and Sean Fletcher, after ITV announced it was cancelling its current breakfast show, Daybreak.

9. DEGENERES BREAKS TWITTER RECORD

Twitter was disrupted for twenty minutes after TV host Ellen DeGeneres sent out a selfie in a successful attempt to break the record for re-tweets on a picture. The photo, taken at the Oscars ceremony by Bradley Cooper and showing celebrities including Brad Pitt and Meryl Streep, was forwarded two million times.

10. HOT TICKET: THE FULL MONTY ON STAGE

A stage adaptation of the hit 1990s British film The Full Monty has opened at the Noel Coward Theatre, West End. Six unemployed Sheffield steelworkers turn to stripping as a way to make money. "Wonderfully entertaining," says the Daily Telegraph. Until 14 June.

The Full Monty - reviews of 'feel-good' stage adaptation