Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Monday 14 Jan 2013

1. LEGALISE 'LOW HARM' DRUGS SAY PEERS

Cannabis, Ecstasy and other 'low-harm' drugs should be licensed for sale in chemists to lure young people off alcohol and dangerous legal highs, an all-party group of nine peers reports today. A new 'class D' category would allow the drugs to be sold legally like alcohol and tobacco, subject to rules on content, labeling and age.

2. BEN AFFLECK IS STAR OF GOLDEN GLOBES

Daniel Day-Lewis led the British triumphs at the Golden Globe awards in Hollywood last night, collecting best actor for his role as Lincoln. Adele won for the theme song for Skyfall, Dame Maggie Smith best TV supporting actress for Downton Abbey, and Damian Lewis best TV actor for Homeland. But it was Ben Affleck's night, with best director and best film for Argo.

Jodie Foster's 'coming out' speech steals Golden Globes

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3. SNOW FALLS OVER MOST OF BRITAIN

Snow fell across the UK today and four to six inches are expected by the end of the day, the Met Office warned. Airports including Heathrow and Gatwick said they were operating normally, but there was some disruption of rail services between East Anglia and London and motorists in Scotland experienced some disruption. The icy conditions will continue for the rest of the week.

Snow and ice arrive as Britain braces for big freeze

4. MALI: FRANCE CLAIMS INSTANT SUCCESS

France's foreign minister Laurent Fabius said yesterday that the advance by radical Islamists in Mali had been halted by air strikes as French warplanes destroyed rebel bases in Gao and helped Mali government forces recapture the central town of Konna. "Stopping the terrorists, that's done," Fabius told French radio RTL.

5. FLAT-RATE PENSION PLAN UNVEILED

The government has outlined its plans for a "simple" flat-rate state pension to be paid to new pensioners from April 2017 at the earliest. Instead of a basic pension of £107 plus various mean-tested top-up payments, recipients will get a weekly payment of £144 in today's money. But research suggests that those born after 1970 could be worse off, says the BBC.

6. JAGUAR LAND ROVER ADDS 800 JOBS

Jaguar Land Rover announced yesterday that it would add 800 production jobs at its plant in Solihull, which already employs 6,000 producing the Land Rover Discovery and Defender models. The Indian conglomerate Tata, which owns Jaguar Land Rover, said the expansion was to meet rising demand in Russia, China and the US.

Chinese boom enables Jaguar Land Rover to add 800 UK jobs

7. FRENCH PROTEST AT GAY MARRIAGE

As many as 800,000 protesters took to the streets of Paris yesterday over the Hollande government plans to give gay couples in France the right to marry and adopt children. Civil unions are legal in France, but protesters, who were bussed into the capital from around the country, claim that gay marriage would "undermine society".

Gay marriage protest shows France plagued by self-doubt

8. APRIL JONES: 'BRIDGER PROBABLY RESPONSIBLE'

Mark Bridger, the man accused of the abduction and murder of Welsh schoolgirl April Jones last year, was "probably responsible for her death" according to his barrister. But the 47-year old former lifeguard pleaded not guilty to charges of murder and abduction in a Welsh court today and said he had not perverted the cause of justice by unlawfully disposing of and hiding a body. Bridger will go on trial next month.

Bridger 'probably responsible for death of April Jones'

9. MIDDLETON'S BABY IS DUE IN JULY

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge's first child will be born in July it has been confirmed, which means Kate Middleton is about 13-14 weeks pregnant. The palace put paid to rumours, the 31-year-old was expecting twins and said she was feeling better after her recent stay in hospital with severe morning sickness. "The Duchess's condition continues to improve since her stay in hospital last month," a spokesman said.

10. HOT TICKET: ANARCHY REIGNS SUPREME

Online action combat video game 'Anarchy Reigns' has been released in the UK. Players control a variety of oddball characters in a series of melee battles against gangs and mutants in an eerie post-apocalyptic world. An "action gem" full of wacky characters and even wackier moves, says PC Mag.

Anarchy Reigns: a 'superbly orchestrated' combat game