10 things you need to know this Monday

Never read the Sunday papers? Slept through the Today programme? Forgot to tape the X Factor? Not sure whether Gordon Brown is still prime minister? The First Post's Monday morning service, posted at 8.0 am, is designed to help... 

BERLIN ANNIVERSARYToday is the 20th anniversary of the first breaching of the Berlin Wall, when thousands of East Germans flooded across the Bornholmer Bridge. German Chancellor Angela Merkel will be joined by the former Russian President Mikhail Gorbachev and the Polish Solidarity leader Lech Walesa for a pilgrimage to the site. Later, Gordon Brown, Hillary Clinton and other world leaders will join Merkel to walk through the Brandenburg Gate. Daniel Barenboim will lead the orchestral accompaniment.

FORT HOOD AFTERMATH
Major Nidal Malik Hasan, who killed 13 people at the Fort Hood military base in a shooting spree last Thursday, remains in intensive care after being shot four times. The policewoman who took him down, Sgt Kimberley Munley, lost half her body's blood when he shot her, but is now in a stable condition. Her first words on regaining consciousness were: "Did anybody die?" More...Cocaine risk
Cocaine users who also drink alcohol for a more intense high are risking major health problems, according to the treatment charity Addaction. The combination of alcolol and cocaine produces cocaethylene which is highly toxic and may be to blame for a rise in cardiac-related illnesses among 30 and 40-year-olds.

us healthcare bill passed
President Barack Obama's landmark healthcare legislation has been narrowly voted through by the US House of Representatives, 220 to 215, following a compromise amendment which would stop federal subsidies being used for abortions. In a statement, Obama said he was "absolutely confident" that the Senate would pass its version of the legislation. "I look forward to signing it into law by the end of the year," he said.

tobin tax row
Gordon Brown's proposal for a worldwide tax on financial transactions - known as the Tobin tax after US economist James Tobin - has been rejected by the US, Canada and the International Monetary Fund. "That's not something that we're prepared to support," said Timothy Geithner, the US Treasury Secretary, within hours of Brown making the suggestion at a G20 finance ministers' meeting. More...terry BLOW
Ted Terry, father of the England and Chelsea football captain John Terry, has been exposed by the News of the World for selling cocaine. Handing over three grams of cocaine to an undercover reporter in the lavatories at an Essex wine bar, Terry Snr said: "The stuff's all right. I get off on it." Terry Jnr was unavailable for comment but did not let the story stop him scoring the only goal in Chelsea's 1-0 victory over Man Utd at Stamford Bridge on Sunday. More...REMEMBRANCE SUNDAY
The laying of wreaths by the Queen, the Prime Minister and others at the Cenotaph yesterday was overshadowed by another death of a British soldier on duty in Afghanistan, bringing the death toll to 232 since the campaign began in 2001. A ComRes poll suggests 64 per cent of British people think the war is "unwinnable". Air Chief Marshal Sir Jock Stirrup, the chief of defence staff, said on the Andrew Marr Show: "I do think it is incredibly important that we do better at describing to people the success that we are having, to demonstrate that over the long term that this is doable."

UNMERRY CHRISTMAS
Many British companies are cancelling their normal Christmas parties because of the economic situation. Concerto, a London events company, told the Financial Times on Saturday that one in five of its regular customers have cancelled orgainised parties in favour of a few beers at the pub. Around half of Concerto's clients had yet to commit to a formal Christmas party.

LOTTERY RECORD
The two anonymous winning ticket-holders in Friday night's Euromillions draw have finally come forward to claim their £45.5m winnings. No details will be available until after their tickets have been validated, according to Camelot. The Sunday Times Rich List compiler Philip Beresford advised the winners to stay anonymous, get themselves sacked from their jobs and go to live in Monaco where they'll feel right at home.

cowell shocker
John and Edward Grimes - the terrible twins dubbed Jedward - have survived another weekend of the X Factor after their nemesis Simon Cowell came to their rescue by calling for a sing-off between the boys and Lucie Jones. "Who would I like to see again? I would probably prefer to see the boys again," he said to the surprise of his fellow judges. The public duly booted Jones off and kept the twins. whose popularity Cowell had described as "unfortunate" a fortnight ago. ·