Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Thursday 17 Dec 2015

1. Cameron's crunch moment for EU reforms

David Cameron will tonight hold crunch talks with EU leaders over plans to reform the UK's relationship with the 28-member group. He will speak to some of them over dinner at a summit in Brussels. If a political agreement can be reached tonight, a formal deal will be struck over changes to the UK's membership in February. However, leading Europeans have sounded a note of caution.

Remain-voting City lobby group calls for 'dramatic Brexit U-turn'

2. Plans to remove veto from Lords

David Cameron is to introduce legislation clipping the wings of the House of Lords. Peers will lose their existing right to veto bills. Labour's leader in the Lords, Baroness Smith of Basildon, said the plan was "churlish" and a "massive over-reaction". In October this year, the Lords blocked the government from cutting tax credits.

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3. 'Most hated man in America' arrested by the FBI

Entrepreneur Martin Shkreli, dubbed the most hated man in America earlier this year after increasing the price of a drug used to treat Aids by 5,000%, has been arrested by the FBI on suspicion of fraud. The allegations relate to a drug company he previously headed and a hedge fund. It is claimed he illegally used the assets of one company to pay off the debts of another.

4. Lucas: Star Wars is 'coming home' to London

Star Wars creator George Lucas, who sold the franchise to Disney and was not involved in The Force Awakens, said last night that the sci-fi series was "coming home" because its European premiere was held in London. Director JJ Abrams and all the principle cast took to the red carpet in the capital's Leicester Square last night.

Star Wars: Carrie Fisher claims she had affair with Harrison Ford

5. Most cancers caused by 'external factors'

A new study suggests that environmental and external factors such as smoking, drinking and air pollution are the likely cause of most cancer cases. The study, by doctors in New York, was published in the journal Nature. It claims that only 10 to 30 per cent of cancers are down to the way the body naturally functions or to 'luck'.

Nine in ten cancers caused by lifestyle, says new study

6. Fifa bank accounts frozen in Switzerland

Fifa bank accounts containing millions of Swiss francs have been frozen by the Swiss justice ministry as part of a corruption investifation. US authorities reportedly asked Switzerland to freeze around 50 accounts in ten Swiss banks over claims "corruption money" had passed through them. Many of the officials under investigation are said to own Swiss bank accounts.

7. Putin attacks Turkey, praises Blatter and Trump

Russian president Vladimir Putin has accused Turkey of "licking the Americans in a certain place" after the shooting down of a Russian warplane last month. He made the comments at his annual news conference where he also called for Sepp Blatter to be given the Nobel Peace Prize and described US presidential hopeful Donald Trump as the "frontrunner" in the race for the White House.

8. Royal Mint produces very last round pound

The Royal Mint yesterday produced the last-ever round pound coin. A new design, made to be harder to counterfeit, is being introduced in 2017 after more than 30 years of the existing pound coin. There are thought to be 45 million forgeries in circulation. The new design is based on the old 12-sided threepenny bit.

9. Jose Mourinho sacked by Chelsea

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho has been sacked. The Portuguese coach led the Blues to the league title in May and signed a contract extension in the summer, but has overseen a disastrous start to the current campaign. After defeat to Leicester he accused his players of "bretraying" him. The result left Chelsea languishing 16th in the league after nine defeats from 16 games.

Mourinho exit down to 'discord' – but Chelsea have a plan

10. Briefing: Can anyone stop Donald Trump?

After this week's debate, Donald Trump commanded 41 per cent of the Republican and GOP-leaning independent vote in a Monmouth University poll. With seven more debates scheduled for early 2016, Ted Cruz will be hoping that he can maintain his current momentum long enough to overtake Trump before the state primaries begin in February.

Trump travel ban: Judge expands definition of relatives