Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Wednesday 1 Oct 2014

1. GROSS: MURDER CASE AFTER BODY FOUND

The disappearance of 14-year-old Alice Gross, last seen on the Grand Union Canal near Hanwell in August, is now being treated as a murder inquiry after a body was found in a west London river last night. Police say considerable effort had been taken to hide it. Builder Arnis Zalkalns remains primes suspect.

Alice Gross: why did police not know about killer’s past?

2. HK PROTESTS TARGET NATIONAL DAY

Thousands of protesters who want the right to democratically elect the next chief executive of Hong Kong, rather than have him chosen by Beijing, are taking to the streets again today, the National Day holiday. Organisers say they expect the biggest turn out yet, paralysing central business districts.

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Hong Kong: police adopt tough tactics as protests escalate

3. MAJOR TORY DONOR SWITCHES TO UKIP

A Euro-sceptic multi-millionaire who has previously made major donations to Tory party coffers, Arron Banks, has switched his allegiance to Ukip. On the same day as David Cameron’s conference speech, the insurance broker will present a cheque for £100,000 to the anti-EU party’s leader, Nigel Farage.

Ukip theatricals: the Tory nightmare has barely begun

4. CAMERON: TAX CUTS BUT NHS PROTECTED

Conservative leader David Cameron has pledged to cut taxes for 30 million people if the Tories win next year's election. He pledged to raise the tax-free allowance from £10,500 to £12,500 and increase the threshold for 40% tax to £50,000 by 2020. Cameron, who earned a standing ovation, also promised to protect the NHS budget for the next parliament.

Tory 'tax bribe' launches election - but can UK afford it?

5. KARADZIC DENIES ORDERING MASSACRE

Radovan Karadzic, who is being tried for genocide at The Hague, has said he takes "moral responsibility" for crimes committed by Bosnian Serbs during the Balkan conflict that followed the collapse of Yugoslavia, but denied ordering killings, including the Srebrenica massacre. Karadzic is accused of endorsing "ethnic cleansing" against Bosnian Muslims.

6. FIRST CASE OF EBOLA DIAGNOSED IN U.S

A man has been diagnosed with ebola in Texas, the first case of the virus to be diagnosed in the US. The patient contracted the disease in Liberia. He is now in isolation in hospital. He is not a healthcare worker, said Dr Thomas Friedan of the Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital.

7. AFGHAN TROOPS DIE IN KABUL SUICIDE BOMB

A suicide bomber in Kabul has killed at least seven Afghan soldiers, with many more injured. The Taleban claimed responsibility for the attack, on a troop bus, and another which resulted in two soldiers being injured at around the same time elsewhere in the city. Yesterday, the US pledged troops would stay until 2014.

8. MOD NAVY DEALS SECURE 7,500 JOBS

The MoD has awarded £3.2bn of contracts to firms supporting staff at navy bases in Faslane, Devonport and Portsmouth, which it says will secure 7,500 jobs. Defence secretary Michael Fallon said the investment was the “second biggest” made by his government. The money will also keep the fleet in repair.

9. RACISM WARNING FOR TOM AND JERRY

Users of Amazon Prime’s video streaming service now receive a written warning before watching Tom and Jerry cartoons, made 70 years ago, saying they depict scenes of “racial prejudice”. It adds such views were “once commonplace” in American society and “were wrong then and are wrong today”.

10. HOT TICKET: ROYAL BALLET'S MANON

A revival of Kenneth MacMillan's ballet Manon has opened at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden. It follows the downfall of a young Parisian courtesan torn between a rich man and a poor lover, with a Massenet score. "Sizzling," says The Times. Until 1 November.

Manon – reviews of 'sizzling' Royal Ballet revival