Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Saturday 13 Apr 2013

1. SYRIAN CHEMICAL EVIDENCE EMERGES

Forensic evidence of the use of chemical weapons in Syria has emerged for the first time, reports The Times. Analysis of soil samples, smuggled out of the country in a secret British operation, has shown “some kind of chemical weapon” has been used. The White House warned las year that any use of chemical weapons in Syria would be a “red-line” issue.

2. THATCHER CHOSE PATRIOTIC SERVICE

Baroness Thatcher's funeral will feature the hymn I Vow to Thee, My Country, a reading from the Gospels by David Cameron and readings from the Book of Common Prayer, including the burial prayer. Other hymns to be sung during the service will include To Be a Pilgrim and Love Divine, All Loves Excelling. Every detail of the service was planned by Thatcher herself.

3. SPRING AT LAST FOR THE UK

Temperatures are set to reach 20c in some parts of Britain this weekend as spring finally arrives. Supermarkets expect a 70% rise in demand for ice cream and a 60% rise in sales of sausages and other barbecue foods. However, the Met Office tells the Daily Telegraph there is “no indication” that the warm weather will be sustained in the weeks ahead.

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4. MUSHARRAF 'ALLOWED DRONE STRIKES'

Pakistan's former president Pervez Musharraf has admitted giving permission for the CIA to launch drone attacks inside his country, contradicting repeated denials from the Pakistani government. Musharraf told CNN he cleared such strikes “maybe two or three times”. He said in each case the target “was absolutely isolated and [there was] no chance of collateral damage".

5. UKIP PREDICTS MAY POLL ROMP

UKIP leader Nigel Farage has predicted his party will “establish a bridgehead” in county councils across England and Wales in May's local elections. Farage said the "three so-called main parties" were led by "out of touch bunch of college kids" who had "never done a day's work in their lives". UKIP is fielding a record 1,734 candidates, just 22 fewer than the Lib Dems.

6. WIDER PLANE SEATS FOR THE FAT

Airbus planes are to offer extra-wide seats to cater for fatter passengers. Aisle seats will be increased by two inches for so-called 'McPassengers'. However, this increase will come at a cost for those in the centre and window seats, each of which will lose an inch in width. A survey last year revealed 80% of UK passengers opposed losing space to accommodate overweight travellers.

7. KERRY PRESSES BEIJING ON N KOREA

US secretary of state John Kerry is increasing pressure on China to rein in North Korea. Kerry says the policy of denuclearisation shared by the US and China has to have "teeth". He added: "I think it's clear to everybody in the world that no country in the world has as close a relationship or as significant an impact on [North Korea] than China."

8. BBC ACCUSED OF DING DONG “FUDGE”

The BBC has been accused of a “fudge” over its decision not to play in full on its chart show the song at the centre of an anti-Baroness Thatcher campaign. In what the corporation describes as a “compromise”, a five-second clip of Ding Dong! The Witch is Dead will be played on Sunday's show. Philip Davies MP described the decision as a “typical BBC fudge”.

9. HATTERSLEY JOINS 'SILVER SPLITTERS'

Lord Hattersley has become the latest 'silver splitter' after divorcing his wife at the age of 80. The former Labour deputy leader was granted a 'quickie' separation from his wife of nearly 60 years, Edith Mary. Figures published in December revealed that 9,439 men aged 60 and over got divorced in 2011, a 43% rise within a decade.

10. GUNNERS CAN ECLIPSE SPURS

Arsenal can replace local rivals Tottenham in the top four of the Premier League today by beating Norwich City at Emirates today. Meanwhile, Chelsea are expected to leave out John Terry and Frank Lampard for the FA Cup semi-final against Manchester City on Sunday. Millwall play Wigan in the other semi, at 5.15 today.