Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Friday 5 Apr 2013

1. PM BACKS OSBORNE ON PHILPOTT

David Cameron has "strongly endorsed" controversial comments by George Osborne in which the chancellor questioned whether Britain's so-called 'benefits culture' supported the lifestyle of jailed child killer Mick Philpott. "We want to make clear welfare is not a lifestyle choice," the PM said.

Cameron supports chancellor over Philpott remark

2. UN WARNING ON N KOREA NUKES

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has told North Korea to change course, saying it has "gone too far" in its rhetoric and that an "unwanted crisis" on the Korean peninsula would have "very serious implications". The warning came after South Korea's foreign minister said the North had placed two missiles with "considerable range" on its east coast.

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UN issues warning as North Korea readies two missiles

3. CALL FOR CITY BAN ON HBOS BOSSES

The Banking Standards Commission last night asked the Financial Services Authority (FSA) to consider bans on three top HBOS bankers from future roles in the City. It blamed former bosses Sir James Crosby and Andy Hornby, and criticised Lord Stevenson, for the collapse of HBOS in 2008 through "colossal failure" of management.

HBOS collapse: former bosses face call for life-time City ban

4. DANGEROUS DOGS 'BRED FOR CRIME'

Gang members are breeding dangerous dogs to act as "minders" and "heavies" as they carry out crimes including drug deals and debt collection, and to bolster "tough images", research from the Middlesex University London suggests. They use mastiffs, pit bulls and other aggressive dogs as a "commodity" for making money.

5. FACEBOOK'S 'HOME' PHONE SOFTWARE

A new app from Facebook has been described as "the soul of your phone" by the social network's founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg. The Android app allows users to prominently display their Facebook newsfeed and messages on their home screen and gives users access to Facebook-owned photo app Instagram.

What is Facebook Home? The new Android app explained

6. DEAL SAVES HMV FROM CLOSURE

Embattled music chain HMV has been bought by restructuring firm Hilco in a deal thought to be worth £50m. Hilco, which acquired 141 HMV stores including 25 marked for closure, bought the music chain's debt after it went into administration in January. The deal will safeguard around 2,500 jobs at the 92-year-old retailer.

HMV saved from closure by £50m rescue deal with Hilco

7. BLAIR: I COULD HAVE WON IN 2010

Tony Blair says he would have given David Cameron “a run for his money” at the 2010 general election that resulted in a hung parliament. Commentators say the statement underlines the former PM’s belief that he stood more chance of victory than his successor Gordon Brown and suggests there is still “bitter rivalry” between them.

Tony Blair: I would have given Cameron a 'run for his money'

8. 'BOND GIRL' QUEEN GETS BAFTA AWARD

The Queen, declared the "most memorable Bond girl yet" for her Olympic opening cameo, was awarded an honorary BAFTA for lifelong support of the British film and television industry at a star-studded gala at Windsor Castle last night. Sir Kenneth Branagh presented the award. The Duke of Edinburgh joined her as host and guests included Star Wars director George Lucas.

9. FILM CRITIC ROGER EBERT DIES

Hollywood actors and directors have paid tribute to the celebrated US film critic Roger Ebert who has died aged 70 after a long battle with cancer. The death of Ebert, who won the Pulitzer Prize, was described as "an incalculable loss" by director Martin Scorsese, who is producing a documentary about the critic.

Why Roger Ebert was 'America's most powerful critic'

10. HOT TICKET: TWISTED COLLEGE CAPER SPRING BREAKERS

American college crime caper 'Spring Breakers' opens in UK cinemas today. Vanessa Hudgens and Selena Gomez star as college girls who rob a fast food restaurant in order to pay for their spring break before teaming up with a gangster rapper (James Franco). “Bizarrely engrossing”, says The Guardian.

Hudgens, Gomez and Franco get nasty in Spring Breakers