Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Thursday 28 Feb 2013

1. BRUSSELS AGREES BANKER BONUS CAP

Brussels has proposed strict new curbs on bankers' bonuses, limiting them to a year's salary. Britain is against the bonus cap, fearing it will drive the best talent from the City of London. But many EU countries believe it will address taxpayer anger at bankers' greed – and a majority vote will see it become European law.

EU banker bonus cap leaves the City of London in the cold

2. 'VERY SERIOUS' CLAIM BY RENNARD ACCUSER

Former Lib Dem activist Alison Smith is to meet police to discuss what she claims is "a very, very serious" incident involving Lord Rennard. "People have been talking about hands on the knee, and things like that. It was very much more serious than that," she told the BBC. Smith is now a lecturer at Oxford University.

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Rennard went beyond 'a hand on the knee' says accuser

3. TORIES FACE THIRD PLACE HUMILIATION

Senior Conservatives conceded last night that they could be relegated to third place in today's Eastleigh by-election. The Lib Dems look set to keep the seat vacated by Chris Huhne, facing jail for perverting the course of justice, while UKIP could come second despite David Cameron's pledge to hold a referendum on EU membership.

David Cameron 'crisis' if Tories lose in Eastleigh - David Davis

4. GREAT TRAIN ROBBER REYNOLDS DIES AT 81

Bruce Reynolds, the mastermind behind the 1963 Great Train Robbery, has died aged 81. The gang's haul was £2.6m – nearly £40m in today's money. Like Ronnie Biggs, Reynolds escaped abroad - but he was recaptured on his return to England in 1968. The detective who arrested him greeted him with the words: "Hello, Bruce, it's been a long time." He spent 10 years in jail.

Bruce Reynolds, Great Train Robbery's kingpin, dies at 81

5. CLIMBER DIES DURING RAF RESCUE

A police investigation has been launched into the death of a climber who died on Ben Nevis after the safety rope being used to winch him onto an RAF rescue helicopter was apparently cut by mistake. Mark Phillips survived a 50m fall on the Scottish mountain's north face on Monday, but a witness says he fell again as he was being winched into the helicopter.

Climber plunges to death after helicopter rescue 'rope cut'

6. ITALY: GRILLO RULES OUT DEAL WITH LEFT

Beppe Grillo, the comedian whose Five Star Movement upended Italian politics with an unexpected triumph at the polls, yesterday refused to make a coalition deal with the centre-left leader Pier Luigi Bersani, calling him a "dead man talking". Grillo was criticised by some of his own followers for squandering an opportunity.

Beppe Grillo is not a clown - and he's turned politics upside down

7. BENITEZ OUTBURST AT ROMAN ABRAMOVICH

There is speculation today that Chelsea manager Rafa Benitez will not survive until the end of the season after he used a post-match interview to attack club owner Roman Abramovich. "Chelsea gave me the title of interim manager, which is a massive mistake," he said. "I'm the manager… Why put interim in the title?"

Rafa Benitez lets rip at hostile fans and Chelsea boardroom

8. ROLLING STONES WIN TWO NME AWARDS

The Rolling Stones beat younger bands to two top prizes at yesterday's NME Awards - best live band and best film for 'Crossfire Hurricane' - more than 50 years after they first featured in the magazine. Rock trio Biffy Clyro were named best British band, and The Killers best international band. Johnny Marr took the "godlike genius" award.

Rolling Stones and Florence Welch dominate NME Awards

9. NEW BADGER CULLS APPROVED BY GOVT

Environment Secretary Owen Paterson told farmers yesterday that 'pilot' badger culls have been approved in Gloucestershire and West Somerset after final licence conditions were met. This time, the badgers will be shot in the open rather than trapped. The RSPCA and thousands of protestors have opposed the culls.

Badger cull: public won't stand for this tragedy says Brian May

10. HOT TICKET: BARBER OF SEVILLE IS BACK

The English National Opera's revival of Jonathan Miller's English-language 'Barber of Seville' has opened at the Coliseum. In Rossini's comedy, a count attempts to win the heart of a beautiful woman with love alone by disguising himself as a poor student. "Genuinely funny," says the Evening Standard. Runs until 17 March.

ENO's Barber of Seville in English is 'genuinely funny'