Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Friday 8 Feb 2013

1. CAMERON VICTORY AS EU CUTS BUDGET

David Cameron is set to receive a rapturous reception from Tory MPs after the EU decided to cut its budget for the first time in 56 years. After two days of talks, EU leaders agreed on a 908bn euros budget limit for 2014 to 2020 - about 3% lower than the current seven-year period. The cut is a victory for the PM and may help the government at the May by-elections

Can Cameron turn EU budget victory into by-election win?

2. FINDUS LASAGNE UP TO 100% HORSEMEAT

Findus has been selling a frozen 'beef' lasagne which turns out to be between 60% and 100% horsemeat, the Food Standards Agency reported yesterday. Findus has withdrawn the product "as a precaution". The FSA said it was "completely unacceptable", that criminal activity was suspected, and that all retailers must now test beef products.

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'Criminal trade' may be behind horsemeat scandal, says MP

3. CIA NOMINEE DEFENDS US DRONE POLICY

John Brennan, nominated by President Obama to become Director of the CIA, claimed yesterday at his Senate confirmation hearing that America launched drone attacks only as a last resort if Americans were in "imminent danger", and that it was "careful" to prevent civilian deaths. Brennan was heckled by demonstrators at the hearings.

John Brennan's Senate hearing: what we learned about CIA man

4. UK HOME OWNERSHIP FALLS TO NEW LOW

The level of home ownership has fallen to its lowest level since 1987, government figures showed last night, as would-be buyers are priced out of the market and, since the 2008 banking crisis, find it increasingly difficult to get mortgages. The figures show that 65.3% of households are home owners, down from a peak of 70.9% in 2003.

5. FIRST LADY’S MARIE ANTOINETTE JIBE

Valerie Trierweiler, the partner of French President Francois Hollande, has been accused by VSD magazine of turning into a modern-day Marie Antoinette after attending Paris haute couture shows when so many French workers face redundancy. “Mixing with the elite has always had the power to anaesthetise the conscience,” said the magazine.

Valerie Trierweiler accused of abandoning socialist roots

6. BY-ELECTION: TORIES PICK HUTCHINGS

The Conservative candidate for the Eastleigh by-election will be Maria Hutchings, who finished second behind Chris Huhne in the 2010 general election. Party chairman Grant Shapps described Hutchings as someone "people in Eastleigh can trust" following the debacle of Huhne's resignation after pleading guilty to perverting the course of justice.

Can Cameron turn EU budget victory into by-election win?

7. YORK MINSTER WON'T CLAIM RICHARD III

York Minster yesterday rejected calls for the recently discovered remains of King Richard III to be buried there, despite a petition signed by 11,000 people. Richard was the last monarch of the House of York and grew up in the Yorkshire Dales. But York Minster officials said he now belonged to Leicester "at least in death" and "commended Richard to Leicester's care".

8. HUNT FOR CALIFORNIA COP TURNED KILLER

Thousands of police in California were last night hunting a sacked Los Angeles policeman, Christopher Jordan Dorner, 33, on the run after allegedly killing at least three victims. He shot and killed one police officer yesterday, and is wanted for killing the daughter of a former police colleague and her partner at the weekend.

Christopher Dorner manhunt: police hunt 'Rambo' cop killer

9. BRITAIN BRACED FOR MORE SNOW

Snow is expected to return to Britain this weekend. The Met Office has issued a severe weather warning for most parts of the country from midnight on Saturday, but says it cannot say exactly which parts of the UK will be worst affected. Meanwhile, in the US a massive winter storm could bring two feet of snow to New York and Boston.

Britain braced for weekend of snow as winter bites back

10. HOT TICKET: RELIVE HITCHCOCK'S PSYCHO

The American bio-pic 'Hitchcock' opens in UK cinemas today. Anthony Hopkins stars as Alfred Hitchcock, the famed director who risks his personal and professional life on the controversial horror film 'Psycho'. Helen Mirren co-stars as Hitchcock's wife and Scarlett Johansson appears as 'Psycho' star Janet Leigh. "Absorbing," says the Hollywood Reporter.

Anthony Hopkins 'lives' role of Hitchcock in droll bio-pic