Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Thursday 30 Apr 2015

1. NEPAL: FRUSTRATION OVER LACK OF RELIEF

Frustration is growing among ordinary Nepalis at the authorities’ response to last weekend’s disastrous earthquake. Aid has now started getting through to some remote villages, but others are still cut off and badly in need of assistance. Meanwhile, two survivors have been pulled from the rubble in Kathmandu, five days after the quake.

2. LIB DEMS ACCUSE TORIES OF ‘SECRET CUTS’

Lib Dem chief secretary Danny Alexander has accused the Tories of “trying to con the British people” by hiding plans to cut £8bn from the welfare budget, including child benefits and child tax credits. The Tories yesterday announced they would make it illegal to put up VAT and other taxes for the next three years.

Lib Dems claim Tories trying to 'con' public over welfare cuts

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3. STATELY HOME GUTTED BY FIRE

An 18th Century stately home owned by the National Trust has been left a "shell" after a fire tore through the building. The blaze at Clandon Park House, near Guildford began in the basement yesterday afternoon, before spreading through the building and the roof. Nearby residents reported that flames were "shooting out of the building".

Clandon Park fire: salvage operation begins on Surrey mansion

4. CLAPHAM JUNCTION RAIL CHAOS

There was transport chaos in London today with commuters trapped for hours on rush-hour trains in and out of Clapham Junction, Britain's busiest train station, after services were crippled by an electrical supply problem. Emergency services had to evacuate thousands of passengers from affected trains.

5. SPACECRAFT 'FALLING TOWARDS EARTH'

An unmanned Russian spacecraft carrying supplies for the International Space Station is spinning out of control and plunging back towards Earth. The Progress 59 cargo vessel, which weighs 2.5 tonnes, is on an orbit that passes over southern England, but is likely to burn up when it re-enters the atmosphere.

6. THE SUN BACKS CAMERON... AND THE SNP

The Sun has got two hats on ahead of the general election, with the newspaper south of the border today urging its readers to vote Conservative, while the Scottish Sun has thrown its weight behind the SNP. Andrew Nicoll, political editor of the Scottish Sun, denied the move was designed to damage Labour.

Will The Sun's split verdict make any difference to the election?

7. WEIGHT WATCHERS FOUNDER DIES AT 91

The housewife whose struggle with her weight led her to invent Weight Watchers, which became a global brand, has died at the age of 91. New Yorker Jean Nidetch managed to lose 72lbs – more than five stone – after devising a system to lose weight gradually with the encouragement of a group of friends.

8. MEN NARROW LIFE EXPECTANCY GAP

Men in England and Wales are catching up with women in terms of life expectancy, new research indicates. The study, by Imperial College London, predicts that by 2030 men will live an average of 85.7 years, just two years fewer than women. In 1981, men were six years behind.

Why the life expectancy gender gap is narrowing

9. TEN JAILED FOR LIFE FOR MALALA ATTACK

Ten members of the Taliban in Pakistan have been jailed for life for the attack on schoolgirl Malala Yousafzai in 2012. Malala, then 15, was shot in the head for refusing to give up her education. She survived the attack and was last year awarded the Nodel Peace Prize for her efforts to promote children's rights.

10. BRIEFING: THE SCOT WITH ALL THE ACES

Nicola Sturgeon joined the SNP at the age of 16 and first stood for election in 1992 in the Glasgow Shettleston constituency. Now, she's arguably Britain's most popular politician, and looks set to hold the balance of power after next week's general election. Here's what makes her tick.

Nicola Sturgeon: the First Minister 'holding all the aces'