Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Saturday 8 Nov 2014

1. OSBORNE ‘SPIN’ OVER EU BUDGET ‘VICTORY’

George Osborne has been accused of misleading the public over his claim that he has halved the UK’s £1.7bn EU budget surcharge. Labour says the chancellor’s claim that he has achieved a reduction “far beyond what anyone expected us to achieve” is “smoke and mirrors”. EU officials and UKIP have also rounded on Osborne, accusing him of spin.

2. VIRGIN GALACTIC CUSTOMERS WOBBLING

Some Virgin Galactic customers are asking for refunds following the crash which killed a co-pilot during testing, reports the Daily Telegraph. It is the first time that any of the 800 would-be space tourists have pulled out, despite 10 years of delays. Galactic boss George Whitesides says it is “unsurprising” that some passengers are now cautious about the project.

3. IRAQ: US DOUBLES NUMBER OF TROOPS

Barack Obama has doubled US troop levels in Iraq for the war against Islamic State militants, reports The Guardian. The move will further contradict his pledge against “boots on the ground”. The US president ordered an additional 1,500 troops to Iraq yesterday to boost the performance of Iraqi and Kurdish forces fighting Isis in ground combat.

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4. GANGS ADMIT MEXICAN STUDENT MURDERS

Mexican gang members have confessed to killing more than 40 students missing for six weeks, reports the BBC. The Mexican Attorney General Jesus Murillo says the students were murdered at a landfill site before being burned beyond recognition and dumped in a river. "They didn't just burn the bodies with their clothes, they also burned the clothes of those who participated,” he said.

5. GREENS IN, CHEESE ON TOAST OUT

Sales of green vegetables are soaring in Britain, reports The Guardian. Sales of the trendy ‘superfood’ curly kale have risen by 54% over the last 12 months. Peas, Brussels sprouts and asparagus are also soaring in popularity. However, the Daily Mail reveals that cheese on toast is in decline: just 60% of us now eat it, down from 67% two years ago.

6. NO DRUGS IN ROBIN WILLIAMS' SYSTEM

Robin Williams had no alcohol or illegal narcotics in his system when he committed suicide three months ago, a post-mortem has found. The Marin County sheriff's office ruled that the death resulted from asphyxia by hanging. Williams' wife Susan Schneider says her husband had been suffering from depression and the early stages of Parkinson's disease.

7. ALLEGED POPPY TERROR PLOT SMASHED

A plot to launch a terror attack on Remembrance Sunday ceremonies has been smashed in a series of raids by counter-terrorism police. Police raided properties across west London and High Wycombe, acting on intelligence from MI5. Four men were arrested. The alleged plot is believed to have been inspired by Islamic State militants in Syria and Iraq.

8. HORSE IN EMOTIONAL FAREWELL TO OWNER

A horse was brought to a hospital to say goodbye to its dying elderly owner. Sheila Marsh, a 77-year-old grandmother-of-four, was granted a final wish of seeing her favourite horse one last time. She passed away from cancer just hours after the horse, named Bronwen, was brought to see her in the car park at Wigan Royal Infirmary.

9. BERLIN WALL ANNIVERSARY PARTIES

Millions of revellers are poised to celebrate on the streets of Berlin this weekend to mark the 25th anniversary of the fall of the wall. The weekend of partying will include concerts, debates, firework displays and exhibitions. More than two million people are expected to attend at ‘citizen’s festival’ at Brandenburg Gate, the symbol of German unity.

10. GERRARD BACK AS POOL FACE BLUES

Steven Gerrard is set to return to the starting line-up as Liverpool host leaders Chelsea in the lunchtime kick-off. Second-placed Southampton will be ready to pounce on any Chelsea slip-up when they host Leicester later. Sergio Aguero says Manchester City will improve after a weak start to the campaign. His side travel to QPR for the tea-time clash.